公开(公告)号：US11728124B2

公开(公告)日：2023-08-15

申请号：US17377639

申请日：2021-07-16

Applicant: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.

Inventor： Leonid Dorf ,  Travis Koh ,  Olivier Luere ,  Olivier Joubert ,  Philip A. Kraus ,  Rajinder Dhindsa ,  James Rogers

IPC: H01J37/08 ,  H01J37/248 ,  H01J37/32

CPC classification number: H01J37/08 ,  H01J37/248 ,  H01J37/32577 ,  H01J37/32706 ,  H01J37/32715

Abstract: Systems and methods for creating arbitrarily-shaped ion energy distribution functions using shaped-pulse-bias. In an embodiment, a method includes applying a positive jump voltage to an electrode of a process chamber to neutralize a wafer surface, applying a negative jump voltage to the electrode to set a wafer voltage, and modulating the amplitude of the wafer voltage to produce a predetermined number of pulses to determine an ion energy distribution function. In another embodiment a method includes applying a positive jump voltage to an electrode of a process chamber to neutralize a wafer surface, applying a negative jump voltage to the electrode to set a wafer voltage, and applying a ramp voltage to the electrode that overcompensates for ion current on the wafer or applying a ramp voltage to the electrode that undercompensates for ion current on the wafer.

公开(公告)号：US11626281B2

公开(公告)日：2023-04-11

申请号：US17025373

申请日：2020-09-18

Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.

Inventor： Hanhong Chen ,  Philip A. Kraus ,  Joseph AuBuchon

IPC: H01L21/02 ,  C23C16/34 ,  C23C16/455

Abstract: A method of depositing nitride films is disclosed. Some embodiments of the disclosure provide a PEALD process for depositing nitride films which utilizes separate reaction and nitridation plasmas. In some embodiments, the nitride films have improved growth per cycle (GPC) relative to films deposited by thermal processes or plasma processes with only a single plasma exposure. In some embodiments, the nitride films have improved film quality relative to films deposited by thermal processes or plasma processes with only a single plasma exposure.

公开(公告)号：US20220389571A1

公开(公告)日：2022-12-08

申请号：US17825229

申请日：2022-05-26

Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.

Inventor： Joseph AuBuchon ,  Philip A. Kraus ,  Thai Cheng Chua ,  James Canducci ,  Hanhong Chen ,  Zhejun Zhang ,  Hao Zhang ,  Xiankai Yu

IPC: C23C16/34 ,  C23C16/455 ,  C23C16/04 ,  H01L21/02 ,  H01J37/32 ,  H01L21/3065 ,  H01L21/311

Abstract: Methods for filling a substrate feature with a seamless dielectric gap fill are described. Methods comprise sequentially depositing a film with a seam and partially etching the film in the same processing chamber. Methods and apparatus allow for the same hardware to be used for PEALD deposition of a film as well as plasma etch of the film.

公开(公告)号：US20210210312A1

公开(公告)日：2021-07-08

申请号：US17137296

申请日：2020-12-29

Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.

Inventor： Anantha K. Subramani ,  Farzad Houshmand ,  Philip A. Kraus ,  Abhishek Chowdhury ,  John C. Forster ,  Kallol Bera

IPC: H01J37/32 ,  H01L21/67 ,  C23C16/455 ,  C23C16/50

Abstract: Plasma source assemblies comprising a housing with an RF hot electrode having a body and a plurality of source electrodes extending vertically from the RF hot electrode toward the opening in a front face of the housing are described. Processing chambers incorporating the plasma source assemblies and methods of using the plasma source assemblies are also described.

公开(公告)号：US10121655B2

公开(公告)日：2018-11-06

申请号：US15353315

申请日：2016-11-16

Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.

Inventor： Anantha K. Subramani ,  Kaushal Gangakhedkar ,  Abhishek Chowdhury ,  John C. Forster ,  Nattaworn Nuntaworanuch ,  Kallol Bera ,  Philip A. Kraus ,  Farzad Houshmand

IPC: H01L21/687 ,  H01L21/02 ,  H01L21/285 ,  C23C16/455 ,  H01J37/32

Abstract: Plasma source assemblies comprising a housing with an RF hot electrode and a return electrode are described. The housing includes a gas inlet and a front face defining a flow path. The RF hot electrode includes a first surface oriented substantially parallel to the flow path. The return electrode includes a first surface oriented substantially parallel to the flow path and spaced from the first surface of the RF hot electrode to form a gap. Processing chambers incorporating the plasma source assemblies and methods of using the plasma source assemblies are also described.

公开(公告)号：US20240120210A1

公开(公告)日：2024-04-11

申请号：US17963687

申请日：2022-10-11

Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.

Inventor： Mikhail Korolik ,  Paul E. Gee ,  Wei Ying Doreen Yong ,  Tuck Foong Koh ,  John Sudijono ,  Philip A. Kraus ,  Thai Cheng Chua

IPC: H01L21/3213 ,  H01L21/02 ,  H01L21/3065

CPC classification number: H01L21/32136 ,  H01L21/02219 ,  H01L21/02274 ,  H01L21/3065

Abstract: Exemplary methods of etching a silicon-containing material may include flowing a first fluorine-containing precursor into a remote plasma region of a semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include flowing a sulfur-containing precursor into the remote plasma region of the semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include forming a plasma within the remote plasma region to generate plasma effluents of the first fluorine-containing precursor and the sulfur-containing precursor. The methods may include flowing the plasma effluents into a processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber. A substrate may be positioned within the processing region. The substrate may include a trench formed through stacked layers including alternating layers of silicon nitride and silicon oxide. The methods may include isotropically etching the layers of silicon nitride while substantially maintaining the silicon oxide.

公开(公告)号：US11776805B2

公开(公告)日：2023-10-03

申请号：US17197475

申请日：2021-03-10

Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.

Inventor： Bencherki Mebarki ,  Joung Joo Lee ,  Yi Xu ,  Yu Lei ,  Xianmin Tang ,  Kelvin Chan ,  Alexander Jansen ,  Philip A. Kraus

IPC: H01L21/02 ,  H01L21/30

CPC classification number: H01L21/0206 ,  H01L21/02068 ,  H01L21/3003

Abstract: Method for selectively oxidizing the dielectric surface of a substrate surface comprising a dielectric surface and a metal surface are discussed. Method for cleaning a substrate surface comprising a dielectric surface and a metal surface are also discussed. The disclosed methods oxidize the dielectric surface and/or clean the substrate surface using a plasma generated from hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. The disclosed method may be performed in a single step without the use of separate competing oxidation and reduction reactions. The disclosed methods may be performed at a constant temperature and/or within a single processing chamber.

公开(公告)号：US11315769B2

公开(公告)日：2022-04-26

申请号：US17150702

申请日：2021-01-15

Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.

Inventor： Kallol Bera ,  Anantha K. Subramani ,  John C. Forster ,  Philip A. Kraus ,  Farzad Houshmand ,  Hanhong Chen

IPC: H01J37/32 ,  H01L21/687 ,  H01L21/02 ,  C23C16/50 ,  C23C16/455 ,  H01L21/67 ,  C23C16/34 ,  C23C16/509 ,  C23C16/40 ,  C23C16/458 ,  C23C16/44

Abstract: Plasma source assemblies comprising an RF hot electrode having a body and at least one return electrode spaced from the RF hot electrode to provide a gap in which a plasma can be formed. An RF feed is connected to the RF hot electrode at a distance from the inner peripheral end of the RF hot electrode that is less than or equal to about 25% of the length of the RF hot electrode.

公开(公告)号：US20210378119A1

公开(公告)日：2021-12-02

申请号：US16890013

申请日：2020-06-02

Applicant: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.

Inventor： Phillip A. Criminale ,  Zhiqiang Guo ,  Philip A. Kraus ,  Andrew Myles ,  Martin Perez-Guzman

IPC: H05K5/06 ,  H05K1/18 ,  H05K7/14 ,  H05K5/03

Abstract: A diagnostic disc includes a disc-shaped body having raised walls that encircle the interior of the disc-shaped body and at least one protrusion extending outwardly from the disc-shaped body. The raised walls of the disc-shaped body define a cavity of the disc-shaped body. A non-contact sensor is attached to each of the at least one protrusion. A a printed circuit board (PCB) is positioned within the cavity formed on the disc-shaped body. A vacuum and high temperature tolerant power source is disposed on the PCB along with a wireless charger and circuitry that is coupled to each non-contact sensor and includes at least a wireless communication circuit and a memory. A cover is positioned over the cavity of the disc-shaped body and shields at least a portion of the PCB, circuitry, power source, and wireless charger within the cavity from an external environment.

公开(公告)号：US20210366722A1

公开(公告)日：2021-11-25

申请号：US16881145

申请日：2020-05-22

Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.

Inventor： Yu Lei ,  Xuesong Lu ,  Tae Hong Ha ,  Xianmin Tang ,  Andrew Nguyen ,  Tza-Jing Gung ,  Philip A. Kraus ,  Chung Nang Liu ,  Hui Sun ,  Yufei Hu

IPC: H01L21/311 ,  H01L21/02 ,  H01J37/32 ,  H01L21/683 ,  H01L21/3105 ,  H01L21/67 ,  H01L21/8234

Abstract: Described is a process to clean up junction interfaces for fabricating semiconductor devices involving forming low-resistance electrical connections between vertically separated regions. An etch can be performed to remove silicon oxide on silicon surface at the bottom of a recessed feature. Described are methods and apparatus for etching up the bottom oxide of a hole or trench while minimizing the effects to the underlying epitaxial layer and to the dielectric layers on the field and the corners of metal gate structures. The method for etching features involves a reaction chamber equipped with a combination of capacitively coupled plasma and inductive coupled plasma. CHxFy gases and plasma are used to form protection layer, which enables the selectively etching of bottom silicon dioxide by NH3—NF3 plasma. Ideally, silicon oxide on EPI is removed to ensure low-resistance electric contact while the epitaxial layer and field/corner dielectric layers are—etched only minimally or not at all.