Patents by Inventor Michael St. Peter

Michael St. Peter 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: 11232925
    Abstract: An IHC ion source that employs a negatively biased cathode and one or more side electrodes is disclosed. The one or more side electrodes are left electrically unconnected in certain embodiments and are grounded in other embodiments. The floating side electrodes may be beneficial in the formation of certain species. In certain embodiments, a relay is used to allow the side electrodes to be easily switched between these two modes. By changing the configuration of the side electrodes, beam current can be optimized for different species. For example, certain species, such as arsenic, may be optimized when the side electrodes are at the same voltage as the chamber. Other species, such as boron, may be optimized when the side electrodes are left floating relative to the chamber. In certain embodiments, a controller is in communication with the relay so as to control which mode is used, based on the desired feed gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Shengwu Chang, Frank Sinclair, Michael St. Peter
  • Patent number: 11120966
    Abstract: An IHC ion source that employs a negatively biased cathode and one or more side electrodes is disclosed. The one or more side electrodes are biased using an electrode power supply, which supplies a voltage of between 0 and ?50 volts, relative to the chamber. By adjusting the output from the electrode power supply, beam current can be optimized for different species. For example, certain species, such as arsenic, may be optimized when the side electrodes are at the same voltage as the chamber. Other species, such as boron, may be optimized when the side electrodes are at a negative voltage relative to the chamber. In certain embodiments, a controller is in communication with the electrode power supply so as to control the output of the electrode power supply, based on the desired feed gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Shengwu Chang, Frank Sinclair, Michael St. Peter
  • Publication number: 20210066019
    Abstract: An IHC ion source that employs a negatively biased cathode and one or more side electrodes is disclosed. The one or more side electrodes are biased using an electrode power supply, which supplies a voltage of between 0 and ?50 volts, relative to the chamber. By adjusting the output from the electrode power supply, beam current can be optimized for different species. For example, certain species, such as arsenic, may be optimized when the side electrodes are at the same voltage as the chamber. Other species, such as boron, may be optimized when the side electrodes are at a negative voltage relative to the chamber. In certain embodiments, a controller is in communication with the electrode power supply so as to control the output of the electrode power supply, based on the desired feed gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Shengwu Chang, Frank Sinclair, Michael St. Peter
  • Publication number: 20210066017
    Abstract: An IHC ion source that employs a negatively biased cathode and one or more side electrodes is disclosed. The one or more side electrodes are left electrically unconnected in certain embodiments and are grounded in other embodiments. The floating side electrodes may be beneficial in the formation of certain species. In certain embodiments, a relay is used to allow the side electrodes to be easily switched between these two modes. By changing the configuration of the side electrodes, beam current can be optimized for different species. For example, certain species, such as arsenic, may be optimized when the side electrodes are at the same voltage as the chamber. Other species, such as boron, may be optimized when the side electrodes are left floating relative to the chamber. In certain embodiments, a controller is in communication with the relay so as to control which mode is used, based on the desired feed gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Shengwu Chang, Frank Sinclair, Michael St. Peter
  • Patent number: 10600611
    Abstract: An ion source with a crucible is disclosed. In some embodiments, the crucible is disposed in one of the ends of the ions source, opposite the cathode. In other embodiments, the crucible is disposed in one of the side walls. A feed material, which may be in solid form is disposed in the crucible. In certain embodiments, the feed material is sputtered by ions and electrons in the plasma. In other embodiments, the feed material is heated so that it vaporizes. The ion source may be oriented so that the crucible is disposed in the lowest wall so that gravity retains the feed material in the crucible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Klaus Becker, Daniel Alvarado, Michael St. Peter, Graham Wright
  • Publication number: 20190180971
    Abstract: An ion source with a crucible is disclosed. In some embodiments, the crucible is disposed in one of the ends of the ions source, opposite the cathode. In other embodiments, the crucible is disposed in one of the side walls. A feed material, which may be in solid form is disposed in the crucible. In certain embodiments, the feed material is sputtered by ions and electrons in the plasma. In other embodiments, the feed material is heated so that it vaporizes. The ion source may be oriented so that the crucible is disposed in the lowest wall so that gravity retains the feed material in the crucible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Klaus Becker, Daniel Alvarado, Michael St. Peter, Graham Wright
  • Patent number: 9934928
    Abstract: Provided herein are approaches for improving ion beam extraction stability and ion beam current for an ion extraction system. In one approach, a source housing assembly may include a source housing surrounding an ion source including an arc chamber, the source housing having an extraction aperture plate mounted at a proximal end thereof. The source housing assembly further includes a vacuum liner disposed within an interior of the source housing to form a barrier around a set of vacuum pumping apertures. As configured, openings in the source housing assembly, other than an opening in the extraction aperture plate, are enclosed by the extraction aperture plate and the vacuum liner, thus ensuring appendix arcs or extraneous ions produced outside the arc chamber remain within the source housing. Just those ions produced within the arc chamber exit the source housing through the opening of the extraction aperture plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Shengwu Chang, Jeff Burgess, William Leavitt, Michael St Peter, Matt Mosher, Joe Olson, Frank Sinclair
  • Publication number: 20160336138
    Abstract: Provided herein are approaches for improving ion beam extraction stability and ion beam current for an ion extraction system. In one approach, a source housing assembly may include a source housing surrounding an ion source including an arc chamber, the source housing having an extraction aperture plate mounted at a proximal end thereof. The source housing assembly further includes a vacuum liner disposed within an interior of the source housing to form a barrier around a set of vacuum pumping apertures. As configured, openings in the source housing assembly, other than an opening in the extraction aperture plate, are enclosed by the extraction aperture plate and the vacuum liner, thus ensuring appendix arcs or extraneous ions produced outside the arc chamber remain within the source housing. Just those ions produced within the arc chamber exit the source housing through the opening of the extraction aperture plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Shengwu Chang, Jeff Burgess, William Leavitt, Michael St Peter, Matt Mosher, Joe Olson, Frank Sinclair
  • Publication number: 20160233048
    Abstract: An apparatus to control an ion beam for treating a substrate. The apparatus may include a fixed electrode configured to conduct the ion beam through a fixed electrode aperture and to apply a fixed electrode potential to the ion beam, a ground electrode assembly disposed downstream of the fixed electrode. The ground electrode assembly may include a base and a ground electrode disposed adjacent the fixed electrode and configured to conduct the ion beam through a ground electrode aperture, the ground electrode being reversibly movable along a first axis with respect to the fixed electrode between a first position and a second position, wherein a beam current of the ion beam at the substrate varies when the ground electrode moves between the first position and second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Shengwu Chang, Kristen S. Rounds, William Leavitt, Michael St. Peter
  • Patent number: 9396903
    Abstract: An apparatus to control an ion beam for treating a substrate. The apparatus may include a fixed electrode configured to conduct the ion beam through a fixed electrode aperture and to apply a fixed electrode potential to the ion beam, a ground electrode assembly disposed downstream of the fixed electrode. The ground electrode assembly may include a base and a ground electrode disposed adjacent the fixed electrode and configured to conduct the ion beam through a ground electrode aperture, the ground electrode being reversibly movable along a first axis with respect to the fixed electrode between a first position and a second position, wherein a beam current of the ion beam at the substrate varies when the ground electrode moves between the first position and second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Shengwu Chang, Kristen S. Rounds, William Leavitt, Michael St. Peter