Patents by Inventor Steve Poppe

Steve Poppe 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: 20150176127
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a reactor for material deposition. The reactor includes a chamber and at least one gas nozzle. The chamber includes a pair of susceptors, each having a front side and a back side. The front side mounts a number of substrates. The susceptors are positioned vertically so that the front sides of the susceptors face each other, and the vertical edges of the susceptors are in contact with each other, thereby forming a substantially enclosed narrow channel between the substrates mounted on different susceptors. The gas nozzle includes a gas-inlet component situated in the center and a detachable gas-outlet component stacked around the gas-inlet component. The gas-inlet component includes at least one opening coupled to the chamber, and is configured to inject precursor gases into the chamber. The detachable gas-outlet component includes at least one opening coupled to the chamber, and is configured to output exhaust gases from the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Steve Poppe, Yan Rozenzon, Peijun Ding
  • Patent number: 8968473
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a reactor for material deposition. The reactor includes a chamber and at least one gas nozzle. The chamber includes a pair of susceptors, each having a front side and a back side. The front side mounts a number of substrates. The susceptors are positioned vertically so that the front sides of the susceptors face each other, and the vertical edges of the susceptors are in contact with each other, thereby forming a substantially enclosed narrow channel between the substrates mounted on different susceptors. The gas nozzle includes a gas-inlet component situated in the center and a detachable gas-outlet component stacked around the gas-inlet component. The gas-inlet component includes at least one opening coupled to the chamber, and is configured to inject precursor gases into the chamber. The detachable gas-outlet component includes at least one opening coupled to the chamber, and is configured to output exhaust gases from the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Silevo, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Poppe, Yan Rozenzon, Peijun Ding
  • Patent number: 8845809
    Abstract: One embodiment provides an apparatus for material deposition. The apparatus includes a reaction chamber, and a pair of susceptors. Each susceptor has a front side mounting substrates and a back side. The front sides of the vertically positioned susceptors face each other, and the vertical edges of the susceptors are in contact with each other. The apparatus also includes a number of gas nozzles for injecting reaction gases. The gas flow directions inside the chamber can be alternated by controlling the gas nozzles. The gas nozzles are configured to inject a small amount of purge gas including at least one of: HCl, SiCl4, and H2 when the gas nozzles are not injecting reaction gas. The apparatus includes a number of heating units situated outside the reaction chamber. The heating units are arranged in such a way that they radiate heat energy directly to the back sides of the susceptors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Silevo, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Poppe, Yan Rozenzon, David Z. Chen, Xiaole Yan, Peijun Ding, Zheng Xu
  • Patent number: 8652259
    Abstract: One embodiment provides an apparatus for material deposition. The apparatus includes a reaction chamber, and a pair of susceptors. Each susceptor has a front side and a back side, and the front side mounts substrates. The susceptors are positioned vertically in such a way that the front sides of the susceptors face each other, and the vertical edges of the susceptors are in contact with each other, thereby forming a substantially enclosed narrow channel between the substrates. The apparatus also includes a number of gas nozzles for injecting reaction gases. The gas nozzles are controlled in such a way that gas flow directions inside the chamber can be alternated, thereby facilitating uniform material deposition. The apparatus includes a number of heating units situated outside the reaction chamber. The heating units are arranged in such a way that they radiate heat energy directly to the back sides of the susceptors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Silevo, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Poppe, Yan Rozenzon, David Z. Chen, Xiaole Yan, Peijun Ding, Zheng Xu
  • Patent number: 8343279
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide apparatuses and methods for depositing materials on substrates during vapor deposition processes, such as atomic layer deposition (ALD). In one embodiment, a chamber contains a substrate support with a receiving surface and a chamber lid containing an expanding channel formed within a thermally insulating material. The chamber further includes at least one conduit coupled to a gas inlet within the expanding channel and positioned to provide a gas flow through the expanding channel in a circular direction, such as a vortex, a helix, a spiral or derivatives thereof. The expanding channel may be formed directly within the chamber lid or formed within a funnel liner attached thereon. The chamber may contain a retaining ring, an upper process liner, a lower process liner or a slip valve liner. Liners usually have a polished surface finish and contain a thermally insulating material such as fused quartz or ceramic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Nyi Oo Myo, Kenric Choi, Shreyas Kher, Pravin Narwankar, Steve Poppe, Craig R. Metzner, Paul Deaten
  • Patent number: 8282992
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods for depositing materials on substrates during vapor deposition processes, such as atomic layer deposition (ALD). In one embodiment, a chamber contains a substrate support with a receiving surface and a chamber lid containing an expanding channel formed within a thermally insulating material. The chamber further includes at least one conduit coupled to a gas inlet within the expanding channel and positioned to provide a gas flow through the expanding channel in a circular direction, such as a vortex, a helix, a spiral, or derivatives thereof. The expanding channel may be formed directly within the chamber lid or formed within a funnel liner attached thereon. The chamber may contain a retaining ring, an upper process liner, a lower process liner or a slip valve liner. Liners usually have a polished surface finish and contain a thermally insulating material such as fused quartz or ceramic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Nyi Oo Myo, Kenric Cho, Shreyas Kher, Pravin Narwankar, Steve Poppe, Craig R. Metzner, Paul Deaten
  • Publication number: 20110067632
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a reactor for material deposition. The reactor includes a chamber and at least one gas nozzle. The chamber includes a pair of susceptors, each having a front side and a back side. The front side mounts a number of substrates. The susceptors are positioned vertically so that the front sides of the susceptors face each other, and the vertical edges of the susceptors are in contact with each other, thereby forming a substantially enclosed narrow channel between the substrates mounted on different susceptors. The gas nozzle includes a gas-inlet component situated in the center and a detachable gas-outlet component stacked around the gas-inlet component. The gas-inlet component includes at least one opening coupled to the chamber, and is configured to inject precursor gases into the chamber. The detachable gas-outlet component includes at least one opening coupled to the chamber, and is configured to output exhaust gases from the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: SIERRA SOLAR POWER, INC.
    Inventors: Steve Poppe, Yan Rozenzon, Peijun Ding
  • Publication number: 20100092698
    Abstract: One embodiment provides an apparatus for material deposition. The apparatus includes a reaction chamber, and a pair of susceptors. Each susceptor has a front side mounting substrates and a back side. The front sides of the vertically positioned susceptors face each other, and the vertical edges of the susceptors are in contact with each other. The apparatus also includes a number of gas nozzles for injecting reaction gases. The gas flow directions inside the chamber can be alternated by controlling the gas nozzles. The gas nozzles are configured to inject a small amount of purge gas including at least one of: HCl, SiCl4, and H2 when the gas nozzles are not injecting reaction gas. The apparatus includes a number of heating units situated outside the reaction chamber. The heating units are arranged in such a way that they radiate heat energy directly to the back sides of the susceptors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: SIERRA SOLAR POWER, INC.
    Inventors: Steve Poppe, Yan Rozenzon, David Z. Chen, Xiaole Yan, Peijun Ding, Zheng Xu
  • Publication number: 20100092697
    Abstract: One embodiment provides an apparatus for material deposition. The apparatus includes a reaction chamber, and a pair of susceptors. Each susceptor has a front side and a back side, and the front side mounts substrates. The susceptors are positioned vertically in such a way that the front sides of the susceptors face each other, and the vertical edges of the susceptors are in contact with each other, thereby forming a substantially enclosed narrow channel between the substrates. The apparatus also includes a number of gas nozzles for injecting reaction gases. The gas nozzles are controlled in such a way that gas flow directions inside the chamber can be alternated, thereby facilitating uniform material deposition. The apparatus includes a number of heating units situated outside the reaction chamber. The heating units are arranged in such a way that they radiate heat energy directly to the back sides of the susceptors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: SIERRA SOLAR POWER, INC.
    Inventors: Steve Poppe, Yan Rozenzon, David Z. Chen, Xiaole Yan, Peijun Ding, Zheng Xu
  • Publication number: 20080044569
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods for depositing materials on substrates during vapor deposition processes, such as atomic layer deposition (ALD). In one embodiment, a chamber contains a substrate support with a receiving surface and a chamber lid containing an expanding channel formed within a thermally insulating material. The chamber further includes at least one conduit coupled to a gas inlet within the expanding channel and positioned to provide a gas flow through the expanding channel in a circular direction, such as a vortex, a helix, a spiral, or derivatives thereof. The expanding channel may be formed directly within the chamber lid or formed within a funnel liner attached thereon. The chamber may contain a retaining ring, an upper process liner, a lower process liner or a slip valve liner. Liners usually have a polished surface finish and contain a thermally insulating material such as fused quartz or ceramic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventors: Nyi Myo, Kenric Cho, Shreyas Kher, Pravin Narwankar, Steve Poppe, Craig Metzner, Paul Deaten
  • Publication number: 20050271812
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide apparatuses and methods for depositing materials on substrates during vapor deposition processes, such as atomic layer deposition (ALD). In one embodiment, a chamber contains a substrate support with a receiving surface and a chamber lid containing an expanding channel formed within a thermally insulating material. The chamber further includes at least one conduit coupled to a gas inlet within the expanding channel and positioned to provide a gas flow through the expanding channel in a circular direction, such as a vortex, a helix, a spiral or derivatives thereof. The expanding channel may be formed directly within the chamber lid or formed within a funnel liner attached thereon. The chamber may contain a retaining ring, an upper process liner, a lower process liner or a slip valve liner. Liners usually have a polished surface finish and contain a thermally insulating material such as fused quartz or ceramic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Publication date: December 8, 2005
    Inventors: Nyi Myo, Kenric Choi, Shreyas Kher, Pravin Narwankar, Steve Poppe, Craig Metzner, Paul Deaten
  • Patent number: PP15027
    Abstract: A new and distinct chrysanthemum plant named MN98-M91-1 is provided. This new cultivar was the result of a cross between Dendranthema weyrichii and Dendranthema×grandiflora.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Neil Anderson, Steve Poppe, Esther Gesick, Peter Ascher