Patents by Inventor Neil Colvin

Neil Colvin 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).

  • Publication number: 20240145213
    Abstract: An electrode apparatus for an ion implantation system has a base plate having a base plate aperture and at least one securement region. A securement apparatus is associated with each securement region, and a plurality of electrode rods are selectively coupled to the base plate by the securement apparatus. The plurality of electrode rods have a predetermined shape to define an optical region that is associated with the base plate aperture. An electrical coupling electrically connects to the plurality of electrode rods and is configured to electrically connect to an electrical potential. The plurality of electrode rods have a predetermined shape configured to define a path of a charged particle passing between the plurality of electrode rods based on the electrical potential. The plurality of electrode rods can define a suppressor or ground electrode downstream of an extraction aperture of an ion source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Neil Colvin, Paul Silverstein, Joshua Abeshaus
  • Publication number: 20240035148
    Abstract: An ion implantation system, ion source, and method are provided for forming an aluminum ion beam from an aluminum-containing species to an ion source. One or more of a halide species and a halide molecule are introduced to the ion source, where the halide species is selected from a group consisting of atomic chlorine, atomic bromine, and atomic iodine, and the halide molecule comprises a halide selected from a group consisting of chlorine, bromine, and iodine. The one or more of the halide species and the halide molecule clean one or more components of the ion source and further react with the aluminum-containing species to generate an aluminum-halide vapor. The aluminum ion beam is further formed from at least the aluminum-halide vapor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Neil Colvin, David Sporleder, Udo H. Verkerk, Atul Gupta, Edward Moore
  • Publication number: 20230343558
    Abstract: An ion source has an arc chamber defining an arc chamber volume. A reservoir is coupled to the arc chamber, defining a reservoir volume. The reservoir receives a source species to define a liquid within the reservoir volume. A conduit fluidly couples the reservoir volume to the arc chamber volume. First and second openings of the conduit are open to the respective reservoir and arc chamber volume. A heat source selectively heats the reservoir to melt the source species at a predetermined temperature. A liquid control apparatus controls a first volume of the liquid within the reservoir volume to define a predetermined supply of the liquid to the arc chamber volume. The liquid control apparatus is a pressurized gas source fluidly coupled to the reservoir to supply a gas to the reservoir and provide a predetermined amount of liquid to the arc chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Neil J. Bassom, Joshua Abeshaus, David Sporleder, Neil Colvin, Joseph Valinski, Michael Cristoforo, Vladimir Romanov, Pradeepa Kowrikan Subrahmnya
  • Patent number: 11728140
    Abstract: An ion source has an arc chamber defining an arc chamber volume. A reservoir is coupled to the arc chamber, defining a reservoir volume. The reservoir receives a source species to define a liquid within the reservoir volume. A conduit fluidly couples the reservoir volume to the arc chamber volume. First and second openings of the conduit are open to the respective reservoir and arc chamber volume. A heat source selectively heats the reservoir to melt the source species at a predetermined temperature. A liquid control apparatus controls a first volume of the liquid within the reservoir volume to define a predetermined supply of the liquid to the arc chamber volume. The liquid control apparatus is a pressurized gas source fluidly coupled to the reservoir to supply a gas to the reservoir and provide a predetermined amount of liquid to the arc chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil J. Bassom, Joshua Abeshaus, David Sporleder, Neil Colvin, Joseph Valinski, Michael Cristoforo, Vladimir Romanov, Pradeepa Kowrikan Subrahmnya
  • Publication number: 20230245859
    Abstract: An ion source has an arc chamber defining an arc chamber volume. A reservoir is coupled to the arc chamber, defining a reservoir volume. The reservoir receives a source species to define a liquid within the reservoir volume. A conduit fluidly couples the reservoir volume to the arc chamber volume. First and second openings of the conduit are open to the respective reservoir and arc chamber volume. A heat source selectively heats the reservoir to melt the source species at a predetermined temperature. A liquid control apparatus controls a first volume of the liquid within the reservoir volume to define a predetermined supply of the liquid to the arc chamber volume. The liquid control apparatus is a pressurized gas source fluidly coupled to the reservoir to supply a gas to the reservoir and provide a predetermined amount of liquid to the arc chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Neil J. Bassom, Joshua Abeshaus, David Sporleder, Neil Colvin, Joseph Valinski, Michael Cristoforo, Vladimir Romanov, Pradeepa Kowrikan Subrahmnya
  • Patent number: 11521821
    Abstract: An ion source has an arc chamber having one or more arc chamber walls defining and interior region of the arc chamber. A cathode electrode is disposed along an axis. A repeller has a repeller shaft and a ceramic target member separated by a gap. The repeller shaft is not in electrical or mechanical contact with the target member, and the repeller shaft is configured to indirectly heat the target member. The target member, can be a cylinder encircling the repeller shaft, where the gap separates the cylinder from the repeller shaft. A top cap can enclose the cylinder can be separated from a top repeller surface of the repeller shaft by the gap. A target hole can be in the top cap. The target member can be supported by a bottom liner of the arc chamber or a support member mechanically and electrically coupled to the repeller shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven T. Drummond, Neil Colvin, Paul Silverstein
  • Publication number: 20220319796
    Abstract: An ion source has an arc chamber having one or more arc chamber walls defining and interior region of the arc chamber. A cathode electrode is disposed along an axis. A repeller has a repeller shaft and a ceramic target member separated by a gap. The repeller shaft is not in electrical or mechanical contact with the target member, and the repeller shaft is configured to indirectly heat the target member. The target member, can be a cylinder encircling the repeller shaft, where the gap separates the cylinder from the repeller shaft. A top cap can enclose the cylinder can be separated from a top repeller surface of the repeller shaft by the gap. A target hole can be in the top cap. The target member can be supported by a bottom liner of the arc chamber or a support member mechanically and electrically coupled to the repeller shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Steven T. Drummond, Neil Colvin, Paul Silverstein
  • Patent number: 11170967
    Abstract: An ion source is configured to form an ion beam and has an arc chamber enclosing an arc chamber environment. A reservoir apparatus can be configured as a repeller and provides a liquid metal to the arc chamber environment. A biasing power supply electrically biases the reservoir apparatus with respect to the arc chamber to vaporize the liquid metal to form a plasma in the arc chamber environment. The reservoir apparatus has a cup and cap defining a reservoir environment for the liquid metal that is fluidly coupled to the arc chamber environment by holes in the cap. Features extend from the cup into the reservoir and contact the liquid metal to feed the liquid metal toward the arc chamber environment by capillary action. A structure, surface area, roughness, and material modifies the capillary action. The feature can be an annular ring, rod, or tube extending into the liquid metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: AXCELIS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Neil Bassom, Neil Colvin, Tseh-Jen Hsieh, Michael Ameen
  • Publication number: 20200303154
    Abstract: An ion source is configured to form an ion beam and has an arc chamber enclosing an arc chamber environment. A reservoir apparatus can be configured as a repeller and provides a liquid metal to the arc chamber environment. A biasing power supply electrically biases the reservoir apparatus with respect to the arc chamber to vaporize the liquid metal to form a plasma in the arc chamber environment. The reservoir apparatus has a cup and cap defining a reservoir environment for the liquid metal that is fluidly coupled to the arc chamber environment by holes in the cap. Features extend from the cup into the reservoir and contact the liquid metal to feed the liquid metal toward the arc chamber environment by capillary action. A structure, surface area, roughness, and material modifies the capillary action. The feature can be an annular ring, rod, or tube extending into the liquid metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Neil Bassom, Neil Colvin, Tseh-Jen Hsieh, Michael Ameen
  • Patent number: 10676370
    Abstract: An ion implantation system is provided having an ion source configured to form an ion beam from aluminum iodide. A beamline assembly selectively transports the ion beam to an end station configured to accept the ion beam for implantation of aluminum ions into a workpiece. An arc chamber forms a plasma from the aluminum iodide, where arc current from a power supply is configured to dissociate aluminum ions from the aluminum iodide. One or more extraction electrodes extract the ion beam from the arc chamber. A hydrogen co-gas source further introduces a hydrogen co-gas to react residual aluminum iodide and iodide, where the reacted residual aluminum iodide and iodide is evacuated from the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil Colvin, Tseh-Jen Hsieh, Neil Basson
  • 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
  • Patent number: 10361081
    Abstract: Processes and systems for carbon ion implantation include utilizing phosphine as a co-gas with a carbon oxide gas in an ion source chamber. In one or more embodiments, carbon implantation with the phosphine co-gas is in combination with the lanthanated tungsten alloy ion source components, which advantageously results in minimal oxidation of the cathode and cathode shield, among other components within the ion source chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: AXCELIS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Neil Colvin, Tseh-Jen Hsieh
  • Patent number: 10256069
    Abstract: Processes and systems for carbon ion implantation include utilizing phosphorous trifluoride (PF3) as a co-gas with carbon oxide gas, and in some embodiments, in combination with the lanthanated tungsten alloy ion source components advantageously results in minimal oxidation of the cathode and cathode shield. Moreover, acceptable levels of carbon deposits on the arc chamber internal components have been observed as well as marked reductions in the halogen cycle, i.e., WFx formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: AXCELIS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Neil Colvin, Tseh-Jen Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20180346342
    Abstract: An ion implantation system is provided having an ion source configured to form an ion beam from aluminum iodide. A beamline assembly selectively transports the ion beam to an end station configured to accept the ion beam for implantation of aluminum ions into a workpiece. An arc chamber forms a plasma from the aluminum iodide, where arc current from a power supply is configured to dissociate aluminum ions from the aluminum iodide. One or more extraction electrodes extract the ion beam from the arc chamber. A hydrogen co-gas source further introduces a hydrogen co-gas to react residual aluminum iodide and iodide, where the reacted residual aluminum iodide and iodide is evacuated from the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Neil Colvin, Tseh-Jen Hsieh, Neil Basson
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20180144904
    Abstract: Processes and systems for carbon ion implantation include utilizing phosphorous trifluoride (PF3) as a co-gas with carbon oxide gas, and in some embodiments, in combination with the lanthanated tungsten alloy ion source components advantageously results in minimal oxidation of the cathode and cathode shield. Moreover, acceptable levels of carbon deposits on the arc chamber internal components have been observed as well as marked reductions in the halogen cycle, i.e., WFx formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Neil Colvin, Tseh-Jen Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20180144940
    Abstract: Processes and systems for carbon ion implantation include utilizing phosphine as a co-gas with a carbon oxide gas in an ion source chamber. In one or more embodiments, carbon implantation with the phosphine co-gas is in combination with the lanthanated tungsten alloy ion source components, which advantageously results in minimal oxidation of the cathode and cathode shield, among other components within the ion source chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Neil Colvin, Tseh-Jen Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20180138006
    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: November 14, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: John Baggett, Neil Colvin
  • Patent number: 9543110
    Abstract: An ion source chamber for ion implantation system includes a housing that at least partially bounds an ionization region through which high energy electrons move from a cathode to ionize gas molecules injected into an interior of the housing; a liner section defining one or more interior walls of the housing interior, wherein each liner section includes a interiorly facing surface exposed to the ionization region during operation the ion implantation system; a cathode shield disposed about the cathode; a repeller spaced apart from the cathode; a plate including a source aperture for discharging ions from the ion source chamber; wherein at least one of the repeller, the liner section, the cathode shield; the plate, or an insert in the plate defining the source aperture comprise silicon carbide, wherein the silicon carbide is a non-stoichiometric sintered material having excess carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: AXCELIS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Neil Colvin, Tseh-Jen Hsieh