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: 20160133504
    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: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    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: 9322097
    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: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Steve Aboagye, Paul Brillhart, Surajit Kumar, Anzhong Chang, Satheesh Kuppurao, Mehmet Tugrul Samir, David K. Carlson
  • Publication number: 20160068959
    Abstract: Implementations described herein disclose epitaxial deposition chambers and components thereof. In one implementation, a chamber can include a substrate support positioned in a processing region, a radiant energy assembly comprising a plurality of radiant energy sources, a liner assembly having an upper liner and a lower liner, and a dome assembly positioned between the substrate support and the radiant energy assembly. The epitaxial deposition chambers described herein allow for processing of larger substrates, while maintaining throughput, reducing costs and providing a reliably uniform deposition product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Shu-Kwan LAU, Mehmet Tugrul SAMIR, Nyi O. MYO, Aaron MILLER, Aaron Muir HUNTER, Errol Antonio C. SANCHEZ, Paul BRILLHART, Joseph M. RANISH, Kartik SHAH, Dennis L. DEMARS, Satheesh KUPPURAO
  • Publication number: 20160068955
    Abstract: Embodiments provided herein generally relate to an apparatus for gas delivering in a semiconductor process chamber. The apparatus may be a gas distribution plate that has a plurality of through holes and a plurality of blind holes formed therein. Process gases are provided into a processing volume of the semiconductor process chamber through the through holes of the gas distribution plate. The blind holes are utilized to control the temperature of the gas distribution plate using a phase change material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Paul BRILLHART, Anzhong CHANG, Edric TONG, Kin Pong LO, David K. CARLSON, Errol Antonio C. SANCHEZ, Zhiyuan YE, Satheesh KUPPURAO
  • Publication number: 20160033070
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to a perimeter pumping member for a processing chamber. The perimeter pumping member comprises a ring-shaped body having a first curved channel along an arc within the ring-shaped body, a first inner channel connecting a first region of the first curved channel to a first region of an inner surface of the ring-shaped body, a plurality of second inner channels connecting a second region of the first curved channel to a second region of the inner surface, and a first outer channel connecting the first region of the first curved channel to an outer surface of the ring-shaped body, wherein the second inner channels are each sized such that, when a fluid is pumped out of the perimeter pumping member via the first outer channel, the fluid flows through the first inner channel and the second inner channels at a uniform flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Paul BRILLHART, Edric TONG, Anzhong CHANG, David K. CARLSON, Errol Antonio C. SANCHEZ, James Francis MACK, Kin Pong LO, Zhiyuan YE
  • Publication number: 20160010239
    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: July 10, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: EDRIC TONG, James Francis Mack, Paul Brillhart
  • Patent number: 9230837
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus is provided. The substrate processing apparatus includes a vacuum chamber having a dome and a floor. A substrate support is disposed inside the vacuum chamber. A plurality of thermal lamps are arranged in a lamphead and positioned proximate the floor of the vacuum chamber. A reflector is disposed proximate the dome, where the reflector and the dome together define a thermal control space. The substrate processing apparatus further includes a plurality of power supplies coupled to the thermal lamps and a controller for adjusting the power supplies to control a temperature in the vacuum chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Ranish, Paul Brillhart, Jose Antonio Marin, Satheesh Kuppurao, Balasubramanian Ramachandran, Swaminathan T. Srinivasan, Mehmet Tugrul Samir
  • Publication number: 20150368829
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a susceptor for a thermal processing chamber is provided. The susceptor includes a base having a front side and a back side made of a thermally conductive material opposite the front side, wherein the base includes a peripheral region surrounding a recessed area having a thickness that is less than a thickness of the peripheral region, and a plurality of raised features protruding from one or both of the front side and the back side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Anhthu NGO, Schubert S. CHU, Nyi O. MYO, Paul BRILLHART, Yi-Chiau HUANG, Zuoming ZHU, Kevin Joseph BAUTISTA, Kartik SHAH, Edric TONG, Xuebin LI, Zhepeng CONG, Balasubramanian RAMACHANDRAN
  • Publication number: 20150368830
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to a one-piece injector assembly. The injector assembly includes a plurality of channels for introducing process gas into a processing chamber while keeping the gas flow of each channel separate from the gas flow in each other channel. In addition, embodiments of the disclosure relate to upper and lower liners accommodating the one-piece injector assembly, methods for installing the injector assembly, and a processing chamber utilizing the one-piece injector assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Paul BRILLHART, Kin Pong LO, Edric TONG, Satheesh KUPPURAO, Balasubramanian RAMACHANDRAN
  • Publication number: 20150345023
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to apparatus for processing substrates. The apparatus generally include a process chamber including a lamp housing containing lamps positioned adjacent to an optically transparent window. Lamps within the lamp housing provide radiant energy to a substrate positioned on the substrate support. Temperature control of the optically transparent window is facilitated using cooling channels within the lamp housing. The lamp housing is thermally coupled to the optically transparent window using compliant conductors. The compliant conductors maintain a uniform conduction length irrespective of machining tolerances of the optically transparent window and the lamp housing. The uniform conduction length promotes accurate temperature control. Because the length of the compliant conductors is uniform irrespective of machining tolerances of chamber components, the conduction length is the same for different process chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Joseph M. RANISH, Paul BRILLHART
  • Publication number: 20150340266
    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: April 28, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    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: 20150340257
    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: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    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
  • Publication number: 20150233016
    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: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    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
  • Publication number: 20150083046
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to an apparatus for heating substrates. In one embodiment, a susceptor comprises a ring shaped body having a central opening and a lip extending from an edge of the body that circumscribes the central opening. The susceptor comprises carbon fiber or graphene. In another embodiment, a method for forming a susceptor comprises molding carbon fiber with an organic binder into a shape of a ring susceptor and firing the organic binder. In yet another embodiment, a method for forming a susceptor comprises layering graphene sheets into a shape of a ring susceptor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Joseph M. RANISH, Paul BRILLHART, Mehmet Tugrul SAMIR, Shu-Kwan LAU, Surajit KUMAR
  • Publication number: 20150053794
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally comprises a heated showerhead assembly that may be used to supply processing gases into a processing chamber. The processing chamber may be an etching chamber. When processing gas is evacuated from the processing chamber, the uniform processing of the substrate may be difficult. As the processing gas is pulled away from the substrate and towards the vacuum pump, the plasma, in the case of etching, may not be uniform across the substrate. Uneven plasma may lead to uneven etching. To prevent uneven etching, the showerhead assembly may be separated into two zones each having independently controllable gas introduction and temperature control. The first zone corresponds to the perimeter of the substrate while the second zone corresponds to the center of the substrate. By independently controlling the temperature and the gas flow through the showerhead zones, etching uniformity of the substrate may be increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: James D. CARDUCCI, Olga REGELMAN, Kallol BERA, Douglas A. BUCHBERGER, JR., Paul BRILLHART
  • Publication number: 20150037017
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for reducing the thermal signal noise in process chambers using a non-contact temperature sensing device to measure the temperature of a component in the process chamber. In some embodiments, a susceptor for supporting a substrate in a process chamber includes a first surface comprising a substrate support surface; and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein a portion of the second surface comprises a feature to absorb incident radiant energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: SHU-KWAN LAU, JOSEPH M. RANISH, PAUL BRILLHART, MEHMET TUGRUL SAMIR
  • Publication number: 20140376898
    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: April 22, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    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
  • Publication number: 20140345526
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to coated liner assemblies for use in a semiconductor processing chamber. In one embodiment, a liner assembly for use in a semiconductor processing chamber includes a liner body having a cylindrical ring form and a coating layer coating the liner body, wherein the coating layer is opaque at one or more wavelengths between about 200 nm and about 5000 nm. In another embodiment, an apparatus for depositing a dielectric layer on a substrate includes a processing chamber having an interior volume defined in a chamber body of the processing chamber, a liner assembly disposed in the processing chamber, wherein the liner assembly further comprises a liner body having a cylindrical ring form, and a coating layer coating an outer wall of the liner body and facing the chamber body, wherein the coating layer is opaque at one or more wavelengths between about 200 nm and about 5000 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph M. RANISH, Satheesh KUPPURAO, Kailash Kiran PATALAY, Paul BRILLHART
  • Publication number: 20140345525
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to coated liner assemblies for use in a semiconductor processing chamber. In one embodiment, a liner assembly for use in a semiconductor processing chamber includes a liner body having a cylindrical ring form and a coating layer coating the liner body, wherein the coating layer is opaque at one or more wavelengths between about 200 nm and about 5000 nm. In another embodiment, an apparatus for depositing a dielectric layer on a substrate includes a processing chamber having an interior volume defined in a chamber body of the processing chamber, a liner assembly disposed in the processing chamber, wherein the liner assembly further comprises a liner body having a cylindrical ring form, and a coating layer coating an outer wall of the liner body and facing the chamber body, wherein the coating layer is opaque at one or more wavelengths between about 200 nm and about 5000 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. RANISH, Satheesh KUPPURAO, Kailash Kiran PATALAY, Paul BRILLHART
  • Publication number: 20140334806
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to apparatus for processing substrates. The apparatus generally include a process chamber including a lamp housing containing lamps positioned adjacent to an optically transparent window. Lamps within the lamp housing provide radiant energy to a substrate positioned on the substrate support. Temperature control of the optically transparent window is facilitated using cooling channels within the lamp housing. The lamp housing is thermally coupled to the optically transparent window using compliant conductors. The compliant conductors maintain a uniform conduction length irrespective of machining tolerances of the optically transparent window and the lamp housing. The uniform conduction length promotes accurate temperature control. Because the length of the compliant conductors is uniform irrespective of machining tolerances of chamber components, the conduction length is the same for different process chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Joseph M. RANISH, Paul BRILLHART