Patents Assigned to Inficon, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20230215711
    Abstract: A method for detecting radicals in process gases in a semiconductor fabrication assembly is provided where the semiconductor fabrication includes a plasma source and a mass spectrometer with an ion source. The method includes separating ions from the process gases and determining a fixed electron energy in which to measure the process gases. Process gases in the semiconductor fabrication assembly are continuously sampled. A first measurement is performed on the sampled process gases at the electron energy using the mass spectrometer, where the first measurement is performed with the plasma source off. A second measurement of the sampled process gases is performed at the fixed electron energy using the mass spectrometer, where the second measurement is performed with the plasma source on. An amount of a radical present in the sampled process gases is determined as a difference between the second measurement and the first measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Applicant: INFICON, Inc.
    Inventor: Norbert Mueller
  • Patent number: 11658020
    Abstract: An ion source assembly for use in a mass spectrometer comprises a first anode defining a first ionization volume and a first electron source positioned proximate the first anode and configured to generate electrons that pass through the first anode and into the first ionization volume. The ions source assembly further includes a second anode defining a second ionization volume and a second electron source positioned proximate to the second anode and configured to generate to generate electrons that pass through the second anode and into the second ionization volume. At least one optical element is positioned proximate the first ionization volume and defines an aperture. The first and second anodes and the first and second ionization volumes are positioned along an ion optical axis of the mass spectrometer, and the first anode is positioned between the second anode and the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: INFICON, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael F. Vollero
  • Publication number: 20230135167
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a semiconductor process includes a plurality of sensors and a microcontroller. The plurality of sensors are disposed within a process chamber. The microcontroller receives data from the plurality of sensors and measures the uniformity of a semiconductor process based on the data received from the plurality of sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: INFICON. Inc.
    Inventors: Matan Lapidot, Mohamed Buhary Rinzan, Chunhua Song
  • Patent number: 11569079
    Abstract: A gas analyzer and a method for performing mass spectrometry analysis includes a membrane configured to receive an input flow of carrier gas. The membrane defines a variable thickness region between first and second positions along an input face of the membrane and separates the analyte sample into an output flow of analyte molecules. A mass spectrometer is disposed downstream of the membrane and includes an input orifice for receiving the output flow. The mass spectrometer is configured to perform a response profile analysis of the analyte molecules in the sample analyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: INFICON, Inc.
    Inventor: Shawn M. Briglin
  • Publication number: 20220285184
    Abstract: A monitoring device for monitoring a fabrication process in a fabrication system. The monitored fabrication system includes a process chamber and a plurality of flow components. A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensor monitors one flow component of the plurality of flow components of the fabrication system and is configured for exposure to a process chemistry in the one flow component during the fabrication process. A controller measures resonance frequency shifts of the QCM sensor due to interactions between the QCM sensor and the process chemistry in the one flow component during the fabrication process. The controller determines a parameter of the fabrication process in the process chamber as a function of the measured resonance frequency shifts of the QCM sensor within the one flow component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: INFICON, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamed Buhary Rinzan, Chunhua Song, Steve James Lakeman
  • Publication number: 20220165559
    Abstract: An ion source assembly for use in a mass spectrometer comprises a first anode defining a first ionization volume and a first electron source positioned proximate the first anode and configured to generate electrons that pass through the first anode and into the first ionization volume. The ions source assembly further includes a second anode defining a second ionization volume and a second electron source positioned proximate to the second anode and configured to generate to generate electrons that pass through the second anode and into the second ionization volume. At least one optical element is positioned proximate the first ionization volume and defines an aperture. The first and second anodes and the first and second ionization volumes are positioned along an ion optical axis of the mass spectrometer, and the first anode is positioned between the second anode and the aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Applicant: INFICON, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael F. Vollero
  • Patent number: 11335575
    Abstract: A monitoring device for monitoring a fabrication process in a fabrication system. The monitored fabrication system includes a process chamber and a plurality of flow components. A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensor monitors one flow component of the plurality of flow components of the fabrication system and is configured for exposure to a process chemistry in the one flow component during the fabrication process. A controller measures resonance frequency shifts of the QCM sensor due to interactions between the QCM sensor and the process chemistry in the one flow component during the fabrication process. The controller determines a parameter of the fabrication process in the process chamber as a function of the measured resonance frequency shifts of the QCM sensor within the one flow component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: INFICON, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamed Buhary Rinzan, Chunhua Song, Steve James Lakeman
  • Patent number: 11282687
    Abstract: Methods and systems for chemical analysis. For instance, a device for chemical analysis of a sample includes a housing, an inlet, a pump, multiple membranes and at least one detector. The housing contains an interior chamber of the device. The inlet on the housing introduces the sample into the interior chamber. The pump is connected to the housing to form a partial vacuum in the interior chamber. The multiple membranes have different response times to different constituents of the sample. The multiple membranes include at least a first membrane and a second membrane. The multiple membranes have different response times to different constituents of the sample. The detector is for detecting the different constituents of the sample after interaction with the multiple membranes. In addition, a method for chemical analysis of a sample. A first step includes introducing a sample to multiple membranes having different response times to different constituents of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: INFICON, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Wright, Jaime L. Winfield, Peter Santariello
  • Patent number: 11175323
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for process monitoring are presented. For instance, the device includes a crystal and a reactance sensor. The crystal is connected to a frequency measurement circuit. The reactance sensor is connected to the crystal. The reactance sensor is configured to detect a change in a process parameter. The frequency measurement circuit detects the change in the process parameter as a change in the frequency of the crystal. In another example, the system includes a reactance sensor and a measurement device. The reactance sensor is disposed in a process chamber, and has a variable reactance responsive to a change in a process parameter. The measurement device is disposed outside the process chamber and has a frequency measurement circuit. The frequency measurement circuit includes a crystal and is connected to the reactance sensor, and detects the change in the process parameter as a change in the frequency of the crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: INFICON, INC.
    Inventor: Mohamed Buhary Rinzan
  • Publication number: 20210319992
    Abstract: A gas analyzer and a method for performing mass spectrometry analysis includes a membrane configured to receive an input flow of carrier gas. The membrane defines a variable thickness region between first and second positions along an input face of the membrane and separates the analyte sample into an output flow of analyte molecules. A mass spectrometer is disposed downstream of the membrane and includes an input orifice for receiving the output flow. The mass spectrometer is configured to perform a response profile analysis of the analyte molecules in the sample analyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Applicant: INFICON, Inc.
    Inventor: Shawn M. Briglin
  • Patent number: 10985000
    Abstract: A system for analyzing an analyte is described herein. The system includes a chamber having an inlet and a semi-permeable membrane arranged to seal the inlet. The semi-permeable membrane includes a cross-linked mixture of a first compound and a second compound. The system can also include a radiation source arranged in the vacuum chamber, the radiation source spaced apart from the semi-permeable membrane and adapted to irradiate the semi-permeable membrane with electromagnetic radiation at a frequency at least partially absorbed by the semi-permeable membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: INFICON, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Charles Wright, Guido F. Verbeck, IV
  • Publication number: 20200381234
    Abstract: Methods and systems for chemical analysis. For instance, a device for chemical analysis of a sample includes a housing, an inlet, a pump, multiple membranes and at least one detector. The housing contains an interior chamber of the device. The inlet on the housing introduces the sample into the interior chamber. The pump is connected to the housing to form a partial vacuum in the interior chamber. The multiple membranes have different response times to different constituents of the sample. The multiple membranes include at least a first membrane and a second membrane. The multiple membranes have different response times to different constituents of the sample. The detector is for detecting the different constituents of the sample after interaction with the multiple membranes. In addition, a method for chemical analysis of a sample. A first step includes introducing a sample to multiple membranes having different response times to different constituents of the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: INFICON, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Wright, Jaime L. Winfield, Peter Santariello
  • Publication number: 20200325580
    Abstract: A system for monitoring thin film deposition is described. The system includes a quartz crystal and a synthesizer to generate a modulated signal. The modulated signal is to be grounded through the quartz crystal. The system also includes a phase detector to determine a phase of the modulated signal from the quartz crystal in order to monitor thin film deposition. A modulation index can be selected so that, at resonance, high frequency of the signal matches the crystal frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: INFICON, Inc.
    Inventor: Mohamed B. Rinzan
  • Patent number: 10755909
    Abstract: Methods and systems for chemical analysis. For instance, a device for chemical analysis of a sample includes a housing, an inlet, a pump, multiple membranes and at least one detector. The housing contains an interior chamber of the device. The inlet on the housing introduces the sample into the interior chamber. The pump is connected to the housing to form a partial vacuum in the interior chamber. The multiple membranes have different response times to different constituents of the sample. The multiple membranes include at least a first membrane and a second membrane. At least one of the first membrane and the second membrane comprises a tubular portion. The multiple membranes have different response times to different constituents of the sample. The detector is for detecting the different constituents of the sample after interaction with the multiple membranes. In addition, a method for chemical analysis of a sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: INFICON, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Wright, Jaime L. Winfield, Peter Santariello
  • Patent number: 10704150
    Abstract: A system for monitoring thin film deposition is described. The system includes a quartz crystal and a synthesizer to generate a modulated signal. The modulated signal is to be grounded through the quartz crystal. The system also includes a phase detector to determine a phase of the modulated signal from the quartz crystal in order to monitor thin film deposition. A modulation index can be selected so that, at resonance, high frequency of the signal matches the crystal frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: INFICON, Inc.
    Inventor: Mohamed Buhary Rinzan
  • Publication number: 20200176291
    Abstract: A monitoring device for monitoring a fabrication process in a fabrication system. The monitored fabrication system includes a process chamber and a plurality of flow components. A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensor monitors one flow component of the plurality of flow components of the fabrication system and is configured for exposure to a process chemistry in the one flow component during the fabrication process. A controller measures resonance frequency shifts of the QCM sensor due to interactions between the QCM sensor and the process chemistry in the one flow component during the fabrication process. The controller determines a parameter of the fabrication process in the process chamber as a function of the measured resonance frequency shifts of the QCM sensor within the one flow component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Applicant: INFICON. Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamed Buhary Rinzan, Chunhua Song, Steve James Lakeman
  • Patent number: 10502651
    Abstract: Systems and methods for in-situ leak detection and endpoint detection of wafer dry etch or chamber clean in chambers, e.g., vacuum chambers used in semiconductor processing. A mini environment is created and a sensor, such as an SPOES sensor, can be used in the mini-environment to perform leak detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: INFICON, INC.
    Inventor: Chenglong Yang
  • Publication number: 20190348267
    Abstract: Methods and systems for chemical analysis. For instance, a device for chemical analysis of a sample includes a housing, an inlet, a pump, multiple membranes and at least one detector. The housing contains an interior chamber of the device. The inlet on the housing introduces the sample into the interior chamber. The pump is connected to the housing to form a partial vacuum in the interior chamber. The multiple membranes have different response times to different constituents of the sample. The multiple membranes include at least a first membrane and a second membrane. At least one of the first membrane and the second membrane comprises a tubular portion. The multiple membranes have different response times to different constituents of the sample. The detector is for detecting the different constituents of the sample after interaction with the multiple membranes. In addition, a method for chemical analysis of a sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Applicant: INFICON, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Wright, Jaime L. Winfield, Peter Santafiello
  • Patent number: 10175198
    Abstract: A system and method for chemical analysis are described herein. The system includes a probe, a sample collection cartridge, and a chemical analyzer. The probe is configured to collect the optimal amount of sample for a future analysis and to store this chemical sample in the sample collection cartridge. The probe also collects sample data. The chemical analyzer is configured to determine the optimal analysis settings based on the sample data and analyze the chemical sample stored in the sample collection cartridge based on the optimal analysis settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Inficon, Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn Michael Briglin, Katherine Abigail Bartholomew
  • Patent number: D978662
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: INFICON, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel Plasencia, Russell Foster, Dale Sass, John R. Hardesty, Jr., Jennifer Reakes