Patents by Inventor Alexandre Likhanskii

Alexandre Likhanskii has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10665415
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided. In one embodiment. an apparatus may include a main chamber, where the main chamber includes an electrode assembly. The electrode assembly may include a plurality of electrodes arranged between a chamber entrance and a chamber exit of the main chamber. The apparatus may include a beam tunnel, connected to the chamber entrance, configured to conduct an ion beam to the main chamber; and an electrostatic tuner, disposed in the beam tunnel, the electrostatic tuner comprising at least one tuner electrode, independently coupled to a tuner voltage assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexandre Likhanskii, Frank Sinclair, Shengwu Chang
  • Publication number: 20200161078
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided. The apparatus may include a main chamber, an entrance tunnel, the entrance tunnel having an entrance axis extending into the main chamber; an exit tunnel, connected to the main chamber and defining an exit axis, wherein the entrance tunnel and the exit tunnel define a beam bend of less than 25 degrees therebetween, and an electrode assembly, disposed in the main chamber, and defining a beam path between the entrance tunnel and the exit tunnel. The electrode assembly may include an upper electrode, disposed on a first side of the beam path, and a plurality of lower electrodes, disposed on a second side of the beam path, the plurality of lower electrodes comprising at least three electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicant: APPLIED Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexandre Likhanskii, Frank Sinclair, Shengwu Chang
  • Publication number: 20200161076
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided. The apparatus may include a main chamber; an entrance tunnel having a propagation axis extending into the main chamber along a first direction; an exit tunnel, connected to the main chamber and defining an exit direction. The entrance tunnel and the exit tunnel may define a beam bend of at least 30 degrees therebetween. The apparatus may include an electrode assembly, disposed in the main chamber, and defining a beam path between the entrance tunnel and the exit aperture, wherein the electrode assembly comprises a lower electrode, disposed on a first side of the beam path, and a plurality of electrodes, disposed on a second side of the beam path, the plurality of electrodes comprising at least five electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicant: APPLIED Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexandre Likhanskii, Frank Sinclair, Shengwu Chang
  • Publication number: 20200161089
    Abstract: An apparatus may include a main chamber, the main chamber comprising a plurality of electrodes; an entrance tunnel, the entrance tunnel having an entrance axis extending into the main chamber along a first direction; and an exit tunnel, connected to the main chamber and defining an exit axis, wherein the entrance axis and the exit axis define a beam bend of at least 30 degrees therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicant: APPLIED Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexandre Likhanskii, Frank Sinclair, Shengwu Chang
  • Publication number: 20200161077
    Abstract: An apparatus may include a main chamber, an entrance tunnel, having an entrance axis extending into the main chamber, and an exit tunnel, connected to the main chamber and defining an exit axis, wherein the entrance tunnel and the exit tunnel define a beam bend of less than 25 degrees therebetween. The apparatus may include an electrode assembly, disposed in the main chamber, on a lower side of the exit tunnel; and a catch assembly, disposed within the main chamber, in a line of sight from an exterior aperture of the exit tunnel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicant: APPLIED Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexandre Likhanskii, Frank Sinclair, Shengwu Chang, Eric D. Hermanson, Nevin H. Clay
  • Publication number: 20200144017
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided. In one embodiment. an apparatus may include a main chamber, where the main chamber includes an electrode assembly. The electrode assembly may include a plurality of electrodes arranged between a chamber entrance and a chamber exit of the main chamber. The apparatus may include a beam tunnel, connected to the chamber entrance, configured to conduct an ion beam to the main chamber; and an electrostatic tuner, disposed in the beam tunnel, the electrostatic tuner comprising at least one tuner electrode, independently coupled to a tuner voltage assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Applicant: APPLIED Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexandre Likhanskii, Frank Sinclair, Shengwu Chang
  • Publication number: 20200126757
    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: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicant: 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: 10522330
    Abstract: Provided herein are approaches for in-situ plasma cleaning of one or more components of an ion implantation system. In one approach, the component may include a beam-line component having one or more conductive beam optics. 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 may be applied to the conductive beam optics of the component, in parallel, to selectively (e.g., individually) 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 component, and a vacuum pump for adjusting pressure of an environment of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    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: 10504682
    Abstract: Provided herein are approaches for reducing particles in an ion implanter. An electrostatic filter may include a housing and a plurality of conductive beam optics within the housing. The conductive beam optics are arranged around an ion beam-line directed towards a wafer, and may include entrance aperture electrodes proximate an entrance aperture of the housing. The conductive beam optics may further include energetic electrodes downstream along the ion beam-line from the entrance aperture electrodes, and ground electrodes downstream from the energetic electrodes. The energetic electrodes are positioned farther away from the ion beam-line than the entrance electrodes and the ground electrodes, thus causing the energetic electrodes to be physically blocked from impact by an envelope of back-sputter material returning from the wafer. The electrostatic filter may further include an electrical system for independently delivering a voltage and a current to each of the conductive beam optics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventors: Shengwu Chang, Frank Sinclair, Alexandre Likhanskii, Christopher Campbell, Robert C. Lindberg, Eric D. Hermanson
  • Patent number: 10410844
    Abstract: Provided herein are approaches for in-situ plasma cleaning of one or more components of an ion implantation system. In one approach, the component may include a beam-line component, such as an energy purity module, having a plurality of conductive beam optics contained therein. The system further includes a power supply system for supplying a voltage and a current to the beam-line component during a cleaning mode, wherein the power supply system may include a first power plug coupled to a first subset of the plurality of conductive beam optics and a second power plug coupled to a second subset of the plurality of conductive beam optics. During a cleaning mode, the voltage and current may be simultaneously supplied and split between each of the first and second power plugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin Anglin, Brant S. Binns, Peter F. Kurunczi, Jay T. Scheuer, Eric Hermanson, Alexandre Likhanskii
  • Publication number: 20190259560
    Abstract: Provided herein are approaches for reducing particles in an ion implanter. An electrostatic filter may include a housing and a plurality of conductive beam optics within the housing. The conductive beam optics are arranged around an ion beam-line directed towards a wafer, and may include entrance aperture electrodes proximate an entrance aperture of the housing. The conductive beam optics may further include energetic electrodes downstream along the ion beam-line from the entrance aperture electrodes, and ground electrodes downstream from the energetic electrodes. The energetic electrodes are positioned farther away from the ion beam-line than the entrance electrodes and the ground electrodes, thus causing the energetic electrodes to be physically blocked from impact by an envelope of back-sputter material returning from the wafer. The electrostatic filter may further include an electrical system for independently delivering a voltage and a current to each of the conductive beam optics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Applicant: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Shengwu Chang, Frank Sinclair, Alexandre Likhanskii, Christopher Campbell, Robert C. Lindberg, Eric D. Hermanson
  • Patent number: 10290462
    Abstract: An apparatus for the creation of high current ion beams is disclosed. The apparatus includes an ion source, such as a RF ion source or an indirectly heated cathode (IHC) ion source, having an extraction aperture. Disposed proximate the extraction aperture is a bias electrode, which has a hollow center portion that is aligned with the extraction aperture. A magnetic field is created along the perimeter of the hollow center portion, which serves to contain electrons within a confinement region. Electrons in the confinement region energetically collide with neutral particles, increasing the number of ions that are created near the extraction aperture. The magnetic field may be created using two magnets that are embedded in the bias electrode. Alternatively, a single magnet or magnetic coils may be used to create this magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Bon-Woong Koo, Alexandre Likhanskii, Svetlana B. Radovanov, Anthony Renau
  • Patent number: 10224181
    Abstract: A processing apparatus may include a plasma chamber to house a plasma and having a main body portion comprising an electrical insulator; an extraction plate disposed along an extraction side of the plasma chamber, the extraction plate being electrically conductive and having an extraction aperture; a substrate stage disposed outside of the plasma chamber and adjacent the extraction aperture, the substrate stage being at ground potential; and an RF generator electrically coupled to the extraction plate, the RF generator establishing a positive dc self-bias voltage at the extraction plate with respect to ground potential when the plasma is present in the plasma chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventors: Costel Biloiu, Piotr Lubicki, Tyler Rockwell, Christopher Campbell, Vikram Singh, Kevin M. Daniels, Richard J. Hertel, Peter F. Kurunczi, Alexandre Likhanskii
  • Patent number: 10192727
    Abstract: An electrodynamic mass analysis system which has the capability of filtering unwanted species from an extracted ion beam without the use of a mass analyzer magnet is disclosed. The electrodynamic mass analysis system includes an ion source and an electrode disposed outside the ion source. The ion source and the electrode are biased relative to one another so as to emit pulses of ions. Each of these pulses enters a tube where each ion travels at a speed related to its mass. Thus, ions of the same mass travel in clusters through the tube. Ions reach the distal end of the tube separated temporally and spatially from one another based on their mass. The ions then enter a deflector, which is energized so as to allow the cluster of ions having the desired mass to pass through a resolving aperture disposed at the exit of the deflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Sinclair, Joseph C. Olson, Costel Biloiu, Alexandre Likhanskii, Peter F. Kurunczi
  • Publication number: 20180286653
    Abstract: An electrodynamic mass analysis system which has the capability of filtering unwanted species from an extracted ion beam without the use of a mass analyzer magnet is disclosed. The electrodynamic mass analysis system includes an ion source and an electrode disposed outside the ion source. The ion source and the electrode are biased relative to one another so as to emit pulses of ions. Each of these pulses enters a tube where each ion travels at a speed related to its mass. Thus, ions of the same mass travel in clusters through the tube. Ions reach the distal end of the tube separated temporally and spatially from one another based on their mass. The ions then enter a deflector, which is energized so as to allow the cluster of ions having the desired mass to pass through a resolving aperture disposed at the exit of the deflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Frank Sinclair, Joseph C. Olson, Costel Biloiu, Alexandre Likhanskii, Peter F. Kurunczi
  • Patent number: 10074514
    Abstract: An apparatus may include an electrode system, the electrode system comprising a plurality of electrodes to guide an ion beam from an entrance aperture to an exit aperture, and a voltage supply to apply a plurality of voltages to the electrode system. The electrode system may comprise an exit electrode assembly, where the exit electrode assembly includes a first exit electrode and a second exit electrode, separated from the first exit electrode by an electrode gap. The first exit electrode and the second exit electrode may be movable with respect to one another so as to change a size of the electrode gap over a gap range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventors: Shengwu Chang, Frank Sinclair, Alexandre Likhanskii, Philip Layne
  • Patent number: 10068758
    Abstract: An apparatus which has the capability of filtering unwanted species from an extracted ion beam without the use of a mass analyzer magnet is disclosed. The apparatus includes an ion source having chamber walls that are biased by an RF voltage. The use of RF extraction causes ions to exit the ion source at different energies, where the energy of each ion species is related to its mass. The extracted ion beam can then be filtered using only electrostatic energy filters to eliminate the unwanted species. The electrostatic energy filter may act as a high pass filter, allowing ions having an energy above a certain threshold to reach the workpiece. Alternatively, the electrostatic energy filter may act as a low pass filter, allowing ions having an energy below a certain threshold to reach the workpiece. In another embodiment, the electrostatic energy filter operates as a bandpass filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexandre Likhanskii
  • Publication number: 20180218894
    Abstract: An apparatus which has the capability of filtering unwanted species from an extracted ion beam without the use of a mass analyzer magnet is disclosed. The apparatus includes an ion source having chamber walls that are biased by an RF voltage. The use of RF extraction causes ions to exit the ion source at different energies, where the energy of each ion species is related to its mass. The extracted ion beam can then be filtered using only electrostatic energy filters to eliminate the unwanted species. The electrostatic energy filter may act as a high pass filter, allowing ions having an energy above a certain threshold to reach the workpiece. Alternatively, the electrostatic energy filter may act as a low pass filter, allowing ions having an energy below a certain threshold to reach the workpiece. In another embodiment, the electrostatic energy filter operates as a bandpass filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventor: Alexandre Likhanskii
  • Publication number: 20180166261
    Abstract: Provided herein are approaches for in-situ plasma cleaning of one or more components of an ion implantation system. In one approach, the component may include a beam-line component, such as an energy purity module, having a plurality of conductive beam optics contained therein. The system further includes a power supply system for supplying a voltage and a current to the beam-line component during a cleaning mode, wherein the power supply system may include a first power plug coupled to a first subset of the plurality of conductive beam optics and a second power plug coupled to a second subset of the plurality of conductive beam optics. During a cleaning mode, the voltage and current may be simultaneously supplied and split between each of the first and second power plugs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Kevin Anglin, Brant S. Binns, Peter F. Kurunczi, Jay T. Scheuer, Eric Hermanson, Alexandre Likhanskii
  • Publication number: 20180166250
    Abstract: An apparatus for the creation of high current ion beams is disclosed. The apparatus includes an ion source, such as a RF ion source or an indirectly heated cathode (IHC) ion source, having an extraction aperture. Disposed proximate the extraction aperture is a bias electrode, which has a hollow center portion that is aligned with the extraction aperture. A magnetic field is created along the perimeter of the hollow center portion, which serves to contain electrons within a confinement region. Electrons in the confinement region energetically collide with neutral particles, increasing the number of ions that are created near the extraction aperture. The magnetic field may be created using two magnets that are embedded in the bias electrode. Alternatively, a single magnet or magnetic coils may be used to create this magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Bon-Woong Koo, Alexandre Likhanskii, Svetlana B. Radovanov, Anthony Renau