Gas Or Vapor Deposition Patents (Class 118/715)
  • Patent number: 10689758
    Abstract: Provided is a technique capable of purging a adiabatic region without adversely affecting a processing region. A process chamber including a processing region for processing a substrate and a adiabatic region located below the processing region is included inside. A first exhaust portion for discharging an atmosphere of the processing region, and a second exhaust portion for discharging an atmosphere of the adiabatic region, formed at a position overlapping with the adiabatic region in a height direction, are included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidenari Yoshida, Tomoshi Taniyama, Takayuki Nakada
  • Patent number: 10691145
    Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure generally relate to one or more flow ratio controllers and one or more gas injection inserts in the semiconductor processing chamber. In one implementation, an apparatus includes a first flow ratio controller including a first plurality of flow controllers, a second flow ratio controller including a second plurality of flow controllers, and a gas injection insert including a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a first plurality of channels and the second portion includes a second plurality of channels. The apparatus further includes a plurality of gas lines connecting the first and second pluralities of flow controllers to the first and second pluralities of channels. One or more gas lines of the plurality of gas lines are each connected to a channel of the first plurality of channels and a channel of the second plurality of channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventor: Matthias Bauer
  • Patent number: 10692703
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a substrate support assembly in a semiconductor processing chamber. The semiconductor processing chamber may be a PECVD chamber including a substrate support assembly having a substrate support and a stem coupled to the substrate support. An RF electrode is embedded in the substrate support and a rod is coupled to the RF electrode. The rod is made of titanium (Ti) or of nickel (Ni) coated with gold (Au), silver (Ag), aluminum (Al), or copper (Cu). The rod made of Ti or of Ni coated with Au, Ag, Al or Cu has a reduced electrical resistivity and increased skin depth, which minimizes heat generation as RF current travels through the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Xing Lin, Jianhua Zhou, Ningli Liu, Juan Carlos Rocha-Alvarez
  • Patent number: 10677767
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an improved gas analysis system having a gas flow cell is provided. In another embodiment an improved gas flow cell is provided. As disclosed herein, dead volumes in a gas flow channel of a gas flow cell may be minimized through the use of one or more additional gas inlets. In one embodiment, an additional gas inlet is located between an analyte gas inlet and a light entrance optical coupling of the gas flow cell. In another embodiment, an additional gas inlet is located between an analyte gas outlet and a light exit optical coupling of the gas flow cell. In addition, enclosed regions may be formed adjacent seals of the gas flow channel of the gas flow cell. The enclosed regions may be evacuated and/or purged so as to minimize the passage of contaminants through the seals into the gas flow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: VUV Analytics, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale A. Harrison, Anthony T. Hayes
  • Patent number: 10676822
    Abstract: Method of depositing an atomic layer on a substrate. The method comprises supplying a precursor gas from a precursor-gas supply of a deposition head that may be part of a rotatable drum. The precursor gas is provided from the precursor-gas supply towards the substrate. The method further comprises moving the precursor-gas supply by rotating the deposition head along the substrate which in its turn is moved along the rotating drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk onderzoek TNO
    Inventors: Adrianus Johannes Petrus Maria Vermeer, Freddy Roozeboom, Joop Van Deelen
  • Patent number: 10676823
    Abstract: A processing method includes a first process of exposing a first sensor to a processing space within a chamber and blocking a second sensor from the processing space within the chamber; a second process of supplying a first processing gas containing a precursor gas into the chamber; a third process of controlling a state within the chamber based on a measurement value of the first sensor; a fourth process of blocking the first sensor from the processing space within the chamber and exposing the second sensor to the processing space within the chamber; a fifth process of supplying a second processing gas containing a reactant gas into the chamber; and a sixth process of controlling the state within the chamber based on a measurement value of the second sensor. The first process to the six process are repeatedly performed multiple times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Ryota Sakane, Takashi Kitazawa, Hiroshi Nagahata, Hideyuki Kobayashi, Koji Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 10679870
    Abstract: Exemplary semiconductor processing systems may include a processing chamber, and may include a remote plasma unit coupled with the processing chamber. Exemplary systems may also include a mixing manifold coupled between the remote plasma unit and the processing chamber. The mixing manifold may be characterized by a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and may be coupled with the processing chamber at the second end. The mixing manifold may define a central channel through the mixing manifold, and may define a port along an exterior of the mixing manifold. The port may be fluidly coupled with a first trench defined within the first end of the mixing manifold. The first trench may be characterized by an inner radius at a first inner sidewall and an outer radius, and the first trench may provide fluid access to the central channel through the first inner sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Mehmet Tugrul Samir, Dongqing Yang
  • Patent number: 10669625
    Abstract: One or more pumping liners are provided for use in chemical vapor deposition (CVD). A pumping liner encircles a deposition chamber within which a wafer is placed and into which a precursor is introduced to form a thin film on a surface of the wafer. The pumping liner regulates a rate and uniformity at which a gas is removed from the deposition chamber, which in turn affects a duration or degree to which different portions of the wafer are exposed to the precursor. Controlling exposure of the wafer to the precursor promotes uniformity of the film formed on the wafer as well an ability to regulate the thickness of the film formed on the wafer. In an embodiment, a pumping liner has at least one of relatively small liner apertures, an increased number of liner apertures or a non-uniform distribution of liner apertures within a body of the pumping liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Cheng-Hsiung Liu, Chun-Hao Hsu, Yu-Yun Peng, Chih-Yuan Yao, Chia-I Shen, Keng-Chu Lin
  • Patent number: 10672629
    Abstract: A ring assembly and a chuck assembly therewith are provided. The ring assembly may include an edge ring that is provided to enclose a chuck body supporting a substrate. The edge ring may include a first top surface, a second top surface positioned outside the first top surface and above the first top surface, a first inner side surface connecting the first top surface to the second top surface, and at least one first flow hole extending outward from one of the first top surface and the first inner side surface, thereby penetrating the edge ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: SungHyup Kim, Dong-Wook Kim, Sungmoon Park, JungHwan Um, Taeseok Oh
  • Patent number: 10655218
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus is disclosed. The substrate processing apparatus includes a gas supply system which supplies a gas into a process chamber, an exhaust system which discharges the gas existing within the process chamber; and a gas supply pipe which supplies the gas into the process chamber via holes, and disposed inside the process chamber, where one end of the gas supply pipe is connected to the gas supply system, the other end of the gas supply pipe is connected to the exhaust system via a pipeline outside the process chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tsukasa Kamakura
  • Patent number: 10651062
    Abstract: Disclosed is a substrate treating apparatus including a treatment container, a pin, a seal housing, a seal member, and an exhaust port. The treatment container includes an opening. The pin is disposed between an interior of the treatment container and an exterior of the treatment container through the opening, and is configured to reciprocate along an axis thereof. The seal housing is disposed in the exterior of the treatment container. The seal housing is in close contact with the treatment container around the opening, and accommodates a part of the pin. The seal member is in close contact with an inner peripheral surface of the seal housing, and in close contact with an outer peripheral surface of the pin so as to be slidable relative to the pin. The exhaust port is in connection with the seal housing in a communicated manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Fukumoto, Yuji Tanaka, Tomohiro Matsuo, Takeharu Ishii
  • Patent number: 10651013
    Abstract: Systems and methods for tuning to reduce reflected power in multiple states are described. The methods include determining values of one or more parameters of an impedance matching circuit so that reflected power is reduced for multiple states. Such a reduction in the reflected power increases a life of a radio frequency generator coupled to the impedance matching circuit while simultaneously processing a substrate using the multiple states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Jon McChesney, Alexander Paterson
  • Patent number: 10651016
    Abstract: A detachable gas injector adaptable to semiconductor equipment includes a top cover, a hollow sleeve, a top housing and a gas output unit. The hollow sleeve receives a convex part of the top cover, thus forming a first transmission passage between the hollow sleeve and the convex part. The top housing has a center hole for accommodating the hollow sleeve, thus forming a second transmission passage between the hollow sleeve and the center hole. The gas output unit is connected to a bottom surface of the hollow sleeve. The gas output unit includes a first partition plate and a second partition plate, which form a first gas output layer, a second gas output layer and a third gas output layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Hermes-Epitek Corporation
    Inventors: Tsan-Hua Huang, Chia-Ying Lin
  • Patent number: 10640883
    Abstract: After removing deposit on a susceptor in an epitaxial growth furnace by a cleaning recipe (step S101), a first epitaxial wafer is produced by growing an epitaxial layer on a first wafer based on a process recipe A (step S102). Subsequently, a step of producing an epitaxial wafer by growing an epitaxial layer on a wafer based on a process recipe B including second control parameters set such that the epitaxial wafer has approximately the same film thickness profile as the first wafer (step S103) is repeated a plurality of times to successively produce a plurality of epitaxial wafers (step S104). The cleaning recipe, the process recipe A, and the process recipe B repeated a plurality of times are carried out repeatedly (step S105).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: SUMCO Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Sakamoto, Masayuki Tsuji
  • Patent number: 10641256
    Abstract: A vacuum pump with abatement function which can prevent contamination of a process chamber without allowing products generated by exhaust gas treatment to flow back to the process chamber, and can reduce the amount of gas to be treated without allowing a purge gas and a diluent gas to be contained in an exhaust gas, and thus can achieve energy saving by reducing the amount of energy required for the exhaust gas treatment in an abatement part is disclosed. The vacuum pump with abatement function includes a vacuum pump to which at least one abatement part for treating an exhaust gas is attached. The vacuum pump comprises a dry vacuum pump having a main pump capable of evacuating gas from an atmospheric pressure and a booster pump for increasing an evacuation speed of the main pump, and the at least one abatement part for treating the exhaust gas is connected between the main pump and the booster pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki Furuta, Koichi Iwasaki, Keiichi Ishikawa, Tetsuo Komai, Shinichi Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 10636626
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a processing chamber for conformal oxidation of high aspect ratio structures. The processing chamber includes a chamber body with a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and a flow assembly disposed in the first side. The flow assembly includes a flow divider to direct fluid flow away from a center of a substrate disposed in a processing region of the processing chamber. The flow divider includes a crescent shaped first side, a top, and a bottom. The processing chamber also includes a distributed pumping structure located adjacent to the second side. The flow assembly is designed to reduce flow constriction of the radicals, leading to increased radical concentration and flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Vishwas Kumar Pandey, Kartik Shah, Christopher S. Olsen, Agus Sofian Tjandra, Hansel Lo, Eric Kihara Shono, Hemantha Raju
  • Patent number: 10636628
    Abstract: Implementations disclosed herein generally relate to systems and methods of protecting a substrate support in a process chamber from cleaning fluid during a cleaning process. The method of cleaning the process chamber includes positioning in the process chamber a cover substrate above a substrate support and a process kit that separates a purge volume from a process volume. The method of cleaning includes flowing a purge gas in the purge volume to protect the substrate support and flowing a cleaning fluid to a process volume above the cover substrate, flowing the cleaning fluid in the process volume to an outer flow path, and to an exhaust outlet in the chamber body. The purge volume is maintained at a positive pressure with respect to the process volume to block the cleaning fluid from the purge volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Kalyanjit Ghosh, Shailendra Srivastava, Tejas Ulavi, Yusheng Zhou, Amit Kumar Bansal, Sanjeev Baluja
  • Patent number: 10634202
    Abstract: A locking mechanism capable of locking and unlocking the rotation of the rotor shaft of an electric motor is constituted by a plurality of recesses formed in one side surface of one gear of a plurality of gears of a reduction gear mechanism. A locking pin is movable toward and away from the recesses, and is configured such that when the locking pin moves toward the recesses, the locking pin engages in one of the recesses and locks the one gear. A linear solenoid is configured to move the locking pin toward and away from the recesses, and a protrusion extends from one end surface of each recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Yuki Saoyama
  • Patent number: 10619240
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gas diffusion device and a film-forming apparatus. The gas diffusion device includes a cover plate, a first diffusion part and a second diffusion part. The first diffusion part cooperates with the cover plate to define a first diffusion space and a gas inlet that communicates with the first diffusion space. The second diffusion part cooperates with the cover plate to define a second diffusion space and a gas outlet that communicates with the second diffusion space. The second diffusion space communicates with the first diffusion space. In a direction from the gas inlet to the gas outlet, a gas between the first diffusion part and the cover plate decreases in height gradually, and a gap between the second diffusion part and the cover plate increases in height gradually at first and then decreases in height gradually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: WUHAN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS SEMICONDUCTOR DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Gaozhen Wang
  • Patent number: 10622189
    Abstract: A side tuning ring for a gas distribution device of a substrate processing system includes a first ring adjacent to a faceplate of the gas distribution device. The first ring surrounds the faceplate and defines a first plenum, communicates with a first gas source, and includes a first plurality of holes arranged to direct gas from the first gas source into a process chamber at a first angle. A second ring is adjacent to the first ring. The second ring surrounds the first ring and defines a second plenum, communicates with at least one of the first gas source and a second gas source, and includes a second plurality of holes arranged to direct gas from the at least one of the first gas source and the second gas source into the process chamber at the first angle or a second angle. The first ring and the second ring are detachable from the faceplate of the gas distribution device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrew Stratton Bravo, Joydeep Guha, Jatinder Kumar
  • Patent number: 10612141
    Abstract: A film forming apparatus includes a mounting table mounting a substrate thereon, a gas diffusion unit above the mounting table, gas dispersion units above the gas diffusion unit, and an evacuation unit to evacuate a processing chamber. The gas diffusion unit has gas injection holes for injecting a gas in a shower shape. Outermost gas injection holes are arranged outward of an outer circumference of the substrate when seen from the top. The gas dispersion units face the gas diffusion unit through a diffusion space therebetween. Each of the gas dispersion units has gas discharge holes formed along a circumferential direction thereof to disperse a gas horizontally into the diffusion space. The gas dispersion units include at least three first gas dispersion units along a first circle, and at least three second gas dispersion units along a second circle concentrically disposed at an outer side of the first circle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Takahashi, Masaki Sano, Takashi Kamio, Toshio Takagi
  • Patent number: 10615061
    Abstract: Provided is a technique in which a heating-up time inside a process chamber is reduced. The technique includes a substrate processing apparatus including a process chamber where a substrate is processed, a substrate retainer configured to support the substrate in the process chamber, a process gas supply unit configured to supply a process gas into the process chamber, a first heater installed outside the process chamber and configured to heat an inside of the process chamber, a thermal insulating unit disposed under the substrate retainer, a second heater disposed in the thermal insulating unit and configured to heat the inside of the process chamber, and a purge gas supply unit configured to supply a purge gas into the thermal insulating unit to purge an inside of the thermal insulating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Kokusai Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shuhei Saido, Hidenari Yoshida, Takatomo Yamaguchi, Takayuki Nakada, Tomoshi Taniyama
  • Patent number: 10610884
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing substrates are provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a process kit, the process kit comprising a first ring to support a substrate proximate a peripheral edge of the substrate; a second ring disposed about the first ring; and a path formed between the first and second rings that allows the first ring to rotate with respect to the second ring, wherein the path substantially prevents light from travelling between a first volume disposed below the first and second rings and a second volume disposed above the first and second rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Ranish, Kailash Patalay
  • Patent number: 10607837
    Abstract: One implementation provides a method including providing a substrate into a processing chamber through a loading port, rotating the substrate clockwise, providing a gas mixture into a processing region through an inject insert comprising a first, second, and third sets of inject inlets, wherein the first set of inject inlets creates an inner zone inside the processing region, the second set of inject inlets creates a middle zone radially outward of the inner zone, and the third set of inject inlets creates an outer zone radially outward the middle zone, the gas mixture is provided by flowing the gas mixture through the first and second sets of inject inlets, and inject inlets of the third set of inject inlets that are away from the loading port, while blocking flow of the gas mixture into inject inlets of the third set of inject inlets that are closer to the loading port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventor: Masato Ishii
  • Patent number: 10604841
    Abstract: A substrate processing system includes a first chamber including a substrate support. A showerhead is arranged above the first chamber and is configured to filter ions and deliver radicals from a plasma source to the first chamber. The showerhead includes a heat transfer fluid plenum including an inlet to receive heat transfer fluid and a plurality of flow channels to direct the heat transfer fluid through a center portion of the showerhead to an outlet to control a temperature of the showerhead, a secondary gas plenum including an inlet to receive secondary gas and a plurality of secondary gas injectors to inject the secondary gas into the first chamber, and a plurality of through holes passing through the showerhead. The through holes are not in fluid communication with the heat transfer fluid plenum or the secondary gas plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rachel Batzer, Huatan Qiu, Bhadri Varadarajan, Patrick Girard Breiling, Bo Gong, Will Schlosser, Zhe Gui, Taide Tan, Geoffrey Hohn
  • Patent number: 10604847
    Abstract: A gas distribution system, a reactor system including the gas distribution system, and method of using the gas distribution system and reactor system are disclosed. The gas distribution system can be used in gas-phase reactor systems to independently fine tune gas source locations and gas flow rates of reactants to a reaction chamber of the reactor systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: ASM IP Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Mark Hawkins, Bradley Leonard Halleck, Tom Kirschenheiter, Benjamin Hossa, Clay Pottebaum, Claudio Miskys
  • Patent number: 10604839
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus, including: a processing chamber having a first and a second processing regions; a substrate mounting table rotatably installed in the processing chamber on which a substrate is mounted, and a rotation instrument configured to rotate the substrate mounting table such that the substrate passes through the first processing region and the second processing region in this order, at least one of the first and the second processing regions including: a gas supply part including a line-shaped opening portion extending in a radial direction of the substrate mounting table and configured to supply a gas from the opening portion into the region; and a gap holding member protruding from a ceiling of the processing chamber opposing the substrate, around the opening portion, toward the substrate such that a space on the substrate has a predetermined gap to serve as a passage of the supplied gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuaki Inada, Yuichi Wada, Mitsunori Ishisaka, Mitsuhiro Hirano, Sadayoshi Horii, Hideharu Itatani, Satoshi Takano, Motonari Takebayashi
  • Patent number: 10596758
    Abstract: Sputtering printheads, additive manufacturing systems comprising the same, and methods for additive manufacturing are provided. Sputtering printheads of the present invention use a plasma to sputter a feedstock material which is directed towards a target. A printhead can include a heater to heat the feedstock to, or near, the material's melting point as it is being sputtered to increase the deposition rate. A convergent nozzle can also increase the deposition rate. Printheads of the present invention are readily reconfigurable such that the same printhead can be used to deposit different materials, such as metals and non-metals, in succession by replacing the feedstock material and making changes to a few settings. Additive manufacturing systems of the present invention can be operated at normal room temperatures and pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: OBSIDIAN ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, LLC
    Inventor: Shomeek Mukhopadhyay
  • Patent number: 10590536
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus, method, a reaction chamber and a use of a reaction chamber for processing a surface of a substrate by subjecting the surface of a substrate to successive surface reactions of at least a first precursor and a second precursor. The apparatus comprises a vacuum chamber; a detachable reaction chamber arranged to be installed inside the vacuum chamber, and inside which the substrate is positioned during processing and a precursor system for supplying the at least first and second precursors into the action chamber and for discharging the at least first and second precursors from the reaction chamber. According to the present invention the reaction chamber is provided as a gastight vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: BENEQ OY
    Inventors: Mikko Soderlund, Pekka Soininen, Jarmo Maula
  • Patent number: 10593523
    Abstract: A method of conditioning internal surfaces of a plasma source includes flowing first source gases into a plasma generation cavity of the plasma source that is enclosed at least in part by the internal surfaces. Upon transmitting power into the plasma generation cavity, the first source gases ignite to form a first plasma, producing first plasma products, portions of which adhere to the internal surfaces. The method further includes flowing the first plasma products out of the plasma generation cavity toward a process chamber where a workpiece is processed by the first plasma products, flowing second source gases into the plasma generation cavity. Upon transmitting power into the plasma generation cavity, the second source gases ignite to form a second plasma, producing second plasma products that at least partially remove the portions of the first plasma products from the internal surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Soonam Park, Yufei Zhu, Edwin C. Suarez, Nitin K. Ingle, Dmitry Lubomirsky, Jiayin Huang
  • Patent number: 10584415
    Abstract: A temperature controlled showerhead for chemical vapor deposition (CVD) chambers enhances heat dissipation to enable accurate temperature control with an electric heater. Heat dissipates by conduction through a showerhead stem and fluid passageway and radiation from a back plate. A temperature control system includes one or more temperature controlled showerheads in a CVD chamber with fluid passageways serially connected to a heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Henner Meinhold, Dan M. Doble, Stephen Lau, Vince Wilson, Easwar Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 10584414
    Abstract: In a substrate processing method for processing a substrate by alternately performing a processing gas supply step of supplying a processing gas for processing the substrate into a processing chamber which accommodates the substrate and to which a gas exhaust line is connected and a replacement gas supply step of supplying a replacement gas for replacing an atmosphere in the processing chamber into the processing chamber multiple times, a ballast gas is introduced into the gas exhaust line when the processing gas supply step is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Okura, Yuki Keimoto
  • Patent number: 10581025
    Abstract: Disclosed is a deposition apparatus for an organic light-emitting diode, which is capable of preventing a large piece of glass from sagging due to gravity. The deposition apparatus allows the glass to be adhered to the lower surface of a planar electrostatic chuck from the center portion toward the edge portion thereof in the state in which it is upwardly convexly bent, thereby preventing deformation of a mask caused by the amount of sag of the glass. In addition, the deposition apparatus enables rapid alignment of the glass and the mask because the glass and the mask are adhered to each other via measurement of respective alignment marks provided thereon after the glass is located as close as possible to the mask without coming into contact with the mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Kwang Ryu, Jong-Heon Kim
  • Patent number: 10580984
    Abstract: Methods and devices for controlling pressures in microenvironments between a deposition apparatus and a substrate are provided. Each microenvironment is associated with an aperture of the deposition apparatus which can allow for control of the microenvironment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Universal Display Corporation
    Inventors: William E. Quinn, Siddharth Harikrishna Mohan, Gregory McGraw, Xin Xu
  • Patent number: 10576445
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing particulate matter by exposing the particulate matter to successive surface reactions of at least a first and a second gaseous precursor according to the principles of atomic layer deposition. The apparatus includes a vacuum chamber, a reaction chamber for particulate matter, wherein the reaction chamber is provided inside the vacuum chamber, a vibration mechanism for vibrating particulate matter inside the reaction chamber; and a precursor system arranged to supply the at least first and second gaseous precursors through the reaction chamber for subjecting the particulate matter to the at least first and second gaseous precursors. The method includes the steps of supplying the at least first and second gaseous precursors through the reaction chamber for subjecting the particulate matter to the at least first and second gaseous precursors, and vibrating particulate matter inside the reaction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: BENEQ OY
    Inventors: Markus Bosund, Risto Peltonen
  • Patent number: 10573510
    Abstract: A substrate support apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a circular base plate and one or more spacers disposed about a circumference of the base plate. The spacers may extend from a top surface of the base plate and a ring body may be coupled to the spacers. The ring body may be spaced from the base plate to define apertures between the base plate and the ring body. One or more support posts may be coupled to the base plate and extend therefrom. The support posts may be coupled to the base plate at positions radially inward from an inner surface of the ring body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Roman Gouk, Han-Wen Chen, Steven Verhaverbeke, Jean Delmas
  • Patent number: 10573851
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing a display apparatus includes: a chamber; a first nozzle unit at the chamber, the first nozzle unit configured to deposit an organic layer or an inorganic layer on a substrate; a second nozzle unit at the chamber, the second nozzle unit configured to deposit the organic layer or the inorganic layer on a substrate and the second nozzle unit being linearly aligned with the first nozzle unit in a first direction; and an injection nozzle unit between the first nozzle unit and the second nozzle unit, the injection nozzle unit configured to inject a first gas in the chamber toward the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Choelmin Jang, Dongkyun Ko, Inkyo Kim, Sukwon Jung, Nam Ha, Myungsoo Huh
  • Patent number: 10570511
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for spatial atomic layer deposition including at least one first exhaust system and at least one second exhaust system. Each exhaust system including a throttle valve and a pressure gauge to control the pressure in the processing region associated with the individual exhaust system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Ning Li, Steven D. Marcus, Tai T. Ngo, Kevin Griffin
  • Patent number: 10557198
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus is provided. The substrate processing apparatus includes a substrate chuck, a shower head structure over the substrate chuck, and a gas distribution apparatus connected to the shower head structure. The gas distribution apparatus includes a dispersion container including a first dispersion space and a gas inlet section on the dispersion container. The gas inlet section includes a first inlet pipe including a first inlet path fluidly connected to the first dispersion space and a second inlet pipe including a second inlet path fluidly connected to the first dispersion space. The second inlet pipe surrounds at least a portion of a sidewall of the first inlet pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Heon Bok Lee, Dae Yong Kim, Dong Woo Kim, Jun Ki Park, Sang Yub Ie, Sang Jin Hyun
  • Patent number: 10550471
    Abstract: A mixed gas multiple line supply system includes a flow splitter connected to a common mixed gas supplying passage, the flow splitter configured to split a mixed gas into a plurality of supply lines while adjusting a ratio of flow rates in the plurality of supply lines, and an least one injector including a gas introducing port and a gas discharge hole for each of a plurality of regions in the processing container and configured to supply the mixed gas to each of the plurality of regions. The plurality of supply lines of the flow splitter are connected in one-to-one correspondence to the respective gas introducing ports provided for the plurality of regions in the processing container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Shinobu Kawamorita, Satoru Koike
  • Patent number: 10550472
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for gas distribution assemblies are provided. In one aspect, a gas distribution assembly is provided comprising an annular body comprising an annular ring having an inner annular wall, an outer wall, an upper surface, and a bottom surface, an upper recess formed into the upper surface, and a seat formed into the inner annular wall, an upper plate positioned in the upper recess, comprising a disk-shaped body having a plurality of first apertures formed therethrough, and a bottom plate positioned on the seat, comprising a disk-shaped body having a plurality of second apertures formed therethrough which align with the first apertures, and a plurality of third apertures formed between the second apertures and through the bottom plate, the bottom plate sealingly coupled to the upper plate to fluidly isolate the plurality of first and second apertures from the plurality of third apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Kien N. Chuc, Qiwei Liang, Hanh D. Nguyen, Xinglong Chen, Matthew Miller, Soonam Park, Toan Q. Tran, Adib Khan, Jang-Gyoo Yang, Dmitry Lubomirsky, Shankar Venkataraman
  • Patent number: 10553440
    Abstract: In one aspect, methods of silicidation and germanidation are provided. In some embodiments, methods for forming metal silicide can include forming a non-oxide interface, such as germanium or solid antimony, over exposed silicon regions of a substrate. Metal oxide is formed over the interface layer. Annealing and reducing causes metal from the metal oxide to react with the underlying silicon and form metal silicide. Additionally, metal germanide can be formed by reduction of metal oxide over germanium, whether or not any underlying silicon is also silicided. In other embodiments, nickel is deposited directly and an interface layer is not used. In another aspect, methods of depositing nickel thin films by vapor phase deposition processes are provided. In some embodiments, nickel thin films are deposited by ALD. Nickel thin films can be used directly in silicidation and germanidation processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: ASM International N.V.
    Inventors: Viljami J. Pore, Suvi P. Haukka, Tom E. Blomberg, Eva E. Tois
  • Patent number: 10553409
    Abstract: There is provision of a cleaning method of a plasma processing apparatus including a plasma treatment chamber for applying plasma treatment to a substrate. The method includes: insulating a part of the plasma treatment chamber, generating plasma of fluorocarbon gas in the plasma treatment chamber, and removing deposits on a non-plasma surface of a space outside of the plasma treatment chamber, by the plasma of the fluorocarbon gas introduced from the plasma treatment chamber to the outside space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Hiraku Murakami, Masaru Isago
  • Patent number: 10551333
    Abstract: A heat flux sensor including at least one optical resonator, suspended on a support, the optical resonator intended to be suspended in a gaseous environment, at least one first device intended to introduce a measurement light beam into the waveguide, at least one second collection device, intended to collect a detection light beam coming from the optical resonator and a device for heating of the optical resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Commissariat a L'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventor: Laurent Duraffourg
  • Patent number: 10546723
    Abstract: A plasma processing method for a workpiece in a plasma processing apparatus includes (i) performing a first plasma processing on a workpiece, and (ii) performing a second plasma processing on the workpiece. Power of second radio frequency waves set in the second plasma processing is greater than the power of the second radio frequency waves set in the first plasma processing. In the second plasma processing, a magnetic field distribution having a horizontal component on an edge side of the workpiece greater than a horizontal component on a center of the workpiece is formed by an electromagnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Akihiro Yokota, Takanori Banse, Joji Takayoshi, Shinya Morikita, Naohiko Okunishi
  • Patent number: 10544518
    Abstract: Chamber components for an epitaxial growth apparatus are disclosed. A reaction chamber defined and formed by a ceiling plate. A reactant gas is rectified in a reactant gas supply path disposed in the side wall, so that a horizontal component in a flow direction of the reactant gas in the reaction chamber corresponds to a horizontal component in a direction extending from the center of an opening of the reactant gas supply path. Improvements to the upper side wall, susceptor and rectification plate of the epitaxial growth apparatus have resulted in improvements to the uniformity and formation speed of the epitaxial layer formed on substrates resulting in higher throughput and lower defects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Shinichi Oki, Yoshinobu Mori
  • Patent number: 10546729
    Abstract: Described processing chambers may include a chamber housing at least partially defining an interior region of the semiconductor processing chamber. The chambers may include a pedestal. The chambers may include a first showerhead positioned between the lid and the processing region, and may include a faceplate positioned between the first showerhead and the processing region. The chambers may also include a second showerhead positioned within the chamber between the faceplate and the processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber. The second showerhead may include at least two plates coupled together to define a volume between the at least two plates. The at least two plates may at least partially define channels through the second showerhead, and each channel may be characterized by a first diameter at a first end of the channel and may be characterized by a plurality of ports at a second end of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Dmitry Lubomirsky
  • Patent number: 10545087
    Abstract: Embodiments as disclosed herein may provide a sensor system including a container, such as a bag, having a port assembly integrated therewith. The port assembly includes an optically transparent window and be configured such that a sensor may be mechanically attached to the port assembly to interface with the optical window. The sensor may include an index of refraction (IoR) sensor that measures the chemical concentration of a liquid inside the container based on a refractive index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: ENTEGRIS, INC.
    Inventors: Francisco Machuca, Ronald P. Chiarello, Stuart A. Tison
  • Patent number: 10535502
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a plasma chamber design that allows extremely symmetrical electrical, thermal, and gas flow conductance through the chamber. By providing such symmetry, plasma formed within the chamber naturally has improved uniformity across the surface of a substrate disposed in a processing region of the chamber. Further, other chamber additions, such as providing the ability to manipulate the gap between upper and lower electrodes as well as between a gas inlet and a substrate being processed, allows better control of plasma processing and uniformity as compared to conventional systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Carducci, Hamid Tavassoli, Ajit Balakrishna, Zhigang Chen, Andrew Nguyen, Douglas A. Buchberger, Jr., Kartik Ramaswamy, Shahid Rauf, Kenneth S. Collins
  • Patent number: 10533250
    Abstract: Described herein is a technique capable of improving a quality of a film formed on a substrate. According to the technique described herein, there is provided a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, including: (a) exhausting an inner atmosphere of a first gas supply pipe configured to supply a first gas generated by a vaporizer to a process chamber accommodating a substrate by a first gas discharge system connected to the first gas supply pipe; (b) exhausting an inner atmosphere of the vaporizer through a second gas discharge system provided at a vaporizer outlet pipe of the vaporizer by supplying an inert gas to the vaporizer via a vaporizer inlet pipe of the vaporizer; and (c) supplying the first gas generated by the vaporizer to the process chamber accommodating the substrate via the vaporizer outlet pipe, the first gas supply pipe and a first timing valve provided at the first gas supply pipe before (a) is performed or after (b) is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Kokusai Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Naofumi Ohashi, Shun Matsui