Patents by Inventor Harry R. Kirk

Harry R. Kirk 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: 7595499
    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: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Philip James Ong, Igor J. Malik, Harry R. Kirk
  • Patent number: 7479441
    Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for bonding together substrates in a manner that suppresses the formation of voids between them. In a specific embodiment, a backside of each substrate is adhered to a front area of flexible, porous chuck having a rear area in pneumatic communication with a vacuum. Application of the vacuum causes the chuck and the associated substrate to slightly bend. Owing to this bending, physical contact between local portions on the front side of the flexed substrates may be initiated, while maintaining other portions on front side of the substrates substantially free from contact with each other. A bond wave is formed and maintained at a determined velocity to form a continuous interface joining the front sides of the substrates, without formation of voids therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventors: Harry R. Kirk, Francois J. Henley, Philip James Ong
  • Patent number: 7427554
    Abstract: A method for forming a strained silicon layer of semiconductor material. The method includes providing a deformable surface region having a first predetermined radius of curvature, which is defined by R(1) and is defined normal to the surface region. A backing plate is coupled to the deformable surface region to cause the deformable surface region to be substantially non-deformable. 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: August 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Harry R. Kirk
  • Patent number: 7391047
    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: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Philip James Ong, Igor J. Malik, Harry R. Kirk
  • Publication number: 20080141510
    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: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: Silicon Genesis Corporation
    Inventors: Francois J. Henley, Philip James Ong, Igor J. Malik, Harry R. Kirk
  • 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