Patents Assigned to SemEquip Inc.
  • Patent number: 8753600
    Abstract: New methods are provided for synthesis of ClusterBoron® (B18H22). Preferred methods of the invention include generation of the conjugate acid of B20H182? and degradation of the acid in solution to produce B18H22 in high yields and high purity. The invention further provides isotopically enriched boranes, particularly isotopically enriched 10B18H22 and 11B18H22.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: SemEquip, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin S. Cook, Mark Oxford
  • Patent number: 8673251
    Abstract: The invention provides new methods for synthesis of ClusterBoron® (B18H22). Preferred methods of the invention include generation of the conjugate acid of B20H182? and degradation of the acid in solution to produce B18H22 in high yields and high purity. The invention further provides isotopically enriched boranes, particularly isotopically enriched 10B18H22 and 11B18H22.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: SemEquip, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin S. Cook, Mark Oxford
  • Publication number: 20140061816
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of: providing a supply of molecules containing a plurality of dopant atoms into an ionization chamber, ionizing said molecules into dopant cluster ions, extracting and accelerating the dopant cluster ions with an electric field, selecting the desired cluster ions by mass analysis, modifying the final implant energy of the cluster ion through post-analysis ion optics, and implanting the dopant cluster ions into a semiconductor substrate. In general, dopant molecules contain n dopant atoms, where n is an integer number greater than 10. This method enables increasing the dopant dose rate to n times the implantation current with an equivalent per dopant atom energy of 1/n times the cluster implantation energy, while reducing the charge per dopant atom by the factor n.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: SemEquip, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas N. Horsky, Dale C. Jacobson
  • Patent number: 8623309
    Abstract: The invention provides new methods for synthesis of ClusterBoron (B18H22). Preferred methods of the invention include in situ generation of the conjugate acid of B20H182? and degradation of the acid in solution to produce B18H22 in high yields and high purity. The invention further provides isotopically enriched boranes, particularly isotopically enriched 10B)18H22 and 11B18H22.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: SemEquip, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin S. Cook
  • Patent number: 8618514
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of: providing a supply of molecules containing a plurality of dopant atoms into an ionization chamber, ionizing said molecules into dopant cluster ions, extracting and accelerating the dopant cluster ions with an electric field, selecting the desired cluster ions by mass analysis, modifying the final implant energy of the cluster ion through post-analysis ion optics, and implanting the dopant cluster ions into a semiconductor substrate. In general, dopant molecules contain n dopant atoms, where n is an integer number greater than 10. This method enables increasing the dopant dose rate to n times the implantation current with an equivalent per dopant atom energy of 1/n times the cluster implantation energy, while reducing the charge per dopant atom by the factor n.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: SemEquip, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas N. Horsky, Dale C. Jacobson
  • Patent number: 8586459
    Abstract: An ion implantation device and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is described, wherein ionized phosphorus-containing molecular clusters are implanted to form N-type transistor structures. The clusters are implanted to provide N-type doping for Source and Drain structures and Pocket or Halo formation, and for counter-doping Poly gates. These doping steps are critical to the formation of NMOS transistors. The molecular cluster ions have the chemical form AnHx+, or AnRHx+, where n and x are integers with 4<n and x?0, and A is either As or P, and R is a molecule not containing phosphorus or arsenic, which is not injurious to the implantation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: SemEquip, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas N. Horsky, Erin Dyker, Brian Bernstein, Dennis Manning
  • Publication number: 20130236384
    Abstract: New methods are provided for synthesis of ClusterBoron® (B18H22). Preferred methods of the invention include generation of the conjugate acid of B20H182? and degradation of the acid in solution to produce B18H22 in high yields and high purity. The invention further provides isotopically enriched boranes, particularly isotopically enriched 10B18H22 and 11B18H22.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: SEMEQUIP, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin S. Cook, Mark Oxford
  • Patent number: 8530343
    Abstract: A process is disclosed which incorporates implantation of a carbon cluster into a substrate to improve the characteristics of transistor junctions when the substrates are doped with Boron and Phosphorous in the manufacturing of PMOS transistor structures in integrated circuits. There are two processes which result from this novel approach: (1) diffusion control for USJ formation; and (2) high dose carbon implantation for stress engineering. Diffusion control for USJ formation is demonstrated in conjunction with a boron or shallow boron cluster implant of the source/drain structures in PMOS. More particularly, first, a cluster carbon ion, such as C16Hx+, is implanted into the source/drain region at approximately the same dose as the subsequent boron implant; followed by a shallow boron, boron cluster, phosphorous or phosphorous cluster ion implant to form the source/drain extensions, preferably using a borohydride cluster, such as B18Hx+ or B10Hx+.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: SemEquip, Inc.
    Inventors: Wade A. Krull, Thomas N. Horsky
  • Patent number: 8502161
    Abstract: An ion source is disclosed for use in fabrication of semiconductors. The ion source includes an electron emitter that includes a cathode mounted external to the ionization chamber for use in fabrication of semiconductors. In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the electron emitter is employed without a corresponding anode or electron optics. As such, the distance between the cathode and the ionization chamber can be shortened to enable the ion source to be operated in an arc discharge mode or generate a plasma. Alternatively, the ion source can be operated in a dual mode with a single electron emitter by selectively varying the distance between the cathode and the ionization chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: SemEquip, Inc.
    Inventors: Sami K. Hahto, Richard Goldberg, Edward McIntyre, Thomas N. Horsky
  • Patent number: 8436326
    Abstract: A multipurpose ion implanter beam line configuration comprising a mass analyzer magnet followed by a magnetic scanner and magnetic collimator combination that introduce bends to the beam path, the beam line constructed for enabling implantation of common monatomic dopant ion species cluster ions, the beam line configuration having a mass analyzer magnet defining a pole gap of substantial width between ferromagnetic poles of the magnet and a mass selection aperture, the analyzer magnet sized to accept an ion beam from a slot-form ion source extraction aperture of at least about 80 mm height and at least about 7 mm width, and to produce dispersion at the mass selection aperture in a plane corresponding to the width of the beam, the mass selection aperture capable of being set to a mass-selection width sized to select a beam of the cluster ions of the same dopant species but incrementally differing molecular weights, the mass selection aperture also capable of being set to a substantially narrower mass-selection
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Semequip, Inc.
    Inventors: Hilton F. Glavish, Thomas N. Horsky, Dale C. Jacobson, Sami K. Hahto, Masao Naito, Nobuo Nagai, Nariaki Hamamoto
  • Patent number: 8410459
    Abstract: An ion implantation device and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is described, wherein ionized boron hydride molecular clusters are implanted to form P-type transistor structures. For example, in the fabrication of Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) devices, the clusters are implanted to provide P-type doping for Source and Drain structures and for Polygates; these doping steps are critical to the formation of PMOS transistors. The molecular cluster ions have the chemical form BnHx+ and BnHx?, where 10?n?100 and 0?x?n+4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: SemEquip, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas N. Horsky, Dale C. Jacobson
  • Patent number: 8368309
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: SemEquip, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas N. Horsky, Robert W. Milgate, III, George P. Sacco, Jr., Dale Conrad Jacobson, Wade Allen Krull
  • Patent number: 8329131
    Abstract: The invention provides new methods for synthesis of large boron hydride clusters, e.g., boron hydride molecules of the formula BnHm where 5?n?96 and m?n+8, wherein m and n satisfy the electron counting rules of macropolyhedral boranes. The invention is particularly useful for synthesis of octadecaborane (B18H22). Preferred methods of the invention include iteratively generating a conjugate acid from a salt of the [BaHb]c? or [Bn+2Hm?4]2? anion followed by degradation under conditions conducive to concentrating and drying of the conjugate acid to provide a borane BnHm and residual salt of the [BaHb]c? or [Bn+2Hm?4]2? anion which is reused in the method of synthesis. The invention further provides isotopically enriched boranes, particularly isotopically enriched 10B18H22 and 11B18H22.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: SemEquip, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard Spielvogel, Kevin S. Cook
  • Patent number: 8330118
    Abstract: A multi mode ion implantation system, which operates in both an arc discharge mode of operation and a non arc discharge mode of operation, is described. The multi mode ion implantation system may consist of dual ionization volumes forming two ion sources, an arc discharge source and a non arc discharge source, in tandem. The dual chambers and the two sources feed the ion implantation system with material of various species for multi mode, an arc discharge and a non arc discharge operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: SemEquip, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas N. Horsky, Richard Goldberg, Sami K. Hahto
  • Patent number: 8236675
    Abstract: A method is proposed for the fabrication of the gate electrode of a semiconductor device such that the effects of gate depletion are minimized. The method is comprised of a dual deposition process wherein the first step is a very thin layer that is doped very heavily by ion implantation. The second deposition, with an associated ion implant for doping, completes the gate electrode. With the two-deposition process, it is possible to maximize the doping at the gate electrode/gate dielectric interface while minimizing risk of boron penetration of the gate dielectric. A further development of this method includes the patterning of both gate electrode layers with the advantage of utilizing the drain extension and source/drain implants as the gate doping implants and the option of offsetting the two patterns to create an asymmetric device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: SemEquip, Inc.
    Inventors: Wade A. Krull, Dale C. Jacobson
  • Patent number: 8154210
    Abstract: An ion source is disclosed incorporating various aspects of the invention including i) a vaporizer, ii) a vaporizer valve, iii) a gas feed, iv) an ionization chamber, v) an electron gun, vi) a cooled mounting frame, and vii) an ion exit aperture. The ion source includes means for introducing gaseous feed material into the ionization chamber, means for vaporizing solid feed materials and introducing their vapors into the ionization chamber, means for ionizing the introduced gaseous feed materials within the ionization chamber, and means for extracting the ions thus produced from an ion exit aperture adjacent to the ionization region. In addition, means for accelerating and focusing the exiting ions are provided. The vaporizer, vaporizer valve, gas feed, ionization chamber, electron gun, cooled mounting frame, and ion exit aperture are all integrated into a single assembly in preferred embodiments of the novel ion source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: SemEquip, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Neil Horsky, John Noel Williams
  • Publication number: 20120076475
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of: providing a supply of molecules containing a plurality of dopant atoms into an ionization chamber, ionizing said molecules into dopant cluster ions, extracting and accelerating the dopant cluster ions with an electric field, selecting the desired cluster ions by mass analysis, modifying the final implant energy of the cluster ion through post-analysis ion optics, and implanting the dopant cluster ions into a semiconductor substrate. In general, dopant molecules contain n dopant atoms, where n is an integer number greater than 10. This method enables increasing the dopant dose rate to n times the implantation current with an equivalent per dopant atom energy of 1/n times the cluster implantation energy, while reducing the charge per dopant atom by the factor n.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: SemEquip, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas N. Horsky, Dale C. Jacobson
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8110815
    Abstract: Providing vapor to a vapor-receiving device housed in a high vacuum chamber. An ion beam implanter, as an example, has a removable high voltage ion source within a high vacuum chamber and a vapor delivery system that delivers vapor to the ion source and does not interfere with removal of the ion source for maintenance. For delivering vapor to a vapor-receiving device, such as the high voltage ion source under vacuum, a flow interface device is in the form of a thermally conductive valve block. A delivery extension of the interface device automatically connects and disconnects within the high vacuum chamber with the removable vapor receiving device by respective installation and removal motions. In an ion implanter, the flow interface device or valve block and source of reactive cleaning gas are mounted in a non-interfering way on the electrically insulating bushing that insulates the ion source from the vacuum housing and the ion source may be removed without disturbing the flow interface device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Semequip, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Sinclair, Douglas R. Adams, Brent M. Copertino
  • Patent number: 8110820
    Abstract: A multipurpose ion implanter beam line configuration constructed for enabling implantation of common monatomic dopant ion species and cluster ions, the beam line configuration having a mass analyzer magnet defining a pole gap of substantial width between ferromagnetic poles of the magnet and a mass selection aperture, the analyzer magnet sized to accept art ion beam from a slot-form ion source extraction aperture of at least about 80 mm height and at least about 7 mm width, and to produce dispersion at the mass selection aperture in a plane corresponding to the width of the beam, the mass selection aperture capable of being set to a mass-selection width sized to select a beam of the cluster ions of the same dopant species but incrementally differing molecular weights, the mass selection aperture also capable of being set to a substantially narrower mass-selection width and the analyzer magnet having a resolution at the mass selection aperture sufficient to enable selection of a beam of monatomic dopant ions o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: SemEquip, Inc.
    Inventors: Hilton F. Glavish, Dale C. Jacobson, Sami K. Hahto, Thomas N. Horsky