Work Support Patents (Class 118/728)
  • Patent number: 12258676
    Abstract: A pre-heat ring for a substrate processing device, which includes: a reaction chamber, a bearing disk, the pre-heat ring and a gas injection port. The bearing disk is arranged in the reaction chamber and supports a substrate; the pre-heat ring is arranged around the bearing disk; a supporting piece is arranged in the reaction chamber and supports the pre-heat ring; the gas injection port is formed in the reaction chamber and introduces a process gas; the pre-heat ring includes a ring body; the inner periphery and the outer periphery of the ring body each include a first section and a second section, the first section corresponds to the gas injection port, and the second section does not correspond to the gas injection port; and the first section of the outer periphery extends towards a gas injection port side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Jiangsu Alpha-Semiconductor Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Liu Ziqiang
  • Patent number: 12249628
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a p-type nitride semiconductor layer, the p-type nitride semiconductor layer including an Al-containing nitride semiconductor layer and an Al-containing compound layer containing Al and C as main constituent elements and provided on the surface of the Al-containing nitride semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignees: KYOTO UNIVERSITY, NICHIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Kishimoto, Mitsuru Funato, Yoichi Kawakami, Kunimichi Omae
  • Patent number: 12243763
    Abstract: A substrate fixing device includes an electrostatic chuck on a baseplate, and a porous body in a gas hole piercing through a substrate of the electrostatic chuck. The electrostatic chuck attracts an object onto a first surface of the substrate. The gas hole includes a first recess formed in a second surface of the substrate facing the baseplate and depressed toward the first surface, a second recess formed at the bottom of the first recess and depressed toward the first surface, and a through hole extending from the bottom of the second recess to the first surface. The first recess is entirely and the second recess is partly filled with the porous body. A region of the second recess unfilled with the porous body is a recess in the porous body depressed toward the second surface relative to where the bottom of the second recess communicates with the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: SHINKO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masakuni Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 12237183
    Abstract: A semiconductor processing system includes; a chamber, a substrate support disposed in the chamber, and a temperature controller including a thermal section disposed under the substrate support and a coupling section including at least one coupling section member. The thermal section includes a first plate and a second plate spaced apart under the substrate support, and each of the first plate and the second plate is coupled to a side portion of the substrate by at least one coupling section member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyoungsik Cho, Hogon Kim, Myoungryul Han, Hyunchul Kwun, Dongha Kim, Jangho Son
  • Patent number: 12227847
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to an apparatus and method of processing a substrate. In at least one embodiment, an apparatus includes a chamber body, a substrate support assembly and a bracket assembly disposed outside the chamber body and coupled to the substrate support assembly. The bracket assembly has a plurality of leveling screws for adjusting a level of the substrate support assembly. The apparatus includes an actuator coupled to one of the plurality of leveling screws and an accelerometer coupled to the substrate support assembly. The accelerometer is configured to indicate an orientation of the substrate support assembly. The apparatus includes a control module in communication with the actuator and the accelerometer. The control module is configured to determine the level of the substrate support assembly based on the orientation indicated by the accelerometer and adjust the level of the substrate support assembly using the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: James V. Santiago, Patricia M. Liu
  • Patent number: 12232299
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing a substrate are provided herein. For example, an apparatus for processing a substrate comprises a process chamber configured to process a substrate, a substrate support comprising a heat sink configured to cool the substrate support during operation and a water trap panel comprising a pumping ring configured to cool the water trap panel such that the water trap panel condenses water vapor molecules and drops a process chamber pressure during operation, and a chiller operably coupled to the substrate support and configured to supply a cooling fluid to the substrate support via a cooling fluid line that connects to the heat sink and the pumping ring via a serial configuration or a parallel configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Irwin Decottignies, Roger Bradford Fish, Steven Szudarski, Shane Lawrence Kintner
  • Patent number: 12211671
    Abstract: A wafer placement table includes: a ceramic substrate having a wafer placement surface at an upper surface, and incorporating an electrode; a cooling substrate which is bonded to a lower surface of the ceramic substrate, and in which a refrigerant flow path is formed; a power supply terminal connected to the electrode; and a power supply terminal hole vertically penetrating the cooling substrate and storing the power supply terminal. The power supply terminal hole intersects with the refrigerant flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Kuno, Seiya Inoue
  • Patent number: 12211672
    Abstract: An apparatus for plasma etching having an electrostatic chuck including a base layer, a bonding layer, an adsorption layer including a plurality of protrusions on the bonding layer and contacting a lower surface of a substrate, and an edge ring spaced apart from and surrounding a lateral surface of the substrate; a plurality of coolant suppliers injecting a coolant between the plurality of protrusions; a plurality of pipes supplying the coolant to the plurality of coolant suppliers to circulate the coolant in a predetermined direction; a cooling device in which the plasma etching process includes first and second operations, wherein the coolant is injected to cause the electrostatic chuck to reach a first temperature during the first operation, and reach a second temperature during the second operation; and a controller controlling a valve connected to the plurality of pipes to determine a circulation direction of the coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jongwoo Sun, Kyohyeok Kim, Taehwa Kim, Haejoong Park, Jewoo Han
  • Patent number: 12195855
    Abstract: Methods of and systems for performing leak checks of gas-phase reactor systems are disclosed. Exemplary systems include a first exhaust system coupled to a reaction chamber via a first exhaust line, a bypass line coupled to a gas supply unit and to the first exhaust system, a gas detector coupled to the bypass line via a connecting line, a connecting line valve coupled to the connecting line, and a second exhaust system coupled to the connecting line. Methods include using the second exhaust system to exhaust the connecting line to thereby remove residual gas in the connecting line that may otherwise affect the accuracy of the gas detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: ASM IP Holding B.V.
    Inventors: SungBae Kim, HakYong Kwon, YoungMin Kim, KiKang Kim, SeungHwan Lee
  • Patent number: 12188124
    Abstract: Described herein is a technique capable of suppressing or preventing an inside of a source gas nozzle from being heated to a substrate processing temperature when a source gas is supplied through the source gas nozzle into a reaction tube in which a substrate is accommodated. According to one aspect of the technique, there is provided a substrate processing apparatus including: a reaction tube made of a first material and capable of accommodating a substrate; and a source gas nozzle provided in the reaction tube and at least a part thereof made of a second material whose reflectance is higher than that of the first material and whose surface is rougher than that of the first material by bubbles contained therein, wherein a source gas is supplied through the source gas nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Kokusai Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Takebayashi, Unryu Ogawa, Toshiki Fujino, Yukihito Hada, Naoko Tsunoda
  • Patent number: 12183554
    Abstract: A middle ring configured to be arranged on a bottom ring and to support a moveable edge ring and further configured to be raised and lowered relative to a substrate support includes an upper surface that is stepped, an annular inner diameter, an annular outer diameter, a lower surface, a guide feature in the upper surface defining the annular outer diameter, an inner annular rim in the upper surface defining the annular inner diameter, and a groove defined in the upper surface between the guide feature and the inner annular rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiran Rajitha Rathnasinghe, Shawn Tokairin, Jon Mcchesney
  • Patent number: 12180590
    Abstract: A device for depositing layers on flat substrates includes a susceptor which can be heated by a heating device. The substrates and cover plates enclosing same are arranged on an upper face of the susceptor facing a process chamber. The cover plates include inner cover plates, each of which forms an edge adjoining a substrate edge facing the center of the susceptor. The inner cover plates are arranged about the center of the susceptor in the circumferential direction, and adjacent ones of the inner cover plates adjoin each other at a separation joint. The separation joint is arranged at an angle ? to a line which extends through the center of the susceptor and the center of one of the substrates in a radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: AIXTRON SE
    Inventors: Benjamin David Wright, Barry O′Neil
  • Patent number: 12183553
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to an apparatus for improving azimuthal uniformity of a pressure profile of a processing gas. In one example, a processing chamber includes a lid, sidewalls, and a substrate support defining a processing volume. A bottom bowl, a chamber base, and a wall define a purge volume. The purge volume is disposed beneath the processing volume. The bottom bowl includes a first surface having a first equalizer hole. A passage couples the processing volume to the purge volume via the first equalizer hole and an inlet. The passage is positioned above the first equalizer hole. The chamber base has a purge port coupleable to a purge gas line for supplying a purge gas to the purge volume. A baffle is disposed in the purge volume at a height above the purge port, and is configured to deflect a trajectory of the purge gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Nitin Pathak, Kartik Shah, Amit Kumar Bansal, Tuan Anh Nguyen, Juan Carlos Rocha, David Blahnik
  • Patent number: 12176187
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes: a plasma processing chamber; a substrate support disposed in the plasma processing chamber; an edge ring disposed on the substrate support to surround a substrate on the substrate support; an actuator configured to vertically move the edge ring; a gas supply configured to supply a cleaning gas into the plasma processing chamber; a power source configured to supply a power to the substrate support; and a controller configured to: (a) maintain the edge ring at a first position spaced apart from the substrate support; and (b) supply a power to the substrate support while supplying the cleaning gas into the plasma processing chamber to generate a local plasma in a gap between the edge ring maintained at the first position and the substrate support, thereby cleaning the edge ring and the substrate support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Chishio Koshimizu
  • Patent number: 12170208
    Abstract: A semiconductor fabrication facility is provided. The semiconductor fabrication facility includes a processing tool and a transmission assembly. The transmission assembly is connected to the processing tool and comprises a number of transmission lines used to supply electric power or a fluid to the processing tool or remove the fluid or an exhaust gas from the processing tool. The transmission lines includes a first transmission line and a second transmission line. The first transmission line has a first temperature and the second transmission line has a second temperature. The second temperature is higher than the first temperature. The first transmission line and the second transmission line are arranged such that a thermal energy of the second transmission line is able to be transmitted to the first transmission line to change the first temperature of the first transmission line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Otto Chen, Ying-Yen Tseng, Wen-Yu Ku, Chia-Chih Chen
  • Patent number: 12165897
    Abstract: A workpiece holding tool includes a substrate, a base, and a cylindrical member. The base includes a gas flow channel including a first portion and a second portion. The first portion extends parallel to a bonding surface of the base. The second portion forms branch connection with the first portion and extends perpendicularly to the bonding surface to be open in the bonding surface. The cylindrical member includes a cylindrical body portion located along the second portion and a cylindrical extension portion continuous with the body portion and extending to the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki Furukawa
  • Patent number: 12165892
    Abstract: A control device includes a reception unit configured to receive a film characteristic at a plurality of positions of a film formed on a substrate by a film forming processing based on a processing recipe, an optimization processing unit configured to execute an optimization calculation of the processing recipe based on the film characteristic, a diagnosis unit configured to diagnose a validity of an in-plane shape of the film characteristic based on the film characteristic, and a determination unit configured to determine whether or not to notify a user of an encouraging action based on a diagnosis result by the diagnosis unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yuichi Takenaga, Takahito Kasai, Youngtai Kang
  • Patent number: 12165896
    Abstract: A substrate support is provided that includes: a base; an electrostatic chuck on which a substrate is placed; an electrode provided in the electrostatic chuck; a contact portion of the electrode; an adhesive layer that bonds the electrostatic chuck with the base and that does not cover the contact portion; and a power supply terminal contacting the contact portion of the electrode without being fixed to the contact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Akira Nagayama, Yasuharu Sasaki, Taketoshi Tomioka, Shin Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 12154813
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes an apparatus. The apparatus includes a chuck for placing an object thereon, a gas passage extending along a periphery of an outer sidewall of the chuck and separating the chuck into an inner portion and a sidewall portion, and a plurality of gas holes through the sidewall portion and configured to connect a gas external to the chuck to the gas passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ian Hsieh, Che-fu Chen, Yan-Hong Liu
  • Patent number: 12148637
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a vacuum processing container and a rotation arm including a rotary axis disposed at a central portion of the vacuum processing container, wherein, in the rotation arm, a rotation cylinder having a hollow interior constitutes the rotary axis, and a hollow portion of the rotation cylinder constitutes an exhaust path of the vacuum processing container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Mori, Satoru Kawakami
  • Patent number: 12142482
    Abstract: Using the first robot, the carrier standing by in the load lock chamber is deposited into the reaction chamber without mounting the wafer before processing, and cleaning gas is supplied while the reaction chamber is maintained at a predetermined cleaning temperature, and the carrier that has been cleaned in the reaction chamber is transferred to the load lock chamber using the first robot. The carrier and susceptor are cleaned at a predetermined frequency. After that, the carrier is carried out from the reaction chamber, and the reaction gas is supplied to the reaction chamber to form a polysilicon film on the surface of the susceptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: SUMCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoyuki Wada, Yu Minamide
  • Patent number: 12129543
    Abstract: Provided is an epitaxial growth apparatus which makes it possible to prevent the production of debris between a preheat ring and a lower liner without fracturing the preheat ring. The epitaxial growth apparatus includes: a chamber; an upper liner and a lower liner that are disposed on an inner wall of the chamber; a susceptor being provided inside the chamber; and a preheat ring that is disposed on a supporting portion protruding in an opening of the lower liner and is disposed on the outer circumference of the susceptor. The preheat ring is not supported by the supporting portion in at least a part of a region that is right above a region where the semiconductor wafer passes in a transfer path in which the semiconductor wafer is loaded into the chamber to be set on the susceptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: SUMCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Haku Komori, Kazuhiro Narahara
  • Patent number: 12131890
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck system for a plasma processing chamber is provided. A base plate comprising Al—SiC is provided. A ceramic plate is disposed over the base plate. A bonding layer bonds the ceramic plate to the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Ann Erickson, Darrell Ehrlich
  • Patent number: 12119257
    Abstract: The present application provides a floating pin, a wafer carrying device and a depositing apparatus, which relates to the technical field of semiconductor apparatus, and is used for solving the technical problem of low yield of a workpiece to be processed. The floating pin includes a pin body and a pin head connected to one end of the pin body, wherein the pin head protrudes in relation to a side surface of the pin body, and a side surface of a protruding part of the pin head is a curved surface. By reducing the distance between the pin head and the workpiece to be processed, the impact force on the workpiece to be processed when the pin head collides with the workpiece to be processed can be reduced, damages to the workpiece to be processed can be reduced, and the yield of the workpiece to be processed can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: CHANGXIN MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Chaoqun Yu
  • Patent number: 12116671
    Abstract: A laminate including a metallic base material, a nickel-containing plating film layer formed on the metallic base material, and a gold plating film layer formed on the nickel-containing plating film layer, in which pinholes in the gold plating film layer are sealed with a fluorinated passive film having a thickness of 8 nm or greater. Also disclosed is a constituent member of a semiconductor production device including the laminate and a method for producing the laminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Resonac Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Furuya, Tadaaki Kojima, Hiroshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 12112965
    Abstract: A wafer supporting mechanism and a method for wafer dicing are provided. The wafer supporting mechanism includes a base portion and a support portion. The base portion includes a first gas channel and a first outlet connected to the first gas channel. The support portion is connected to the base portion and including a second gas channel connected to the first gas channel. An accommodation space is defined by the base portion and the support portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: Bo Hua Chen, Yan Ting Shen, Fu Tang Chu, Wen-Pin Huang
  • Patent number: 12113055
    Abstract: A method comprises depositing a protection layer over a first substrate, wherein the first substrate is part of a first semiconductor die, forming an under bump metallization structure over the protection layer, forming a connector over the under bump metallization structure, forming a first dummy plane along a first edge of a top surface of the first semiconductor die and forming a second dummy plane along a second edge of the top surface of the first semiconductor die, wherein the first dummy plane and the second dummy plane form an L-shaped region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yao-Chun Chuang, Yu-Chen Hsu, Hao Chun Liu, Chita Chuang, Chen-Cheng Kuo, Chen-Shien Chen
  • Patent number: 12106997
    Abstract: Techniques for testing both a rectangular substrate and a circular substrate are provided. One aspect of the present disclosure pertains to a test device comprising an exchangeable change kit, wherein the change kit comprises a first holding device and a second holding device which are exchangeably mounted in the test device, wherein the first holding device is configured to adsorb and hold a rectangular substrate, wherein the second holding device is configured to adsorb and hold a circular substrate, and wherein the first holding device and the second holding device are exchanged according to a substrate to be tested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Hiroki Hosaka, Hiroshi Amemiya, Fumito Kagami, Tadashi Obikane
  • Patent number: 12101920
    Abstract: A conductive polymeric layer on an electrostatic chuck. The conductive polymeric layer comprises a conductive polymer and a photosensitive polymer. The conductivity of the conductive polymer promotes charge dissipation by the conductive polymeric layer, while the photosensitivity of the photosensitive polymer allows the surface of the conductive polymeric layer to be photopatterned. The extent to which the conductive polymeric layer is conductive and photosensitive may be modulated by varying the relative amounts of the conductive polymer and the photosensitive polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: ENTEGRIS, INC.
    Inventors: Yuxuan Liu, Zhifeng Li, Carlo Waldfried, Yan Liu, Chandra Venkatraman, Pushkara Rao Varanasi
  • Patent number: 12091751
    Abstract: A substrate processing technique includes a substrate mounting table including a substrate mounting surface for a substrate; a process container for accommodating the substrate mounting table and forming a process chamber for processing the substrate mounted on the substrate mounting surface; at least one gas supplier for suppling a processing gas to the process chamber; a first wall arranged on an outer peripheral side of the at least one substrate mounting table; a second wall arranged at an outer side of the first wall on the outer peripheral side of the substrate mounting table; at least one exhaust flow path formed between the first wall and the second wall and configured to discharge a gas in the process chamber; and a shield plate arranged below the substrate mounting table and extending at least to a lower side of a lower end of the second wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naofumi Ohashi, Tomihiro Amano, Satoshi Takano
  • Patent number: 12089482
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosed subject matter provide a device including a micronozzle array having separate redundant groups of depositors that each include a delivery aperture disposed between two exhaust apertures. The device may include a first row of depositors of a first redundant group, each of which may be connected in parallel to first common delivery lines and first common exhaust lines. The device may include a second row of depositors of a second redundant group, each of which is connected in parallel to second common delivery and second common exhaust lines. The first row of depositors and the second row of depositors may operate independently from one another. The device may be disposed within a deposition chamber and in proximity of a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Universal Display Corporation
    Inventors: William E. Quinn, Gregory McGraw, Gregg Kottas, Xin Xu, Julia J. Brown
  • Patent number: 12080561
    Abstract: The present application provides a method for process a substrate. The method includes steps of providing a substrate having a sacrificial layer and an insulative layer, forming a polysilicon hardmask on the insulative layer, etching the insulative and sacrificial layers through multiple openings in the polysilicon hardmask to thus form multiple channels, depositing a metal film and a passivation film on the polysilicon hardmask and in the channels, performing a first removal process to remove portions of the passivation film and the metal film above the polysilicon hardmask, performing a second removal process to remove portions of the polysilicon hardmask exposed through the passivation film and the metal film, and performing a third removal process to remove the polysilicon hardmask and portions of the passivation film and the metal film surrounding the polysilicon is hardmask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: NANYA TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhi-Xuan Shen, Yu-Shan Wu
  • Patent number: 12074039
    Abstract: A substrate processing system includes a hinge assembly configured to allow a substrate support and an RF bias assembly to slide, from a docked position to an undocked position, relative to other components of a processing chamber. A make-break connector is configured to supply fluid to at least one of the substrate support and the RF bias assembly. The make-break connector includes a first portion including a first fluid passage connected to a first conduit. A second portion includes a second fluid passage connected to a second conduit. The first fluid passage in the first portion fluidly communicates with the second fluid passage in the second portion. The first portion is configured to slide with the substrate support and the RF bias assembly relative to the second portion and the other portions of the processing chamber. The first portion is located inwardly relative to the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventor: Alexander Charles Marcacci
  • Patent number: 12068144
    Abstract: Exemplary semiconductor processing systems may include a pumping system, a chamber body that defines a processing region, and a pumping liner disposed within the processing region. The pumping liner may define an annular member characterized by a wall that defines an exhaust aperture coupled to the pumping system. The annular member may be characterized by an inner wall that defines a plurality of apertures distributed circumferentially along the inner wall. A plenum may be defined in the annular member between interior surfaces of the walls. A divider may be disposed within the plenum, where the divider separates the plenum into a first plenum chamber and a second plenum chamber, wherein the first plenum chamber is fluidly accessible from the apertures defined through the inner wall, and wherein the divider defines at least one aperture providing fluid access between the first plenum chamber and the second plenum chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Mingle Tong
  • Patent number: 12062527
    Abstract: A baffle unit includes an inner ring, an outer ring disposed outside the inner ring, and a connecting portion connecting the inner ring with the outer ring. The connecting portion includes multiple openings arranged in a radial direction of the baffle unit and in a circumferential direction of the baffle unit, each of the multiple openings being arcuate and extending in the circumferential direction; multiple rigid portions each being disposed between the adjacent openings of the multiple openings that are adjacent to each other on a same concentric circle of the baffle unit; and multiple walls each being formed between the adjacent openings of the multiple openings that are adjacent to each other in the radial direction. Each of the multiple walls connects a rigid portion of the multiple rigid portions with another rigid portion of the multiple rigid portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Jun Young Chung, Ryo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 12051607
    Abstract: A stage apparatus including: an object table configured to hold an object; a positioning device configured to position the object table and the object held by the object table; and a remote temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the object table and/or the object, wherein the remote temperature sensor comprises a passive temperature sensing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Patriek Adrianus Alphonsus Maria Bruurs, Dennis Herman Caspar Van Banning, Jan-Gerard Cornelis Van Der Toorn, Edwin Cornelis Kadijk
  • Patent number: 12051576
    Abstract: A physical vapor deposition (PVD) chamber and a method of operation thereof are disclosed. Chambers and methods are described that provide a chamber comprising a deposition ring assembly comprising an inner and outer deposition ring which reduces particle defects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanjay Bhat, Vibhu Jindal
  • Patent number: 12040217
    Abstract: A substrate support assembly suitable for use in a reactor including a common processing and substrate transfer region is disclosed. The substrate support assembly includes a susceptor and one or more lift pins that can be used to lower a substrate onto a surface of the susceptor and raise the substrate from the surface, to allow transfer of the substrate from the processing region, without raising or lowering the susceptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: ASM IP Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Eric Hill, John DiSanto
  • Patent number: 12040160
    Abstract: A semiconductor-manufacturing apparatus member includes a ceramic plate having an upper surface serving as a wafer placement surface, a plug disposed in an undersurface of the ceramic plate and including a dense body and a gas flow channel that extends through the body in a thickness direction of the body while winding, a gas outlet port that extends through the ceramic plate in a thickness direction of the ceramic plate to be connected to an upper portion of the gas flow channel, and a metal cooling plate joined to the undersurface of the ceramic plate, and including a gas supply channel through which gas is supplied from a lower portion of the gas flow channel. In the plug, at least a portion in length of the gas flow channel is formed from a porous member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Ishikawa, Yasuho Aoki
  • Patent number: 12033881
    Abstract: Semiconductor substrate support assemblies may include an electrostatic chuck body having a substrate support surface. The electrostatic chuck body may define a plurality of protrusions extending from the substrate support surface. The assemblies may include an electrode embedded within the electrostatic chuck body. The electrode may define apertures through the electrode in line with the plurality of protrusions extending from the substrate support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Sumanth Banda, Vladimir Knyazik, Stephen D. Prouty
  • Patent number: 12027410
    Abstract: An edge ring arrangement for a processing chamber includes a first ring configured to surround and overlap a radially outer edge of an upper plate of a pedestal arranged in the processing chamber, a second ring arranged below the first moveable ring, wherein a portion of the first ring overlaps the second ring, a first actuator configured to actuate a first pillar to selectively move the first ring to a raised position and a lowered position relative to the pedestal, and a second actuator configured to actuate a second pillar to selectively move the second ring to a raised position and a lowered position relative to the pedestal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Haoquan Yan, Robert Griffith O'Neill, Raphael Casaes, Jon Mcchesney, Alex Paterson
  • Patent number: 12020913
    Abstract: A temperature regulator includes a first member, a channel, and a cavity. The first member has a first surface that is subjected to temperature control. The channel is along the first surface in the first member, and refrigerant flows in the channel. The cavity is provided in the first member adjacently to a flow rate change region of the channel. A flow rate of refrigerant in the flow rate change region is higher than a flow rate of refrigerant in another region of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Makoto Kato, Sho Murano
  • Patent number: 12020976
    Abstract: To detach a substrate from a table without damaging the substrate. According to Embodiment 1, provided is a substrate processing apparatus including a table to hold a substrate, a plurality of lift pins that are arranged at periphery of the table and configured to arrange or separate the substrate on or from the table and to be movable in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the table, a drive mechanism that includes a motor to move the lift pins in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the table, and a control device that is configured to control the drive mechanism. The control device is configured to be capable of moving the lift pins at a first speed and at a second speed different from the first speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Haiyang Xu, Koji Maeda, Mitsuhiko Inaba
  • Patent number: 12009184
    Abstract: A lift pin assembly for a lift pin of a plasma processing apparatus is provided. The lift pin assembly includes a pin housing defining an opening into which a lift pin extends. The pin housing is positioned such that the opening is aligned with an opening defined by an electrostatic chuck. The assembly includes a pin height adjustment member partially positioned within the opening defined by the pin housing. The pin height adjustment member is movable along an axis in a first direction and a second direction to move the lift pin into and out of the opening defined by the electrostatic chuck. The assembly includes a pin holder assembly at least partially positioned within an opening defined by the pin height adjustment member. The pin holder assembly is configured to hold the lift pin such that the lift pin is aligned with the opening defined by the electrostatic chuck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignees: Beijing E-Town Semiconductor Technology Co., Ltd., Mattson Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Changle Guan, Maolin Long
  • Patent number: 12009249
    Abstract: Methods for etching a semiconductor structure and for conditioning a processing reactor in which a single semiconductor structure is treated are disclosed. An engineered polycrystalline silicon surface layer is deposited on a susceptor which supports the semiconductor structure. The polycrystalline silicon surface layer may be engineered by controlling the temperature at which the layer is deposited, by grooving the polycrystalline silicon surface layer or by controlling the thickness of the polycrystalline silicon surface layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: GlobalWafers Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gang Wang
  • Patent number: 12009206
    Abstract: A vapor phase epitaxial growth device comprises a reactor vessel and a wafer holder arranged within the reactor vessel. The wafer holder includes a wafer holding surface configured to hold a wafer with a wafer surface oriented substantially vertically downward. The device comprises a first material gas supply pipe configured to supply a first material gas and arranged below the wafer holding surface. The device comprises a second material gas supply pipe configured to supply a second material gas and arranged below the wafer holding surface. The device comprises a gas exhaust pipe configured to exhaust gases and arranged below the wafer holding surface. A distance between the gas exhaust pipe and an axis line passing through a center of the wafer holding surface is greater than distances between the axis line and each of the first material gas supply pipe and the second material gas supply pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignees: National University Corporation Nagoya University, TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD
    Inventors: Shugo Nitta, Yoshio Honda, Kentaro Nagamatsu, Hiroshi Amano, Naoki Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 12002689
    Abstract: The present application relates to a semiconductor equipment regulation method, including: providing a simulated wafer; placing the simulated wafer in an etching chamber, and conditioning a temperature in the chamber by using a temperature control device while the simulated wafer is etched by using an etching gas; during the etching process, forming a polymer layer on a surface of each etch hole; acquiring a thickness distribution map of the polymer layer in the entire simulated wafer; comparing the acquired thickness distribution map with a target thickness distribution map; and adjusting a temperature control effect through using the temperature control device on each region of the simulated wafer according to a result of the comparison, so as to adjust thickness uniformity of the polymer layer in the entire wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Changxin Memory Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Xifei Bao, Runsheng Shen
  • Patent number: 11993843
    Abstract: Provided is a cooling device capable of controlling the temperature of an upper portion of a reactor, or more particularly, a gas supply device, for example, a shower head. The cooling device includes a separator configured to uniformly and efficiently cool the gas supply device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: ASM IP Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Seung Wook Kim, JuIll Lee, Won Ki Jeong, Dong Rak Jung, Hong Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 11990360
    Abstract: Various embodiments include an apparatus to retrofit into an electrostatic chuck (ESC) of an existing plasma-based processing system. The apparatus includes a tube adapter portion having a dielectric coating formed on an inner surface of the tube adapter portion to prevent arcing between high voltage electrodes within the tube adapter portion and a main body of the tube adapter portion during an operation of the plasma-based processing system, a number of insulative tubes with the high voltage electrodes to be enclosed therein, and an enlarged gap portion of the tube adapter portion proximate outboard ones of the plurality of insulative tubes to prevent arcing. Other methods of forming the ESC, and related devices, apparatuses, and systems are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Miguel Benjamin Vasquez, Vincent Burkhart
  • Patent number: 11984345
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to a substrate processing apparatus. The substrate processing apparatus may include a chuck including a plurality of pin holes and a plurality of lift pins positioned to rise and fall through the plurality of pin holes. The substrate processing apparatus may include a lift plate configured to raise and lower the lift pins. The plurality of lift pins may include a lift pin having a rod shape configured to move up and down in a pin hole of the plurality of pin holes, a flexure coupled to a lower portion of the lift pin, a weight body positioned underneath the lift plate, and a weight string connecting the flexure and the weight body. The lift plate may include a string hole through which the weight string passes through.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ilyoung Han, Hunyong Park, Sohee Han, Nohsung Kwak