PATENT CLAIM ANALYSIS

Application Number: 15940398
Application Type: Utility
Filing Date: 2018-03
Publication Date: 2018-08
Patent Classification: ["204", "298020"]

Abstract:
In some implementations described herein, a collimator that is biasable is provided. The ability to bias the collimator allows control of the electric field through which the sputter species pass. In some implementations of the present disclosure, a collimator that has a high effective aspect ratio while maintaining a low aspect ratio along the periphery of the collimator of the hexagonal array of the collimator is provided. In some implementations, a collimator with a steep entry edge in the hexagonal array is provided. It has been found that use of a steep entry edge in the collimator reduces deposition overhang and clogging of the cells of the hexagonal array. These various features lead to improve film uniformity and extend the life of the collimator and process kit.

Claim (Index 1):
A collimator assembly, comprising:\n a collimator portion, comprising:\n a honeycomb structure having walls defining and separating hexagonal apertures, wherein the hexagonal apertures include:\n a first plurality of hexagonal apertures in a central region having a first aspect ratio; \n a second plurality of hexagonal apertures in a peripheral region having a second aspect ratio less than the first aspect ratio; and \n a third plurality of hexagonal apertures in a transitional region disposed between the central region and the peripheral region, \n wherein the walls defining the third plurality of hexagonal apertures of the transitional region are cut along an angle to form a conical shape surrounding the central region, and \n wherein the conical shape is defined by a circular edge formed by the walls of the transitional region; and \n \n a shield portion coupled with the collimator, the shield portion comprising:\n a top ring; \n a support ledge below the top ring, the support ledge extending radially outward; and \n a cylindrical band extending downward from the support ledge to an elevation below the second plurality of hexagonal apertures, wherein the cylindrical band does not extend to an elevation below the first plurality of hexagonal apertures.

Metadata:
- Claim Count in Document: 50.0
- Percentile: 90.0
- Lexical Diversity: 2.0
- Patent Class: 204.0
- Transitional Phrase Type: open
- Component Type: 1
- Foreign Priority: False
- Related Applications: ['15277674', '14607273', '15293108', '15293091', '15293071']

Analysis Scores:
- 35 USC 101 Eligibility (BERT): 0.7711268764557141
- 35 USC 102 Novelty (BERT): 0.5854556381627961
- Combined Prediction Score: 0.7525597526264223
- Mean Citation Score: 284.110544
- Max Citation Score: 478.40677
- Similarity Product: 475.9327570426672

Labels:
- Claim Label 101: 1
- Claim Label 102: 1
- Claim Label 103: 0
- Claim Label 112: 1
- Combined Label: 1
- Label 101 Adjusted: 1

Dataset: test