Patents by Inventor Yuhou WANG

Yuhou WANG 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: 20260156736
    Abstract: A matchless plasma source is described. The matchless plasma source includes a controller that is coupled to a direct current (DC) voltage source of an agile DC rail to control a shape of an amplified square waveform that is generated at an output of a half-bridge transistor circuit. The matchless plasma source further includes the half-bridge transistor circuit used to generate the amplified square waveform to power an electrode, such as an antenna, of a plasma chamber. The matchless plasma source also includes a reactive circuit between the half-bridge transistor circuit and the electrode. The reactive circuit has a high-quality factor to negate a reactance of the electrode. There is no radio frequency (RF) match and an RF cable that couples the matchless plasma source to the electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2025
    Publication date: June 4, 2026
    Inventors: Maolin Long, Yuhou Wang, Ricky Marsh, Alex Paterson
  • Publication number: 20260150176
    Abstract: A matchless plasma source is described. The matchless plasma source includes a controller that is coupled to a direct current (DC) voltage source of an agile DC rail to control a shape of an amplified square waveform that is generated at an output of a half-bridge transistor circuit. The matchless plasma source further includes the half-bridge transistor circuit used to generate the amplified square waveform to power an electrode, such as an antenna, of a plasma chamber. The matchless plasma source also includes a reactive circuit between the half-bridge transistor circuit and the electrode. The reactive circuit has a high-quality factor to negate a reactance of the electrode. There is no radio frequency (RF) match and an RF cable that couples the matchless plasma source to the electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2025
    Publication date: May 28, 2026
    Inventors: Maolin Long, Yuhou Wang, Ricky Marsh, Alex Paterson
  • Publication number: 20260128258
    Abstract: A plasma system includes a first matchless plasma source (MPS) that generates a first sinusoidal waveform having a first frequency. The plasma system includes a first filter coupled to the first MPS to filter a second frequency. The plasma system further includes a first capacitive circuit coupled to the first filter to balance reactances of the first filter and a radio frequency (RF) coil to further provide a first RF signal to a point. The plasma system includes a second MPS that generates a second sinusoidal waveform having the second frequency. The plasma system includes a second filter coupled to the second MPS to filter the first frequency. The plasma system includes a second capacitive circuit that is coupled to the second filter to balance a reactance of the second filter with the reactance of the RF coil to further provide a second RF signal to the point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Publication date: May 7, 2026
    Inventors: Yuhou Wang, Alexander Miller Paterson, John Stephen Drewery, Ying Wu
  • Publication number: 20260122752
    Abstract: A matchless plasma source is described. The matchless plasma source includes a controller that is coupled to a direct current (DC) voltage source of an agile DC rail to control a shape of an amplified square waveform that is generated at an output of a half-bridge transistor circuit. The matchless plasma source further includes the half-bridge transistor circuit used to generate the amplified square waveform to power an electrode, such as an antenna, of a plasma chamber. The matchless plasma source also includes a reactive circuit between the half-bridge transistor circuit and the electrode. The reactive circuit has a high-quality factor to negate a reactance of the electrode. There is no radio frequency (RF) match and an RF cable that couples the matchless plasma source to the electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2025
    Publication date: April 30, 2026
    Inventors: Maolin Long, Yuhou Wang, Ricky Marsh, Alex Paterson
  • Patent number: 12609283
    Abstract: A method for pulsing is described. The method includes generating a first radio frequency (RF) signal, and pulsing a parameter of the first RF signal between a first parameter level and a second parameter level at a pulsing frequency during a cycle of a digital pulsed signal. The method further includes generating a second RF signal, and pulsing a parameter of the second RF signal at a higher pulsing frequency than the pulsing frequency of the parameter of the first RF signal during the cycle. During the cycle, a start time of pulsing the parameter of the first RF signal is synchronized with a start time of pulsing the parameter of the second RF signal and an end time of pulsing the parameter of the first RF signal is synchronized with an end time of pulsing the parameter of the second RF signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2026
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Tom A. Kamp, Yuhou Wang, Michael John Martin
  • Publication number: 20260089828
    Abstract: A matchless plasma source is described. The matchless plasma source includes a controller that is coupled to a direct current (DC) voltage source of an agile DC rail to control a shape of an amplified square waveform that is generated at an output of a half-bridge transistor circuit. The matchless plasma source further includes the half-bridge transistor circuit used to generate the amplified square waveform to power an electrode, such as an antenna, of a plasma chamber. The matchless plasma source also includes a reactive circuit between the half-bridge transistor circuit and the electrode. The reactive circuit has a high-quality factor to negate a reactance of the electrode. There is no radio frequency (RF) match and an RF cable that couples the matchless plasma source to the electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2025
    Publication date: March 26, 2026
    Inventors: Maolin Long, Yuhou Wang, Ricky Marsh, Alex Paterson
  • Publication number: 20250391638
    Abstract: A system and method for generating a radio frequency (RF) waveform are described. The method includes defining a train of on-off pulses separated by an off state having no on-off pulses. The method further includes applying a multi-level pulse waveform that adjusts a magnitude of each of the on-off pulses to generate an RF waveform. The method includes sending the RF waveform to an electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2025
    Publication date: December 25, 2025
    Inventors: Maolin Long, Yuhou Wang, Ying Wu, Alex Paterson
  • Patent number: 12507338
    Abstract: A matchless plasma source is described. The matchless plasma source includes a controller that is coupled to a direct current (DC) voltage source of an agile DC rail to control a shape of an amplified square waveform that is generated at an output of a half-bridge transistor circuit. The matchless plasma source further includes the half-bridge transistor circuit used to generate the amplified square waveform to power an electrode, such as an antenna, of a plasma chamber. The matchless plasma source also includes a reactive circuit between the half-bridge transistor circuit and the electrode. The reactive circuit has a high-quality factor to negate a reactance of the electrode. There is no radio frequency (RF) match and an RF cable that couples the matchless plasma source to the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2025
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2025
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Maolin Long, Yuhou Wang, Ricky Marsh, Alex Paterson
  • Patent number: 12490370
    Abstract: A matchless plasma source is described. The matchless plasma source includes a controller that is coupled to a direct current (DC) voltage source of an agile DC rail to control a shape of an amplified square waveform that is generated at an output of a half-bridge transistor circuit. The matchless plasma source further includes the half-bridge transistor circuit used to generate the amplified square waveform to power an electrode, such as an antenna, of a plasma chamber. The matchless plasma source also includes a reactive circuit between the half-bridge transistor circuit and the electrode. The reactive circuit has a high-quality factor to negate a reactance of the electrode. There is no radio frequency (RF) match and an RF cable that couples the matchless plasma source to the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2025
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2025
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Maolin Long, Yuhou Wang, Ricky Marsh, Alex Paterson
  • Patent number: 12484139
    Abstract: A matchless plasma source is described. The matchless plasma source includes a controller that is coupled to a direct current (DC) voltage source of an agile DC rail to control a shape of an amplified square waveform that is generated at an output of a half-bridge transistor circuit. The matchless plasma source further includes the half-bridge transistor circuit used to generate the amplified square waveform to power an electrode, such as an antenna, of a plasma chamber. The matchless plasma source also includes a reactive circuit between the half-bridge transistor circuit and the electrode. The reactive circuit has a high-quality factor to negate a reactance of the electrode. There is no radio frequency (RF) match and an RF cable that couples the matchless plasma source to the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2025
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2025
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Maolin Long, Yuhou Wang, Ricky Marsh, Alex Paterson
  • Publication number: 20250345945
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for positioning a wafer in relation to a datum structure. In one example, a system comprises a camera arrangement including at least two cameras, each of the at least two cameras including a field of view when positioned in the camera arrangement, each field of view including a peripheral edge of the wafer and a peripheral edge of the datum structure. A processor receives positional data from each of the at least two cameras and determines, in relation to each field of view, a gap size between the respective peripheral edges of the wafer and the datum location included in the respective field of view. A controller adjusts a position of the wafer relative to the datum structure based on the determined respective gap sizes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2025
    Publication date: November 13, 2025
    Inventors: Michael John Martin, Yuhou Wang, Alexander Miller Paterson
  • Patent number: 12471202
    Abstract: A matchless plasma source is described. The matchless plasma source includes a controller that is coupled to a direct current (DC) voltage source of an agile DC rail to control a shape of an amplified square waveform that is generated at an output of a half-bridge transistor circuit. The matchless plasma source further includes the half-bridge transistor circuit used to generate the amplified square waveform to power an electrode, such as an antenna, of a plasma chamber. The matchless plasma source also includes a reactive circuit between the half-bridge transistor circuit and the electrode. The reactive circuit has a high-quality factor to negate a reactance of the electrode. There is no radio frequency (RF) match and an RF cable that couples the matchless plasma source to the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2025
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2025
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Maolin Long, Yuhou Wang, Ricky Marsh, Alex Paterson
  • Patent number: 12424410
    Abstract: A system and method for generating a radio frequency (RF) waveform are described. The method includes defining a train of on-off pulses separated by an off state having no on-off pulses. The method further includes applying a multi-level pulse waveform that adjusts a magnitude of each of the on-off pulses to generate an RF waveform. The method includes sending the RF waveform to an electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2025
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Maolin Long, Yuhou Wang, Ying Wu, Alex Paterson
  • Publication number: 20250273447
    Abstract: A direct drive system for providing RF power to a component of a substrate processing system includes a direct drive circuit including a switch and configured to supply RF power to the component. A switch protection module is configured to monitor a load current and a load voltage in a processing chamber, calculate load resistance based on the load current and the load voltage, compare the load resistance to a first predetermined load resistance, and adjust at least one of an RF power limit and an RF current limit of the direct drive circuit based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2025
    Publication date: August 28, 2025
    Inventors: Maolin Long, Yuhou Wang, Michael John Martin, Alexander Miller Paterson
  • Patent number: 12397435
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for positioning a wafer in relation to a datum structure. In one example, a system comprises a camera arrangement including at least two cameras, each of the at least two cameras including a field of view when positioned in the camera arrangement, each field of view including a peripheral edge of the wafer and a peripheral edge of the datum structure. A processor receives positional data from each of the at least two cameras and determines, in relation to each field of view, a gap size between the respective peripheral edges of the wafer and the datum location included in the respective field of view. A controller adjusts a position of the wafer relative to the datum structure based on the determined respective gap sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2025
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Michael John Martin, Yuhou Wang, Alexander Miller Paterson
  • Publication number: 20250220801
    Abstract: A matchless plasma source is described. The matchless plasma source includes a controller that is coupled to a direct current (DC) voltage source of an agile DC rail to control a shape of an amplified square waveform that is generated at an output of a half-bridge transistor circuit. The matchless plasma source further includes the half-bridge transistor circuit used to generate the amplified square waveform to power an electrode, such as an antenna, of a plasma chamber. The matchless plasma source also includes a reactive circuit between the half-bridge transistor circuit and the electrode. The reactive circuit has a high-quality factor to negate a reactance of the electrode. There is no radio frequency (RF) match and an RF cable that couples the matchless plasma source to the electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2025
    Publication date: July 3, 2025
    Inventors: Maolin Long, Yuhou Wang, Ricky Marsh, Alex Paterson
  • Publication number: 20250212310
    Abstract: A matchless plasma source is described. The matchless plasma source includes a controller that is coupled to a direct current (DC) voltage source of an agile DC rail to control a shape of an amplified square waveform that is generated at an output of a half-bridge transistor circuit. The matchless plasma source further includes the half-bridge transistor circuit used to generate the amplified square waveform to power an electrode, such as an antenna, of a plasma chamber. The matchless plasma source also includes a reactive circuit between the half-bridge transistor circuit and the electrode. The reactive circuit has a high-quality factor to negate a reactance of the electrode. There is no radio frequency (RF) match and an RF cable that couples the matchless plasma source to the electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2025
    Publication date: June 26, 2025
    Inventors: Maolin Long, Yuhou Wang, Ricky Marsh, Alex Paterson
  • Publication number: 20250203748
    Abstract: A matchless plasma source is described. The matchless plasma source includes a controller that is coupled to a direct current (DC) voltage source of an agile DC rail to control a shape of an amplified square waveform that is generated at an output of a half-bridge transistor circuit. The matchless plasma source further includes the half-bridge transistor circuit used to generate the amplified square waveform to power an electrode, such as an antenna, of a plasma chamber. The matchless plasma source also includes a reactive circuit between the half-bridge transistor circuit and the electrode. The reactive circuit has a high-quality factor to negate a reactance of the electrode. There is no radio frequency (RF) match and an RF cable that couples the matchless plasma source to the electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2025
    Publication date: June 19, 2025
    Inventors: Maolin Long, Yuhou Wang, Ricky Marsh, Alex Paterson
  • Publication number: 20250203749
    Abstract: A matchless plasma source is described. The matchless plasma source includes a controller that is coupled to a direct current (DC) voltage source of an agile DC rail to control a shape of an amplified square waveform that is generated at an output of a half-bridge transistor circuit. The matchless plasma source further includes the half-bridge transistor circuit used to generate the amplified square waveform to power an electrode, such as an antenna, of a plasma chamber. The matchless plasma source also includes a reactive circuit between the half-bridge transistor circuit and the electrode. The reactive circuit has a high-quality factor to negate a reactance of the electrode. There is no radio frequency (RF) match and an RF cable that couples the matchless plasma source to the electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2025
    Publication date: June 19, 2025
    Inventors: Maolin Long, Yuhou Wang, Ricky Marsh, Alex Paterson
  • Publication number: 20250174431
    Abstract: A radiofrequency (RF) power supply system includes a first coil and a second coil. The RF power supply system also includes a first RF power source connected to supply RF signals of a first frequency to both the first coil and the second coil. The RF power supply system also includes a current splitter variable capacitor connected to control a division of the RF signals of the first frequency between the first coil and the second coil. The RF power supply system also includes a second RF power source connected to supply RF signals of a second frequency to the second coil. In some embodiments, the first and second RF power sources are first and second direct-drive RF power sources, respectively, that drive the RF signals of the first and second frequencies, respectively, through first and second reactive circuits, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Publication date: May 29, 2025
    Inventors: Matthew Lowell Talley, Alexander Miller Paterson, Yuhou Wang, Richard A. Marsh