With Magnetic Or Electrostatic Means Patents (Class 279/128)
  • Patent number: 12080584
    Abstract: A chucking system reduces differences in chucking forces that are applied by two electrodes of an electrostatic chuck, to a substrate disposed atop the chuck. Initial chucking voltages are applied to each of two electrodes, and an initial current provided to at least a first electrode of the two electrodes is measured. A process is initiated that affects a DC voltage of the substrate, then a modified current provided to at least the first electrode is measured. A modified chucking voltage for a selected one of the two electrodes is determined that will reduce chucking force imbalance across the substrate based at least on the initial current and the modified current. The modified chucking voltage is then provided to the selected one of the two electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jian Li, Juan Carlos Rocha-Alvarez, Dmitry A. Dzilno
  • Patent number: 12070804
    Abstract: A mounting system includes a magnet core arranged for positioning inside a magnet coil. The magnet core includes a cylindrical, elongate receiving region with a central axis, a rapid-mounting mandrel arranged for insertion into the cylindrical, elongate receiving region, and a discoid workpiece driver, detachably fastened to the rapid-mounting mandrel and extending normal to the central axis. A one of the magnet core or the rapid-mounting mandrel includes a rapid-mounting device for mounting the rapid-mounting mandrel in the magnet core. Example embodiments may includes the rapid-mounting device integrated into the magnet core or integrated into the rapid-mounting mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Eckhard Ruschitzka, André Kuckuk
  • Patent number: 12074052
    Abstract: A body of an electrostatic chuck comprises mesas disposed on a polished surface of the body. Each of the mesas comprises an adhesion layer disposed on the polished surface of the body, a transition layer disposed over the adhesion layer, and a coating layer disposed over the transition layer. The coating layer has a hardness of at least 14 GPa. The body further comprises a sidewall coating disposed over a sidewall of the body. A method for preparing the body comprises polishing the surface of the body and cleaning the polished surface. The method further comprises depositing the mesas by depositing the adhesion layer on the body, the transition layer over the adhesion layer, and the coating layer over the transition layer. Further, the method includes, polishing the mesas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Wendell Glenn Boyd, Jr., Stanley Wu, Matthew Boyd
  • Patent number: 12057339
    Abstract: Exemplary support assemblies may include an electrostatic chuck body defining a support surface that defines a substrate seat. The assemblies may include a support stem coupled with the chuck body. The assemblies may include a heater embedded within the chuck body. The assemblies may include a first bipolar electrode embedded within the electrostatic chuck body between the heater and support surface. The assemblies may include a second bipolar electrode embedded within the chuck body between the heater and support surface. Peripheral edges of one or both of the first and second bipolar electrodes may extend beyond an outer periphery of the seat. The assemblies may include an RF power supply coupled with the first and second bipolar electrodes. The assemblies may include a first floating DC power supply coupled with the first bipolar electrode. The assemblies may include a second floating DC power supply coupled with the second bipolar electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jian Li, Dmitry A. Dzilno, Juan Carlos Rocha-Alvarez, Zheng J. Ye, Paul L. Brillhart
  • Patent number: 12046502
    Abstract: A method of constructing an E-puck includes forming at least one trench into a lower substrate, depositing an electrode material onto the lower substrate and into the at least one trench, removing excess electrode material from the lower substrate to leave the electrode material within the at least one trench to form an electrode, and forming a dielectric on the lower substrate and the electrode. The electrode is between the lower substrate and the upper substrate. Forming the at least one trench into the lower substrate forms at least one standoff portion adjacent to the at least one trench and the at least one standoff portion reduces dishing of the electrode material during removal of the excess electrode material from the lower substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Patrick Margavio, Kurt English, Kevin Ptasienski
  • Patent number: 12040216
    Abstract: A substrate supporting member capable of controlling the flow of charges on a substrate by controlling ground resistance values of a guide pin and a support pin using a variable resistor, and a substrate treating apparatus including the same are provided. The substrate supporting member includes the body; a support pin installed on the body and for supporting the substrate; a guide pin installed on the body and for supporting the substrate; and a charge control device for controlling a charge around the substrate by controlling an electrical connection between the support pin and a first resistor and an electrical connection between the guide pin and a second resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: SEMES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yong Hoon Hong, Kang Suk Lee, Hyeon Jun Lee, So Young Jang
  • Patent number: 12030153
    Abstract: A magnetic base for an electric power tool, in particular for a magnetic core drilling machine. The magnetic base having a base body that has a contact surface for contacting a workpiece to be machined, at least one first permanent magnet and at least one second permanent magnet arranged in the base body, the at least one and second permanent magnet having magnetic forces that interact to form a resulting holding force. The at least one first permanent magnet and the at least one second permanent magnet are supported in the base body and rotatable around its own rotation axis between a first position, in which the resulting holding force of the magnetic base is maximized, and a second position, in which the resulting holding force of the magnetic base is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: C. & E. FEIN GMBH
    Inventors: Ralf Seebauer, Ralf Gosnik
  • Patent number: 12020968
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a contact position of lift pins in a substrate placement mechanism is provided. The substrate placement mechanism includes a substrate placement table and a substrate lifting mechanism having lift pins and a driving mechanism, wherein the contact position of the lift pins is a height position where tip ends of the lift pins get in contact with the substrate. The method comprises creating torque waveforms, for a plurality of voltages, indicating temporal changes of a torque of the motor while moving the tip ends of the lift; obtaining from the plurality of torque waveforms a contact point when the lift pins get in contact with the substrate and calculating the contact position from the contact point and a speed of the motor; determining whether the contact position is within an appropriate range; and automatically adjusting the contact position when the contact position is not within the appropriate range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Takahiro Kawawa
  • Patent number: 12009245
    Abstract: A member for semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, includes: a ceramic plate having a wafer placement surface; a plug receiving hole formed in a surface of the ceramic plate opposite to the wafer placement surface; a gas outlet port extending through a bottom wall of the plug receiving hole; a plug received in the plug receiving hole; and a gas flow path disposed inside the plug to be continuous with the gas outlet port, wherein a stepped portion is disposed on a side surface of the plug or an inner surface of the plug receiving hole, the plug receiving hole and the plug are in contact with each other in an area deeper than the stepped portion, a gap is formed between the plug receiving hole and the plug in an area shallower than the stepped portion, and a plug support member made of an adhesive material is formed in the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Ishikawa, Yuji Akatsuka, Kenji Yonemoto
  • Patent number: 12009228
    Abstract: A wafer chuck assembly includes a puck, a shaft and a base. The puck includes an electrically insulating material that defines a top surface of the puck; a plurality of electrodes are embedded within the electrically insulating material. The puck also includes an inner puck element that forms one or more channels for a heat exchange fluid, the inner puck element being in thermal communication with the electrically insulating material, and an electrically conductive plate disposed proximate to the inner puck element. The shaft includes an electrically conductive shaft housing that is electrically coupled with the plate, and a plurality of connectors, including electrical connectors for the electrodes. The base includes an electrically conductive base housing that is electrically coupled with the shaft housing, and an electrically insulating terminal block disposed within the base housing, the plurality of connectors passing through the terminal block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Toan Q. Tran, Zilu Weng, Dmitry Lubomirsky, Satoru Kobayashi, Tae Seung Cho, Soonam Park, Son M. Phi, Shankar Venkataraman
  • Patent number: 12002702
    Abstract: Methods and systems of detection of wafer de-chucking in a semiconductor processing chamber are disclosed. Methods and systems of interdiction are also disclosed to prevent hardware and wafer damage during semiconductor fabrication if and when de-chucking is detected. In one embodiment, a de-chucking detection method is based on measuring change in imaginary impedance of a plasma circuit, along with measuring one or both of reflected RF power and arc count. In another embodiment, a possibility of imminent de-chucking is detected even before complete de-chucking occurs by analyzing the signature change in imaginary impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Ganesh Balasubramanian, Byung Chul Yoon, Hemant Mungekar
  • Patent number: 11990321
    Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure generally relate to an improved substrate support pedestal assembly. In one implementation, the substrate support pedestal assembly includes a shaft. The substrate support pedestal assembly further includes a substrate support pedestal, mechanically coupled to the shaft. The substrate support pedestal comprises substrate support plate coated on a top surface with a ceramic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Lara Hawrylchak, Chaitanya A. Prasad
  • Patent number: 11984343
    Abstract: Described are apparatus and methods for processing a semiconductor wafer so that the wafer remains in place during processing. The wafer is subjected to a pressure differential between the top surface and bottom surface so that sufficient force prevents the wafer from moving during processing, the pressure differential generated by applying a decreased pressure to the back side of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Yudovsky, Kaushal Gangakhedkar
  • Patent number: 11967517
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck for a substrate processing system includes a monolithic body made of ceramic. A plurality of first electrodes are arranged in the monolithic body adjacent to a top surface of the monolithic body and that are configured to selectively receive a chucking signal. A gas channel is formed in the monolithic body and is configured to supply back side gas to the top surface. Coolant channels are formed in the monolithic body and are configured to receive fluid to control a temperature of the monolithic body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Feng Wang, Keith Gaff, Christopher Kimball, Darrell Ehrlich
  • Patent number: 11961756
    Abstract: A susceptor can include a generally circular shape and may include an inner and outer susceptor. The outer susceptor can include a support region having one or more support mechanisms as well as a channel region extending from the region boundary to an outer radial boundary radially inward of an outer edge of the susceptor, the channel region can include a plurality of channels extending radially from the region boundary to the outer radial boundary. The inner susceptor can include a second plurality of channels extending from the inner radial boundary to an edge of the inner susceptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: ASM IP Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Uday Kiran Rokkam, Sam Kim, Saket Rathi, Dakai Bian
  • Patent number: 11955361
    Abstract: Electrostatic chucks (ESCs) for plasma processing chambers, and methods of fabricating ESCs, are described. In an example, a substrate support assembly includes a ceramic top plate having a top surface with a processing region. One or more electrodes is within the ceramic top plate. A plurality of mesas is within the processing region and on the top surface of the ceramic plate or vertically over an edge of one of the one or more electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Vijay D. Parkhe, Ashutosh Agarwal
  • Patent number: 11955360
    Abstract: A Johnsen-Rahbek force type electrostatic chuck including: a metal substrate; an electrode for electrostatic attraction provided on the metal substrate with an insulating layer interposed between the metal substrate and the electrode for electrostatic attraction; and a dielectric layer constituting an electrostatic attraction surface in contact with a workpiece. The dielectric layer includes a ceramic spray coating and a sealing component with which pores of the ceramic spray coating are filled, and the sealing component contains a metal organic salt containing a rare earth element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignees: TOCALO CO., Ltd., HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Takabatake, Tomohiro Nakasuji, Akira Itoh, Kentaro Seto, Yutaka Omoto, Hiroho Kitada, Kazuumi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11948826
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck is described that has radio frequency coupling suitable for use in high power plasma environments. In some examples, the chuck includes a base plate, a top plate, a first electrode in the top plate proximate the top surface of the top plate to electrostatically grip a workpiece, and a second electrode in the top plate spaced apart from the first electrode, the first and second electrodes being coupled to a power supply to electrostatically charge the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jaeyong Cho, Vijay D. Parkhe, Haitao Wang, Kartik Ramaswamy, Chunlei Zhang
  • Patent number: 11948780
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a system for pulsed direct-current (DC) biasing and clamping a substrate. In one embodiment, the system includes a plasma chamber having an electrostatic chuck (ESC) for supporting a substrate. An electrode is embedded in the ESC and is electrically coupled to a biasing and clamping network. The biasing and clamping network includes at least a shaped DC pulse voltage source and a clamping network. The clamping network includes a DC source and a diode, and a resistor. The shaped DC pulse voltage source and the clamping network are connected in parallel. The biasing and clamping network automatically maintains a substantially constant clamping voltage, which is a voltage drop across the electrode and the substrate when the substrate is biased with pulsed DC voltage, leading to improved clamping of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Linying Cui, James Rogers, Leonid Dorf
  • Patent number: 11942351
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck for a substrate processing system is provided and includes a baseplate, an intermediate layer disposed on the baseplate, and a top plate. The top plate is bonded to the baseplate via the intermediate layer and is configured to electrostatically clamp to a substrate. The top plate includes a monopolar clamping electrode and seals. The monopolar clamping electrode includes a groove opening pattern with coolant gas groove opening sets. The seals separate coolant gas zones. The coolant gas zones include four or more coolant gas zones. Each of the coolant gas zones includes distinct coolant gas groove sets. The top plate includes the distinct coolant gas groove sets. Each of the distinct coolant gas groove sets has one or more coolant gas supply holes and corresponds to a respective one of the coolant gas groove opening sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Matyushkin, Keith Laurence Comendant, John Patrick Holland
  • Patent number: 11923228
    Abstract: A stage to be disposed in a chamber of a plasma processing apparatus is provided. The stage includes a chuck with a mounting portion for a substrate and a first hole through the mounting portion. The stage includes a base disposed beneath the chuck, the base including a second hole through the base, and the second hole communicating with the first hole. The base includes a first cylindrical liner disposed in the second hole, the first cylindrical liner having a relative permittivity of 5 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Takehiro Ueda
  • Patent number: 11911863
    Abstract: An attachment and detachment device that excels in responsiveness to attachment and detachment of a workpiece even when the workpiece is thin while utilizing an electrostatic chuck method is provided. The attachment and detachment device that enables suction and separation of a workpiece includes a machinable ceramic layer, an adhesion activating layer provided on the machinable ceramic layer, an electrode layer provided on the adhesion activating layer, and a dielectric layer provided on the electrode layer, wherein the electrode layer is covered with the adhesion activating layer and the dielectric layer, and the dielectric layer has a volume resistivity of 109 to 1012 ?·cm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaru Ozawa
  • Patent number: 11909335
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck includes a base body having a placement surface on which a suction target object is placed, and an electrode embedded in the base body. The base body is provided with a groove that opens to the placement surface-side and does not reach the electrode. Aloes-resistance region made of ceramics and a high-resistance region made of ceramics having a volume resistivity higher than the low-resistance region are sequentially arranged from a side close to the groove between a bottom surface of the groove and the electrode, in a thickness direction of the base body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: SHINKO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Onuma, Keiichi Takemoto
  • Patent number: 11881794
    Abstract: An electrostatic adsorption member includes a dielectric member having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface and formed with a through-hole penetrating from the first surface to the second surface, and a porous body provided in the through-hole and having a third surface flush with the first surface. The through-hole has a first opening apart from the first surface by a first distance in a first direction perpendicular to the first surface, and a second opening apart from the first surface by a second distance larger than the first distance in the first direction. In a plan view from the first direction, at least a portion of the first opening is inside the second opening, and the porous body has a first portion located inside the first opening, and a second portion connected to the first portion and located outside the first opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: SHINKO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Naoyuki Koizumi, Akihiko Tateiwa
  • Patent number: 11875977
    Abstract: The plasma processing apparatus includes a chamber body, a stage, a gas supply mechanism, a DC power supply, a radio-frequency power supply, and a controller. The gas supply is configured to supply a heat transfer gas to the upper surface of the electrostatic chuck. The controller is configured to control the DC power supply. The controller controls the DC power supply to apply, to the electrostatic chuck, a voltage derived by combining an output of a first function that outputs a smaller value as the absolute value of a self-bias voltage generated according to the plasma becomes larger and an output of a second function that outputs a larger value as the pressure of the heat transfer gas supplied to the upper surface of the electrostatic chuck by the gas supply increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Chishio Koshimizu
  • Patent number: 11863089
    Abstract: Process chamber, high voltage measurement systems and methods for monitoring the output of a high voltage power supply are described. The output of the high voltage power supply is converted using a transducer and measured with high accuracy. A high voltage measurement system compares the converted value with a threshold criterion and actuates an interlock if readings are outside the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Prakash Ravanan
  • Patent number: 11837493
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck including a clamping layer having a first clamping electrode and a second clamping electrode is disclosed. A first clamping electrode defining a first clamping zone and a second clamping zone is provided. The first clamping zone and the second clamping zone are separated by a first gap and are electrically connected by at least one electrical connection extending across the first gap. A second clamping electrode disposed radially outward from the first clamping electrode. The second clamping electrode defining a third clamping zone and a fourth clamping zone that are separated by a second gap. The third clamping zone and the fourth clamping zone are electrically connected by at least one electrical connection extending across the second gap. Plasma processing apparatuses and systems incorporating the electrostatic chuck are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignees: Beijing E-Town Semiconductor Technology Co., Ltd., Mattson Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Maolin Long, Weimin Zeng
  • Patent number: 11837492
    Abstract: Described are electrostatic chucks designed for use in supporting a workpiece during a workpiece processing step, the electrostatic chuck including a gas flow system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: ENTEGRIS, INC.
    Inventors: Yan Liu, Jakub Rybczynski, Steven Donnell, Caleb Minsky, Chun Wang Chan
  • Patent number: 11830706
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a pedestal for increasing temperature uniformity in a substrate supported thereon. The pedestal comprises a body having a heater embedded therein. The body comprises a patterned surface that includes a first region having a first plurality of posts extending from a base surface of the body at a first height, and a second region surrounding the central region having a second plurality of posts extending from the base surface at a second height that is greater than the first height, wherein an upper surface of each of the first plurality of posts and the second plurality of posts are substantially coplanar and define a substrate receiving surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Venkata Sharat Chandra Parimi, Zubin Huang, Jian Li, Satish Radhakrishnan, Rui Cheng, Diwakar N. Kedlaya, Juan Carlos Rocha-Alvarez, Umesh M. Kelkar, Karthik Janakiraman, Sarah Michelle Bobek, Prashant Kumar Kulshreshtha, Vinay K. Prabhakar, Byung Seok Kwon
  • Patent number: 11830754
    Abstract: A method includes: positioning a wafer on an electrostatic chuck of an apparatus; and securing the wafer to the electrostatic chuck by: securing a first wafer region of the wafer to a first chuck region of the electrostatic chuck by applying a first voltage at a first time. The method further includes securing a second wafer region of the wafer to a second chuck region of the electrostatic chuck by applying a second voltage at a second time different from the first time; and processing the wafer by the apparatus while the wafer is secured to the electrostatic chuck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shang-Shiuan Deng, Fan-Chi Lin, Chueh-Chi Kuo, Li-Jui Chen, Heng-Hsin Liu
  • Patent number: 11823890
    Abstract: A multi-zone heater with a plurality of thermocouples such that different heater zones can be monitored for temperature independently. The independent thermocouples may have their leads routed out from the shaft of the heater in a channel that is closed with a joining process that results in hermetic seal adapted to withstand both the interior atmosphere of the shaft and the process chemicals in the process chamber. The thermocouple and its leads may be enclosed with a joining process in which a channel cover is brazed to the heater plate with aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Alfred Grant Elliot, Brent Donald Alfred Elliot, Frank Balma, Richard Erich Schuster, Dennis George Rex, Alexander Veytser
  • Patent number: 11817341
    Abstract: A semiconductor substrate processing apparatus includes a vacuum chamber having a processing zone in which a semiconductor substrate may be processed, a process gas source in fluid communication with the vacuum chamber for supplying a process gas into the vacuum chamber, a showerhead module through which process gas from the process gas source is supplied to the processing zone of the vacuum chamber, and a substrate pedestal module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventor: Troy Alan Gomm
  • Patent number: 11784067
    Abstract: A holding device includes a ceramic member and a base member joined together via a joining portion. When a second direction is perpendicular to a first direction and a third direction is perpendicular to the first and second directions, the joining portion includes a first joining part which extends through the joining portion in the second direction, as viewed in the first direction, and whose thickness in the first direction is uniform in an arbitrary cross section perpendicular to the second direction and in an arbitrary cross section perpendicular to the third direction, and at least one second joining part which is located between the first joining part and one end of the joining portion in the third direction and whose thickness in the first direction increases from the first joining part side toward the end of the joining portion in an arbitrary cross section perpendicular to the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: NITERRA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Kuribayashi, Masahiro Inoue, Toshimasa Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 11715661
    Abstract: A composite sintered body includes a base material (i.e., a main body) using ceramics as a main material and an electrode disposed inside the main body or on a surface thereof. The electrode contains WC and TiN. It is thereby possible to reduce the difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the electrode and the main body while suppressing an increase in the resistivity of the electrode. As a result, it is possible to suppress any damage such as a crack, a breakage, or the like of the main body, which is caused by the difference in the thermal expansion coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventor: Kyohei Atsuji
  • Patent number: 11715652
    Abstract: A member for a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus includes a ceramic plate having an upper surface serving as a wafer mounting surface and incorporating an electrode, a ceramic dense plug disposed adjacent to a lower surface side of the ceramic plate and ceramic-bonded to the ceramic plate by a ring-shaped joint portion, a metal cooling plate joined to the lower surface of the ceramic plate in a portion other than the ring-shaped joint portion, and a gas flow channel. The gas flow channel includes a gas discharge hole that passes completely through the ceramic plate in the thickness direction of the ceramic plate and an internal gas flow channel that passes from the upper surface to the lower surface of the dense plug while winding through the dense plug. The gas flow channel passes inside of an inner periphery of the joint portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Ishikawa, Yuji Akatsuka
  • Patent number: 11705357
    Abstract: Provided are an electrostatic chuck, which is manufactured to be reusable by removing a part of a dielectric layer except for a DC electrode and a heater electrode and depositing a new dielectric layer thereon, and a method for manufacturing the electrostatic chuck, and a substrate processing system including the electrostatic chuck. The method for manufacturing the electrostatic chuck includes, after using an electrostatic chuck, removing a portion of an upper part of a first dielectric layer of the electrostatic chuck where an electrode is not formed, depositing a second dielectric layer on the first dielectric layer from which the portion of the upper part has been removed, and patterning the second dielectric layer to enable reuse of the electrostatic chuck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Semes Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong Mok Lee, Sang Kee Lee
  • Patent number: 11705309
    Abstract: A temperature changing method includes changing a pressure of a gas supplied from a gas supply to a gap between the substrate and an electrostatic chuck from a first pressure to a second pressure being lower than the first pressure, changing a voltage applied to the electrostatic chuck from a first voltage to a second voltage being lower than the first voltage, changing a temperature of the electrostatic chuck from a first temperature to a second temperature, electrostatically attracting the substrate by the electrostatic chuck for a time in a state where the gas pressure is the second pressure and the voltage is the second voltage, changing the gas pressure from the second pressure to a third pressure being lower than the first pressure and higher than the second pressure, and changing the voltage from the second voltage to a third voltage being higher than the second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yasutaka Hama, Ryo Matsubara, Nobuaki Shindo
  • Patent number: 11670488
    Abstract: A method of detecting plasma asymmetry in a radio frequency plasma processing system, the method including providing a radio frequency power to a reaction chamber having an approximate chamber symmetry axis and receiving from a plurality of broadband electromagnetic sensors a radio frequency signal. The method also including processing the radio frequency signals using Fourier analysis and determining based on the Fourier analysis of the radio frequency signals that a plasma asymmetry has occurred within the reaction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: COMET TECHNOLOGIES USA, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen E. Savas, Alexandre De Chambrier
  • Patent number: 11664262
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck for a substrate processing system is provided and includes a baseplate, an intermediate layer disposed on the baseplate, and a top plate. The top plate is bonded to the baseplate via the intermediate layer and is configured to electrostatically clamp to a substrate. The top plate includes a monopolar clamping electrode and seals. The monopolar clamping electrode includes a groove opening pattern with coolant gas groove opening sets. The seals separate coolant gas zones. The coolant gas zones include four or more coolant gas zones. Each of the coolant gas zones includes distinct coolant gas groove sets. The top plate includes the distinct coolant gas groove sets. Each of the distinct coolant gas groove sets has one or more coolant gas supply holes and corresponds to a respective one of the coolant gas groove opening sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Matyushkin, Keith Laurence Comendant, John Patrick Holland
  • Patent number: 11664233
    Abstract: A sample releasing method for releasing a sample subjected to plasma processing from a sample stage on which the sample is electrostatically attracted by applying DC voltage to an electrostatic chuck electrode, and the method includes: moving the sample subjected to the plasma processing upward above the sample stage; and after moving the sample, controlling the DC voltage such that an electric potential of the sample is to be smaller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaki Ishiguro, Masahiro Sumiya, Shigeru Shirayone, Tomoyuki Tamura, Kazuyuki Ikenaga
  • Patent number: 11651937
    Abstract: The present invention resides in the unifying idea of synchronizing a positive voltage pulse supplied to an electrically conductive or ferromagnetic tube and a exciting negative voltage pulse on a hollow cathode induced on the background of a high-frequency capacitive discharge. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method of generating low-temperature plasma in a vacuum chamber comprising a hollow cathode and an electrode, the method comprising the step of igniting the pulsed DC discharge in the hollow cathode wherein the positive voltage pulse at least partially overlaps with the negative voltage pulse, and the positive voltage pulse at least partially overlaps with the negative voltage pulse on the hollow cathode. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of coating the inner walls of hollow tubes which utilizes the above-mentioned low-temperature plasma generation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: FYZIKALINI USTAV AV CR, V.V.I.
    Inventors: Zden{hacek over (e)}k Hubi{hacek over (c)}ka, Martin {hacek over (C)}ada, Petra K{hacek over (s)}írová, Miloslav Klinger
  • Patent number: 11640920
    Abstract: A sample holder according to the disclosure includes: an insulating base body in plate form; an electrically conducting member disposed on a lower face of the insulating base body; a lead pin joined to the electrically conducting member so as to extend downwardly from the insulating base body; a tubular member joined to the lower face of the insulating base body so as to surround the lead pin; a first member which is located in an interior of the tubular member and covers a junction between the electrically conducting member and the lead pin, the first member being in a gel form; and a second member which covers the first member and is filled in the interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Miki Hamada
  • Patent number: 11626818
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a stage on which a substrate is placed, wherein the stage includes a first plate, a first temperature adjustment mechanism configured to control a temperature of the first plate, a second plate provided below the first plate, a second temperature adjustment mechanism configured to control a temperature of the second plate, and a fastening member configured to fasten the first plate and the second plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Hideto Saito
  • Patent number: 11594440
    Abstract: A method reduces differences in chucking forces that are applied by two electrodes of an electrostatic chuck, to a substrate disposed atop the chuck. The method includes providing initial chucking voltages to each of the two electrodes, and measuring an initial current provided to at least a first electrode of the two electrodes. The method further includes initiating a process that affects a DC voltage of the substrate, then measuring a modified current provided to at least the first electrode, and determining, based at least on the initial current and the modified current, a modified chucking voltage for a selected one of the two electrodes, that will reduce chucking force imbalance across the substrate. The method also includes providing the modified chucking voltage to the selected one of the two electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jian Li, Juan Carlos Rocha-Alvarez, Dmitry A. Dzilno
  • Patent number: 11584994
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to pedestals, components thereof, and methods of using the same for substrate processing chambers. In one implementation, a pedestal for disposition in a substrate processing chamber includes a body. The body includes a support surface. The body also includes a stepped surface that protrudes upwards from the support surface. The stepped surface is disposed about the support surface to surround the support surface. The stepped surface defines an edge ring such that the edge ring is integrated with the pedestal to form the body that is monolithic. The pedestal also includes an electrode disposed in the body, and one or more heaters disposed in the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Sarah Michelle Bobek, Venkata Sharat Chandra Parimi, Prashant Kumar Kulshreshtha, Vinay K. Prabhakar, Kwangduk Douglas Lee, Sungwon Ha, Jian Li
  • Patent number: 11574833
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck fixes a substrate and includes a first area and a second area adjacent to the first area. The electrostatic chuck includes a first electrode portion disposed in the first area and a second electrode portion disposed in the second area. The first electrode portion has a first width, and the second electrode portion has a second width smaller than the first width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Juhee Lee, Cheollae Roh, Soo Beom Jo, Myungsoo Huh, Voronov Alexander, Jiwon Yeon, Haeyoung Yoo, Yongmun Chang
  • Patent number: 11551960
    Abstract: Embodiments of a plug for use in an electrostatic chuck are provided herein. In some embodiments, a plug for use in an electrostatic chuck includes a polymer sleeve having a central opening; and a core disposed in the central opening of the polymer sleeve, the core having a central protrusion and a peripheral ledge, wherein an outer surface of the core includes a helical channel extending from a lower surface of the core towards the peripheral ledge to at least partially define a gas flow path through the plug, and wherein the peripheral ledge is disposed between an upper surface of the polymer sleeve and the lower surface of the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Reyn T. Wakabayashi, Hamid Noorbakhsh, Anwar Husain
  • Patent number: 11552046
    Abstract: A method of transferring a micro device and an array of micro devices are disclosed. A carrier substrate carrying a micro device connected to a bonding layer is heated to a temperature below a liquidus temperature of the bonding layer, and a transfer head is heated to a temperature above the liquidus temperature of the bonding layer. Upon contacting the micro device with the transfer head, the heat from the transfer head transfers into the bonding layer to at least partially melt the bonding layer. A voltage applied to the transfer head creates a grip force which picks up the micro device from the carrier substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Bibi, John A. Higginson, Hung-Fai Stephen Law, Hsin-Hua Hu
  • Patent number: 11538669
    Abstract: An apparatus for a plasma processing includes an annular member, a support unit, a chamber and a pressure control unit. The annular member has a groove or a protrusion circumferentially formed on a bottom surface thereof, the groove or the protrusion having a first thread circumferentially formed on a side surface. The support unit has a protrusion or a groove circumferentially formed on a placing surface on which the annular member is placed such that the groove or the protrusion of the annular member is fitted with the protrusion or the groove of the support unit, the protrusion or the groove of the support unit having a second thread circumferentially formed on a side surface thereof. The chamber has therein the support unit. Further, the pressure control unit controls a pressure in the chamber such that a driving force for circumferentially rotating the annular member is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Toshifumi Ishida
  • Patent number: 11532497
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck is described that has radio frequency coupling suitable for use in high power plasma environments. In some examples, the chuck includes a base plate, a top plate, a first electrode in the top plate proximate the top surface of the top plate to electrostatically grip a workpiece, and a second electrode in the top plate spaced apart from the first electrode, the first and second electrodes being coupled to a power supply to electrostatically charge the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jaeyong Cho, Vijay D. Parkhe, Haitao Wang, Kartik Ramaswamy, Chunlei Zhang