Patents by Inventor Wolfgang Aderhold

Wolfgang Aderhold 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).

  • Publication number: 20240123477
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include a method of monitoring a condition of a chamber. In an embodiment, the method comprises processing a substrate in the chamber, providing substrate history and chamber data to a model of the chamber, where the model of the chamber is configured to predict a chamber cleanliness, comparing the predicted chamber cleanliness against a performance limit, and flagging the chamber for preventive maintenance (PM) when the predicted chamber cleanliness is above the performance limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventor: WOLFGANG ADERHOLD
  • Patent number: 11942345
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include a method of centering a substrate in a chamber. In an embodiment, the method comprises inserting the substrate into the chamber with a robot arm, obtaining a delta time value for a second pyrometer relative to a first pyrometer, where the delta time value is a duration of time between when the first pyrometer is covered by the substrate and when the second pyrometer is covered by the substrate, calculating a time offset value of the delta time value relative to an ideal delta time value, where the ideal delta time value is the delta time value when the substrate is perfectly centered in a first direction perpendicular to the motion of the substrate, and comparing the time offset value to a graph or a lookup table that correlates the time offset value to a distance offset value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Wolfgang Aderhold
  • Publication number: 20240021451
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include a method of centering a substrate in a chamber. In an embodiment, the method comprises inserting the substrate into the chamber with a robot arm, obtaining a delta time value for a second pyrometer relative to a first pyrometer, where the delta time value is a duration of time between when the first pyrometer is covered by the substrate and when the second pyrometer is covered by the substrate, calculating a time offset value of the delta time value relative to an ideal delta time value, where the ideal delta time value is the delta time value when the substrate is perfectly centered in a first direction perpendicular to the motion of the substrate, and comparing the time offset value to a graph or a lookup table that correlates the time offset value to a distance offset value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2022
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventor: Wolfgang Aderhold
  • Publication number: 20230402305
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include a method of setting a target profile. In an embodiment, the method comprises obtaining a first gain curve for one or more temperature sensor offsets, and obtaining a second gain curve for one or more zone multipliers. In an embodiment, the method further comprises combining the first gain curve and the second gain curve into a thermal model. In an embodiment, the method further comprises obtaining a reference data set, and using the thermal model to generate temperature sensor offsets and/or zone multipliers to apply to the reference data set in order to generate the target profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: Yi Wang, Wolfgang Aderhold
  • Publication number: 20230392987
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include a method of calibrating a processing tool. In an embodiment, the method comprises providing a first substrate with a first emissivity, a second substrate with a second emissivity, and a third substrate with a third emissivity. In an embodiment, the process may include running a recipe on each of the first substrate, the second substrate, and the third substrate, where the recipe includes a set of calibration attributes. In an embodiment, the method may further comprise measuring a layer thickness on each of the first substrate, the second substrate, and the third substrate. In an embodiment, the method further comprises determining if the layer thicknesses are uniform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventor: Wolfgang Aderhold
  • Publication number: 20230334201
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include a method of developing a reduced order model (ROM) for a model based controller. In an embodiment, the method comprises obtaining a design of a plant, and building a detailed model of the thermal network of the plant from the design of the plant. In an embodiment, the method further comprises obtaining a training input recipe, and running the detailed model using the training input recipe. In an embodiment, the method further comprises generating a plurality of snapshots, wherein each snapshot includes the temperatures of a plurality of components in the detailed model, and utilizing a dynamic mode decomposition with control (DMDc) operation in order to extract the ROM from the plurality of snapshots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2022
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Preetham Rao, Raechel Tan, Ananda Sankar Kundu, Wolfgang Aderhold
  • Publication number: 20230297740
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include a method of modeling a rapid thermal processing (RTP) tool. In an embodiment, the method comprises developing a lamp model of an RTP tool, wherein the lamp model comprises a plurality of lamp zones, calculating an irradiance graph for the plurality of lamp zones, multiplying irradiance values of the plurality of lamp zones in the irradiance graph by a power of an existing RTP tool at a given time during a process recipe, summing the multiplied irradiance values for the plurality of lamp zones to form an irradiation graph of the lamp model, using the irradiation graph as an input to a machine learning algorithm, and outputting the temperature across a hypothetical substrate from the machine learning algorithm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Preetham Rao, Surajit Kumar, Dongming Iu, Wolfgang Aderhold
  • Patent number: 11735447
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include a processing tool for semiconductor processing. In an embodiment, the processing tool comprises a chamber, and a plurality of witness sensors integrated with the chamber. In an embodiment, the processing tool further comprises a drift detection module. In an embodiment, data from the plurality of witness sensors is provided to the drift detection module as input data. In an embodiment, the processing tool further comprises a dashboard for displaying output data from the drift detection module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kartik Santhanam, Kartik Shah, Wolfgang Aderhold, Martin Hilkene, Stephen Moffatt
  • Publication number: 20230147976
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include methods of processing substrates in a tool. In an embodiment, the method of processing the substrate in the tool, comprises receiving an augmented recipe with a machine learning (ML) and/or an artificial intelligence (AI) module. In an embodiment, the augmented recipe comprises, a recipe for processing the substrate in the tool, and a matrix identifier that corresponds to one or more substrate properties. In an embodiment the method further comprises using the ML and/or AI module to retrieve a data set from a database, where the data set is associated with the matrix identifier, and using the ML and/or AI module to modify the augmented recipe to form a modified recipe, where the modification is dependent on the data set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: Wolfgang Aderhold, Boris Axelrod, Maxim Shaposhnikov, Dayal Ramachandran, Bindusagar Marath Sankarathodi
  • Publication number: 20230051521
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include a method for determining a temperature error of a pyrometer. In an embodiment, the method comprises measuring a first signal with a first sensor of the pyrometer and measuring a second signal with a second sensor of the pyrometer. In an embodiment, the method further comprises determining a reflectivity of a reflector plate from the first signal and the second signal, and determining the temperature error using the reflectivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Wolfgang Aderhold, Samuel Howells, Amritha Rammohan, Huy Q. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20220375753
    Abstract: A method of selectively and conformally doping semiconductor materials is disclosed. Some embodiments utilize a conformal dopant film deposited selectively on semiconductor materials by thermal decomposition. Some embodiments relate to doping non-line of sight surfaces. Some embodiments relate to methods for forming a highly doped crystalline semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Aderhold, Yi-Chiau Huang, Wei Liu, Benjamin Colombeau, Abhilash Mayur
  • Patent number: 11443948
    Abstract: A method of selectively and conformally doping semiconductor materials is disclosed. Some embodiments utilize a conformal dopant film deposited selectively on semiconductor materials by thermal decomposition. Some embodiments relate to doping non-line of sight surfaces. Some embodiments relate to methods for forming a highly doped crystalline semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Aderhold, Yi-Chiau Huang, Wei Liu, Benjamin Colombeau, Abhilash Mayur
  • Publication number: 20220136772
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include a method of processing a substrate. In an embodiment, the method comprises detecting one or more substrate parameters of a substrate in a processing chamber, and heating the substrate to a first temperature with an open loop tuning (OLT) heating process based on the one or more substrate parameters. In an embodiment, the method may further comprise placing the substrate on an edge ring, and heating the substrate to a second temperature with a low temperature closed loop controller. In an embodiment, the method further comprises heating the substrate to a third temperature with a high temperature closed loop controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Wolfgang Aderhold, Yi Wang
  • Publication number: 20220122865
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include a processing tool for semiconductor processing. In an embodiment, the processing tool comprises a chamber, and a plurality of witness sensors integrated with the chamber. In an embodiment, the processing tool further comprises a drift detection module. In an embodiment, data from the plurality of witness sensors is provided to the drift detection module as input data. In an embodiment, the processing tool further comprises a dashboard for displaying output data from the drift detection module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Kartik Santhanam, Kartik Shah, Wolfgang Aderhold, Martin Hilkene, Stephen Moffatt
  • Publication number: 20200051818
    Abstract: A method of selectively and conformally doping semiconductor materials is disclosed. Some embodiments utilize a conformal dopant film deposited selectively on semiconductor materials by thermal decomposition. Some embodiments relate to doping non-line of sight surfaces. Some embodiments relate to methods for forming a highly doped crystalline semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Wolfgang Aderhold, Yi-Chiau Huang, Wei Liu, Benjamin Colombeau, Abhilash Mayur
  • Patent number: 9640412
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods and apparatus for processing substrates. Embodiments of the invention include apparatuses for processing a substrate comprising a dynamic heat sink that is substantially transparent to light from a radiant heat source, the dynamic heat sink being positioned near the substrate so the two are coupled. Additional embodiments of the invention are directed to methods of processing a substrate using the apparatuses described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Aderhold, Joseph M. Ranish, Blake R. Koelmel
  • Patent number: 9564349
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for rapid thermal processing of a planar substrate including axially aligning the substrate with a substrate support or with an empirically determined position are described. The methods and apparatus include a sensor system that determines the relative orientations of the substrate and the substrate support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Khurshed Sorabji, Joseph M. Ranish, Wolfgang Aderhold, Aaron M. Hunter, Blake R. Koelmel, Alexander N. Lerner, Nir Merry
  • Patent number: 9431278
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods of thermally treating a wafer or other substrate, such as rapid thermal processing (RTP) apparatus and methods are disclosed. An array of radiant lamps directs radiation to the back side of a wafer to heat the wafer. In one or more embodiments, the front side of the wafer on which the patterned integrated circuits are being formed faces a radiant reflector. In one or more embodiments, the wafer is thermally monitored for temperature and reflectivity from the side of the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Aderhold, Sundar Ramamurthy, Aaron Hunter
  • Patent number: 9390950
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for rapid thermal processing of a planar substrate including axially aligning the substrate with a substrate support or with an empirically determined position are described. The methods and apparatus include a sensor system that determines the relative orientations of the substrate and the substrate support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Khurshed Sorabji, Joseph M. Ranish, Wolfgang Aderhold, Aaron M. Hunter, Blake R. Koelmel, Alexander N. Lerner, Nir Merry
  • Publication number: 20150050118
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for rapid thermal processing of a planar substrate including axially aligning the substrate with a substrate support or with an empirically determined position are described. The methods and apparatus include a sensor system that determines the relative orientations of the substrate and the substrate support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Khurshed Sorabji, Joseph M. Ranish, Wolfgang Aderhold, Aaron M. Hunter, Blake R. Koelmel, Alexander N. Lerner, Nir Merry