Patents by Inventor Donna Smatlak

Donna Smatlak 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: 7683347
    Abstract: A technique for improving ion implantation throughput and dose uniformity is disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, a method for improving ion implantation throughput and dose uniformity may comprise measuring an ion beam density distribution in an ion beam. The method may also comprise calculating an ion dose distribution across a predetermined region of a workpiece that results from a scan velocity profile, wherein the scan velocity profile comprises a first component and a second component that control a relative movement between the ion beam and the workpiece in a first direction and a second direction respectively, and wherein the ion dose distribution is based at least in part on the ion beam density distribution. The method may further comprise adjusting at least one of the first component and the second component of the scan velocity profile to achieve a desired ion dose distribution in the predetermined region of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Atul Gupta, Anthony Renau, Donna Smatlak, Joseph C. Olson
  • Patent number: 7462844
    Abstract: The invention provides a method, system, and apparatus for improving doping uniformity during ion implantation, particularly during a high-tilt ion implantation. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for improving doping uniformity in a high-tilt ion implantation, the method comprising the steps of: positioning a wafer along an axis perpendicular to an ion beam scan plane to form an angle between a surface of the wafer and a plane perpendicular to the ion beam; measuring a current of the ion beam by moving a current detector across the ion beam in a path substantially coplanar with a surface of the wafer; and adjusting a doping uniformity of the ion beam current based on the measuring step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Shengwu Chang, Isao Tsunoda, Nobihiro Tokoro, Dennis Rodier, Joseph C. Olson, Donna Smatlak, Damian Brennan, William Bintz
  • Publication number: 20070085037
    Abstract: The invention provides a method, system, and apparatus for improving doping uniformity during ion implantation, particularly during a high-tilt ion implantation. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for improving doping uniformity in a high-tilt ion implantation, the method comprising the steps of: positioning a wafer along an axis perpendicular to an ion beam scan plane to form an angle between a surface of the wafer and a plane perpendicular to the ion beam; measuring a current of the ion beam by moving a current detector across the ion beam in a path substantially coplanar with a surface of the wafer; and adjusting a doping uniformity of the ion beam current based on the measuring step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Publication date: April 19, 2007
    Inventors: Shengwu Chang, Isao Tsunoda, Nobihiro Tokoro, Dennis Rodier, Joseph Olson, Donna Smatlak, Damian Brennan, William Bintz
  • Publication number: 20060169912
    Abstract: One or more electron sources are utilized to inject electrons into an ion beam being transported between the polepieces of a magnet. In some embodiments, the electron sources are located in cavities in one or both polepieces of the magnet. In other embodiments, a radio frequency or microwave plasma flood gun is located in a cavity in at least one of the polepieces or between the polepieces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Publication date: August 3, 2006
    Applicant: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Renau, Donna Smatlak, James Buff, Eric Hermanson
  • Publication number: 20060169915
    Abstract: Ion sources and methods for generating molecular ions in a cold operating mode and for generating atomic ions in a hot operating mode are provided. In some embodiments, first and second electron sources are located at opposite ends of an arc chamber. The first electron source is energized in the cold operating mode, and the second electron source is energized in the hot operating mode. In other embodiments, electrons are directed through a hole in a cathode in the cold operating mode and are directed at the cathode in the hot operating mode. In further embodiments, an ion beam generator includes a molecular ion source, an atomic ion source and a switching element to select the output of one of the ion sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Publication date: August 3, 2006
    Applicant: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Olson, Anthony Renau, Donna Smatlak, Kurt Deckerlucke, Paul Murphy, Alexander Perel, Russell Low, Peter Kurunczi
  • Publication number: 20050263721
    Abstract: A system, method and program product for enhancing dose uniformity during ion implantation are disclosed. The present invention is directed to allowing the use of an at least partially untuned ion beam to obtain a uniform implant by scanning the beam in multiple rotationally-fixed orientations (scan directions) of the target at variable or non-uniform scan velocities. The non-uniform scan velocities are dictated by a scan velocity profile that is generated based on the ion beam profile and/or the scan direction. The beam can be of any size, shape or tuning. A platen holding a wafer is rotated to a new desired rotationally-fixed orientation after a scan, and a subsequent scan occurs at the same scan velocity profile or a different scan velocity profile. Also included is a method, system and program product for conducting a uniform dose ion implantation in which the target is rotated and tilted about greater than one axes relative to the ion beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Publication date: December 1, 2005
    Inventors: Anthony Renau, Joseph Olson, Donna Smatlak, Jun Lu
  • Publication number: 20050258379
    Abstract: A system, method and program product for enhancing dose uniformity during ion implantation are disclosed. The present invention is directed to allowing the use of an at least partially un-tuned ion beam to obtain a uniform implant by scanning the beam in multiple rotationally-fixed orientations (scan directions) of the target at variable or non-uniform scan velocities. The non-uniform scan velocities are dictated by a scan velocity profile that is generated based on the ion beam profile and/or the scan direction. The beam can be of any size, shape or tuning. A platen holding a wafer is rotated to a new desired rotationally-fixed orientation after a scan, and a subsequent scan occurs at the same scan velocity profile or a different scan velocity profile. This technique may be used independently or in conjunction with other uniformity approaches to achieve the required level of uniformity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Publication date: November 24, 2005
    Inventors: Anthony Renau, Joseph Olson, Donna Smatlak, Jun Lu
  • Publication number: 20050205211
    Abstract: A plasma immersion ion implant apparatus and method, and a plasma chamber, each configured to provide a uniform ion flux and to dissipate the effects of secondary electrons are disclosed. The invention includes a plasma chamber including a dielectric tophat configuration and a conductive top section that may be liquid cooled. In addition, the invention provides a radio frequency (RF) antenna configuration including an active antenna that is coupled to an RF source and a parasitic antenna that is not directly coupled to any RF source, but may be grounded. The RF antenna allows for tuning of the RF coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Inventors: Vikram Singh, Timothy Miller, Paul Murphy, Harold Persing, Jay Scheuer, Donna Smatlak, Edmund Winder, Robert Bettencourt
  • Patent number: 6403972
    Abstract: An ion beam is sensed with a beam current sensor which has a sensing aperture that is smaller than a cross-sectional dimension of the ion beam at the beam current sensor. The sensed ion beam current is indicative of ion beam position relative to a desired ion beam path. The ion beam position may be adjusted if the sensed ion beam position differs from the desired ion beam path. One or more beam current sensors may be utilized in an ion implanter for calibration and/or alignment. The beam current sensor may be utilized to determine a relation between a characteristic of an ion beam, such as magnetic rigidity, and a parameter of a system element, such as magnetic field, required to direct the ion beam along a desired ion beam path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Antonella Cucchetti, Leo Vincent Klos, Jr., Joseph C. Olson, Raymond L. Pelletier, Keith Pierce, Anthony Renau, Donna Smatlak