Rotary Patents (Class 118/730)
  • Patent number: 7682455
    Abstract: To make possible a tightly packed, essentially horizontal storage of wafers (40), in which a simplified access to each of these wafers (40) is possible, a device is provided having a plurality of superimposed storage elements (10). The storage elements (10) have device features (16) for depositing the wafers (40). The storage elements (10) have projections (14) for lifting, whereby a specific storage element (10a) as well as all storage elements (10) arranged above this specific storage element (10a) can be lifted by a predetermined first height for producing a contact gap. The projections (14) can also be used to lift the storage element (10b) arranged below the said storage element (10a) by a predetermined second height for producing a freedom of access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Tec-Sem AG
    Inventors: Jakob Blattner, Rudy Federici
  • Publication number: 20100068381
    Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition reactor has a wafer carrier which cooperates with a chamber of the reactor to facilitate laminar flow of reaction gas within the chamber and a plurality of injectors configured in flow controllable zones so as to mitigate depletion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventor: Heng Liu
  • Publication number: 20100068893
    Abstract: A film deposition apparatus includes a reaction chamber evacuatable to a reduced pressure; a substrate holding portion rotatably provided in the reaction chamber and configured to hold a substrate; a first reaction gas supplying portion configured to flow a first reaction gas from an outer edge portion toward a center portion of the substrate holding portion; a second reaction gas supplying portion configured to flow a second reaction gas from an outer edge portion toward a center portion of the substrate holding portion; a separation gas supplying portion configured to flow a separation gas from an outer edge portion toward a center portion of the substrate holding portion, the separation gas supplying portion being arranged between the first and the second gas supplying portions; and an evacuation portion located in the center portion of the substrate holding portion in order to evacuate the first, the second, and the separation gases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: HITOSHI KATO, Kazuteru Obara
  • Patent number: 7674353
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a plasma reactor. In one embodiment, a plasma reactor includes a substrate support is disposed in a vacuum chamber body and coupled to bias power generator. An RF electrode is disposed above the substrate support and coupled to a very high frequency power generator. A conductive annular ring is disposed on the substrate support and has a lower outer wall, an upper outer wall and an inner wall. A step is extends upward and outward from a lower outer wall and inward and downward from the upper outer wall. The inner wall disposed opposite the upper and lower outer wall. In other embodiments, the annular ring may be fabricated from a conductive material, such as silicon carbide and aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kallol Bera, Daniel Hoffman, Yan Ye, Michael Kutney, Douglas A. Buchberger
  • Publication number: 20100050943
    Abstract: A film deposition apparatus includes: a turntable; a first reaction gas supply part and a second reaction gas supply part extending from a circumferential edge toward a rotation center of the turntable; and a first separation gas supply part provided between the first and second reaction gas supply parts. A first space contains the first reaction gas supply part and has a first height. A second space contains the second reaction gas supply part and has a second height. A third space contains a first separation gas supply part and has a height lower than the first and second heights. A motor provided under the rotation center of the turntable rotates the turntable. A rotation shaft of the turntable and a drive shaft of the motor are coupled without generation of slip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kato, Manabu Honma, Tomoki Haneishi
  • Publication number: 20100050942
    Abstract: A disclosed film deposition apparatus has a separation gas supplying nozzle between reaction gas nozzles arranged away from each other in a rotation direction of a turntable on which a substrate is placed, and a ceiling member providing a lower ceiling surface on both sides of the separation gas supplying nozzle. In this film deposition apparatus, the separation gas supplying nozzle and the reaction gas nozzles are removably arranged along a circumferential direction of a chamber, and the ceiling member is removably attached on a ceiling plate of the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kato, Manabu Honma
  • Publication number: 20100055320
    Abstract: A film deposition apparatus includes a turntable rotatably provided in a chamber. First and second reaction gas supplying portions supply first and second reaction gases to one surface of the turntable, respectively. A separation gas is discharged from a separation gas supplying portion to a separation area between a first process area to which the first reaction gas is supplied and a second process area to which the second reaction gas is supplied. A ceiling surface is provided in the separation area to form a thin space between the turntable to allow the separation gas flowing from the separation area to a process area side. An elevation mechanism to move the substrate upward and downward is provided in a substrate placement part. The elevation mechanism is movable in upward and downward directions relative to the turntable and movable in a radial direction of the turntable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventor: MANABU HONMA
  • Publication number: 20100055314
    Abstract: A disclosed film deposition apparatus includes a turntable including a substrate receiving area; a first reaction gas supplier for supplying a first reaction gas to a surface of the turntable having the substrate receiving area; a second reaction gas supplier, arranged away from the first reaction gas supplier along a circumferential direction of the turntable, for supplying a second reaction gas to the surface; a separation area located along the circumferential direction between a first process area of the first reaction gas and a second process area of the second reaction gas; a separation gas supplier for supplying a first separation gas to both sides of the separation area; a first heating unit for heating the first separation gas to the separation gas supplier; an evacuation opening for evacuating the gases supplied to the turntable; and a driver for rotating the turntable in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: HITOSHI KATO, Manabu Honma
  • Publication number: 20100055319
    Abstract: A film deposition apparatus for depositing a thin film on a substrate by feeding at least two kinds of reaction gases in a vacuum chamber includes a turntable; a substrate placement part on the turntable; a first and a second reaction gas feed part provided apart from each other to feed a first and a second reaction gas into a first and a second process region, respectively, on the turntable; a separation region positioned between the first and second process regions and including a first separation gas feed part to feed a first separation gas and a ceiling surface; a center part region positioned inside the vacuum chamber and including an ejection opening for ejecting a second separation gas; an evacuation port; and a drive part to rotate the turntable so that the substrate passes through the first and second process regions at different angular velocities of the turntable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kato, Manabu Honma
  • Publication number: 20100055918
    Abstract: Metal corrosion and substrate contamination can be suppressed, and process quality and yield can be improved. A substrate processing apparatus comprises: a process chamber; a substrate holder; a cover part closing and opening the process chamber; a substrate holder stage; a rotary mechanism rotating the substrate holder stage; a rotation shaft inserted through the cover part and connected to the substrate holder stage and the rotary mechanism so that a first gas ejection port is formed therebetween; a first gas stagnant part surrounded by the rotary mechanism, the cover part, and the rotation shaft; a second gas ejection port formed at the substrate holder stage; a second gas stagnant part formed at the rotation shaft and communicating with the process chamber via the second gas ejection port; and a flow port formed at the rotation shaft for connecting the first and second gas stagnant parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Takayuki Nakada, Tomoyuki Matsuda, Shinya Morita
  • Publication number: 20100050944
    Abstract: A film deposition apparatus for depositing a film on a substrate by carrying out a cycle of alternately supplying at least two kinds of reaction gases that react with each other to the substrate to produce a layer of a reaction product in a chamber is disclosed. This film deposition apparatus includes a turntable rotatably provided in the chamber, a substrate receiving portion that is provided in the turntable and the substrate is placed in, a first reaction gas supplying portion, a second reaction gas supplying portion, a separation gas supplying portion, an upper holding member that may be pressed on an upper center portion of the turntable and is made of one of quartz and a ceramic material; and a lower holding member that may be pressed on a lower center portion of the turntable in order to rotatably hold the turntable in cooperation with the upper holding member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: HITOSHI KATO, MANABU HONMA, TOMOKI HANEISHI
  • Publication number: 20100055316
    Abstract: A film deposition apparatus to form a thin film by supplying first and second reaction gases within a vacuum chamber includes a turntable, a protection top plate, first and second reaction gas supply parts extending from a circumferential edge towards a rotation center of the turntable, and a separation gas supply part provided therebetween. First and second spaces respectively include the first and second reaction gas supply parts and have heights H1 and H2. A third space includes the separation gas supply part and has a height H3 lower than H1 and H2. The film deposition apparatus further includes a vacuum chamber protection part which surrounds the turntable and the first, second and third spaces together with the protection top plate to protect the vacuum chamber from corrosion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventor: MANABU HONMA
  • Patent number: 7670436
    Abstract: A substrate ring assembly is provided for a substrate support having a peripheral edge. The assembly has an annular band having an inner perimeter that surrounds and at least partially covers the peripheral edge of the substrate support. The assembly also has a clamp to secure the annular band to the peripheral edge of the substrate support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith A. Miller, Ilya Lavitsky
  • Patent number: 7670437
    Abstract: A system for of aligning a mask to a substrate comprising: a fixture for holding the mask and the substrate in fixed positions relative to each other; means for holding the substrate, the means for holding the substrate protruding through openings in a table and the fixture, the means for holding fixedly mounted on a stage, the stage moveable in first and second directions and rotatable about an axis relative to the table; means for affixing the fixture containing the mask and the substrate to the table; means for controlling the means for temporarily affixing so as to generate a uniform force around a perimeter of the fixture to effectuate the temporarily affixing; means for aligning the mask to the substrate, the means for aligning controlling movement of the stage in the first and second directions and rotation about the axis; and means for fastening the fixture together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Duane E. Allen, Brian K. Burnor, Thomas A. Dotolo, Leonard J. Gardecki, William L. Hammond, Kibby B. Horsford, Charles R. Ramsey
  • Patent number: 7662733
    Abstract: A method of cooling a complex electronic system includes preventing system air from passing through a front side and a rear side of a server system main board, organizing a plurality of electronic segments of the server system main board, providing cool air horizontally to the server system main board through a cool air intake provided at a position located underneath the front side and at a bottom side of the server system main board, using the cool air intake to provide the cool air to a plurality of cooling segments that redirect the cool air vertically at a 90° angle, and using a hot air exhaust after the hot air reaches the top side of the server system main board to redirect the hot air horizontally at a 90° angle and exhaust the hot air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Cable, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hisataka Nagai
  • Publication number: 20100024733
    Abstract: Provided are a film formation apparatus and a film formation method which are capable of forming a pixel pattern with good dimensional accuracy and with reduced misalignment in a plane direction between a substrate and a mask when the substrate is pressed against the mask. The film formation apparatus includes an alignment mechanism for aligning a substrate and a mask with each other and a pressing mechanism for pressing the substrate against the mask with a contact member provided to one end of a pressing body, which are provided in a vacuum chamber. After alignment between the substrate and the mask by the alignment mechanism, the contact member of the pressing body is brought into contact with a surface of the substrate, which is on a side opposite to the mask, to press the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicants: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, HITACHI DISPLAYS, LTD.
    Inventors: Takehiko Soda, Masataka Eida, Kazushi Miyata
  • Patent number: 7654221
    Abstract: An electroless deposition system and electroless deposition stations are provided. The system includes a processing mainframe, at least one substrate cleaning station positioned on the mainframe, and an electroless deposition station positioned on the mainframe. The electroless deposition station includes an environmentally controlled processing enclosure, a first processing station configured to clean and activate a surface of a substrate, a second processing station configured to electrolessly deposit a layer onto the surface of the substrate, and a substrate shuttle positioned to transfer substrates between the first and second processing stations. The electroless deposition station also includes various fluid delivery and substrate temperature controlling devices to perform a contamination free and uniform electroless deposition process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Dmitry Lubomirsky, Arulkumar Shanmugasundram, Ian A. Pancham
  • Patent number: 7648579
    Abstract: A substrate support system comprises a substrate holder having a plurality of passages extending between top and bottom surfaces thereof. The substrate holder supports a peripheral portion of the substrate backside so that a thin gap is formed between the substrate and the substrate holder. A hollow support member provides support to an underside of, and is configured to convey gas upward into one or more of the passages of, the substrate holder. The upwardly conveyed gas flows into the gap between the substrate and the substrate holder. Depending upon the embodiment, the gas then flows either outward and upward around the substrate edge (to inhibit backside deposition of reactant gases above the substrate) or downward through passages of the substrate holder, if any, that do not lead back into the hollow support member (to inhibit autodoping by sweeping out-diffused dopant atoms away from the substrate backside).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: ASM America, Inc.
    Inventors: Matt G. Goodman, Jereon Stoutyesdijk, Ravinder Aggarwal, Mike Halpin, Tony Keeton, Mark Hawkins, Lee Haen, Armand Ferro, Paul Brabant, Robert Vyne, Gregory M. Bartlett, Joseph P. Italiano, Bob Haro
  • Publication number: 20090325340
    Abstract: A plasma vapor deposition system for making multi-junction silicon thin film solar cell modules and panels including a flexible substrate disposed about and removably supported by a dual-walled cylindrical substrate support for axially rotating the flexible substrate about its longitudinal axis, the dual-walled cylindrical substrate support comprising an inner wall spaced apart by an outer wall to define a coaxial cavity, a plasma vapor deposition torch located substantially adjacent to the flexible substrate for depositing at least one thin film material layer on an outer surface of the flexible substrate; and a traversing platform for supporting the rotatable substrate support relative to the plasma vapor deposition torch, the rotatable substrate support being traversed along its longitudinal axis by the traversing platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventor: Mohd Aslami
  • Publication number: 20090314212
    Abstract: A vacuum vapor-deposition apparatus is configured for coating a plurality of substrates, and includes a motor including a rotating shaft, a supporting member, a connecting ring, and a vapor source. The rotating shaft includes a first plate fixedly mounted to an end surface of the rotating shaft. The supporting member includes a second plate corresponding to the first plate and is configured for mounting the plurality of substrates thereon. The connecting ring defines a groove along an inner circumference of the connecting ring, and includes a first semi-ring and a second semi-ring fastened to the first semi-ring. The first plate and the second plate are non-rotatably received in the groove. The first plate and the second plate are disengageable from the groove if the first and second semi-rings are unfastened. The vapor source is configured for producing evaporated material to be deposited on the substrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: CHUNG-PEI WANG
  • Publication number: 20090288604
    Abstract: Provided is a chemical vapor deposition apparatus including a reaction chamber; a susceptor that is provided in the reaction chamber and has a plurality of wafers mounted thereon; a rotation driving unit that rotates the susceptor; a gas inlet that is provided in the reaction chamber and introduces reaction gas into the reaction chamber from the outside of the reaction chamber; a gas outlet that is provided in the reaction chamber and discharges the reaction gas, of which the reaction is finished, from the inside of the reaction chamber along the rotation-axis direction of the susceptor; and a variable gas-flow adjusting unit that is provided between the gas inlet and the gas outlet and is formed by superimposing a plurality of gas jetting plates having a plurality of holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Changsung Sean Kim, Jong Pa Hong, Joong El Ghim
  • Publication number: 20090283029
    Abstract: Methods for the sustained, high-volume production of Group III-V compound semiconductor material suitable for fabrication of optic and electronic components, for use as substrates for epitaxial deposition, or for wafers. The equipment and methods are optimized for producing Group III-N (nitrogen) compound semiconductor wafers and specifically for producing GaN wafers. The method includes reacting an amount of a gaseous Group III precursor as one reactant with an amount of a gaseous Group V component as another reactant in a reaction chamber to form the semiconductor material; removing exhaust gases including unreacted Group III precursor, unreacted Group V component and reaction byproducts; and heating the exhaust gases to a temperature sufficient to reduce condensation thereof and enhance manufacture of the semiconductor material. Advantageously, the exhaust gases are heated to sufficiently avoid condensation to facilitate sustained high volume manufacture of the semiconductor material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Chantal Arena, Christiaan Werkhoven
  • Patent number: 7618516
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention generally relate to annular ring used in a plasma processing chamber. In one embodiment, the annular ring includes an inner wall, an upper outer wall, a lower outer wall, a step defined between the upper and lower outer wall, a top surface and a bottom wall. The step is formed upward and outward from the lower outer wall and inward and downward from the upper outer wall. The annular ring may be fabricated from a conductive material, such as silicon carbide and aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kallol Bera, Daniel Hoffman, Yan Ye, Michael Kutney, Douglas A. Buchberger
  • Publication number: 20090277379
    Abstract: A gas ejected from a sonic nozzle toward the rear surface of a wafer. The flow speed of the gas flowing to the outer circumference side along the rear surface of the wafer is increased between the rear surface of the wafer and a second cup and is kept by Bernoulli's effects. Thus, flapping of wafer is suppressed. Furthermore, a resist solution is prevented from flowing around to the rear surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicants: National University Corporation Tohoku University, Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Tadahiro Ohmi, Ryoichi Ohkura, Osamu Nakamura, Takaaki Matsuoka
  • Publication number: 20090260572
    Abstract: There is provided a chemical vapor deposition apparatus including: a chamber including a reactor where a deposition object is deposited; a first supplier including a plurality of gas pipes allowing a first gas to be jetted into the reactor in a substantially horizontal direction; a second supplier including a plurality of holes of a predetermined size having the gas pipes inserted therein, respectively; a supply flow path formed between each of the gas pipes and each of the holes, the supply flow path allowing a second gas to be supplied into the reactor in a substantially horizontal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventors: Changsung Sean Kim, Sang Duk Yoo, Jong Pa Hong, Won Shin Lee
  • Publication number: 20090258141
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a workpiece support, a source for emitting a plume of coating material that flows toward the workpiece support, and plume influencing structure between the source and the workpiece support. The plume influencing structure includes a shield with plural openings extending therethrough approximately parallel to a general direction of flow of the plume away from the source. According to a different aspect, a method includes emitting from a source a plume of coating material that flows toward a workpiece support, and adjusting the flow of the plume with a shield between the source and the workpiece support, the shield having plural openings extending therethrough approximately parallel to a general direction of flow of the plume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Daniel B. Mitchell, Geoffrey G. Harris, Douglas J. Brown
  • Publication number: 20090255471
    Abstract: A method of depositing materials on a non-planar surface is disclosed. The method is effectuated by rotating non-planar substrates as they travel down a translational path of a processing chamber. As the non-planar substrates simultaneously rotate and translate down a processing chamber, the rotation exposes the whole or any desired portion of the surface area of the non-planar substrates to the deposition process, allowing for uniform deposition as desired. Alternatively, any predetermined pattern is able to be exposed on the surface of the non-planar substrates. Such a method effectuates manufacture of non-planar semiconductor devices, including, but not limited to, non-planar light emitting diodes, non-planar photovoltaic cells, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: Solyndra, Inc.
    Inventor: Ratson Morad
  • Patent number: 7597762
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing components is provided. The method includes coupling a drive assembly to a positioning assembly, coupling a plurality of components to be manufactured to a plurality of fixtures, securing the plurality of fixtures to the drive assembly wherein each fixture is configured to receive a component to be manufactured, and repositioning the plurality of components simultaneously using the positioning assembly to facilitate manufacturing of the plurality of components, wherein the components are configured to be oscillated in a first plane of rotation via the drive assembly and rotated through a second plane of rotation via the plurality of fixtures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph G. Albanese, Robert Scott Shalvoy, Jon E. Dickinson
  • Publication number: 20090238971
    Abstract: An epitaxial wafer manufacturing apparatus including: a chamber; a gas introduction port provided in the chamber and configured to introduce a reaction gas into the chamber; a gas exhaust port provided in the chamber and configured to exhaust the reaction gas from inside the chamber; a rotating unit provided inside the chamber; a wafer holder provided in an upper portion of the rotating unit and configured to hold a wafer; and an annular flow-regulating wall being spaced from the rotating unit and the wafer holder, the annular flow-regulating surrounding the upper portion of the rotating unit and a upper portion of the wafer holder, and the annular flow-regulating expanding downward. The flow-regulating wall has an upper end being located above the wafer holder. The upper end has a smaller inner diameter than an outer periphery of the wafer holder. The flow-regulating wall has a lower end being located below an upper surface of the rotating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: Shinya Higashi, Masashi Aizawa
  • Patent number: 7588640
    Abstract: A workpiece carrier (2) comprises a rotary frame (3) and a driving part (20), both of which are rotatable about a driving axle (4). The rotary frame (3) can be driven by a motor (6), and carries a plurality of workpiece holders (13) which are distributed around the driving axle (4) so as to be rotatable about holder axes. A driving disc (22) of the driving part (21) is in each case rotatable about an anchorage point (23) from which its center point is at a distance of an eccentricity (E). A transmission part (25) having a coupling cutout which closely receives the driving disc (22) has driving apertures (26) through which there project driving pins (19) of the workpiece holders (13), which said driving pins (19) are likewise at a distance of the eccentricity (E) from the holder axes. The driving part (20) can be driven at a greater angular velocity by the rotation of the rotary frame (3), via an auxiliary gear set (31) attached to the base frame (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Oerlikon Trading AG, Trubbach
    Inventor: Stefan Esser
  • Publication number: 20090223453
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus that are optimized for producing Group III-N (nitrogen) compound semiconductor wafers and specifically GaN wafers. Specifically, the methods relate to substantially preventing the formation of unwanted materials on an isolation valve fixture within a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactor. The invention provides apparatus and methods for limiting deposition/condensation of GaCl3 and reaction by-products on an isolation valve that is used in the system and method for forming a monocrystalline Group III-V semiconductor material by reacting an amount of a gaseous Group III precursor as one reactant with an amount of a gaseous Group V component as another reactant in a reaction chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: Chantal Arena, Christiaan Werkhoven
  • Patent number: 7582167
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is a guard ring for reducing particle entrapment along a moveable shaft of a substrate support. In one embodiment, the guard ring comprises a substantially annular guard ring positioned within a step formed in a sleeve that circumscribes the shaft. The guard ring is positioned to substantially seal a gap separating the shaft from the sleeve, so that the amount of particles and foreign matter that travel within or become trapped in the gap is substantially reduced. In another embodiment, a guard ring comprises a base portion having an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter, a first flange coupled to the inner perimeter, a second flange coupled to the outer perimeter, and a continuous channel separating the first flange from the second flange. The first flange is adapted to function as a spring that accommodates displacement of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrzej Kaszuba, Sophia M. Velastegui, Visweswaren Sivaramakrishnan, Pyongwon Yim, Mario David Silvetti, Tom K. Cho, Indrajit Lahiri, Surinder S. Bedi
  • Patent number: 7582186
    Abstract: A focus ring configured to be coupled to a substrate holder comprises a first surface exposed to a process; a second surface, opposite the first surface, for coupling to an upper surface of the substrate holder; an inner radial edge for facing a periphery of a substrate; and an outer radial edge. The second surface further comprises one or more contact features, each of which is configured to mate with one or more receiving features formed within the upper surface of the substrate holder. The focus ring can further comprise a clamping feature for mechanically clamping the focus ring to the substrate holder. Furthermore, a gas can be supplied to the contact space residing between the one or more contact features on the focus ring and the one or more receiving features on the substrate holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Eric J. Strang, Steven T. Fink
  • Publication number: 20090214786
    Abstract: A multi-station deposition apparatus capable of simultaneous processing multiple substrates using a plurality of stations, where a gas curtain separates the stations. The apparatus further comprises a multi-station platen that supports a plurality of wafers and rotates the wafers into specific deposition positions at which deposition gases are supplied to the wafers. The deposition gases may be supplied to the wafer through single zone or multi-zone gas dispensing nozzles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventors: Mei Chang, Lawrence C. Lei, Walter B. Glenn
  • Publication number: 20090191042
    Abstract: A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus and a wafer loading/unloading method thereof increase productivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventors: Jun-Sig Park, Jung-Hyeon Kim, Jin-Ho Shin, Gennady Ivanov
  • Patent number: 7567421
    Abstract: A bipolar electrostatic including a chuck main body having a mounting surface; an annular electrode member formed in an annular configuration wit a center opening and fixed onto the mounting surface of the chuck main body though an adhesive layer; an inner electrode member disposed at a given clearance from the annular electrode member within the center opening of the annular electrode member and fixed onto the mounting surface through the adhesive layer; and an outer electrode member disposed at a given clearance from the annular electrode member outside of the annular electrode member and fixed onto the mounting surface through the adhesive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Creative Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Kinya Miyashita
  • Publication number: 20090178619
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a processing chamber, a substrate holding part that holds substrates of required numbers in the processing chamber, a gas supply/exhaust part that supplies or exhausts required gas into the processing chamber, a rotation part that rotates the substrate holding part, a first heating part provided in the substrate holding part so as to face at least an upper surface of each substrate held by the substrate holding part, and a power supply part that supplies power to the first heating part in a non-contact state by electromagnetic coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
    Inventors: Hironobu Shimizu, Nobuo Ishimaru
  • Patent number: 7556695
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to make multilayer thermal barrier coatings for superalloy substrates such as turbine blades or vanes are disclosed. The methods produce non-homogeneous, nanometer-size, successive layers and a non-homogeneous interfacial layer without the use of baffles. Methods are also disclosed to use a lower cost metallic source and an oxygen bleed to create alumina or tantalum oxide vapor, to use a tantalum oxide or an alumina ingot and a low pressure inert gas feed to direct the vapor clouds, to use pulsed evaporation from a secondary vapor source to create non-homogeneous multilayer coating on non-rotated substrates, to use an electric bias to direct the vapor clouds, and to use a mechanical system to direct the vapor clouds or move and position the article to be coated in the clouds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Strangman, Derek Raybould
  • Publication number: 20090165713
    Abstract: Provided is a chemical vapor deposition apparatus. The apparatus includes a reaction chamber, a gas introduction unit, and a gas exhaust unit. The reaction chamber includes a susceptor on which a wafer is loaded and a reaction furnace in which the wafer is processed by chemical vapor deposition. The gas introduction unit is disposed at an outer wall of the reaction chamber to supply reaction gas from an outside of the reaction furnace to a center portion of the reaction furnace. The gas exhaust unit is disposed at a center portion of the reaction chamber to discharge the reaction gas to an upper or lower outside of the reaction chamber after the reaction gas is used for a reaction in the reaction furnace. Therefore, the gas density inside the chamber can be kept at a substantially uniform state even when process pressure is increased for growing a high-temperature deposition layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Changsung Sean KIM, Sam Duk YOO, Jong Pa HONG, Ji Hye SHIM, Won Shin LEE
  • Patent number: 7554059
    Abstract: A ceramic heater attaining more uniform temperature distribution from the start to the end of cooling is provided. Further, in a cooling module used for cooling the heater, liquid leakage during use is prevented, degradation in cooling capability is prevented and the performance is maintained for a long period of use, and the manufacturing cost of the module is decreased. The ceramic heater includes a ceramic heater body and a cooling module cooling the heater body, and the cooling module has a structure formed by arranging a pipe in a trench formed in a plate-shaped structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Awazu, Akira Mikumo, Masuhiro Natsuhara, Hirohiko Nakata
  • Publication number: 20090163040
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus, including: a reaction container in which a substrate is processed; a seal cap, brought into contact with one end in an opening side of the reaction container via a first sealing member and a second sealing member so as to seal the opening of the reaction container air-tightly; a first gas channel, formed in a region between the first sealing member and the second sealing member in a state where the seal cap is in contact with the reaction container; a second gas channel, provided to the seal cap and through which the first gas channel is in communication with an inside of the reaction container; a first gas supply port that is provided to the reaction container and supplies a first gas to the first gas channel; and a second gas supply port that is provided to the reaction container and supplies a second gas into the reaction container, wherein a front end opening of the first gas supply port opening to the first gas channel, and a base opening of the second gas channel openin
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc.
    Inventors: Kiyohiko Maeda, Takeo Hanashima, Masanao Osanai
  • Publication number: 20090142933
    Abstract: A manufacturing apparatus for a semiconductor device, includes: a reaction chamber to which a wafer w is loaded; a gas supply port for supplying first process gas including source gas from an upper portion of the reaction chamber; a first rectifying plate for supplying the first process gas onto the wafer in a rectifying state; a first gas exhaust port for exhausting gas from a lower portion of the reaction chamber; a second gas exhaust port for exhausting gas from the upper portion of the reaction chamber; a heater for heating the wafer w; a susceptor for retaining the wafer w; and a rotation drive unit for rotating the wafer w.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventors: Masayoshi YAJIMA, Kunihiko SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20090117721
    Abstract: A method of cooling a complex electronic system includes preventing system air from passing through a front side and a rear side of a server system main board, organizing a plurality of electronic segments of the server system main board, providing cool air horizontally to the server system main board through a cool air intake provided at a position located underneath the front side and at a bottom side of the server system main board, using the cool air intake to provide the cool air to a plurality of cooling segments that redirect the cool air vertically at a 90° angle, and using a hot air exhaust after the hot air reaches the top side of the server system main board to redirect the hot air horizontally at a 90° angle and exhaust the hot air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: HITACHI CABLE, LTD.
    Inventor: Hisataka Nagai
  • Publication number: 20090117272
    Abstract: A layer depositing device comprises a chamber (10) having a substrate carrier (12) for receiving at least one substrate (13) to be coated, and a process gas space (11), comprising a partition (23) that separates a first segment (21) of the process gas space (11) from a second segment (22) of the process gas space (11). The layer depositing device has a device (44) for moving the substrate (13) relative to the partition (23).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventor: Alexander BEHRES
  • Patent number: 7527694
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a substrate centering apparatus for centering a substrate on a substrate support is provided. In one embodiment, the invention comprises an apparatus that is mounted to an underside of a substrate support and includes a lever that projects upward through a support surface of the substrate support. The lever may be biased toward a center of the substrate support to contact an edge of a substrate. A mechanism is coupled to the lever and moves the lever radially outward to release the substrate. In one embodiment, the mechanism is actuated as the substrate support moves downward to a position that facilitates substrate handoff.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Satish Sundar
  • Patent number: 7513954
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a processing container for receiving a substrate to be processed and processing the substrate by a plasma of a processing gas, a substrate mounting table, installed in the processing container, for mounting the substrate thereon, and a gas supplying unit for supplying the processing gas into the processing container. Here, the substrate mounting table includes a mounting table main body formed of an insulator component. Here, an electrode is embedded inside the mounting table main body, a high frequency power supply for supplying a high frequency power is connected to the electrode, and one or more exposed electrodes are installed to be exposed toward the outside of the mounting table main body and electrically connected to the electrode in the mounting table main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Hachishiro Iizuka, Taro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 7513953
    Abstract: A bottle processing apparatus includes a rotary bottle vacuum transfer system and a bottle coating system. The rotary bottle vacuum transfer system takes bottles from atmospheric pressure and transfers the bottles to the bottle coating system at a sub-atmospheric pressure in a continuous assembly line fashion. In the bottle coating system, a thin film coating having barrier properties is formed on at least one surface of the bottles in a continuous assembly line fashion. After formation of the thin film coating, the rotary bottle vacuum transfer system returns the bottles from the sub-atmospheric pressure region of the bottle coating system back to atmospheric pressure in a continuous assembly line fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Nano Scale Surface Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Felts
  • Publication number: 20090068851
    Abstract: A susceptor of the present invention includes an inner susceptor having a diameter smaller than a diameter of a wafer w and a protruding part for placing the wafer w on a surface thereof, and an outer susceptor having an opening in the central portion thereof, a first step section for placing the inner susceptor so as to block the opening and a second step section provided above the first step section for placing the wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Hironobu Hirata, Yoshikazu Moriyama, Masayoshi Yajima, Shinichi Mitani
  • Publication number: 20090061087
    Abstract: A combinatorial processing chamber is provided. The combinatorial processing chamber is configured to isolate a radial portion of a rotatable substrate support, which in turn is configured to support a substrate. The chamber includes a plurality of clusters process heads in one embodiment. An insert having a base plate disposed between the substrate support and the process heads defines a confinement region for a deposition process in one embodiment. The base plate has an opening to enable access of the deposition material to the substrate. Through rotation of the substrate and movement of the opening, multiple regions of the substrate are accessible for performing combinatorial processing on a single substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Rick Endo, Kurt Weiner, Indranil De, James Tsung, Maosheng Zhao, Jeremy Cheng
  • Publication number: 20090056630
    Abstract: A workpiece support system for a vacuum coating machine includes a base table having a rotating spindle rod that extends in a vertical direction away from the base table and is capable of powered rotation. A stop post is connected to the table and extends in a vertical direction at a distance from the spindle rod. A workpiece support module is connected to the spindle rod and the stop post, and includes a rotating table with peripheral openings arranged symmetrically around its periphery, a plurality of cogs positioned in the openings, a stationary table connected to the stop post and axially supporting the rotating table, and a driver finger connected to the stationary table. At least one bearing is located around the spindle rod and rotatably isolates the rotating table from the stationary table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Virgil R. Hester, Jeffrey P. Werner