Patents by Inventor Ted Minshall

Ted Minshall 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: 11127567
    Abstract: A substrate processing system includes: a processing chamber defining a reaction volume; a showerhead including: a stem portion having one end connected adjacent to an upper surface of the processing chamber; and a base portion connected to an opposite end of the stem portion and extending radially outwardly from the stem portion, where the showerhead is configured to introduce gas into the reaction volume; a plasma generator configured to selectively generate RF plasma in the reaction volume; and a collar arranged around the stem portion of the showerhead between the base portion of the showerhead and the upper surface of the processing chamber. The collar includes one or more holes to supply purge gas from an inner cavity of the collar to between the base portion of the showerhead and the upper surface of the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hu Kang, Adrien LaVoie, Shankar Swaminathan, Jun Qian, Chloe Baldasseroni, Frank Pasquale, Andrew Duvall, Ted Minshall, Jennifer Petraglia, Karl Leeser, David Smith, Sesha Varadarajan, Edward Augustyniak, Douglas Keil
  • Publication number: 20200335304
    Abstract: A substrate processing system includes: a processing chamber defining a reaction volume; a showerhead including: a stem portion having one end connected adjacent to an upper surface of the processing chamber; and a base portion connected to an opposite end of the stem portion and extending radially outwardly from the stem portion, where the showerhead is configured to introduce gas into the reaction volume; a plasma generator configured to selectively generate RF plasma in the reaction volume; and a collar arranged around the stem portion of the showerhead between the base portion of the showerhead and the upper surface of the processing chamber. The collar includes one or more holes to supply purge gas from an inner cavity of the collar to between the base portion of the showerhead and the upper surface of the processing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Hu Kang, Adrien LaVoie, Shankar Swaminathan, Jun Qian, Chloe Baldasseroni, Frank Pasquale, Andrew Duvall, Ted Minshall, Jennifer Petraglia, Karl Leeser, David Smith, Sesha Varadarajan, Edward Augustyniak, Douglas Keil
  • Patent number: 10665429
    Abstract: A substrate processing system for depositing film on a substrate includes a processing chamber defining a reaction volume. A showerhead includes a stem portion having one end connected adjacent to an upper surface of the processing chamber. A base portion is connected to an opposite end of the stem portion and extends radially outwardly from the stem portion. The showerhead is configured to introduce at least one of process gas and purge gas into the reaction volume. A plasma generator is configured to selectively generate RF plasma in the reaction volume. An edge tuning system includes a collar and a parasitic plasma reducing element that is located around the stem portion between the collar and an upper surface of the showerhead. The parasitic plasma reducing element is configured to reduce parasitic plasma between the showerhead and the upper surface of the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hu Kang, Adrien LaVoie, Shankar Swaminathan, Jun Qian, Chloe Baldasseroni, Frank Pasquale, Andrew Duvall, Ted Minshall, Jennifer Petraglia, Karl Leeser, David Smith, Sesha Varadarajan, Edward Augustyniak, Douglas Keil
  • Patent number: 9920844
    Abstract: A gas delivery system for a substrate processing system includes first and second valves, a first gas channel, and a cylinder. The first valve includes a first inlet and a first outlet. The first outlet is in fluid communication with a processing chamber of the substrate processing system. The second valve includes a second inlet and a second outlet. The cylinder defines a second gas channel having a first end and a second end. The cylinder is at least partially disposed within the first gas channel such that the cylinder and the first gas channel collectively define a flow channel. The flow channel is in fluid communication with the first end of the second gas channel and with the first inlet. A third gas channel is in fluid communication with the second end of the second gas channel and with the second inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Karl Leeser, Saangrut Sangplung, Shankar Swaminathan, Frank Pasquale, Chloe Baldasseroni, Ted Minshall, Adrien LaVoie
  • Publication number: 20180068833
    Abstract: A substrate processing system for depositing film on a substrate includes a processing chamber defining a reaction volume. A showerhead includes a stem portion having one end connected adjacent to an upper surface of the processing chamber. A base portion is connected to an opposite end of the stem portion and extends radially outwardly from the stem portion. The showerhead is configured to introduce at least one of process gas and purge gas into the reaction volume. A plasma generator is configured to selectively generate RF plasma in the reaction volume. An edge tuning system includes a collar and a parasitic plasma reducing element that is located around the stem portion between the collar and an upper surface of the showerhead. The parasitic plasma reducing element is configured to reduce parasitic plasma between the showerhead and the upper surface of the processing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Hu Kang, Adrien LaVoie, Shankar Swaminathan, Jun Qian, Chloe Baldasseroni, Frank Pasquale, Andrew Duvall, Ted Minshall, Jennifer Petraglia, Karl Leeser, David Smith, Sesha Varadarajan, Edward Augustyniak, Douglas Keil
  • Patent number: 9852901
    Abstract: A substrate processing system for depositing film on a substrate includes a processing chamber defining a reaction volume and including a substrate support for supporting the substrate. A gas delivery system is configured to introduce process gas into the reaction volume of the processing chamber. A plasma generator is configured to selectively generate RF plasma in the reaction volume. A clamping system is configured to clamp the substrate to the substrate support during deposition of the film. A backside purging system is configured to supply a reactant gas to a backside edge of the substrate to purge the backside edge during the deposition of the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sesha Varadarajan, Shankar Swaminathan, Saangrut Sangplung, Frank Pasquale, Ted Minshall, Adrien Lavoie, Mohamed Sabri, Cody Barnett
  • Patent number: 9793096
    Abstract: A substrate processing system for depositing film on a substrate includes a processing chamber defining a reaction volume. A showerhead includes a stem portion having one end connected adjacent to an upper surface of the processing chamber. A base portion is connected to an opposite end of the stem portion and extends radially outwardly from the stem portion. The showerhead is configured to introduce at least one of process gas and purge gas into the reaction volume. A plasma generator is configured to selectively generate RF plasma in the reaction volume. An edge tuning system includes a collar and a parasitic plasma reducing element that is located around the stem portion between the collar and an upper surface of the showerhead. The parasitic plasma reducing element is configured to reduce parasitic plasma between the showerhead and the upper surface of the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hu Kang, Adrien LaVoie, Shankar Swaminathan, Jun Qian, Chloe Baldasseroni, Frank Pasquale, Andrew Duvall, Ted Minshall, Jennifer Petraglia, Karl Leeser, David Smith, Sesha Varadarajan, Edward Augustyniak, Douglas Keil
  • Patent number: 9698042
    Abstract: A method for reducing slippage of a wafer during film deposition includes pumping out a processing chamber while the wafer is supported on lift pins or a carrier ring and lowering the wafer onto support members configured to minimize wafer slippage during deposition of the film. A multi-station processing chamber, such as a processing chamber for atomic layer deposition, can include a chuck-less pedestal at each station having wafer supports configured to prevent the wafer from moving off center by more than 400 microns. To minimize a gas cushion beneath the wafer, the wafer supports can provide a gap of at least 2 mils between the back side of the wafer and the wafer-facing surface of the pedestal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chloe Baldasseroni, Ted Minshall, Frank L. Pasquale, Shankar Swaminathan, Ramesh Chandrasekharan
  • Publication number: 20160372318
    Abstract: A substrate processing system for depositing film on a substrate includes a processing chamber defining a reaction volume and including a substrate support for supporting the substrate. A gas delivery system is configured to introduce process gas into the reaction volume of the processing chamber. A plasma generator is configured to selectively generate RF plasma in the reaction volume. A clamping system is configured to clamp the substrate to the substrate support during deposition of the film. A backside purging system is configured to supply a reactant gas to a backside edge of the substrate to purge the backside edge during the deposition of the film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Sesha VARADARAJAN, Shankar SWAMINATHAN, Saangrut SANGPLUNG, Frank PASQUALE, Ted MINSHALL, Adrien LAVOIE, Mohamed SABRI, Cody BARNETT
  • Patent number: 9460915
    Abstract: A substrate processing system for depositing film on a substrate includes a processing chamber defining a reaction volume and including a substrate support for supporting the substrate. A gas delivery system is configured to introduce process gas into the reaction volume of the processing chamber. A plasma generator is configured to selectively generate RF plasma in the reaction volume. A clamping system is configured to clamp the substrate to the substrate support during deposition of the film. A backside purging system is configured to supply a reactant gas to a backside edge of the substrate to purge the backside edge during the deposition of the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Sesha Varadarajan, Shankar Swaminathan, Saangrut Sangplung, Frank Pasquale, Ted Minshall, Adrien LaVoie, Mohamed Sabri, Cody Barnett
  • Publication number: 20160147234
    Abstract: A gas delivery system for a substrate processing system includes first and second valves, a first gas channel, and a cylinder. The first valve includes a first inlet and a first outlet. The first outlet is in fluid communication with a processing chamber of the substrate processing system. The second valve includes a second inlet and a second outlet. The cylinder defines a second gas channel having a first end and a second end. The cylinder is at least partially disposed within the first gas channel such that the cylinder and the first gas channel collectively define a flow channel. The flow channel is in fluid communication with the first end of the second gas channel and with the first inlet. A third gas channel is in fluid communication with the second end of the second gas channel and with the second inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Karl Leeser, Saangrut Sangplung, Shankar Swaminathan, Frank Pasquale, Chloe Baldasseroni, Ted Minshall, Adrien LaVoie
  • Publication number: 20160079057
    Abstract: A substrate processing system for depositing film on a substrate includes a processing chamber defining a reaction volume and including a substrate support for supporting the substrate. A gas delivery system is configured to introduce process gas into the reaction volume of the processing chamber. A plasma generator is configured to selectively generate RF plasma in the reaction volume. A clamping system is configured to clamp the substrate to the substrate support during deposition of the film. A backside purging system is configured to supply a reactant gas to a backside edge of the substrate to purge the backside edge during the deposition of the film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Sesha Varadarajan, Shankar Swaminathan, Saangrut Sangplung, Frank Pasquale, Ted Minshall, Adrien LaVoie, Mohamed Sabri, Cody Barnett
  • Publication number: 20160079036
    Abstract: A substrate processing system for depositing film on a substrate includes a processing chamber defining a reaction volume. A showerhead includes a stem portion having one end connected adjacent to an upper surface of the processing chamber. A base portion is connected to an opposite end of the stem portion and extends radially outwardly from the stem portion. The showerhead is configured to introduce at least one of process gas and purge gas into the reaction volume. A plasma generator is configured to selectively generate RF plasma in the reaction volume. An edge tuning system includes a collar and a parasitic plasma reducing element that is located around the stem portion between the collar and an upper surface of the showerhead. The parasitic plasma reducing element is configured to reduce parasitic plasma between the showerhead and the upper surface of the processing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Hu Kang, Adrien LaVoie, Shankar Swaminathan, Jun Qian, Chloe Baldasseroni, Frank Pasquale, Andrew Duvall, Ted Minshall, Jennifer Petraglia, Karl Leeser, David Smith, Sesha Varadarajan, Edward Augustyniak, Douglas Keil