Patents by Inventor John F. Baggett

John F. Baggett 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: 11901198
    Abstract: A workpiece processing system has a cooling chamber enclosing a chamber volume. A workpiece support within the cooling chamber supports a workpiece having a material with an outgassing temperature, above which, the material outgases an outgas material at an outgassing rate that is toxic to personnel. A cooling apparatus selectively cools the workpiece to a predetermined temperature. A vacuum source and purge gas source selectively evacuates and selectively provides a purge gas to the chamber volume. A controller controls the cooling apparatus to cool the workpiece to the predetermined temperature, where the one or more materials are cooled below the outgassing temperature. The vacuum source and purge gas source are controlled to provide a predetermined heat transfer rate while removing the respective outgas material from the chamber volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John F. Baggett
  • Patent number: 10903097
    Abstract: A thermal chuck selectively retains a workpiece on a clamping surface. The thermal chuck has one or more heaters to selectively heat the clamping surface and the workpiece. A thermal monitoring device determines a temperature of a surface of the workpiece when the workpiece resides on the clamping surface, defining one or more measured temperatures. A controller selectively energizes the one or more heaters based on the one or more measured temperatures. The thermal monitoring device may be one or more of a thermocouple or RTD in selective contact with the surface of the workpiece and an emissivity sensor or pyrometer not in contact with the surface. The thermal chuck can be part of an ion implantation system configured to implant ions into the workpiece. The controller can be further configured to control the heaters based on the measured temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Baggett, Ronald N. Reece, Petros Miltiades Kopalidis
  • Publication number: 20210013061
    Abstract: A workpiece processing system has a cooling chamber enclosing a chamber volume. A workpiece support within the cooling chamber supports a workpiece having a material with an outgassing temperature, above which, the material outgases an outgas material at an outgassing rate that is toxic to personnel. A cooling apparatus selectively cools the workpiece to a predetermined temperature. A vacuum source and purge gas source selectively evacuates and selectively provides a purge gas to the chamber volume. A controller controls the cooling apparatus to cool the workpiece to the predetermined temperature, where the one or more materials are cooled below the outgassing temperature. The vacuum source and purge gas source are controlled to provide a predetermined heat transfer rate while removing the respective outgas material from the chamber volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventor: John F. Baggett
  • Patent number: 10861731
    Abstract: A workpiece processing system and method comprises transferring a workpiece to a vacuum chamber. A heated chuck is configured to selectively clamp a workpiece to a clamping surface thereof, wherein the heated chuck is configured to selectively heat the clamping surface. A workpiece transfer apparatus has an end effector configured to transfer the workpiece to the heated chuck, wherein the workpiece rests on the end effector. A controller selectively position the workpiece with respect to the heated chuck via a control of the workpiece transfer apparatus, wherein the controller is configured to position the workpiece at a predetermined distance from the clamping surface, wherein the predetermined distance generally determines an amount of radiation received by the workpiece from the heated chuck, and wherein the controller is further configured to place the workpiece on the surface of the heated chuck via a control of the workpiece transfer apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Baggett, Billy Benoit
  • Patent number: 10794694
    Abstract: A workpiece alignment system is provided has a light emission apparatus that directs a light beam at a plurality of wavelengths along a path at a shallow angle toward a first side of a workpiece plane at a peripheral region. A light receiver apparatus, receives the light beam on a second side opposite the first side. A rotation device selectively rotates a workpiece support. According controller determines a position of the workpiece based on an amount of the light beam received through the workpiece when the workpiece intersects the path. A sensitivity of the light receiver apparatus is controlled based on a transmissivity of the workpiece. A position of the workpiece is determined when the workpiece is rotated based on the rotational position, an amount of the light beam received, the transmissivity of the workpiece, detection of a workpiece edge, and the controlled sensitivity of the light receiver apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Baggett, Billy Thomas Benoit, Joe Ferrara, Brian Terry
  • Patent number: 10714317
    Abstract: A workpiece processing system has a chamber with one or more chamber walls defining surfaces enclosing a chamber volume. One or more chamber wall heaters selectively heat the chamber walls to a chamber wall temperature. A workpiece support within the chamber selectively supports a workpiece having one or more materials having a respective condensation temperature, above which, the one or more materials are respectively in a gaseous state. A heater apparatus selectively heats the workpiece to a predetermined temperature. A controller heats the workpiece to the predetermined temperature by controlling the heater apparatus, heating the one or more materials to respectively form one or more outgassed materials within the chamber volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John F. Baggett
  • Publication number: 20200216951
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for heating a workpiece in chamber provides one or more surfaces generally enclosing a chamber volume. Vacuum and purge gas ports are in in fluid communication with the chamber volume. A heater apparatus selectively heats the workpiece on a workpiece support to a predetermined temperature and generates an outgassed material within the chamber volume. A vacuum valve provides selective fluid communication between a vacuum source and the vacuum port. A purge gas valve provides selective fluid communication between a purge gas source for a purge gas and the purge gas port. A controller controls the vacuum and purge gas valves to selectively flow the purge gas from the purge gas port to the vacuum port at a predetermined pressure while the workpiece is heated, thus removing and preventing condensation of the outgassed material on the chamber surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventor: John F. Baggett
  • Publication number: 20200219705
    Abstract: A workpiece processing system has a chamber with one or more chamber walls defining surfaces enclosing a chamber volume. One or more chamber wall heaters selectively heat the chamber walls to a chamber wall temperature. A workpiece support within the chamber selectively supports a workpiece having one or more materials having a respective condensation temperature, above which, the one or more materials are respectively in a gaseous state. A heater apparatus selectively heats the workpiece to a predetermined temperature. A controller heats the workpiece to the predetermined temperature by controlling the heater apparatus, heating the one or more materials to respectively form one or more outgassed materials within the chamber volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventor: John F. Baggett
  • Patent number: 10679818
    Abstract: An insulator for an ion source is positioned between the apertured ground electrode and apertured suppression electrode. The insulator has an elongate body having a first end and a second end, where one or more features are defined in the elongate body and increase a gas conductance path along a surface of the elongate body from the first end to the second end. One or more of the features is an undercut extending generally axially or at a non-zero angle from an axis of the elongate body into the elongate body. One of the features can be a rib extending from a radius of the elongate body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Baggett, Neil Colvin
  • Publication number: 20190304820
    Abstract: A thermal chuck selectively retains a workpiece on a clamping surface. The thermal chuck has one or more heaters to selectively heat the clamping surface and the workpiece. A thermal monitoring device determines a temperature of a surface of the workpiece when the workpiece resides on the clamping surface, defining one or more measured temperatures. A controller selectively energizes the one or more heaters based on the one or more measured temperatures. The thermal monitoring device may be one or more of a thermocouple or RTD in selective contact with the surface of the workpiece and an emissivity sensor or pyrometer not in contact with the surface. The thermal chuck can be part of an ion implantation system configured to implant ions into the workpiece. The controller can be further configured to control the heaters based on the measured temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: John F. Baggett, Ronald N. Reece, Petros Miltiades Kopalidis
  • Publication number: 20190120617
    Abstract: A workpiece alignment system is provided has a light emission apparatus that directs a light beam at a plurality of wavelengths along a path at a shallow angle toward a first side of a workpiece plane at a peripheral region. A light receiver apparatus, receives the light beam on a second side opposite the first side. A rotation device selectively rotates a workpiece support. According controller determines a position of the workpiece based on an amount of the light beam received through the workpiece when the workpiece intersects the path. A sensitivity of the light receiver apparatus is controlled based on a transmissivity of the workpiece. A position of the workpiece is determined when the workpiece is rotated based on the rotational position, an amount of the light beam received, the transmissivity of the workpiece, detection of a workpiece edge, and the controlled sensitivity of the light receiver apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: John F. Baggett, Billy Thomas Benoit, Joe Ferrara, Brian Terry
  • Patent number: 10227693
    Abstract: A workpiece processing system, has a process chamber coupled to an outgassing chamber. An outgassing chamber valve selectively isolates a processing environment from an outgassing environment defined within the respective process and outgassing chambers. A heater selectively heats the workpiece on a workpiece support in the outgassing chamber to a first predetermined temperature. A vacuum source selectively depressurizes the outgassing chamber to a first predetermined pressure. A workpiece transfer apparatus selectively transfers the workpiece between the outgassing and process chambers. A controller isolates the workpiece in the outgassing chamber by the outgassing chamber valve and is configured to concurrently heat the workpiece to the first predetermined temperature and depressurize the outgassing chamber to the first predetermined pressure by the respective heater and vacuum source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John F. Baggett
  • Publication number: 20180350553
    Abstract: An insulator for an ion source is positioned between the apertured ground electrode and apertured suppression electrode. The insulator has an elongate body having a first end and a second end, where one or more features are defined in the elongate body and increase a gas conductance path along a surface of the elongate body from the first end to the second end. One or more of the features is an undercut extending generally axially or at a non-zero angle from an axis of the elongate body into the elongate body. One of the features can be a rib extending from a radius of the elongate body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: John F. Baggett, Neil Colvin
  • Patent number: 10074508
    Abstract: An insulator for an ion source is positioned between the apertured ground electrode and apertured suppression electrode. The insulator has an elongate body having a first end and a second end, where one or more features are defined in the elongate body and increase a gas conductance path along a surface of the elongate body from the first end to the second end. One or more of the features is an undercut extending generally axially or at a non-zero angle from an axis of the elongate body into the elongate body. One of the features can be a rib extending from a radius of the elongate body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Baggett, Neil Colvin
  • Patent number: 10041789
    Abstract: A workpiece alignment system has a workpiece support to support a workpiece. A first light emitter directs a first light beam toward the workpiece. A first light receiver receives the first light beam. A rotation device rotates the workpiece support about a support axis. A second light emitter directs a second light beam toward a peripheral region of the workpiece. A second light receiver receives the second light beam concurrent with the rotation of the workpiece. A controller determines a transmissivity of the workpiece based on a total initial emittance of the first light beam a transmission of the first light beam through the workpiece. The controller determines a position of the workpiece with respect to the support axis based, at least in part, on a rotational position of the workpiece, a portion of the second light beam received, and the determined transmissivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Baggett, Joseph Ferrara
  • Publication number: 20180204755
    Abstract: A workpiece processing system and method comprises transferring a workpiece to a vacuum chamber. A heated chuck is configured to selectively clamp a workpiece to a clamping surface thereof, wherein the heated chuck is configured to selectively heat the clamping surface. A workpiece transfer apparatus has an end effector configured to transfer the workpiece to the heated chuck, wherein the workpiece rests on the end effector. A controller selectively position the workpiece with respect to the heated chuck via a control of the workpiece transfer apparatus, wherein the controller is configured to position the workpiece at a predetermined distance from the clamping surface, wherein the predetermined distance generally determines an amount of radiation received by the workpiece from the heated chuck, and wherein the controller is further configured to place the workpiece on the surface of the heated chuck via a control of the workpiece transfer apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: John F. Baggett, Billy Benoit
  • Publication number: 20180094921
    Abstract: A workpiece alignment system has a workpiece support to support a workpiece. A first light emitter directs a first light beam toward the workpiece. A first light receiver receives the first light beam. A rotation device rotates the workpiece support about a support axis. A second light emitter directs a second light beam toward a peripheral region of the workpiece. A second light receiver receives the second light beam concurrent with the rotation of the workpiece. A controller determines a transmissivity of the workpiece based on a total initial emittance of the first light beam a transmission of the first light beam through the workpiece. The controller determines a position of the workpiece with respect to the support axis based, at least in part, on a rotational position of the workpiece, a portion of the second light beam received, and the determined transmissivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: John F. Baggett, Joseph Ferrara
  • Patent number: 9502207
    Abstract: An ion source filament clamp has a clamp member having first and second ends. The first end has one of a cam surface and a cam follower, and has first and second portions that are opposed to one another and separated by a slot having a lead opening defined therein to receive a lead of an ion source filament. An actuator pin extends along an actuator pin axis and has first and second sections. The first section is coupled to the first portion of the clamp member. The actuator pin extends through, and is in sliding engagement with, a thru-hole in the second portion of the clamp member. A cam member is operably coupled to the second section of the actuator pin. The cam member has a handle and the other of the cam surface and cam follower and is configured to rotate between a clamped position and an unclamped position. The cam follower slidingly contacts the cam surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: AXCELIS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: John F. Baggett, Jason R. Beringer