Patents by Inventor Frank Sinclair

Frank Sinclair 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: 8679356
    Abstract: A method of patterning a substrate, comprises patterning a photoresist layer disposed on the substrate using imprint lithography and etching exposed portions of a hard mask layer disposed between the patterned photoresist layer and the substrate. The method may also comprise implanting ions into a magnetic layer in the substrate while the etched hard mask layer is disposed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander C. Kontos, Frank Sinclair, Anthony Renau
  • Patent number: 8659229
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus and method are disclosed which create a uniform plasma within an enclosure. In one embodiment, a conductive or ferrite material is used to influence a section of the antenna, where a section is made up of portions of multiple coiled segments. In another embodiment, a ferrite material is used to influence a portion of the antenna. In another embodiment, plasma uniformity is improved by modifying the internal shape and volume of the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Kurunczi, Frank Sinclair, Costel Biloiu, Ludovic Godet, Ernest Allen
  • Patent number: 8604443
    Abstract: A system for manipulating an ion beam having a principal axis includes an upper member having a first and a second coil generally disposed in different regions of the upper member and configured to conduct, independently of each other, a first and a second current, respectively. A lower member includes a third and a fourth coil that are generally disposed opposite to respective first and second coils and are configured to conduct, independently of each other, a third and a fourth current, respectively. A lens gap is defined between the upper and lower members, and configured to transmit the ion beam, wherein the first through fourth currents produce a 45 degree quadrupole field that exerts a rotational force on the ion beam about its principal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Sinclair, Victor M. Benveniste, Svetlana Radovanov, James S. Buff
  • Publication number: 20130313443
    Abstract: An ion source includes an ion chamber housing defining an ion source chamber, the ion chamber housing having a side with a plurality of apertures. The ion source also includes an antechamber housing defining an antechamber. The antechamber housing shares the side with the plurality of apertures with the ion chamber housing. The antechamber housing has an opening to receive a gas from a gas source. The antechamber is configured to transform the gas into an altered state having excited neutrals that is provided through the plurality of apertures into the ion source chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventors: Bon-Woong Koo, Victor Benveniste, Christopher A. Rowland, Craig R. Chaney, Frank Sinclair, Neil J. Bassom
  • Patent number: 8590485
    Abstract: An ion source, capable of generating high-density wide ribbon ion beam, utilizing inductively coupled plasma production is disclosed. As opposed to conventional ICP sources, the present disclosure describes an ICP source which is not cylindrical. Rather, the source is defined such that its width, which is the dimension along which the beam is extracted, is greater than its height. The depth of the source may be defined to maximize energy transfer from the antenna to the plasma. In a further embodiment, a multicusp magnetic field surrounding the ICP source is used to further increase the current density and improve the uniformity of the extracted ion beam. Ion beam uniformity can also be controlled by means of several independent controls, including gas flow rate, and input RF power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Costel Biloiu, Jay Scheuer, Joseph Olson, Frank Sinclair, Daniel Distaso
  • Patent number: 8545624
    Abstract: An apparatus to pump a melt is disclosed. The pump has a chamber that defines a cavity configured to hold the melt. A gas source is in fluid communication with the chamber. A first valve is between the chamber and a first pipe and a second valve is between the chamber and a second pipe. The valves may be check valves in one embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter L. Kellerman, Frank Sinclair, Frederick Carlson
  • Patent number: 8519353
    Abstract: A method of controlling deflection of a charged particle beam in an electrostatic lens includes establishing a symmetrical electrostatic lens configuration comprising a plurality of electrodes disposed at unadjusted positions that are symmetric with respect to the central ray trajectory with applied unadjusted voltages that create fields symmetric with respect to the central ray trajectory. A symmetric electric field is calculated corresponding to the set of unadjusted voltages. A plurality of lower electrodes is arranged at adjusted positions that are asymmetric with respect to the central ray trajectory. A set of adjusted voltages is obtained for the plurality of lower electrodes, wherein the set of adjusted voltages corresponds to a set of respective potentials of the symmetric electric field at respective adjusted asymmetric positions. The adjusted voltages are applied to the asymmetric lens configuration when the charged particle beam passes therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Svetlana Radovanov, Peter L. Kellerman, Frank Sinclair, Robert C. Lindberg
  • Patent number: 8501624
    Abstract: An ion source that utilizes exited and/or atomic gas injection is disclosed. In an ion beam application, the source gas can be used directly, as it is traditionally supplied. Alternatively or additionally, the source gas can be altered by passing it through a remote plasma source prior to being introduced to the ion source chamber. This can be used to create excited neutrals, heavy ions, metastable molecules or multiply charged ions. In another embodiment, multiple gasses are used, where one or more of the gasses are passed through a remote plasma generator. In certain embodiments, the gasses are combined in a single plasma generator before being supplied to the ion source chamber. In plasma immersion applications, plasma is injected into the process chamber through one or more additional gas injection locations. These injection locations allow the influx of additional plasma, produced by remote plasma sources external to the process chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Bon-Woong Koo, Victor Benveniste, Christopher A. Rowland, Craig R. Chaney, Frank Sinclair, Neil J. Bassom
  • Patent number: 8475591
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a sheet are disclosed. A melt is cooled and a sheet is formed on the melt. This sheet has a first thickness. The sheet is then thinned from the first thickness to a second thickness using, for example, a heater or the melt. The cooling may be configured to allow solutes to be trapped in a region of the sheet and this particular sheet may be thinned and the solutes removed. The melt may be, for example, silicon, silicon and germanium, gallium, or gallium nitride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter L. Kellerman, Fredrick Carlson, Frank Sinclair
  • Patent number: 8466431
    Abstract: Techniques for improving extracted ion beam quality using high-transparency electrodes are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as an apparatus for ion implantation. The apparatus may comprise an ion source for generating an ion beam, wherein the ion source comprises a faceplate with an aperture for the ion beam to travel therethrough. The apparatus may also comprise a set of extraction electrodes comprising at least a suppression electrode and a high-transparency ground electrode, wherein the set of extraction electrodes may extract the ion beam from the ion source via the faceplate, and wherein the high-transparency ground electrode may be configured to optimize gas conductance between the suppression electrode and the high-transparency ground electrode for improved extracted ion beam quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: James S. Buff, Svetlana Radovanov, Bon-Woong Koo, Wilhelm Platow, Frank Sinclair, D. Jeffrey Lischer, Craig R. Chaney, Steven Borichevsky, Eric R. Cobb, Mayur Jagtap, Kenneth H. Purser, Victor Benveniste, Shardul S. Patel
  • Patent number: 8460748
    Abstract: An improved patterned magnetic bit data storage media and a method for manufacturing the same is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the improved patterned magnetic bit data storage media may comprise an active region exhibiting substantially ferromagnetism; and an inactive region exhibiting substantially paramagnetism, the inactive region comprising at least two grains and a grain boundary interposed therebetween, wherein each of the at least two grains contain ferromagnetic material, and wherein the at least two grains are antiferromagnetically coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Varian Seminconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Sinclair, Vikram Singh
  • Patent number: 8436318
    Abstract: An RF ion source utilizing a heating/RF-shielding element for controlling the temperature of an RF window and to act as an RF shielding element for the RF ion source. When the heating/RF shielding element is in a heating mode, it suppresses formation of unwanted deposits on the RF window which negatively impacts the transfer of RF energy from an RF antenna to a plasma chamber. When the heating/RF-shielding element is in a shielding mode, it provides an electrostatic shielding for the RF ion source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Sinclair, Costel Biloiu, Bon-Woong Koo, Victor Benveniste, Shardul Patel
  • Publication number: 20130092413
    Abstract: A current lead with a configuration to reduce heat load transfer in an alternating electrical current (AC) environment is disclosed. The current lead may comprise a conductive material having a configuration for reducing heat load transfer across the current lead when an alternating electrical current (AC) is applied to the current lead. A temperature gradient a may be exhibited along a length of the current lead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory CITVER, Frank SINCLAIR, D. Jeffrey LISCHER, Nandishkumar DESAI
  • Publication number: 20130090242
    Abstract: Techniques for sub-cooling in a superconducting (SC) system is disclosed. The techniques may be realized as a method and superconducting (SC) system comprising at least one insulated enclosure configured to enclose at least a first fluid or gas and a second fluid or gas, and at least one superconducting circuit within the at least one insulated enclosure. The superconducting (SC) system may be sub-cooled using at least the first fluid or gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Strassner, Gregory Citver, Frank Sinclair
  • Patent number: 8357912
    Abstract: Techniques for providing a multimode ion source are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as an apparatus for ion implantation, the apparatus including an ion source having a hot cathode and a high frequency plasma generator, wherein the ion source has multiple modes of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Svetlana Radovanov, Bon-Woong Koo, Frank Sinclair, Victor Benveniste
  • Publication number: 20130001414
    Abstract: A system for producing a mass analyzed ion beam for implanting into a workpiece, includes an extraction plate having a set of apertures having a longitudinal axis of the aperture. The set of apertures are configured to extract ions from an ion source to form a plurality of beamlets. The system also includes an analyzing magnet region configured to provide a magnetic field to deflect ions in the beamlets in a first direction that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the apertures. The system further includes a mass analysis plate having a set of apertures configured to transmit first ion species having a first mass/charge ratio and to block second ion species having a second mass/charge ratio and a workpiece holder configured to move with respect to the mass analysis plate along the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventors: Victor M. Benveniste, Frank Sinclair, Svetlana Radovanov, Bon-Woong Koo
  • Patent number: 8330125
    Abstract: A beam line ion implanter includes an ion source configured to generate an ion beam, a scanner configured to scan the ion beam to produce a scanned ion beam having trajectories which diverge from a scan origin, and a focusing element having a focusing field positioned upstream of the scanner configured to focus the ion beam to a focal point at the scan origin. A method of ion beam tuning includes generating an ion beam, focusing the ion beam to a focal point positioned at a scan origin, and scanning the ion beam to produce a scanned ion beam having trajectories which diverge from the scan origin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Shengwu Chang, Joseph C. Olson, Frank Sinclair, Matthew P. McClellan
  • Publication number: 20120292285
    Abstract: A method of patterning a substrate, comprises patterning a photoresist layer disposed on the substrate using imprint lithography and etching exposed portions of a hard mask layer disposed between the patterned photoresist layer and the substrate. The method may also comprise implanting ions into a magnetic layer in the substrate while the etched hard mask layer is disposed thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventors: Alexander C. Kontos, Frank Sinclair, Anthony Renau
  • Publication number: 20120293070
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus and method are disclosed which create a uniform plasma within an enclosure. In one embodiment, a conductive or ferrite material is used to influence a section of the antenna, where a section is made up of portions of multiple coiled segments. In another embodiment, a ferrite material is used to influence a portion of the antenna. In another embodiment, plasma uniformity is improved by modifying the internal shape and volume of the enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventors: Peter Kurunczi, Frank Sinclair, Costel Biloiu, Ludovic Godet, Ernest Allen
  • Patent number: 8309935
    Abstract: An ion implantation system includes an electrostatic lens. The electrostatic lens includes a terminal electrode, a ground electrode and a suppression electrode disposed therebetween. An ion beam enters the electrostatic lens through the terminal electrode and exits through the ground electrode. The electrodes have associated electrostatic equipotentials. An end plate is disposed between a top and bottom portion of the suppression electrode and/or the top and bottom portion of the ground electrode. The respective end plate has a shape which corresponds to the electrostatic equipotential associated with the particular electrode in order to maintain uniformity of the beam as it passes through the electrostatic lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Sinclair, Svetlana B. Radovanov, Kenneth H. Purser