Patents by Inventor Tom Stevenson
Tom Stevenson 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).
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Publication number: 20180127868Abstract: A fluid handling component for a vacuum chamber of a semiconductor substrate processing apparatus is provided. The fluid handling component comprises interior fluid wetted surfaces and an atomic layer deposition (ALD) or molecular layer deposition (MLD) barrier coating on the interior fluid wetted surfaces wherein the fluid wetted surfaces which include the ALD or MLD barrier coating are configured to be contacted by a process gas and/or fluid during a semiconductor substrate processing process wherein the ALD or MLD barrier coating protects the underlying fluid wetted surfaces from erosion and/or corrosion.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2017Publication date: May 10, 2018Inventors: Lin XU, Hong SHIH, Nash ANDERSON, Tom STEVENSON, John DAUGHERTY, John Michael KERNS, Robert Griffith O'NEILL
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Patent number: 9899228Abstract: Showerhead electrode assemblies are disclosed, which include a showerhead electrode adapted to be mounted in an interior of a vacuum chamber; an optional backing plate attached to the showerhead electrode; a thermal control plate attached to the backing plate or to the showerhead electrode at multiple contact regions across the backing plate; and at least one interface member separating the backing plate and the thermal control plate, or the thermal control plate and showerhead electrode, at the contact regions, the interface member having a thermally and electrically conductive gasket portion and a particle mitigating seal portion. Methods of processing semiconductor substrates using the showerhead electrode assemblies are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2014Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATIONInventors: Tom Stevenson, Rajinder Dhindsa
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Patent number: 9873940Abstract: A coating system for forming an atomic layer deposition (ALD) or a molecular layer deposition (MLD) barrier coating on interior fluid wetted surfaces of a fluid handling component for a vacuum chamber of a semiconductor substrate processing apparatus. The coating system includes the fluid handling component, wherein the interior fluid wetted surfaces define a process region of the coating system, a gas supply system in fluid communication with the process region of the component wherein the gas supply system supplies process gases to the process region of the component through the inlet port thereof such that an ALD or MLD barrier coating can be formed on the fluid wetted surfaces of the fluid handling component, and an exhaust system in fluid communication with the process region of the component wherein the exhaust system exhausts the process gases from the process region of the component through the outlet port thereof.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2014Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: Lam Research CorporationInventors: Lin Xu, Hong Shih, Nash Anderson, Tom Stevenson, John Daugherty, John Michael Kerns, Robert Griffith O'Neill
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Patent number: 9546432Abstract: A method of forming a dense oxide coating on an aluminum component of semiconductor processing equipment comprises cold spraying a layer of pure aluminum on a surface of the aluminum component to a predetermined thickness. A dense oxide coating is then formed on the layer of pure aluminum using a plasma electrolytic oxidation process, wherein the plasma electrolytic oxidation process causes the layer of pure aluminum to undergo microplasmic discharges, thus forming the dense oxide coating on the layer of pure aluminum on the surface of the aluminum component.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2015Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATIONInventors: Hong Shih, Lin Xu, John Michael Kerns, William Charles, John Daugherty, Sivakami Ramanathan, Russell Ormond, Robert G. O'Neill, Tom Stevenson
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Publication number: 20150337450Abstract: A method of forming a dense oxide coating on an aluminum component of semiconductor processing equipment comprises cold spraying a layer of pure aluminum on a surface of the aluminum component to a predetermined thickness. A dense oxide coating is then formed on the layer of pure aluminum using a plasma electrolytic oxidation process, wherein the plasma electrolytic oxidation process causes the layer of pure aluminum to undergo microplasmic discharges, thus forming the dense oxide coating on the layer of pure aluminum on the surface of the aluminum component.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2015Publication date: November 26, 2015Applicant: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATIONInventors: Hong SHIH, Lin XU, John Michael KERNS, William CHARLES, John DAUGHERTY, Sivakami RAMANATHAN, Russell ORMOND, Robert G. O'NEILL, Tom STEVENSON
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Publication number: 20150289475Abstract: A pet spa chair with a platform and carriage base supporting a removable and adjustable ergonomically shaped carriage sized to support a pet from its underbody; with the carriage frame continuing and extending upward as to receive the pet's posterior and allowing for comfortable restful placement of the pet's tail on one end; with a handle continuing and extending upward whereby forming a handle on that same end; with a conical collar on the other end placed to receive the pet's head, protect the pet's ears and eyes from water and solutions, while limiting the pet's movement and protecting the individual handler; with a handle continuing and extending upward whereby forming a handle on that same end; and with restraints attached to the frame for the purpose of securing the pet's legs.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2014Publication date: October 15, 2015Inventors: Tom Stevenson, Jingmei Liu
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Patent number: 9123651Abstract: A method of forming a dense oxide coating on an aluminum component of semiconductor processing equipment comprises cold spraying a layer of pure aluminum on a surface of the aluminum component to a predetermined thickness. A dense oxide coating is then formed on the layer of pure aluminum using a plasma electrolytic oxidation process, wherein the plasma electrolytic oxidation process causes the layer of pure aluminum to undergo microplasmic discharges, thus forming the dense oxide coating on the layer of pure aluminum on the surface of the aluminum component.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2013Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATIONInventors: Hong Shih, Lin Xu, John Michael Kerns, William Charles, John Daugherty, Sivakami Ramanathan, Russell Ormond, Robert G. O'Neill, Tom Stevenson
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Publication number: 20150201580Abstract: An apparatus used for the transportation of a pet comprising a housing for a pet, with a transparent true dome shaped porthole window molded from a piece of glass, plastic, or other suitable transparent material, having an outwardly directed lip at the base of the dome which is then used to be attach to the apparatus. The transparent true dome shaped porthole window is of a size slightly larger than that of the pet's head and provides a place for the pet to place its head, and allows a greater degree of visibility and protection for the pet. Almost automatically the pet will place its head into the transparent true dome shaped porthole window upon being placed into the apparatus for transportation.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2014Publication date: July 23, 2015Inventors: Tom Stevenson, Jingmei Liu
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Publication number: 20150187615Abstract: A semiconductor plasma processing apparatus used to process semiconductor components comprises a plasma processing chamber, a process gas source in fluid communication with the plasma processing chamber for supplying a process gas into the plasma processing chamber, a RF energy source adapted to energize the process gas into the plasma state in the plasma processing chamber, and a vacuum port for exhausting process gas from the plasma processing chamber. The semiconductor plasma processing apparatus further comprises at least one component wherein the component has a body which has a relative magnetic permeability of about 70,000 or greater and a cold sprayed electrically conductive and nonmagnetic coating on a surface of the body wherein the coating has a thickness greater than the skin depth of a RF current configured to flow therethrough during plasma processing.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2014Publication date: July 2, 2015Inventors: John Daugherty, Hong Shih, Anthony Amadio, Tom Stevenson, Lin Xu, John Michael Kerns, Robert Griffith O'Neill, Sonia Castillo
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Publication number: 20150184296Abstract: A coating system for forming an atomic layer deposition (ALD) or a molecular layer deposition (MLD) barrier coating on interior fluid wetted surfaces of a fluid handling component for a vacuum chamber of a semiconductor substrate processing apparatus. The coating system includes the fluid handling component, wherein the interior fluid wetted surfaces define a process region of the coating system, a gas supply system in fluid communication with the process region of the component wherein the gas supply system supplies process gases to the process region of the component through the inlet port thereof such that an ALD or MLD barrier coating can be formed on the fluid wetted surfaces of the fluid handling component, and an exhaust system in fluid communication with the process region of the component wherein the exhaust system exhausts the process gases from the process region of the component through the outlet port thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2014Publication date: July 2, 2015Inventors: Lin Xu, Hong Shih, Nash Anderson, Tom Stevenson, John Daugherty, John Michael Kerns, Robert Griffith O'Neill
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Patent number: 9028646Abstract: A bonded assembly to reduce particle contamination in a semiconductor vacuum chamber such as a plasma processing apparatus is provided, including an elastomeric sheet adhesive bond between mating surfaces of a component and a support member to accommodate thermal stresses. The elastomeric sheet comprises a silicone adhesive to withstand a high shear strain of ?800% at a temperature range between room temperature and 300° C. such as heat curable high molecular weight dimethyl silicone with optional fillers. The sheet form has bond thickness control for parallelism of bonded surfaces. The sheet adhesive may be cut into pre-form shapes to conform to regularly or irregularly shaped features, maximize surface contact area with mating parts, and can be installed into cavities. Installation can be manually, manually with installation tooling, or with automated machinery. Composite layers of sheet adhesive having different physical properties can be laminated or coplanar.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2013Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Lam Research CorporationInventors: Dean J. Larson, Tom Stevenson, Victor Wang
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Patent number: 8975817Abstract: A showerhead electrode assembly for a plasma processing chamber, which includes a showerhead electrode; a heater plate secured to the showerhead electrode; at least one pressure controlled heat pipe secured to an upper surface of the heater plate, the at least one pressure controlled heat pipe having a heat transfer liquid contained therein, and a pressurized gas, which produces a variable internal pressure within the at least one pressure controlled heat pipe; a top plate secured to an upper surface of the at least one heat pipe; and wherein the variable internal pressure within the at least one pressure controlled heat pipe during heating of the showerhead electrode by the heater plate displaces the heat transfer liquid from a thermal path between the top plate and the heater plate, and when removing excess heat from the showerhead electrode returns the heat transfer liquid to the thermal path.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2012Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: Lam Research CorporationInventors: Michael C. Kellogg, Rajinder Dhindsa, Tom Stevenson
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Patent number: 8906164Abstract: Methods for stabilizing a ceramic contact surface of an electrostatic chuck, wherein the electrostatic chuck can be disposed within a reaction chamber of a semiconductor wafer processing assembly including a radio frequency source and a coolant gas supply are described herein. The method may include: clamping electrostatically a conditioning wafer to the ceramic contact surface of the electrostatic chuck; and cycling an output power of the radio frequency source and an output pressure of the coolant gas supply for multiple hot/cold cycles. Each of the hot/cold cycles includes a hot abrasion state and a cold abrasion state. At the hot abrasion state, the output power of the radio frequency source is relatively high and the output pressure of the coolant gas supply is relatively low to yield a relatively hot conditioning wafer.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2010Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Lam Research CorporationInventors: Chris Kimball, Tom Stevenson, Peter Muraoka
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Publication number: 20140295670Abstract: A method of forming a dense oxide coating on an aluminum component of semiconductor processing equipment comprises cold spraying a layer of pure aluminum on a surface of the aluminum component to a predetermined thickness. A dense oxide coating is then formed on the layer of pure aluminum using a plasma electrolytic oxidation process, wherein the plasma electrolytic oxidation process causes the layer of pure aluminum to undergo microplasmic discharges, thus forming the dense oxide coating on the layer of pure aluminum on the surface of the aluminum component.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2013Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: Lam Research CorporationInventors: Hong Shih, Lin Xu, John Michael Kerns, William Charles, John Daugherty, Sivakami Ramanathan, Russell Ormond, Robert G. O'Neill, Tom Stevenson
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Publication number: 20140154888Abstract: Showerhead electrode assemblies are disclosed, which include a showerhead electrode adapted to be mounted in an interior of a vacuum chamber; an optional backing plate attached to the showerhead electrode; a thermal control plate attached to the backing plate or to the showerhead electrode at multiple contact regions across the backing plate; and at least one interface member separating the backing plate and the thermal control plate, or the thermal control plate and showerhead electrode, at the contact regions, the interface member having a thermally and electrically conductive gasket portion and a particle mitigating seal portion. Methods of processing semiconductor substrates using the showerhead electrode assemblies are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2014Publication date: June 5, 2014Applicant: Lam Research CorporationInventors: Tom Stevenson, Rajinder Dhindsa
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Patent number: 8701268Abstract: A method of forming an elastomeric sheet adhesive bond between mating surfaces of an electrode and a backing member to accommodate stresses generated during temperature cycling due to mismatch in coefficients of thermal expansion. The elastomeric sheet comprises a thermally conductive silicone adhesive able to withstand a high shear strain of ?300% in a temperature range of room temperature to 300° C. such as heat curable high molecular weight dimethyl silicone with fillers. Installation can be manually, manually with installation tooling, or with automated machinery.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Lam Research CorporationInventors: Dean Jay Larson, Tom Stevenson, Victor Wang
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Publication number: 20140103806Abstract: A showerhead electrode assembly for a plasma processing chamber, which includes a showerhead electrode; a heater plate secured to the showerhead electrode; at least one pressure controlled heat pipe secured to an upper surface of the heater plate, the at least one pressure controlled heat pipe having a heat transfer liquid contained therein, and a pressurized gas, which produces a variable internal pressure within the at least one pressure controlled heat pipe; a top plate secured to an upper surface of the at least one heat pipe; and wherein the variable internal pressure within the at least one pressure controlled heat pipe during heating of the showerhead electrode by the heater plate displaces the heat transfer liquid from a thermal path between the top plate and the heater plate, and when removing excess heat from the showerhead electrode returns the heat transfer liquid to the thermal path.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2012Publication date: April 17, 2014Applicant: Lam Research CorporationInventors: Michael C. Kellogg, Rajinder Dhindsa, Tom Stevenson
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Patent number: 8679288Abstract: Showerhead electrode assemblies are disclosed, which include a showerhead electrode adapted to be mounted in an interior of a vacuum chamber; an optional backing plate attached to the showerhead electrode; a thermal control plate attached to the backing plate or to the showerhead electrode at multiple contact regions across the backing plate; and at least one interface member separating the backing plate and the thermal control plate, or the thermal control plate and showerhead electrode, at the contact regions, the interface member having a thermally and electrically conductive gasket portion and a particle mitigating seal portion. Methods of processing semiconductor substrates using the showerhead electrode assemblies are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2008Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: Lam Research CorporationInventors: Tom Stevenson, Rajinder Dhindsa
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Publication number: 20130292048Abstract: A bonded assembly to reduce particle contamination in a semiconductor vacuum chamber such as a plasma processing apparatus is provided, including an elastomeric sheet adhesive bond between mating surfaces of a component and a support member to accommodate thermal stresses. The elastomeric sheet comprises a silicone adhesive to withstand a high shear strain of ?800% at a temperature range between room temperature and 300° C. such as heat curable high molecular weight dimethyl silicone with optional fillers. The sheet form has bond thickness control for parallelism of bonded surfaces. The sheet adhesive may be cut into pre-form shapes to conform to regularly or irregularly shaped features, maximize surface contact area with mating parts, and can be installed into cavities. Installation can be manually, manually with installation tooling, or with automated machinery. Composite layers of sheet adhesive having different physical properties can be laminated or coplanar.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2013Publication date: November 7, 2013Inventors: Dean J. Larson, Tom Stevenson, Victor Wang
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Publication number: 20130244441Abstract: A method of forming an elastomeric sheet adhesive bond between mating surfaces of an electrode and a backing member to accommodate stresses generated during temperature cycling due to mismatch in coefficients of thermal expansion. The elastomeric sheet comprises a thermally conductive silicone adhesive able to withstand a high shear strain of ?300% in a temperature range of room temperature to 300° C. such as heat curable high molecular weight dimethyl silicone with fillers. Installation can be manually, manually with installation tooling, or with automated machinery.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: September 19, 2013Applicant: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATIONInventors: Dean Jay Larson, Tom Stevenson, Victor Wang