Patents by Inventor William M. Holber

William M. Holber 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: 11495434
    Abstract: Provided herein are approaches for in-situ plasma cleaning of ion beam optics. In one approach, a system includes a component (e.g., a beam-line component) of an ion implanter processing chamber. The system further includes a power supply for supplying a first voltage and first current to the component during a processing mode and a second voltage and second current to the component during a cleaning mode. The second voltage and current are applied to one or more conductive beam optics of the component, individually, to selectively generate plasma around one or more of the one or more conductive beam optics. The system may further include a flow controller for adjusting an injection rate of an etchant gas supplied to the beam-line component, and a vacuum pump for adjusting pressure of an environment of the beam-line component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Anglin, William Davis Lee, Peter Kurunczi, Ryan Downey, Jay T. Scheuer, Alexandre Likhanskii, William M. Holber
  • Patent number: 11037758
    Abstract: Provided herein are approaches for in-situ plasma cleaning of ion beam optics. In one approach, a system includes a component (e.g., a beam-line component) of an ion implanter processing chamber. The system further includes a power supply for supplying a first voltage and first current to the component during a processing mode and a second voltage and second current to the component during a cleaning mode. The second voltage and current are applied to one or more conductive beam optics of the component, individually, to selectively generate plasma around one or more of the one or more conductive beam optics. The system may further include a flow controller for adjusting an injection rate of an etchant gas supplied to the beam-line component, and a vacuum pump for adjusting pressure of an environment of the beam-line component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Anglin, William Davis Lee, Peter Kurunczi, Ryan Downey, Jay T. Scheuer, Alexandre Likhanskii, William M. Holber
  • Publication number: 20210013001
    Abstract: Provided herein are approaches for in-situ plasma cleaning of ion beam optics. In one approach, a system includes a component (e.g., a beam-line component) of an ion implanter processing chamber. The system further includes a power supply for supplying a first voltage and first current to the component during a processing mode and a second voltage and second current to the component during a cleaning mode. The second voltage and current are applied to one or more conductive beam optics of the component, individually, to selectively generate plasma around one or more of the one or more conductive beam optics. The system may further include a flow controller for adjusting an injection rate of an etchant gas supplied to the beam-line component, and a vacuum pump for adjusting pressure of an environment of the beam-line component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Applicant: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Anglin, William Davis Lee, Peter Kurunczi, Ryan Downey, Jay T. Scheuer, Alexandre Likhanskii, William M. Holber
  • Publication number: 20200126757
    Abstract: Provided herein are approaches for in-situ plasma cleaning of ion beam optics. In one approach, a system includes a component (e.g., a beam-line component) of an ion implanter processing chamber. The system further includes a power supply for supplying a first voltage and first current to the component during a processing mode and a second voltage and second current to the component during a cleaning mode. The second voltage and current are applied to one or more conductive beam optics of the component, individually, to selectively generate plasma around one or more of the one or more conductive beam optics. The system may further include a flow controller for adjusting an injection rate of an etchant gas supplied to the beam-line component, and a vacuum pump for adjusting pressure of an environment of the beam-line component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicant: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Anglin, William Davis Lee, Peter Kurunczi, Ryan Downey, Jay T. Scheuer, Alexandre Likhanskii, William M. Holber
  • Patent number: 10522330
    Abstract: Provided herein are approaches for in-situ plasma cleaning of one or more components of an ion implantation system. In one approach, the component may include a beam-line component having one or more conductive beam optics. The system further includes a power supply for supplying a first voltage and first current to the component during a processing mode and a second voltage and second current to the component during a cleaning mode. The second voltage and current may be applied to the conductive beam optics of the component, in parallel, to selectively (e.g., individually) generate plasma around one or more of the one or more conductive beam optics. The system may further include a flow controller for adjusting an injection rate of an etchant gas supplied to the component, and a vacuum pump for adjusting pressure of an environment of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin Anglin, William Davis Lee, Peter Kurunczi, Ryan Downey, Jay T. Scheuer, Alexandre Likhanskii, William M. Holber
  • Publication number: 20160365225
    Abstract: Provided herein are approaches for in-situ plasma cleaning of one or more components of an ion implantation system. In one approach, the component may include a beam-line component having one or more conductive beam optics. The system further includes a power supply for supplying a first voltage and first current to the component during a processing mode and a second voltage and second current to the component during a cleaning mode. The second voltage and current may be applied to the conductive beam optics of the component, in parallel, to selectively (e.g., individually) generate plasma around one or more of the one or more conductive beam optics. The system may further include a flow controller for adjusting an injection rate of an etchant gas supplied to the component, and a vacuum pump for adjusting pressure of an environment of the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Kevin Anglin, William Davis Lee, Peter Kurunczi, Ryan Downey, Jay T. Scheuer, Alexandre Likhanskii, William M. Holber
  • Patent number: 8779322
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing metal bearing gases involves generating a toroidal plasma in a plasma chamber. A metal bearing gas is introduced into the plasma chamber to react with the toroidal plasma. The interaction between the toroidal plasma and the metal bearing gas produces at least one of a metallic material, a metal oxide material or a metal nitride material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: MKS Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Holber, John A. Smith, Xing Chen, Donald K. Smith
  • Patent number: 8704171
    Abstract: A system and methods are described for generating reagent ions and product ions for use in a mass spectrometry system. Applications for the system and method are also disclosed for detecting volatile organic compounds in trace concentrations. A microwave or high-frequency RF energy source ionizes particles of a reagent vapor to form reagent ions. The reagent ions enter a chamber, such as a drift chamber, to interact with a fluid sample. An electric field directs the reagent ions and facilitates an interaction with the fluid sample to form product ions. The reagent ions and product ions then exit the chamber under the influence of an electric field for detection by a mass spectrometer module. The system includes various control modules for setting values of system parameters and analysis modules for detection of mass and peak intensity values for ion species during spectrometry and faults within the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Roger Robinson, Mark Attwood, Xing Chen, William M. Holber, Mark Philip Longson, Jonathan Henry Palk, Ali Shajii, John A. Smith
  • Patent number: 8658936
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing metal bearing gases involves generating a toroidal plasma in a plasma chamber. A metal bearing gas is introduced into the plasma chamber to react with the toroidal plasma. The interaction between the toroidal plasma and the metal bearing gas produces at least one of a metallic material, a metal oxide material or a metal nitride material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: MKS Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Holber, John A. Smith, Xing Chen, Donald K. Smith
  • Patent number: 8633782
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for delivering power to a dynamic load. The system includes a power supply providing DC power having a substantially constant power open loop response, a power amplifier for converting the DC power to RF power, a sensor for measuring voltage, current and phase angle between voltage and current vectors associated with the RF power, an electrically controllable impedance matching system to modify the impedance of the power amplifier to at least a substantially matched impedance of a dynamic load, and a controller for controlling the electrically controllable impedance matching system. The system further includes a sensor calibration measuring module for determining power delivered by the power amplifier, an electronic matching system calibration module for determining power delivered to a dynamic load, and a power dissipation module for calculating power dissipated in the electrically controllable impedance matching system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Siddharth P. Nagarkatti, Michael Kishinevsky, Ali Shajii, Timothy E. Kalvaitis, William S. McKinney, Jr., Daniel Goodman, William M. Holber, John A. Smith
  • Patent number: 8334505
    Abstract: A system and methods are described for generating reagent ions and product ions for use in a mass spectrometry system. Applications for the system and method are also disclosed for detecting volatile organic compounds in trace concentrations. A microwave or high-frequency RF energy source ionizes particles of a reagent vapor to form reagent ions. The reagent ions enter a chamber, such as a drift chamber, to interact with a fluid sample. An electric field directs the reagent ions and facilitates an interaction with the fluid sample to form product ions. The reagent ions and product ions then exit the chamber under the influence of an electric field for detection by a mass spectrometer module. The system includes various control modules for setting values of system parameters and analysis modules for detection of mass and peak intensity values for ion species during spectrometry and faults within the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Roger Robinson, Mark Attwood, Xing Chen, William M. Holber, Mark Philip Longson, Jonathan Henry Palk, Ali Shajii, John A. Smith
  • Patent number: 8309943
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing light includes a chamber and an ignition source that ionizes a gas within the chamber. The apparatus also includes at least one laser that provides energy to the ionized gas within the chamber to produce a high brightness light. The laser can provide a substantially continuous amount of energy to the ionized gas to generate a substantially continuous high brightness light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Energetiq Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald K. Smith, William M. Holber, Jeffrey A. Casey
  • Publication number: 20120160059
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing metal bearing gases involves generating a toroidal plasma in a plasma chamber. A metal bearing gas is introduced into the plasma chamber to react with the toroidal plasma. The interaction between the toroidal plasma and the metal bearing gas produces at least one of a metallic material, a metal oxide material or a metal nitride material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Holber, John A. Smith, Xing Chen, Donald K. Smith
  • Patent number: 8173986
    Abstract: Described are infrared light sources and methods for generating infrared radiation. The infrared light source includes a source of laser radiation, a target and an enclosure. The target is positioned in a path of an output region of the source of laser radiation. The target includes an absorbing material that absorbs radiation at a wavelength within the lasing spectrum of the source of laser radiation and converts the absorbed radiation into thermal energy. The enclosure defines a cavity that includes the target. The enclosure includes an infrared reflecting film on a side that defines the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Energetiq Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Holber, Donald K. Smith, Stephen F. Horne, Matthew M. Besen, Paul A. Blackborow
  • Patent number: 8124906
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing metal bearing gases involves generating a toroidal plasma in a plasma chamber. A metal bearing gas is introduced into the plasma chamber to react with the toroidal plasma. The interaction between the toroidal plasma and the metal bearing gas produces at least one of a metallic material, a metal oxide material or a metal nitride material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Holber, John A. Smith, Xing Chen, Donald K. Smith
  • Publication number: 20120003748
    Abstract: A system and methods are described for generating reagent ions and product ions for use in a mass spectrometry system. Applications for the system and method are also disclosed for detecting volatile organic compounds in trace concentrations. A microwave or high-frequency RF energy source ionizes particles of a reagent vapor to form reagent ions. The reagent ions enter a chamber, such as a drift chamber, to interact with a fluid sample. An electric field directs the reagent ions and facilitates an interaction with the fluid sample to form product ions. The reagent ions and product ions then exit the chamber under the influence of an electric field for detection by a mass spectrometer module. The system includes various control modules for setting values of system parameters and analysis modules for detection of mass and peak intensity values for ion species during spectrometry and faults within the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Roger Robinson, Mark Attwood, Xing Chen, William M. Holber, Mark Philip Longson, Jonathan Henry Palk, Ali Shajii, John A. Smith
  • Publication number: 20110204265
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing light includes a chamber and an ignition source that ionizes a gas within the chamber. The apparatus also includes at least one laser that provides energy to the ionized gas within the chamber to produce a high brightness light. The laser can provide a substantially continuous amount of energy to the ionized gas to generate a substantially continuous high brightness light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: Energetiq Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald K. Smith, William M. Holber, Jeffrey A. Casey
  • Patent number: 8003936
    Abstract: A system, components thereof, and methods are described for time-of-flight mass spectrometry. A microwave or high-frequency RF energy source is used to ionize a reagent vapor to form reagent ions. The reagent ions enter a chamber and interact with a fluid sample to form product ions. The reagent ions and product ions are directed to a time-of-flight mass spectrometer module for detection and determination of a mass value for the ions. The time-of-flight mass spectrometer module can include an optical system and an ion beam adjuster for focusing, interrupting, or altering a flow of reagent and product ions according to a specified pattern. The time-of-flight mass spectrometer module can include signal processing techniques to collect and analyze an acquired signal, for example, using statistical signal processing, such as maximum likelihood signal processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Roger Robinson, Mark Attwood, Xing Chen, William M. Holber, Mark Philip Longson, Jonathan Henry Palk, Ali Shajii, John A. Smith
  • Patent number: 8003935
    Abstract: A system and methods are described for generating reagent ions and product ions for use in a quadruple mass spectrometry system. A microwave or high-frequency RF energy source ionizes particles of a reagent vapor to form reagent ions. The reagent ions enter a chamber, such as a drift chamber, to interact with a fluid sample. An electric field directs the reagent ions and facilitates an interaction with the fluid sample to form product ions. The reagent ions and product ions then exit the chamber under the influence of an electric field for detection by a quadruple mass spectrometer module. The system includes various control modules for setting values of system parameters and analysis modules for detection of mass values for ion species during spectrometry and faults within the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Roger Robinson, Mark Attwood, Xing Chen, William M. Holber, Mark Philip Longson, Jonathan Henry Palk, Ali Shajii, John A. Smith
  • Publication number: 20110127450
    Abstract: Described are infrared light sources and methods for generating infrared radiation. The infrared light source includes a source of laser radiation, a target and an enclosure. The target is positioned in a path of an output region of the source of laser radiation. The target includes an absorbing material that absorbs radiation at a wavelength within the lasing spectrum of the source of laser radiation and converts the absorbed radiation into thermal energy. The enclosure defines a cavity that includes the target. The enclosure includes an infrared reflecting film on a side that defines the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: Energetiq Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Holber, Donald K. Smith, Stephen F. Horne, Matthew M. Besen, Paul A. Blackborow