Patents by Inventor Todd Egan

Todd Egan 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: 12628609
    Abstract: A method includes receiving, by a processing device, first data generated by a first sensor of a substrate processing system. The first data is generated responsive to the first sensor receiving electromagnetic radiation from a substrate held by a robot arm of a transfer chamber in the substrate processing system. The method further includes processing the first data to obtain second data. The second data includes a first indication of performance of the substrate processing system. The method further includes causing, in view of the second data, performance of a corrective actions associated with the substrate processing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2026
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Tapashree Roy, Todd Egan, Viswanath Bavigadda, Nitin Gupta
  • Publication number: 20260092769
    Abstract: In one implementation, a method of monitoring film thickness on a substrate, comprises: generating light from a light source; collimating the light from the light source to form a collimated beam; reflecting the collimated beam off of a surface to be measured to produce a reflected beam; splitting the reflected beam with a dichroic mirror, wherein the reflected beam splits into a first beam and a second beam; receiving, by a pyrometer, the first beam from the dichroic mirror; receiving, by a spectrometer, the second beam from the dichroic mirror; and analyzing data derived from the pyrometer and the spectrometer to determine one or more characteristics of the surface to be measured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2025
    Publication date: April 2, 2026
    Inventors: Khokan C. PAUL, Zhepeng CONG, Tao SHENG, Edward W. BUDIARTO, Todd EGAN
  • Publication number: 20260071970
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to an apparatus that includes a housing with a door. In an embodiment, a substrate holder is within the housing, and a stage is provided to support the substrate holder. In an embodiment, the stage is displaceable. In an embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a metrology system within the housing that is configured to take measurements of a substrate that is placed on the substrate holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2024
    Publication date: March 12, 2026
    Inventors: TODD EGAN, MADHUKAR KRISHNA, VISWANATH BAVIGADDA, MEHDI VAEZ-IRAVANI, SANAT GHOSH, ABDUL AZIZ KHAJA
  • Patent number: 12492890
    Abstract: In one implementation, a method of monitoring film thickness on a substrate, comprises: generating light from a light source; collimating the light from the light source to form a collimated beam; reflecting the collimated beam off of a surface to be measured to produce a reflected beam; splitting the reflected beam with a dichroic mirror, wherein the reflected beam splits into a first beam and a second beam; receiving, by a pyrometer, the first beam from the dichroic mirror; receiving, by a spectrometer, the second beam from the dichroic mirror; and analyzing data derived from the pyrometer and the spectrometer to determine one or more characteristics of the surface to be measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2025
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Khokan C. Paul, Zhepeng Cong, Tao Sheng, Edward W. Budiarto, Todd Egan
  • Publication number: 20250369897
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to an apparatus that includes a light engine with a plurality of light sources. In an embodiment, each of the plurality of light sources is configured to emit a spectral band with different wavelength bandwidth. The apparatus may also include a beam splitter that is optically coupled to the light engine, where the beam splitter splits the spectral bands into a first optical path and a second optical path. In an embodiment, a power monitor is optically coupled to the beam splitter along the first optical path, and a reflective objective lens is optically coupled to the beam splitter along the second optical path. In an embodiment, the reflective objective lens includes a first mirror and a second mirror. In an embodiment, the apparatus further includes an optical sensor configured to measure the spectral bands after the spectral bands have reflected off of a substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2024
    Publication date: December 4, 2025
    Inventors: ERIC CHIN HONG NG, TODD EGAN, MEHDI VAEZ-IRAVANI
  • Publication number: 20240142223
    Abstract: In one implementation, a method of monitoring film thickness on a substrate, comprises: generating light from a light source; collimating the light from the light source to form a collimated beam; reflecting the collimated beam off of a surface to be measured to produce a reflected beam; splitting the reflected beam with a dichroic mirror, wherein the reflected beam splits into a first beam and a second beam; receiving, by a pyrometer, the first beam from the dichroic mirror; receiving, by a spectrometer, the second beam from the dichroic mirror; and analyzing data derived from the pyrometer and the spectrometer to determine one or more characteristics of the surface to be measured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Khokan C. PAUL, Zhepeng CONG, Tao SHENG, Edward W. BUDIARTO, Todd EGAN
  • Patent number: 11927535
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining a characteristic of a photoluminescent (PL) layer comprises: a light source that generates an excitation light that includes light from the visible or near-visible spectrum; an optical assembly configured to direct the excitation light onto a PL layer; a detector that is configured to receive a PL emission generated by the PL layer in response to the excitation light interacting with the PL layer and generate a signal based on the PL emission; and a computing device coupled to the detector and configured to receive the signal from the detector and determine a characteristic of the PL layer based on the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Avishek Ghosh, Byung-Sung Kwak, Todd Egan, Robert Jan Visser, Gangadhar Banappanavar, Dinesh Kabra
  • Publication number: 20240071792
    Abstract: A method includes receiving, by a processing device, first data generated by a first sensor of a substrate processing system. The first data is generated responsive to the first sensor receiving electromagnetic radiation from a substrate held by a robot arm of a transfer chamber in the substrate processing system. The method further includes processing the first data to obtain second data. The second data includes a first indication of performance of the substrate processing system. The method further includes causing, in view of the second data, performance of a corrective actions associated with the substrate processing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Tapashree Roy, Todd Egan, Viswanath Bavigadda, Nitin Gupta
  • Patent number: 11908716
    Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring etch or deposition processes using image-based in-situ process monitoring techniques include illuminating a measurement area on a sample disposed in a process chamber. The measurement area is illuminated using an input beam generated remote from the process chamber and transmitted to a first viewing window of the process chamber by a first optical fiber. Portions of the first input beam reflected from the measurement area are transmitted from the first viewing window to an imaging sensor by a second optical fiber. A sequence of images is obtained at the imaging sensor, and a change in reflectance of pixels within each of the images is determined. The etch or deposition process is monitored based on the change in reflectance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Guoheng Zhao, Venkatakaushik Voleti, Todd Egan, Kyle R. Tantiwong, Andreas Schulze, Niranjan Ramchandra Khasgiwale, Mehdi Vaez-Iravani
  • Patent number: 11901203
    Abstract: Methods and systems for detection of an endpoint of a substrate process are provided. A set of machine learning models are trained to provide a metrology measurement value associated with a particular type of metrology measurement for a substrate based on spectral data collected for the substrate. A respective machine learning model is selected to be applied to future spectral data collected during a future substrate process for a future substrate in view of a performance rating associated with the particular type of metrology measurement. Current spectral data is collected during a current process for a current substrate and provided as input to the respective machine learning model. An indication of a respective metrology measurement value corresponding to the current substrate is extracted from one or more outputs of the trained machine learning model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Pengyu Han, Lei Lian, Shu Yu Chen, Todd Egan, Wan Hsueh Lai, Chao-Hsien Lee, Pin Ham Lu, Zhengping Yao, Barry Craver
  • Patent number: 11898249
    Abstract: A method of processing a substrate according to a PECVD process is described. Temperature profile of the substrate is adjusted to change deposition rate profile across the substrate. Plasma density profile is adjusted to change deposition rate profile across the substrate. Chamber surfaces exposed to the plasma are heated to improve plasma density uniformity and reduce formation of low quality deposits on chamber surfaces. In situ metrology may be used to monitor progress of a deposition process and trigger control actions involving substrate temperature profile, plasma density profile, pressure, temperature, and flow of reactants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Nagarajan Rajagopalan, Xinhai Han, Michael Wenyoung Tsiang, Masaki Ogata, Zhijun Jiang, Juan Carlos Rocha-Alvarez, Thomas Nowak, Jianhua Zhou, Ramprakash Sankarakrishnan, Amit Kumar Bansal, Jeongmin Lee, Todd Egan, Edward W. Budiarto, Dmitriy Panasyuk, Terrance Y. Lee, Jian J. Chen, Mohamad A. Ayoub, Heung Lak Park, Patrick Reilly, Shahid Shaikh, Bok Hoen Kim, Sergey Starik, Ganesh Balasubramanian
  • Publication number: 20240027916
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include a method of monitoring a photoresist deposition process. In an embodiment, the method comprises depositing a photoresist layer to a first thickness over a substrate, measuring a property of the photoresist layer with a first electromagnetic (EM) radiation source, depositing the photoresist layer to a second thickness over the substrate, and measuring the property of the photoresist layer with the first EM radiation source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: RUIYING HAO, TODD EGAN, EDWARD BUDIARTO, PAOLA DE CECCO, REGINA FREED, BEKELE WORKU, MADHUR SACHAN, LUISA BOZANO, KELVIN CHAN
  • Publication number: 20230266247
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining a characteristic of a photoluminescent (PL) layer comprises: a light source that generates an excitation light that includes light from the visible or near-visible spectrum; an optical assembly configured to direct the excitation light onto a PL layer; a detector that is configured to receive a PL emission generated by the PL layer in response to the excitation light interacting with the PL layer and generate a signal based on the PL emission; and a computing device coupled to the detector and configured to receive the signal from the detector and determine a characteristic of the PL layer based on the signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Avishek GHOSH, Byung-Sung KWAK, Todd EGAN, Robert Jan VISSER, Gangadhar BANAPPANAVAR, Dinesh KABRA
  • Publication number: 20230193466
    Abstract: A method of processing a substrate according to a PECVD process is described. Temperature profile of the substrate is adjusted to change deposition rate profile across the substrate. Plasma density profile is adjusted to change deposition rate profile across the substrate. Chamber surfaces exposed to the plasma are heated to improve plasma density uniformity and reduce formation of low quality deposits on chamber surfaces. In situ metrology may be used to monitor progress of a deposition process and trigger control actions involving substrate temperature profile, plasma density profile, pressure, temperature, and flow of reactants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Nagarajan RAJAGOPALAN, Xinhai HAN, Michael Wenyoung TSIANG, Masaki OGATA, Zhijun JIANG, Juan Carlos ROCHA-ALVAREZ, Thomas NOWAK, Jianhua ZHOU, Ramprakash SANKARAKRISHNAN, Amit Kumar BANSAL, Jeongmin LEE, Todd EGAN, Edward W. BUDIARTO, Dmitriy PANASYUK, Terrance Y. LEE, Jian J. CHEN, Mohamad A. AYOUB, Heung Lak PARK, Patrick REILLY, Shahid SHAIKH, Bok Hoen KIM, Sergey STARIK, Ganesh BALASUBRAMANIAN
  • Patent number: 11662317
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining a characteristic of a photoluminescent (PL) layer comprises: a light source that generates an excitation light that includes light from the visible or near-visible spectrum; an optical assembly configured to direct the excitation light onto a PL layer; a detector that is configured to receive a PL emission generated by the PL layer in response to the excitation light interacting with the PL layer and generate a signal based on the PL emission; and a computing device coupled to the detector and configured to receive the signal from the detector and determine a characteristic of the PL layer based on the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Avishek Ghosh, Byung-Sung Kwak, Todd Egan, Robert Jan Visser, Gangadhar Banappanavar, Dinesh Kabra
  • Patent number: 11613812
    Abstract: A method of processing a substrate according to a PECVD process is described. Temperature profile of the substrate is adjusted to change deposition rate profile across the substrate. Plasma density profile is adjusted to change deposition rate profile across the substrate. Chamber surfaces exposed to the plasma are heated to improve plasma density uniformity and reduce formation of low quality deposits on chamber surfaces. In situ metrology may be used to monitor progress of a deposition process and trigger control actions involving substrate temperature profile, plasma density profile, pressure, temperature, and flow of reactants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Nagarajan Rajagopalan, Xinhai Han, Michael Wenyoung Tsiang, Masaki Ogata, Zhijun Jiang, Juan Carlos Rocha-Alvarez, Thomas Nowak, Jianhua Zhou, Ramprakash Sankarakrishnan, Amit Kumar Bansal, Jeongmin Lee, Todd Egan, Edward Budiarto, Dmitriy Panasyuk, Terrance Y. Lee, Jian J. Chen, Mohamad A. Ayoub, Heung Lak Park, Patrick Reilly, Shahid Shaikh, Bok Hoen Kim, Sergey Starik, Ganesh Balasubramanian
  • Publication number: 20230060205
    Abstract: Examples disclosed herein generally relate to systems and methods for detecting the size of a particle in a fluid. In one example, a system for imaging a particle includes a first imaging device. The first imaging device includes a lens and a digital detector. The system further includes a laser source. He laser source is configured to emit a first laser beam and a second laser beam. The digital detector is configured to accumulate a metric of an intensity of an accumulated light that passes through the lens. The accumulated light is scattered from the particle. The accumulated light includes light from the first laser beam and the second laser beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Mehdi VAEZ-IRAVANI, Todd EGAN, Guoheng ZHAO
  • Publication number: 20220399215
    Abstract: Methods and systems for detection of an endpoint of a substrate process are provided. A set of machine learning models are trained to provide a metrology measurement value associated with a particular type of metrology measurement for a substrate based on spectral data collected for the substrate. A respective machine learning model is selected to be applied to future spectral data collected during a future substrate process for a future substrate in view of a performance rating associated with the particular type of metrology measurement. Current spectral data is collected during a current process for a current substrate and provided as input to the respective machine learning model. An indication of a respective metrology measurement value corresponding to the current substrate is extracted from one or more outputs of the trained machine learning model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Inventors: Pengyu Han, Lei Lian, Shu Yu Chen, Todd Egan, Wan Hsueh Lai, Chao-Hsien Lee, Pin Ham Lu, Zhengping Yao, Barry Craver
  • Publication number: 20220397515
    Abstract: A machine learning model trained to provide metrology measurements for a substrate is provided. Training data generated for a prior substrate processed according to a prior process is provided to train the model. The training data includes a training input including a subset of historical spectral data extracted from a normalized set of historical spectral data collected for the prior substrate during the prior process. The subset of historical spectral data includes an indication of historical spectral features associated with a particular type of metrology measurement. The training data also includes a training output including a historical metrology measurement obtained for the prior substrate, the historical metrology measurement associated with the particular type of metrology measurement. Spectral data is collected for a current substrate processed according to a current process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Inventors: Pengyu Han, Lei Lian, Shu Yu Chen, Todd Egan, Wan Hsueh Lai, Chao-Hsien Lee, Pin Ham Lu, Zhengping Yao, Barry Craver
  • Patent number: 11441992
    Abstract: Examples disclosed herein generally relate to systems and methods for detecting the size of a particle in a fluid. In one example, a system for imaging a particle includes a first imaging device. The first imaging device includes a lens and a digital detector. The system further includes a laser source. He laser source is configured to emit a first laser beam and a second laser beam. The digital detector is configured to accumulate a metric of an intensity of an accumulated light that passes through the lens. The accumulated light is scattered from the particle. The accumulated light includes light from the first laser beam and the second laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Mehdi Vaez-Iravani, Todd Egan, Guoheng Zhao