Patents by Inventor Tsutomu Tanaka

Tsutomu Tanaka 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: 11923172
    Abstract: Processing chambers with a plurality of processing stations and individual wafer support surfaces are described. The processing stations and wafer support surfaces are arranged so that there is an equal number of processing stations and heaters. An RF generator is connected to a first electrode in a first station and a second electrode in a second station. A bottom RF path is formed by a connection between a first support surface and a second support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Hari Ponnekanti, Tsutomu Tanaka, Mandyam Sriram, Dmitry A. Dzilno, Sanjeev Baluja, Mario D. Silvetti
  • Patent number: 11887818
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods to control the phase of power sources for plasma process regions in a batch process chamber. A master exciter controls the phase of the power sources during the process sequence based on feedback from the match circuits of the respective plasma sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Tanaka, John C. Forster, Ran Liu, Kenichi Ohno, Ning Li, Mihaela Balseanu, Keiichi Tanaka, Li-Qun Xia
  • Patent number: 11823871
    Abstract: Plasma source assemblies, gas distribution assemblies including the plasma source assembly and methods of generating plasma are described. The plasma source assemblies include a powered electrode with a ground electrode adjacent a first side and a dielectric adjacent a second side. A first microwave generator is electrically coupled to the first end of the powered electrode through a first feed and a second microwave generator is electrically coupled to the second end of the powered electrode through a second feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jozef Kudela, Tsutomu Tanaka, Alexander V. Garachtchenko, Dmitry A. Dzilno, Avinash Shervegar, Kallol Bera, Xiaopu Li, Anantha K. Subramani, John C. Forster
  • Publication number: 20230343552
    Abstract: Exemplary semiconductor substrate supports may include a pedestal shaft. The semiconductor substrate supports may include a platen. The platen may define a fluid channel across a first surface of the platen. The semiconductor substrate supports may include a platen insulator positioned between the platen and the pedestal shaft. The semiconductor substrate supports may include a conductive puck coupled with the first surface of the platen and configured to contact a substrate supported on the semiconductor substrate support. The semiconductor substrate supports may include a conductive shield extending along a backside of the platen insulator and coupled between a portion of the platen insulator and the pedestal shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Khokan Chandra Paul, Ravikumar Patil, Vijet Patil, Carlaton Wong, Adam J. Fischbach, Timothy Franklin, Tsutomu Tanaka, Canfeng Lai
  • Patent number: 11776793
    Abstract: A plasma source assembly for use with a substrate processing chamber is described. The assembly includes a ceramic lower plate with a plurality of apertures formed therein. A method of processing a substrate in a substrate processing chamber including the plasma source assembly is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Moore, Jared Ahmad Lee, Marc David Shull, Tsutomu Tanaka, Alexander V. Garachtchenko, Dmitry A. Dzilno
  • Publication number: 20230307213
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a plasma source assemblies comprising a differential screw assembly, an RF hot electrode, a top cover, an upper housing and a lower housing. The differential screw assembly is configured to provide force to align the plasma source assembly vertically matching planarity of a susceptor. More particularly, the differential screw assembly increases a distance between the top cover and the upper housing to align the gap with the susceptor. The disclosure also provides a better thermal management by cooling fins. A temperature capacity of the plasma source assemblies is extended by using titanium electrode. The disclosure provides a cladding material covering a portion of a first surface of RF hot electrode, a second surface of RF hot electrode, a bottom surface of RF hot electrode, a portion of a surface of the showerhead and a portion of lower housing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Tanaka, Jared Ahmad Lee, Rakesh Ramadas, Dmitry A. Dzilno, Gregory J. Wilson, Sriharish Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 11705312
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a plasma source assemblies comprising a differential screw assembly, an RF hot electrode, a top cover, an upper housing and a lower housing. The differential screw assembly is configured to provide force to align the plasma source assembly vertically matching planarity of a susceptor. More particularly, the differential screw assembly increases a distance between the top cover and the upper housing to align the gap with the susceptor. The disclosure also provides a better thermal management by cooling fins. A temperature capacity of the plasma source assemblies is extended by using titanium electrode. The disclosure provides a cladding material covering a portion of a first surface of RF hot electrode, a second surface of RF hot electrode, a bottom surface of RF hot electrode, a portion of a surface of the showerhead and a portion of lower housing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Tanaka, Jared Ahmad Lee, Rakesh Ramadas, Dmitry A. Dzilno, Gregory J. Wilson, Sriharish Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 11699571
    Abstract: Exemplary semiconductor substrate supports may include a pedestal shaft. The semiconductor substrate supports may include a platen. The platen may define a fluid channel across a first surface of the platen. The semiconductor substrate supports may include a platen insulator positioned between the platen and the pedestal shaft. The semiconductor substrate supports may include a conductive puck coupled with the first surface of the platen and configured to contact a substrate supported on the semiconductor substrate support. The semiconductor substrate supports may include a conductive shield extending along a backside of the platen insulator and coupled between a portion of the platen insulator and the pedestal shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Khokan Chandra Paul, Ravikumar Patil, Vijet Patil, Carlaton Wong, Adam J. Fischbach, Timothy Franklin, Tsutomu Tanaka, Canfeng Lai
  • Publication number: 20230107392
    Abstract: Methods of generating a plasma in a semiconductor processing chamber comprise: applying a radio frequency (RF) power to generate a plasma in a plasma region of the processing chamber, the processing chamber containing: a showerhead, an ion blocker plate, and a substrate, and the plasma region being defined by a front surface of the showerhead and a back surface of the ion blocker plate; and applying a bias the ion blocker plate so that there is no light-up in the processing chamber. Some methods further include dynamically tuning the bias by assessing conditions of light-up or no light-up and adjusting the bias. Some methods further include applying the bias zonally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc
    Inventors: Kallol Bera, Xiaopu Li, Tsutomu Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20220390783
    Abstract: It is an object of the present disclosure to dispose an optical element on a lower surface side of transistors without being influenced by heat treatment in a transistor forming process such that peeling, displacement, and the like do not easily occur. A transistor array substrate includes: a first substrate (110) including transistors (113) arranged in an array; and a second substrate (120) including an optical element (122), in which the transistors are arranged on a front surface side of the first substrate, and the second substrate is bonded to a back surface of the first substrate by plasma bonding treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: KOICHI AMARI, KOICHI NAGASAWA, HITOSHI TSUNO, YOSHIHIKO KAJIYA, SHINTARO NAKANO, TSUYOSHI OKAZAKI, AKIKO TORIYAMA, YOSHITAKA YAGI, KEIICHI MAEDA, TAKASHI SAKAIRI, TSUTOMU TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20220208531
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a plasma source assemblies comprising a differential screw assembly, an RF hot electrode, a top cover, an upper housing and a lower housing. The differential screw assembly is configured to provide force to align the plasma source assembly vertically matching planarity of a susceptor. More particularly, the differential screw assembly increases a distance between the top cover and the upper housing to align the gap with the susceptor. The disclosure also provides a better thermal management by cooling fins. A temperature capacity of the plasma source assemblies is extended by using titanium electrode. The disclosure provides a cladding material covering a portion of a first surface of RF hot electrode, a second surface of RF hot electrode, a bottom surface of RF hot electrode, a portion of a surface of the showerhead and a portion of lower housing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2020
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Tanaka, Jared Ahmad Lee, Rakesh Ramadas, Dmitry A. Dzilno, Gregory J. Wilson, Sriharish Srinivasan
  • Publication number: 20220165540
    Abstract: Processing chambers with a plurality of processing stations and individual wafer support surfaces are described. The processing stations and wafer support surfaces are arranged so that there is an equal number of processing stations and heaters. An RF generator is connected to a first electrode in a first station and a second electrode in a second station. A bottom RF path is formed by a connection between a first support surface and a second support surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Hari Ponnekanti, Tsutomu Tanaka, Mandyam Sriram, Dmitry A. Dzilno, Sanjeev Baluja, Mario D. Silvetti
  • Publication number: 20220157569
    Abstract: A plasma source assembly for use with a substrate processing chamber is described. The assembly includes a ceramic lower plate with a plurality of apertures formed therein. A method of processing a substrate in a substrate processing chamber including the plasma source assembly is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Moore, Jared Ahmad Lee, Marc David Shull, Tsutomu Tanaka, Alexander V. Garachtchenko, Dmitry A. Dzilno
  • Publication number: 20220130713
    Abstract: Exemplary processing systems may include a chamber body. The systems may include a pedestal configured to support a semiconductor substrate. The systems may include a faceplate. The chamber body, the pedestal, and the faceplate may define a processing region. The faceplate may be coupled with an RF power source. The systems may include a remote plasma unit. The remote plasma unit may be coupled at electrical ground. The systems may include a discharge tube extending from the remote plasma unit towards the faceplate. The discharge tube may define a central aperture. The discharge tube may be electrically coupled with each of the faceplate and the remote plasma unit. The discharge tube may include ferrite extending about the central aperture of the discharge tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Khokan Chandra Paul, Tsutomu Tanaka, Adam J. Fischbach, Abhijit A. Kangude, Juan Carlos Rocha-Alvarez
  • Patent number: 11315763
    Abstract: Plasma source assemblies comprising an RF hot electrode having a body and at least one return electrode spaced from the RF hot electrode to provide a gap in which a plasma can be formed. An RF feed is connected to the RF hot electrode at a distance from the inner peripheral end of the RF hot electrode that is less than or equal to about 25% of the length of the RF hot electrode. The RF hot electrode can include a leg and optional triangular portion near the leg that extends at an angle to the body of the RF hot electrode. A cladding material on one or more of the RF hot electrode and the return electrode can be variably spaced or have variable properties along the length of the plasma gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Kallol Bera, Dmitry A. Dzilno, Anantha K. Subramani, John C. Forster, Tsutomu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11282676
    Abstract: Processing chambers with a plurality of processing stations and individual wafer support surfaces are described. The processing stations and wafer support surfaces are arranged so that there is an equal number of processing stations and heaters. An RF generator is connected to a first electrode in a first station and a second electrode in a second station. A bottom RF path is formed by a connection between the a first support surface and a second support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Hari Ponnekanti, Tsutomu Tanaka, Mandyam Sriram, Dmitry A. Dzilno, Sanjeev Baluja, Mario D. Silvetti
  • Publication number: 20220076920
    Abstract: Exemplary semiconductor substrate supports may include a pedestal shaft. The semiconductor substrate supports may include a platen. The platen may define a fluid channel across a first surface of the platen. The semiconductor substrate supports may include a platen insulator positioned between the platen and the pedestal shaft. The semiconductor substrate supports may include a conductive puck coupled with the first surface of the platen and configured to contact a substrate supported on the semiconductor substrate support. The semiconductor substrate supports may include a conductive shield extending along a backside of the platen insulator and coupled between a portion of the platen insulator and the pedestal shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Khokan Chandra Paul, Ravikumar Patil, Vijet Patil, Carlaton Wong, Adam J. Fischbach, Timothy Franklin, Tsutomu Tanaka, Canfeng Lai
  • Publication number: 20220076922
    Abstract: Exemplary processing methods may include forming a plasma of a silicon-containing precursor. The methods may include depositing a flowable film on a semiconductor substrate with plasma effluents of the silicon-containing precursor. The semiconductor substrate may be housed in a processing region of a semiconductor processing chamber. The processing region may be defined between a faceplate and a substrate support on which the semiconductor substrate is seated. The methods may include forming a treatment plasma within the processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber. The treatment plasma may be formed at a first power level from a first power source. A second power may be applied to the substrate support from a second power source at a second power level. The methods may include densifying the flowable film within the feature defined within the semiconductor substrate with plasma effluents of the treatment plasma.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Khokan Chandra Paul, Adam J. Fischbach, Tsutomu Tanaka, Canfeng Lai
  • Publication number: 20220028660
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods to control the phase of power sources for plasma process regions in a batch process chamber. A master exciter controls the phase of the power sources during the process sequence based on feedback from the match circuits of the respective plasma sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Tanaka, John C. Forster, Ran Liu, Kenichi Ohno, Ning Li, Mihaela A. Balseanu, Keiichi Tanaka, Li-Qun Xia
  • Patent number: D951867
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kato, Shinichi Kato, Asuna Osawa, Tsutomu Tanaka, Masaaki Kadoyanagi, Shotaro Hirako, Takahiro Yamatani