Patents by Inventor Thanh N. Pham
Thanh N. Pham 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).
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Patent number: 7799698Abstract: A deposition/etching/deposition process is provided for filling a gap in a surface of a substrate. A liner is formed over the substrate so that distinctive reaction products are formed when it is exposed to a chemical etchant. The detection of such reaction products thus indicates that the portion of the film deposited during the first etching has been removed to an extent that further exposure to the etchant may remove the liner and expose underlying structures. Accordingly, the etching is stopped upon detection of distinctive reaction products and the next deposition in the deposition/etching/deposition process is begun.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2006Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Lin Zhang, Xiaolin Chen, DongQing Li, Thanh N. Pham, Farhad K. Moghadam, Zhuang Li, Padmanabhan Krishnaraj
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Patent number: 7691753Abstract: A deposition/etching/deposition process is provided for filling a gap in a surface of a substrate. A liner is formed over the substrate so that distinctive reaction products are formed when it is exposed to a chemical etchant. The detection of such reaction products thus indicates that the portion of the film deposited during the first etching has been removed to an extent that further exposure to the etchant may remove the liner and expose underlying structures. Accordingly, the etching is stopped upon detection of distinctive reaction products and the next deposition in the deposition/etching/deposition process is begun.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2006Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Lin Zhang, Xiaolin Chen, DongQing Li, Thanh N. Pham, Farhad K. Moghadam, Zhuang Li, Padmanabhan Krishnaraj
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Publication number: 20090087615Abstract: Disclosed herein is a gas distribution plate for use in a gas distribution assembly for a processing chamber, where the gas distribution plate is fabricated from a solid yttrium oxide-comprising substrate, which may also include aluminum oxide. The gas distribution plate includes a plurality of through-holes, which are typically crescent-shaped. Through-holes which have been formed in the solid yttrium oxide-comprising substrate by ultrasonic drilling perform particularly well. The solid yttrium oxide-comprising substrate typically comprises at least 99.9% yttrium oxide, and has a density of at least 4.92 g/cm3, a water absorbency of about 0.02% or less, and an average grain size within the range of about 10 ?m to about 25 ?m. Also disclosed herein are methods for fabricating and cleaning the yttrium oxide-comprising gas distribution plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2008Publication date: April 2, 2009Inventors: Jennifer Y. Sun, Senh Thach, James Dempster, Li Xu, Thanh N. Pham
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Patent number: 7498268Abstract: The present invention is directed to improving defect performance in semiconductor processing systems. In specific embodiments, an apparatus for processing semiconductor substrates comprises a chamber defining a processing region therein, and a substrate support disposed in the chamber to support a semiconductor substrate. At least one nozzle extends into the chamber to introduce a process gas into the chamber through a nozzle opening. The apparatus comprises at least one heat shield, each of which is disposed around at least a portion of one of the at least one nozzle. The heat shield has an extension which projects distally of the nozzle opening of the nozzle and which includes a heat shield opening for the process gas to flow therethrough from the nozzle opening. The heat shield decreases the temperature of nozzle in the processing chamber for introducing process gases therein to reduce particles.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2006Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Sudhir Gondhalekar, Padmanabhan Krishnaraj, Tom K. Cho, Muhammad Rasheed, Hemant Mungekar, Thanh N. Pham, Zhong Qiang Hua
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Patent number: 7479304Abstract: Disclosed herein is a gas distribution plate for use in a gas distribution assembly for a processing chamber, where the gas distribution plate is fabricated from a solid yttrium oxide-comprising substrate, which may also include aluminum oxide. The gas distribution plate includes a plurality of through-holes, which are typically crescent-shaped. Through-holes which have been formed in the solid yttrium oxide-comprising substrate by ultrasonic drilling perform particularly well. The solid yttrium oxide-comprising substrate typically comprises at least 99.9% yttrium oxide, and has a density of at least 4.92 g/cm3, a water absorbency of about 0.02% or less, and an average grain size within the range of about 10 ?m to about 25 ?m. Also disclosed herein are methods for fabricating and cleaning the yttrium oxide-comprising gas distribution plate.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2004Date of Patent: January 20, 2009Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Jennifer Y. Sun, Senh Thach, James Dempster, Li Xu, Thanh N. Pham
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Patent number: 7399388Abstract: A method of depositing a silica glass insulating film over a substrate. In one embodiment the method comprises exposing the substrate to a silicon-containing reactant introduced into a chamber in which the substrate is disposed such that one or more layers of the silicon-containing reactant are adsorbed onto the substrate; purging or evacuating the chamber of the silicon-containing reactant; converting the silicon-containing reactant into a silica glass insulating compound by exposing the substrate to oxygen radicals formed from a second reactant while biasing the substrate to promote a sputtering effect, wherein an average atomic mass of all atomic constituents in the second reactant is less than or equal to an average atomic mass of oxygen; and repeating the exposing, purging/evacuating and exposing sequence a plurality of times until a desired film thickness is reached.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2003Date of Patent: July 15, 2008Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Farhad K. Moghadam, Michael S. Cox, Padmanabhan Krishnaraj, Thanh N. Pham
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Patent number: 7294588Abstract: A process is provided for depositing an silicon oxide film on a substrate disposed in a process chamber. A process gas that includes a halogen source, a fluent gas, a silicon source, and an oxidizing gas reactant is flowed into the process chamber. A plasma having an ion density of at least 1011 ions/cm3 is formed from the process gas. The silicon oxide film is deposited over the substrate with a halogen concentration less than 1.0%. The silicon oxide film is deposited with the plasma using a process that has simultaneous deposition and sputtering components. The flow rate of the halogen source to the process chamber to the flow rate of the silicon source to the process chamber is substantially between 0.5 and 3.0.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2006Date of Patent: November 13, 2007Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: M. Ziaul Karim, DongQing Li, Jeong Soo Byun, Thanh N. Pham
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Patent number: 7141138Abstract: The present invention is directed to improving defect performance in semiconductor processing systems. In specific embodiments, an apparatus for processing semiconductor substrates comprises a chamber defining a processing region therein, and a substrate support disposed in the chamber to support a semiconductor substrate. At least one nozzle extends into the chamber to introduce a process gas into the chamber through a nozzle opening. The apparatus comprises at least one heat shield, each of which is disposed around at least a portion of one of the at least one nozzle. The heat shield has an extension which projects distally of the nozzle opening of the nozzle and which includes a heat shield opening for the process gas to flow therethrough from the nozzle opening. The heat shield decreases the temperature of nozzle in the processing chamber for introducing process gases therein to reduce particles.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2003Date of Patent: November 28, 2006Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Sudhir Gondhalekar, Padmanabhan Krishnaraj, Tom K. Cho, Muhammad Rasheed, Hemant Mungekar, Thanh N. Pham, Zhong Qiang Hua
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Patent number: 7097886Abstract: A method of depositing an insulating film over a substrate having a gap formed between two adjacent raised features. The method includes depositing one portion of the insulating film over the substrate and in the gap using a high density plasma process that has simultaneous deposition and sputtering components and depositing another portion of the insulating film over the substrate and in the gap using an atomic layer deposition process. In some embodiments the portion of the film deposited by an atomic layer deposition process is deposited over the portion of the film deposited using a high density plasma CVD technique. In other embodiments, the portion of the film deposited by a high density plasma CVD process is deposited over the portion of the film deposited using an atomic layer deposition process.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2002Date of Patent: August 29, 2006Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Farhad K. Moghadam, Michael S. Cox, Padmanabhan Krishnaraj, Thanh N. Pham, Zhenjiang Cui
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Patent number: 7081414Abstract: A deposition/etching/deposition process is provided for filling a gap in a surface of a substrate. A liner is formed over the substrate so that distinctive reaction products are formed when it is exposed to a chemical etchant. The detection of such reaction products thus indicates that the portion of the film deposited during the first etching has been removed to an extent that further exposure to the etchant may remove the liner and expose underlying structures. Accordingly, the etching is stopped upon detection of distinctive reaction products and the next deposition in the deposition/etching/deposition process is begun.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2003Date of Patent: July 25, 2006Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Lin Zhang, Xiaolin Chen, DongQing Li, Thanh N Pham, Farhad K Moghadam, Zhuang Li, Padmanabhan Krishnaraj
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Patent number: 7049211Abstract: A process is provided for depositing an undoped silicon oxide film on a substrate disposed in a process chamber. A process gas that includes SiF4, a fluent gas, a silicon source, and an oxidizing gas reactant is flowed into the process chamber. A plasma having an ion density of at least 1011 ions/cm3 is formed from the process gas. The undoped silicon oxide film is deposited over the substrate with the plasma using a process that has simultaneous deposition and sputtering components.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2005Date of Patent: May 23, 2006Assignee: Applied MaterialsInventors: M. Ziaul Karim, DongQing Li, Jeong Soo Byun, Thanh N. Pham
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Patent number: 7033945Abstract: A method of filling a gap formed between adjacent raised surfaces on a substrate. In one embodiment the method comprises depositing a boron-doped silica glass (BSG) layer over the substrate to partially fill the gap using a thermal CVD process; exposing the BSG layer to a steam ambient at a temperature above the BSG layer's Eutectic temperature; removing an upper portion of the BSG layer by exposing the layer to a fluorine-containing etchant; and depositing an undoped silica glass (USG) layer over the BSG layer to fill the remainder of the gap.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2004Date of Patent: April 25, 2006Assignee: Applied MaterialsInventors: Jeong Soo Byun, Zheng Yuan, Shankar Venkataraman, M. Ziaul Karim, Thanh N. Pham, Ellie Y. Yieh
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Patent number: 6903031Abstract: A process is provided for depositing an undoped silicon oxide film on a substrate disposed in a process chamber. A process gas that includes SiF4, H2, a silicon source, and an oxidizing gas reactant is flowed into the process chamber. A plasma having an ion density of at least 1011 ions/cm3 is formed from the process gas. The undoped silicon oxide film is deposited over the substrate with the plasma using a process that has simultaneous deposition and sputtering components. A temperature of the substrate during such depositing is greater than 450° C.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2003Date of Patent: June 7, 2005Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: M. Ziaul Karim, DongQing Li, Jeong Soo Byun, Thanh N. Pham
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Publication number: 20040251236Abstract: A deposition / etching /deposition process is provided for filling a gap in a surface of a substrate. A liner is formed over the substrate so that distinctive reaction products are formed when it is exposed to a chemical etchant. The detection of such reaction products thus indicates that the portion of the film deposited during the first etching has been removed to an extent that further exposure to the etchant may remove the liner and expose underlying structures. Accordingly, the etching is stopped upon detection of distinctive reaction products and the next deposition in the deposition /etching /deposition process is begun.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2003Publication date: December 16, 2004Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Lin Zhang, Xiaolin Chen, DongQing Li, Thanh N. Pham, Farhad K. Moghadam, Shuang Li, Padmanabhan Krishnaraj
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Publication number: 20040231798Abstract: A replaceable gas nozzle is insertable in a gas distributor ring of a substrate processing chamber and that can be shielded within the chamber. The replaceable gas nozzle has a longitudinal ceramic body having a channel to direct the flow of the gas into the chamber. The ceramic body includes a first external thread to mate with the gas distributor ring, and a second external thread to receive a heat shield. The channel has an inlet to receive the gas from the gas distributor ring and a pinhole outlet to release the gas into the chamber. A heat shield can be used to shield the nozzle extending into the chamber. The heat shield has a hollow member configured to be coupled with the nozzle that has an internal dimension sufficiently large to be disposed around at least a portion of the nozzle. The hollow member also has an extension which projects distally of the outlet of the nozzle and a heat shield opening for the process gas to flow therethrough from the nozzle outlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2004Publication date: November 25, 2004Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Sudhir Gondhalekar, Padmanabhan Krishnaraj, Tom K. Cho, Muhammad Rasheed, Hemant Mungekar, Thanh N. Pham, Zhong Qiang Hua
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Publication number: 20040126952Abstract: The present invention is directed to improving defect performance in semiconductor processing systems. In specific embodiments, an apparatus for processing semiconductor substrates comprises a chamber defining a processing region therein, and a substrate support disposed in the chamber to support a semiconductor substrate. At least one nozzle extends into the chamber to introduce a process gas into the chamber through a nozzle opening. The apparatus comprises at least one heat shield, each of which is disposed around at least a portion of one of the at least one nozzle. The heat shield has an extension which projects distally of the nozzle opening of the nozzle and which includes a heat shield opening for the process gas to flow therethrough from the nozzle opening. The heat shield decreases the temperature of nozzle in the processing chamber for introducing process gases therein to reduce particles.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2003Publication date: July 1, 2004Applicant: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.Inventors: Sudhir Gondhalekar, Padmanabhan Krishnaraj, Tom K. Cho, Muhammad Rasheed, Hemant Mungekar, Thanh N. Pham, Zhong Qiang Hua
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Publication number: 20040115898Abstract: A method of depositing an insulating film over a substrate having a gap formed between two adjacent raised features. The method includes depositing one portion of the insulating film over the substrate and in the gap using a high density plasma process that has simultaneous deposition and sputtering components and depositing another portion of the insulating film over the substrate and in the gap using an atomic layer deposition process. In some embodiments the portion of the film deposited by an atomic layer deposition process is deposited over the portion of the film deposited using a high density plasma CVD technique. In other embodiments, the portion of the film deposited by a high density plasma CVD process is deposited over the portion of the film deposited using an atomic layer deposition process.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2002Publication date: June 17, 2004Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Farhad K. Moghadam, Michael S. Cox, Padmanabhan Krishnaraj, Thanh N. Pham, Zhenjiang Cui
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Patent number: 6511923Abstract: A composite insulating film including three layers is formed on a substrate having a gap. The first layer partially fills the gap and contains a dielectric material having a low dielectric constant, such as halogen-doped silicate glass. The second layer is formed over the first layer, and contains an undoped dielectric material such as silicon oxide, nitride, or oxynitride. The second layer is more stable and integrable, and less susceptible to moisture absorption and outgassing, than the first layer. The second layer is substantially smaller in thickness than the first layer, and at least substantially fills the gap. The third layer is formed over the second layer, and contains a dielectric material having a low dielectric constant, such as halogen-doped silicate glass. In a specific embodiment, the first layer is formed by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition in which reactive species are generated from a process gas mixture by plasma for sputtering the first layer.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2000Date of Patent: January 28, 2003Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Yaxin Wang, Michael Barnes, Thanh N. Pham, Farhad Moghadam