Patents by Inventor Michael R. Rice

Michael R. Rice has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20200181771
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present disclosure relate to coated articles and methods of coating articles. In one embodiment, a coated article comprises an article adapted for use in a processing chamber, and a coating formed on exterior and interior surfaces of the article. In one embodiment, the coating comprises a rare earth metal-containing ceramic, and the coating is substantially uniform, conformal, and porosity-free.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Xiaowei Wu, Jennifer Y. Sun, Michael R. Rice
  • Patent number: 10665476
    Abstract: In one aspect, a valve assembly adapted to seal an opening in a chamber is disclosed. Valve assembly includes a housing being adapted for coupling to a chamber surface having the opening therein, the housing including a threshold portion positioned adjacent to the chamber opening, the threshold portion having one or more inlets adapted to supply gas to an interior region of the housing adjacent to the chamber opening; and a sealing surface adapted to selectively (1) seal the opening, and (2) retract from the opening so as not to obstruct substrate passage. Numerous other system aspects are provided, as are methods and computer program products in accordance with these and other aspects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Efrain Quiles, Mehran Behdjat, Robert B. Lowrance, Michael R. Rice, Brent Vopat
  • Publication number: 20200140996
    Abstract: An article comprises a body having a coating. The coating comprises a Y—O—F coating or other yttrium-based oxy-fluoride coating generated either by performing a fluorination process on a yttrium-based oxide coating or an oxidation process on a yttrium-based fluorine coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Xiaowei Wu, David Fenwick, Guodong Zhan, Jennifer Y. Sun, Michael R. Rice
  • Patent number: 10615004
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a plasma source assembly and process chamber design that can be used for any number of substrate processing techniques. The plasma source may include a plurality of discrete electrodes that are integrated with a reference electrode and a gas feed structure to generate a uniform, stable and repeatable plasma during processing. The plurality of discrete electrodes include an array of electrodes that can be biased separately, in groups or all in unison, relative to a reference electrode. The plurality of discrete electrodes may include a plurality of conductive rods that are positioned to generate a plasma within a processing region of a process chamber. The plurality of discrete electrodes is provided RF power from standing or traveling waves imposed on a power distribution element to which the electrodes are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Collins, Michael R. Rice, Kartik Ramaswamy, James D. Carducci, Yue Guo, Olga Regelman
  • Patent number: 10563303
    Abstract: An article comprises a body having a coating. The coating comprises a Y-O-F coating or other yttrium-based oxy-fluoride coating generated either by performing a fluorination process on a yttrium-based oxide coating or an oxidation process on a yttrium-based fluorine coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaowei Wu, David Fenwick, Guodong Zhan, Jennifer Y. Sun, Michael R. Rice
  • Publication number: 20200024194
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to articles, coated articles and methods of coating such articles with a rare earth metal containing oxide coating. The coating can contain at least a first metal (e.g., a rare earth metal, tantalum, zirconium, etc.) and a second metal that have been co-deposited onto a surface of the article. The coating can include a homogenous mixture of the first metal and the second metal and does not contain mechanical segregation between layers in the coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Xiaowei Wu, Jennifer Y. Sun, Michael R. Rice
  • Publication number: 20200024735
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to articles, coated articles and methods of coating such articles with a rare earth metal containing fluoride coating. The coating can contain at least a first metal (e.g., a rare earth metal, tantalum, zirconium, etc.) and a second metal that have been co-deposited onto a surface of the article. The coating can include a homogenous mixture of the first metal and the second metal and does not contain mechanical segregation between layers in the coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Xiaowei Wu, Jennifer Y. Sun, Michael R. Rice
  • Publication number: 20190391602
    Abstract: An electronic device manufacturing system includes a mass flow controller (MFC) that has a thermal flow sensor. The thermal flow sensor may measure a mass flow rate and may include a sensor tube having an inner surface coated with a material to form an inner barrier layer. The inner barrier layer may prevent or substantially reduce the likelihood of a corrosive reaction from occurring on the inner surface, which may prevent or reduce the likelihood of the MFC drifting beyond the MFC's mass flow rate accuracy specifications. This may improve the repeatability of flow detection by the MFC. Methods of measuring and controlling a mass flow rate in an electronic device manufacturing system are also provided, as are other aspects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Ming Xu, Sushant S. Koshti, Michael R. Rice, Steven E. Babayan, Jennifer Y. Sun
  • Publication number: 20190382888
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a rare-earth oxide coating on a surface of an article with one or more interruption layers to control crystal growth and methods of its formation. The coating may be deposited by atomic layer deposition and/or by chemical vapor deposition. The rare-earth oxides in the coatings disclosed herein may have an atomic crystalline phase that is different from the atomic crystalline phase or the amorphous phase of the one or more interruption layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: Xiaowei Wu, Jennifer Y. Sun, Michael R. Rice
  • Patent number: 10510515
    Abstract: A plasma reactor includes a chamber body having an interior space that provides a plasma chamber, a gas distributor, a pump coupled to the plasma chamber, a workpiece support to hold a workpiece, an intra-chamber electrode assembly comprising a plurality of filaments extending laterally through the plasma chamber, each filament including a conductor surrounded by a cylindrical insulating shell, the plurality of filaments including a first multiplicity of filaments and a second multiplicity of filaments arranged in an alternating pattern with the first multiplicity of filaments, a first bus coupled to the first multiplicity of filaments and a second bus coupled to the second multiplicity of filaments, an RF power source to apply RF signal the intra-chamber electrode assembly, and at least one RF switch configured to controllably electrically couple and decouple the first bus from one of i) ground, ii) the RF power source, or iii) the second bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Collins, Kartik Ramaswamy, Shahid Rauf, Kallol Bera, James D. Carducci, Michael R. Rice, Yue Guo
  • Publication number: 20190376202
    Abstract: An enhanced anodization method includes forming a porous anodization layer comprising columns of anodization layer material with pores between adjacent columns. The method further includes sealing the porous layer by forming a sealing layer at a top of the porous layer. The sealing layer may be formed by using a hybrid sealing process that combines, in any order, two or more of de-ionized (DI) water seal, Ni sealing, and, PTFE sealing. Alternatively, the sealing layer is formed by conformally coating the columns in the porous layer with one or more layers of a coating material. Further, the coating material may be surface-fluorinated to improve plasma resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Xiao-Ming HE, Jennifer Y. SUN, David FENWICK, Cheng-Hsuan CHOU, Xiaowei WU, Chidambara A. RAMALINGAM, Michael R. RICE
  • Publication number: 20190362989
    Abstract: Electronic device processing apparatus including a factory interface chamber purge apparatus with purge gas heating. The factory interface chamber purge apparatus includes one or more heating elements configured to heat the purge gas. In some embodiments, the provision of heated purge gas to the chamber filter assembly can rapidly reduce moisture contamination after the access door is opened for factory interface servicing. In further embodiments, the provision of heated purge gas to the factory interface chamber can aid in desorbing certain chemical compounds from the substrates following processing when a low-humidity environment is provided. Purge control methods and apparatus are described, as are numerous other aspects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: Paul B. Reuter, Nir Merry, Michael R. Rice, Dean C. Hruzek
  • Publication number: 20190355603
    Abstract: Electronic device manufacturing apparatus and robot apparatus are described. The apparatus are configured to efficiently pick and place substrates wherein the robot apparatus includes an upper arm and three blades B1, B2, B3 that are independently rotatable. The three blades are configured to service a first dual load lock and second dual load lock wherein each dual load lock includes a different pitch. In some embodiments, a first pitch P1 is smaller than a second pitch P2. Blades B2 and B3 (or optionally blades B1 and B2) can service the first dual load lock with Pitch P1 and blades B1 and B3 can service the second dual load lock including the second pitch P2. Methods of operating the electronic device manufacturing apparatus and the robot apparatus are provided, as are numerous other aspects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Hudgens, Michael R. Rice, Karuppasamy Muthukamatchi, Nir Merry
  • Publication number: 20190355600
    Abstract: Dual load lock chambers for use in a multi-chamber processing system are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a dual load lock chamber, includes a first load lock chamber having a first interior volume and a first substrate support, wherein the first substrate support includes a first plurality of support surfaces vertically spaced apart by a first predetermined distance; at least one heat transfer device disposed within the first substrate support to heat or cool the first plurality of substrates; and a second load lock chamber disposed adjacent to the first load lock chamber and having a second interior volume and a second substrate support, wherein the second substrate support includes a second plurality of support surfaces vertically spaced apart by a second predetermined distance that less than the first predetermined distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventor: MICHAEL R. RICE
  • Publication number: 20190355605
    Abstract: Electronic device manufacturing apparatus and robot apparatus are described. The apparatus are configured to efficiently pick and place substrates wherein the robot apparatus includes an upper arm and three blades B1, B2, B3 that are independently rotatable. The three blades are configured to service a first dual load lock and second dual load lock wherein each dual load lock includes a different pitch. In some embodiments, a first pitch P1 is smaller than a second pitch P2. Blades B2 and B3 (or optionally blades B1 and B2) can service the first dual load lock with Pitch P1 and blades B1 and B3 can service the second dual load lock including the second pitch P2. Methods of operating the electronic device manufacturing apparatus and the robot apparatus are provided, as are numerous other aspects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Hudgens, Michael R. Rice, Karuppasamy Muthukamatchi, Nir Merry
  • Patent number: 10443125
    Abstract: An article comprises a body having a coating. The coating comprises a Y—O—F coating or other yttrium-based oxy-fluoride coating generated either by performing a fluorination process on a yttrium-based oxide coating or an oxidation process on a yttrium-based fluorine coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaowei Wu, David Fenwick, Guodong Zhan, Jennifer Y. Sun, Michael R. Rice
  • Patent number: 10443126
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a rare-earth oxide coating on a surface of an article with one or more interruption layers to control crystal growth and methods of its formation. The coating may be deposited by atomic layer deposition and/or by chemical vapor deposition. The rare-earth oxides in the coatings disclosed herein may have an atomic crystalline phase that is different from the atomic crystalline phase or the amorphous phase of the one or more interruption layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaowei Wu, Jennifer Y. Sun, Michael R. Rice
  • Publication number: 20190309413
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a rare-earth oxide coating on a surface of an article with one or more interruption layers to control crystal growth and methods of its formation. The coating may be deposited by atomic layer deposition and/or by chemical vapor deposition. The rare-earth oxides in the coatings disclosed herein may have an atomic crystalline phase that is different from the atomic crystalline phase or the amorphous phase of the one or more interruption layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Xiaowei Wu, Jennifer Y. Sun, Michael R. Rice
  • Publication number: 20190310593
    Abstract: Electronic device processing systems including environmental control of the factory interface, a carrier purge chamber, and one or more substrate carriers are described. One electronic device processing system has a factory interface having a factory interface chamber, one or more substrate carriers coupled to the factory interface, and an environmental control system coupled to the factory interface, the carrier purge chamber, and the one or more substrate carriers and operational to control an environment at least within the factory interface chamber, carrier purge chamber, and the one or more substrate carriers. Methods for processing substrates are described, as are numerous other aspects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Michael R. Rice, Dean C. Hruzek
  • Publication number: 20190287765
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a plasma source assembly and process chamber design that can be used for any number of substrate processing techniques. The plasma source may include a plurality of discrete electrodes that are integrated with a reference electrode and a gas feed structure to generate a uniform, stable and repeatable plasma during processing. The plurality of discrete electrodes include an array of electrodes that can be biased separately, in groups or all in unison, relative to a reference electrode. The plurality of discrete electrodes may include a plurality of conductive rods that are positioned to generate a plasma within a processing region of a process chamber. The plurality of discrete electrodes is provided RF power from standing or traveling waves imposed on a power distribution element to which the electrodes are connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Kenneth S. COLLINS, Michael R. RICE, Kartik RAMASWAMY, James D. CARDUCCI, Yue GUO, Olga REGELMAN