Patents by Inventor Paul Brillhart

Paul Brillhart 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: 20240112945
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a susceptor for thermal processing is provided. The susceptor includes an outer rim surrounding and coupled to an inner dish, the outer rim having an inner edge and an outer edge. The susceptor further includes one or more structures for reducing a contacting surface area between a substrate and the susceptor when the substrate is supported by the susceptor. At least one of the one or more structures is coupled to the inner dish proximate the inner edge of the outer rim.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Anhthu NGO, Zuoming ZHU, Balasubramanian RAMACHANDRAN, Paul BRILLHART, Edric TONG, Anzhong CHANG, Kin Pong LO, Kartik SHAH, Schubert S. CHU, Zhepeng CONG, James Francis MACK, Nyi O. MYO, Kevin Joseph BAUTISTA, Xuebin LI, Yi-Chiau HUANG, Zhiyuan YE
  • Patent number: 11859307
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein generally relate to a stem assembly for coupling a susceptor to a process chamber. The stem assembly includes a pivot mechanism, a first flexible seal coupled to the pivot mechanism, a second flexible seal coupled to a plate on a first side of the plate, the plate having a second side coupled to the first flexible seal, a housing coupled to the second flexible seal, and a motion assembly adapted to move the housing in an X axis and a Y axis, and position the susceptor angularly relative to an X-Y plane of the process chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Edric Tong, James Francis Mack, Paul Brillhart
  • Patent number: 11848226
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a susceptor for thermal processing is provided. The susceptor includes an outer rim surrounding and coupled to an inner dish, the outer rim having an inner edge and an outer edge. The susceptor further includes one or more structures for reducing a contacting surface area between a substrate and the susceptor when the substrate is supported by the susceptor. At least one of the one or more structures is coupled to the inner dish proximate the inner edge of the outer rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Anhthu Ngo, Zuoming Zhu, Balasubramanian Ramachandran, Paul Brillhart, Edric Tong, Anzhong Chang, Kin Pong Lo, Kartik Shah, Schubert S. Chu, Zhepeng Cong, James Francis Mack, Nyi O. Myo, Kevin Joseph Bautista, Xuebin Li, Yi-Chiau Huang, Zhiyuan Ye
  • Publication number: 20220037126
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to articles, coated chamber components and methods of coating chamber components with a protective coating that includes at least one metal fluoride having a formula selected from the group consisting of M1xFw, M1xM2yFw and M1xM2yM3zFw, where at least one of M1, M2, or M3 is magnesium or lanthanum. The protective coating can be deposited by atomic layer deposition, chemical vapor deposition, electron beam ion assisted deposition, or physical vapor deposition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Jennifer Y. Sun, Ren-Guan Duan, Gayatri Natu, Tae Won Kim, Jiyong Huang, Nitin Deepak, Paul Brillhart, Lin Zhang, Yikai Chen, Sanni Sinikka Seppälä, Ganesh Balasubramanian, JuanCarlos Rocha, Shankar Venkataraman, Katherine Elizabeth Woo
  • Publication number: 20210175115
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a susceptor for thermal processing is provided. The susceptor includes an outer rim surrounding and coupled to an inner dish, the outer rim having an inner edge and an outer edge. The susceptor further includes one or more structures for reducing a contacting surface area between a substrate and the susceptor when the substrate is supported by the susceptor. At least one of the one or more structures is coupled to the inner dish proximate the inner edge of the outer rim.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Anhthu NGO, Zuoming ZHU, Balasubramanian RAMACHANDRAN, Paul BRILLHART, Edric TONG, Anzhong CHANG, Kin Pong LO, Kartik SHAH, Schubert S. CHU, Zhepeng CONG, James Francis MACK, Nyi O. MYO, Kevin Joseph BAUTISTA, Xuebin LI, Yi-Chiau HUANG, Zhiyuan YE
  • Publication number: 20210066039
    Abstract: One or more embodiments described herein generally relate to a semiconductor processing apparatus that utilizes high radio frequency (RF) power to improve uniformity. The semiconductor processing apparatus includes an RF powered primary mesh and an RF powered secondary mesh, which are disposed in a substrate supporting element. The secondary RF mesh is positioned underneath the primary RF mesh. A connection assembly is configured to electrically couple the secondary mesh to the primary mesh. RF current flowing out of the primary mesh is distributed into multiple connection junctions. As such, even at high total RF power/current, a hot spot on the primary mesh is prevented because the RF current is spread to the multiple connection junctions. Accordingly, there is less impact on substrate temperature and film non-uniformity, allowing much higher RF power to be used without causing a local hot spot on the substrate being processed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Jian LI, Viren KALSEKAR, Paul BRILLHART, Juan Carlos ROCHA-ALVAREZ, Vinay K. PRABHAKAR
  • Patent number: 10930543
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a susceptor for thermal processing is provided. The susceptor includes an outer rim surrounding and coupled to an inner dish, the outer rim having an inner edge and an outer edge. The susceptor further includes one or more structures for reducing a contacting surface area between a substrate and the susceptor when the substrate is supported by the susceptor. At least one of the one or more structures is coupled to the inner dish proximate the inner edge of the outer rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Anhthu Ngo, Zuoming Zhu, Balasubramanian Ramachandran, Paul Brillhart, Edric Tong, Anzhong Chang, Kin Pong Lo, Kartik Shah, Schubert S. Chu, Zhepeng Cong, James Francis Mack, Nyi O. Myo, Kevin Joseph Bautista, Xuebin Li, Yi-Chiau Huang, Zhiyuan Ye
  • Publication number: 20210002786
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein generally relate to a stem assembly for coupling a susceptor to a process chamber. The stem assembly includes a pivot mechanism, a first flexible seal coupled to the pivot mechanism, a second flexible seal coupled to a plate on a first side of the plate, the plate having a second side coupled to the first flexible seal, a housing coupled to the second flexible seal, and a motion assembly adapted to move the housing in an X axis and a Y axis, and position the susceptor angularly relative to an X-Y plane of the process chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Edric TONG, James Francis MACK, Paul BRILLHART
  • Patent number: 10883190
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein generally relate to a stem assembly for coupling a susceptor to a process chamber. The stem assembly includes a pivot mechanism, a first flexible seal coupled to the pivot mechanism, a second flexible seal coupled to a plate on a first side of the plate, the plate having a second side coupled to the first flexible seal, a housing coupled to the second flexible seal, and a motion assembly adapted to move the housing in an X axis and a Y axis, and position the susceptor angularly relative to an X-Y plane of the process chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Edric Tong, James Francis Mack, Paul Brillhart
  • Patent number: 10727093
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a light pipe structure for thermal processing of semiconductor substrates. In one embodiment, a light pipe window structure for use in a thermal process chamber includes a transparent plate, and a plurality of light pipe structures formed in a transparent material that is coupled to the transparent plate, each of the plurality of light pipe structures comprising a reflective surface and having a longitudinal axis disposed in a substantially perpendicular relation to a plane of the transparent plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Brillhart, Joseph M. Ranish, Aaron Muir Hunter, Edric Tong, James Francis Mack, Kin Pong Lo, Errol Antonio C. Sanchez, Zhiyuan Ye, Anzhong Chang
  • Patent number: 10458040
    Abstract: Embodiments provided herein generally relate to an apparatus for delivering gas to a semiconductor processing chamber. An upper quartz dome of an epitaxial semiconductor processing chamber has a plurality of holes formed therein and precursor gases are provided into a processing volume of the chamber through the holes of the upper dome. Gas delivery tubes extend from the holes in the dome to a flange plate where the tubes are coupled to gas delivery lines. The gas delivery apparatus enables gases to be delivered to the processing volume above a substrate through the quartz upper dome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Paul Brillhart, Anzhong Chang, Edric Tong, Kin Pong Lo, James Francis Mack, Zhiyuan Ye, Kartik Shah, Errol Antonio C. Sanchez, David K. Carlson, Satheesh Kuppurao, Joseph M. Ranish
  • Patent number: 10306708
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure generally relate to a reflector for use in a thermal processing chamber. In one embodiment, the thermal processing chamber generally includes an upper dome, a lower dome opposing the upper dome, the upper dome and the lower dome defining an internal volume of the processing chamber, a substrate support disposed within the internal volume, and a reflector positioned above and proximate to the upper dome, wherein the reflector has a heat absorptive coating layer deposited on a side of the reflector facing the substrate support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Kin Pong Lo, Paul Brillhart, Balasubramanian Ramachandran, Satheesh Kuppurao, Daniel Redfield, Joseph M. Ranish, James Francis Mack, Kailash Kiran Patalay, Michael Olsen, Eddie Feigel, Richard Halpin, Brett Vetorino
  • Patent number: 10269614
    Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure generally relate to a susceptor for thermal processing of semiconductor substrates. In one implementation, the susceptor includes a first rim surrounding and coupled to an inner region, and a second rim disposed between the inner rim and the first rim. The second rim includes an angled support surface having a plurality of cut-outs formed therein, and the angled support surface is inclined with respect to a top surface of the inner region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Schubert S. Chu, Kartik Shah, Anhthu Ngo, Karthik Ramanathan, Nitin Pathak, Nyi O. Myo, Paul Brillhart, Richard O. Collins, Kevin Joseph Bautista, Edric Tong, Zhepeng Cong, Anzhong Chang, Kin Pong Lo, Manish Hemkar
  • Patent number: 10202707
    Abstract: Apparatus for processing a substrate are provided herein. In some embodiments, a lamphead for use in substrate processing includes a monolithic member having a contoured surface; a plurality of reflector cavities disposed in the contoured surface, wherein each reflector cavity is shaped to act as a reflector or to receive a replaceable reflector for a lamp; and a plurality of lamp passages, wherein each lamp passage extends into the monolithic member from one of the plurality of reflector cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Ranish, Paul Brillhart, Satheesh Kuppurao, Dongming Iu
  • Publication number: 20180366363
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a susceptor for thermal processing is provided. The susceptor includes an outer rim surrounding and coupled to an inner dish, the outer rim having an inner edge and an outer edge. The susceptor further includes one or more structures for reducing a contacting surface area between a substrate and the susceptor when the substrate is supported by the susceptor. At least one of the one or more structures is coupled to the inner dish proximate the inner edge of the outer rim.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Anhthu NGO, Zuoming ZHU, Balasubramanian RAMACHANDRAN, Paul BRILLHART, Edric TONG, Anzhong CHANG, Kin Pong LO, Kartik SHAH, Schubert S. CHU, Zhepeng CONG, James Francis MACK, Nyi O. MYO, Kevin Joseph BAUTISTA, Xuebin LI, Yi-Chiau HUANG, Zhiyuan YE
  • Patent number: 10119192
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to a base ring assembly for use in a substrate processing chamber. In one embodiment, the base ring assembly comprises a ring body sized to be received within an inner circumference of the substrate processing chamber, the ring body comprising a loading port for passage of the substrate, a gas inlet, and a gas outlet, wherein the gas inlet and the gas outlet are disposed at opposing ends of the ring body, and an upper ring configured to dispose on a top surface of the ring body, and a lower ring configured to dispose on a bottom surface of the ring body, wherein the upper ring, the lower ring, and the ring body, once assembled, are generally concentric or coaxial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Steve Aboagye, Paul Brillhart, Surajit Kumar, Anzhong Chang, Satheesh Kuppurao, Mehmet Tugrul Samir, David K. Carlson
  • Patent number: 10077508
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a semiconductor substrate is described. The apparatus is a process chamber having an optically transparent upper dome and lower dome. Vacuum is maintained in the process chamber during processing. The upper dome is thermally controlled by flowing a thermal control fluid along the upper dome outside the processing region. Thermal lamps are positioned proximate the lower dome, and thermal sensors are disposed among the lamps. The lamps are powered in zones, and a controller adjusts power to the lamp zones based on data received from the thermal sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Ranish, Paul Brillhart, Jose Antonio Marin, Satheesh Kuppurao, Balasubramanian Ramachandran, Swaminathan T. Srinivasan, Mehmet Tugrul Samir
  • Patent number: 10062598
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a susceptor for thermal processing is provided. The susceptor includes an outer rim surrounding and coupled to an inner dish, the outer rim having an inner edge and an outer edge. The susceptor further includes one or more structures for reducing a contacting surface area between a substrate and the susceptor when the substrate is supported by the susceptor. At least one of the one or more structures is coupled to the inner dish proximate the inner edge of the outer rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Anhthu Ngo, Zuoming Zhu, Balasubramanian Ramachandran, Paul Brillhart, Edric Tong, Anzhong Chang, Kin Pong Lo, Kartik Shah, Schubert S. Chu, Zhepeng Cong, James Francis Mack, Nyi O. Myo, Kevin Joseph Bautista, Xuebin Li, Yi-Chiau Huang, Zhiyuan Ye
  • Publication number: 20180138031
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to chambers and methods of processing substrates therein. The chambers generally include separate process gas and purge gas regions. The process gas region and purge gas region each have a respective gas inlet and gas outlet. The methods generally include positioning a substrate on a substrate support within the chamber. The plane of the substrate support defines the boundary between a process gas region and purge gas region. Purge gas is introduced into the purge gas region through at least one purge gas inlet, and removed from the purge gas region using at least one purge gas outlet. The process gas is introduced into the process gas region through at least one process gas inlet, and removed from the process gas region through at least one process gas outlet. The process gas is thermally decomposed to deposit a material on the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Joseph M. RANISH, Paul BRILLHART, Jose Antonio MARIN, Satheesh KUPPURAO, Balasubramanian RAMACHANDRAN, Swaminathan T. SRINIVASAN, Mehmet Tugrul SAMIR
  • Publication number: 20180084610
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure generally relate to a reflector for use in a thermal processing chamber. In one embodiment, the thermal processing chamber generally includes an upper dome, a lower dome opposing the upper dome, the upper dome and the lower dome defining an internal volume of the processing chamber, a substrate support disposed within the internal volume, and a reflector positioned above and proximate to the upper dome, wherein the reflector has a heat absorptive coating layer deposited on a side of the reflector facing the substrate support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventors: Kin Pong LO, Paul BRILLHART, Ramachandran BALASUBRAMANIAN, Satheesh KUPPURAO, Daniel REDFIELD, Joseph M. RANISH, James Francis MACK, Kailash Kiran PATALAY, Michael OLSEN, Eddie FEIGEL, Richard HALPIN, Brett VETORINO