Patents Examined by David E Smith
  • Patent number: 11705303
    Abstract: Provided is a sample loading method of loading a cooled sample into a sample exchange chamber of a charged particle beam apparatus includes: attaching the sample container in which a sample and liquid nitrogen are accommodated to the sample exchange chamber via a gate valve; evacuating a space between a liquid surface of the liquid nitrogen and the gate valve in a state in which the gate valve is closed; discharging the liquid nitrogen in the sample container after the space between the liquid surface of the liquid nitrogen and the gate valve has been evacuated; evacuating a space in the sample container after the liquid nitrogen in the sample container has been discharged; and opening the gate valve after the space in the sample container has been evacuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: JEOL Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Naganuma, Naoki Fujimoto, Takeshi Kaneko
  • Patent number: 11699579
    Abstract: A mass spectrometer system (10) is provided in which the voltage controller (12) can have separate first and second high-voltage control circuits (34, 40) which are physically disconnected from and at different ground planes to one another. Communication between the first and second high-voltage control circuits (34, 40) is enabled via an interface circuit (30) and one or more wireless, preferably radio-frequency, communicators (38, 44, 46, 48).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: APPLIED SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS LTD
    Inventors: Andrew David Morse, Geraint Huw Morgan, Simon Sheridan
  • Patent number: 11696970
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods and instructions for disinfecting air. The apparatus may include, and the methods may involve, a fixture. The fixture may include a germicidal light source. The fixture may include a fan. The fan may circulate air through a volume into which the germicidal light source propagates germicidal light. The light source may be configured to emit, upward from a horizontal plane, a beam that, absent reflection off an environmental object, does not cross the horizontal plane. The apparatus may include a shield that prevents light from the light source from crossing the horizontal plane. The sensor may face upward from the horizontal plane. The sensor may face downward from the horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Wangs Alliance Corporation
    Inventors: Shelley S. Wald, Voravit Puvanakijjakorn, Rong Feng Yu, David Xin Wang, Li Changyong, Zhou Tingting
  • Patent number: 11699569
    Abstract: There is provided an ion implanter including a beamline unit that transports an ion beam, an implantation processing chamber in which an implantation process of irradiating a wafer with an ion beam is performed, an illumination device that performs irradiation with illumination light in a direction intersecting with a transport direction of the ion beam in at least one of the beamline unit and the implantation processing chamber, an imaging device that generates a captured image captured by imaging a space through which the illumination light passes, and a control device that detects a particle which scatters the illumination light, based on the captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES ION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Aki Ninomiya, Takanori Yagita, Takao Morita, Sayumi Hirose
  • Patent number: 11699565
    Abstract: An ion implantation system, ion source, and method are provided having a gaseous aluminum-based ion source material. The gaseous aluminum-based ion source material can be, or include, dimethylaluminum chloride (DMAC), where the DMAC is a liquid that transitions into vapor phase at room temperature. An ion source receives and ionizes the gaseous aluminum-based ion source material to form an ion beam. A low-pressure gas bottle supplies the DMAC as a gas to an arc chamber of the ion source by a primary gas line. A separate, secondary gas line supplies a co-gas, such as a fluorine-containing molecule, to the ion source, where the co-gas and DMAC reduce an energetic carbon cross-contamination and/or increase doubly charged aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil K. Colvin, Neil Bassom, Edward Moore
  • Patent number: 11699582
    Abstract: A coupling for connecting together vacuum-based analytical systems requiring to be vibrationally isolated, comprising: a tubular connector having a longitudinal axis, the connector comprising a first end for connection to a first analytical system and a flexible portion reducing transmission of vibrations and permitting displacement of the first analytical system in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the connector; and a seal longitudinally separated from the flexible portion, for vacuum sealing between the connector and a second analytical system; wherein the connector contains ion optics for transmitting ions between the first and second analytical systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignees: FEI Company, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Breman) GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Makarov, Wilko Balschun, Kyle Fort, Kun Liu
  • Patent number: 11699563
    Abstract: An ion implantation system, ion source, and method are provided, where an ion source is configured to ionize an aluminum-based ion source material and to form an ion beam and a by-product including a non-conducting material. An etchant gas mixture has a predetermined concentration of fluorine and a noble gas that is in fluid communication with the ion source. The predetermined concentration of fluorine is associated with a predetermined health safety level, such as approximately a 20% maximum concentration of fluorine. The etchant gas mixture can have a co-gas with a concentration less than approximately 5% of argon. The aluminum-based ion source material can be a ceramic member, such as a repeller shaft, a shield, or other member within the ion source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil K. Colvin, Neil Bassom, Xiao Xu
  • Patent number: 11694934
    Abstract: A method of milling a sample that includes a first layer formed over a second layer, where the first and second layers are different materials, the method comprising: milling the region of the sample by scanning a focused ion beam over the region a plurality of iterations in which, for each iteration, the focused ion beam removes material from the sample generating byproducts from the milled region; detecting, during the milling, the partial pressures of one or more byproducts with a residual gas analyzer positioned to have a direct line of sight to the milled region; generating, in real-time, an output detection signal from the residual gas analyzer indicative of an amount of the one or more byproducts detected; and stopping the milling based on the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials Israel Ltd.
    Inventor: Yehuda Zur
  • Patent number: 11692968
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising an ion selecting device; an individual ion counter device; and an interface device integral with the ion selecting device and downstream of an ion separating chamber of the ion selecting device. The interface device comprises a tagging particle generator and a tagging chamber. Sample gas containing ions of a selected mobility enters the tagging chamber from the ion selecting device and is exposed to uncharged neutral tagging particles from the tagging particle generator. The ions collide with the tagging particles to form a mixture of tagged ions and uncharged neutral tagging particles which is then separated in a tagged ions separator forming part of the individual ion counting device before the separated tagged ions are counted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: ANCON TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Boris Zachar Gorbunov, Michael Douglas Burton
  • Patent number: 11694875
    Abstract: A charged particle beam drawing device includes: a storage unit that stores a pattern generation program for generating pattern data, the pattern generation program being a program in which an instruction for specifying a type of a figure and an instruction for specifying a regular arrangement of the figure are described; an execution unit that executes the pattern generation program stored in the storage unit; and a control unit that performs drawing control based on the pattern data generated by the executed pattern generation program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: JEOL Ltd.
    Inventor: Masakazu Iwanaga
  • Patent number: 11688580
    Abstract: One modified source-conversion unit and one method to reduce the Coulomb Effect in a multi-beam apparatus are proposed. In the modified source-conversion unit, the aberration-compensation function is carried out after the image-forming function has changed each beamlet to be on-axis locally, and therefore avoids undesired aberrations due to the beamlet tilting/shifting. A Coulomb-effect-reduction means with plural Coulomb-effect-reduction openings is placed close to the single electron source of the apparatus and therefore the electrons not in use can be cut off as early as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Xuedong Liu, Weiming Ren, Shuai Li, Zhongwei Chen
  • Patent number: 11688598
    Abstract: A method of producing ions from a sample is disclosed. The method comprises directing a spray of droplets onto a sample, and causing droplets comprising analyte from the sample to impact upon a surface so as to generate analyte ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Micromass UK Limited
    Inventors: Emrys Jones, Steven Derek Pringle, Jeffery Mark Brown
  • Patent number: 11680963
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for examining a measuring tip of a scanning probe microscope, wherein the method includes the following steps: (a) generating at least one test structure before a sample is analyzed, or after said sample has been analyzed, by the measuring tip; and (b) examining the measuring tip with the aid of the at least one generated test structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Kinga Kornilov, Christof Baur, Markus Bauer
  • Patent number: 11676807
    Abstract: Presented herein are apparatuses for use in capillary separations. An apparatus includes a coupling that integrates a capillary with a voltage source, a sheath liquid system, a fluid exit port, and a manifold. The coupling may be an elbow connector or equivalent. The manifold receives incident light from an incident light input, and emitted light is collected by a collected light output. The capillary enters the manifold at an input for the capillary, traverses the coupling, and terminates at the fluid exit port, for example an electrospray emitter. The capillary may also enter the manifold at an input for the capillary and terminates inside the manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: GMJ Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Oluwatosin O. Dada
  • Patent number: 11676806
    Abstract: Integrated system for delivering sample to a mass spectrometer, which includes a chamber extending from a top to bottom end, an open port probe disposed in the chamber such that an open end of the probe, which is configured for receiving a sample, is positioned in proximity to top end of the chamber. The system can further include a solvent inlet port coupled to said chamber for receiving a solvent and directing said solvent to said probe, and a solvent outlet port for receiving a flow of the solvent from the open port probe and directing the received solvent out of the chamber. The system can also include an adapter for receiving a sample holder having an outlet port, the adapter is releasable and replaceable and couple with chamber to align the outlet port of sample holder with open end of probe for delivering sample to the probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: DH Technologies Development Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Don W. Arnold
  • Patent number: 11670495
    Abstract: A device includes a first surface, a second surface and a controller. The second surface is adjacent to the first surface. The first and the second surfaces define a first ion channel therebetween. The first ion channel extends along a first direction. The second surface includes a first plurality of electrodes including a first electrode and a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode along a second direction lateral to the first direction. The first plurality of electrodes extends along the first direction. The first electrode is configured to receive a first voltage signal and generate at least a portion of a pseudopotential that inhibits ions in the first ion channel from approaching the second surface. The second plurality of electrodes is located between the first electrode and the second electrode and arranged along the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: MOBILIon Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John Daniel DeBord, Gordon A. Anderson
  • Patent number: 11668719
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of identifying components present in a lipoprotein. Methods provided include single particle mass spectrometry, such as charge detection mass spectrometry (CDMS). Distinct subpopulations that exist within lipoprotein classes are determined by correlating m/z and mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: The Trustees Of Indiana University
    Inventors: Martin F. Jarrold, Corrine A. Lutomski
  • Patent number: 11670532
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling electrostatic clamping of multiple platens on a spinning disk is disclosed. The system comprises a semiconductor processing system, such as a high energy implantation system. The semiconductor processing system produces a spot ion beam, which is directed to a plurality of workpieces, which are disposed on a spinning disk. The spinning disk comprises a rotating central hub with a plurality of platens. The plurality of platens may extend outward from the central hub and workpieces are electrostatically clamped to the platens. The central hub provides the electrostatic clamping voltages to each of the plurality of platens. Further, the plurality of platens may also be capable of rotation about an axis orthogonal to the rotation axis of the central hub. The central hub controls the rotation of each of the platens. Power connections and communications are provided to the central hub via the spindle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Peitzsch, Robert Mitchell
  • Patent number: 11664193
    Abstract: A system and method for etching workpieces in a uniform manner are disclosed. The system includes a semiconductor processing system that generates a ribbon ion beam, and a workpiece holder that scans the workpiece through the ribbon ion beam. The workpiece holder includes a portion that extends beyond the workpiece, referred to as a halo. The halo may be independently heated to compensate for etch rate non-uniformities. In some embodiments, the halo may be independently biased such that its potential is different from the potential applied to the workpiece. In certain embodiments, the halo may be divided into a plurality of thermal zones that can be separately controlled. In this way, various etch rate non-uniformities may be addressed by controlling the potential and/or temperature of the various thermal zones of the halo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Anglin, Simon Ruffell, Kevin Verrier
  • Patent number: 11664209
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a multipole device includes the steps of: (a) forming an intermediate device by assembling a plurality of components including a plurality of precursor multipole electrodes, wherein the plurality of precursor multipole electrodes in the assembled device extend along and are distributed around a central axis; (b) forming a multipole device from the intermediate device by machining the precursor multipole electrodes within the intermediate device to provide a plurality of multipole electrodes having a predetermined spatial relationship; wherein a first component of the multipole device that includes a multipole electrode is attached non-permanently to a second component of the multipole device, the first component including a first alignment formation, and the second component including a second alignment portion configured to engage with the first alignment formation on the first component so as to facilitate alignment of the first component and the second component when the first com
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew Gill, Stephen Bloomfield, Richard Witter