Patents by Inventor John J. Hautala

John J. Hautala 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: 8481340
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing semiconductor-based light-emitting devices, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), is described. The method comprises irradiating an interface region with a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) to improve the interface region between a light-emitting device stack and the substrate, within the light-emitting device stack, and/or between the light-emitting device stack and a metal contact layer in an end-type contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: TEL Epion Inc.
    Inventor: John J. Hautala
  • Patent number: 8435890
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is described. The method comprises performing a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) pre-treatment and/or post-treatment of at least a portion of a silicon-containing substrate during formation of a silicide region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: TEL Epion Inc.
    Inventors: Noel Russell, John J. Hautala, John Gumpher
  • Publication number: 20130059449
    Abstract: A method of etching a substrate is described. In one embodiment, the method includes preparing a mask layer having a pattern formed therein on or above at least a portion of a substrate, etching a feature pattern into the substrate from the pattern in the mask layer using a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB), and controlling a sidewall profile of the feature pattern etched into the substrate by adjusting a beam divergence of the GCIB.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: TEL EPION INC.
    Inventors: John J. HAUTALA, Michael GRAF
  • Patent number: 8372489
    Abstract: A method for depositing material on a substrate is described. The method comprises directionally depositing a thin film on one or more surfaces of a substrate using a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) formed from a source of precursor to the thin film, wherein the deposition occurs on surfaces oriented substantially perpendicular to the direction of incidence of the GCIB, and deposition is substantially avoided on surfaces oriented substantially parallel to the direction of incidence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: TEL Epion Inc.
    Inventor: John J. Hautala
  • Patent number: 8313663
    Abstract: A method of treating a workpiece is described. The method comprises selectively forming a sacrificial material on one or more regions of a substrate or a layer on the substrate using a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB), and adjusting a surface profile of a surface on the substrate or the layer on the substrate by performing an etching process following the selective formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: TEL Epion Inc.
    Inventor: John J. Hautala
  • Publication number: 20120238092
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is described. The method comprises performing a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) pre-treatment and/or post-treatment of at least a portion of a silicon-containing substrate during formation of a silicide region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: TEL EPION INC.
    Inventors: Noel Russell, John J. Hautala, John Gumpher
  • Publication number: 20120225532
    Abstract: A method for controlling a resistive property or conductive property in a resistive element using a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) is described. In one embodiment, the method may include controlling a resistive switching behavior in a resistive switching random-access memory device using a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: TEL EPION INC.
    Inventors: John J. Hautala, Edmund Burke
  • Patent number: 8237136
    Abstract: A method and system for treating a non-planar structure is described. The method includes forming a non-planar structure on a substrate. Additionally, the method includes generating a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) formed from a material source for treatment of the non-planar structure, tilting the substrate relative to the GCIB, and irradiating the non-planar structure with the GCIB. The system includes a substrate tilt actuator coupled to a substrate holder and configured to tilt the substrate holder relative to a GCIB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: TEL Epion Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Hautala, Noel Russell
  • Patent number: 8226835
    Abstract: A method of preparing a thin film on a substrate is described. The method comprises forming an ultra-thin hermetic film over a portion of a substrate using a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB), wherein the ultra-thin hermetic film has a thickness less than approximately 5 nm. The method further comprises providing a substrate in a reduced-pressure environment, and generating a GCIB in the reduced-pressure environment from a pressurized gas mixture. A beam acceleration potential and a beam dose are selected to achieve a thickness of the thin film less than about 5 nanometers (nm). The GCIB is accelerated according to the beam acceleration potential, and the accelerated GCIB is irradiated onto at least a portion of the substrate according to the beam dose. By doing so, the thin film is formed on the at least a portion of the substrate to achieve the thickness desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: TEL Epion Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Hautala, Edmund Burke, Noel Russell, Gregory Herdt
  • Patent number: 8192805
    Abstract: Embodiments of methods for improving electrical leakage performance and minimizing electromigration in semiconductor devices are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: TEL Epion Inc.
    Inventors: Noel Russell, Steven Sherman, John J. Hautala
  • Patent number: 8187971
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is described. The method comprises performing a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) pre-treatment and/or post-treatment of at least a portion of a silicon-containing substrate during formation of a silicide region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: TEL Epion Inc.
    Inventors: Noel Russell, John J. Hautala, John Gumpher
  • Publication number: 20110312106
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing semiconductor-based light-emitting devices, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), is described. The method comprises irradiating an interface region with a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) to improve the interface region between a light-emitting device stack and the substrate, within the light-emitting device stack, and/or between the light-emitting device stack and a metal contact layer in an end-type contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: TEL EPION INC.
    Inventor: John J. Hautala
  • Publication number: 20110266466
    Abstract: A method of modifying a material layer on a substrate is described. The method comprises forming the material layer on the substrate. Thereafter, the method comprises establishing a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) having an energy per atom ratio ranging from about 0.25 eV per atom to about 100 eV per atom, and modifying the material layer by exposing the material layer to the GCIB.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: TEL EPION INC.
    Inventors: John J. Hautala, Nathan E. Baxter
  • Patent number: 8048788
    Abstract: A method for treating a structure is described. One embodiment includes forming a structure on a substrate, wherein the structure has a plurality of surfaces including one or more first surfaces lying substantially parallel to a first plane parallel with said substrate and one or more second surfaces lying substantially perpendicular to the first plane. Additionally, the method comprises directing a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) formed from a material source toward the substrate with a direction of incidence, and orienting the substrate relative to the direction of incidence. The method further comprises treating the one or more second surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: TEL Epion Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Hautala, Noel Russell
  • Publication number: 20110174770
    Abstract: A method of etching a material layer on a substrate is described. In one embodiment, the method includes modifying an etch resistance of a material layer to a pre-determined etch process by doping the material layer using energetic charged particles, and etching the modified material layer using the pre-determined etch process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: TEL EPION INC.
    Inventor: John J. Hautala
  • Patent number: 7982196
    Abstract: A method of modifying a material layer on a substrate is described. The method comprises forming the material layer on the substrate. Thereafter, the method comprises establishing a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) having an energy per atom ratio ranging from about 0.25 eV per atom to about 100 eV per atom, and modifying the material layer by exposing the material layer to the GCIB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: TEL Epion Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Hautala, Nathan E. Baxter
  • Patent number: 7981483
    Abstract: Embodiments of methods for improving electrical leakage performance and minimizing electromigration in semiconductor devices are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: TEL Epion Inc.
    Inventors: Noel Russell, Steven Sherman, John J. Hautala
  • Patent number: 7968422
    Abstract: A method of forming shallow trench isolation on a substrate using a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) is described. The method comprises generating a GCIB, and irradiating the substrate with the GCIB to form a shallow trench isolation structure by growing a dielectric layer in at least one region on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: TEL Epion Inc.
    Inventor: John J. Hautala
  • Patent number: 7947582
    Abstract: A method of preparing a floating trap type device on a substrate is described. The method comprises forming a trap layer structure on a substrate, and modifying a composition of one or more layers in the trap layer structure by exposing the trap layer structure to a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: TEL Epion Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Hautala, Mitchell A. Carlson
  • Publication number: 20110117738
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is described. The method comprises performing a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) pre-treatment and/or post-treatment of at least a portion of a silicon-containing substrate during formation of a silicide region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: TEL EPION INC.
    Inventors: Noel Russell, John J. Hautala, John Gumpher