Patents by Inventor Shaun Tyler SMITH

Shaun Tyler SMITH 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: 20250132132
    Abstract: Systems and device for removing edge bead accumulated on an edge of a wafer includes a first electrode disposed in a center of a nozzle used within a process chamber and a second electrode embedded within a dielectric material that surrounds the first electrode. A first channel is defined between the first electrode and the dielectric material and is used to receive a first gas from a first gas source. A second channel is defined between the dielectric material and an outer wall of the nozzle and is used to receive a second gas. RF power source is coupled to the nozzle so as to provide RF power to the electrodes to generate plasma radicals of the first gas. An opening at a bottom of the nozzle is used to provide pressurized flow of plasma radicals toward an edge of the wafer positioned below the nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Publication date: April 24, 2025
    Inventors: Paul Konkola, Shaun Tyler Smith, Yukinori Sakiyama, Karl Frederick Leeser, Ramkishan Rao Lingampalli
  • Patent number: 12283462
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a plasma may include one or more coupling ports to accept a radiofrequency (RF) current. The apparatus may additionally include one or more coupling structures which may include one or more conductive loops to permit the RF current to conduct from at least a first portion of the one or more coupling ports to at least a second port of the one or more coupling ports. The one or more conductive loops may each be configured to exhibit a first value of inductance in the absence of the plasma and to exhibit a second value of inductance in the presence of the plasma. The one or more coupling structures may each include a reactive element, in which each reactive element is coupled to a corresponding one of the one or more conductive loops so as to form a corresponding number of coupling structures. Each RF coupling structure may have a resonant frequency that increases in response to the presence of the plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Hema Swaroop Mopidevi, Lee Chen, Thomas W. Anderson, Shaun Tyler Smith, Neil M. P. Benjamin
  • Publication number: 20230326720
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a plasma may include one or more coupling ports to accept a radiofrequency (RF) current. The apparatus may additionally include one or more coupling structures which may include one or more conductive loops to permit the RF current to conduct from at least a first portion of the one or more coupling ports to at least a second port of the one or more coupling ports. The one or more conductive loops may each be configured to exhibit a first value of inductance in the absence of the plasma and to exhibit a second value of inductance in the presence of the plasma. The one or more coupling structures may each include a reactive element, in which each reactive element is coupled to a corresponding one of the one or more conductive loops so as to form a corresponding number of coupling structures. Each RF coupling structure may have a resonant frequency that increases in response to the presence of the plasma.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: Hema Swaroop Mopidevi, Lee Chen, Thomas W. Anderson, Shaun Tyler Smith, Neil M.P. Benjamin
  • Publication number: 20230207274
    Abstract: A substrate processing system includes a gas source, an RF source, and a light source. The gas source supplies a first gas to a process module of the substrate processing system. The RF source supplies RF power to the process module to generate plasma when the first gas is supplied to the process module of the substrate processing system. The light source is coupled to the process module to introduce light into the process module during the plasma generation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Lee CHEN, Ramesh CHANDRASEKHARAN, Shaun Tyler SMITH, Yukinori SAKIYAMA, Aaron DURBIN, Jon HENRI