Patents by Inventor Ralph Jan-Pin Lu

Ralph Jan-Pin Lu 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).

  • Patent number: 10770363
    Abstract: A semiconductor substrate support for supporting a semiconductor substrate in a plasma processing chamber includes a heater array comprising thermal control elements operable to tune a spatial temperature profile on the semiconductor substrate, the thermal control elements defining heater zones each of which is powered by two or more power supply lines and two or more power return lines wherein each power supply line is connected to at least two of the heater zones and each power return line is connected to at least two of the heater zones. A power distribution circuit is mated to a baseplate of the substrate support, the power distribution circuit being connected to each power supply line and power return line of the heater array. A switching device is connected to the power distribution circuit to independently provide time-averaged power to each of the heater zones by time divisional multiplexing of a plurality of switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Keith William Gaff, Tom Anderson, Keith Comendant, Ralph Jan-Pin Lu, Paul Robertson, Eric A. Pape, Neil Benjamin
  • Publication number: 20180374763
    Abstract: A semiconductor substrate support for supporting a semiconductor substrate in a plasma processing chamber includes a heater array comprising thermal control elements operable to tune a spatial temperature profile on the semiconductor substrate, the thermal control elements defining heater zones each of which is powered by two or more power supply lines and two or more power return lines wherein each power supply line is connected to at least two of the heater zones and each power return line is connected to at least two of the heater zones. A power distribution circuit is mated to a baseplate of the substrate support, the power distribution circuit being connected to each power supply line and power return line of the heater array. A switching device is connected to the power distribution circuit to independently provide time-averaged power to each of the heater zones by time divisional multiplexing of a plurality of switches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Keith William Gaff, Tom Anderson, Keith Comendant, Ralph Jan-Pin Lu, Paul Robertson, Eric A. Pape, Neil Benjamin
  • Patent number: 10049948
    Abstract: A semiconductor substrate support for supporting a semiconductor substrate in a plasma processing chamber includes a heater array comprising thermal control elements operable to tune a spatial temperature profile on the semiconductor substrate, the thermal control elements defining heater zones each of which is powered by two or more power supply lines and two or more power return lines wherein each power supply line is connected to at least two of the heater zones and each power return line is connected to at least two of the heater zones. A power distribution circuit is mated to a baseplate of the substrate support, the power distribution circuit being connected to each power supply line and power return line of the heater array. A switching device is connected to the power distribution circuit to independently provide time-averaged power to each of the heater zones by time divisional multiplexing of a plurality of switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keith William Gaff, Tom Anderson, Keith Comendant, Ralph Jan-Pin Lu, Paul Robertson, Eric A. Pape, Neil Benjamin
  • Publication number: 20140154819
    Abstract: A semiconductor substrate support for supporting a semiconductor substrate in a plasma processing chamber includes a heater array comprising thermal control elements operable to tune a spatial temperature profile on the semiconductor substrate, the thermal control elements defining heater zones each of which is powered by two or more power supply lines and two or more power return lines wherein each power supply line is connected to at least two of the heater zones and each power return line is connected to at least two of the heater zones. A power distribution circuit is mated to a baseplate of the substrate support, the power distribution circuit being connected to each power supply line and power return line of the heater array. A switching device is connected to the power distribution circuit to independently provide time-averaged power to each of the heater zones by time divisional multiplexing of a plurality of switches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keith William Gaff, Tom Anderson, Keith Comendant, Ralph Jan-Pin Lu, Paul Robertson, Eric A. Pape, Neil Benjamin
  • Patent number: 8315029
    Abstract: A plasma processing system for processing a wafer is provided. The system includes an electrostatic chuck (ESC) positioned inside a plasma processing chamber and configured to support the wafer. The ESC includes a positive terminal for providing a first force to the wafer and a negative terminal for providing a second force to the wafer. The system also includes a first circuit arrangement configured to measure at least a first voltage for determining a value of a positive load current applied to the positive terminal. The system further includes a second circuit arrangement configured to measure at least a second voltage for determining a value of a negative load current applied to the negative terminal. The system yet also includes circuitry configured to adjust a bias voltage using the values of the positive load current and the negative load current for balancing the first force and the second force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Seyed Jafar Jafarian-Tehrani, Ralph Jan-Pin Lu
  • Publication number: 20120018095
    Abstract: A plasma processing system for processing a wafer is provided. The system includes an electrostatic chuck (ESC) positioned inside a plasma processing chamber and configured to support the wafer. The ESC includes a positive terminal for providing a first force to the wafer and a negative terminal for providing a second force to the wafer. The system also includes a first circuit arrangement configured to measure at least a first voltage for determining a value of a positive load current applied to the positive terminal. The system further includes a second circuit arrangement configured to measure at least a second voltage for determining a value of a negative load current applied to the negative terminal. The system yet also includes circuitry configured to adjust a bias voltage using the values of the positive load current and the negative load current for balancing the first force and the second force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Seyed Jafar Jafarian-Tehrani, Ralph Jan-Pin Lu
  • Patent number: 7983018
    Abstract: An arrangement for securing a wafer during substrate processing is provided. The arrangement includes a power supply and an electrostatic chuck (ESC). The ESC supports the wafer and includes a positive and a negative terminal. A positive high voltage is provided to the positive terminal through an RF filter and a negative high voltage is provided to the negative terminal through the RF filter. The arrangement also includes a first and a second trans-impedance amplifiers (TIAs) that measure a first set of voltages for determining a value of a positive load current applied to the positive terminal and a third and fourth TIAs that measure a second set of voltages for determining a value of a negative load current applied to the negative terminal. The arrangement yet also includes a program to adjust a bias voltage using the values of the positive load current and the negative load current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Seyed Jafar Jafarian-Tehrani, Ralph Jan-Pin Lu
  • Publication number: 20110051307
    Abstract: An arrangement for securing a wafer during substrate processing is provided. The arrangement includes a power supply and an electrostatic chuck (ESC). The ESC supports the wafer and includes a positive and a negative terminal. A positive high voltage is provided to the positive terminal through an RF filter and a negative high voltage is provided to the negative terminal through the RF filter. The arrangement also includes a first and a second trans-impedance amplifiers (TIAs) that measure a first set of voltages for determining a value of a positive load current applied to the positive terminal and a third and fourth TIAs that measure a second set of voltages for determining a value of a negative load current applied to the negative terminal. The arrangement yet also includes a program to adjust a bias voltage using the values of the positive load current and the negative load current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Seyed Jafar Jafarian-Tehrani, Ralph Jan-Pin Lu
  • Patent number: 7768766
    Abstract: A plasma processing system is disclosed. The plasma processing system may include an electrostatic chuck (ESC) positioned inside a plasma processing chamber and configured to support a wafer. The ESC may include a positive terminal (+ESC) for providing a first force to the wafer and a negative terminal (?ESC) for providing a second force to the wafer. The plasma processing system may also include a first trans-impedance amplifier (TIA) and a second TIA configured to measure a first set of voltages for calculating a value of a positive load current applied to the positive terminal. The plasma processing system may also include a third TIA and a fourth TIA configured to measure a second set of voltages for calculating a value of a negative load current applied to the negative terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Seyed Jafar Jafarian-Tehrani, Ralph Jan-Pin Lu
  • Publication number: 20080297971
    Abstract: A plasma processing system is disclosed. The plasma processing system may include an electrostatic chuck (ESC) positioned inside a plasma processing chamber and configured to support a wafer. The ESC may include a positive terminal (+ESC) for providing a first force to the wafer and a negative terminal (?ESC) for providing a second force to the wafer. The plasma processing system may also include a first trans-impedance amplifier (TIA) and a second TIA configured to measure a first set of voltages for calculating a value of a positive load current applied to the positive terminal. The plasma processing system may also include a third TIA and a fourth TIA configured to measure a second set of voltages for calculating a value of a negative load current applied to the negative terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Seyed Jafar Jafarian-Tehrani, Ralph Jan-Pin Lu