Patents by Inventor Timothy M. Archer

Timothy M. Archer 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: 8795482
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for planar metal plating on a workpiece having a surface with recessed regions and exposed surface regions; comprising the steps of: causing a plating accelerator to become attached to said surface including the recessed and exposed surface regions; selectively removing the plating accelerator from the exposed surface regions without performing substantial metal plating on the surface; and after removal of plating accelerator is at least partially complete, plating metal onto the surface, whereby the plating accelerator remaining attached to the surface increases the rate of metal plating in the recessed regions relative to the rate of metal plating in the exposed surface regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven T. Mayer, Marshall R. Stowell, John S. Drewery, Richard S. Hill, Timothy M. Archer, Avishai Kepten
  • Patent number: 8268154
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for planar metal plating on a workpiece having a surface with recessed regions and exposed surface regions; comprising the steps of: causing a plating accelerator to become attached to said surface including the recessed and exposed surface regions; selectively removing the plating accelerator from the exposed surface regions without performing substantial metal plating on the surface; and after removal of plating accelerator is at least partially complete, plating metal onto the surface, whereby the plating accelerator remaining attached to the surface increases the rate of metal plating in the recessed regions relative to the rate of metal plating in the exposed surface regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven T. Mayer, John S. Drewery, Richard S. Hill, Timothy M. Archer, Avishai Kepten
  • Patent number: 7501339
    Abstract: A dielectric structure and method for making a dielectric structure for dual-damascene applications over a substrate are provided. The method includes forming a barrier layer over the substrate, forming an inorganic dielectric layer over the barrier layer, and forming a low dielectric constant layer over the inorganic dielectric layer. In this preferred example, the method also includes forming a trench in the low dielectric constant layer using a first etch chemistry. The etching is timed to etch through a partial thickness of the low dielectric constant layer and the first etch chemistry is optimized to a selected low dielectric constant material. The method further includes forming a via hole in the inorganic dielectric layer using a second etch chemistry, such that the via is within the trench. In a specific example, the inorganic dielectric layer can be an un-doped TEOS oxide or a fluorine doped oxide, and the low dielectric constant layer can be a carbon doped oxide (C-oxide) or other low K dielectrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Jay E. Uglow, Nicolas J. Bright, Dave J. Hemker, Kenneth P. MacWilliams, Jeffrey C. Benzing, Timothy M. Archer
  • Patent number: 7482247
    Abstract: Conformal nanolaminate dielectric deposition and etch back processes that can fill high aspect ratio (typically at least 5:1, for example 6:1), narrow width (typically sub 0.13 micron, for example 0.1 micron or less) gaps with significantly reduced incidence of voids or weak spots involve the use of any suitable confirmal dielectric deposition technique and a dry etch back. The etch back part of the process involves a single step or an integrated multi-step (for example, two-step) procedure including an anisotropic dry etch followed by an isotropic dry etch. The all dry deposition and etch back process in a single tool increases throughput and reduces handling of wafers resulting in more efficient and higher quality nanolaminate dielectric gap fill operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: George D. Papasouliotis, Raihan M. Tarafdar, Ron Rulkins, Dennis M. Hausmann, Jeff Tobin, Adrianne K. Tipton, Bunsen Nie, Wai-Fan Yau, Brian G. Lu, Timothy M. Archer, Sasson Roger Somekh
  • Patent number: 7060605
    Abstract: A dielectric structure and method for making a dielectric structure for dual-damascene applications over a substrate are provided. The method includes forming a barrier layer over the substrate, forming an inorganic dielectric layer over the barrier layer, and forming a low dielectric constant layer over the inorganic dielectric layer. In this preferred example, the method also includes forming a trench in the low dielectric constant layer using a first etch chemistry, and forming a via in the inorganic dielectric layer using a second etch chemistry, such that the via is within the trench. In another specific example, the inorganic dielectric layer can be an un-doped TEOS oxide or a fluorine doped oxide, and the low dielectric constant layer can be a carbon doped oxide (C-oxide) or other low K dielectrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Jay E. Uglow, Nicolas J. Bright, Dave J. Hemker, Kenneth P. MacWilliams, Jeffrey C. Benzing, Timothy M. Archer
  • Patent number: 6909190
    Abstract: A dielectric structure and method for making a dielectric structure for dual-damascene applications over a substrate are provided. The method includes forming a barrier layer over the substrate, forming an inorganic dielectric layer over the barrier layer, and forming a low dielectric constant layer over the inorganic dielectric layer. In this preferred example, the method also includes forming a trench in the low dielectric constant layer using a first etch chemistry, and forming a via in the inorganic dielectric layer using a second etch chemistry, such that the via is within the trench. In another specific example, the inorganic dielectric layer can be an un-doped TEOS oxide or a fluorine doped oxide, and the low dielectric constant layer can be a carbon doped oxide (C-oxide) or other low K dielectrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Jay E. Uglow, Nicolas J. Bright, Dave J. Hemker, Kenneth P. MacWilliams, Jeffrey C. Benzing, Timothy M. Archer
  • Publication number: 20010010970
    Abstract: A dielectric structure and method for making a dielectric structure for dual-damascene applications over a substrate are provided. The method includes forming a barrier layer over the substrate, forming an inorganic dielectric layer over the barrier layer, and forming a low dielectric constant layer over the inorganic dielectric layer. In this preferred example, the method also includes forming a trench in the low dielectric constant layer using a first etch chemistry, and forming a via in the inorganic dielectric layer using a second etch chemistry, such that the via is within the trench. In another specific example, the inorganic dielectric layer can be an un-doped TEOS oxide or a fluorine doped oxide, and the low dielectric constant layer can be a carbon doped oxide (C-oxide) or other low K dielectrics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Jay E. Uglow, Nicolas J. Bright, Dave J. Hemker, Kenneth P. MacWilliams, Jeffrey C. Benzing, Timothy M. Archer
  • Publication number: 20010009803
    Abstract: A dielectric structure and method for making a dielectric structure for dual-damascene applications over a substrate are provided. The method includes forming a barrier layer over the substrate, forming an inorganic dielectric layer over the barrier layer, and forming a low dielectric constant layer over the inorganic dielectric layer. In this preferred example, the method also includes forming a trench in the low dielectric constant layer using a first etch chemistry, and forming a via in the inorganic dielectric layer using a second etch chemistry, such that the via is within the trench. In another specific example, the inorganic dielectric layer can be an un-doped TEOS oxide or a fluorine doped oxide, and the low dielectric constant layer can be a carbon doped oxide (C-oxide) or other low K dielectrics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Publication date: July 26, 2001
    Inventors: Jay E. Uglow, Nicolas J. Bright, Dave J. Hemker, Kenneth P. MacWilliams, Jeffrey C. Benzing, Timothy M. Archer
  • Patent number: 6251770
    Abstract: A dielectric structure and method for making a dielectric structure for dual-damascene applications over a substrate are provided. The method includes forming a barrier layer over the substrate, forming an inorganic dielectric layer over the barrier layer, and forming a low dielectric constant layer over the inorganic dielectric layer. In this preferred example, the method also includes forming a trench in the low dielectric constant layer using a first etch chemistry, and forming a via in the inorganic dielectric layer using a second etch chemistry, such that the via is within the trench. In another specific example, the inorganic dielectric layer can be an un-doped TEOS oxide or a fluorine doped oxide, and the low dielectric constant layer can be a carbon doped oxide (C-oxide) or other low K dielectrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignees: Lam Research Corp., Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay E. Uglow, Nicolas J. Bright, Dave J. Hemker, Kenneth P. MacWilliams, Jeffrey C. Benzing, Timothy M. Archer