Patents by Inventor Steven C. Shackleton

Steven C. Shackleton 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: 12195382
    Abstract: A superstrate for forming a planarization layer on a substrate can include a body having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a chamfered edge between the first surface and the second surface. An opaque layer can coat the chamfered edge. In another embodiment, an opaque layer can coat the chamfered edge and a portion of the second surface. The superstrate can be used for more planarization or other processing sequences without causing extrusion defects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Steven C. Shackleton, Niyaz Khusnatdinov
  • Publication number: 20240429060
    Abstract: A planarizing method includes dispensing formable material onto a substrate, positioning the substrate relative to a substrate chuck by contacting the substrate with a first protrusion of an engagement mechanism, the engagement mechanism being disposed adjacent the substrate chuck, contacting a superstrate held by a superstrate chuck with the formable material, thereby forming a film of formable material between the superstrate and the substrate, curing the film of formable material to form a cured layer between the superstrate and the substrate, and initiating a separation front between the cured layer and the superstrate by contacting the superstrate with a second protrusion of the engagement mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2023
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Inventors: Steven C. Shackleton, Seth J. Bamesberger, Byung-Jin Choi
  • Publication number: 20240321586
    Abstract: A method of planarizing a substrate comprises dispensing formable material onto a substrate, contacting a superstrate held by a superstrate chuck with the formable material on the substrate, thereby forming a multilayer structure including the superstrate, a film of the formable material, and the substrate, releasing the multilayer structure from the superstrate chuck, providing a space between the superstrate chuck and the multilayer structure after the releasing, positioning a light source into the provided space between the superstrate chuck and the multilayer structure, and curing the film of the multilayer structure by exposing the film to light emitted from the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2024
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Inventors: Steven C. Shackleton, Seth J. Bamesberger, Xiaoming Lu, Byung-Jin Choi
  • Patent number: 12085851
    Abstract: A pressure sensor manifold is provided that resolves issues caused by accumulated particles and bubbles to improve print head performance. The pressure sensor manifold includes a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a dome-shape cavity connecting with both the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The fluid inlet has a first interior cross-section, and the fluid outlet has a second interior cross-section. The dome-shape cavity has an apex. A line that is tangential to the apex passes through a plurality of points on both the first interior cross-section of the fluid inlet and the second interior cross-section of the fluid outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: John D. Williamson, Steven C. Shackleton
  • Publication number: 20240286316
    Abstract: A heat exchange system includes a housing, a cover, and a sealing mechanism. The housing includes an outer side, an inner side opposite the outer side, a supply channel on the inner side, an exit channel on the inner side, and a plurality of fins on the inner side. The plurality of fins define a plurality of transverse channels. Each transverse provides fluid communication between the supply channel and the exit channel. The cover covers the inner side of the housing. The sealing mechanism compresses the cover and the housing such that a seal is formed between the cover and the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Inventors: Tyler Pearce Mann, Steven C. Shackleton
  • Publication number: 20240231220
    Abstract: A planarization system, comprising a superstrate chuck including a holding surface configured to hold a superstrate, an inflatable membrane having an inner diameter defining an inner edge, an outer diameter defining an outer edge, and, a midpoint between the inner edge and the outer edge in a radial direction, wherein the inflatable membrane is disposed radially outward of the holding surface of the superstrate chuck, and a purge gas channel disposed radially inward of the midpoint of the inflatable membrane and radially outward of the holding surface of the superstrate chuck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: Seth J. Bamesberger, Byung-Jin Choi, Steven C. Shackleton, Masaki Saito
  • Patent number: 12027373
    Abstract: A method of planarizing a substrate comprises dispensing formable material onto a substrate, contacting a superstrate held by a superstrate chuck with the formable material on the substrate, thereby forming a multilayer structure including the superstrate, a film of the formable material, and the substrate, releasing the multilayer structure from the superstrate chuck, providing a space between the superstrate chuck and the multilayer structure after the releasing, positioning a light source into the provided space between the superstrate chuck and the multilayer structure, and curing the film of the multilayer structure by exposing the film to light emitted from the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Steven C. Shackleton, Seth J. Bamesberger, Xiaoming Lu, Byung-Jin Choi
  • Publication number: 20240189849
    Abstract: A method of switching a first fluid supplied to a dispenser with a second fluid. The method includes stopping the first fluid from flowing into a common portion of a flow system, causing a flush fluid to flow through the common portion, stopping the flush fluid from flowing into the common portion, removing the flush fluid from the common portion, causing the second fluid to flow through the common portion, and continuously circulating the first fluid to and from a reservoir without the first liquid entering the common portion of the flow system. The continuously circulating of the first fluid begins a) after stopping the fluid liquid from flowing into the common portion of the flow system and b) prior to or during the second fluid flowing through the common portion of the flow system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Inventors: Tyler Pearce Mann, Steven C. Shackleton
  • Publication number: 20240145269
    Abstract: A method of planarizing a substrate comprises dispensing formable material onto a substrate, contacting, at a planarizing station at a first location, a superstrate held by a superstrate chuck with the formable material on the substrate, thereby forming a multilayer structure including the superstrate, a film of the formable material, and the substrate, releasing the superstrate from the superstrate chuck, moving the multilayer structure from the first location to a curing station located at a second location away from the first location, the curing station including an array of light-emitting diodes, and curing the film of the multilayer structure by exposing the film to light emitted from the array of light-emitting diodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2024
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Steven C. Shackleton, Seth J. Bamesberger, Masaki Saito
  • Publication number: 20240134270
    Abstract: A planarization system, comprising a superstrate chuck including a holding surface configured to hold a superstrate, an inflatable membrane having an inner diameter defining an inner edge, an outer diameter defining an outer edge, and, a midpoint between the inner edge and the outer edge in a radial direction, wherein the inflatable membrane is disposed radially outward of the holding surface of the superstrate chuck, and a purge gas channel disposed radially inward of the midpoint of the inflatable membrane and radially outward of the holding surface of the superstrate chuck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2022
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Seth J. Bamesberger, Byung-Jin Choi, Steven C. Shackleton, Masaki Saito
  • Patent number: 11951660
    Abstract: A shaping system comprises a dispensing station configured to dispense formable material on a substrate, a shaping station configured to contact the dispensed formable material on the substrate with a plate, a positioning system configured to move the substrate having the dispensed formable material from the dispensing system to the shaping station, and a cover having one or more walls. While the substrate having the dispensed formable material is moved by the positioning system from the dispensing station to the shaping station, the cover is positioned to enclose the substrate and the dispensed formable material such that a ratio of a diameter of the substrate to a distance between the cover and the substrate to 80:1 to 30:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Steven C. Shackleton, Alireza Aghili, Zhengmao Ye
  • Patent number: 11908711
    Abstract: A method of planarizing a substrate comprises dispensing formable material onto a substrate, contacting, at a planarizing station at a first location, a superstrate held by a superstrate chuck with the formable material on the substrate, thereby forming a multilayer structure including the superstrate, a film of the formable material, and the substrate, releasing the superstrate from the superstrate chuck, moving the multilayer structure from the first location to a curing station located at a second location away from the first location, the curing station including an array of light-emitting diodes, and curing the film of the multilayer structure by exposing the film to light emitted from the array of light-emitting diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Steven C. Shackleton, Seth J. Bamesberger, Masaki Saito
  • Publication number: 20230207326
    Abstract: A planarization system is provided. The planarization system includes a first substrate chuck which holds the substrate during a planarization step, and a second substrate chuck which holds the substrate with a non-flat configuration during a separation step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Steven C. Shackleton, Seth J. Bamesberger
  • Publication number: 20230197462
    Abstract: A method of inhibiting evaporation of a formable material on a substrate, the method comprising holding the substrate with a substrate chuck, the substrate chuck being positioned within a central opening of a frame such that the frame surrounds at least a portion of the substrate chuck, supplying the formable material or a volatile material different from the formable material to a portion of the frame surrounding the substrate chuck, and dispensing the formable material on the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Steven C. Shackleton, Edward Brian Fletcher, Zhengmao Ye, Craig William Cone, Hiroyuki Kondo
  • Publication number: 20230167017
    Abstract: A superstrate for forming a planarization layer on a substrate can include a body having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a chamfered edge between the first surface and the second surface. An opaque layer can coat the chamfered edge. In another embodiment, an opaque layer can coat the chamfered edge and a portion of the second surface. The superstrate can be used for more planarization or other processing sequences without causing extrusion defects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Steven C. Shackleton, Niyaz Khusnatdinov
  • Publication number: 20230109973
    Abstract: A shaping system comprises a dispensing station configured to dispense formable material on a substrate, a shaping station configured to contact the dispensed formable material on the substrate with a plate, a positioning system configured to move the substrate having the dispensed formable material from the dispensing system to the shaping station, and a cover having one or more walls. While the substrate having the dispensed formable material is moved by the positioning system from the dispensing station to the shaping station, the cover is positioned to enclose the substrate and the dispensed formable material such that a ratio of a diameter of the substrate to a distance between the cover and the substrate to 80:1 to 30:1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Steven C. Shackleton, Alireza Aghili, Zhengmao Ye
  • Publication number: 20220384205
    Abstract: A method of planarizing a substrate comprises dispensing formable material onto a substrate, contacting a superstrate held by a superstrate chuck with the formable material on the substrate, thereby forming a multilayer structure including the superstrate, a film of the formable material, and the substrate, releasing the multilayer structure from the superstrate chuck, providing a space between the superstrate chuck and the multilayer structure after the releasing, positioning a light source into the provided space between the superstrate chuck and the multilayer structure, and curing the film of the multilayer structure by exposing the film to light emitted from the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Steven C. Shackleton, Seth J. Bamesberger, Xiaoming Lu, Byung-Jin Choi
  • Patent number: 11387098
    Abstract: A fluid dispenser, comprising a dispenser faceplate having at least one ejection port and a dispenser guard. The dispenser guard has at least one opening configured to allow fluid exiting from the ejection port to flow through and at least one drainage structure. The dispenser guard is spaced from the ejection port with a gap small enough to attract the fluid accumulated around the ejection port to flow into the drainage structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Steven C. Shackleton
  • Publication number: 20220126332
    Abstract: A method of cleaning a fluid dispenser for dispensing a material during non-contact maintenance of the fluid dispenser. The fluid dispenser including a plurality of nozzles disposed on a faceplate. The method including applying a suction force onto a surface of the faceplate using a suction apparatus, the suction apparatus being translated from one end of the faceplate to an opposite end of the faceplate such that a portion of nozzles from the plurality of nozzles are exposed to the suction force. The method continues by vibrating a menisci of the portion of nozzles that are exposed to the suction force to remove at least a portion of the material accumulated on the faceplate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Craig William Cone, Qi Ni, Hiroyuki Kondo, Antoine Dellinger, Steven C. Shackleton
  • Publication number: 20220100083
    Abstract: A pressure sensor manifold is provided. The pressure sensor manifold includes a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a dome-shape cavity connecting with both the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The fluid inlet has a first interior cross-section, and the fluid outlet has a second interior cross-section. The dome-shape cavity has an apex. A line that is tangential to the apex passes through a plurality of points on both the first interior cross-section of the fluid inlet and the second interior cross-section of the fluid outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: John D. Williamson, Steven C. Shackleton