Patents by Inventor Thomas N. Horsky
Thomas N. Horsky 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).
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Patent number: 9865422Abstract: A plasma generator for an ion implanter is provided. The plasma generator includes an ionization chamber for forming a plasma that is adapted to generate a plurality of ions and a plurality of electrons. An interior surface of the ionization chamber is exposed to the plasma and constructed from a first non-metallic material. The plasma generator also includes a thermionic emitter including at least one surface exposed to the plasma. The thermionic emitter is constructed from a second non-metallic material. The plasma generator further includes an exit aperture for extracting at least one of the plurality of ions or the plurality of electrons from the ionization chamber to form at least one of an ion beam or an electron flux. The ion beam or the electron flux comprises substantially no metal. The first and second non-metallic materials can be the same or different from each other.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2015Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: Nissin Ion Equipment Co., Ltd.Inventors: Thomas N. Horsky, Sami K. Hahto
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Publication number: 20160086759Abstract: A plasma generator for an ion implanter is provided. The plasma generator includes an ionization chamber for forming a plasma that is adapted to generate a plurality of ions and a plurality of electrons. An interior surface of the ionization chamber is exposed to the plasma and constructed from a first non-metallic material. The plasma generator also includes a thermionic emitter including at least one surface exposed to the plasma. The thermionic emitter is constructed from a second non-metallic material. The plasma generator further includes an exit aperture for extracting at least one of the plurality of ions or the plurality of electrons from the ionization chamber to form at least one of an ion beam or an electron flux. The ion beam or the electron flux comprises substantially no metal. The first and second non-metallic materials can be the same or different from each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2015Publication date: March 24, 2016Inventors: Thomas N. Horsky, Sami K. Hahto
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Patent number: 8994272Abstract: An ion source is provided that includes at least one electron gun. The electron gun includes an electron source for generating a beam of electrons and an inlet for receiving a gas. The electron gun also includes a plasma region defined by at least an anode and a ground element, where the plasma region can form a plasma from the gas received via the inlet. The plasma can be sustained by at least a portion of the beam of electrons. The electron gun further includes an outlet for delivering at least one of (i) ions generated by the plasma or (ii) at least a portion of the beam of electrons generated by the electron source.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Nissin Ion Equipment Co., Ltd.Inventors: Thomas N. Horsky, Sami K. Hahto
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Publication number: 20140265854Abstract: An ion source is provided that includes at least one electron gun. The electron gun includes an electron source for generating a beam of electrons and an inlet for receiving a gas. The electron gun also includes a plasma region defined by at least an anode and a ground element, where the plasma region can form a plasma from the gas received via the inlet. The plasma can be sustained by at least a portion of the beam of electrons. The electron gun further includes an outlet for delivering at least one of (i) ions generated by the plasma or (ii) at least a portion of the beam of electrons generated by the electron source.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Nissin Ion Equipment Co., Ltd.Inventors: Thomas N. Horsky, Sami K. Hahto
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Publication number: 20140061816Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of: providing a supply of molecules containing a plurality of dopant atoms into an ionization chamber, ionizing said molecules into dopant cluster ions, extracting and accelerating the dopant cluster ions with an electric field, selecting the desired cluster ions by mass analysis, modifying the final implant energy of the cluster ion through post-analysis ion optics, and implanting the dopant cluster ions into a semiconductor substrate. In general, dopant molecules contain n dopant atoms, where n is an integer number greater than 10. This method enables increasing the dopant dose rate to n times the implantation current with an equivalent per dopant atom energy of 1/n times the cluster implantation energy, while reducing the charge per dopant atom by the factor n.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2013Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: SemEquip, Inc.Inventors: Thomas N. Horsky, Dale C. Jacobson
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Patent number: 8618514Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of: providing a supply of molecules containing a plurality of dopant atoms into an ionization chamber, ionizing said molecules into dopant cluster ions, extracting and accelerating the dopant cluster ions with an electric field, selecting the desired cluster ions by mass analysis, modifying the final implant energy of the cluster ion through post-analysis ion optics, and implanting the dopant cluster ions into a semiconductor substrate. In general, dopant molecules contain n dopant atoms, where n is an integer number greater than 10. This method enables increasing the dopant dose rate to n times the implantation current with an equivalent per dopant atom energy of 1/n times the cluster implantation energy, while reducing the charge per dopant atom by the factor n.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2011Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: SemEquip, Inc.Inventors: Thomas N. Horsky, Dale C. Jacobson
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Patent number: 8586459Abstract: An ion implantation device and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is described, wherein ionized phosphorus-containing molecular clusters are implanted to form N-type transistor structures. The clusters are implanted to provide N-type doping for Source and Drain structures and Pocket or Halo formation, and for counter-doping Poly gates. These doping steps are critical to the formation of NMOS transistors. The molecular cluster ions have the chemical form AnHx+, or AnRHx+, where n and x are integers with 4<n and x?0, and A is either As or P, and R is a molecule not containing phosphorus or arsenic, which is not injurious to the implantation process.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2007Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: SemEquip, Inc.Inventors: Thomas N. Horsky, Erin Dyker, Brian Bernstein, Dennis Manning
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Patent number: 8530343Abstract: A process is disclosed which incorporates implantation of a carbon cluster into a substrate to improve the characteristics of transistor junctions when the substrates are doped with Boron and Phosphorous in the manufacturing of PMOS transistor structures in integrated circuits. There are two processes which result from this novel approach: (1) diffusion control for USJ formation; and (2) high dose carbon implantation for stress engineering. Diffusion control for USJ formation is demonstrated in conjunction with a boron or shallow boron cluster implant of the source/drain structures in PMOS. More particularly, first, a cluster carbon ion, such as C16Hx+, is implanted into the source/drain region at approximately the same dose as the subsequent boron implant; followed by a shallow boron, boron cluster, phosphorous or phosphorous cluster ion implant to form the source/drain extensions, preferably using a borohydride cluster, such as B18Hx+ or B10Hx+.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2011Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: SemEquip, Inc.Inventors: Wade A. Krull, Thomas N. Horsky
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Patent number: 8502161Abstract: An ion source is disclosed for use in fabrication of semiconductors. The ion source includes an electron emitter that includes a cathode mounted external to the ionization chamber for use in fabrication of semiconductors. In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the electron emitter is employed without a corresponding anode or electron optics. As such, the distance between the cathode and the ionization chamber can be shortened to enable the ion source to be operated in an arc discharge mode or generate a plasma. Alternatively, the ion source can be operated in a dual mode with a single electron emitter by selectively varying the distance between the cathode and the ionization chamber.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2010Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: SemEquip, Inc.Inventors: Sami K. Hahto, Richard Goldberg, Edward McIntyre, Thomas N. Horsky
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Patent number: 8436326Abstract: A multipurpose ion implanter beam line configuration comprising a mass analyzer magnet followed by a magnetic scanner and magnetic collimator combination that introduce bends to the beam path, the beam line constructed for enabling implantation of common monatomic dopant ion species cluster ions, the beam line configuration having a mass analyzer magnet defining a pole gap of substantial width between ferromagnetic poles of the magnet and a mass selection aperture, the analyzer magnet sized to accept an ion beam from a slot-form ion source extraction aperture of at least about 80 mm height and at least about 7 mm width, and to produce dispersion at the mass selection aperture in a plane corresponding to the width of the beam, the mass selection aperture capable of being set to a mass-selection width sized to select a beam of the cluster ions of the same dopant species but incrementally differing molecular weights, the mass selection aperture also capable of being set to a substantially narrower mass-selectionType: GrantFiled: November 17, 2010Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: Semequip, Inc.Inventors: Hilton F. Glavish, Thomas N. Horsky, Dale C. Jacobson, Sami K. Hahto, Masao Naito, Nobuo Nagai, Nariaki Hamamoto
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Patent number: 8410459Abstract: An ion implantation device and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is described, wherein ionized boron hydride molecular clusters are implanted to form P-type transistor structures. For example, in the fabrication of Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) devices, the clusters are implanted to provide P-type doping for Source and Drain structures and for Polygates; these doping steps are critical to the formation of PMOS transistors. The molecular cluster ions have the chemical form BnHx+ and BnHx?, where 10?n?100 and 0?x?n+4.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2011Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: SemEquip, Inc.Inventors: Thomas N. Horsky, Dale C. Jacobson
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Patent number: 8368309Abstract: Thermal control is provided for an extraction electrode of an ion-beam producing system that prevents formation of deposits and unstable operation and enables use with ions produced from condensable vapors and with ion sources capable of cold and hot operation. Electrical heating of the extraction electrode is employed for extracting decaborane or octadecaborane ions. Active cooling during use with a hot ion source prevents electrode destruction, permitting the extraction electrode to be of heat-conductive and fluorine-resistant aluminum composition.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2006Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: SemEquip, Inc.Inventors: Thomas N. Horsky, Robert W. Milgate, III, George P. Sacco, Jr., Dale Conrad Jacobson, Wade Allen Krull
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Patent number: 8330118Abstract: A multi mode ion implantation system, which operates in both an arc discharge mode of operation and a non arc discharge mode of operation, is described. The multi mode ion implantation system may consist of dual ionization volumes forming two ion sources, an arc discharge source and a non arc discharge source, in tandem. The dual chambers and the two sources feed the ion implantation system with material of various species for multi mode, an arc discharge and a non arc discharge operation.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2009Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: SemEquip, Inc.Inventors: Thomas N. Horsky, Richard Goldberg, Sami K. Hahto
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Publication number: 20120076475Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of: providing a supply of molecules containing a plurality of dopant atoms into an ionization chamber, ionizing said molecules into dopant cluster ions, extracting and accelerating the dopant cluster ions with an electric field, selecting the desired cluster ions by mass analysis, modifying the final implant energy of the cluster ion through post-analysis ion optics, and implanting the dopant cluster ions into a semiconductor substrate. In general, dopant molecules contain n dopant atoms, where n is an integer number greater than 10. This method enables increasing the dopant dose rate to n times the implantation current with an equivalent per dopant atom energy of 1/n times the cluster implantation energy, while reducing the charge per dopant atom by the factor n.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2011Publication date: March 29, 2012Applicant: SemEquip, Inc.Inventors: Thomas N. Horsky, Dale C. Jacobson
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Publication number: 20120064705Abstract: Vapor delivery systems and methods that control the heating and flow of vapors from solid feed material, especially material that comprises cluster molecules for semiconductor manufacture. The systems and methods safely and effectively conduct the vapor to a point of utilization, especially to an ion source for ion implantation. Ion beam implantation is shown employing ions from the cluster materials. The vapor delivery system includes reactive gas cleaning of the ion source, control systems and protocols, wide dynamic range flow-control systems and vaporizer selections that are efficient and safe. Borane, decarborane, carboranes, carbon clusters and other large molecules are vaporized for ion implantation. Such systems are shown cooperating with novel vaporizers, ion sources, and reactive cleaning systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2011Publication date: March 15, 2012Applicant: SemEquip, Inc.Inventors: Thomas N. Horsky, Douglas R. Adams, Dror Oved, George Sacco, David J. Hartnett
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Patent number: 8110820Abstract: A multipurpose ion implanter beam line configuration constructed for enabling implantation of common monatomic dopant ion species and cluster ions, the beam line configuration having a mass analyzer magnet defining a pole gap of substantial width between ferromagnetic poles of the magnet and a mass selection aperture, the analyzer magnet sized to accept art ion beam from a slot-form ion source extraction aperture of at least about 80 mm height and at least about 7 mm width, and to produce dispersion at the mass selection aperture in a plane corresponding to the width of the beam, the mass selection aperture capable of being set to a mass-selection width sized to select a beam of the cluster ions of the same dopant species but incrementally differing molecular weights, the mass selection aperture also capable of being set to a substantially narrower mass-selection width and the analyzer magnet having a resolution at the mass selection aperture sufficient to enable selection of a beam of monatomic dopant ions oType: GrantFiled: June 13, 2007Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: SemEquip, Inc.Inventors: Hilton F. Glavish, Dale C. Jacobson, Sami K. Hahto, Thomas N. Horsky
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Patent number: 8097529Abstract: A process is disclosed which incorporates implantation of a carbon cluster into a substrate to improve the characteristics of transistor junctions when the substrates are doped with Boron and Phosphorous in the manufacturing of PMOS transistor structures in integrated circuits. There are two processes which result from this novel approach: (1) diffusion control for USJ formation; and (2) high dose carbon implantation for stress engineering. Diffusion control for USJ formation is demonstrated in conjunction with a boron or shallow boron cluster implant of the source/drain structures in PMOS. More particularly, first, a cluster carbon ion, such as C16Hx+, is implanted into the source/drain region at approximately the same dose as the subsequent boron implant; followed by a shallow boron, boron cluster, phosphorous or phosphorous cluster ion implant to form the source/drain extensions, preferably using a borohydride cluster, such as B18Hx+ or B10Hx+.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2009Date of Patent: January 17, 2012Assignee: Semequip, Inc.Inventors: Wade A. Krull, Thomas N. Horsky
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Publication number: 20110306193Abstract: A process is disclosed which incorporates implantation of a carbon cluster into a substrate to improve the characteristics of transistor junctions when the substrates are doped with Boron and Phosphorous in the manufacturing of PMOS transistor structures in integrated circuits. There are two processes which result from this novel approach: (1) diffusion control for USJ formation; and (2) high dose carbon implantation for stress engineering. Diffusion control for USJ formation is demonstrated in conjunction with a boron or shallow boron cluster implant of the source/drain structures in PMOS. More particularly, first, a cluster carbon ion, such as C16Hx+, is implanted into the source/drain region at approximately the same dose as the subsequent boron implant; followed by a shallow boron, boron cluster, phosphorous or phosphorous cluster ion implant to form the source/drain extensions, preferably using a borohydride cluster, such as B18Hx+ or B10Hx+.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2011Publication date: December 15, 2011Applicant: SemEquip, Inc.Inventors: Wade A. Krull, Thomas N. Horsky
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Patent number: 8071958Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of: providing a supply of molecules containing a plurality of dopant atoms into an ionization chamber, ionizing said molecules into dopant cluster ions, extracting and accelerating the dopant cluster ions with an electric field, selecting the desired cluster ions by mass analysis, modifying the final implant energy of the cluster ion through post-analysis ion optics, and implanting the dopant cluster ions into a semiconductor substrate. In general, dopant molecules contain n dopant atoms, where n is an integer number greater than 10. This method enables increasing the dopant dose rate to n times the implantation current with an equivalent per dopant atom energy of 1/n times the cluster implantation energy, while reducing the charge per dopant atom by the factor n.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2008Date of Patent: December 6, 2011Assignee: SemEquip, Inc.Inventors: Thomas N. Horsky, Dale C. Jacobson
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Publication number: 20110226969Abstract: An ion implantation device and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is described, wherein ionized boron hydride molecular clusters are implanted to form P-type transistor structures. For example, in the fabrication of Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) devices, the clusters are implanted to provide P-type doping for Source and Drain structures and for Polygates; these doping steps are critical to the formation of PMOS transistors. The molecular cluster ions have the chemical form BnHx+ and BnHx?, where 10?n?100 and 0?x?n+4.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2011Publication date: September 22, 2011Applicant: SemEquip, Inc.Inventors: Thomas N. Horsky, Dale C. Jacobson