Patents by Inventor Zhaozhao Zhu

Zhaozhao Zhu 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: 20250244122
    Abstract: A method includes causing, by at least one processing device, a confocal sensor system to make a plurality of signal measurements of a target material, each signal measurement of the plurality of signal measurements corresponding to a respective distance of a plurality of distances between a confocal sensor of the confocal sensor system and the target material, generating, by the at least one processing device, target scan data for the target material based on the plurality of signal measurements, and measuring, by the at least one processing device, at least one property of the target material based on the target scan data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2024
    Publication date: July 31, 2025
    Inventors: Zhaozhao Zhu, Jon Meyer, Varoujan Chakarian
  • Publication number: 20250218829
    Abstract: An identification feature of a substrate in a substrate measurement subsystem is identified. The identification feature is located at a predefined location relative to a reference location of the substrate. A position of the substrate within the substrate measurement subsystem is determined based on the identified identification feature. Based on the determined position of the substrate, one or more sensing components of the substrate measurement subsystem is caused to capture spectral data representing features of at least one of the reference location of the substrate or another location of the substrate. A determination is made of whether to update a process recipe associated with the substrate based on the captured spectral data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2025
    Publication date: July 3, 2025
    Inventors: Upendra V. Ummethala, Blake Erickson, Prashanth Kumar, Michael Kutney, Steven Trey Tindel, Zhaozhao Zhu
  • Patent number: 12283503
    Abstract: A method for a substrate measurement subsystem is provided. An indication is received that a substrate being processed at a manufacturing system has been loaded into a substrate measurement subsystem. First positional data of the substrate within the substrate measurement subsystem is determined. One or more portions of the substrate to be measured by one or more sensing components of the substrate measurement subsystem are determined based on the first positional data of the substrate and a process recipe for the substrate. Measurements of each of the determined portions of the substrate are obtained by one or more sensing components of the substrate measurement subsystem. The obtained measurements of each of the determined portions of the substrate are transmitted to a system controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Upendra V. Ummethala, Blake Erickson, Prashanth Kumar, Michael Kutney, Steven Trey Tindel, Zhaozhao Zhu
  • Patent number: 12216455
    Abstract: A substrate processing system includes a process chamber, one or more robot, a substrate measurement system, and a computing device. The process chamber may process a substrate that will comprise a film and/or feature after the processing. The one or more robot, to move the substrate from the process chamber to a substrate measurement system. The substrate measurement system may measure the film and/or feature on the substrate and generate a profile map of the film and/or feature. The computing device may process data from the profile map using a first trained machine learning model, wherein the first trained machine learning model outputs a first chamber component condition estimation for a first chamber component of the process chamber. The computing device may then determine whether to perform maintenance on the first chamber component of the process chamber based at least in part on the first chamber component condition estimation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Chunlei Zhang, Zhaozhao Zhu, Michael Kutney
  • Patent number: 12191176
    Abstract: A process recipe associated with a substrate at a manufacturing system is identified. A first set of measurements for the substrate is obtained from a substrate measurement subsystem. A second set of measurements for the substrate is obtained from one or more sensors of a chamber of the manufacturing system. A determination is made based on the obtained first set of measurements and the obtained second set of measurements of whether to modify the process recipe by at least one of modifying an operation of the process recipe or generating an instruction to prevent completion of execution of one or more operations of the process recipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Upendra V. Ummethala, Blake Erickson, Prashanth Kumar, Michael Kutney, Steven Trey Tindel, Zhaozhao Zhu
  • Publication number: 20240393262
    Abstract: A method includes receiving spectral data of a substrate and metrology data corresponding to the spectral data of the substrate. The method further includes determining a plurality of feature model configurations for each of a plurality of feature models, each of the plurality of feature model configurations including one or more feature model conditions. The method further includes determining a plurality of feature model combinations, where each feature model combination of the plurality of feature model combinations includes a subset of the plurality of feature model configurations. The method further includes generating a plurality of input datasets, where each input dataset of the plurality of input datasets is generated based on application of the spectral data to a respective feature model combination of the plurality of feature model combinations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2023
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Inventors: Jeong Jin Hong, Sejune Cheon, Sang Hong Kim, Thomas Ho Fai Li, Anders Andelman Nottrott, Zhaozhao Zhu, MiHyun Jang
  • Patent number: 12148647
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a substrate holder, a first actuator to rotate the substrate holder, a second actuator to move the substrate holder linearly, a first sensor to generate one or more first measurements or images of the substrate, a second sensor to generate one or more second measurements of target positions on the substrate, and a processing device. The processing device estimates a position of the substrate on the substrate holder and causes the first actuator to rotate the substrate holder about a first axis. The rotation causes an offset between a field of view of the second sensor and a target position on the substrate due to the substrate not being centered on the substrate holder. The processing device causes the second actuator to move the substrate holder linearly along a second axis to correct the offset. The processing device determines a profile across a surface of the substrate based on the one or more second measurements of the target positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Patricia Schulze, Gregory John Freeman, Michael Kutney, Arunkumar Ramachandraiah, Chih Chung Chou, Zhaozhao Zhu, Ozkan Celik
  • Patent number: 12136557
    Abstract: A process recipe associated with a substrate at a manufacturing system is identified. A first set of measurements for the substrate is obtained from a substrate measurement subsystem. A second set of measurements for the substrate is obtained from one or more sensors of a chamber of the manufacturing system. A determination is made based on the obtained first set of measurements and the obtained second set of measurements of whether to modify the process recipe by at least one of modifying an operation of the process recipe or generating an instruction to prevent completion of execution of one or more operations of the process recipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Upendra V. Ummethala, Blake Erickson, Prashanth Kumar, Michael Kutney, Steven Trey Tindel, Zhaozhao Zhu
  • Publication number: 20240361239
    Abstract: Implementations disclosed describe a system including a light source, an optical sensor, and a processing device. The light source directs, during a first time, a probe light into a processing chamber through a window. The light source ceases, during a second time, directing the probe light into the processing chamber through the window. The optical sensor detects, during the first time, a first intensity of a first light. The first light includes a portion of the probe light reflected from the window and a light transmitted from an environment of the processing chamber through the window. The optical sensor detects, during the second time, a second intensity of a second light. The second light includes the light transmitted from the environment of the processing chamber through the window. The processing device determines, using the first intensity and the second intensity, a transmission coefficient of the window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2024
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Inventors: Patrick Tae, Zhaozhao Zhu, Blake W. Erickson, Chunlei Zhang
  • Publication number: 20240339347
    Abstract: An optical measurement device comprises a substrate holder to secure a substrate, a plurality of actuators to move the substrate holder relative to a plurality of axes, a first sensor to generate one or more first measurements or images of a first plurality of target positions on the substrate, and a second sensor to generate one or more second measurements of a second plurality of target positions on the substrate. The optical measurement device further comprises a plate, wherein the substrate holder, the plurality of actuators, the first sensor and the second sensor are each mounted to the plate, and wherein the plate provides vibration isolation from a factory interface to which the optical measurement device mounts. The optical measurement device further comprises a processing device that executes instructions to control the plurality of actuators and process the first measurements or images and the second measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Inventors: Patricia Schulze, Gregory John Freeman, Michael Kutney, Arunkumar Ramachandraiah, Chih Chung Chou, Zhaozhao Zhu, Ozkan Celik
  • Publication number: 20240290592
    Abstract: A method includes embedding at least part of a transparent crystal within a wall and a liner of a processing chamber, depositing a transparent thin film on a surface of the transparent crystal that is exposed to an interior of the processing chamber and depositing a process film layer on the transparent thin film. The method includes receiving light reflected back from a surface of the transparent thin film and a surface of the process film layer and detecting, by a spectrometer within the received light, a first spectrum that is representative of the process film layer. The method includes calculating, by a processing device coupled to the spectrometer, a process drift of the processing chamber based at least in part on the first spectrum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2024
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Inventors: Patrick Tae, Blake W. Erickson, Zhaozhao Zhu, Michael David Willwerth, Barry Paul Craver
  • Patent number: 12031910
    Abstract: Implementations disclosed describe a system including a light source, an optical sensor, and a processing device. The light source directs, during a first time, a probe light into a processing chamber through a window. The light source ceases, during a second time, directing the probe light into the processing chamber through the window. The optical sensor detects, during the first time, a first intensity of a first light. The first light includes a portion of the probe light reflected from the window and a light transmitted from an environment of the processing chamber through the window. The optical sensor detects, during the second time, a second intensity of a second light. The second light includes the light transmitted from the environment of the processing chamber through the window. The processing device determines, using the first intensity and the second intensity, a transmission coefficient of the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Tae, Zhaozhao Zhu, Blake W. Erickson, Chunlei Zhang
  • Patent number: 12009191
    Abstract: A system includes a transparent crystal, at least part of which is embedded within a wall and a liner of a processing chamber. The transparent crystal has a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end having a distal surface exposed to an interior of the processing chamber. A transparent thin film is deposited on the distal surface and has chemical properties substantially matching those of the liner. A light coupling device is to: transmit light, from a light source, through the proximal end of the transparent crystal, and focus, into a spectrometer, light received reflected back from a combination of the distal surface, a surface of the transparent thin film, and a surface of a process film layer deposited on the transparent thin film. The spectrometer is to detect a first spectrum within the focused light that is representative of the process film layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Tae, Blake W. Erickson, Zhaozhao Zhu, Michael David Willwerth, Barry Paul Craver
  • Publication number: 20240128100
    Abstract: Spectral data associated with one or more regions of a surface of a substrate is identified. The substrate has been processed according to one or more first operations of a process recipe that is unknown to a system controller for the manufacturing system. The spectral data is provided as input to a machine learning model that is trained to predict, based on given spectral data, a respective process recipe associated with the substrate and one or more operations of the respective process recipe that have already been performed. A determination is made, based on one or more outputs of the machine learning model, that the substrate is associated with the process recipe and that one or more second operations are yet to be performed. The substrate is caused to be processed according to the one or more second operations of the process recipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Hsinyi Tsai, Thomas Li, Zhaozhao Zhu, Michael Kutney, Upendra V. Ummethala
  • Publication number: 20240096715
    Abstract: An article includes a device, a first layer deposited on a surface of the device, and a second layer deposited on the first layer. The first layer includes a first sense material deposited on a first portion of the surface and a second sense material deposited on a second portion of the surface. The second layer includes a first etch material deposited on the first sense material and a second etch material deposited on the second sense material. Responsive to the second layer being etched during an etch process performed at a processing chamber of an electronics processing system, at least one of the first sense material or the second sense material can be detected at the surface of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Keith Berding, Blake Erickson, Soumendra Barman, Zhaozhao Zhu
  • Patent number: 11927543
    Abstract: A system includes a memory, and at least one processing device, operatively coupled to the memory, to facilitate an etch recipe development process by performing operations including obtaining, from an optical detector, first material thickness data for a first material and second material thickness data for a second material resulting from an iteration of an etch process using an etch recipe. The first material is located at a first reflectometry measurement point and the second material is located at a second reflectometry measurement point different from the first reflectometry measurement point. The operations further include determining one or more etch parameters based on at least the first material thickness data and the second material thickness data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Blake Erickson, Keith Berding, Michael Kutney, Soumendra Barman, Zhaozhao Zhu, Michelle SanPedro, Suresh Polali Narayana Rao
  • Patent number: 11830779
    Abstract: An article, apparatus, and method for detecting an etch material selectivity is provided. A device including a first layer and a second layer is placed in a processing chamber. The first layer includes a first sense material deposited on a first portion of the device and a second sense material deposited on a second portion of the device. The second layer deposited on the first layer includes an etch material. During an etch process based on an initial set of etch parameter settings, a first amount of time to etch the second layer at the first portion of the device and a second amount of time to etch the second layer at the second portion of the device are measured. A first etch rate and a second etch rate of the processing chamber is determined based on the measured first amount of time, the measured second amount of time, and a thickness of the second layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Keith Berding, Blake Erickson, Soumendra Barman, Zhaozhao Zhu
  • Patent number: D1031743
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Sidharth Bhatia, Zhaozhao Zhu, Jeffrey Yat Shan Au, Shawn Levesque, Michael Howells, Raja Sekhar Jetti
  • Patent number: D1045923
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2024
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Sidharth Bhatia, Zhaozhao Zhu, Jeffrey Yat Shan Au, Shawn Levesque, Michael Howells, Raja Sekhar Jetti
  • Patent number: D1045924
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2024
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Sidharth Bhatia, Zhaozhao Zhu, Jeffrey Yat Shan Au, Shawn Levesque, Michael Howells, Raja Sekhar Jetti