Patents by Inventor Francois J. Henley

Francois J. Henley 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: 7354815
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit on semiconductor substrates. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate characterized by a first lattice with a first structure and a first spacing. The semiconductor substrate has an overlying film of material with a second lattice with a second structure and a second spacing. Preferably, the second spacing placing the film of material in either a tensile or compressive mode across the entirety of the film of material relative to the semiconductor substrate with the first structure and the first spacing. The method includes processing the film of material to form a first region and a second region within the film of material. The first region and the second region are characterized by either the tensile or compressive mode. Preferably, both the first and second regions in their entirety are characterized by either the tensile or compressive mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventor: Francois J. Henley
  • Patent number: 7351644
    Abstract: A method for fabricating one or more devices, e.g., integrated circuits. The method includes providing a substrate (e.g., silicon), which has a thickness of semiconductor material and a surface region. The substrate also has a cleave plane provided within the substrate to define the thickness of semiconductor material. The method includes joining the surface region of the substrate to a first handle substrate. In a preferred embodiment, the first handle substrate is termed a “thin” substrate, which provides suitable bonding characteristics, can withstand high temperature processing often desired during the manufacture of semiconductor devices, and has desirable de-bonding characteristics between it and a second handle substrate, which will be described in more detail below. In a preferred embodiment, the first handle substrate is also thick enough and rigid enough to allow for cleaving according to a specific embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventor: Francois J. Henley
  • Patent number: 7348258
    Abstract: A technique for forming a film of material (12) from a donor substrate (10). The technique has a step of forming a stressed region in a selected manner at a selected depth (20) underneath the surface. An energy source such as pressurized fluid is directed to a selected region of the donor substrate to initiate a controlled cleaving action of the substrate (10) at the selected depth (20), whereupon the cleaving action provides an expanding cleave front to free the donor material from a remaining portion of the donor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Nathan Cheung
  • Patent number: 7166520
    Abstract: A method for fabricating one or more devices, e.g., integrated circuits. The method includes providing a substrate (e.g., silicon), which has a thickness of semiconductor material and a surface region. The substrate also has a cleave plane provided within the substrate to define the thickness of semiconductor material. The method includes joining the surface region of the substrate to a first handle substrate. In a preferred embodiment, the first handle substrate is termed a “thin” substrate, which provides suitable bonding characteristics, can withstand high temperature processing often desired during the manufacture of semiconductor devices, and has desirable de-bonding characteristics between it and a second handle substrate, which will be described in more detail below. In a preferred embodiment, the first handle substrate is also thick enough and rigid enough to allow for cleaving according to a specific embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventor: Francois J. Henley
  • Patent number: 7160790
    Abstract: A technique for forming a film of material (12) from a donor substrate (10). The technique has a step of introducing energetic particles (22) through a surface of a donor substrate (10) to a selected depth (20) underneath the surface, where the particles have a relatively high concentration to define a donor substrate material (12) above the selected depth. An energy source is directed to a selected region of the donor substrate to initiate a controlled cleaving action of the substrate (10) at the selected depth (20), whereupon the cleaving action provides an expanding cleave front to free the donor material from a remaining portion of the donor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Nathan W. Cheung
  • Patent number: 7094666
    Abstract: A method for forming a strained layer of semiconductor material, e.g., silicon, germanium, Group III/V, silicon germanium alloy. The method includes providing a non-deformable surface region having a first predetermined radius of curvature, which is defined by R(1) and is defined normal to the surface region. The method includes providing a first substrate (e.g., silicon wafer) having a first thickness. Preferably, the first substrate has a face, a backside, and a cleave plane defined within the first thickness. The method includes a step of overlying the backside of the first substrate on a portion of the surface region having the predetermined radius of curvature to cause a first bend within the thickness of material to form a first strain within a portion of the first thickness. The method provides a second substrate having a second thickness, which has a face and a backside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Philip James Ong, Igor J. Malik, Harry R. Kirk
  • Patent number: 7078317
    Abstract: A system for in-situ plasma treatment. The system has a processing chamber, e.g., plasma chamber. The system has a first susceptor coupled within the chamber and a second susceptor facing the first susceptor and being within the chamber. The system has one or more power sources. Preferably, a first power source is characterized by a first frequency. The first power source is coupled to the first susceptor and the second susceptor. A second power source is characterized by a second frequency. The second power source is coupled to the first susceptor and the second susceptor. A switching device is coupled to the first power source and is coupled the second power source. The switching device is configured to selectively apply the first frequency to the first susceptor while the second frequency is applied to the second susceptor and is alternatively configured to selectively apply the first frequency to the second susceptor while the second frequency is applied to the first susceptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventor: Francois J. Henley
  • Patent number: 7056808
    Abstract: A method of forming substrates, e.g., silicon on insulator, silicon on silicon. The method includes providing a donor substrate, e.g., silicon wafer. The method also includes forming a cleave layer on the donor substrate that contains the cleave plane, the plane of eventual separation. In a specific embodiment, the cleave layer comprising silicon germanium. The method also includes forming a device layer (e.g., epitaxial silicon) on the cleave layer. The method also includes introducing particles into the cleave layer to add stress in the cleave layer. The particles within the cleave layer are then redistributed to form a high concentration region of the particles in the vicinity of the cleave plane, where the redistribution of the particles is carried out in a manner substantially free from microbubble or microcavity formation of the particles in the cleave plane. That is, the particles are generally at a low dose, which is defined herein as a lack of microbubble or microcavity formation in the cleave plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Michael A. Bryan, William G. En
  • Patent number: 6890838
    Abstract: A technique for forming a gettering layer in a wafer made using a controlled cleaving process. The gettering layer can be made by implanting using beam line or plasma immersion ion implantaion, or made by forming a film of material such as polysilicon by way of chemical vapor deposition. A controlled cleaving process is used to form the wafer, which is a multilayered silicon on insulator substrate. The gettering layer removes and/or attracts impurities in the wafer, which can be detrimental to the functionality and reliability of an integrated circuit device made on the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Nathan W. Cheung
  • Patent number: 6790747
    Abstract: A technique for forming a film of material (12) from a donor substrate (10). The technique has a step of forming a stressed region in a selected manner at a selected depth (20) underneath the surface. An energy source such as pressurized fluid is directed to a selected region of the donor substrate to initiate a controlled cleaving action of the substrate (10) at the selected depth (20), whereupon the cleaving action provides an expanding cleave front to free the donor material from a remaining portion of the donor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Nathan W. Cheung
  • Publication number: 20040097055
    Abstract: A technique for forming a gettering layer in a wafer made using a controlled cleaving process. The gettering layer can be made by implanting using beam line or plasma immersion ion implantaion, or made by forming a film of material such as polysilicon by way of chemical vapor deposition. A controlled cleaving process is used to form the wafer, which is a multilayered silicon on insulator substrate. The gettering layer removes and/or attracts impurities in the wafer, which can be detrimental to the functionality and reliability of an integrated circuit device made on the wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Nathan Cheung
  • Patent number: 6632724
    Abstract: A technique for forming a film of material (12) from a donor substrate (10). The technique has a step of introducing energetic particles (22) through a surface of a donor substrate (10) to a selected depth (20) underneath the surface, where the particles have a relatively high concentration to define a donor substrate material (12) above the selected depth. An energy source is directed to a selected region of the donor substrate to initiate a controlled cleaving action of the substrate (10) at the selected depth (20), whereupon the cleaving action provides an expanding cleave front to free the donor material from a remaining portion of the donor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Nathan W. Cheung
  • Publication number: 20030124815
    Abstract: A method of forming substrates, e.g., silicon on insulator, silicon on silicon. The method includes providing a donor substrate, e.g., silicon wafer. The method also includes forming a cleave layer on the donor substrate that contains the cleave plane, the plane of eventual separation. In a specific embodiment, the cleave layer comprising silicon germanium. The method also includes forming a device layer (e.g., epitaxial silicon) on the cleave layer. The method also includes introducing particles into the cleave layer to add stress in the cleave layer. The particles within the cleave layer are then redistributed to form a high concentration region of the particles in the vicinity of the cleave plane, where the redistribution of the particles is carried out in a manner substantially free from microbubble or microcavity formation of the particles in the cleave plane. That is, the particles are generally at a low dose, which is defined herein as a lack of microbubble or microcavity formation in the cleave plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Applicant: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Michael A. Bryan, William G. En
  • Patent number: 6582999
    Abstract: A technique for forming a film of material (12) from a donor substrate (10). The technique has a step of introducing energetic particles (22) in a selected manner through a surface of a donor substrate (10) to a selected depth (20) underneath the surface, where the particles have a relatively high concentration to define a donor substrate material (12) above the selected depth and the particles for a pattern at the selected depth. An energy source such as pressurized fluid is directed to a selected region of the donor substrate to initiate a controlled cleaving action of the substrate (10) at the selected depth (20), whereupon the cleaving action provides an expanding cleave front to free the donor material from a remaining portion of the donor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Nathan Cheung
  • Publication number: 20030113983
    Abstract: A technique for forming a film of material (12) from a donor substrate (10). The technique has a step of forming a stressed region in a selected manner at a selected depth (20) underneath the surface. An energy source such as pressurized fluid is directed to a selected region of the donor substrate to initiate a controlled cleaving action of the substrate (10) at the selected depth (20), whereupon the cleaving action provides an expanding cleave front to free the donor material from a remaining portion of the donor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Applicant: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Nathan W. Cheung
  • Patent number: 6558802
    Abstract: A hybrid silicon-on-silicon substrate. A thin film (2101) of single-crystal silicon is bonded to a target wafer (46). A high-quality bond is formed between the thin film and the target wafer during a high-temperature annealing process. It is believed that the high-temperature annealing process forms covalent bonds between the layers at the interface (2305). The resulting hybrid wafer is suitable for use in integrated circuit manufacturing processes, similar to wafers with an epitaxial layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Nathan W. Cheung
  • Patent number: 6548382
    Abstract: A technique for forming a gettering layer in a wafer made using a controlled cleaving process. The gettering layer can be made by implanting using beam line or plasma immersion ion implantation, or made by forming a film of material such as polysilicon by way of chemical vapor deposition. A controlled cleaving process is used to form the wafer, which is a multilayered silicon on insulator substrate. The gettering layer removes and/or attracts impurities in the wafer, which can be detrimental to the functionality and reliability of an integrated circuit device made on the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Nathan W. Cheung
  • Patent number: 6526997
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an integrated circuit device. The method includes retrieving an in process substrate comprising one or more particles from an input chamber, which is coupled to a chamber for a robot arm, which is maintained under a predetermined environment. The method moves the substrate from the input chamber into a cleaning chamber, which is coupled to the robot arm chamber. The method places the substrate onto a susceptor in the cleaning chamber; and applies a high energy photon from a high energy photon source onto a surface of a substrate to release the one or more particles from the surface of the substrate while the substrate is maintained in the predetermined environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Inventor: Francois J. Henley
  • Patent number: 6528391
    Abstract: A technique for forming a film of material (12) from a donor substrate (10). The technique has a step of introducing energetic particles (22) in a selected manner through a surface of a donor substrate (10) to a selected depth (20) underneath the surface, where the particles have a relatively high concentration to define a donor substrate material (12) above the selected depth and the particles for a pattern at the selected depth. An energy source is directed to a selected region of the donor substrate to initiate a controlled cleaving action of the substrate (10) at the selected depth (20), whereupon the cleaving action provides an expanding cleave front to free the donor material from a remaining portion of the donor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Silicon Genesis, Corporation
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Nathan Cheung
  • Patent number: 6511899
    Abstract: A technique for forming a film of material (12) from a donor substrate (10). The technique has a step of introducing energetic particles (22) in a selected manner through a surface of a donor substrate (10) to a selected depth (20) underneath the surface, where the particles have a relatively high concentration to define a donor substrate material (12) above the selected depth and the particles for a pattern at the selected depth. An energy source such as pressurized fluid is directed to a selected region of the donor substrate to initiate a controlled cleaving action of the substrate (10) at the selected depth (20), whereupon the cleaving action provides an expanding cleave front to free the donor material from a remaining portion of the donor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Nathan Cheung