Patents by Inventor Noel Thomas Franco

Noel Thomas Franco 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: 11798804
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for material deposition onto a sample to form a protective layer composed of at least two materials that have been formulated and arranged according to the material properties of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: FEI Company
    Inventors: Brian Roberts Routh, Thomas G. Miller, Chad Rue, Noel Thomas Franco
  • Patent number: 11069523
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for material deposition onto a sample to form a protective layer composed of at least two materials that have been formulated and arranged according to the material properties of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: FEI Company
    Inventors: Brian Roberts Routh, Jr., Thomas G. Miller, Chad Rue, Noel Thomas Franco
  • Patent number: 11062879
    Abstract: Method for preparing site-specific, plan-view lamellae from multilayered microelectronic devices. A focused ion beam that is directed, with an etch-assisting gas, toward an uppermost layer of a device removes at least that uppermost layer and thereby exposes an underlying layer over, or comprising, a target area from which the site-specific, plan-view lamella is to be prepared, wherein the focused ion beam is in a face-on orientation in removing the uppermost layer to expose the underlying layer. In a preferred embodiment, the etch-assisting gas comprises methyl nitroacetate. In alternative embodiments, the etch-assisting gas is methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, ethyl nitroacetate, propyl acetate, propyl nitroacetate, nitro ethyl acetate, methyl methoxyacetate, or methoxy acetylchloride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: FEI Company
    Inventors: Noel Thomas Franco, Kenny Mani, Chad Rue, Joe Christian, Jeffrey Blackwood
  • Publication number: 20210118678
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for material deposition onto a sample to form a protective layer composed of at least two materials that have been formulated and arranged according to the material properties of the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Applicant: FEI Company
    Inventors: Brian Roberts Routh, Thomas G. Miller, Chad Rue, Noel Thomas Franco
  • Publication number: 20200126756
    Abstract: Method for preparing site-specific, plan-view lamellae from multilayered microelectronic devices. A focused ion beam that is directed, with an etch-assisting gas, toward an uppermost layer of a device removes at least that uppermost layer and thereby exposes an underlying layer over, or comprising, a target area from which the site-specific, plan-view lamella is to be prepared, wherein the focused ion beam is in a face-on orientation in removing the uppermost layer to expose the underlying layer. In a preferred embodiment, the etch-assisting gas comprises methyl nitroacetate. In alternative embodiments, the etch-assisting gas is methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, ethyl nitroacetate, propyl acetate, propyl nitroacetate, nitro ethyl acetate, methyl methoxyacetate, or methoxy acetylchloride.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicant: FEI Company
    Inventors: Noel Thomas Franco, Kenny Mani, Chad Rue, Joe Christian, Jeffrey Blackwood
  • Patent number: 10546719
    Abstract: Method for preparing site-specific, plan-view lamellae from multilayered microelectronic devices. A focused ion beam that is directed, with an etch-assisting gas, toward an uppermost layer of a device removes at least that uppermost layer and thereby exposes an underlying layer over, or comprising, a target area from which the site-specific, plan-view lamella is to be prepared, wherein the focused ion beam is in a face-on orientation in removing the uppermost layer to expose the underlying layer. In a preferred embodiment, the etch-assisting gas comprises methyl nitroacetate. In alternative embodiments, the etch-assisting gas is methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, ethyl nitroacetate, propyl acetate, propyl nitroacetate, nitro ethyl acetate, methyl methoxyacetate, or methoxy acetylchloride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: FEI Company
    Inventors: Noel Thomas Franco, Kenny Mani, Chad Rue, Joe Christian, Jeffrey Blackwood
  • Patent number: 10347463
    Abstract: Method and system for enhanced charged particle beam processes for carbon removal. With the method and system for enhancing carbon removal, associated method and system for decreasing levels of carbon impurity in depositions, also using a precursor gas in charged particle beam processes (and particularly focused ion beam methodologies), are provided. In a preferred embodiment, the precursor gas comprises methyl nitroacetate. In alternative embodiments, the precursor gas is methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, ethyl nitroacetate, propyl acetate, propyl nitroacetate, nitro ethyl acetate, methyl methoxyacetate, or methoxy acetylchloride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: FEI Company
    Inventors: Chad Rue, Joe Christian, Kenny Mani, Noel Thomas Franco
  • Publication number: 20180350558
    Abstract: Method for preparing site-specific, plan-view lamellae from multilayered microelectronic devices. A focused ion beam that is directed, with an etch-assisting gas, toward an uppermost layer of a device removes at least that uppermost layer and thereby exposes an underlying layer over, or comprising, a target area from which the site-specific, plan-view lamella is to be prepared, wherein the focused ion beam is in a face-on orientation in removing the uppermost layer to expose the underlying layer. In a preferred embodiment, the etch-assisting gas comprises methyl nitroacetate. In alternative embodiments, the etch-assisting gas is methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, ethyl nitroacetate, propyl acetate, propyl nitroacetate, nitro ethyl acetate, methyl methoxyacetate, or methoxy acetylchloride.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Applicant: FEI Company
    Inventors: Noel Thomas Franco, Kenny Mani, Chad Rue, Joe Christian, Jeffrey Blackwood
  • Publication number: 20180277361
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for material deposition onto a sample to form a protective layer composed of at least two materials that have been formulated and arranged according to the material properties of the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: FEI Company
    Inventors: Brian Roberts Routh, JR., Thomas G. Miller, Chad Rue, Noel Thomas Franco
  • Publication number: 20180166272
    Abstract: Method and system for enhanced charged particle beam processes for carbon removal. With the method and system for enhancing carbon removal, associated method and system for decreasing levels of carbon impurity in depositions, also using a precursor gas in charged particle beam processes (and particularly focused ion beam methodologies), are provided. In a preferred embodiment, the precursor gas comprises methyl nitroacetate. In alternative embodiments, the precursor gas is methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, ethyl nitroacetate, propyl acetate, propyl nitroacetate, nitro ethyl acetate, methyl methoxyacetate, or methoxy acetylchloride.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Applicant: FEI Company
    Inventors: Chad Rue, Joe Christian, Kenny Mani, Noel Thomas Franco
  • Patent number: 9978586
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for material deposition onto a sample to form a protective layer composed of at least two materials that have been formulated and arranged according to the material properties of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: FEI Company
    Inventors: Brian Roberts Routh, Jr., Thomas G. Miller, Chad Rue, Noel Thomas Franco
  • Publication number: 20170133220
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for material deposition onto a sample to form a protective layer composed of at least two materials that have been formulated and arranged according to the material properties of the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: FEI Company
    Inventors: Brian Roberts Routh, JR., Thomas G. Miller, Chad Rue, Noel Thomas Franco