With Sputter Etching Patents (Class 204/192.3)
  • Patent number: 11289312
    Abstract: Embodiments of process kit shields and process chambers incorporating same are provided herein. In some embodiments a process kit configured for use in a process chamber for processing a substrate includes a shield having a cylindrical body having an upper portion and a lower portion; an adapter section configured to be supported on walls of the process chamber and having a resting surface to support the shield; and a heater coupled to the adapter section and configured to be electrically coupled to at least one power source of the processes chamber to heat the shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Adolph M. Allen, Vanessa Faune, Zhong Qiang Hua, Kirankumar Neelasandra Savandaiah, Anantha K. Subramani, Philip A. Kraus, Tza-Jing Gung, Lei Zhou, Halbert Chong, Vaibhav Soni, Kishor Kalathiparambil
  • Patent number: 11227751
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for plasma chamber target for reducing defects in workpiece during dielectric sputtering are provided. For example, a dielectric sputter deposition target can comprise a dielectric compound having a predefined average grain size ranging from approximately 65 ?m to 500 ?m, wherein the dielectric compound is at least one of magnesium oxide or aluminum oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Xiaodong Wang, Jianxin Lei, Rongjun Wang
  • Patent number: 11211233
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a film formation apparatus includes a chamber having an interior to be vacuumed, a carrying unit which is provided in the chamber, and which carries a workpiece that has a processing target surface in a solid shape along a circular carrying path, a film formation unit that causes a film formation material to be deposited by sputtering on the workpiece that is being carried by the carrying unit to form a film thereon, and a shielding member which has an opening located at a side where the workpiece passes through, and which forms a film formation chamber where the film formation by the film formation unit is performed. A compensation plate that protrudes in the film formation chamber is provided, and the compensation plate has a solid shape along a shape of the processing target surface of the workpiece, and is provided at a position facing the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: SHIBAURA MECHATRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daisuke Ono
  • Patent number: 11152573
    Abstract: A shadow mask that includes compensation layer operative for at least partially correcting gravity-induced sag of a shadow-mask membrane is disclosed. The compensation layer is formed on a surface of the shadow-mask membrane such that the compensation layer is characterized by a residual stress that gives rise to a first bending moment in the membrane, where the first bending moment is directed in the opposite direction to a second bending moment in the membrane that is induced by the effect of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: eMagin Corporation
    Inventors: Fridrich Vazan, Evan P. Donoghue, Ilyas I. Khayrullin, Tariq Ali, Kerry Tice, Amalkumar P. Ghosh
  • Patent number: 11127568
    Abstract: A method is for cleaning a plasma etching apparatus of the type used to etch a substrate and having at least one chamber. The method includes sputtering a metallic material from an electrically conductive coil which is positioned within the at least one chamber onto an interior surface of the at least one chamber to perform a cleaning function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: SPTS Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Stephen R. Burgess, Anthony Paul Wilby
  • Patent number: 11101451
    Abstract: Shadow masks comprising a multi-layer membrane having a mechanical pre-bias that compensates the effect of gravity on the membrane are disclosed. A shadow mask in accordance with the present disclosure includes a membrane that is patterned with a desired pattern of apertures. The layers of the membrane are selected such that their residual stresses collectively give rise to a stress gradient that is directed normal to the plane of the membrane such that the stress gradient mitigates gravity-induced sag. In some embodiments, the membrane includes a layer pair having internal stresses that are of opposite signs to effect a tendency to bulge outward from the plane of the membrane prior to its release from the substrate. An exemplary membrane includes a layer pair comprising a layer of stoichiometric silicon dioxide that is under residual compressive stress and a layer of stoichiometric silicon nitride that is under residual tensile stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: eMagin Corporation
    Inventor: James A. Walker
  • Patent number: 10879055
    Abstract: A method is provided. The method may include providing a substrate, the substrate comprising a substrate surface, the substrate surface having a three-dimensional shape. The method may further include directing a depositing species from a deposition source to the substrate surface, wherein a layer is deposited on a deposition region of the substrate surface. The method may include performing a substrate scan during the directing or after the directing to transport the substrate from a first position to a second position. The method may also include directing angled ions to the substrate surface, in a presence of the layer, wherein the layer is sputter-etched from a first portion of the deposition region, and wherein the layer remains in a second portion of the deposition region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Hatem, Kevin Anglin
  • Patent number: 10654034
    Abstract: The invention relates to the method of forming a platinum-based catalytic coating on electrodes for using in electrochemical devices such as fuel cells or electrolysis cells. According to the invention, to produce a platinum-based catalyst, the carrier is preliminary cleaned by ion etching and the catalytic coating is applied onto the cleaned surface from at least one target based on platinum in vacuum in the primary gas plasma with addition of reactive gas, sputtering being done at the power density on the magnetron sputtered target within (0.004-0.17)*105 W/m2 and the ratio of concentrations of the primary and reaction gas of 75-99%. Technical result: increased specific catalytic activity of the electrode's catalytic coating for electrochemical devices (fuel cells and electrolysis cells).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: AT ENERGY LLC
    Inventors: Sergey Ivanovich Nefedkin, Danila Yuryevich Shaposhnikov, Alexandra Valeryevna Nefedkina
  • Patent number: 10529856
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device is provided. At least one stacked structure is provided on a substrate. A first spacer material layer, a second spacer material layer, and a third spacer material layer are sequentially formed on the substrate and cover the stacked structure. The first, second, and third spacer material layers are etched to form a tri-layer spacer structure on the sidewall of the stacked structure. The tri-layer spacer structure includes, from one side of the stacked structure, a first spacer, a second spacer, and a third spacer, and a dielectric constant of the second spacer is less than each of a dielectric constant of the first spacer and a dielectric constant of the third spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Man-Ling Lu, Yu-Hsiang Hung, Chung-Fu Chang, Yen-Liang Wu, Wen-Jiun Shen, Chia-Jong Liu, Ssu-I Fu, Yi-Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 10090267
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided. The semiconductor structure includes a first substrate and a metal pad formed over the first substrate. The semiconductor structure further includes a modified conductive pillar having a top portion and a bottom portion formed over the metal pad and a solder layer formed over the modified conductive pillar. In addition, the top portion of the modified conductive pillar has a first sidewall in a first direction and a bottom portion of the modified conductive pillar has a second sidewall in a second direction different from the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD
    Inventors: Li-Guo Lee, Yung-Sheng Liu, Yi-Chen Liu, Yi-Jen Lai, Chun-Jen Chen, Hsi-Kuei Cheng
  • Patent number: 10047430
    Abstract: A magnetron sputter reactor for sputtering deposition materials such as tantalum, tantalum nitride and copper, for example, and its method of use, in which self-ionized plasma (SIP) sputtering and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) sputtering are promoted, either together or alternately, in the same or different chambers. Also, bottom coverage may be thinned or eliminated by ICP resputtering in one chamber and SIP in another. SIP is promoted by a small magnetron having poles of unequal magnetic strength and a high power applied to the target during sputtering. ICP is provided by one or more RF coils which inductively couple RF energy into a plasma. The combined SIP-ICP layers can act as a liner or barrier or seed or nucleation layer for hole. In addition, an RF coil may be sputtered to provide protective material during ICP resputtering. In another chamber an array of auxiliary magnets positioned along sidewalls of a magnetron sputter reactor on a side towards the wafer from the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Peijun Ding, Rong Tao, Zheng Xu, Daniel C. Lubben, Suraj Rengarajan, Michael A. Miller, Arvind Sundarrajan, Xianmin Tang, John C. Forster, Jianming Fu, Roderick C. Mosely, Fusen Chen, Praburam Gopalraja
  • Patent number: 10015879
    Abstract: A high silica content substrate, such as for a device, is provided. The substrate has a high silica content and is thin. The substrate may include a surface with a topography or profile that facilitates bonding with a conductive metal layer, such as a metal layer for a circuit or antenna. The substrate may be flexible, have high temperature resistance, very low CTE, high strength and/or be non-reactive. The substrate may be suitable for use in circuits intended for use in high temperature environments, low temperature environments, reactive environments, or other harsh environments. The substrate may be suitable for high frequency antenna applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Daniel Warren Hawtof, Archit Lal, Jen-Chieh Lin, Gary Richard Trott
  • Patent number: 9837285
    Abstract: A method for selectively etching a first region of silicon oxide with respect to a second region of silicon nitride includes a first step of exposing a target object having the first region and the second region to a plasma of a processing gas containing a fluorocarbon gas, etching the first region, and forming a deposit containing fluorocarbon on the first region and the second region. The method further includes a second step of etching the first region by a radical of the fluorocarbon contained in the deposit. In the first step, the plasma is generated by a high frequency power supplied in a pulsed manner. Further, the first step and the second step are repeated alternately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Maju Tomura, Masanobu Honda
  • Patent number: 9765424
    Abstract: A system and method for refurbishing an internal surface of an article of manufacture includes a sputtering unit. The internal surface of the article of manufacture defines an internal cavity. The sputtering unit includes an electrode assembly coupled to a sealing portion. The refurbishing method begins with preparing the internal surface to remove physical damage and contamination. Next, the sputtering unit is interfaced with the article by extending the electrode assembly into the cavity and sealing the sputtering unit to the article with the sealing portion. The internal surface of the article then defines a boundary of a sputtering chamber. A dimensional value is provided that is related to an internal dimension of the cavity. Finally the sputtering unit is operated to deposit material onto the internal surface based upon the provided dimensional value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Engineering and Software System Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin C. Opfermann, Craig P. Pessetto, Douglas K. Wiser
  • Patent number: 9721766
    Abstract: A method for processing a target object includes a formation step of forming a silicon oxide film in a processing chamber by repeatedly executing a sequence including a first step of supplying a first gas containing aminosilane-based gas, a second step of purging a space in the processing chamber after the first step, a third step of generating a plasma of a second gas containing oxygen gas after the second step, and a fourth step of purging the space after the third step. The method further includes a preparation step executed before the target object is accommodated in the processing chamber and a processing step of performing an etching process on the target object. The preparation step is performed before the processing step. The formation step is performed in the preparation step and the processing step. In the first step, a plasma of the first gas is not generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yoshihide Kihara, Toru Hisamatsu, Masanobu Honda, Tomoyuki Oishi
  • Patent number: 9593410
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing substrates are provided herein. In some embodiments, a physical vapor deposition chamber includes a first RF power supply having a first base frequency and coupled to one of a target or a substrate support; and a second RF power supply having a second base frequency and coupled to one of the target or the substrate support, wherein the first and second base frequencies are integral multiples of each other, wherein the second base frequency is modified to an offset second base frequency that is not an integral multiple of the first base frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Zhenbin Ge, Alan A. Ritchie
  • Patent number: 9583381
    Abstract: Methods of forming semiconductor devices and features in semiconductor device structures include conducting an anti-spacer process to remove portions of a first mask material to form first openings extending in a first direction. Another anti-spacer process is conducted to remove portions of the first mask material to form second openings extending in a second direction at an angle to the first direction. Portions of a second mask material underlying the first mask material at intersections of the first openings and second openings are removed to form holes in the second mask material and to expose a substrate underlying the second mask material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ranjan Khurana, Michael Hyatt, Scott L. Light, Kevin J. Torek, Anton J. deVilliers
  • Patent number: 9398678
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for forming a plasma beam. According to the invention: the quality of the electroneutrality of the plasma beam (PB) is detected (in 12 and/or 13); and the alternating polarization potentials of the extraction and acceleration grid (4) are adjusted such that the plasma beam (PB) is at least approximately electrically neutral.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignees: ASTRIUM SAS, ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE, CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE
    Inventors: Ane Aanesland, Pascal Chabert, Michael Irzyk, Stéphane Mazouffre
  • Patent number: 9391235
    Abstract: A patterned substrate for epitaxially growing a semiconductor material includes: a top surface; and a plurality of spaced apart recesses, each of which is indented downwardly from the top surface and is defined by n crystal planes, n being an integer not less than 3. Each of the crystal planes has an upper edge meeting the top surface and is adapted for epitaxially growing the semiconductor material. A maximum distance from one of the upper edges of one of the recesses to an adjacent one of the upper edges of an adjacent one of the recesses is not greater than 500 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: NATIONAL CHUNG-HSING UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Dong-Sing Wuu, Ray-Hua Horng, Wei-Ting Lin
  • Patent number: 9202745
    Abstract: Methods for processing a substrate are described herein. Methods can include positioning a substrate comprising silicon in a processing chamber, delivering a plasma to the surface of the substrate while biasing the substrate, exposing the surface of the substrate to ammonium fluoride (NH4F), and annealing the substrate to a first temperature to sublimate one or more volatile byproducts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: David T. Or, Joshua Collins, Mei Chang
  • Patent number: 9181619
    Abstract: A physical vapor deposition apparatus includes a vacuum chamber having side walls, a cathode inside the vacuum chamber, wherein the cathode is configured to include a sputtering target, a radio frequency power supply configured to apply power to the cathode, an anode inside and electrically connected to the side walls of the vacuum chamber, and a chuck inside and electrically isolated from the side walls of the vacuum chamber, the chuck configured to support a substrate, and a heater to heat the substrate supported on the chuck. The chuck includes a body and a graphite heat diffuser supported on the body and configured to contact the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Youming Li, Jeffrey Birkmeyer
  • Patent number: 9165764
    Abstract: A plasma treatment device includes a dielectric window containing SiO2. The insulating film to be etched comprises silicon carbonitride. In a first plasma treatment step, a processing gas which contains no oxygen gas and contains CH2F2, etc, is used to deposit a protective film. In a second plasma treatment step, a processing gas which contains oxygen gas and contains CH3F, etc. is used to etch away the top and other portions of a part having a convex cross-sectional shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Masaki Inoue, Kazuhisa Ishii, Motoki Noro, Shinji Kawada
  • Patent number: 9099537
    Abstract: A method of selectively growing one or more carbon nano-tubes includes forming an insulating layer on a substrate, the insulating layer having a top surface; forming a via in the insulating layer; forming an active metal layer over the insulating layer, including sidewall and bottom surfaces of the via; and removing the active metal layer at portions of the top surface with an ion beam to enable the selective growth of one or more carbon nano-tubes inside the via.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Katherina E. Babich, Alessandro C. Callegari, John J. Connolly, Eugene J. O'Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20150083580
    Abstract: A method includes: etching a target layer of a target object in a processing chamber by generating a plasma of a first gas containing at least one of SF6, ClF3 and F2 supplied into the processing chamber to; and forming a protective film on the target layer by generating a plasma of a second gas containing at least one of hydrocarbon, fluorocarbon, and fluorohydrocarbon supplied into the processing chamber. In the etching, a pressure in the processing chamber is set to a first pressure and a first bias power is applied to a lower electrode. In the forming, the pressure is set to a second pressure lower than the first pressure and a second bias power higher than the first bias power is applied to the lower electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Akitaka SHIMIZU, Tetsuya OHISHI
  • Publication number: 20150041429
    Abstract: A tool for use in fabricating an electronic component includes a plurality of processing modules and a transfer chamber in communication with each of the plurality of processing modules. The transfer chamber includes a component for transferring a structure to each of the plurality of processing modules. The plurality of processing modules and the transfer chamber are sealed from the surrounding environment and are under a vacuum. The plurality of processing modules includes a first module configured to perform a first process on the structure and a second module configured to perform a second process on the structure. The first process includes performing at least one shaping operation on the structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Xilin Peng, Jiaoming Qiu, Yonghua Chen, Michael Christopher Kautzky, Mark Thomas Kief
  • Patent number: 8920613
    Abstract: A non-axisymmetric electromagnet coil used in plasma processing in which at least one electromagnet coil is not symmetric with the central axis of the plasma processing chamber with which it is used but is symmetric with an axis offset from the central axis. When placed radially outside of an RF coil, it may reduce the azimuthal asymmetry in the plasma produced by the RF coil. Axisymmetric magnet arrays may include additional axisymmetric electromagnet coils. One axisymmetric coil is advantageously placed radially inside of the non-axisymmetric coil to carry opposed currents. The multiple electromagnet coils may be embedded in a molded encapsulant having a central bore about a central axis providing the axisymmetry of the coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Boitnott, Keith A. Miller
  • Patent number: 8864955
    Abstract: The invention is related to a process to apply a heater function to a plastic glass that was made of a polycarbonate. The process includes a sputtering process that allows producing high performance heater function on a plastic glass. Another aspect of the invention is the plastic glass mirrors produced by the inventive process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Gilles Benoit, Farid Manzeh, Christophe Laloup
  • Patent number: 8862259
    Abstract: A processing data managing system includes: a processing device 11 (such as a sputtering device for manufacturing a magnetic disc) for repeating the same process for each cycle; a sampling unit 30 for collecting raw data on a processing condition in the processing device (such as a discharge condition); a calculation unit 100 for receiving the raw data, calculating the raw data according to a predetermined rule, and processing it as summary data expressing a characteristic point for each cycle (characteristic value: for example, average value, maximum value, minimum value, standard deviation, discharge time, and the like); a data storage unit 40 for storing the processed summary data in storage means; and a display/output unit 50 for chart-displaying the summary data stored in the storage means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Takumi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8846451
    Abstract: Methods for depositing metal in high aspect ratio features formed on a substrate are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method includes applying first RF power at VHF frequency to target comprising metal disposed above substrate to form plasma, applying DC power to target to direct plasma towards target, sputtering metal atoms from target using plasma while maintaining pressure in PVD chamber sufficient to ionize predominant portion of metal atoms, depositing first plurality of metal atoms on bottom surface of opening and on first surface of substrate, applying second RF power to redistribute at least some of first plurality from bottom surface to lower portion of sidewalls of the opening, and depositing second plurality of metal atoms on upper portion of sidewalls by reducing amount of ionized metal atoms in PVD chamber, wherein first and second pluralities form a first layer deposited on substantially all surfaces of opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Ritchie, Karl Brown, John Pipitone
  • Publication number: 20140262748
    Abstract: An apparatus for the pretreatment and/or for the coating of an article in a vacuum chamber having at least one cathode arranged therein having at least one HIPIMS power source and also having a device which generates a tunnel-like magnetic field in front of the surface of the cathode, is characterized in that the device is designed in order to generate the tunnel-like magnetic field in front of a portion of the surface of the cathode and in that the device is displaceable relative to the cathode to allow the magnetic field to act in front of at least one further portion of the surface of the cathode. The device can consist of permanent magnets, which are displaced relative to the cathode, or of magnetic field generating coils, which can be movably arranged or stationary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: IHI Hauzer Techno Coating B.V.
    Inventors: Roel Tietema, Frank Papa
  • Patent number: 8747631
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method utilizing double glow discharge for sputter cleaning of a selected surface. The surface may include the inner surface of a hollow substrate such as a tube which inner surface may then be coated via magnetron sputter deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Ronghua Wei, Edward Langa, Sabrina L. Lee
  • Patent number: 8741110
    Abstract: A method of forming a film, including the steps of preparing a base plate having a first region and a second region comprised of mutually different materials wherein at least one of the materials is an oxide and selectively conducting a film deposition on either one of the first region and the second region by a bias sputtering. Both the first and second regions can be formed of an oxide. Further, provided is a vapor film deposition method including irradiating a substrate having a plurality of regions of different constituent element groups composed of at least one element with a source material element group composed of at least one element to be deposited and ionized elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Yasui, Ryoko Horie, Toru Den
  • Patent number: 8728333
    Abstract: A three step ion beam etch (IBE) sequence involving low energy (<300 eV) is disclosed for trimming a sensor critical dimension (free layer width=FLW) to less than 50 nm. A first IBE step has a steep incident angle with respect to the sensor sidewall and accounts for 60% to 90% of the FLW reduction. The second IBE step has a shallow incident angle and a sweeping motion to remove residue from the first IBE step and further trim the sidewall. The third IBE step has a steep incident angle to remove damaged sidewall portions from the second step and accounts for 10% to 40% of the FLW reduction. As a result, FLW approaching 30 nm is realized while maintaining high MR ratio of over 60% and low RA of 1.2 ohm-?m2. Sidewall angle is manipulated by changing one or more ion beam incident angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hui-Chuan Wang, Tong Zhao, Min Zheng, Minghui Yu, Min Li, Cherng Chyi Han
  • Publication number: 20140102880
    Abstract: The invention relates to sputter targets and methods for depositing a layer from a sputter target. The method preferably includes the steps of: placing a sputter target in a vacuum chamber; placing a substrate having a substrate surface in the vacuum chamber; reducing the pressure in the vacuum chamber to about 100 Torr or less; removing atoms from the surface of the sputter target while the sputter target is in the vacuum chamber (e.g., using a magnetic field and/or an electric field). The deposited layer preferably is a molybdenum containing alloy including about 50 atomic percent or more molybdenum, 0.5 to 45 atomic percent of a second metal element selected from the group consisting of niobium and vanadium; and 0.5 to 45 atomic percent of a third metal element selected from the group consisting of tantalum, chromium, vanadium, niobium, and titanium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: H.C. STARCK, INC.
    Inventor: H.C. STARCK, INC.
  • Patent number: 8696875
    Abstract: A magnetron sputter reactor (410) and its method of use, in which SIP sputtering and ICP sputtering are promoted is disclosed. In another chamber (412) an array of auxiliary magnets positioned along sidewalls (414) of a magnetron sputter reactor on a side towards the wafer from the target is disclosed. The magnetron (436) preferably is a small one having a stronger outer pole (442) of a first polarity surrounding a weaker inner pole (440) of a second polarity all on a yoke (444) and rotates about the axis (438) of the chamber using rotation means (446, 448, 450). The auxiliary magnets (462) preferably have the first polarity to draw the unbalanced magnetic field (460) towards the wafer (424), which is on a pedestal (422) supplied with power (454). Argon (426) is supplied through a valve (428). The target (416) is supplied with power (434).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Peijun Ding, Rong Tao, Zheng Xu, Daniel C. Lubben, Suraj Rengarajan, Michael A. Miller, Arvind Sundarrajan, Xianmin Tang, John C. Forster, Jianming Fu, Roderick C. Mosely, Fusen Chen, Praburam Gopalraja
  • Patent number: 8673404
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a barrier film having the extremely high barrier property and the better transparency, a method for manufacturing the same, and a laminated material, a container for wrapping and an image displaying medium using the barrier film. According to the present invention, there is provided a barrier film provided with a barrier layer on at least one surface of a substrate film, wherein the barrier layer is a silicon oxide film having an atomic ratio in a range of Si:O:C=100:160 to 190:30 to 50, a peak position of infrared-ray absorption due to Si—O—Si stretching vibration between 1030 to 1060 cm?1, a film density in a range of 2.5 to 2.7 g/cm3, and a distance between grains of 30 nm or shorter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Minoru Komada
  • Publication number: 20140042013
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording medium includes a substrate, an auxiliary layer formed on the substrate, and at least one perpendicular magnetic recording layer formed on the auxiliary layer. The perpendicular magnetic recording layer includes a magnetic dot pattern. The perpendicular magnetic recording layer is made of an alloy material containing one element selected from iron and cobalt, and one element selected from platinum and palladium. This alloy material has the L10 structure, and is (001)-oriented. The auxiliary layer includes a dot-like first region covered with the magnetic dot pattern, and a second region not covered with the magnetic dot pattern. The first region is made of a (100)-oriented nickel oxide. The second region contains nickel used in the first region as a main component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Maeda, Yousuke Isowaki, Akira Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8512526
    Abstract: A plasma-enhanced physical vapor deposition method in which VHF power is applied to the sputter target in addition to a D.C. voltage that is also applied to the target, the VHF power level being 3.5 kW or greater, so that the D.C. target power may be reduced to less than 500 W while still attaining a very high ion fraction (in excess of 50%), permitting a very small workpiece-to-target spacing not exceeding a fraction (7/30) of the workpiece diameter to enhance the ionization fraction throughout the process region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl M. Brown, John Pipitone, Vineet Mehta
  • Patent number: 8449731
    Abstract: Local plasma density, e.g., the plasma density in the vicinity of the substrate, is increased by providing an ion extractor configured to transfer ions and electrons from a first region of magnetically confined plasma (typically a region of higher density plasma) to a second region of plasma (typically a region of lower density plasma). The second region of plasma is preferably also magnetically shaped or confined and resides between the first region of plasma and the substrate. A positively biased conductive member positioned proximate the second region of plasma serves as an ion extractor. A positive bias of about 50-300 V is applied to the ion extractor causing electrons and subsequently ions to be transferred from the first region of plasma to the vicinity of the substrate, thereby forming higher density plasma. Provided methods and apparatus are used for deposition and resputtering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Anshu A. Pradhan, Douglas B. Hayden, Ronald L. Kinder, Alexander Dulkin
  • Publication number: 20130092527
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing shielding which uses multiple vacuum sputtering methods to produce shielding on single IC chip. The method comprises the following steps: using covering fixtures to cover a plurality of IC chips and fixing these IC chips on a work support; vacuumizing the chamber to a pretreatment vacuum level; keeping pumping an ionizable gas into the chamber and performing ion bombardment on the material for IC packaging on the surface of these IC chips in order to produce carbon dangling bond connection layer on the material when the vacuum level of the chamber reaches the work vacuum level; performing multiple vacuum sputtering method to sequentially form a first coating layer, a second coating layer and a third coating layer on the carbon dangling bond connection layer; and breaking the vacuum status of the chamber and taking out the coated IC chips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: CHENMING MOLD IND. CORP.
    Inventors: Yau-Hung Chiou, Chao-Lun Liu, Shu-Hui Fan
  • Patent number: 8419905
    Abstract: A method for forming a diamond-like carbon (DLC) layer on air bearing surface (ABS) of a slider, comprises steps of: providing sliders arranged in arrays, each slider having an ABS; forming a mixing layer in the ABS of the slider by depositing a first DLC layer on the ABS, the mixing layer consisting of the slider material and the first DLC layer material; removing the first DLC layer to make the mixing layer exposed; forming a second DLC layer on the mixing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihiro Ueda, Hongxin Fang, Dong Wang
  • Patent number: 8277617
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for magnetron sputter coating of an interior surface of a hollow substrate defining at least one irregular contour. The apparatus may contain a vacuum chamber and a target containing one or more metals having an exterior surface defining at least one irregular contour. The exterior surface of the target may be configured to conform to at least a portion of an irregular contour of the interior surface of the hollow substrate to be coated. A magnet assembly may be supplied which may include a plurality of magnets where the magnets are positioned substantially within a metallic target alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Kuang-Tsan Kenneth Chiang, Ronghua Wei
  • Patent number: 8273222
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for depositing coatings on the surface of a workpiece with sputtering material in an ion plasma environment. The apparatus may include a magnetron including a core cooling system surrounded by a magnet assembly and target material having a surface capable of providing a source of sputtering material. An RF plasma generation assembly is also provided in the apparatus including an RF antenna capable of providing an RF plasma and drawing ions to one or both of the workpiece surface and target material surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Ronghua Wei, Sabrina L. Lee
  • Patent number: 8254067
    Abstract: As recording density of sensors is increased, it is desired to lower the areal resistivity (RA) of TMR sensors. Decreasing RA to 1.0 ??m2 or below badly influences the read signal since the interlayer coupling magnetic field (Hint) between the pinned layer and the free layer increases sharply and impedes the free rotation of magnetization of the free layer. According to one embodiment, a tunnel junction type magneto-resistive head solves this problem by having a layered film comprising an underlying layer, a crystalline orientation control layer, an antiferromagnetic layer, a first ferromagnetic layer, an antiparallel coupling layer, a second ferromagnetic layer, an insulation barrier layer, and a third ferromagnetic layer between a lower magnetic shield layer and an upper magnetic shield layer, wherein a crystallographic plane of the antiferromagnetic layer is directed parallel to a film surface by growing the antiferromagnetic layer substantially conformably on the crystalline orientation control layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Koichi Nishioka, Hiroaki Chihaya
  • Publication number: 20120118627
    Abstract: An electromagnetic shielding article includes a plastic substrate; an aluminum layer deposited on the plastic substrate; an electromagnetic shielding layer deposited on the aluminum layer; and a protection layer deposited on the electromagnetic shielding layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: HSIN-PEI CHANG, WEN-RONG CHEN, HUANN-WU CHIANG, CHENG-SHI CHEN, CHUANG MA
  • Patent number: 8066853
    Abstract: A method of forming an inorganic alignment film made substantially of an inorganic material on a base substrate is provided comprising a milling process of irradiating ion beams onto the surface of the base substrate, on which the inorganic alignment film is to be formed, from a direction inclined at a predetermined angle ?b with respect to a direction vertical to the surface, and a film-forming process of forming the inorganic alignment film on the base substrate onto which the ion beams are irradiated. In the milling process, the predetermined angle ?b is preferably 2° or more. In the milling process, an acceleration voltage of the ion beams during the irradiation of the ion beams is preferably 400 to 1400 V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hidenobu Ota, Yukihiro Endo, Osamu Iwamoto
  • Publication number: 20110180388
    Abstract: [Object] To provide a plasma processing method and a plasma processing apparatus having high coverage property and excellent in-plane uniformity. [Solving Means] When sputtered particles that are beat out from a target by plasma are deposited on a surface of a substrate, those sputtered particles are decomposed by the plasma to thus generate active species, and then deposited on the surface of the substrate. Accordingly, a deposition mode similar to plasma CVD is obtained, and sputtering deposition with high coverage property and excellent in-plane uniformity is enabled. Particularly, since a high-frequency electric field and a ring-shaped magnetic neutral line are used for a plasma source, it is possible to efficiently generate plasma that has extremely high density in a region in which a magnetic field is zero. That plasma realizes plasma processing with high in-plane uniformity by arbitrarily adjusting a formation position and a size of the magnetic neutral line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: ULVAC, INC.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Morikawa, Koukou Suu
  • Patent number: 7901545
    Abstract: An iPVD system is programmed to deposit uniform material, such as barrier material, into high aspect ratio nano-size features on semiconductor substrates using a process which enhances the sidewall coverage compared to the field and bottom coverage(s) while minimizing or eliminating overhang within a vacuum chamber. The iPVD system is operated at low target power and high pressure >50 mT to sputter material from the target. RF energy is coupled into the chamber to form a high density plasma. A small RF bias (less than a few volts) can be applied to aid in enhancing the coverage, especially at the bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Frank M. Cerio, Jr., Jacques Faguet, Bruce D. Gittleman, Rodney L. Robison
  • Publication number: 20110031107
    Abstract: The present invention provides the technology for burying metal even in a fine concave portion such as trench and via. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a vapor of the metal as the objective material, a gas containing halogen for etching the metal, and a metal halide vapor made up of the metal element and the halogen element are supplied to the substrate, which thus forms a metal halide layer in the concave portion, and thereby deposits the metal under the metal halide layer. The procedure can achieve the above object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicants: CANON ANELVA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Suguru NODA, Satoshi Takashima
  • Publication number: 20100279084
    Abstract: A superhydrophobic surface and method for forming same. In one embodiment, the method has the steps of preparing a surface of a substrate of a first material, modifying the surface through an etching process to generate a plurality of nucleation sites, and depositing a source material of a second material on the modified surface by using glancing angle deposition to form a plurality of nano-rods corresponding to the plurality of nucleation sites.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
    Inventors: Alexandru S. Biris, Ganesh K. Kannarpady