Patents by Inventor Steven T. Mear

Steven T. Mear 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: 20090044838
    Abstract: In a first aspect, an apparatus adapted to clean a semiconductor device manufacturing component is provided. The apparatus includes an ozone module adapted to (1) obtain Ozone; (2) combine the Ozone with a fluid to generate ozonated fluid; and (3) deliver the ozonated fluid to the semiconductor device manufacturing component so as to clean the semiconductor device manufacturing component. Numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventors: Bruce Willing, Daniel P. Forster, David Datong Huo, Robert D. Tolles, Christopher L. Haynes, Steven T. Mear, David Paul, William M. Evans
  • Patent number: 7207871
    Abstract: A system for chemical mechanical polishing having a carrier head with pressurizeable chambers that can be configured into pressure zones is described. The system includes a carrier head with a membrane for contacting a substrate during polishing. Pressurizeable chambers behind the membrane are in communication with pressure inputs. The pressure inputs can each supply a different pressure to the pressurizeable chambers. Some of the pressurizeable chambers can be in communication with more than one pressure input. Zones of pressure can be arranged, where each zone includes one or more pressurizeable chambers. The zones can be configurable by altering the pressurizeable chambers that make up each zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Zuniga, Hung Chih Chen, Thomas Brezoczky, Steven T. Mear
  • Publication number: 20040053566
    Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing system is provided having one more polishing stations. The polishing stations include a platen and pad mounted to an upper surface of the platen. The upper surface of the platen is patterned to define a raised area and a recessed area. The raised area provides a rigid mounting surface for the pad and the recessed area provides the pad a desired degree of flexibility and compliance of the pad when brought into contact with a substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Tolles, Steven T. Mear, Gopalakrishna B. Prabhu, Sidney Huey, Fred C. Redeker
  • Patent number: 6592438
    Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing system is provided having one more polishing stations. The polishing stations include a platen and pad mounted to an upper surface of the platen. The upper surface of the platen is patterned to define a raised area and a recessed area. The raised area provides a rigid mounting surface for the pad and the recessed area provides the pad a desired degree of flexibility and compliance of the pad when brought into contact with a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Applied Materials Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Tolles, Steven T. Mear, Gopalakrishna B. Prabhu, Sidney Huey, Fred C. Redeker
  • Patent number: 6575825
    Abstract: A polishing pad for use in a chemical mechanical polishing system is provided. The pad is mounted to a rotatable platen and comprises a polishing surface and a deflection surface which provides a desired degree of rigidity and compliance to the pad when brought into contact with a substrate. The deflection surface may comprise one or more passageways extending through the pad which vent to atmosphere. In one embodiment, the deflection area defines a raised area and a recessed area. The raised area provides a mounting surface for the platen while the recessed area allows for compliance of the pad. In another embodiment, the deflection area comprises a plurality of channels defining a plurality of slanted protrusions. The channels may be non-intersecting such that the slanted protrusions are elongated portions disposed on the pad. Alternatively, the channels may be intersecting such that the slanted protrusions are isolated from one another and are disposed on the pad in spaced relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Applied Materials Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Tolles, Steven T. Mear, Gopalakrishna B. Prabhu, Steven Zuniga, Hung Chen
  • Patent number: 6439964
    Abstract: Recipes for the polishing machine, such as recipes for carrier head pressure, are generated from empirical data, and consequently can provide a more accurate prediction than techniques based upon theoretical models. A plurality of test substrates are polished with a plurality of parameter sets. A polishing profile is measured for each of the plurality of test substrates, and a polishing time is calculated for each polishing parameter set which minimizes the difference between a predicted substrate profile and a desired substrate profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Gopalakrishna B. Prahbu, Steven T. Mear
  • Patent number: 6361419
    Abstract: A carrier head for a chemical mechanical polishing apparatus includes a flexible membrane that applies a load to a substrate. A volume between the flexible membrane and a carrier structure provides a chamber. A body located in the chamber has a first portion that applies pressure to a first region of an upper surface of a central portion of the flexible membrane and a second portion that is separable and movable into contact with a second region of the upper surface of the central portion of the flexible membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Zuniga, Gopalakrishna B. Prahbu, Steven T. Mear
  • Publication number: 20010008830
    Abstract: A polishing pad for use in a chemical mechanical polishing system is provided. The pad is mounted to a rotatable platen and comprises a polishing surface and a deflection surface which provides a desired degree of rigidity and compliance to the pad when brought into contact with a substrate. The deflection surface may comprise one or more passageways extending through the pad which vent to atmosphere. In one embodiment, the deflection area defines a raised area and a recessed area. The raised area provides a mounting surface for the platen while the recessed area allows for compliance of the pad. In another embodiment, the deflection area comprises a plurality of channels defining a plurality of slanted protrusions. The channels may be non-intersecting such that the slanted protrusions are elongated portions disposed on the pad. Alternatively, the channels may be intersecting such that the slanted protrusions are isolated from one another and are disposed on the pad in spaced relation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Publication date: July 19, 2001
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Tolles, Steven T. Mear, Gopalakrishna B. Prabhu, Steven Zuniga, Hung Chen
  • Publication number: 20010005667
    Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing system is provided having one more polishing stations. The polishing stations include a platen and pad mounted to an upper surface of the platen. The upper surface of the platen is patterned to define a raised area and a recessed area. The raised area provides a rigid mounting surface for the pad and the recessed area provides the pad a desired degree of flexibility and compliance of the pad when brought into contact with a substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Publication date: June 28, 2001
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Tolles, Steven T. Mear, Gopalakrishna B. Prabhu, Sidney Huey, Fred C. Redeker
  • Patent number: 6220942
    Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing system is provided having one more polishing stations. The polishing stations include a platen and pad mounted to an upper surface of the platen. The upper surface of the platen is patterned to define a raised area and a recessed area. The raised area provides a rigid mounting surface for the pad and the recessed area provides the pad a desired degree of flexibility and compliance of the pad when brought into contact with a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Tolles, Steven T. Mear, Gopalakrishna B. Prabhu, Sidney Huey, Fred C. Redeker
  • Patent number: 6217426
    Abstract: A polishing pad for use in a chemical mechanical polishing system is provided. The pad is mounted to a rotatable platen and comprises a polishing surface and a deflection surface which provides a desired degree of rigidity and compliance to the pad when brought into contact with a substrate. The deflection surface may comprise one or more passageways extending through the pad which vent to atmosphere. In one embodiment, the deflection area defines a raised area and a recessed area. The raised area provides a mounting surface for the platen while the recessed area allows for compliance of the pad. In another embodiment, the deflection area comprises a plurality of channels defining a plurality of slanted protrusions. The channels may be non-intersecting such that the slanted protrusions are elongated portions disposed on the pad. Alternatively, the channels may be intersecting such that the slanted protrusions are isolated from one another and are disposed on the pad in spaced relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Tolles, Steven T. Mear, Gopalakrishna B. Prabhu, Steven Zuniga, Hung Chen