Patents by Inventor Shimin Mao

Shimin Mao 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: 11551905
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein include a resonant process monitor and methods of forming such a resonant process monitor. In an embodiment, the resonant process monitor includes a frame that has a first opening and a second opening. In an embodiment, a resonant body seals the first opening of the frame. In an embodiment, a first electrode on a first surface of the resonant body contacts the frame and a second electrode is on a second surface of the resonant body. Embodiments also include a back plate that seals the second opening of the frame. In an embodiment the back plate is mechanically coupled to the frame, and the resonant body, the back plate, and interior surfaces of the frame define a cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Yaoling Pan, Vijaykumar Krithivasan, Shimin Mao, Kelvin Chan, Michael D. Willwerth, Anantha Subramani, Ashish Goel, Chih-shun Lu, Philip Allan Kraus, Patrick John Tae, Leonard Tedeschi
  • Patent number: 10957565
    Abstract: Embodiments include systems, devices, and methods for monitoring etch or deposition rates, or controlling an operation of a wafer fabrication process. In an embodiment, a processing tool includes a processing chamber having a liner wall around a chamber volume, and a monitoring device having a sensor exposed to the chamber volume through a hole in the liner wall. The sensor is capable of measuring, in real-time, material deposition and removal rates occurring within the chamber volume during the wafer fabrication process. The monitoring device can be moved relative to the hole in the liner wall to selectively expose either the sensor or a blank area to the chamber volume through the hole. Accordingly, the wafer fabrication process being performed in the chamber volume may be monitored by the sensor, and the sensor may be sealed off from the chamber volume during an in-situ chamber cleaning process. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Shimin Mao, Simon Huang, Ashish Goel, Anantha Subramani, Philip Allan Kraus
  • Publication number: 20200357669
    Abstract: Embodiments include systems, devices, and methods for monitoring etch or deposition rates, or controlling an operation of a wafer fabrication process. In an embodiment, a processing tool includes a processing chamber having a liner wall around a chamber volume, and a monitoring device having a sensor exposed to the chamber volume through a hole in the liner wall. The sensor is capable of measuring, in real-time, material deposition and removal rates occurring within the chamber volume during the wafer fabrication process. The monitoring device can be moved relative to the hole in the liner wall to selectively expose either the sensor or a blank area to the chamber volume through the hole. Accordingly, the wafer fabrication process being performed in the chamber volume may be monitored by the sensor, and the sensor may be sealed off from the chamber volume during an in-situ chamber cleaning process. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: Shimin Mao, Simon Huang, Ashish Goel, Anantha Subramani, Philip Allan Kraus
  • Patent number: 10763143
    Abstract: Embodiments include systems, devices, and methods for monitoring etch or deposition rates, or controlling an operation of a wafer fabrication process. In an embodiment, a processing tool includes a processing chamber having a liner wall around a chamber volume, and a monitoring device having a sensor exposed to the chamber volume through a hole in the liner wall. The sensor is capable of measuring, in real-time, material deposition and removal rates occurring within the chamber volume during the wafer fabrication process. The monitoring device can be moved relative to the hole in the liner wall to selectively expose either the sensor or a blank area to the chamber volume through the hole. Accordingly, the wafer fabrication process being performed in the chamber volume may be monitored by the sensor, and the sensor may be sealed off from the chamber volume during an in-situ chamber cleaning process. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Shimin Mao, Simon Huang, Ashish Goel, Anantha Subramani, Philip Allan Kraus
  • Publication number: 20190287758
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein include a resonant process monitor and methods of forming such a resonant process monitor. In an embodiment, the resonant process monitor includes a frame that has a first opening and a second opening. In an embodiment, a resonant body seals the first opening of the frame. In an embodiment, a first electrode on a first surface of the resonant body contacts the frame and a second electrode is on a second surface of the resonant body. Embodiments also include a back plate that seals the second opening of the frame. In an embodiment the back plate is mechanically coupled to the frame, and the resonant body, the back plate, and interior surfaces of the frame define a cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Yaoling PAN, Vijaykumar KRITHIVASAN, Shimin MAO, Kelvin CHAN, Michael D. WILLWERTH, Anantha SUBRAMANI, Ashish GOEL, Chih-shun LU, Philip Allan KRAUS, Patrick John TAE, Leonard TEDESCHI
  • Publication number: 20190057889
    Abstract: Embodiments include systems, devices, and methods for monitoring etch or deposition rates, or controlling an operation of a wafer fabrication process. In an embodiment, a processing tool includes a processing chamber having a liner wall around a chamber volume, and a monitoring device having a sensor exposed to the chamber volume through a hole in the liner wall. The sensor is capable of measuring, in real-time, material deposition and removal rates occurring within the chamber volume during the wafer fabrication process. The monitoring device can be moved relative to the hole in the liner wall to selectively expose either the sensor or a blank area to the chamber volume through the hole. Accordingly, the wafer fabrication process being performed in the chamber volume may be monitored by the sensor, and the sensor may be sealed off from the chamber volume during an in-situ chamber cleaning process. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: Shimin Mao, Simon Huang, Ashish Goel, Anantha Subramani, Philip Allan Kraus