Patents by Inventor Steven T. Drummond

Steven T. Drummond 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: 20240038490
    Abstract: A cathode apparatus for an ion source has a cathode with a positioning feature and a blind hole. A cathode holder has an aperture defined by a thru-hole and a locating feature defined along an aperture axis. The thru-hole receives the cathode along the aperture axis in first and second alignment positions based on a rotational orientation of the positioning feature with respect to the locating feature. The first alignment position locates the cathode at a first axial position along the aperture axis. The second alignment position locates the cathode at a second axial position along the axial axis. A filament device has a filament clamp, a filament rod defining a filament axis, and a filament coupled to the filament rod. The filament clamp is in selective engagement with the filament rod to selectively position the filament along the filament axis within the blind hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Steven T. Drummond, Joshua Max Abeshaus
  • 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