Patents by Inventor Rick J. Roberts

Rick J. Roberts 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: 6936551
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a method for fabricating a low-k dielectric film that includes steps of: (a) chemical vapor depositing a lower-k dielectric film; and (b) e-beam treating the lower-k dielectric film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Applied Materials Inc.
    Inventors: Farhad Moghadam, Jun Zhao, Timothy Weidman, Rick J. Roberts, Li-Qun Xia, Alexandros T. Demos
  • Patent number: 6895776
    Abstract: An anti-stratification-delivery system comprises a multi-zone-refrigeration unit having at least first and second zone temperature controllers, the first and second zone temperature controllers are capable of being set at different temperatures to establish a temperature gradient in a liquid, the temperature gradient being sufficient to cause natural-thermal convention within the liquid to stir a colloid suspended in the liquid to an approximately uniform-colloidal suspension; and a delivery system configured to dispense the approximately uniform-colloidal suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Zhao, Rick J. Roberts
  • Patent number: 6878644
    Abstract: A method of filling a plurality of trenches etched in a substrate. In one embodiment the method includes depositing a layer of spin-on glass material over the substrate and into the plurality of trenches; curing the layer of spin-on glass material by exposing the spin-on glass material to electron beam radiation at a first temperature for a first period and subsequently exposing the spin-on glass material to an electron beam at a second temperature for a second period, where the second temperature is greater than the first temperature. The method concludes by depositing a layer of silica glass over the cured spin-on glass layer using a chemical vapor deposition technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhenjiang Cui, Rick J. Roberts, Michael S. Cox, Jun Zhao, Khaled Elsheref, Alexandros T. Demos
  • Publication number: 20040266123
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a method for treating silicon nitride (SixNy) films that includes electron beam treating the silicon nitride film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhenjiang Cui, Jun Zhao, Rick J. Roberts, Shulin Wang, Errol A. C. Sanchez, Aihua Chen
  • Publication number: 20040224479
    Abstract: A method of filling a plurality of trenches etched in a substrate. In one embodiment the method includes depositing a layer of spin-on glass material over the substrate and into the plurality of trenches; curing the layer of spin-on glass material by exposing the spin-on glass material to electron beam radiation at a first temperature for a first period and subsequently exposing the spin-on glass material to an electron beam at a second temperature for a second period, where the second temperature is greater than the first temperature. The method concludes by depositing a layer of silica glass over the cured spin-on glass layer using a chemical vapor deposition technique.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhenjiang Cui, Rick J. Roberts, Michael S. Cox, Jun Zhao, Khaled Elsheref, Alexandros T. Demos
  • Publication number: 20040224496
    Abstract: A method of filling a plurality of trenches etched in a substrate. In one embodiment the method includes depositing a layer of spin-on glass material over the substrate and into the plurality of trenches; exposing the layer of spin-on glass material to a solvent; curing the layer of spin-on glass material; and depositing a layer of silica glass over the cured spin-on glass layer using a chemical vapor deposition technique.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhenjiang Cui, Rick J. Roberts, Michael S. Cox, Jun Zhao
  • Publication number: 20040069410
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a cluster tool for processing wafers that includes: (a) one or more chemical vapor deposition chambers; (b) one or more e-beam treatment chambers; and (c) a transfer chamber adapted to transfer a wafer from one chamber to another while maintaining vacuum conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Farhad Moghadam, Jun Zhao, Timothy Weidman, Rick J. Roberts, Li-Qun Xia, Alexandros T. Demos
  • Patent number: 6693050
    Abstract: A method of filling a plurality of trenches etched in a substrate. In one embodiment the method includes depositing a layer of spin-on glass material over the substrate and into the plurality of trenches; exposing the layer of spin-on glass material to a solvent; curing the layer of spin-on glass material; and depositing a layer of silica glass over the cured spin-on glass layer using a chemical vapor deposition technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Applied Materials Inc.
    Inventors: Zhenjiang Cui, Rick J. Roberts, Michael S. Cox, Jun Zhao
  • Publication number: 20040020601
    Abstract: A series of modular apparatuses for processing substrates using a unique combinations of a substrate coating subsystem, a substrate curing subsystem and a PECVD-based capping subsystem. The individual subsystems are capable of being combined with one another for creating unique integrated substrate processing apparatuses that enable combined processing by the coating, curing and capping subsystems in an integrated and controlled environment, thus enabling the processing of substrates in an efficient manner, while minimizing the exposure of the substrates to an external environment and minimizing the condensation of vapors while the substrate is processed by the cure and capping subsystems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Zhao, Farhad Moghadam, Tim Weidman, Rick J. Roberts, Hari Ponnekanti, Chau T. Nguyen, Satish Sundar, David H. Quach, Sasson Somekh
  • Publication number: 20030232495
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a method for fabricating a low-k dielectric film that includes steps of: (a) chemical vapor depositing a lower-k dielectric film; and (b) e-beam treating the lower-k dielectric film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventors: Farhad Moghadam, Jun Zhao, Timothy Weidman, Rick J. Roberts, Li-Qun Xia, Alexandros T. Demos
  • Publication number: 20030138560
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing substrates is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a housing and a plurality of stacked cell structures in the housing. An actuator is adapted to move the plurality of stacked cell structures inside of the housing while substrates in the stacked cell structures are being heated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Zhao, David Quach, Timothy Weidman, Rick J. Roberts, Farhad Moghadam, Dan Maydan