Patents by Inventor Sanjeev Baluja

Sanjeev Baluja 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: 20250014922
    Abstract: Metrology slot plates, processing chamber lids and processing chambers having metrology slot plates are described. Each of the metrology slot plates independently comprises one or more of a plate blank, a reflectometer, a capacitance sensor, a gas flow meter, a manometer, a pyrometer, a distance sensor (laser) or an emissometer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2024
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Applicant: Applied Materials Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Brian Doering, Vivek B. Shah, Ashutosh Agarwal, Sanjeev Baluja, Shrihari Sampathkumar, Chunlei Zhang
  • Patent number: 12183618
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for loading and unloading substrates from a spatial processing chamber are described. A support assembly has a rotatable center base and support arms extending therefrom. A support shaft is at the outer end of the support arms and a substrate support is on the support shaft. Primary lift pins are positioned within openings in the substrate support. Secondary lift pins are positioned within openings in the support arms and are aligned with the primary lift pins. An actuation plate within the processing volume causes, upon movement of the support assembly, the primary lift pins to elevate through contact with the secondary lift pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanjeev Baluja, Tejas Ulavi, Eric J. Hoffmann, Ashutosh Agarwal
  • Publication number: 20240420924
    Abstract: Cooling flanges and semiconductor manufacturing processing chamber comprising the cooling flanges are disclosed. The cooling flanges comprise a flange body with a gas channel extending through the length thereof. The gas channel has an inlet funnel, a middle channel and an outlet funnel with a purge gas inlet in a side of the flange body. The purge gas inlet connects to the middle channel of the gas channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2023
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Amit Sahu, Shashidhara Patel H B, Muhannad Mustafa, Rakesh Ramadas, Sanjeev Baluja
  • Publication number: 20240408621
    Abstract: Process chamber lids, processing chambers and methods using the lids are described. In some embodiments, the lid includes a showerhead with a plurality of heater segments in a peripheral region thereof. The heated showerhead minimizes temperature non-uniformity and/or minimizes heat less near the peripheral edge of a processed wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2023
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Shashidhara Patel H B, Muhannad Mustafa, Amit Sahu, Sanjeev Baluja
  • Publication number: 20240371613
    Abstract: Semiconductor manufacturing processing chambers having an RF isolator between the support ring and the showerhead and/or an RF gasket between the showerhead and the gas funnel are described. A cap insert with a cap housing around the cap insert is on the gas funnel and an RF feed is in contact with the showerhead. A substrate support can be included and may have an RF return path directed through the substrate support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2024
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Muhannad Mustafa, Janisht Golcha, Sanjeev Baluja, Srinivas Gandikota, Yixiong Yang
  • Publication number: 20240360553
    Abstract: Processing chambers and methods of use comprising a plurality of processing regions bounded around an outer peripheral edge by one or more vacuum channel. A first processing region has a first vacuum channel with a first outer diameter and a second processing region has a second vacuum channel with a second outer diameter, the first outer diameter being less than the second outer diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2024
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph AuBuchon, Sanjeev Baluja, Ashutosh Agarwal
  • Publication number: 20240352586
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods to process one or more substrates are described. A plurality of process stations are arranged in a circular configuration around a rotational axis. A support assembly with a rotatable center base defining a rotational axis, at least two support arms extending from the center base and heaters on each of the support arms is positioned adjacent the processing stations so that the heaters can be moved amongst the various process stations to perform one or more process condition. The support assembly configured to offset the position of the substrate with respect to the processing stations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2024
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph AuBuchon, Sanjeev Baluja, Michael Robert Rice, Arkaprava Dan, Hanhong Chen
  • Publication number: 20240344608
    Abstract: Sealing bodies comprising a first body having a top surface and a bottom surface defining a thickness thereof. An inlet conduit and an outlet conduit are in fluid communication with one or more of the top surface, the bottom surface, or a top channel formed in the top surface or a bottom channel formed in the bottom surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2023
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Shashidhara Patel H B, Nagaraj Naik, Muhannad Mustafa, Bin Cao, Sanjeev Baluja, Aditya Chuttar, Jae Hwa Park
  • Publication number: 20240337318
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are related to directed to a pressure seal for a process chamber. The pressure seal comprises a bottom portion, a compressible middle portion on the bottom portion, and a top portion on the compressible middle portion. The disclosed pressure seal is configured to reduce pumping time of a process region in an interior volume of a processing chamber compared to a process chamber that does not include a pressure seal. Processing chambers including the disclosed pressure seal are configured to process a semiconductor substrate at high temperatures, such as a temperature of greater than or equal to 350° C. Methods of sealing a processing chamber using the disclosed pressure seal are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2023
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Muhannad Mustafa, Sanjeev Baluja
  • Publication number: 20240304470
    Abstract: A heater assembly having a top seal and a second seal configured to account for deviation in processing heights and motor runoff of a heater standoff. The top seal is positioned between a shield plate and a top plate and the bottom seal is positioned between a heater mounting base and the heater standoff.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2024
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Akshay Gunaji, Tejas Umesh Ulavi, Sanjeev Baluja
  • Patent number: 12087555
    Abstract: Implementations disclosed herein generally relate to systems and methods of protecting a substrate support in a process chamber from cleaning fluid during a cleaning process. The method of cleaning the process chamber includes positioning in the process chamber a cover substrate above a substrate support and a process kit that separates a purge volume from a process volume. The method of cleaning includes flowing a purge gas in the purge volume to protect the substrate support and flowing a cleaning fluid to a process volume above the cover substrate, flowing the cleaning fluid in the process volume to an outer flow path, and to an exhaust outlet in the chamber body. The purge volume is maintained at a positive pressure with respect to the process volume to block the cleaning fluid from the purge volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kalyanjit Ghosh, Shailendra Srivastava, Tejas Ulavi, Yusheng Zhou, Amit Kumar Bansal, Sanjeev Baluja
  • Patent number: 12077861
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods to process one or more substrates are described. A plurality of process stations are arranged in a circular configuration around a rotational axis. A support assembly with a rotatable center base defining a rotational axis, at least two support arms extending from the center base and heaters on each of the support arms is positioned adjacent the processing stations so that the heaters can be moved amongst the various process stations to perform one or more process condition. The support assembly configured to offset the position of the substrate with respect to the processing stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph AuBuchon, Sanjeev Baluja, Michael Rice, Arkaprava Dan, Hanhong Chen
  • Patent number: 12060638
    Abstract: Processing chambers and methods of use comprising a plurality of processing regions bounded around an outer peripheral edge by one or more vacuum channel. A first processing region has a first vacuum channel with a first outer diameter and a second processing region has a second vacuum channel with a second outer diameter, the first outer diameter being less than the second outer diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph AuBuchon, Sanjeev Baluja, Ashutosh Agarwal
  • Patent number: 12057333
    Abstract: Metrology slot plates, processing chamber lids and processing chambers having metrology slot plates are described. Each of the metrology slot plates independently comprises one or more of a plate blank, a reflectometer, a capacitance sensor, a gas flow meter, a manometer, a pyrometer, a distance sensor (laser) or an emissometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Brian Doering, Vivek B. Shah, Ashutosh Agarwal, Sanjeev Baluja, Shrihari Sampathkumar, Chunlei Zhang
  • Publication number: 20240247373
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for improving deposition uniformity in a cross-flow processing chamber are described. A precursor inlet is configured to allow a cross-flow of precursor from the precursor inlet side of the lid to an exhaust side of the lid opposite a center of the lid from the precursor inlet side. At least one purge gas inlet is in fluid communication with a purge gas channel, the purge gas channel having at least one opening aligned to provide a flow of gas to a center of a substrate in the cross-flow process chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Muhannad Mustafa, Sanjeev Baluja
  • Publication number: 20240209506
    Abstract: Gas distribution assemblies comprising a backing plate, a first enclosure with an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of an opening in the center of the backing plate. A top plate is connected to the top of the first enclosure. A compressible seal surrounds the first enclosure connecting the top plate to the backing plate outside the opening in the backing plate. An actuator is connected to the backing plate and the top plate to move the top plate closer to and further from the backing plate. A plunger extends through the opening in the center of the first enclosure. Methods of controlling a flow profile are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2023
    Publication date: June 27, 2024
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanjeev Baluja, Muhannad Mustafa
  • Patent number: 12020957
    Abstract: A heater assembly having a top seal and a second seal configured to account for deviation in processing heights and motor runoff of a heater standoff. The top seal is positioned between a shield plate and a top plate and the bottom seal is positioned between a heater mounting base and the heater standoff.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Akshay Gunaji, Tejas Ulavi, Sanjeev Baluja
  • Patent number: 12018376
    Abstract: Process chambers and methods for leveling a motor shaft and substrate support plane are described. The process chamber includes a motor shaft connected to the process chamber with a plurality of motor bolts. A first plurality of sensors is arranged at about the same radial distance from the rotational axis and at different angular positions relative to the rotational axis and a second plurality of sensors are arranged to measure the support plane. An angle-dependent motor leveling profile is determined and shim values for the motor bolts are determined to level the motor shaft. The support plane is measured using the second plurality of sensors to level the support plane perpendicular to the motor shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashutosh Agarwal, Tejas Ulavi, Sanjeev Baluja
  • Publication number: 20240170254
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are directed to PEALD batch processing chambers. Some embodiments are directed to processing chambers having one or more inductively coupled plasma (ICP) coils electrically connected to at least one RF power source. Some embodiments are directed to processing chambers having a wafer cassette comprising a plurality of platforms, each platform configured to support at least one wafer for processing, and one or more RF power sources electrically connected to the plurality of platforms in the wafer cassette. In some embodiments, the plurality of platforms have a first set of electrodes having a first polarity and a second set of electrodes having a second polarity, and one or more RF power sources electrically connected to the plurality of platforms in the wafer cassette.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianming Fu, Tza-Jing Gung, Sanjeev Baluja, Haitao Wang, Mandyam Sriram, Srinivas Gandikota, Steven V. Sansoni
  • Patent number: D1037778
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashutosh Agarwal, Eric J. Hoffmann, Dhritiman Subha Kashyap, Kartik Shah, Amit Rajendra Sherekar, Sanjeev Baluja