Patents by Inventor Christopher R. Hatem

Christopher R. Hatem 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).

  • Publication number: 20100084577
    Abstract: Techniques for ion implantation of molecular ions are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as an apparatus for ion implantation comprising an ion implanter for implanting a target material with a molecular ion at a predetermined temperature to improve at least one of strain and amorphization of the target material, wherein the molecular ion is generated in-situ within an ion source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher R. Hatem, Christopher A. Rowland
  • Publication number: 20100084583
    Abstract: A method for ion implantation is disclosed which includes decreasing the implant energy level as the implant process is ongoing. In this way, either a box-like profile or a profile with higher retained dose can be achieved, enabling enhanced activation at the same junction depth. In one embodiment, the initial implant energy is used to implant about 25% of the dose. The implant energy level is then reduced and an additional 50% of the dose is implanted. The implant energy is subsequently decreased again and the remainder of the dose is implanted. The initial portion of the dose can optionally be performed at cold, such as cryogenic temperatures, to maximize amorphization of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventors: Christopher R. Hatem, Ludovic Godet
  • Publication number: 20100041219
    Abstract: A method of using helium to create ultra shallow junctions is disclosed. A pre-implantation amorphization using helium has significant advantages. For example, it has been shown that dopants will penetrate the substrate only to the amorphous-crystalline interface, and no further. Therefore, by properly determining the implant energy of helium, it is possible to exactly determine the junction depth. Increased doses of dopant simply reduce the substrate resistance with no effect on junction depth. Furthermore, the lateral straggle of helium is related to the implant energy and the dose rate of the helium PAI, therefore lateral diffusion can also be determined based on the implant energy and dose rate of the helium PAI. Thus, dopant may be precisely implanted beneath a sidewall spacer, or other obstruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher R. HATEM, Ludovic Godet
  • Patent number: 7655932
    Abstract: Techniques for providing ion source feed materials are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a container for supplying an ion source feed material. The container may comprise an internal cavity to be pre-filled with an ion source feed material. The container may also comprise an outer body configured to be removably loaded into a corresponding housing that is coupled to an ion source chamber via a nozzle assembly. The container may further comprise an outlet to seal in the pre-filled ion source feed material, the outlet being further configured to engage with the nozzle assembly to establish a flow path between the internal cavity and the ion source chamber. The container may be configured to be a disposable component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher R. Hatem, Craig R. Chaney, Eric R. Cobb, Joseph C. Olson, Chris Campbell
  • Patent number: 7642150
    Abstract: Techniques for forming shallow junctions are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for forming shallow junctions. The method may comprise generating an ion beam comprising molecular ions based on one or more materials selected from a group consisting of: digermane (Ge2H6), germanium nitride (Ge3N4), germanium-fluorine compounds (GFn, wherein n=1, 2, or 3), and other germanium-containing compounds. The method may also comprise causing the ion beam to impact a semiconductor wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin A. Arevalo, Christopher R. Hatem, Anthony Renau, Jonathan Gerald England
  • Patent number: 7622722
    Abstract: An ion implantation device with a dual pumping mode and method thereof for use in producing atomic or molecular ion beams are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, an ion implantation apparatus is provided for controlling a pressure within an ion beam source housing corresponding to an ion beam species being produced. The ion implantation apparatus may include the ion beam source housing comprising a plurality of species for use in ion beam production. A pumping section may also be included for evacuating gas from the ion beam source housing. A controller may further be included for controlling the pumping section according to pumping parameters corresponding to a species of the plurality of species being used for ion beam production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Gerald England, Christopher R. Hatem, Jay Thomas Scheuer, Joseph C. Olson
  • Publication number: 20090200494
    Abstract: Techniques for cold implantation of carbon-containing species are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as an apparatus for ion implantation including a cooling device for cooling a target material to a predetermined temperature, and an ion implanter for implanting the target material with a carbon-containing species at the predetermined temperature to improve at least one of strain and amorphization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher R. Hatem, Anthony Renau, Gary E. Dickerson
  • Publication number: 20090200460
    Abstract: To implant a carbon-containing species, a gas containing carbon is ionized in the ion chamber. The ionization of this gas will typically produce a number of ionized species. However, many of these resulting ionized species are not beneficial to the desired implant, as they contain only non-carbon atoms. These species must be eliminated before the implantation, leaving only carbon-based species. However, the current of the desired species may be low, thereby requiring extra energy or time to implant the desired dosage of carbon into a substrate. This can be improved through the use of a second gas. This second gas is used to dilute the primary carbon-containing gas to be ionized in the ion chamber. By incorporating this dilution gas, more of the resulting ionized species are beneficial to the carbon implantation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventors: Craig R. Chaney, Adolph R. Dori, Christopher R. Hatem, Alexander S. Perel
  • Publication number: 20080169427
    Abstract: Techniques for providing ion source feed materials are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a container for supplying an ion source feed material. The container may comprise an internal cavity to be pre-filled with an ion source feed material. The container may also comprise an outer body configured to be removably loaded into a corresponding housing that is coupled to an ion source chamber via a nozzle assembly. The container may further comprise an outlet to seal in the pre-filled ion source feed material, the outlet being further configured to engage with the nozzle assembly to establish a flow path between the internal cavity and the ion source chamber. The container may be configured to be a disposable component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher R. HATEM, Craig R. Chaney, Eric R. Cobb, Joseph C. Olson, Chris Campbell
  • Publication number: 20080105828
    Abstract: Techniques for removing molecular fragments from an ion implanter are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as an apparatus for removing molecular fragments from an ion implanter. The apparatus may comprise a supply mechanism configured to couple to an ion source chamber and to supply a feed material to the ion source chamber. The apparatus may also comprise one or more hydrogen-absorbing materials placed in a flow path of the feed material, to prevent at least one portion of hydrogen-containing molecular fragments in the feed material from entering the ion source chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicant: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher R. HATEM, Jay Thomas SCHEUER, Russell J. LOW, Morgan D. Evans, Jonathan Gerald ENGLAND
  • Publication number: 20080105833
    Abstract: An ion implantation device with a dual pumping mode and method thereof for use in producing atomic or molecular ion beams are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, an ion implantation apparatus is provided for controlling a pressure within an ion beam source housing corresponding to an ion beam species being produced. The ion implantation apparatus may include the ion beam source housing comprising a plurality of species for use in ion beam production. A pumping section may also be included for evacuating gas from the ion beam source housing. A controller may further be included for controlling the pumping section according to pumping parameters corresponding to a species of the plurality of species being used for ion beam production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicant: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates,
    Inventors: Jonathan Gerald England, Christopher R. Hatem, Jay Thomas Scheuer, Joseph C. Olson
  • Publication number: 20080108208
    Abstract: Techniques for forming shallow junctions are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for forming shallow junctions. The method may comprise generating an ion beam comprising molecular ions based on one or more materials selected from a group consisting of: digermane (Ge2H6), germanium nitride (Ge3N4), germanium-fluorine compounds (GFn, wherein n=1, 2, or 3), and other germanium-containing compounds. The method may also comprise causing the ion beam to impact a semiconductor wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicant: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin A. Arevalo, Christopher R. Hatem, Anthony Renau, Jonathan Gerald England