Patents by Inventor Xiaoxiong Yuan

Xiaoxiong Yuan 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: 20190382895
    Abstract: Embodiments of a blocker plate for use in a substrate process chamber are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a blocker plate for use in a substrate processing chamber configured to process substrates having a given diameter includes: an annular rim; a central plate disposed within the annular rim; and a plurality of spokes coupling the central plate to the annular rim.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: XIAOXIONG YUAN, YU LEI, YI XU, KAZUYA DAITO, PINGYAN LEI, DIEN-YEH WU, UMESH M. KELKAR, VIKASH BANTHIA
  • Patent number: 10508339
    Abstract: Embodiments of a blocker plate for use in a substrate process chamber are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a blocker plate for use in a substrate processing chamber configured to process substrates having a given diameter includes: an annular rim; a central plate disposed within the annular rim; and a plurality of spokes coupling the central plate to the annular rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Xiaoxiong Yuan, Yu Lei, Yi Xu, Kazuya Daito, Pingyan Lei, Dien-Yeh Wu, Umesh M. Kelkar, Vikash Banthia
  • Patent number: 10407771
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for cleaning an atomic layer deposition chamber are provided herein. In some embodiments, a chamber lid assembly includes: a housing enclosing a central channel that extends along a central axis and has an upper portion and a lower portion; a lid plate coupled to the housing and having a contoured bottom surface that extends downwardly and outwardly from a central opening coupled to the lower portion of the central channel to a peripheral portion of the lid plate; a first heating element to heat the central channel; a second heating element to heat the bottom surface of the lid plate; a remote plasma source fluidly coupled to the central channel; and an isolation collar coupled between the remote plasma source and the housing, wherein the isolation collar has an inner channel extending through the isolation collar to fluidly couple the remote plasma source and the central channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Anqing Cui, Faruk Gungor, Dien-Yeh Wu, Vikas Jangra, Muhammad M. Rasheed, Wei V. Tang, Yixiong Yang, Xiaoxiong Yuan, Kyoung-Ho Bu, Srinivas Gandikota, Yu Chang, William W. Kuang
  • Publication number: 20190078210
    Abstract: Apparatus for processing a substrate are provided herein. In some embodiments a showerhead assembly includes a gas distribution plate having a plurality of apertures; a holder having a wall, an radially inwardly extending flange extending from a lower portion of the wall and coupled to the gas distribution plate, and a radially outwardly extending flange extending from an upper portion of the wall, wherein the wall has a thickness between about 0.015 inches and about 0.2 inches; and a heating apparatus disposed above and spaced apart from the gas distribution plate, wherein the heating apparatus includes a heater configured to heat the gas distribution plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: FARUK GUNGOR, DIEN-YEH WU, JOEL M. HUSTON, MEI CHANG, XIAOXIONG YUAN, KAZUYA DAITO, AVGERINOS V. GELATOS, TAKASHI KURATOMI, YU CHANG, BIN CAO
  • Publication number: 20180347043
    Abstract: Embodiments of a blocker plate for use in a substrate process chamber are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a blocker plate for use in a substrate processing chamber configured to process substrates having a given diameter includes: an annular rim; a central plate disposed within the annular rim; and a plurality of spokes coupling the central plate to the annular rim.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2017
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: XIAOXIONG YUAN, YU LEI, YI XU, KAZUYA DAITO, PINGYAN LEI, DIEN-YEH WU, UMESH M. KELKAR, VIKASH BANTHIA
  • Publication number: 20180250695
    Abstract: Ampoules for a semiconductor manufacturing precursors and methods of use are described. The ampoules include a container with an inlet port and an outlet port. The inlet port has a showerhead that the end within the container. The showerhead has at least two angled nozzles to direct the flow of gas within the cavity so that the gas flow is not perpendicular to the surface of a liquid within the ampoule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Kenric Choi, Xiaoxiong Yuan, Daping Yao, Mei Chang
  • Patent number: 9916994
    Abstract: Embodiments of substrate supports and sealing rings for use in a substrate support are provided herein. In some embodiments, a substrate support structure includes an arcuate sealing piece having a first side including a generally planar support surface; a first arcuate portion; a second arcuate portion disposed radially inward of the first arcuate portion; a first end portion comprising a first arcuate extension extending from the first arcuate portion; and a second end portion comprising a second arcuate extension extending from the second arcuate portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Olkan Cuvalci, Gwo-Chuan Tzu, Xiaoxiong Yuan
  • Patent number: 9905443
    Abstract: Apparatus for improving temperature uniformity across a substrate are provided herein. In some embodiments, a deposition ring for use in a substrate processing system to process a substrate may include an annular body having a first surface, an opposing second surface, and a central opening passing through the first and second surfaces, wherein the second surface is configured to be disposed over a substrate support having a support surface to support a substrate having a given width, and wherein the opening is sized to expose a predominant portion of the support surface; and wherein the first surface includes at least one reflective portion configured to reflect heat energy toward a central axis of the annular body, wherein the at least one reflective portion has a surface area that is about 5 to about 50 percent of a total surface area of the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Anantha K. Subramani, Joseph M. Ranish, Xiaoxiong Yuan, Ashish Goel, Joung Joo Lee
  • Patent number: 9888528
    Abstract: Embodiments of substrate supports are provided herein. In some embodiments, a substrate support may include a body having a support surface; and a first heater disposed within the body and having a first heating coil and multiple heating zones, wherein a pitch of windings of the first heating coil vary among each of the multiple heating zones to define a predetermined heating ratio between the multiple heating zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Tomoharu Matsushita, Jallepally Ravi, Cheng-Hsiung Tsai, Aravind Kamath, Xiaoxiong Yuan, Manjunatha Koppa
  • Patent number: 9853579
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck includes a dielectric disk having a support surface to support a substrate and an opposing second surface, wherein at least one chucking electrode is disposed within the dielectric disk; a radio frequency (RF) bias plate disposed below the dielectric disk; a plurality of lamps disposed below the RF bias plate to heat the dielectric disk; a metallic plate disposed below the lamps to absorb heat generated by the lamps; a shaft coupled to the second surface of the dielectric disk at a first end of the shaft to support the dielectric disk in a spaced apart relation to the RF bias plate and extending away from the dielectric disk and through the RF bias plate and the metallic plate; and a rotation assembly coupled to the shaft to rotate the shaft and the dielectric disk with respect to the RF bias plate, lamps, and metallic plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Anantha K. Subramani, Ashish Goel, Wei W. Wang, Bharath Swaminathan, Vijay D. Parkhe, Xiaoxiong Yuan
  • Patent number: 9783889
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus for variable substrate temperature control may include a heater moveable along a central axis of a substrate support; a seal ring disposed about the heater, the seal ring configured to interface with a shadow ring disposed above the heater to form a seal; a plurality of spacer pins configured to support a substrate and disposed within a plurality of through holes formed in the heater, the plurality of spacer pins moveable parallel to the central axis, wherein the plurality of spacer pins control a first distance between the substrate and the heater and a second distance between the substrate and the shadow ring; and a resilient element disposed beneath the seal ring to bias the seal ring toward a backside surface of the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Gwo-Chuan Tzu, Xiaoxiong Yuan, Amit Khandelwal, Avgerinos V. Gelatos, Olkan Cuvalci, Kai Wu, Michael P. Karazim
  • Publication number: 20170275754
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for supplying a gas to a processing chamber are described. The apparatus comprises an inlet line and an outlet line, each with two valves, in fluid communication an ampoule. A bypass line connects the inlet valve and outlet valve closest to the ampoule. The apparatus and methods of use allow a precursor residue to be removed from the delivery lines of a processing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Daping Yao, Kenric Choi, Xiaoxiong Yuan, Jiang Lu, Can Xu, Paul F. Ma, Mei Chang
  • Patent number: 9490150
    Abstract: Embodiments of substrate supports are provided herein. In some embodiments, a substrate support may include a first aluminum plate for supporting a substrate, the first aluminum plate having a plurality of heating elements embedded therein to provide a plurality of heating zones; a second aluminum plate disposed beneath and supporting the first aluminum plate; a third aluminum plate disposed beneath and supporting the second aluminum plate; a non-metallic ring disposed atop the first aluminum plate; and a plurality of spacers having an upper portion disposed above a surface of the first aluminum plate, wherein the non-metallic ring and the plurality of spacers support the substrate above the first aluminum plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Gwo-Chuan Tzu, Olkan Cuvalci, Yu Chang, Xiaoxiong Yuan
  • Publication number: 20160322239
    Abstract: Embodiments of methods and apparatus for cleaning contaminants from a substrate are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a substrate cleaning apparatus includes: a substrate support to support a substrate along an edge of the substrate, wherein the substrate further includes a first side and an opposing second side having contaminants disposed on the second side; a showerhead disposed a first distance of about 1.5 mm to about 4.4 mm opposite the substrate support and facing the first side of the substrate; and one or more nozzles disposed a second distance of about 1 inch to about 2 inches beneath the substrate support to discharge a mixture of solid and gaseous carbon dioxide toward the contaminants on the second side of the substrate, and wherein the one or more nozzles have an angle of about 20 to about 40 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Pulkit AGARWAL, Bonnie T. CHIA, Song-Moon SUH, Cheng-Hsiung TSAI, Dhritiman Subha KASHYAP, Xiaoxiong YUAN, Eric RIESKE
  • Publication number: 20160192444
    Abstract: Embodiments of substrate supports are provided herein. In some embodiments, a substrate support may include a body having a support surface; and a first heater disposed within the body and having a first heating coil and multiple heating zones, wherein a pitch of windings of the first heating coil vary among each of the multiple heating zones to define a predetermined heating ratio between the multiple heating zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: TOMOHARU MATSUSHITA, Jallepally RAVI, Cheng-Hsiung TSAI, Aravind KAMATH, Xiaoxiong YUAN, Manjunatha KOPPA
  • Publication number: 20160097119
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for cleaning an atomic layer deposition chamber are provided herein. In some embodiments, a chamber lid assembly includes: a housing enclosing a central channel that extends along a central axis and has an upper portion and a lower portion; a lid plate coupled to the housing and having a contoured bottom surface that extends downwardly and outwardly from a central opening coupled to the lower portion of the central channel to a peripheral portion of the lid plate; a first heating element to heat the central channel; a second heating element to heat the bottom surface of the lid plate; a remote plasma source fluidly coupled to the central channel; and an isolation collar coupled between the remote plasma source and the housing, wherein the isolation collar has an inner channel extending through the isolation collar to fluidly couple the remote plasma source and the central channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: ANQING CUI, FARUK GUNGOR, DIEN-YEH WU, VIKAS JANGRA, MUHAMMAD M. RASHEED, WEI V. TANG, YIXIONG YANG, XIAOXIONG YUAN, KYOUNG-HO BU, SRINIVAS GANDIKOTA, YU CHANG, WILLIAM W. KUANG
  • Publication number: 20160002778
    Abstract: Embodiments of substrate supports are provided herein. In some embodiments, a substrate support may include a first plate for supporting a substrate, the first plate having a plurality of purge gas channels on its backside; a second plate disposed beneath and supporting the first plate; and an edge ring surrounding the first plate and disposed above the second plate, wherein the plurality of purge gas channels extend from a single inlet in a central portion to a plurality of outlets at a periphery of the first plate, and wherein the plurality of purge gas channels have a substantially equal flow conductance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: JALLEPALLY RAVI, TOMOHARU MATSUSHITA, ARAVIND MIYAR KAMATH, XIAOXIONG YUAN, CHENG-HSIUNG MATTHEW TSAI, MANJUNATHA KOPPA
  • Patent number: 9206512
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a gas distribution system may include a body disposed within a through hole formed in a process chamber body, the body comprising an opening, wherein an outer surface of the body is disposed a first distance from an inner surface of the through hole to form a first gap; a flange disposed proximate a first end of the body, the flange having an outer dimension greater than an inner dimension of the through hole; a showerhead disposed proximate a second end of the body opposite the first end and extending outwardly from the body to overlap a portion of the process chamber body, the showerhead configured to allow a flow of gas to an inner volume of the process chamber, wherein an outer surface of the showerhead is disposed a second distance from an inner surface of the process chamber body to form a second gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Hanh D. Nguyen, Majeed A. Foad, Dieter Haas, Karl J. Armstrong, Xiaoxiong Yuan
  • Publication number: 20150345019
    Abstract: Embodiments of methods and apparatus for improving gas flow in a substrate processing chamber are provided herein. In some embodiments, a substrate processing chamber includes: a chamber body and a chamber lid defining an interior volume; a substrate support disposed within the interior volume and having a support surface to support a substrate; a gas passageway disposed in the lid opposite the substrate support to supply a gas mixture to the interior volume, the gas passageway including a first portion and a second portion; a first gas inlet disposed in the first portion to supply a first gas to the first portion of the gas passageway; and a second gas inlet disposed in the second portion to supply a second gas to the second portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: XIAOXIONG YUAN, KARTIK SHAH, DHRITIMAN SUBHA KASHYAP, UMESH M. KELKAR, DIEN-YEH WU, MUHAMMAD M. RASHEED
  • Publication number: 20150170952
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck includes a dielectric disk having a support surface to support a substrate and an opposing second surface, wherein at least one chucking electrode is disposed within the dielectric disk; a radio frequency (RF) bias plate disposed below the dielectric disk; a plurality of lamps disposed below the RF bias plate to heat the dielectric disk; a metallic plate disposed below the lamps to absorb heat generated by the lamps; a shaft coupled to the second surface of the dielectric disk at a first end of the shaft to support the dielectric disk in a spaced apart relation to the RF bias plate and extending away from the dielectric disk and through the RF bias plate and the metallic plate; and a rotation assembly coupled to the shaft to rotate the shaft and the dielectric disk with respect to the RF bias plate, lamps, and metallic plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: ANANTHA K. SUBRAMANI, Ashish Goel, Wei W. Wang, Bharath Swaminathan, Vijay D. Parkhe, Xiaoxiong Yuan