Patents by Inventor Timothy Joseph Franklin

Timothy Joseph Franklin 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: 11959174
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to magnetic and electromagnetic systems and a method for controlling the density profile of plasma generated in a process volume of a PECVD chamber to affect deposition profile of a film on a substrate and/or facilitate chamber cleaning after processing. In one embodiment, a system is disclosed that includes a rotational magnetic housing disposed about an exterior sidewall of a chamber. The rotational magnetic housing includes a plurality of magnets coupled to a sleeve that are configured to travel in a circular path when the rotational magnetic housing is rotated around the chamber, and a plurality of shunt doors movably disposed between the chamber and the sleeve, wherein each of the shunt doors are configured to move relative to the magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kallol Bera, Sathya Swaroop Ganta, Timothy Joseph Franklin, Kaushik Alayavalli, Akshay Dhanakshirur, Stephen C. Garner, Bhaskar Kumar
  • Publication number: 20230413446
    Abstract: A method includes causing, by a computing system comprising at least one processing device, a diagnostic disc placed within a processing chamber to generate sensor data of at least one component of the processing chamber using a set of non-contact sensors of the diagnostic disc, receiving, by the computing system, the sensor data from the diagnostic disc via a wireless connection established between the computing system and the diagnostic disc, determining, by the computing system based on the sensor data, whether at least one of alignment concentricity is skewed with respect to the at least one component, and in response to determining that at least one of alignment or concentricity is skewed with respect to the at least one component, initiating, by the computing system, correction of at least one of alignment or concentricity of the at least one component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Phillip A. Criminale, Zhiqiang Guo, Andrew Myles, Martin Perez-Guzman, Nelson Joseph Gaspard, Timothy Joseph Franklin, Michael A. Stearns
  • Patent number: 11819948
    Abstract: Embodiments of a method of forming one or more holes in a substrate for use as a process chamber component are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of forming one or more holes in a substrate for use as a process chamber component include forming the one or more holes in the substrate with one or more laser drills using at least one of a percussion drilling, a trepanning, or an ablation process, wherein each of the one or more holes have an aspect ratio of about 1:1 to about 50:1, and wherein the substrate is a component for gas delivery or fluid delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Sumit Agarwal, Timothy Joseph Franklin, Joseph F. Sommers
  • Publication number: 20230323531
    Abstract: A method includes affixing a supply apparatus to inlets for one or more channels of a chamber component. The channels provide one or more gas flow paths between a first side of the chamber component that comprises the inlets and a second side of the chamber component comprising outlets of the one or more channels. The method further includes affixing an exhaust apparatus to the outlets of the one or more channels. The method further includes performing a plurality of atomic layer deposition cycles to deposit a corrosion resistant coating on interior surfaces of the one or more channels of the chamber component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2022
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: Joseph Frederick Behnke, Carlaton Wong, Albert Barrett Hicks, III, Steven Darrell Marcus, Joseph Frederick Sommers, Christopher Laurent Beaudry, Timothy Joseph Franklin
  • Publication number: 20230187182
    Abstract: A method includes depositing a first layer of a first material onto a surface of a chamber component of a processing chamber. The first material comprises a polymer, the polymer having a dielectric strength of at least 40 MV/m. The method further includes depositing a second layer of a second material onto the first layer. The second material comprises a first ceramic material impregnated into the first polymer or a second polymer. The method further includes depositing a third layer. The third layer is of a third material. The third material includes the first ceramic material or a second ceramic material. The third material does not adhere to the first polymer or the second polymer. The third material does adhere to the first ceramic material or the second ceramic material of the second layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Joseph Frederick Sommers, Joseph Frederick Behnke, Xue Yang Chang, Anwar Husain, Alexander Alhajj Sulyman, Timothy Joseph Franklin, David J. Coumou
  • Publication number: 20230170241
    Abstract: Porous plugs for gas delivery in substrate supports and substrate supports and substrate processing chambers incorporating same are provided herein. In some embodiments, a porous plug for use in a substrate support includes: a porous central passageway; and a solid outer shell bonded to and surrounding the porous central passageway such that there is no continuous gap between the porous central passageway and the solid outer shell along an entire length of the porous plug, wherein the solid outer shell includes sealing surfaces disposed on ends of the solid outer shell to facilitate forming a seal along the sealing surface and surrounding the porous central passageway. In some embodiments, one or more o-ring retaining grooves can be formed about the outer surface of the solid outer shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Alexander SULYMAN, Xue Yang CHANG, Anwar HUSAIN, Timothy Joseph FRANKLIN, Joseph F. SOMMERS
  • Publication number: 20230154726
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to magnetic and electromagnetic systems and a method for controlling the density profile of plasma generated in a process volume of a PECVD chamber to affect deposition profile of a film. In one embodiment, a plurality of retaining brackets is disposed in a rotational magnetic housing of the magnetic housing systems. Each retaining bracket of the plurality of retaining brackets is disposed in the rotational magnetic housing with a distance d between each retaining bracket. The plurality of retaining brackets has a plurality of magnets removably disposed therein. The plurality of magnets is configured to travel in a circular path when the rotational magnetic housing is rotated around the round central opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Srinivas GANDIKOTA, Tza-Jing GUNG, Samuel E. GOTTHEIM, Timothy Joseph FRANKLIN, Pramit MANNA, Eswaranand VENKATASUBRAMANIAN, Edward HAYWOOD, Stephen C. GARNER, Adam FISCHBACH
  • Publication number: 20230139431
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide magnetic and electromagnetic housing systems and a method for controlling the properties of plasma generated in a process volume of a process chamber to affect deposition properties of a film. In one embodiment, the method includes rotation of the rotational magnetic housing about a center axis of the process volume to create dynamic magnetic fields. The magnetic fields modify the shape of the plasma, concentration of ions and radicals, and movement of concentration of ions and radicals to control the density profile of the plasma. Controlling the density profile of the plasma tunes the uniformity and properties of a deposited or etched film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel E. GOTTHEIM, Abhijit B. MALLICK, Pramit MANNA, Eswaranand VENKATASUBRAMANIAN, Timothy Joseph FRANKLIN, Edward HAYWOOD, Stephen C. GARNER, Adam FISCHBACH
  • Publication number: 20230118651
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure herein include an apparatus for processing a substrate. More specifically, embodiments of this disclosure provide a substrate support assembly that includes an electrostatic chuck (ESC) assembly. The ESC assembly comprises a cooling base having a top surface and an outer diameter sidewall, an ESC having a substrate support surface, a bottom surface and an outer diameter sidewall, the bottom surface of the ESC coupled to the top surface of the cooling base by an adhesive layer. The substrate support assembly includes a blocking ring disposed around the outer diameter sidewalls of the cooling base and ESC, the blocking ring shielding an interface between the bottom surface of the ESC and the top surface of the cooling base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Timothy Joseph FRANKLIN, Jaeyong CHO, Alexander SULYMAN, Xue CHANG, Kartik RAMASWAMY, Steven E. BABAYAN, Anwar HUSAIN, David COUMOU
  • Patent number: 11587764
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to magnetic and electromagnetic systems and a method for controlling the density profile of plasma generated in a process volume of a PECVD chamber to affect deposition profile of a film. In one embodiment, a plurality of retaining brackets is disposed in a rotational magnetic housing of the magnetic housing systems. Each retaining bracket of the plurality of retaining brackets is disposed in the rotational magnetic housing with a distance d between each retaining bracket. The plurality of retaining brackets has a plurality of magnets removably disposed therein. The plurality of magnets is configured to travel in a circular path when the rotational magnetic housing is rotated around the round central opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivas Gandikota, Tza-Jing Gung, Samuel E. Gottheim, Timothy Joseph Franklin, Pramit Manna, Eswaranand Venkatasubramanian, Edward Haywood, Stephen C. Garner, Adam Fischbach
  • Patent number: 11560626
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to apparatus and methods utilized in the manufacture of semiconductor devices. More particularly, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a substrate processing chamber, and components thereof, for forming semiconductor devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Joseph Franklin, Adam Fischbach, Edward Haywood, Abhijit B. Mallick, Pramit Manna, Carlaton Wong, Stephen C. Garner, Eswaranand Venkatasubramanian
  • Patent number: 11557466
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide magnetic and electromagnetic housing systems and a method for controlling the properties of plasma generated in a process volume of a process chamber to affect deposition properties of a film. In one embodiment, the method includes rotation of the rotational magnetic housing about a center axis of the process volume to create dynamic magnetic fields. The magnetic fields modify the shape of the plasma, concentration of ions and radicals, and movement of concentration of ions and radicals to control the density profile of the plasma. Controlling the density profile of the plasma tunes the uniformity and properties of a deposited or etched film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel E. Gottheim, Abhijit B. Mallick, Pramit Manna, Eswaranand Venkatasubramanian, Timothy Joseph Franklin, Edward Haywood, Stephen C. Garner, Adam Fischbach
  • Patent number: 11508558
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally related to a substrate processing apparatus, and more specifically to an improved showerhead assembly for a substrate processing apparatus. The showerhead assembly includes a chill plate, a gas plate, and a gas distribution plate having a top surface and a bottom surface. A plurality of protruded features contacts the top surface of the gas distribution plate. A fastener and an energy storage structure is provided on the protruded features. The energy storage structure is compressed by the fastener and axially loads at least one of the protruded features to compress the chill plate, the gas plate and the gas distribution plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Joseph Franklin, Steven E. Babayan, Philip Allan Kraus
  • Publication number: 20220293452
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a lift pin mechanism for substrate processing chambers are provided herein. In some embodiments, the lift pin mechanism includes a lift pin comprising a shaft with a top end, a bottom end, and a coupling end at the bottom end; a bellows assembly disposed about the shaft. The bellows assembly includes an upper bellows flange having an opening for axial movement of the shaft; a bellows having a first end coupled to a lower surface of the upper bellows flange such that the shaft extends into a central volume surrounded by the bellows; and a bellows guide assembly coupled to a second end of the bellows to seal the central volume. The shaft is coupled to the bellows guide assembly at the coupling end. The bellows guide assembly is axially movable to move the lift pin with respect to the upper bellows flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Alexander SULYMAN, Carlaton WONG, Rajinder DHINDSA, Timothy Joseph FRANKLIN, Steven BABAYAN, Anwar HUSAIN, James Hugh ROGERS, Xue Yang CHANG
  • Publication number: 20220293451
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for lift pin assemblies for substrate processing chambers are provided. In some embodiments, a lift pin assembly includes a lift pin comprising a shaft, a head, and a coupling end, the head configured to rest against an electrostatic chuck; an upper guide comprising a top end, a bottom end, and a first opening extending from the top end to the bottom end, wherein the shaft is disposed and axially movable through the first opening; a lower guide comprising a top end, a bottom end, and a second opening and a third opening extending from the top end to the bottom end, wherein the third opening is larger than the second opening, and wherein the shaft is disposed and axially movable through the second opening and the third opening; and a biasing mechanism coupled to the shaft and configured to bias the lift pin against the electrostatic chuck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Alexander SULYMAN, Anwar HUSAIN, Timothy Joseph FRANKLIN, Carlaton WONG, Xue Yang CHANG
  • Publication number: 20220111468
    Abstract: Embodiments of a method of forming one or more holes in a substrate for use as a process chamber component are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of forming one or more holes in a substrate for use as a process chamber component include forming the one or more holes in the substrate with one or more laser drills using at least one of a percussion drilling, a trepanning, or an ablation process, wherein each of the one or more holes have an aspect ratio of about 1:1 to about 50:1, and wherein the substrate is a component for gas delivery or fluid delivery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventors: Sumit AGARWAL, Timothy Joseph FRANKLIN
  • Publication number: 20220111467
    Abstract: Embodiments of a method of forming one or more holes in a substrate for use as a process chamber component are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of forming one or more holes in a substrate for use as a process chamber component include forming the one or more holes in the substrate with one or more laser drills using at least one of a percussion drilling, a trepanning, or an ablation process, wherein each of the one or more holes have an aspect ratio of about 1:1 to about 50:1, and wherein the substrate is a component for gas delivery or fluid delivery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventors: Sumit AGARWAL, Timothy Joseph FRANKLIN, Joseph F. SOMMERS
  • Publication number: 20220102117
    Abstract: Embodiments of components for use in substrate process chambers are provided herein. In some embodiments, a component for use in a substrate process chamber includes: a body having an opening extending partially through the body from a top surface of the body, wherein the opening includes a threaded portion for fastening the body to a second process chamber component, wherein the threaded portion includes a plurality of threads defining a plurality of rounded crests and a plurality of rounded roots, and wherein a depth of the threaded portion, being a radial distance between a rounded crest of the plurality of rounded crests and an adjacent root of the plurality of rounded roots, decreases from a first depth to a second depth at a last thread of the plurality of threads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Reyn Tetsuro WAKABAYASHI, Carlaton WONG, Timothy Joseph FRANKLIN
  • Publication number: 20220093362
    Abstract: Embodiments of showerheads are provided herein. In some embodiments, a showerhead assembly includes a chill plate comprising a gas plate and a cooling plate having an aluminum-silicon foil interlayer disposed therebetween for diffusion bonding the gas plate to the cooling plate and a heater plate comprising a first plate, a second plate, and a third plate, wherein an aluminum-silicon foil interlayer is disposed between the first plate and the cooling plate for diffusion bonding the first plate to the cooling plate, wherein an aluminum-silicon foil interlayer is disposed between the first plate and the second plate for diffusion bonding the first plate to the second plate, and wherein an aluminum-silicon foil interlayer is disposed between the second plate and the third plate for diffusion bonding the second plate to the third plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Joseph Frederick BEHNKE, Reyn Tetsuro WAKABAYASHI, Carlaton WONG, Timothy Joseph FRANKLIN, Joseph F. SOMMERS
  • Publication number: 20220093361
    Abstract: Embodiments of showerheads are provided herein. In some embodiments, a showerhead assembly includes a chill plate having a plurality of recursive gas paths and one or more cooling channels disposed therein, wherein each of the plurality of recursive gas paths is fluidly coupled to a single gas inlet extending to a first side of the chill plate and a plurality of gas outlets extending to a second side of the chill plate; and a heater plate coupled to the chill plate, wherein the heater plate includes a plurality of first gas distribution holes extending from a top surface thereof to a plurality of plenums disposed within the heater plate, the plurality of first gas distribution holes corresponding with the plurality of gas outlets of the chill plate, and a plurality of second gas distribution holes extending from the plurality of plenums to a lower surface of the heater plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Reyn Tetsuro WAKABAYASHI, Carlaton WONG, Timothy Joseph FRANKLIN