Patents by Inventor Thomas Letson

Thomas Letson 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: 20050241764
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for improving azimuthal symmetry in an etch process are described. In some implementations, a baffle may be used to modify the flow of gas in an etch process. A baffle may include a baffle wall, which may have at least two regions of equal radial extent. A first region may have a first open area percentage, while a fourth region may have a fourth open area percentage. The first open area percentage is smaller than the fourth open area percentage. The baffle may be positioned so that the first region is toward a vacuum inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2004
    Publication date: November 3, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas Letson, Don O'Neill
  • Publication number: 20040259340
    Abstract: A transistor having a gate electrode with a T-shaped cross section is fabricated from a single layer of conductive material using an etching process. A two process etch is performed to form side walls having a notched profile. The notches allow source and drain regions to be implanted in a substrate and thermally processed without creating excessive overlap capacitance with the gate electrode. The reduction of overlap capacitance increases the operating performance of the transistor, including drive current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Charles Chu, Thomas A. Letson
  • Patent number: 6191016
    Abstract: A structure is provided comprising a semiconductor substrate, a gate oxide layer on the substrate, and a polysilicon layer on the gate oxide layer. A masking layer is formed on the polysilicon layer. The masking layer is then patterned into a mask utilizing conventional photolithographic techniques, but without patterning the polysilicon layer. The photoresist layer is then removed, whereafter the mask, which is patterned out of the masking layer, is utilized for patterning the polysilicon layer. The use of a carbon free mask for patterning the polysilicon layer, instead of a conventional photoresist layer containing carbon, results in less breakthrough through the gate oxide layer when the polysilicon layer is patterned. Less breakthrough through the gate oxide layer allows for the use of thinner gate oxide layers, and finally fabricated transistors having lower threshold voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Chau, Thomas Letson, Patricia Stokley, Peter Charvat, Ralph Schweinfurth
  • Patent number: 5874358
    Abstract: A novel high performance and reliable interconnection structure for preventing via delamination. The interconnection structure of the present invention comprises a via connection which extends into and undercuts an underlying interconnection line to lock the via connection into the interconnection line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Alan M. Myers, Peter K. Charvat, Thomas A. Letson, Shi-ning Yang, Peng Bai
  • Patent number: 5619071
    Abstract: A novel high performance and reliable interconnection structure for preventing via delamination. The interconnection structure of the present invention comprises a via connection which extends into and undercuts an underlying interconnection line to lock the via connection into the interconnection line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Alan M. Myers, Peter K. Charvat, Thomas A. Letson, Shi-ning Yang, Peng Bai
  • Patent number: 5470790
    Abstract: A novel high performance and reliable interconnection structure for preventing via delamination. The interconnection structure of the present invention comprises a via connection which extends into and undercuts an underlying interconnection line to lock the via connection into the interconnection line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Alan M. Myers, Peter K. Charvat, Thomas A. Letson, Shi-ning Yang, Peng Bai