Patents by Inventor Stephan P. Hoffmann

Stephan P. Hoffmann 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: 20120118320
    Abstract: Methods for cleaning an edge of a semiconductor substrate include providing a brush in a housing, the housing provides a volume for holding the brush. A cleaning fluid is inserted into the housing to at least partially fill the volume holding the brush, with the cleaning fluid. The cleaning fluid is removed from the volume of the housing while the cleaning fluid is being inserted. The brush is rotated within the housing while the cleaning fluid is inserted and removed. The edge of the semiconductor substrate is inserted into a slot of the housing. The edge of the semiconductor substrate inserted into the slot is maintained at a distance and for a period of time. The distance is configured such that the brush contacts the edge of the semiconductor substrate but continues to enable rotation of the brush within the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hyungsuk Alexander Yoon, Andrew D. Bailey, III, Jason A. Ryder, Mark H. Wilcoxon, Jeffrey G. Gasparitsch, Randy Johnson, Stephan P. Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 8127395
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for cleaning a substrate edge include a bristle brush unit that cleans bevel polymers deposited on substrate edges using frictional contact in the presence of cleaning chemistry. The bristle brush unit is made up of a plurality of outwardly extending vanes and is mounted on a rotating shaft. An abrasive material is distributed throughout and within the outwardly extending vanes of the bristle brush unit to provide the frictional contact. The bristle brush unit cleans the edge of the substrate by allowing frictional contact of the plurality of abrasive particles with the edge of the substrate in the presence of fluids, such as cleaning chemistry, to cut, rip and tear the bevel polymer from the edge of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Hyungsuk Alexander Yoon, Andrew D. Bailey, III, Jason A. Ryder, Mark H. Wilcoxson, Jeffrey G. Gasparitsch, Randy Johnson, Stephan P. Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20090113656
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for cleaning a substrate edge include a bristle brush unit that cleans bevel polymers deposited on substrate edges using frictional contact in the presence of cleaning chemistry. The bristle brush unit is made up of a plurality of outwardly extending vanes and is mounted on a rotating shaft. An abrasive material is distributed throughout and within the outwardly extending vanes of the bristle brush unit to provide the frictional contact. The bristle brush unit cleans the edge of the substrate by allowing frictional contact of the plurality of abrasive particles with the edge of the substrate in the presence of fluids, such as cleaning chemistry, to cut, rip and tear the bevel polymer from the edge of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hyungsuk Alexander Yoon, Andrew D. Bailey, III, Jason A. Ryder, Mark H. Wilcoxson, Jeffrey G. Gasparitsch, Randy Johnson, Stephan P. Hoffmann