Abstract: The time-averaged ion beam profile of an ion beam for implanting ions on a work piece may be smoothed to reduce noise, spikes, peaks, and the like and to improve dosage uniformity. Auxiliary magnetic field devices, such as electromagnets, may be located along an ion beam path and may be driven by periodic signals to generate a fluctuating magnetic field to smooth the ion beam profile (i.e., beam current density profile). The auxiliary magnetic field devices may be positioned outside the width and height of the ion beam, and may generate a non-uniform fluctuating magnetic field that may be strongest near the center of the ion beam where the highest concentration of ions may be positioned. The fluctuating magnetic field may cause the beam profile shape to change continuously, thereby averaging out noise over time.

Abstract: A single bend energy filter for controlling deflection of a charged particle beam is provided. It includes a first array of electrodes and a second array of electrodes to define a beam channel for the charged particle beam to pass through; an unmatched steering electrode among the first array of electrodes for tuning the bend angle of the charged particle beam; and a plurality of electrical biases applied to the first array of electrodes, the second array of electrodes and the unmatched steering electrode, wherein portion or all of the electrodes have different shapes. A method for controlling deflection of a charged particle beam is also provided. Depending on use of an unmatched steering electrode, the bend angle of the charged particle beam may be fine-tuned, so as to effectively control the deflection of the charged particle beam to achieve a centered beam at the wafer plane.

Abstract: A finFET is formed having a fin with a source region, a drain region, and a channel region between the source and drain regions. The fin is etched on a semiconductor wafer. A gate stack is formed having an insulating layer in direct contact with the channel region and a conductive gate material in direct contact with the insulating layer. The source and drain regions are etched leaving the channel region of the fin. Epitaxial semiconductor is grown on the sides of the channel region that were adjacent the source and drain regions to form a source epitaxy region and a drain epitaxy region. The source and drain epitaxy regions are doped in-situ while growing the epitaxial semiconductor.

Abstract: A chuck assembly has a wafer chuck attached to a shaft that has a passage defined therewithin. The chuck assembly also has a seal module that has a rotatable assembly and a fixed assembly. The rotatable assembly is disposed around and anchored to the shaft and has a spacer, a rotatable collar, a rotatable diaphragm, and a rotatable seal ring connected to the rotatable collar through the diaphragm with a leak-tight seal. The fixed assembly is disposed around the spacer and has a fixed collar and a fixed seal ring that is sealed to the fixed collar with a leak-tight seal. The fixed collar has a passage defined therewithin that has an opening that connects through the spacer to the passage defined within the shaft. The chuck assembly further includes a housing, to which the fixed assembly is fastened, that may be affixed to a base.

Abstract: In doping a non-planar semiconductor device, a substrate having a non-planar semiconductor body formed thereon is obtained. A first ion implant is performed in a region of the non-planar semiconductor body. The first ion implant has a first implant energy and a first implant angle. A second ion implant is performed in the same region of the non-planar semiconductor body. The second ion implant has a second implant energy and a second implant angle. The first implant energy may be different from the second implant energy. Additionally, the first implant angle may be different from the second implant angle.

Abstract: A gas mixture method and apparatus of prolonging lifetime of an ion source for generating an ion beam particularly an ion beam containing carbon is proposed here. By mixing the dopant gas and the minor gas together to generate an ion beam, undesired reaction between the gas species and the ion source can be mitigated and thus lifetime of the ion source can be prolonged. Accordingly, quality of ion beam can be maintained.

Abstract: A plasma-based material modification system for material modification of a work piece may include a plasma source chamber coupled to a process chamber. A support structure, configured to support the work piece, may be disposed within the process chamber. The plasma source chamber may include a first plurality of magnets, a second plurality of magnets, and a third plurality of magnets that surround a plasma generation region within the plasma source chamber. The plasma source chamber may be configured to generate a plasma having ions within the plasma generation region. The third plurality of magnets may be configured to confine a majority of electrons of the plasma having energy greater than 10 eV within the plasma generation region while allowing ions from the plasma to pass through the third plurality of magnets into the process chamber for material modification of the work piece.

Abstract: In a multi-energy ion implantation process, an ion implanting system having an ion source, an extraction assembly, and an electrode assembly is used to implant ions into a target. An ion beam having a first energy may be generated using the ion source and the extraction assembly. A first voltage may be applied across the electrode assembly. The ion beam may enter the electrode assembly at the first energy, exit the electrode assembly at a second energy, and implant ions into the target at the second energy. A second voltage may be applied across the electrode assembly. The ion beam may enter the electrode assembly at the first energy, exit the electrode assembly at a third energy, and implants ions into the target at the third energy. The third energy may be different from the second energy.

Abstract: A variable aperture within an aperture device is used to shape the ion beam before the substrate is implanted by shaped ion beam, especially to finally shape the ion beam in a position right in front of the substrate. Hence, different portions of a substrate, or different substrates, can be implanted respectively by different shaped ion beams without going through using multiple fixed apertures or retuning the ion beam each time. In other words, different implantations may be achieved respectively by customized ion beams without high cost (use multiple fixed aperture devices) and complex operation (retuning the ion beam each time). Moreover, the beam tune process for acquiring a specific ion beam to be implanted may be accelerated, to be faster than using multiple fixed aperture(s) and/or retuning the ion beam each time, because the adjustment of the variable aperture may be achieved simply by mechanical operation.

Abstract: A system and a method for moving a wafer during scanning the wafer by an ion beam. The proposed system includes an extendable/retractable arm, a holding apparatus and a driving apparatus. At least a length of the extendable/retractable arm is adjustable. The holding apparatus is capable of holding a wafer and is fixed on a specific portion of the extendable/retractable arm. Furthermore, the driving apparatus is capable of extending and/or retracting the extendable/retractable arm, such that the holding apparatus is moved together with the specific portion. In addition, the proposed method includes the following steps. First, hold the wafer by a holding apparatus fixed on a specific portion of an extendable/retractable arm. After that, adjust a length of the extendable/retractable. Therefore, the holding apparatus, i.e. the wafer, can be moved by the extension/retraction of the extendable/retractable arm.

Abstract: In plasma doping a non-planar semiconductor device, a substrate having a non-planar semiconductor body formed thereon is obtained. The substrate having the non-planar semiconductor body may be placed into a chamber. A plasma may be formed in the chamber and the plasma may contain dopant ions. A first bias voltage may be generated to implant dopant ions into a region of the non-planar semiconductor body. A second bias voltage may be generated to implant dopant ions into the same region. In one example, the first bias voltage and the second bias voltage may be different.

Abstract: A beam control assembly to shape a ribbon beam of ions for ion implantation includes a first bar, second bar, first coil of windings of electrical wire, second coil of windings of electrical wire, first electrical power supply, and second electrical power supply. The first coil is disposed on the first bar. The first coil is the only coil disposed on the first bar. The second bar is disposed opposite the first bar with a gap defined between the first and second bars. The ribbon beam travels between the gap. The second coil is disposed on the second bar. The second coil is the only coil disposed on the second bar. The first electrical power supply is connected to the first coil without being electrically connected to any other coil. The second electrical power supply is connected to the second coil without being electrically connected to any other coil.

Abstract: An ion implanter and an ion implant method are disclosed. Essentially, the wafer is moved along one direction and an aperture mechanism having an aperture is moved along another direction, so that the projected area of an ion beam filtered by the aperture is two-dimensionally scanned over the wafer. Thus, the required hardware and/or operation to move the wafer may be simplified. Further, when a ribbon ion beam is provided, the shape/size of the aperture may be similar to the size/shape of a traditional spot beam, so that a traditional two-dimensional scan may be achieved. Optionally, the ion beam path may be fixed without scanning the ion beam when the ion beam is to be implanted into the wafer, also the area of the aperture may be adjustable during a period of moving the aperture across the ion beam.

Abstract: An ion source uses at least one induction coil to generate ac magnetic field to couple rf/VHF power into a plasma within a vessel, where the excitation coil may be a single set of turns each turn having lobes or multiple separate sets of windings. The excitation coil is positioned outside and proximate that side of the vessel that is opposite to the extraction slit, and elongated parallel to the length dimension of the extraction slit. The conducting shield(s) positioned outside or integrated with the well of the vessel are used to block the capacitive coupling to the plasma and/or to collect any rf/VHF current may be coupled into the plasma. The conducting shield positioned between the vessel and the coil set can either shield the plasma from capacitive coupling from the excitation coils, or be tuned to have a higher rf/VHF voltage to ignite or clean the source.

Abstract: A finFET is formed having a fin with a source region, a drain region, and a channel region between the source and drain regions. The fin is etched on a semiconductor wafer. A gate stack is formed having an insulating layer in direct contact with the channel region and a conductive gate material in direct contact with the insulating layer. The source and drain regions are etched leaving the channel region of the fin. Epitaxial semiconductor is grown on the sides of the channel region that were adjacent the source and drain regions to form a source epitaxy region and a drain epitaxy region. The source and drain epitaxy regions are doped in-situ while growing the epitaxial semiconductor.

Abstract: A deceleration apparatus capable of decelerating a short spot beam or a tall ribbon beam is disclosed. In either case, effects tending to degrade the shape of the beam profile are controlled. Caps to shield the ion beam from external potentials are provided. Electrodes whose position and potentials are adjustable are provided, on opposite sides of the beam, to ensure that the shape of the decelerating and deflecting electric fields does not significantly deviate from the optimum shape, even in the presence of the significant space-charge of high current low-energy beams of heavy ions.

Abstract: A gas mixture method for generating an ion beam is provided here. By dynamically tuning the mixture ratio of the gas mixture, lifetime of the ion source of an ion implanter can be prolonged. Accordingly, quality of ion beam can be maintained and maintenance fee is reduced.

Abstract: A scan head assembled to a scan arm for an ion implanter and a scan arm using the same are provided, wherein the scan head is capable of micro tilting a work piece and comprises a case, a shaft assembly, an electrostatic chuck, a first driving mechanism and a micro-tilt mechanism. The shaft assembly passes through a first side of the case and has a twist axis. The electrostatic chuck is fastened on a first end of the shaft assembly outside the case for holding the work piece. The first driving mechanism is disposed within the case and capable of driving the shaft assembly and the ESC to rotate about the twist axis. The micro-tilt mechanism is disposed within the case and capable of driving the shaft assembly and the ESC to tilt relative to the case.

Abstract: Techniques for measuring ion beam current, especially for measuring low energy ion beam current, are disclosed. The technique may be realized as an ion beam current measurement apparatus having at least a planar Faraday cup and a voltage assembly. The planar Faraday cup is located close to an inner surface of a chamber wall, and intersects an ion beam path. The voltage assembly is located outside a chamber having the chamber wall. Therefore, by properly adjusting the electric voltage applied on the planar Faraday cup by the voltage assembly, some undesired charged particles may be adequately suppressed. Further, the planar Faraday cup may surround an opening of a non-planar Faraday cup which may be any conventional Faraday cup. Therefore, the whole ion beam may be received and measured well by the larger cross-section area of the planar Faraday cup on the ion beam path.

Abstract: A finFET is formed having a fin with a source region, a drain region, and a channel region between the source and drain regions. The fin is etched on a semiconductor wafer. A gate stack is formed having an insulating layer in direct contact with the channel region and a conductive gate material in direct contact with the insulating layer. The source and drain regions are etched to expose a first region of the fin. A portion of the first region is then doped with a dopant.