IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,528,207
Granted Patent B2
US 12,528,207 · App. 18/079,755 · Granted Jan 20, 2026

Carrier with rotation prevention feature

Inventors: Damon K. Cox (Jarrell, TX); Manjunatha Gondihosalli (Bangalore, IN); Karuppasamy Muthukamatchi (Karnataka, IN)
Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
B25J19/0004B25J15/08B25J11/0095
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,528,207
App. No.
18/079,755
Granted
Jan 20, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A carrier includes a carrier body, fingers attached to the carrier body, and a rotation prevention component attached to the carrier body. The fingers are configured to support a process kit ring. The rotation prevention component is configured to be disposed proximate a flat inner surface of the process kit ring to prevent rotation of the process kit ring.

Claims (46)

1 . A carrier comprising:

a carrier body;

a plurality of fingers attached to the carrier body, wherein the plurality of fingers are configured to support a process kit ring; and

a rotation prevention component comprising:

an attachment portion fastened to the carrier body;

a first protrusion that extends past a perimeter of the carrier body proximate a first side of a flat inner surface of the process kit ring; and

a second protrusion that extends past the perimeter of the carrier body proximate a second side of the flat inner surface of the process kit ring, wherein the rotation prevention component is configured to be disposed proximate the flat inner surface of the process kit ring to prevent rotation of the process kit ring.

2 . The carrier of claim 1 , wherein:

the first protrusion is configured to be disposed proximate a first portion of a curved inner surface of the process kit ring on the first side of the flat inner surface; and

the second protrusion configured to be disposed proximate a second portion of the curved inner surface of the process kit ring on the second side of the flat inner surface.

3 . The carrier of claim 1 , wherein the rotation prevention component comprises:

an outer surface configured to be disposed proximate a curved inner surface of the process kit ring; and

a lower surface configured to be disposed under the process kit ring to block light between the curved inner surface and the outer surface.

4 . The carrier of claim 1 , wherein the rotation prevention component comprises a lower surface forming a recess configured to interface with a protrusion on an upper surface of the carrier body.

5 . The carrier of claim 1 , wherein an upper surface of the carrier body forms one or more protrusions disposed proximate a corresponding outer surface of the rotation prevention component to prevent rotation of the rotation prevention component relative to the carrier body.

6 . The carrier of claim 1 , wherein the rotation prevention component maintains alignment between one or more of:

the process kit ring and the carrier within about plus or minus 2.5 degrees; or

the process kit ring and a processing chamber within about plus or minus 0.6 degrees.

7 . The carrier of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fingers are configured to align the process kit ring horizontally relative to the carrier body.

8 . The carrier of claim 1 , wherein the rotation prevention component comprises a thermoplastic.

9 . The carrier of claim 1 , wherein the rotation prevention component comprises polybenzimidazole (PBI) fiber.

10 . The carrier of claim 1 , wherein the rotation prevention component is configured to be disposed proximate the flat inner surface of the process kit ring without blocking the flat inner surface.

11 . A rotation prevention component of a carrier, the rotation prevention component comprising:

an attachment portion forming a plurality of openings, wherein the attachment portion is configured to receive a corresponding fastener via each of the plurality of openings to attach the attachment portion to a carrier body of the carrier;

a plurality of protrusion portions extending from the attachment portion, the plurality of protrusion portions comprising:

a first protrusion that is configured to extend past a perimeter of the carrier body proximate a first side of a flat inner surface of a process kit ring; and

a second protrusion that extends past the perimeter of the carrier body proximate a second side of the flat inner surface of the process kit ring, wherein the plurality of protrusion portions are configured to be disposed proximate the flat inner surface of the process kit ring disposed on the carrier to prevent rotation of the process kit ring.

12 . The rotation prevention component of claim 11 , wherein;

the first protrusion is configured to be disposed proximate a first portion of a curved inner surface of the process kit ring on the first side of the flat inner surface; and

the second protrusion configured to be disposed proximate a second portion of the curved inner surface of the process kit ring on the second side of the flat inner surface.

13 . The rotation prevention component of claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of protrusion portions comprises:

an outer surface configured to be disposed proximate a curved inner surface of the process kit ring; and

a lower surface configured to be disposed under the process kit ring to block light between the curved inner surface and the outer surface.

14 . The rotation prevention component of claim 11 , wherein the rotation prevention component comprises a lower surface forming a recess configured to interface with a protrusion on an upper surface of the carrier body.

15 . The rotation prevention component of claim 11 , wherein the rotation prevention component maintains alignment between one or more of:

the process kit ring and the carrier within about plus or minus 2.5 degrees; or

the process kit ring and a processing chamber within about plus or minus 0.6 degrees.

16 . The rotation prevention component of claim 11 , wherein the rotation prevention component comprises a thermoplastic.

17 . The rotation prevention component of claim 11 , wherein the rotation prevention component comprises polybenzimidazole (PBI) fiber.

18 . The rotation prevention component of claim 11 , wherein the rotation prevention component is configured to be disposed proximate the flat inner surface of the process kit ring without blocking the flat inner surface.

19 . A carrier comprising:

a plurality of fingers configured to support a process kit ring; and

a rotation prevention component configured to prevent rotation of the process kit ring, the rotation prevention component comprising:

a first protrusion that extends past a perimeter of a carrier body of the carrier and is configured to be disposed proximate a first portion of a curved inner surface of the process kit ring on a first side of a flat inner surface of the process kit ring; and

a second protrusion that extends past the perimeter of the carrier body and is configured to be disposed proximate a second portion of the curved inner surface of the process kit ring on a second side of the flat inner surface.

20 . The carrier of claim 19 , wherein at least one of the rotation prevention component or the plurality of fingers are integral to the carrier body of the carrier.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 11, 2023
From: COX, DAMON K.; GONDIHOSALLI, MANJUNATHA; MUTHUKAMATCHI, KARUPPASAMY
To: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
Reel/Frame 063279/0781 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240190026A1 · Jun 13, 2024
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