IP Library Granted Patent US 12,509,772
Granted Patent B2
US 12,509,772 · App. 18/008,325 · Granted Dec 30, 2025

Split showerhead cooling plate

Inventors: Andrew Borth (Newberg, OR); Sean M. Donnelly (Portland, OR)
Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
C23C16/45572C23C16/45565C23C16/4557H01J37/3244
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,509,772
App. No.
18/008,325
Granted
Dec 30, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cooling assembly includes a first subassembly and a second subassembly. The first subassembly is coupled to a showerhead of a substrate processing system. The first subassembly including a plurality of passages proximate to and in thermal communication with the showerhead. The second subassembly is removably coupled to the first subassembly. The second subassembly includes a plurality of protrusions that align with the plurality of passages, respectively.

Claims (60)

1 . A cooling assembly comprising:

a first subassembly coupled to a showerhead of a substrate processing system, the first subassembly comprising a plurality of passages proximate to and in thermal communication with the showerhead; and

a second subassembly removably coupled to the first subassembly, the second subassembly comprising a plurality of protrusions that align with the plurality of passages, respectively.

2 . The cooling assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the first subassembly is hollow and cylindrical in shape having an inner diameter;

the second subassembly is solid and cylindrical in shape having an outer diameter that is less than the inner diameter; and

the second subassembly is inserted into the first subassembly.

3 . The cooling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of passages surround the plurality of protrusions without contacting the plurality of protrusions, respectively.

4 . The cooling assembly of claim 1 wherein the plurality of passages and the plurality of protrusions extend radially from center regions of the first and second subassemblies, respectively.

5 . The cooling assembly of claim 1 wherein the second subassembly comprises an inlet to receive a fluid that flows through the plurality of passages and an outlet to discharge the fluid from the plurality of passages.

6 . The cooling assembly of claim 5 wherein the first and second subassemblies are made of a first material, the cooling assembly further comprising:

an electrically conducting element that is made of a second material having a higher electron affinity than the first material and that is removably disposed in the second subassembly to be in fluid communication with the fluid.

7 . The cooling assembly of claim 1 wherein:

each passage of the plurality of passages has a first width and a first depth; and

each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions has a second width and a second height that are respectively less than the first width and the first depth.

8 . The cooling assembly of claim 1 wherein the plurality of passages and the plurality of protrusions have symmetrical shapes.

9 . The cooling assembly of claim 1 wherein the plurality of passages and the plurality of protrusions have asymmetrical shapes.

10 . The cooling assembly of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of seals that seal points of contact between the plurality of protrusions and the plurality of passages, respectively.

11 . The cooling assembly of claim 1 wherein the first subassembly comprises a tubular structure that extends vertically through a center of the first subassembly, that has a first end coupled to a first inlet to receive a process gas, and that has a second end to output the process gas to the showerhead.

12 . The cooling assembly of claim 11 wherein the second subassembly comprises a manifold that surrounds the tubular structure, that is connected to a second inlet to receive a coolant, and that has outlets in fluid communication with the plurality of passages.

13 . The cooling assembly of claim 1 wherein the second subassembly comprises an inlet to receive a purge gas and an outlet to output the purge gas to the showerhead.

14 . The cooling assembly of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of fasteners that fasten the second subassembly to the first subassembly.

15 . The cooling assembly of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of fasteners that extend through bores in the first and second subassemblies and that fasten the cooling assembly to the showerhead.

16 . A cooling assembly coupled to a showerhead of a substrate processing system, the cooling assembly comprising:

a first subassembly comprising:

a first annular flange;

a first cylindrical wall extending from the first annular flange to a first base portion enclosing a distal end of the first cylindrical wall, wherein the first base portion is attached to the showerhead of the substrate processing system; and

a plurality of passages that are arranged on a first side of the first base portion facing the first annular flange and that extend radially from a first center region of the first base portion towards an outer diameter of the first base portion; and

a second subassembly comprising:

a second annular flange coupled to the first annular flange;

a second cylindrical wall, that extends from the second annular flange to a second base portion and that encloses a distal end of the second cylindrical wall, wherein the first cylindrical wall surrounds the second cylindrical wall; and

a plurality of protrusions that are arranged on a second side of the second base portion facing away from the second annular flange, that extend radially from a second center region of the second base portion towards an outer diameter of the second base portion, and that are aligned with the plurality of passages, respectively.

17 . The cooling assembly of claim 16 wherein:

the first subassembly is made of a first material and further comprises a tubular structure extending perpendicularly from the first center region of the first base portion towards the first annular flange;

the second subassembly is made of the first material and further comprises:

a first inlet to receive a coolant;

a cylindrical manifold that surrounds the tubular structure, that is connected to the first inlet, and that has outlets in fluid communication with the plurality of passages; and

an outlet to discharge the coolant from the plurality of passages; and

wherein the cooling assembly further comprises an electrically conducting element that is made of a second material having a higher electron affinity than the first material and that is removably disposed in the second subassembly to be in fluid communication with the coolant.

18 . An assembly comprising:

a first subassembly comprising:

a first annular flange;

a first cylindrical wall extending from the first annular flange to a first base portion enclosing a distal end of the first cylindrical wall; and

a plurality of passages that are arranged on a first side of the first base portion facing the first annular flange and that extend radially from a first center region of the first base portion towards an outer diameter of the first base portion; and

a second subassembly comprising:

a second annular flange coupled to the first annular flange;

a second cylindrical wall, that extends from the second annular flange to a second base portion and that encloses a distal end of the second cylindrical wall, wherein the first cylindrical wall surrounds the second cylindrical wall; and

a plurality of protrusions that are arranged on a second side of the second base portion facing away from the second annular flange, that extend radially from a second center region of the second base portion towards an outer diameter of the second base portion, and that are aligned with the plurality of passages, respectively.

19 . The assembly of claim 18 wherein:

the first subassembly further comprises a tubular structure extending perpendicularly from the first center region of the first base portion towards the first annular flange; and

the second subassembly further comprises:

an inlet to receive a fluid;

a cylindrical manifold that surrounds the tubular structure, that is connected to the inlet, and that has outlets in fluid communication with the plurality of passages; and

an outlet to discharge the fluid from the plurality of passages.

20 . A system comprising:

the assembly of claim 19 ;

an object coupled to a second side of the first base portion that is opposite to the first side of the first base portion;

a plurality of fasteners that traverse through the assembly and that fasten the object to the second side of the first base portion; and

a fluid supply to supply the fluid to the inlet of the second subassembly,

wherein the fluid includes a coolant to cool the object or a hot fluid to heat the object.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 6, 2022
From: BORTH, ANDREW; DONNELLY, SEAN M.
To: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 061999/0026 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63037176 · Jun 10, 2020
Related Publication 20230203658A1 · Jun 29, 2023
References Cited (30)
US 6079356A · Umotoy et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 8282770B2 · Handa · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8480849B2 · Handa · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8758551B2 · Handa · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 10714315B2 · White · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20060042754A1 · Yoshida et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20070215580A1 · Koshishi et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20140103145A1 · White et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20180142352A1 · Shah · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20190066985A1 · Hirose · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20220243331A1 · Savandaiah · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 20220282377A1 · Luo · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 20230203658A1 · Borth · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20240417854A1 · Gomm · 2024 [cited by examiner]
CN 101824606A · 2010 [cited by applicant]
CN 102230165A · 2011 [cited by applicant]
CN 106558517A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
JP 2002503765A · 2002 [cited by applicant]
JP 2006066855A · 2006 [cited by applicant]
JP 2007227789A · 2007 [cited by applicant]
JP 2008001923A · 2008 [cited by applicant]
JP 2008227064A · 2008 [cited by applicant]
TW 201334062A · 2013 [cited by applicant]
TW 201421575A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
TW 201944522A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2019241018A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2021042116A1 · 2021 [cited by examiner]
International Search Report and Written Opinion of the ISA issued in PCT/US2021/030039, mailed Aug. 27, 2021; ISA/KR. [cited by applicant]
Japanese Office Action for Japanese Application No. 2022-575894 dated Dec. 3, 2024. [cited by applicant]
Taiwanese Office Action and Search Report for Taiwanese Application No. 110120540 issued Feb. 27, 2025. [cited by applicant]