Patents by Inventor Paul L. Brillhart
Paul L. 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).
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Publication number: 20250054797Abstract: Exemplary semiconductor processing systems may include a chamber body including sidewalls and a base. The chamber body may define an interior volume. The systems may include a substrate support extending through the base of the chamber body. The substrate support may be configured to support a substrate within the interior volume. The systems may include a faceplate positioned within the interior volume of the chamber body. The faceplate may define a plurality of apertures through the faceplate. The systems may include a leveling apparatus seated on the substrate support. The leveling apparatus may include a plurality of piezoelectric pressure sensors.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2024Publication date: February 13, 2025Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Katherine Woo, Paul L. Brillhart, Jian Li, Shinnosuke Kawaguchi, David W. Groechel, Dorothea Buechel-Rimmel, Juan Carlos Rocha-Alvarez, Paul E. Fisher, Chidambara A. Ramalingam, Joseph J. Farah
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Publication number: 20250014934Abstract: Exemplary support assemblies may include an electrostatic chuck body defining a support surface that defines a substrate seat. The assemblies may include a support stem coupled with the chuck body. The assemblies may include a heater embedded within the chuck body. The assemblies may include a first bipolar electrode embedded within the electrostatic chuck body between the heater and support surface. The assemblies may include a second bipolar electrode embedded within the chuck body between the heater and support surface. Peripheral edges of one or both of the first and second bipolar electrodes may extend beyond an outer periphery of the seat. The assemblies may include an RF power supply coupled with the first and second bipolar electrodes. The assemblies may include a first floating DC power supply coupled with the first bipolar electrode. The assemblies may include a second floating DC power supply coupled with the second bipolar electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2024Publication date: January 9, 2025Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Jian Li, Dmitry A. Dzilno, Juan Carlos Rocha-Alvarez, Zheng J. Ye, Paul L. Brillhart
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Patent number: 12131934Abstract: Exemplary semiconductor processing systems may include a chamber body including sidewalls and a base. The chamber body may define an interior volume. The systems may include a substrate support extending through the base of the chamber body. The substrate support may be configured to support a substrate within the interior volume. The systems may include a faceplate positioned within the interior volume of the chamber body. The faceplate may define a plurality of apertures through the faceplate. The systems may include a leveling apparatus seated on the substrate support. The leveling apparatus may include a plurality of piezoelectric pressure sensors.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2020Date of Patent: October 29, 2024Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Katherine Woo, Paul L. Brillhart, Jian Li, Shinnosuke Kawaguchi, David W. Groechel, Dorothea Buechel-Rimmel, Juan Carlos Rocha-Alvarez, Paul E. Fisher, Chidambara A. Ramalingam, Joseph J. Farah
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Patent number: 12062567Abstract: Exemplary methods of semiconductor processing may include coupling a fluid conduit within a substrate support in a semiconductor processing chamber to a system foreline. The coupling may vacuum chuck a substrate with the substrate support. The methods may include flowing a gas into the fluid conduit. The methods may include maintaining a pressure between the substrate and the substrate support at a pressure higher than the pressure at the system foreline.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2020Date of Patent: August 13, 2024Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.Inventors: Zubin Huang, Rui Cheng, Diwakar Kedlaya, Satish Radhakrishnan, Anton V. Baryshnikov, Venkatanarayana Shankaramurthy, Karthik Janakiraman, Paul L. Brillhart, Badri N. Ramamurthi
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Patent number: 12057339Abstract: Exemplary support assemblies may include an electrostatic chuck body defining a support surface that defines a substrate seat. The assemblies may include a support stem coupled with the chuck body. The assemblies may include a heater embedded within the chuck body. The assemblies may include a first bipolar electrode embedded within the electrostatic chuck body between the heater and support surface. The assemblies may include a second bipolar electrode embedded within the chuck body between the heater and support surface. Peripheral edges of one or both of the first and second bipolar electrodes may extend beyond an outer periphery of the seat. The assemblies may include an RF power supply coupled with the first and second bipolar electrodes. The assemblies may include a first floating DC power supply coupled with the first bipolar electrode. The assemblies may include a second floating DC power supply coupled with the second bipolar electrode.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2020Date of Patent: August 6, 2024Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Jian Li, Dmitry A. Dzilno, Juan Carlos Rocha-Alvarez, Zheng J. Ye, Paul L. Brillhart
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Patent number: 12040210Abstract: Exemplary semiconductor processing systems include a processing chamber, a power supply, and a chuck disposed at least partially within the processing chamber. The chuck includes a chuck body defining a vacuum port. The chuck also includes first and second coplanar electrodes embedded in the chuck body and connected to the power supply. In some examples, coplanar electrodes include concentric electrodes defining a concentric gap in between. Exemplary semiconductor processing methods may include activating the power supply for the electrostatic chuck to secure a semiconductor substrate on the body of the chuck and/or activating the vacuum port defined by the body of the electrostatic chuck. Some processing can be carried out at increased pressure, while other processing can be carried out at reduced pressure with increased chucking voltage.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2020Date of Patent: July 16, 2024Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Jian Li, Dmitry A. Dzilno, Juan Carlos Rocha-Alvarez, Paul L. Brillhart, Akshay Gunaji, Mayur Govind Kulkarni, Sandeep Bindgi, Sanjay Kamath, Kwangduk Douglas Lee, Zongbin Wang, Yubin Zhang, Yong Xiang Lim
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Publication number: 20230023764Abstract: Methods and apparatus for surface profiling and texturing of chamber components for use in a process chamber, such surface-profiled or textured chamber components, and method of use of same are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method includes measuring a parameter of a reference substrate or a heated pedestal using one or more sensors and modifying a surface of a chamber component physically based on the measured parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2020Publication date: January 26, 2023Inventors: David W. GROECHEL, Michael R. RICE, Gang Grant PENG, Rui CHENG, Zubin HUANG, Han WANG, Karthik JANAKIRAMAN, Diwakar KEDLAYA, Paul L. BRILLHART, Abdul Aziz KHAJA
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Publication number: 20220127723Abstract: Exemplary substrate support assemblies may include an electrostatic chuck body defining a support surface that defines a substrate seat. The substrate support surface may include a dielectric coating. The substrate support assemblies may include a support stem coupled with the electrostatic chuck body. The substrate support assemblies may include a cooling hub positioned below a base of the support stem and coupled with a cooling fluid source. The electrostatic chuck body may define at least one cooling channel that is in communication with a cooling fluid source. The substrate support assemblies may include a heater embedded within the electrostatic chuck body. The substrate support assemblies may include an AC power rod extending through the support stem and electrically coupled with the heater. The substrate support assemblies may include a plurality of voids formed within the electrostatic chuck body between the at least one cooling channel and the heater.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2020Publication date: April 28, 2022Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Jian Li, Juan Carlos Rocha-Alvarez, Mayur Govind Kulkarni, Paul L. Brillhart, Vidyadharan Srinivasamurthy, Katherine Woo, Wenhao Zhang
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Publication number: 20220130704Abstract: Exemplary support assemblies may include an electrostatic chuck body defining a support surface that defines a substrate seat. The assemblies may include a support stem coupled with the chuck body. The assemblies may include a heater embedded within the chuck body. The assemblies may include a first bipolar electrode embedded within the electrostatic chuck body between the heater and support surface. The assemblies may include a second bipolar electrode embedded within the chuck body between the heater and support surface. Peripheral edges of one or both of the first and second bipolar electrodes may extend beyond an outer periphery of the seat. The assemblies may include an RF power supply coupled with the first and second bipolar electrodes. The assemblies may include a first floating DC power supply coupled with the first bipolar electrode. The assemblies may include a second floating DC power supply coupled with the second bipolar electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2020Publication date: April 28, 2022Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Jian Li, Dmitry A. Dzilno, Juan Carlos Rocha-Alvarez, Zheng J. Ye, Paul L. Brillhart
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Publication number: 20220122817Abstract: Exemplary support assemblies may include an electrostatic chuck body defining a substrate support surface. The assemblies may include a support stem coupled with the electrostatic chuck body. The assemblies may include a heater embedded within the electrostatic chuck body. The assemblies may include an electrode embedded within the electrostatic chuck body between the heater and the substrate support surface. The assemblies may include a power transmission rod coupled with the electrode. The power transmission rod may include a material characterized by a coefficient of thermal expansion of less than or about 10×10?6/° C.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2020Publication date: April 21, 2022Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Paul L. Brillhart, Jian Li, Katherine Woo, Matthew Miller, Shinnosuke Kawaguchi
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Publication number: 20220122873Abstract: Exemplary semiconductor processing systems include a processing chamber, a power supply, and a chuck disposed at least partially within the processing chamber. The chuck includes a chuck body defining a vacuum port. The chuck also includes first and second coplanar electrodes embedded in the chuck body and connected to the power supply. In some examples, coplanar electrodes include concentric electrodes defining a concentric gap in between. Exemplary semiconductor processing methods may include activating the power supply for the electrostatic chuck to secure a semiconductor substrate on the body of the chuck and/or activating the vacuum port defined by the body of the electrostatic chuck. Some processing can be carried out at increased pressure, while other processing can be carried out at reduced pressure with increased chucking voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2020Publication date: April 21, 2022Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Jian Li, Dmitry A. Dzilno, Juan Carlos Rocha-Alvarez, Paul L. Brillhart, Akshay Gunaji, Mayur Govind Kulkarni, Sandeep Bindgi, Sanjay Kamath, Kwangduk Douglas Lee, Zongbin Wang, Yubin Zhang, Yong Xiang Lim
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Publication number: 20220108907Abstract: Exemplary semiconductor processing systems may include a chamber body including sidewalls and a base. The chamber body may define an interior volume. The systems may include a substrate support extending through the base of the chamber body. The substrate support may be configured to support a substrate within the interior volume. The systems may include a faceplate positioned within the interior volume of the chamber body. The faceplate may define a plurality of apertures through the faceplate. The systems may include a leveling apparatus seated on the substrate support. The leveling apparatus may include a plurality of piezoelectric pressure sensors.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2020Publication date: April 7, 2022Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Katherine Woo, Paul L. Brillhart, Jian Li, Shinnosuke Kawaguchi, David W. Groechel, Dorothea Buechel-Rimmel, Juan Carlos Rocha-Alvarez, Paul E. Fisher, Chidambara A. Ramalingam, Joseph J. Farah
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Publication number: 20220093371Abstract: Exemplary semiconductor processing systems include a chamber body having sidewalls and a base. The systems may include a substrate support extending through the base. The substrate support may include a support plate defining lift pin locations and a shaft coupled with the support plate. The systems may include a shield coupled with the shaft and extending below the support plate. The shield may define a central aperture that extends beyond an outer periphery of the shaft. The systems may include a purge baffle coupled with the shield at a position that is beyond the central aperture such that a space between the purge baffle and the shaft is in fluid communication with a space between the shield and the support plate. The purge baffle may extend along at least a portion of the shaft. The systems may include a purge gas source coupled with the purge baffle.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2020Publication date: March 24, 2022Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Zubin Huang, Truong Van Nguyen, Rui Cheng, Diwakar Kedlaya, Manjunath Veerappa Chobari Patil, Prashant A. Desai, Paul L. Brillhart, Karthik Janakiraman, Pavan Kumar Murali Kumar
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Publication number: 20210320027Abstract: Exemplary methods of semiconductor processing may include coupling a fluid conduit within a substrate support in a semiconductor processing chamber to a system foreline. The coupling may vacuum chuck a substrate with the substrate support. The methods may include flowing a gas into the fluid conduit. The methods may include maintaining a pressure between the substrate and the substrate support at a pressure higher than the pressure at the system foreline.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2020Publication date: October 14, 2021Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Zubin Huang, Rui Cheng, Diwakar Kedlaya, Satish Radhakrishnan, Anton V. Baryshnikov, Venkatanarayana Shankaramurthy, Karthik Janakiraman, Paul L. Brillhart, Badri N. Ramamurthi
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Publication number: 20210287924Abstract: Exemplary support assemblies may include an electrostatic chuck body defining a substrate support surface. The substrate support assemblies may include a support stem coupled with the electrostatic chuck body. The substrate support assemblies may include a heater embedded within the electrostatic chuck body. The substrate support assemblies may include an electrode embedded within the electrostatic chuck body between the heater and the substrate support surface. The substrate support assembly may include a ceramic material characterized by a grain size of less than or about 5 ?m.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2020Publication date: September 16, 2021Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Jian Li, Paul L. Brillhart, Juan Carlos Rocha-Alvarez, Abdul Aziz Khaja, Vinay K. Prabhakar, Kwangduk Douglas Lee, Chidambara A. Ramalingam, Venkata Sharat Chandra Parimi
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Publication number: 20210183657Abstract: Methods and apparatus for surface profiling and texturing of chamber components for use in a process chamber, such surface-profiled or textured chamber components, and method of use of same are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method includes measuring a parameter of a reference substrate or a heated pedestal using one or more sensors and modifying a surface of a chamber component based on the measured parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2019Publication date: June 17, 2021Inventors: DAVID W. GROECHEL, MICHAEL R. RICE, GANG GRANT PENG, RUI CHENG, ZUBIN HUANG, HAN WANG, KARTHIK JANAKIRAMAN, DIWAKAR KEDLAYA, PAUL L. BRILLHART
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Publication number: 20090159566Abstract: A pedestal assembly and method for controlling temperature of a substrate during processing is provided. In one embodiment, method for controlling a substrate temperature during processing includes placing a substrate on a substrate pedestal assembly in a vacuum processing chamber, controlling a temperature of the substrate pedestal assembly by flowing a heat transfer fluid through a radial flowpath within the substrate pedestal assembly, the radial flowpath including both radially inward and radially outward portions, and plasma processing the substrate on the temperature controlled substrate pedestal assembly. In another embodiment, plasma processing may be at least one of a plasma treatment, a chemical vapor deposition process, a physical vapor deposition process, an ion implantation process or an etch process, among others.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2008Publication date: June 25, 2009Applicant: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.Inventors: Paul L. Brillhart, Richard Charles Fovell, Hamid Tavassoli, Xiaoping Zhou, Douglas A. Buchberger, JR., Kallol Bera