Patents by Inventor Nicholas Michael Bergantz

Nicholas Michael Bergantz 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: 20240025670
    Abstract: A carrier includes a carrier body configured to be supported on a robot to transport one or more process kit rings within a substrate processing system. The carrier further includes fingers extending from the carrier body. The fingers are configured to support the one or more process kit rings. A first finger of the plurality of fingers includes an upper surface that forms a recess to receive the one or more process kit rings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Aaron Green, Nicholas Michael Bergantz, Damon K. Cox, Andreas Schmid
  • Publication number: 20240021458
    Abstract: A calibration object is transferred from a processing chamber to an aligner station by one or more robot arms. The calibration object has a first processing chamber orientation in the processing chamber and a second orientation at the aligner station. A first characteristic error value associated with a transfer path between the processing chamber and the aligner is determined based on the first processing chamber orientation and the second orientation of the calibration object at the aligner station. In response to detecting an object at the aligner station to be transferred to the processing chamber along the transfer path, the object is aligned by the aligner station to be placed in the processing chamber according to a target processing chamber orientation based on a target aligner orientation as adjusted by the first characteristic error value determined for the transfer path between the processing chamber and the aligner station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventors: Nicholas Michael Bergantz, Andreas Schmid, Leon Volfovski, Sanggyum Kim, Damon Cox, Paul Wirth
  • Patent number: 11823937
    Abstract: A calibration object is retrieved, by a first robot arm of a transfer chamber, from a processing chamber connected to the transfer chamber and placed in a load lock connected to the transfer chamber. The calibration object is retrieved from the load lock by a second robot arm of a factory interface connected to the load lock and placed at an aligner station housed in or connected to the factory interface. The calibration object has a first orientation at the aligner station. A difference is determined between the first orientation and an initial target orientation at the aligner station. A first characteristic error value associated with the processing chamber is determined based on the determined difference. The first characteristic error value is recorded in a storage medium. The aligner station is to use the first characteristic error value for alignment of objects to be placed in the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Michael Bergantz, Andreas Schmid, Leon Volfovski, Sanggyum Kim, Damon Cox, Paul Wirth
  • Publication number: 20230364794
    Abstract: A first robot arm places a calibration object into a load lock that separates a factory interface from a transfer chamber using a first taught position. A second robot arm retrieves the calibration object from the load lock using a second taught position. A controller determines, using a sensor, a first offset amount between a calibration object center of the calibration object and a pocket center of the second robot arm. The controller determines a characteristic error value that represents a misalignment between the first taught position of the first robot arm and the second taught position of the second robot arm based on the first offset amount. The first robot arm or the second robot arm uses the first characteristic error value to compensate for the misalignment for objects transferred between the first robot arm and the second robot arm via the load lock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Nicholas Michael Bergantz, Damon K. Cox, Alexander Berger
  • Patent number: 11766782
    Abstract: A first robot arm places a calibration object into a load lock that separates a factory interface from a transfer chamber using a first taught position. A second robot arm retrieves the calibration object from the load lock using a second taught position. A controller determines, using a sensor, a first offset amount between a calibration object center of the calibration object and a pocket center of the second robot arm. The controller determines a characteristic error value that represents a misalignment between the first taught position of the first robot arm and the second taught position of the second robot arm based on the first offset amount. The first robot arm or the second robot arm uses the first characteristic error value to compensate for the misalignment for objects transferred between the first robot arm and the second robot arm via the load lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Michael Bergantz, Damon K. Cox, Alexander Berger
  • Patent number: 11759954
    Abstract: A calibration object is placed at a target orientation in a station of an electronics processing device by a first robot arm, and then retrieved from the station by the first robot arm. The calibration object is transferred to an aligner station using the first robot arm, a second robot arm and/or a load lock, wherein the calibration object has a first orientation at the aligner station. The first orientation at the aligner station is determined. A characteristic error value is determined based on the first orientation. The aligner station is to use the characteristic error value for alignment of objects to be placed in the first station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Michael Bergantz, Damon K. Cox, Alexander Berger
  • Patent number: 11610796
    Abstract: A system includes an equipment front end module chamber, alignment pedestals housed within the equipment front end module chamber, and a load/unload robot at least partially housed within the equipment front end module chamber. The alignment pedestals include a first alignment pedestal having a first support surface and a second alignment pedestal having a second support surface, and the first support surface has a vertical offset and an overlap region having at least a partial overlap relative to the second support surface. The load/unload robot includes an arm, and vertically arranged blades attached to the arm. The vertically arranged blades include an upper blade configured to transfer a first substrate to the first alignment pedestal and a lower blade configured to transfer a second substrate to the second alignment pedestal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas Michael Bergantz
  • Publication number: 20230058606
    Abstract: A system includes a factory interface, a load port connected to the factory interface, a container connected to the load port, and a controller connected to a robot arm of the factory interface. The controller determines that the container is configured to store replacement parts for a process chamber of the system and causes the robot arm to move according to a first mapping pattern to identify, using a detection system at a distal end of an end effector of the robot arm, positions in the container. Regions of the container that do not contain replacement parts are determined and the robot arm is moved according to a second mapping pattern to identify a position in the container of a wafer and/or an empty carrier for a replacement part. A mapping of positions of replacement parts and positions of the wafer and/or empty carrier is recorded in a storage medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Nicholas Michael Bergantz, Jeffrey Hudgens, Doug McAllister, Helder Lee
  • Patent number: 11469123
    Abstract: A method for detecting positions of replacement parts, wafers, or empty carriers for a replacement part stored at a replacement parts storage container is provided. A container is received at a at a load port of a factory interface of an electronics processing system. The container is configured to store replacement parts for a process chamber of the electronics processing system. A robot arm is moved according to a first mapping pattern to identify, using a detection system at a distal end of an end effector of the robot arm, positions of one or more replacement parts in the container. Regions of the container that do not contain replacement parts are determined. The robot arm is moved according to a second mapping pattern to identify, within the regions of the container that do not contain replacement parts, using the detection system, a position in the container of at least one of a wafer or an empty carrier for a replacement part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas Michael Bergantz, Jeffrey Hudgens, Doug McAllister, Helder Lee
  • Patent number: 11279032
    Abstract: A method includes positioning a robot in a plurality of postures in a substrate processing system relative to a fixed location in the substrate processing system and generating sensor data identifying a fixed location relative to the robot in the plurality of postures. The method further includes determining, based on the sensor data, a plurality of error values corresponding to one or more components of the substrate processing system and causing, based on the plurality of error values, performance of one or more corrective actions associated with the one or more components of the substrate processing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Michael Bergantz, Ali Utku Pehlivan
  • Patent number: 11211269
    Abstract: A method includes receiving, by a first loadlock chamber of the loadlock system, a first object from a factory interface via a first opening. The first object is transferred into the first loadlock chamber via a first robot arm. The factory interface is at a first state. The first loadlock chamber is configured to receive different types of objects. The method further includes sealing a first loadlock door against the first opening to create a first sealed environment at the first state in the first loadlock chamber and causing the first sealed environment of the first loadlock chamber to be changed to a second state. The method further includes actuating a second loadlock door to provide a second opening between the first loadlock chamber and a transfer chamber. The first object is to be transferred from the first loadlock chamber to the transfer chamber via a second robot arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Paul Harbert, Michael C Kuchar, Nicholas Michael Bergantz, Leon Volfovski, Sivakumar Ramalingam, Karuppasamy Muthukamatchi, Douglas R McAllister
  • Publication number: 20210366753
    Abstract: A system includes an equipment front end module chamber, alignment pedestals housed within the equipment front end module chamber, and a load/unload robot at least partially housed within the equipment front end module chamber. The alignment pedestals include a first alignment pedestal having a first support surface and a second alignment pedestal having a second support surface, and the first support surface has a vertical offset and an overlap region having at least a partial overlap relative to the second support surface. The load/unload robot includes an arm, and vertically arranged blades attached to the arm. The vertically arranged blades include an upper blade configured to transfer a first substrate to the first alignment pedestal and a lower blade configured to transfer a second substrate to the second alignment pedestal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventor: Nicholas Michael Bergantz
  • Patent number: 11139190
    Abstract: An equipment front end module may include an equipment front end module body forming an equipment front end module chamber. The equipment front end module body may include plurality of walls. One or more load locks or process chambers may be coupled to one or more first walls. One or more load ports may be provided in one or more second walls, wherein each of the one or more load ports are configured to dock a substrate carrier. A plurality of alignment pedestals may be housed within the equipment front end module chamber. A load/unload robot may be at least partially housed within the equipment front end module chamber, wherein the load/unload robot may include a plurality of blades. Other apparatus and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas Michael Bergantz
  • Publication number: 20210292104
    Abstract: A carrier includes a rigid body forming a plurality of openings and a plurality of fasteners configured to removably attach to the rigid body via the plurality of openings. A first set of fingers is configured to be removably attached to the rigid body via the plurality of fasteners and the plurality of openings. The first set of fingers is configured to support first content during first transportation of the carrier within a substrate processing system. A second set of fingers is configured to be removably attached to the rigid body via the plurality of fasteners and the plurality of openings. The second set of fingers is configured to support second content during second transportation of the carrier within the substrate processing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Aaron Green, Nicholas Michael Bergantz, Damon K. Cox, Andreas Schmid
  • Publication number: 20210296149
    Abstract: A set of one or more shelves is configured to be disposed within an enclosure system of a substrate processing system. The set of one or more shelves includes first upper surfaces disposed substantially in a first plane, carrier alignment features configured to align a carrier on the first upper surfaces, second upper surfaces disposed substantially in a second plane that is above the first plane, and process kit ring alignment features configured to align a process kit ring on the carrier above the second upper surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Aaron Green, Nicholas Michael Bergantz, John C. Menk
  • Publication number: 20210291374
    Abstract: A calibration object is placed at a target orientation in a station of an electronics processing device by a first robot arm, and then retrieved from the station by the first robot arm. The calibration object is transferred to an aligner station using the first robot arm, a second robot arm and/or a load lock, wherein the calibration object has a first orientation at the aligner station. The first orientation at the aligner station is determined. A characteristic error value is determined based on the first orientation. The aligner station is to use the characteristic error value for alignment of objects to be placed in the first station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Nicholas Michael Bergantz, Damon K. Cox, Alexander Berger
  • Publication number: 20210291375
    Abstract: A first robot arm places a calibration object into a load lock that separates a factory interface from a transfer chamber using a first taught position. A second robot arm retrieves the calibration object from the load lock using a second taught position. A controller determines, using a sensor, a first offset amount between a calibration object center of the calibration object and a pocket center of the second robot arm. The controller determines a characteristic error value that represents a misalignment between the first taught position of the first robot arm and the second taught position of the second robot arm based on the first offset amount. The first robot arm or the second robot arm uses the first characteristic error value to compensate for the misalignment for objects transferred between the first robot arm and the second robot arm via the load lock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Nicholas Michael Bergantz, Damon K. Cox, Alexander Berger
  • Publication number: 20210057256
    Abstract: A method for calibrating an aligner station of an electronics processing system is provided. A calibration is retrieved, by a first robot arm of a transfer chamber, from a processing chamber connected to the transfer chamber. The calibration object has a target orientation in the processing chamber. The calibration is placed, by the first robot art, in a load lock connected to the transfer chamber. The calibration is retrieved from the load lock by a second robot arm of a factory interface connected to the load lock. The calibration object is placed, by the second robot arm, at an aligner station housed in or connected to the factory interface. The calibration object has a first orientation at the aligner station. A difference is determined between the first orientation at the aligner station and an initial target orientation at the aligner station. The initial target orientation at the aligner station is associated with the target orientation in the processing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Nicholas Michael Bergantz, Andreas Schmid, Leon Volfovski, Sanggyum Kim, Damon Cox, Paul Wirth
  • Patent number: D954769
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Green, Nicholas Michael Bergantz
  • Patent number: D980176
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Green, Nicholas Michael Bergantz