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: 6500732
    Abstract: A method of forming substrates. The method includes providing a donor substrate; and forming a cleave layer comprising a cleave plane on the donor substrate. The cleave plane extends from a periphery of the donor substrate through a center region of the substrate. The method also includes forming a device layer on the cleave layer. The method also includes selectively introducing a plurality of particles along the periphery of the cleave plane to form a higher concentration region at the periphery and a lower concentration region in the center region. Selected energy is provided to the donor substrate to initiate a cleaving action at the higher concentration region at the periphery of the cleave plane to cleave the device layer at the cleave plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Michael A. Brayan, William G. En
  • Patent number: 6500268
    Abstract: A method for cleaning objects (e.g., wafers, integrated circuits, photonic devices, opto-electronic devices, piezoelectronic devices, microelectromechanical systems (“MEMS”), sensors, actuators, solar cells, flat panel displays (e.g., LCD, AMLCD), biological and biomedical devices) of particles (e.g., particulate contamination) that attach themselves to surfaces of the objects. The method includes applying a high energy laser source on a surface of a substrate to release one or more particles from the surface of the substrate while maintaining the substrate in a vacuum environment; and applying an electrostatic source directed to the substrate to attract the released one or more particles from the substrate to remove the one or more particles from the surface of the substrate. The method also removes the substrate from the vacuum environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventor: Francois J. Henley
  • Patent number: 6486041
    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: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Nathan W. Cheung
  • Patent number: 6458723
    Abstract: An ion implantation apparatus and method. The apparatus has a vacuum chamber and an ion beam generator to generate an ion beam in the vacuum chamber. The apparatus also has an implant wheel (10), in the vacuum chamber, having a plurality of circumferentially distributed substrate holding positions. Each of the substrate holding positions comprises a substrate holder (17), which includes an elastomer overlying the substrate holder (17) and a thermal insulating material (71) (e.g., quartz, silicon, ceramics, and other substantially non-compliant materials) overlying the elastomer (72). The present thermal insulating material increases a temperature of a substrate as it is implanted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Michael A. Bryan, William G. En
  • Patent number: 6458672
    Abstract: A method 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. A step of increasing a built-in energy state of the substrate is also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Nathan W. Cheung
  • Patent number: 6448152
    Abstract: A method for generating a plurality of donor wafers and handle wafers prior to an order being placed by a customer. For example, a plurality of donor wafers with different silicon layer thicknesses along with a plurality of handle wafers with different oxide layer thicknesses are fabricated. Subsequently, a customer may place an order for silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers which share defined parameters. Therefore, a prefabricated donor wafer and handle wafer are selected based on the customer's defined parameters and then bonded together. Next, the donor wafer is cleaved from the handle wafer wherein the handle wafer retains the silicon layer of the donor wafer. The silicon layer thickness of the handle wafer may be altered to meet the customer's parameters. For example, an epitaxial smoothing process may decrease the silicon layer thickness while an epitaxial thickening process may increase the silicon layer thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Sien G. Kang, Igor J. Malik
  • Publication number: 20020115264
    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: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Nathan Cheung
  • Publication number: 20020106870
    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: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2000
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Nathan W. Cheung
  • Publication number: 20020098713
    Abstract: A cluster tool system having a computer memory. The memory has a variety of codes for operating a plasma immersion ion implantation chamber. In some embodiments, the cluster tool method also includes computer codes for a controlled cleaving process chamber, as well as others.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Applicant: Francois J. Henley
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Nathan Cheung
  • Publication number: 20020090758
    Abstract: A process for forming an integrated circuit device structure. The process includes forming a first gate layer on a thickness of material on a donor substrate. The donor substrate has a cleave region underlying the gate layer. The process also includes joining the donor substrate to a handle substrate where the gate layer face the handle substrate; and separating the thickness of material at the cleave region from the donor substrate to define a handle substrate comprising the gate layer and an overlying thickness of material. The process forms a plurality of second gate structures on the thickness of material, where at least one of the first gate structures facing one of the second gate structures forming a channel region therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Applicant: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Nathan Cheung
  • Patent number: 6413837
    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: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Nathan Cheung
  • Publication number: 20020081823
    Abstract: A technique for forming a film of material (12) from a donor substrate (10). The technique has a step of forming a weakened region in a selected manner at a selected depth (20) underneath the surface. 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: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Applicant: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan W. Cheung, Francois J. Henley
  • Patent number: 6391740
    Abstract: A technique for forming a film of material (12) from a donor substrate (10). The technique has a step of forming a weakened region in a selected manner at a selected depth (20) underneath the surface. 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: April 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan W. Cheung, Francois J. Henley
  • Publication number: 20020056519
    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 form a pattern at a selected depth (20) underneath the surface. The particles have a concentration sufficiently high 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: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2001
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Nathan W. Cheung
  • Publication number: 20020055266
    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: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Applicant: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Nathan Cheung
  • Patent number: 6335264
    Abstract: A technique for forming films 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 donor substrate material (12) above the selected depth. Energy is provided to a selected region of the substrate to cleave a thin film of material from the donor substrate. Particles are introduced again into the donor substrate underneath a fresh surface of the donor substrate. A second thin film of material is then cleaved from the donor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Nathan W. Cheung
  • Patent number: 6321134
    Abstract: A cluster tool system having a computer memory. The memory has a variety of codes for operating a plasma immersion ion implantation chamber. In some embodiments, the cluster tool method also includes computer codes for a controlled cleaving process chamber, as well as others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Nathan Cheung
  • Publication number: 20010026997
    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: February 20, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Nathan W. Cheung
  • Patent number: 6294814
    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 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Nathan W. Cheung
  • Patent number: RE37847
    Abstract: Final testing of an LCD panel or the like is performed after preliminary testing for short circuit defects. During final testing, the panel is exposed to signals at the shorting bars and the resulting display pattern is imaged. The resulting image data then is processed at a computer system to determine whether the resulting display pattern differs from an expected display pattern. If differences are present then an open circuit or pixel defect is present. The applied test signals and the pattern or differences determine the type of defect present. For an open circuit defect along a gate line, a partial row (column) of the resulting display pattern does not activate. For an open circuit along a drive line, a partial column (row) of the resulting display does not activate. Pixel shorts are identified by applying test signals to the shorting bars during a first test cycle, then imaging the display during a second test cycle after at least one of the test signals is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Photon Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Stephen Barton