Patents Assigned to Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20210375626
    Abstract: A method of patterning a substrate may include providing a cavity in a layer, disposed on the substrate. The cavity may have a first length along a first direction and a first width along a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction. The method may include directing first angled ions in a first exposure to the cavity, wherein after the first exposure the cavity has a second length, greater than the first length; directing normal ions in a second exposure to the cavity, wherein the cavity retains the second length after the second exposure; and directing second angled ions to the cavity is a third exposure, subsequent to the second exposure, wherein the cavity has a third length, greater than the second length, after the third exposure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Anglin, Simon Ruffell
  • Patent number: 11145496
    Abstract: A fastening system for attaching two components with a spring force is disclosed. The fastening system utilizes O-rings to provide the spring force, eliminating the need for any metal components. The O-ring may be disposed in an O-ring holder that has a plurality of spokes. When compressed, indentations are created in the O-ring by the spokes. The number of spokes and their size and shape determine the spring force of the fastening system. In another embodiment, vertically oriented O-rings are utilized. The fastening system may be used to fasten various components of an ion source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel McGillicudy, James P. Buonodono
  • Patent number: 11127593
    Abstract: A method of patterning a substrate may include providing a cavity in a layer, disposed on the substrate. The cavity may have a first length along a first direction and a first width along a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction. The method may include directing first angled ions in a first exposure to the cavity, wherein after the first exposure the cavity has a second length, greater than the first length; directing normal ions in a second exposure to the cavity, wherein the cavity retains the second length after the second exposure; and directing second angled ions to the cavity is a third exposure, subsequent to the second exposure, wherein the cavity has a third length, greater than the second length, after the third exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Anglin, Simon Ruffell
  • Patent number: 11127556
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an ion extraction optics for extracting a plurality of ion beams is provided. The ion extraction optics may include, an extraction plate, the extraction plate defining a cut-out region, the cut-out region being elongated along a first direction. The extraction apparatus may include a slidable insert, the slidable insert disposed to overlap the cut-out region, and slidably movable with respect to the extraction plate, along the first direction, wherein the slidable insert and cut-out region define a first aperture and a second aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Costel Biloiu, Jon Ballou, James P. Buonodono
  • Patent number: 11114277
    Abstract: An ion source having dual indirectly heated cathodes is disclosed. Each of the cathodes may be independently biased relative to its respective filament so as to vary the profile of the beam current that is extracted from the ion source. In certain embodiments, the ion source is used in conjunction with an ion implanter. The ion implanter comprises a beam profiler to measure the current of the ribbon ion beam as a function of beam position. A controller uses this information to independently control the bias voltages of the two indirectly heated cathodes so as to vary the uniformity of the ribbon ion beam. In certain embodiments, the current passing through each filament may also be independently controlled by the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Bon-Woong Koo, Jun Lu, Frank Sinclair, Eric D. Hermanson, Joseph E. Pierro, Michael D. Johnson, Michael S. DeLucia, Antonella Cucchetti
  • Patent number: 11101183
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods of forming a CMOS device. One non-limiting method may include providing a gate structure atop a substrate, and forming a first spacer over the gate structure. The method may include removing the first spacer from just an upper portion of the gate structure by performing an angled reactive ion etch or angled implantation disposed at a non-zero angle of inclination with respect to a perpendicular to a plane of the substrate. The method may further include forming a second spacer over the upper portion of the gate structure and the first spacer along a lower portion of the gate structure. A thickness of the first spacer and the second spacer along the lower portion of the gate structure may be greater than a thickness of the second spacer along the upper portion of the gate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Min Gyu Sung, Sony Varghese
  • Patent number: 11069511
    Abstract: A system having an auxiliary plasma source, disposed proximate the workpiece, for use with an ion beam is disclosed. The auxiliary plasma source is used to create ions and radicals which drift toward the workpiece and may form a film. The ion beam is then used to provide energy so that the ions and radicals can process the workpiece. Further, various applications of the system are also disclosed. For example, the system can be used for various processes including deposition, implantation, etching, pre-treatment and post-treatment. By locating an auxiliary plasma source close to the workpiece, processes that were previously not possible may be performed. Further, two dissimilar processes, such as cleaning and implanting or implanting and passivating can be performed without removing the workpiece from the end station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Hatem, Peter F. Kurunczi, Christopher A. Rowland, Joseph C. Olson, Anthony Renau
  • Patent number: 11053580
    Abstract: A method includes providing a substrate, where the substrate has a patterned substrate surface, wherein the patterned substrate surface comprises a first surface region and a second surface region. The method may also include directing a depositing species to the patterned substrate surface; and directing angled ions to the patterned substrate surface, wherein the depositing species forms a deposit on the first surface region and does not form a deposit on the second surface region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Anglin, Maureen Petterson
  • Patent number: 11049691
    Abstract: A system and method for optimizing a ribbon ion beam in a beam line implantation system is disclosed. The system includes a mass resolving apparatus having a resolving aperture, in which the resolving aperture may be moved in the X and Z directions. Additionally, a controller is able to manipulate the mass analyzer and quadrupole lenses so that the crossover point of desired ions can also be moved in the X and Z directions. By manipulating the crossover point and the resolving aperture, the parameters of the ribbon ion beam may be manipulated to achieve a desired result. Movement of the crossover point in the X direction may affect the mean horizontal angle of the beamlets, while movement of the crossover point in the Z direction may affect the horizontal angular spread and beam current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Bon-Woong Koo, Robert C. Lindberg, Eric D. Hermanson, Frank Sinclair, Antonella Cucchetti, Randy Martin, Michael D. Johnson, Ana Samolov, Svetlana B. Radovanov
  • Patent number: 11043380
    Abstract: A method of patterning a substrate. The method may include providing a surface feature on the substrate, the surface feature having a first dimension along a first direction within a substrate plane, and a second dimension along a second direction within the substrate plane, wherein the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction; and directing first ions in a first exposure to the surface feature along the first direction at a non-zero angle of incidence with respect to a perpendicular to the substrate plane, in a presence of a reactive ambient containing a reactive species; wherein the first exposure etches the surface feature along the first direction, wherein after the directing, the surface feature retains the second dimension along the second direction, and wherein the surface feature has a third dimension along the first direction different than the first dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Ruffell, John Hautala, Adam Brand, Huixiong Dai
  • Patent number: 11037758
    Abstract: Provided herein are approaches for in-situ plasma cleaning of ion beam optics. In one approach, a system includes a component (e.g., a beam-line component) of an ion implanter processing chamber. The system further includes a power supply for supplying a first voltage and first current to the component during a processing mode and a second voltage and second current to the component during a cleaning mode. The second voltage and current are applied to one or more conductive beam optics of the component, individually, to selectively generate plasma around one or more of the one or more conductive beam optics. The system may further include a flow controller for adjusting an injection rate of an etchant gas supplied to the beam-line component, and a vacuum pump for adjusting pressure of an environment of the beam-line component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Anglin, William Davis Lee, Peter Kurunczi, Ryan Downey, Jay T. Scheuer, Alexandre Likhanskii, William M. Holber
  • Patent number: 11031247
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a processing apparatus may include a plasma chamber configured to generate a plasma; a process chamber adjacent the plasma chamber and configured to house a substrate that defines a substrate plane; an extraction system adjacent the plasma chamber and configured to direct an ion beam from the plasma to the substrate, the ion beam forming a non-zero angle with respect to a perpendicular to the substrate plane; and a molecular chamber adjacent the process chamber, isolated from the plasma chamber and configured to deliver a molecular beam to the substrate, wherein the ion beam and molecular beam are alternately delivered to the substrate to form a monolayer comprising species from the ion beam and molecular beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas R. Omstead
  • Patent number: 11031774
    Abstract: A superconducting fault current limiter element, comprising: a plurality of tapes, arranged in electrical parallel fashion among one another, wherein at least one tape of the plurality of tapes comprises a superconductor tape, and wherein at least one tape of the plurality of tapes comprises a non-superconductor tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott W. Nickerson, Paul Murphy, Saeed Jazebi
  • Publication number: 20210166936
    Abstract: A method of patterning a substrate. The method may include providing a surface feature on the substrate, the surface feature having a first dimension along a first direction within a substrate plane, and a second dimension along a second direction within the substrate plane, wherein the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction; and directing first ions in a first exposure to the surface feature along the first direction at a non-zero angle of incidence with respect to a perpendicular to the substrate plane, in a presence of a reactive ambient containing a reactive species; wherein the first exposure etches the surface feature along the first direction, wherein after the directing, the surface feature retains the second dimension along the second direction, and wherein the surface feature has a third dimension along the first direction different than the first dimension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Ruffell, John Hautala, Adam Brand, Huixiong Dai
  • Patent number: 11016228
    Abstract: Embodiments herein provide systems and methods for forming an optical component. A method may include providing a plurality of proximity masks between a plasma source and a workpiece, the workpiece including a plurality of substrates secured thereto. Each of the plurality of substrates may include first and second target areas. The method may further include delivering, from the plasma source, an angled ion beam towards the workpiece, wherein the angled ion beam is then received at one of the plurality of masks. A first proximity mask may include a first set of openings permitting the angled ion beam to pass therethrough to just the first target area of each of the plurality of substrates. A second proximity mask may include a second set of openings permitting the angled ion beam to pass therethrough just to the second target area of each of the plurality of substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Morgan Evans, Rutger Meyer Timmerman Thijssen, Joseph Olson, Peter Kurunczi, Robert Masci
  • Patent number: 10990014
    Abstract: A method of patterning a substrate may include providing a blanket photoresist layer on the substrate; performing an ion implantation procedure of an implant species into the blanket photoresist layer, the implant species comprising an enhanced absorption efficiency at a wavelength in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) range; and subsequent to the performing the ion implantation procedure, performing a patterned exposure to expose the blanket photoresist layer to EUV radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Tristan Y. Ma, Huixiong Dai, Anthony Renau, John Hautala, Joseph Olson
  • Publication number: 20210111031
    Abstract: A method may include forming in a substrate a first array of a first material of first linear structures, interspersed with a second array of a second material, of second linear structures, the first and second linear structures elongated along a first axis. The method may include generating a chop pattern in the first layer, comprising a third linear array, interspersed with a fourth linear array. The third and fourth linear arrays may be elongated along a second axis, forming a non-zero angle of incidence with respect to the first axis. The third linear array may include alternating portions of the first and second material, while the fourth linear array comprises an array of cavities, arranged within the patterning layer. The method may include elongating a first set of cavities along the first axis, to form a first set of elongated cavities bounded by the first material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Applicant: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Sony Varghese
  • Patent number: 10974276
    Abstract: A system that reduces the amount of water that enters a process chamber via a movable shaft is disclosed. The surface of the shaft is made hydrophobic. Any water droplets that are collected on the hydrophobic shaft are disposed at a high contact angle, making it more likely that these water droplets fall from the shaft. Further, any water that enters the process chamber is more readily removed from the shaft due to the lower energy of liberation. Reducing the amount of water in a process chamber may improve the lifetime of the components in the process chamber and may improve the yield of the workpieces being processed. This may be especially relevant when process gasses that contain halogens are employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest E. Allen, Jr., Jonathan David Fischer, Jeffrey E. Krampert
  • Patent number: 10971926
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling and monitoring the lifetime of a superconducting fault current limiter. The apparatus may include a processor; and a memory unit coupled to the processor, including a lifetime routine, where the lifetime routine is operative on the processor to monitor the superconducting fault current limiter. The lifetime routine may include a lifetime estimation processor to receive a set of fault information for a fault event of a superconductor tape of the superconducting fault current limiter, determine a present state of the superconductor tape based upon the set of fault information, and determine an estimated lifetime of the superconductor tape based upon the present state. The present state may be determined from additional information such as fault history on the superconducting fault current limiter, as well as a database of superconductor tape behavior with respect to various faults.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Saeed Jazebi, John Evans
  • Patent number: 10971368
    Abstract: A method of treating a substrate includes directing ions to the substrate along at least one non-zero angle with respect to a perpendicular to a substrate surface in a presence of a reactive ambient containing a reactive species where the substrate includes a surface feature. At least one surface of the surface feature is etched using the ions in combination with the reactive ambient at a first etch rate that is greater than a second etch rate when the ions are directed to the substrate without the reactive ambient and greater than a third etch rate when the reactive ambient is provided to the substrate without the ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven R. Sherman, Simon Ruffell, John Hautala, Adam Brand