Patents by Inventor Robert Mikkola

Robert Mikkola 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: 11629423
    Abstract: Exemplary methods of electroplating may include providing a patterned substrate having at least one opening, where the opening includes one or more sidewalls and a bottom surface. The methods may also include plating a first portion of ruthenium-containing material on the bottom surface of the opening at a first deposition rate and a second portion of ruthenium-containing material on the sidewalls of the opening at a second deposition rate, where the first deposition rate is greater than the second deposition rate. The methods may be used to make integrated circuit devices that include void-free, electrically-conductive lines and columns of ruthenium-containing materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric J. Bergman, Robert Mikkola
  • Publication number: 20230066404
    Abstract: Exemplary methods of electroplating may include providing a patterned substrate having at least one opening, where the opening includes one or more sidewalls and a bottom surface. The methods may also include plating a first portion of ruthenium-containing material on the bottom surface of the opening at a first deposition rate and a second portion of ruthenium-containing material on the sidewalls of the opening at a second deposition rate, where the first deposition rate is greater than the second deposition rate. The methods may be used to make integrated circuit devices that include void-free, electrically-conductive lines and columns of ruthenium-containing materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric J. Bergman, Robert Mikkola
  • Patent number: 11261533
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods of electro-depositing a crystalline layer of pure aluminum onto the surface of an aluminum alloy article. The methods may include positioning the article and an electrode in an electro-deposition solution. The electro-deposition solution includes one or more of an aluminum halide, an organic chloride salt, an aluminum reducing agent, a solvent such as a nitrile compound, and an alkali metal halide. The solution is blanketed with an inert gas, agitated, and a crystalline layer of aluminum is deposited on the article by applying a bias voltage to the article and the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Groechel, Gang Peng, Robert Mikkola
  • Patent number: 11203816
    Abstract: Exemplary methods of electroplating may include delivering a current from a power supply through a plating bath of an electroplating chamber for a first period of time. The current delivered may be or include a pulsed current at a duty cycle of less than or about 50%. The methods may include plating a first amount of metal on a substrate within the plating bath. The substrate may define a via within the substrate. The methods may include, subsequent the first period of time, transitioning the power supply to a continuous DC current delivery for a second period of time. The methods may include plating a second amount of metal on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Marvin L. Bernt, James C. Burnham, Robert Mikkola
  • Patent number: 10240248
    Abstract: In electroplating apparatus, a paddle or agitator agitates electrolyte in a vessel to provide high velocity fluid flow at the surface of a wafer. The agitator is designed and/or moved to also selectively shield part of the wafer, for example the edge of the wafer, from the electric field in the vessel. Selectively shielding may be achieved by temporally shifting the average position of the agitator towards one side of the wafer, by omitting or shortening slots in the agitator, and/or by synchronizing movement of the agitator with rotation of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Van Valkenburg, Robert Mikkola, John L. Klocke, Paul R. McHugh, Gregory J. Wilson, Kyle Moran Hanson, Eric J. Bergman
  • Publication number: 20180230616
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods of electro-depositing a crystalline layer of pure aluminum onto the surface of an aluminum alloy article. The methods may include positioning the article and an electrode in an electro-deposition solution. The electro-deposition solution includes one or more of an aluminum halide, an organic chloride salt, an aluminum reducing agent, a solvent such as a nitrile compound, and an alkali metal halide. The solution is blanketed with an inert gas, agitated, and a crystalline layer of aluminum is deposited on the article by applying a bias voltage to the article and the electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: David W. GROECHEL, Gang PENG, Robert MIKKOLA
  • Publication number: 20170051423
    Abstract: In electroplating apparatus, a paddle or agitator agitates electrolyte in a vessel to provide high velocity fluid flow at the surface of a wafer. The agitator is designed and/or moved to also selectively shield part of the wafer, for example the edge of the wafer, from the electric field in the vessel. Selectively shielding may be achieved by temporally shifting the average position of the agitator towards one side of the wafer, by omitting or shortening slots in the agitator, and/or by synchronizing movement of the agitator with rotation of the wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Paul Van Valkenburg, Robert Mikkola, John L. Klocke, Paul R. McHugh, Gregory J. Wilson, Kyle Moran Hanson, Eric J. Bergman
  • Publication number: 20070084732
    Abstract: Leveling agents for metal plating baths are provided. Plating baths containing such leveling agents provide metal deposits having substantially level surfaces. Such leveling agents may be selected to selectively incorporate desired levels of impurities into the metal deposit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Publication date: April 19, 2007
    Applicant: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials LLC
    Inventors: Deyan Wang, Robert Mikkola, George Barclay
  • Publication number: 20060016693
    Abstract: Plating baths containing a mixture of leveling agents, where the mixture includes a first level agent having a first diffusion coefficient and a second leveling agent having a second diffusion coefficient, are provided. Such plating baths deposit a metal layer, particularly a copper layer, that is substantially planar across a range of electrolyte concentrations. Methods of depositing metal layers using such plating baths are also disclosed. These baths and methods are useful for providing a planar layer of copper on a substrate having small apertures, such as an electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2005
    Publication date: January 26, 2006
    Applicant: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials LLC
    Inventors: Deyan Wang, Robert Mikkola, Chunyi Wu, George Barclay
  • Publication number: 20050020068
    Abstract: Compositions suitable for electroplating copper including one or more sources of copper, one or more alkanolamines or polymeric amines; and water are provided. These compositions are useful in the deposition and repair of seed layers used in the manufacture of electronic devices. Methods using these compositions are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Applicant: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Deyan Wang, Robert Mikkola
  • Patent number: 6682642
    Abstract: Disclosed are compositions useful for repair and electroplating of seed layers. Also disclosed are methods of repairing and electroplating such seed layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Shipley Company, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Robert A. Mikkola, Jeffrey M. Calvert