Patents by Inventor Thomas R. Omstead

Thomas R. Omstead 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: 11031247
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a processing apparatus may include a plasma chamber configured to generate a plasma; a process chamber adjacent the plasma chamber and configured to house a substrate that defines a substrate plane; an extraction system adjacent the plasma chamber and configured to direct an ion beam from the plasma to the substrate, the ion beam forming a non-zero angle with respect to a perpendicular to the substrate plane; and a molecular chamber adjacent the process chamber, isolated from the plasma chamber and configured to deliver a molecular beam to the substrate, wherein the ion beam and molecular beam are alternately delivered to the substrate to form a monolayer comprising species from the ion beam and molecular beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas R. Omstead
  • Patent number: 10930846
    Abstract: A method of forming a silicon-containing dielectric material. The method includes forming a plasma comprising nitrogen radicals, absorbing the nitrogen radicals onto a substrate, and exposing the substrate to a silicon-containing precursor in a non-plasma environment to form monolayers of a silicon-containing dielectric material on the substrate. Additional methods are also described, as are semiconductor device structures including the silicon-containing dielectric material and methods of forming the semiconductor device structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Omstead, Cole S. Franklin
  • Publication number: 20200052202
    Abstract: A method of forming a silicon-containing dielectric material. The method includes forming a plasma comprising nitrogen radicals, absorbing the nitrogen radicals onto a substrate, and exposing the substrate to a silicon-containing precursor in a non-plasma environment to form monolayers of a silicon-containing dielectric material on the substrate. Additional methods are also described, as are semiconductor device structures including the silicon-containing dielectric material and methods of forming the semiconductor device structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas R. Omstead, Cole S. Franklin
  • Patent number: 10468595
    Abstract: A method of forming a silicon-containing dielectric material. The method includes forming a plasma comprising nitrogen radicals, absorbing the nitrogen radicals onto a substrate, and exposing the substrate to a silicon-containing precursor in a non-plasma environment to form monolayers of a silicon-containing dielectric material on the substrate. Additional methods are also described, as are semiconductor device structures including the silicon-containing dielectric material and methods of forming the semiconductor device structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Omstead, Cole S. Franklin
  • Publication number: 20190051826
    Abstract: A method of forming a silicon-containing dielectric material. The method includes forming a plasma comprising nitrogen radicals, absorbing the nitrogen radicals onto a substrate, and exposing the substrate to a silicon-containing precursor in a non-plasma environment to form monolayers of a silicon-containing dielectric material on the substrate. Additional methods are also described, as are semiconductor device structures including the silicon-containing dielectric material and methods of forming the semiconductor device structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas R. Omstead, Cole S. Franklin
  • Patent number: 10121966
    Abstract: A method of forming a silicon-containing dielectric material. The method includes forming a plasma comprising nitrogen radicals, absorbing the nitrogen radicals onto a substrate, and exposing the substrate to a silicon-containing precursor in a non-plasma environment to form monolayers of a silicon-containing dielectric material on the substrate. Additional methods are also described, as are semiconductor device structures including the silicon-containing dielectric material and methods of forming the semiconductor device structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Omstead, Cole S. Franklin
  • Publication number: 20180182627
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a processing apparatus may include a plasma chamber configured to generate a plasma; a process chamber adjacent the plasma chamber and configured to house a substrate that defines a substrate plane; an extraction system adjacent the plasma chamber and configured to direct an ion beam from the plasma to the substrate, the ion beam forming a non-zero angle with respect to a perpendicular to the substrate plane; and a molecular chamber adjacent the process chamber, isolated from the plasma chamber and configured to deliver a molecular beam to the substrate, wherein the ion beam and molecular beam are alternately delivered to the substrate to form a monolayer comprising species from the ion beam and molecular beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicant: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas R. Omstead
  • Patent number: 9929015
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a processing apparatus may include a process chamber configured to house a substrate and a hybrid source assembly that includes a gas channel coupled to a molecular source; and a plasma chamber configured to generate a plasma and isolated from the gas channel. The processing apparatus may also include an extraction assembly disposed between the hybrid source assembly and process chamber, coupled to the gas channel and plasma chamber, and configured to direct an ion beam to a substrate, the ion beam comprising angled ions wherein the angled ions form a non-zero angle with respect to a perpendicular to a substrate plane; and configured to direct a molecular beam comprising molecular species received from the gas channel to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Omstead, Simon Ruffell, Tristan Ma, Ethan A. Wright, John Hautala
  • Patent number: 9847228
    Abstract: A method may include providing a substrate having a surface that defines a substrate plane and a substrate feature that extends from the substrate plane; directing an ion beam comprising angled ions to the substrate at a non-zero angle with respect to a perpendicular to the substrate plane, wherein a first portion of the substrate feature is exposed to the ion beam and wherein a second portion of the substrate feature is not exposed to the ion beam; directing molecules of a molecular species to the substrate wherein the molecules of the molecular species cover the substrate feature; and providing a second species to react with the molecular species, wherein selective growth of a layer comprising the molecular species and the second species takes place such that a first thickness of the layer grown on the first portion is different from a second thickness grown on the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Ruffell, Thomas R. Omstead, Anthony Renau
  • Publication number: 20160379844
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for etching a copper layer disposed on a substrate includes directing reactive ions to the substrate when a mask that defines an exposed area and protected area is disposed on the copper layer, wherein an altered layer is generated in the exposed area comprising a chemically reactive material; and exposing the copper layer to a molecular species that is effective to react with the chemically reactive material so as to remove the altered layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas R. Omstead, Tristan MA, Ludovic Godet
  • Publication number: 20160379827
    Abstract: A method may include providing a substrate having a surface that defines a substrate plane and a substrate feature that extends from the substrate plane; directing an ion beam comprising angled ions to the substrate at a non-zero angle with respect to a perpendicular to the substrate plane, wherein a first portion of the substrate feature is exposed to the ion beam and wherein a second portion of the substrate feature is not exposed to the ion beam; directing molecules of a molecular species to the substrate wherein the molecules of the molecular species cover the substrate feature; and providing a second species to react with the molecular species, wherein selective growth of a layer comprising the molecular species and the second species takes place such that a first thickness of the layer grown on the first portion is different from a second thickness grown on the second portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Simon Ruffell, Thomas R. Omstead, Anthony Renau
  • Patent number: 9460961
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for etching a copper layer disposed on a substrate includes directing reactive ions to the substrate when a mask that defines an exposed area and protected area is disposed on the copper layer, wherein an altered layer is generated in the exposed area comprising a chemically reactive material; and exposing the copper layer to a molecular species that is effective to react with the chemically reactive material so as to remove the altered layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Omstead, Tristan Ma, Ludovic Godet
  • Patent number: 9453279
    Abstract: A method may include providing a substrate having a surface that defines a substrate plane and a substrate feature that extends from the substrate plane; directing an ion beam comprising angled ions to the substrate at a non-zero angle with respect to a perpendicular to the substrate plane, wherein a first portion of the substrate feature is exposed to the ion beam and wherein a second portion of the substrate feature is not exposed to the ion beam; directing molecules of a molecular species to the substrate wherein the molecules of the molecular species cover the substrate feature; and providing a second species to react with the molecular species, wherein selective growth of a layer comprising the molecular species and the second species takes place such that a first thickness of the layer grown on the first portion is different from a second thickness grown on the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Ruffell, Thomas R. Omstead, Anthony Renau
  • Publication number: 20160233419
    Abstract: A method of forming a silicon-containing dielectric material. The method includes forming a plasma comprising nitrogen radicals, absorbing the nitrogen radicals onto a substrate, and exposing the substrate to a silicon-containing precursor in a non-plasma environment to form monolayers of a silicon-containing dielectric material on the substrate. Additional methods are also described, as are semiconductor device structures including the silicon-containing dielectric material and methods of forming the semiconductor device structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas R. Omstead, Cole S. Franklin
  • Patent number: 9396965
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for etching a metal layer on a substrate may include providing a hydrogen-containing gas and an impurity gas to a plasma chamber; generating a plasma from the hydrogen-containing gas and the impurity gas in the plasma chamber, the plasma comprising hydrogen-containing ions; providing gaseous species from the plasma chamber to the substrate, wherein the providing the gaseous species comprises directing an ion beam comprising the hydrogen-containing ions formed from the plasma through an extraction aperture of an extraction plate disposed between the substrate and the plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Tristan Ma, Ludovic Godet, Thomas R. Omstead
  • Patent number: 9343317
    Abstract: A method of forming a silicon-containing dielectric material. The method includes forming a plasma comprising nitrogen radicals, absorbing the nitrogen radicals onto a substrate, and exposing the substrate to a silicon-containing precursor in a non-plasma environment to form monolayers of a silicon-containing dielectric material on the substrate. Additional methods are also described, as are semiconductor device structures including the silicon-containing dielectric material and methods of forming the semiconductor device structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Omstead, Cole S. Franklin
  • Publication number: 20160042975
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for etching a metal layer on a substrate may include providing a hydrogen-containing gas and an impurity gas to a plasma chamber; generating a plasma from the hydrogen-containing gas and the impurity gas in the plasma chamber, the plasma comprising hydrogen-containing ions; providing gaseous species from the plasma chamber to the substrate, wherein the providing the gaseous species comprises directing an ion beam comprising the hydrogen-containing ions formed from the plasma through an extraction aperture of an extraction plate disposed between the substrate and the plasma.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Tristan MA, Ludovic Godet, Thomas R. Omstead
  • Publication number: 20160042922
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for etching a copper layer disposed on a substrate includes directing reactive ions to the substrate when a mask that defines an exposed area and protected area is disposed on the copper layer, wherein an altered layer is generated in the exposed area comprising a chemically reactive material; and exposing the copper layer to a molecular species that is effective to react with the chemically reactive material so as to remove the altered layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas R. Omstead, Tristan MA, Ludovic Godet
  • Publication number: 20160005594
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a processing apparatus may include a process chamber configured to house a substrate and a hybrid source assembly that includes a gas channel coupled to a molecular source; and a plasma chamber configured to generate a plasma and isolated from the gas channel. The processing apparatus may also include an extraction assembly disposed between the hybrid source assembly and process chamber, coupled to the gas channel and plasma chamber, and configured to direct an ion beam to a substrate, the ion beam comprising angled ions wherein the angled ions form a non-zero angle with respect to a perpendicular to a substrate plane; and configured to direct a molecular beam comprising molecular species received from the gas channel to the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas R. Omstead, Simon Ruffell, Tristan MA, Ethan A. Wright, John Hautala
  • Publication number: 20160002784
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a processing apparatus may include a plasma chamber configured to generate a plasma; a process chamber adjacent the plasma chamber and configured to house a substrate that defines a substrate plane; an extraction system adjacent the plasma chamber and configured to direct an ion beam from the plasma to the substrate, the ion beam forming a non-zero angle with respect to a perpendicular to the substrate plane; and a molecular chamber adjacent the process chamber, isolated from the plasma chamber and configured to deliver a molecular beam to the substrate, wherein the ion beam and molecular beam are alternately delivered to the substrate to form a monolayer comprising species from the ion beam and molecular beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventor: Thomas R. Omstead