Abstract: A terminal system for an ion implantation system has an ion source with a housing and extraction electrode assembly having one or more aperture plates. A gas box is electrically coupled to the ion source. A gas source is within the gas box to provide a gas at substantially the same electrical potential as the ion source assembly. A bleed gas conduit introduces the gas to a region internal to the housing of the ion source and upstream of at least one of the aperture plates. The bleed gas conduit has one or more feed-throughs extending through a body of the ion source assembly, such as a hole in a mounting flange of the ion source. The mounting flange may be a tubular portion having a channel. The bleed gas conduit can further have a gas distribution apparatus defined as a gas distribution ring. The gas distribution ring can generally encircle the tubular portion of the mounting flange.

Abstract: An ion implantation system and method provide a non-uniform flux of a ribbon ion beam. A spot ion beam is formed and provided to a scanner, and a scan waveform having a time-varying potential is applied to the scanner. The ion beam is scanned by the scanner across a scan path, generally defining a scanned ion beam comprised of a plurality of beamlets. The scanned beam is then passed through a corrector apparatus. The corrector apparatus is configured to direct the scanned ion beam toward a workpiece at a generally constant angle of incidence across the workpiece. The corrector apparatus further comprises a plurality of magnetic poles configured to provide a non-uniform flux profile of the scanned ion beam at the workpiece.

Abstract: A workpiece processing system and method provides an end effector coupled to a workpiece transfer apparatus. The end effector has support members for selectively contacting and supporting a workpiece. One or more temperature sensors are coupled to the support members and are configured to contact a backside of the workpiece to measure and define one or more measured temperatures of the workpiece. A heated chuck has a support surface at a predetermined temperature, and is configured to radiate heat from the support surface. A controller control the workpiece transfer apparatus to selectively support the workpiece at a predetermined distance from the support surface of the heated chuck to radiatively heat the workpiece, and to selectively transfer the workpiece from the end effector to the support surface of the heated chuck based, at least in part, on the one or more measured temperatures.

Abstract: A thermal chuck selectively retains a workpiece on a clamping surface. The thermal chuck has one or more heaters to selectively heat the clamping surface and the workpiece. A thermal monitoring device determines a temperature of a surface of the workpiece when the workpiece resides on the clamping surface, defining one or more measured temperatures. A controller selectively energizes the one or more heaters based on the one or more measured temperatures. The thermal monitoring device may be one or more of a thermocouple or RTD in selective contact with the surface of the workpiece and an emissivity sensor or pyrometer not in contact with the surface. The thermal chuck can be part of an ion implantation system configured to implant ions into the workpiece. The controller can be further configured to control the heaters based on the measured temperatures.

Abstract: A workpiece processing system and method comprises transferring a workpiece to a vacuum chamber. A heated chuck is configured to selectively clamp a workpiece to a clamping surface thereof, wherein the heated chuck is configured to selectively heat the clamping surface. A workpiece transfer apparatus has an end effector configured to transfer the workpiece to the heated chuck, wherein the workpiece rests on the end effector. A controller selectively position the workpiece with respect to the heated chuck via a control of the workpiece transfer apparatus, wherein the controller is configured to position the workpiece at a predetermined distance from the clamping surface, wherein the predetermined distance generally determines an amount of radiation received by the workpiece from the heated chuck, and wherein the controller is further configured to place the workpiece on the surface of the heated chuck via a control of the workpiece transfer apparatus.

Abstract: A terminal for an ion implantation system is provided, wherein the terminal has a terminal housing for supporting an ion source configured to form an ion beam. A gas box within the terminal housing has a hydrogen generator configured to produce hydrogen gas for the ion source. The gas box is electrically insulated from the terminal housing, and is further electrically coupled to the ion source. The ion source and gas box are electrically isolated from the terminal housing by a plurality of electrical insulators. A plurality of insulating standoffs electrically isolate the terminal housing from an earth ground. A terminal power supply electrically biases the terminal housing to a terminal potential with respect to the earth ground. An ion source power supply electrically biases the ion source to an ion source potential with respect to the terminal potential. Electrically conductive tubing electrically couples the gas box and ion source.

Abstract: An ion implantation apparatus, system, and method are provided for transferring a plurality of workpieces between vacuum and atmospheric pressures, wherein an alignment mechanism is operable to align a plurality of workpieces for generally simultaneous transportation to a dual-workpiece load lock chamber. The alignment mechanism comprises a characterization device, an elevator, and two vertically-aligned workpiece supports for supporting two workpieces. First and second atmospheric robots are configured to generally simultaneously transfer two workpieces at a time between load lock modules, the alignment mechanism, and a FOUP. Third and fourth vacuum robots are configured to transfer one workpiece at a time between the load lock modules and a process module.

Abstract: A workpiece alignment system is provided has a light emission apparatus that directs a light beam at a plurality of wavelengths along a path at a shallow angle toward a first side of a workpiece plane at a peripheral region. A light receiver apparatus, receives the light beam on a second side opposite the first side. A rotation device selectively rotates a workpiece support. According controller determines a position of the workpiece based on an amount of the light beam received through the workpiece when the workpiece intersects the path. A sensitivity of the light receiver apparatus is controlled based on a transmissivity of the workpiece. A position of the workpiece is determined when the workpiece is rotated based on the rotational position, an amount of the light beam received, the transmissivity of the workpiece, detection of a workpiece edge, and the controlled sensitivity of the light receiver apparatus.

Abstract: An ion implantation system is provided having an ion source configured to form an ion beam from aluminum iodide. A beamline assembly selectively transports the ion beam to an end station configured to accept the ion beam for implantation of aluminum ions into a workpiece. The ion source has a solid-state material source having aluminum iodide in a solid form. A solid source vaporizer vaporizes the aluminum iodide, defining gaseous aluminum iodide. An arc chamber forms a plasma from the gaseous aluminum iodide, where arc current from a power supply is configured to dissociate aluminum ions from the aluminum iodide. One or more extraction electrodes extract the ion beam from the arc chamber. A water vapor source further introduces water to react residual aluminum iodide to form hydroiodic acid, where the residual aluminum iodide and hydroiodic acid is evacuated from the system.

Abstract: A workpiece alignment system has a light emission apparatus to direct a beam of light toward a first side of a workpiece through a first polarizer apparatus. A light receiver apparatus positioned on a second side of the workpiece receives the beam of light through a second polarizer apparatus between the workpiece and the light receiver apparatus. A workpiece support supports the workpiece. A rotation device selectively supports and rotates the workpiece support about a support axis. A controller determines a position of the workpiece based on an amount of the beam of light received by the light receiver apparatus. The controller determines a position of the workpiece when the workpiece is supported and rotated based, at least in part, on a rotational position of the workpiece support and at least a portion of the beam of light received by the light receiver apparatus.

Abstract: A workpiece processing system has a chamber with one or more chamber walls defining surfaces enclosing a chamber volume. One or more chamber wall heaters selectively heat the chamber walls to a chamber wall temperature. A workpiece support within the chamber selectively supports a workpiece having one or more materials having a respective condensation temperature, above which, the one or more materials are respectively in a gaseous state. A heater apparatus selectively heats the workpiece to a predetermined temperature. A controller heats the workpiece to the predetermined temperature by controlling the heater apparatus, heating the one or more materials to respectively form one or more outgassed materials within the chamber volume.

Abstract: An ion implantation system including an ion source for use in creating an ion beam is disclosed. The ion source has an ion source arc chamber housing that confines a high density concentration of ions within the chamber housing. An extraction member defining an appropriately configured extraction aperture allows ions to exit the source arc chamber. In a preferred embodiment, the extraction member defines a tailored extraction aperture shape for modifying an ion beam profile and producing a substantially uniform beam current across a dimension of the ion beam. The extraction aperture member defines an aperture in the form of an elongated slit having a width that varies, with wide ends and a narrow middle. The midsection of the extraction aperture has a narrower width than the opposite end sections.

Abstract: An electrically conductive component is provided for a near-wafer environment of an ion implantation system, where the component has a carbon-based substrate having a microscopically textured surface overlying a macroscopically textured surface. The macroscopically textured surface is a mechanically, chemically, or otherwise roughened surface. The microscopically textured surface can be a converted surface formed by a chemical reaction forming a non-stoichiometric silicon and carbon surface. The one or more components can be a dose cup, exit aperture, and tunnel wall. The carbon-based substrate can be graphite. The microscopically textured surface can be a modified graphite surface. No defined interface layer exists between the microscopically textured surface and macroscopically textured surface. The carbon-based graphite is selected based on a final porosity and grain size of the graphite.

Abstract: An electrostatic clamp monitoring system has an electrostatic clamp configured to selectively electrostatically clamp a workpiece to a clamping surface associated therewith via one or more electrodes. A power supply is electrically coupled to the electrostatic clamp and configured to selectively supply a clamping voltage at a clamping frequency to the electrostatic clamp. A data acquisition system measures a current supplied to the one or more electrodes, and a controller integrates the measured current over time, therein determining a charge value associated a clamping force between the workpiece and electrostatic clamp. The controller is further configured to selectively vary one or more of the clamping voltage and clamping frequency based on the determined charge value, thereby maintaining a desired clamping force between the workpiece and electrostatic clamp.

Abstract: An insulator for an ion source is positioned between the apertured ground electrode and apertured suppression electrode. The insulator has an elongate body having a first end and a second end, where one or more features are defined in the elongate body and increase a gas conductance path along a surface of the elongate body from the first end to the second end. One or more of the features is an undercut extending generally axially or at a non-zero angle from an axis of the elongate body into the elongate body. One of the features can be a rib extending from a radius of the elongate body.

Abstract: An ion implantation system is provided having an ion source configured to form an ion beam from aluminum iodide. A beamline assembly selectively transports the ion beam to an end station configured to accept the ion beam for implantation of aluminum ions into a workpiece. An arc chamber forms a plasma from the aluminum iodide, where arc current from a power supply is configured to dissociate aluminum ions from the aluminum iodide. One or more extraction electrodes extract the ion beam from the arc chamber. A hydrogen co-gas source further introduces a hydrogen co-gas to react residual aluminum iodide and iodide, where the reacted residual aluminum iodide and iodide is evacuated from the system.

Abstract: An ion implantation system has an ion source configured form an ion beam and an angular energy filter (AEF) having an AEF region. A gas source passivates and/or etches a film residing on the AEF by a reaction of the film with a gas. The gas can be an oxidizing gas or a fluorine-containing gas. The gas source can selectively supply the gas to the AEF region concurrent with a formation of the ion beam. The AEF is heated to assist in the passivation and/or etching of the film by the gas. The heat can originate from the ion beam, and/or from an auxiliary heater associated with the AEF. A manifold distributor can be operably coupled to the gas source and configured to supply the gas to one or more AEF electrodes.

Abstract: A workpiece clamp has a base with first and second sides with a cam ring rotatably coupled to the first side. The cam ring has plurality of cam slots. An actuator selectively rotates the cam ring with respect to the base. A plurality of rotary clamps, have respective shafts, cam followers assemblies, and workpiece engagement members, where the shaft extends through the base from the first to second side and rotate about an axis. The shaft has individually rotatable first and second members. The cam follower assemblies couple first and second portions of the shaft, where a cam follower is radially offset from the shaft axis and configured to engage a respective cam slot. The workpiece engagement member has a gripper member that is radially offset from the shaft axis and is configured to engage a workpiece based on a position of the cam follower in the respective cam slots.

Abstract: An electrode system for an ion source has a source electrode that defines a source aperture in an ion source chamber, and is coupled to a source power supply. A first ground electrode defines a first ground aperture that is electrically coupled to an electrical ground potential and extracts ions from the ion source. A suppression electrode is positioned downstream of the first ground electrode and defines a suppression aperture that is electrically coupled to a suppression power supply. A second ground electrode is positioned downstream of the suppression electrode and defines a second ground aperture. The first and second ground electrodes are fixedly coupled to one another and are electrically coupled to the electrical ground potential.

Abstract: An ion implantation system and method provide a non-uniform flux of a ribbon ion beam. A spot ion beam is formed and provided to a scanner, and a scan waveform having a time-varying potential is applied to the scanner. The ion beam is scanned by the scanner across a scan path, generally defining a scanned ion beam comprised of a plurality of beamlets. The scanned beam is then passed through a corrector apparatus. The corrector apparatus is configured to direct the scanned ion beam toward a workpiece at a generally constant angle of incidence across the workpiece. The corrector apparatus further comprises a plurality of magnetic poles configured to provide a non-uniform flux profile of the scanned ion beam at the workpiece.