IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,191,118
Granted Patent B2
US 12,191,118 · App. 18/419,389 · Granted Jan 7, 2025

Monolithic modular microwave source with integrated process gas distribution

Inventors: James Carducci (Sunnyvale, CA); Richard C. Fovell (San Jose, CA); Larry D. Elizaga (Tracy, CA); Silverst Rodrigues (Bangalore, IN); Vladimir Knyazik (Santa Clara, CA); Philip Allan Kraus (San Jose, CA); Thai Cheng Chua (Cupertino, CA)
Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
H01J37/3244C23C16/45559C23C16/45561C23C16/511H01J2237/3321H01J2237/334H01J2237/335
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,191,118
App. No.
18/419,389
Granted
Jan 7, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein include a housing for a source array. In an embodiment, the housing comprises a conductive body, where the conductive body comprises a first surface and a second surface opposite from the first surface. In an embodiment a plurality of openings are formed through the conductive body and a channel is disposed into the second surface of the conductive body. In an embodiment, a cover is over the channel, and the cover comprises first holes that pass through a thickness of the cover. In an embodiment, the housing further comprises a second hole through a thickness of the conductive body. In an embodiment, the second hole intersects with the channel.

Claims (21)

1. A conductive plate configured to be used in a lid assembly of a microwave source, comprising: a electrically conductive body having a plurality of openings there through, each opening configured to receive a dielectric resonator; wherein the electrically conductive body comprises a first surface mateable with a lid plate and a second surface mateable with a showerhead to form the lid assembly; a plurality of gas distribution channels disposed into the second surface of the electrically conductive body; wherein each of the plurality of gas distribution channels extends from proximate an outer edge of the electrically conductive body toward an axial center of the electrically conductive body along straight and curved paths and includes: a cover, at least one first hole extending from a channel to the first surface, and a plurality of second holes extending through the cover.

2. The conductive plate of claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of gas channels encircles a corresponding one of the plurality of openings in the electrically conductive body.

3. The conductive plate of claim 2 , wherein a portion of the plurality of second holes extending through the cover are over the one of the plurality of gas channels that encircles the corresponding one of the plurality of openings in the electrically conductive body.

4. The conductive plate of claim 2 , wherein the one of the plurality of gas channels has a linear portion between the corresponding one of the plurality of openings and the axial center of the electrically conductive body.

5. The conductive plate of claim 4 , wherein a first portion of the plurality of second holes extending through the cover are over the one of the plurality of gas channels that encircles the corresponding one of the plurality of openings in the electrically conductive body, and wherein a second portion of the plurality of second holes extending through the cover are at an end of the linear portion proximate the axial center of the electrically conductive body.

6. The conductive plate of claim 4 , wherein a second one of the plurality of openings in the electrically conductive body is adjacent to a first side of the linear portion.

7. The conductive plate of claim 6 , wherein a third one of the plurality of openings in the electrically conductive body is adjacent to a second side of the linear portion, the second side opposite the first side.

8. The conductive plate of claim 1 , wherein the cover is welded to the electrically conductive body.

9. The conductive plate of claim 1 , wherein the cover is bolted to the electrically conductive body.

10. The conductive plate of claim 1 , wherein a diameter of each of the plurality of openings through the electrically conductive body is approximately 15 mm or greater.

11. A lid assembly for a microwave source configured to generate a plasma in a processing chamber, comprising: a electrically conductive body having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and an opening extending from the first surface to the second surface; a dielectric resonator arranged in the opening; a lid plate mated to the first surface;

a monopole antenna passing through the lid plate and extending into the dielectric resonator; a showerhead mated to the second surface and having a plurality of holes extending through the showerhead; a plurality of gas distribution channels disposed into the second surface of the electrically conductive body; wherein each of the plurality of gas distribution channels extends from proximate an outer edge of the electrically conductive body toward an axial center of the electrically conductive body along straight and curved paths and includes: a cover, at least one first hole extending from the gas distribution channel to the first surface and connectable to a gas line through a hole in the lid plate, and a plurality of second holes extending through the cover and substantially aligned with holes of the showerhead so that a gas introduced to the gas distribution channel is passed into the process chamber through the showerhead.

12. The lid assembly of claim 11 , wherein one of the plurality of gas channels encircles the opening in the electrically conductive body.

13. The lid assembly of claim 12 , wherein a portion of the plurality of second holes extending through the cover are under the one of the plurality of gas channels that encircles the opening in the electrically conductive body.

14. The lid assembly of claim 12 , wherein the one of the plurality of gas channels has a linear portion between the opening and the axial center of the electrically conductive body.

15. The lid assembly of claim 14 , wherein a first portion of the plurality of second holes extending through the cover are over the one of the plurality of gas channels that encircles the opening in the electrically conductive body, and wherein a second portion of the plurality of second holes extending through the cover are at an end of the linear portion proximate the axial center of the electrically conductive body.

16. The lid assembly of claim 14 , wherein the electrically conductive body comprises a second opening adjacent to a first side of the linear portion.

17. The lid assembly of claim 16 , wherein the electrically conductive body comprises a third opening adjacent to a second side of the linear portion, the second side opposite the first side.

18. The lid assembly of claim 11 , wherein the cover is welded to the electrically conductive body.

19. The lid assembly of claim 11 , wherein the cover is bolted to the electrically conductive body.

20. The lid assembly of claim 11 , wherein a diameter of each of the plurality of openings through the electrically conductive body is approximately 15 mm or greater.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 27, 2024
From: CARDUCCI, JAMES; FOVELL, RICHARD C.; ELIZAGA, LARRY D.; RODRIGUES, SILVERST; KNYAZIK, VLADIMIR; KRAUS, PHILIP ALLAN; CHUA, THAI CHENG
To: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
Reel/Frame 066580/0536 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16586482 · Sep 27, 2019
Related Publication 20240186118A1 · Jun 6, 2024
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