Patents by Inventor Rick Endo

Rick Endo 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: 20150093898
    Abstract: A combinatorial processing chamber is provided. The combinatorial processing chamber is configured to isolate a radial portion of a rotatable substrate support, which in turn is configured to support a substrate. The chamber includes a plurality of clusters process heads in one embodiment. An insert having a base plate disposed between the substrate support and the process heads defines a confinement region for a deposition process in one embodiment. The base plate has an opening to enable access of the deposition material to the substrate. Through rotation of the substrate and movement of the opening, multiple regions of the substrate are accessible for performing combinatorial processing on a single substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Rick Endo, Jeremy Cheng, Indranil De, James Tsung, Kurt Weiner, Maosheng Zhao
  • Patent number: 8932995
    Abstract: A combinatorial processing chamber is provided. The combinatorial processing chamber is configured to isolate a radial portion of a rotatable substrate support, which in turn is configured to support a substrate. The chamber includes a plurality of clusters process heads in one embodiment. An insert having a base plate disposed between the substrate support and the process heads defines a confinement region for a deposition process in one embodiment. The base plate has an opening to enable access of the deposition material to the substrate. Through rotation of the substrate and movement of the opening, multiple regions of the substrate are accessible for performing combinatorial processing on a single substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick Endo, Kurt Weiner, Indranil De, James Tsung, Maosheng Zhao, Jeremy Cheng
  • Publication number: 20140311408
    Abstract: The various embodiments of the invention provide for relative movement of the substrate and a process head to access the entire wafer in a minimal space to conduct combinatorial processing on various regions of the substrate. The heads enable site isolated processing within the chamber described and method of using the same are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Indranil De, Rick Endo, James Tsung, Kurt Weiner, Maosheng Zhao
  • Patent number: 8771483
    Abstract: A combinatorial processing chamber is provided. The combinatorial processing chamber is configured to isolate a radial portion of a rotatable substrate support, which in turn is configured to support a substrate. The chamber includes a plurality of clusters process heads in one embodiment. An insert having a base plate disposed between the substrate support and the process heads defines a confinement region for a deposition process in one embodiment. The base plate has an opening to enable access of the deposition material to the substrate. Through rotation of the substrate and movement of the opening, multiple regions of the substrate are accessible for performing combinatorial processing on a single substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick Endo, Kurt Weiner, Indranil De, James Tsung, Maosheng Zhao, Jeremy Cheng
  • Patent number: 8770143
    Abstract: The various embodiments of the invention provide for relative movement of the substrate and a process head to access the entire wafer in a minimal space to conduct combinatorial processing on various regions of the substrate. The heads enable site isolated processing within the chamber described and method of using the same are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick Endo, Kurt Weiner, Indranil De, James Tsung, Maosheng Zhao
  • Patent number: 8758581
    Abstract: A combinatorial processing chamber is provided. The combinatorial processing chamber is configured to isolate a radial portion of a rotatable substrate support, which in turn is configured to support a substrate. The chamber includes a plurality of clusters process heads in one embodiment. An insert having a base plate disposed between the substrate support and the process heads defines a confinement region for a deposition process in one embodiment. The base plate has an opening to enable access of the deposition material to the substrate. Through rotation of the substrate and movement of the opening, multiple regions of the substrate are accessible for performing combinatorial processing on a single substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick Endo, Kurt Weiner, Indranil De, James Tsung, Maosheng Zhao, Jeremy Cheng
  • Patent number: 8500908
    Abstract: A structure for independently supporting a wafer and a mask in a processing chamber is provided. The structure includes a set of extensions for supporting the wafer and a set of extensions supporting the mask. The set of extensions for the wafer and the set of extensions for the mask enable independent movement of the wafer and the mask. In one embodiment, the extensions are affixed to an annular ring which is capable of moving in a vertical direction within the processing chamber. A processing chamber, a mask, and a method for combinatorially processing a substrate are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick Endo, James Tsung, Kurt H Weiner
  • Patent number: 8486821
    Abstract: A method of combinatorially processing a substrate and combinatorial processing chamber are provided. The processing chamber includes opposing annular rings defining a conductance gap that extends radially outward. The opposing annular rings are configured to vary the conductance gap in-situ. The variation of the conductance gap is another parameter for processing regions of a substrate differently to evaluate the impact of the conductance variation on a deposition process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick Endo, Jay Dedontney, James Tsung
  • Patent number: 8449678
    Abstract: A combinatorial processing chamber is provided. The combinatorial processing chamber is configured to isolate a radial portion of a rotatable substrate support, which in turn is configured to support a substrate. The chamber includes a plurality of clusters process heads in one embodiment. An insert having a base plate disposed between the substrate support and the process heads defines a confinement region for a deposition process in one embodiment. The base plate has an opening to enable access of the deposition material to the substrate. Through rotation of the substrate and movement of the opening, multiple regions of the substrate are accessible for performing combinatorial processing on a single substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick Endo, Kurt Weiner, Indranil De, James Tsung, Maosheng Zhao, Jeremy Cheng
  • Patent number: 8387563
    Abstract: A combinatorial processing chamber is provided. The combinatorial processing chamber is configured to isolate a radial portion of a rotatable substrate support, which in turn is configured to support a substrate. The chamber includes a plurality of clusters process heads in one embodiment. An insert having a base plate disposed between the substrate support and the process heads defines a confinement region for a deposition process in one embodiment. The base plate has an opening to enable access of the deposition material to the substrate. Through rotation of the substrate and movement of the opening, multiple regions of the substrate are accessible for performing combinatorial processing on a single substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick Endo, Jeremy Cheng, Indranil De, James Tsung, Kurt Weiner, Maosheng Zhao
  • Patent number: 8317925
    Abstract: A structure for independently supporting a wafer and a mask in a processing chamber is provided. The structure includes a set of extensions for supporting the wafer and a set of extensions supporting the mask. The set of extensions for the wafer and the set of extensions for the mask enable independent movement of the wafer and the mask. In one embodiment, the extensions are affixed to an annular ring which is capable of moving in a vertical direction within the processing chamber. A processing chamber, a mask, and a method for combinatorially processing a substrate are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick Endo, Kurt Weiner, James Tsung
  • Patent number: 8216376
    Abstract: A method of combinatorially processing a substrate and combinatorial processing chamber are provided. The processing chamber includes opposing annular rings defining a conductance gap that extends radially outward. The opposing annular rings are configured to vary the conductance gap in-situ. The variation of the conductance gap is another parameter for processing regions of a substrate differently to evaluate the impact of the conductance variation on a deposition process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick Endo, Jay Dedontney, James Tsung
  • Publication number: 20120149180
    Abstract: A combinatorial processing chamber is provided. The combinatorial processing chamber is configured to isolate a radial portion of a rotatable substrate support, which in turn is configured to support a substrate. The chamber includes a plurality of clusters process heads in one embodiment. An insert having a base plate disposed between the substrate support and the process heads defines a confinement region for a deposition process in one embodiment. The base plate has an opening to enable access of the deposition material to the substrate. Through rotation of the substrate and movement of the opening, multiple regions of the substrate are accessible for performing combinatorial processing on a single substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick Endo, Kurt Weiner, Indranil De, James Tsung, Maosheng Zhao, Jeremy Cheng
  • Publication number: 20120142197
    Abstract: A combinatorial processing chamber is provided. The combinatorial processing chamber is configured to isolate a radial portion of a rotatable substrate support, which in turn is configured to support a substrate. The chamber includes a plurality of clusters process heads in one embodiment. An insert having a base plate disposed between the substrate support and the process heads defines a confinement region for a deposition process in one embodiment. The base plate has an opening to enable access of the deposition material to the substrate. Through rotation of the substrate and movement of the opening, multiple regions of the substrate are accessible for performing combinatorial processing on a single substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick Endo, Kurt Weiner, Indranil De, James Tsung, Maosheng Zhao, Jeremy Cheng
  • Publication number: 20110262644
    Abstract: A structure for independently supporting a wafer and a mask in a processing chamber is provided. The structure includes a set of extensions for supporting the wafer and a set of extensions supporting the mask. The set of extensions for the wafer and the set of extensions for the mask enable independent movement of the wafer and the mask. In one embodiment, the extensions are affixed to an annular ring which is capable of moving in a vertical direction within the processing chamber. A processing chamber, a mask, and a method for combinatorially processing a substrate are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: INTERMOLECULAR, INC.
    Inventors: Rick Endo, Kurt Weiner, James Tsung
  • Patent number: 8039052
    Abstract: The various embodiments of the invention provide for relative movement of the substrate and a process head to access the entire wafer in a minimal space to conduct combinatorial processing on various regions of the substrate. The heads enable site isolated processing within the chamber described and method of using the same are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick Endo, Kurt Weiner, Indranil De, James Tsung, Maosheng Zhao
  • Publication number: 20110209663
    Abstract: The various embodiments of the invention provide for relative movement of the substrate and a process head to access the entire wafer in a minimal space to conduct combinatorial processing on various regions of the substrate. The heads enable site isolated processing within the chamber described and method of using the same are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: INTERMOLECULAR, INC.
    Inventors: Rick Endo, Kurt Weiner, Indranil De, James Tsung, Maosheng Zhao
  • Patent number: 7993461
    Abstract: A structure for independently supporting a wafer and a mask in a processing chamber is provided. The structure includes a set of extensions for supporting the wafer and a set of extensions supporting the mask. The set of extensions for the wafer and the set of extensions for the mask enable independent movement of the wafer and the mask. In one embodiment, the extensions are affixed to an annular ring which is capable of moving in a vertical direction within the processing chamber. A processing chamber, a mask, and a method for combinatorially processing a substrate are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick Endo, Kurt Weiner, James Tsung
  • Publication number: 20090069924
    Abstract: A combinatorial processing chamber is provided. The combinatorial processing chamber is configured to isolate a radial portion of a rotatable substrate support, which in turn is configured to support a substrate. The chamber includes a plurality of clusters process heads in one embodiment. An insert having a base plate disposed between the substrate support and the process heads defines a confinement region for a deposition process in one embodiment. The base plate has an opening to enable access of the deposition material to the substrate. Through rotation of the substrate and movement of the opening, multiple regions of the substrate are accessible for performing combinatorial processing on a single substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Rick Endo, Kurt Weiner, Indranil De, James Tsung, Maosheng Zhao, Jeremy Cheng
  • Publication number: 20090068849
    Abstract: The various embodiments of the invention provide for relative movement of the substrate and a process head to access the entire wafer in a minimal space to conduct combinatorial processing on various regions of the substrate. The heads enable site isolated processing within the chamber described and method of using the same are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Rick Endo, Kurt Weiner, Indranil De, James Tsung, Maosheng Zhao