Patents by Inventor Michael Schmotzer

Michael Schmotzer 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: 20240076778
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology may provide a system and apparatus for reaction chamber. The system and apparatus may contain a reaction chamber having a spacer plate disposed between a lower chamber of the reaction chamber and a showerhead. An active heating element may be embedded within the spacer plate. A flow control ring, disposed adjacent to the spacer plate, is heated by conduction from the spacer plate heating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Jessica Akemi Cimada da Silva, Michael Schmotzer
  • Patent number: 11791153
    Abstract: Methods for forming hafnium oxide within a three-dimensional structure, such as in a high aspect ratio hole, are provided. The methods may include depositing a first hafnium-containing material, such as hafnium nitride or hafnium carbide, in a three-dimensional structure and subsequently converting the first hafnium-containing material to a second hafnium-containing material comprising hafnium oxide by exposing the first hafnium-containing material to an oxygen reactant. The volume of the second hafnium-containing material may be greater than that of the first hafnium-containing material. Voids or seams formed during the deposition of the first hafnium-containing material in the three-dimensional structure may be filled by the expanded material after exposing the first hafnium-containing material to the oxygen reactant. Thus, the three-dimensional structure, such as a high aspect ratio hole, can be filled with hafnium oxide substantially free of voids or seams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: ASM IP Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Jiyeon Kim, Petri Raisanen, Sol Kim, Ying-Shen Kuo, Michael Schmotzer, Eric James Shero, Paul Ma
  • Publication number: 20230207377
    Abstract: A semiconductor processing device comprises a susceptor assembly comprising a wafer support configured to support a wafer. The wafer support comprises a wafer support body configured to support the wafer, a purge channel extending laterally from an inner portion of the wafer support body to an outer portion of the wafer support body, a first plenum channel disposed at the outer portion of the wafer support and in fluid communication with the purge channel, and an outlet to deliver purge gas to an edge of the wafer, the outlet in fluid communication with the first plenum channel, a purge gas supply hole on a surface opposite to the wafer support body. The purge gas supply hole is in fluid communication with the purge channel, and a plurality of first purge holes fluidly communicated with the first plenum channel and the purge channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2022
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Rohan Vijay Rane, Herbert Terhorst, Eric James Shero, Ankit Kimtee, Jereld Lee Winkler, Michael Schmotzer, Shuyang Zhang, Todd Robert Dunn, Shubham Garg
  • Publication number: 20220411925
    Abstract: A source vessel for use in a semiconductor processing system to supply precursor materials by providing enhanced control over vapor pressures. The source vessel includes a housing or vessel defining a chamber for holding a volume of precursor in a liquid state. The source vessel further includes a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of a surface of the liquid-state precursor that is presently contained within the chamber of the housing. The temperature sensor may take the form of a temperature measurement device such as a thermocouple on a float or a non-contact temperature measurement device such as an infrared (IR) temperature sensor with a line-of-sight to the liquid's surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventor: Michael Schmotzer
  • Publication number: 20210249263
    Abstract: Methods for forming hafnium oxide within a three-dimensional structure, such as in a high aspect ratio hole, are provided. The methods may include depositing a first hafnium-containing material, such as hafnium nitride or hafnium carbide, in a three-dimensional structure and subsequently converting the first hafnium-containing material to a second hafnium-containing material comprising hafnium oxide by exposing the first hafnium-containing material to an oxygen reactant. The volume of the second hafnium-containing material may be greater than that of the first hafnium-containing material. Voids or seams formed during the deposition of the first hafnium-containing material in the three-dimensional structure may be filled by the expanded material after exposing the first hafnium-containing material to the oxygen reactant. Thus, the three-dimensional structure, such as a high aspect ratio hole, can be filled with hafnium oxide substantially free of voids or seams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Jiyeon Kim, Petri Raisanen, Sol Kim, Ying-Shen Kuo, Michael Schmotzer, Eric James Shero, Paul Ma
  • Publication number: 20210214846
    Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to embodiments of a showerhead assembly which can be used to deposit semiconductor layers using processes such as atomic layer deposition (ALD). The showerhead assembly has a showerhead which has an increased thickness which advantageously decreases reactor chamber size and decreases cycling time. Decreased cycling time can improve throughput and decrease costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Dinkar Nandwana, Carl Louis White, Eric James Shero, William George Petro, Herbert Terhorst, Gnyanesh Trivedi, Mark Olstad, Ankit Kimtee, Kyle Fondurulia, Michael Schmotzer, Jereld Lee Winkler
  • Patent number: 10600673
    Abstract: A reaction system for processing semiconductor substrates is disclosed. In particular, the invention discloses an arrangement of a susceptor and a baseplate for when a substrate is placed into a reaction region. Magnets are embedded into the susceptor and the baseplate in order to create a gap between the two. As a result of the gap, the invention prevents an accumulation of gaseous materials that would exist in prior art systems as well as particle generation due to physical contact between parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: ASM IP HOLDING B.V.
    Inventor: Michael Schmotzer
  • Patent number: 10087525
    Abstract: A reaction system for processing semiconductor substrates is disclosed. The reaction system includes a susceptor for holding the substrate as well as a baseplate as a part of housing for the reaction system. A pin located on the susceptor can interact with a baseplate feature located on the baseplate to result in a variable gap between the susceptor and the baseplate. The baseplate feature may take the form of a series of steps, a wedge, or a milled-out feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: ASM IP Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Michael Schmotzer, Shawn Whaley
  • Publication number: 20170040206
    Abstract: A reaction system for processing semiconductor substrates is disclosed. The reaction system includes a susceptor for holding the substrate as well as a baseplate as a part of housing for the reaction system. A pin located on the susceptor can interact with a baseplate feature located on the baseplate to result in a variable gap between the susceptor and the baseplate. The baseplate feature may take the form of a series of steps, a wedge, or a milled-out feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Schmotzer, Shawn Whaley
  • Publication number: 20170011950
    Abstract: A reaction system for processing semiconductor substrates is disclosed. In particular, the invention discloses an arrangement of a susceptor and a baseplate for when a substrate is placed into a reaction region. Magnets are embedded into the susceptor and the baseplate in order to create a gap between the two. As a result of the gap, the invention prevents an accumulation of gaseous materials that would exist in prior art systems as well as particle generation due to physical contact between parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventor: Michael Schmotzer