Patents by Inventor George Sacco

George Sacco has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240098869
    Abstract: An ion source includes a vaporizer, an arc chamber, and a heat shield. The vaporizer includes a crucible containing an aluminum-containing material and a heater that heats the crucible. The crucible has a gas inlet and a vapor outlet. The arc chamber generates a plasma inside of the arc chamber. The vapor outlet outputs vapor into the arc chamber through a wall of the arc chamber, and the heat shield is provided between the vaporizer and the wall of the arc chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: NISSIN ION EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: George SACCO, Michael CROVO, Sami K. HAHTO
  • Publication number: 20230326702
    Abstract: A vaporizer includes a crucible in which an aluminum-containing solid material is placed, and a heater. The crucible includes a chlorine containing gas inlet and a vapor outlet. The heater heats the crucible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2022
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: NISSIN ION EQUIPMENT CO., LTD
    Inventors: Sami K. Hahto, George Sacco
  • Patent number: 11017974
    Abstract: An ion source is provided that includes a gas source for supplying a gas, and an ionization chamber defining a longitudinal axis extending therethrough and including an exit aperture along a side wall of the ionization chamber. The ion source also includes one or more extraction electrodes at the exit aperture of the ionization chamber for extracting ions from the ionization chamber in the form of an ion beam. At least one of the extraction electrodes comprises a set of discrete rods forming a plurality of slits in the at least one extraction electrode for enabling at least one of increasing a current of the ion beam or controlling an angle of extraction of the ion beam from the ionization chamber. Each rod in the set of discrete rods is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ionization chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Nissin Ion Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sami K. Hahto, George Sacco
  • Publication number: 20200294819
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for cooling a substrate. The apparatus includes a chamber configured to receive the substrate. The chamber comprises multiple sidewall sections surrounding the substrate and oriented in a vertical direction substantially parallel to a vertical side surface of the substrate. The apparatus also includes at least one gas inlet port on a first side wall section of the chamber. The gas inlet port is configured to introduce a cooling gas into the chamber in a lateral direction parallel to top and bottom surfaces of the substrate. The apparatus further includes at least one gas outlet port on a second side wall section of the chamber located substantially opposite of the first side wall section of the chamber with the substrate disposed therebetween. The gas outlet port is configured to conduct at least a portion of the cooling gas out of the chamber along the lateral direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Sami K. Hahto, George Sacco, Matthew C. Farrell, Dean Giolas
  • Patent number: 10153134
    Abstract: A plasma generation system is provided that includes an elongated plasma chamber having a first elongated side wall substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis extending through the plasma chamber and a gas delivery device for delivering a gas to the plasma chamber via the first elongated side wall. The gas delivery device includes at least one input port for receiving a source of the gas and a plurality of output ports for delivering portions of the gas to the plasma chamber. The gas delivery device also includes a network of gas delivery paths comprising at least one branch point between the at least one input port and the plurality of output ports. The at least one branch point is directly connected to (i) an input node and (ii) at least two output nodes that are positioned offset from the branch point along the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Nissin Ion Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sami K. Hahto, George Sacco, Matthew C. Farrell
  • Publication number: 20180138007
    Abstract: An ion implanter is provided that includes an ion source configured to generate an ion beam and an analyzer magnet defining a chamber having a magnetic field therein. The chamber provides a curved path between a first end and a second end of the chamber. The ion source is disposed within the chamber of the analyzer magnet adjacent to the first end. The analyzer magnet is configured to bend the ion beam from the ion source within the chamber along the curved path to spatially separate one or more ion species in the ion beam while the ion source is immersed in the magnetic field of the analyzer magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Sami K. Hahto, George Sacco
  • Publication number: 20180138008
    Abstract: An ion source is provided that includes a gas source for supplying a gas, and an ionization chamber defining a longitudinal axis extending therethrough and including an exit aperture along a side wall of the ionization chamber. The ion source also includes one or more extraction electrodes at the exit aperture of the ionization chamber for extracting ions from the ionization chamber in the form of an ion beam. At least one of the extraction electrodes comprises a set of discrete rods forming a plurality of slits in the at least one extraction electrode for enabling at least one of increasing a current of the ion beam or controlling an angle of extraction of the ion beam from the ionization chamber. Each rod in the set of discrete rods is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ionization chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Sami K. Hahto, George Sacco
  • Publication number: 20120064705
    Abstract: Vapor delivery systems and methods that control the heating and flow of vapors from solid feed material, especially material that comprises cluster molecules for semiconductor manufacture. The systems and methods safely and effectively conduct the vapor to a point of utilization, especially to an ion source for ion implantation. Ion beam implantation is shown employing ions from the cluster materials. The vapor delivery system includes reactive gas cleaning of the ion source, control systems and protocols, wide dynamic range flow-control systems and vaporizer selections that are efficient and safe. Borane, decarborane, carboranes, carbon clusters and other large molecules are vaporized for ion implantation. Such systems are shown cooperating with novel vaporizers, ion sources, and reactive cleaning systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: SemEquip, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas N. Horsky, Douglas R. Adams, Dror Oved, George Sacco, David J. Hartnett
  • Publication number: 20070241689
    Abstract: The service lifetime of an ion source is enhanced or prolonged by the source having provisions for in-situ etch cleaning of the ion source and of an extraction electrode, using reactive halogen gases, and by having features that extend the service duration between cleanings. The latter include accurate vapor flow control, accurate focusing of the ion beam optics, and thermal control of the extraction electrode that prevents formation of deposits or prevents electrode destruction. An apparatus comprised of an ion source for generating dopant ions for semiconductor wafer processing is coupled to a remote plasma source which delivers F or Cl ions to the first ion source for the purpose of cleaning deposits in the first ion source and the extraction electrode. These methods and apparatus enable long equipment uptime when running condensable feed gases such as sublimated vapor sources, and are particularly applicable for use with so-called cold ion sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Inventors: Thomas Horsky, Robert Milgate, George Sacco, Dale Jacobson, Wade Krull
  • Publication number: 20070210260
    Abstract: The service lifetime of an ion source is enhanced or prolonged by the source having provisions for in-situ etch cleaning of the ion source and of an extraction electrode, using reactive halogen gases (F or Cl), and by having features that extend the service duration between cleanings. The latter include accurate vapor flow control, accurate focusing of the ion beam optics, and thermal control of the extraction electrode that prevents formation of deposits or prevents electrode destruction. An apparatus comprised of an ion source for generating dopant ions for semiconductor wafer processing is coupled to a remote plasma source which delivers F or Cl ions to the first ion source for the purpose of cleaning deposits in the first ion source and the extraction electrode. These methods and apparatus enable long equipment uptime when running condensable feed gases such as sublimated vapor sources, and are particularly applicable for use with so-called cold ion sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Inventors: Thomas Horsky, Robert Milgate III, George Sacco Jr., Dale Jacobson
  • Publication number: 20070176115
    Abstract: An ion implantation is disclosed that includes an ionization chamber having a restricted outlet aperture and configured so that the gas or vapor in the ionization chamber is at a pressure substantially higher than the pressure within an extraction region into which the ions are to be extracted external to the ionization chamber. The vapor is ionized by direct electron impact ionization by an electron source that is in a region adjacent the outlet aperture of the ionization chamber to produce ions from the molecules of the gas or vapor to a density of at least 1010 cm?3 at the aperture while maintaining conditions that limit the transverse kinetic energy of the ions to less than about 0.7 eV. The beam is transported to a target surface and the ions of the transported ion beam are implanted into the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Thomas Horsky, Brian Cohen, Wade Krull, George Sacco
  • Publication number: 20070176114
    Abstract: An ion implantation is disclosed that includes an ionization chamber having a restricted outlet aperture and configured so that the gas or vapor in the ionization chamber is at a pressure substantially higher than the pressure within an extraction region into which the ions are to be extracted external to the ionization chamber. The vapor is ionized by direct electron impact ionization by an electron source that is in a region adjacent the outlet aperture of the ionization chamber to produce ions from the molecules of the gas or vapor to a density of at least 1010 cm?3 at the aperture while maintaining conditions that limit the transverse kinetic energy of the ions to less than about 0.7 eV. The beam is transported to a target surface and the ions of the transported ion beam are implanted into the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Thomas Horsky, Brian Cohen, Wade Krull, George Sacco
  • Publication number: 20070108395
    Abstract: Thermal control is provided for an extraction electrode of an ion-beam producing system that prevents formation of deposits and unstable operation and enables use with ions produced from condensable vapors and with ion sources capable of cold and hot operation. Electrical heating of the extraction electrode is employed for extracting decaborane or octadecaborane ions. Active cooling during use with a hot ion source prevents electrode destruction, permitting the extraction electrode to be of heat-conductive and fluorine-resistant aluminum composition. The service lifetime of the system is enhanced by provisions for in-situ etch cleaning of the ion source and extraction electrode, using reactive halogen gases, and by having features that extend the service duration between cleanings, including accurate vapor flow control and accurate focusing of the ion beam optics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Inventors: Thomas Horsky, Robert Milgate, George Sacco, Dale Jacobson, Wade Krull
  • Publication number: 20060272775
    Abstract: Thermal control is provided for an extraction electrode of an ion-beam producing system that prevents formation of deposits and unstable operation and enables use with ions produced from condensable vapors and with ion sources capable of cold and hot operation. Electrical heating of the extraction electrode is employed for extracting decaborane or octadecaborane ions. Active cooling during use with a hot ion source prevents electrode destruction, permitting the extraction electrode to be of heat-conductive and fluorine-resistant aluminum composition. The service lifetime of the system is enhanced by provisions for in-situ etch cleaning of the ion source and extraction electrode, using reactive halogen gases, and by having features that extend the service duration between cleanings, including accurate vapor flow control and accurate focusing of the ion beam optics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Publication date: December 7, 2006
    Inventors: Thomas Horsky, Robert Milgate, George Sacco, Dale Jacobson, Wade Krull
  • Publication number: 20060272776
    Abstract: Thermal control is provided for an extraction electrode of an ion-beam producing system that prevents formation of deposits and unstable operation and enables use with ions produced from condensable vapors and with ion sources capable of cold and hot operation. Electrical heating of the extraction electrode is employed for extracting decaborane or octadecaborane ions. Active cooling during use with a hot ion source prevents electrode destruction, permitting the extraction electrode to be of heat-conductive and fluorine-resistant aluminum composition. The service lifetime of the system is enhanced by provisions for in-situ etch cleaning of the ion source and extraction electrode, using reactive halogen gases, and by having features that extend the service duration between cleanings, including accurate vapor flow control and accurate focusing of the ion beam optics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2006
    Publication date: December 7, 2006
    Inventors: Thomas Horsky, Robert Milgate, George Sacco, Dale Jacobson, Wade Krull
  • Publication number: 20060238133
    Abstract: An ion source is disclosed that includes an ionization chamber having a restricted outlet aperture and configured so that the gas or vapor in the ionization chamber is at a pressure substantially higher than the pressure within an extraction region into which the ions are to be extracted external to the ionization chamber. The vapor is ionized by direct electron impact ionization by an electron source that is in a region adjacent the outlet aperture of the ionization chamber to produce ions from the molecules of the gas or vapor to a density of at least 1010 cm?3 at the aperture while maintaining conditions that limit the transverse kinetic energy of the ions to less than about 0.7 eV. The beam is transported to a target sure and the ions of the transported ion beam are implanted into the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Inventors: Thomas Horsky, Brian Cohen, Wade Krull, George Sacco