Ion Bombardment Patents (Class 250/492.21)
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Patent number: 7868305Abstract: A technique for ion beam angle spread control is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as a method for ion beam angle spread control. The method may comprise directing one or more ion beams at a substrate surface at two or more different incident angles, thereby exposing the substrate surface to a controlled spread of ion beam incident angles.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2005Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.Inventors: Atul Gupta, Joseph C. Olson
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Patent number: 7868306Abstract: A method for ion implantation is disclosed which includes modulating the temperature of the substrate during the implant process. This modulation affects the properties of the substrate, and can be used to minimize EOR defects, selectively segregate and diffuse out secondary dopants, maximize or minimize the amorphous region, and vary other semiconductor parameters. In one particular embodiment, a combination of temperature modulated ion implants are used. Ion implantation at higher temperatures is used in sequence with regular baseline processing and with ion implantation at cold temperatures. The temperature modulation could be at the beginning or at the end of the process to alleviate the detrimental secondary dopant effects.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2008Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.Inventor: Deepak A. Ramappa
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Patent number: 7863586Abstract: A method of creating writing data for writing a pattern on a target workpiece by using a writing apparatus provided with a plurality of columns that emit charged particle beams includes inputting information on distance between optical centers of the plurality of columns, inputting layout data and virtually dividing a writing region indicated by the layout data into a plurality of small regions, by a width of one integer-th of the distance indicated by the information on distance, converting, for each small region, the layout data to a format adaptable to the writing apparatus to create, for the each small region, the writing data whose writing region is divided into the small regions, and outputting the writing data.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2008Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: NuFlare Technology, Inc.Inventor: Takayuki Abe
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Patent number: 7863587Abstract: A shaper for shaping an ion beam and that can be used for both deposition and etching is described. The shaper includes a plate that is placed between an ion beam grid and an ion beam source. The plate covers holes in the grid, and is shaped and dimensioned such that the plate does not partially cover any holes in the grid that are directly adjacent to the plate. A hole is configured to mount the shaper at a center of the grid and at least one other hole is configured to secure the shaper to the grid to prevent the shaper from rotating relative to the grid. A center mount portion covers holes in the grid. The plate has two axes of reflection symmetry. The uniformity of both deposition and etching is improved.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2007Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, Netherlands, B.V.Inventors: Peter M. Dang, Jorge A. Goitia, Cherngye Hwang, Eduardo T. Mireles
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Publication number: 20100327189Abstract: A hydrogen ion implanter for the exfoliation of silicon from silicon wafers uses a large scan wheel carrying 50+ wafers around its periphery and rotating about an axis. In one embodiment, the axis of rotation of the wheel is fixed and the wheel is formed with tensioned spokes supporting a rim carrying the wafer supports. The spokes may be used for carrying cooling fluid to and from the wafer supports. Detachable connections in the cooling fluid conduits in the vacuum chamber may comprise tandem seals with an intermediate chamber between them which can be vented outside the vacuum chamber, or independently vacuum pumped. In one embodiment, a ribbon beam of hydrogen ions is directed down on a peripheral edge of the wheel. The ribbon beam extends over the full radial width of wafers on the wheel.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2009Publication date: December 30, 2010Applicant: TWIN CREEKS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Geoffrey Ryding, Theodore H. Smick, Kenneth Harry Purser, Joseph Daniel Gillespie
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Publication number: 20100327181Abstract: A hydrogen ion implanter for the exfoliation of silicon from silicon wafers uses a large scan wheel carrying 50+ wafers around its periphery and rotating about an axis. In one embodiment, the axis of rotation of the wheel is fixed and the wheel is formed with tensioned spokes supporting a rim carrying the wafer supports. The spokes may be used for carrying cooling fluid to and from the wafer supports. In one embodiment, a ribbon beam of hydrogen ions is directed down on a peripheral edge of the wheel. The ribbon beam extends over the full radial width of wafers on the wheel.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2009Publication date: December 30, 2010Applicant: TWIN CREEKS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Geoffrey Ryding, Theodore H. Smick, Kenneth Harry Purser, Hilton Glavish, Joeph Daniel Gillespie
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Publication number: 20100327191Abstract: An ion implanter includes a process chamber and a coating layer. The process chamber receives a substrate and provides a space to perform an ion implantation process on the substrate. The coating layer is disposed on an inner wall of the process chamber to reduce contamination of the substrate and includes the same material as that of the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2008Publication date: December 30, 2010Applicant: KoMiCo LTDInventors: Kyung-Ic Jang, Kyung-Hwan Ye, Sam-Woong Kim, Yong-Sup Reim
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Publication number: 20100327190Abstract: A hydrogen ion implanter for the exfoliation of silicon from silicon wafers uses a large scan wheel carrying 50+ wafers around its periphery and rotating about an axis. In one embodiment, the axis of rotation of the wheel is fixed and a ribbon beam of hydrogen ions is directed down on a peripheral edge of the wheel. The ribbon beam extends over the full radial width of wafers on the wheel. The beam is generated by an ion source providing an extracted ribbon beam having at least 100 mm major cross-sectional diameter. The ribbon beam may be passed through a 90° bending magnet which bends the beam in the plane of the ribbon. The magnet provides intensity correction across the ribbon to compensate for the dependency on the radial distance from the wheel axis of the speed at which parts of the wafers pass through the ribbon beam.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2009Publication date: December 30, 2010Applicant: TWIN CREEKS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Hilton Glavish, Geoffrey Ryding, Theodore H. Smick, Kenneth Harry Purser
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Patent number: 7858955Abstract: An ion beam uniformity control system, wherein the uniformity control system comprising a differential pumping chamber that encloses an array of individually controlled gas jets, wherein the gas pressure of the individually controlled gas jets are powered by a controller to change the fraction of charge exchanged ions, and wherein the charge exchange reactions between the gas and ions change the fraction of the ions with original charge state of a broad ion beam, wherein the charge exchanged portion of the broad ion beam is removed utilizing an deflector that generates a magnetic field, a Faraday cup profiler for measuring the broad ion beam profile; and adjusting the individually controlled gas jets based upon feedback provided to the controller to obtain the desired broad ion beam.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2008Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Assignee: Axcelis Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Shu Satoh, Edward C. Eisner, Manny Sieradzki
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Patent number: 7858479Abstract: An object is to provide a semiconductor device in which uniform properties are intended and high yields are provided. Process steps are provided in which variations are adjusted in doping and annealing process steps that are subsequent process steps so as to cancel in-plane variations in a substrate caused by dry etching to finally as well provide excellent in-plane consistency in a substrate.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2005Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Bunji Mizuno, Yuichiro Sasaki, Ichiro Nakayama, Hiroyuki Ito, Tomohiro Okumura, Cheng-Guo Jin, Katsumi Okashita, Hisataka Kanada
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Patent number: 7855374Abstract: An emitting apparatus 50 has a gas cluster generation chamber 2 and a nozzle 3 as means for generating a gas cluster and emitting the gas cluster to a processing object 10. A group of gas clusters jetted from the nozzle 3 is shaped into a gas cluster stream 8 in a beam form when passing through a skimmer 4. Electrons are emitted from an electron gun 12 to the gas cluster stream 8, whereby the gas cluster in the gas cluster stream is ionized.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2008Date of Patent: December 21, 2010Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tetsuro Saito, Tatsumi Shoji, Yoichi Fukumiya
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Publication number: 20100317140Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to the use of a particle accelerator beam to form thin films of material from a bulk substrate. In particular embodiments, a bulk substrate having a top surface is exposed to a beam of accelerated particles. Then, a thin film of material is separated from the bulk substrate by performing a controlled cleaving process along a cleave region formed by particles implanted from the beam. To improve uniformity of depth of implantation, channeling effects are reduced by one or more techniques. In one technique, a miscut bulk substrate is subjected to the implantation, such that the lattice of the substrate is offset at an angle relative to the impinging particle beam. According to another technique, the substrate is tilted at an angle relative to the impinging particle beam. In still another technique, the substrate is subjected to a dithering motion during the implantation. These techniques may be employed alone or in combination.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2010Publication date: December 16, 2010Applicant: Silicon Genesis CorporationInventors: ADAM BRAILOVE, Zuqin Liu, Francois J. Henley, Albert J. Lamm
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Patent number: 7851772Abstract: An ion implantation apparatus according to the invention includes a park electrode as a deflecting apparatus arranged at a section of a beam line from an outlet of a mass analysis magnet apparatus to a front side of a mass analysis slit for deflecting an ion beam in a predetermined direction of being deviated from a beam trajectory line by an operation of an electric field. When the ion beam does not satisfy a desired condition, a park voltage is applied to the park electrode, thereby, the ion beam is brought into an evacuated state by being deflected from the beam trajectory line. As a result, the ion beam cannot pass through the mass analysis slit, and therefore, the ion beam which does not arrive at a wafer to prevent the ion beam which does not satisfy the condition from being irradiated to the wafer.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2008Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Sen Corporation an Shi and Axcelis CompanyInventors: Mitsukuni Tsukihara, Takanori Yagita, Hiroshi Sogabe, Toshio Yumiyama, Mitsuaki Kabasawa
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Patent number: 7851767Abstract: A beam control assembly to shape a ribbon beam of ions for ion implantation includes a first bar, second bar, first coil of windings of electrical wire, second coil of windings of electrical wire, first electrical power supply, and second electrical power supply. The first coil is disposed on the first bar. The first coil is the only coil disposed on the first bar. The second bar is disposed opposite the first bar with a gap defined between the first and second bars. The ribbon beam travels between the gap. The second coil is disposed on the second bar. The second coil is the only coil disposed on the second bar. The first electrical power supply is connected to the first coil without being electrically connected to any other coil. The second electrical power supply is connected to the second coil without being electrically connected to any other coil.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2008Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Advanced Ion Beam Technology, Inc.Inventor: Jiong Chen
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Patent number: 7851773Abstract: 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: June 13, 2007Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Semiquip, Inc.Inventors: Hilton F. Glavish, Thomas N. Horsky, Dale C. Jacobson, Sami K. Hahto, Masao Naito, Nobuo Nagai, Nariaki Hamamoto
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Publication number: 20100308215Abstract: A method comprising introducing an injected gas (e.g., Argon, Xenon) into a beam line region comprising a magnetic scanner is provided herein. The injected gas improves beam current by enhancing (e.g., increasing, decreasing) charge neutralization of the magnetic ion beam (e.g., the ion beam at regions where the scanning magnetic field is non-zero) thereby reducing the current loss due to the zero field effect (ZFE). By reducing the current loss in regions having a magnetic field, the magnetic beam current is increased (e.g., the beam current is increased in regions where the magnetic field is non-zero) raising the overall beam current in a uniform manner over an entire scan path and thereby reducing the effect of the ZFE. In other words, the ZFE is removed by effectively minimizing it through an increase in the magnetized beam current.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2010Publication date: December 9, 2010Applicant: Axcelis Technologies Inc.Inventors: Bo H. Vanderberg, Steven C. Hays, Andy Ray
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Patent number: 7847247Abstract: A method of plasma particle simulation capable of preventing solution divergence. A space within a housing chamber of a plasma processing apparatus is divided into a plurality of cells. A weighting factor corresponding to the number of plasma particles represented by a superparticle is set in each of the divided cells. Superparticles are set in each of the divided cells using plasma particles contained in the divided cell and the set weighting factor. The behavior of the superparticles in each of the divided cells is calculated. The weighting factor becomes smaller as the divided cell is located closer to a solid wall surface of the housing chamber.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2008Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventor: Kazuki Denpoh
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Patent number: 7847271Abstract: An ion implanter for manufacturing a single crystal film by extracting a hydrogen ion or a rare-gas ion from an ion source, selects a desired ion with a first sector electromagnet, scanning the ion with a scanner, collimates the ion with a second sector electromagnet, and implants it into a substrate; the ion source is configured to be located close to the entrance side focal point of the first sector electromagnet. In this case, when an aperture of an extraction section of the ion source is circular and entrance side focal points in a deflection surface and a surface perpendicular thereto in the first sector electromagnet are coincident, the ion beam after passing the first sector electromagnet becomes completely parallel in the two surfaces and the spot shape becomes a circle.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2007Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: Ulvac Inc.Inventors: Seiji Ogata, Ryota Fukui, Hidekazu Yokoo, Tsutomu Nishihashi
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Publication number: 20100301236Abstract: The present invention discloses a low temperature ion implantation by performing a heating process after the end of an implanting process and before the wafer is moved into the external environment. This invention actively raises wafer temperature at a time no later than implementation of the vacuum venting process, such that the condensed moisture induced by the temperature difference between a vacuum environment inside ion implanter and an external environment outside ion implanter is effectively minimized. The wafer can be heated at a loadlock, a robot for transferring wafer and/or an implantation chamber. The wafer can be heated by a gas, a liquid, a light and/or a heater embedded in a holder for holding the wafer.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2009Publication date: December 2, 2010Inventors: Shih-Yung Shieh, Cheng-Hui Shen
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Patent number: 7842920Abstract: An analysis system has a charged particle beam instrument and a scanning probe microscope operably coupled with the charged particle beam instrument. A stage defines an aperture, the stage is adapted to support the sample over the aperture and finely move the sample at least along an X and Y axis, the aperture further situated in an operable area of the charged particle beam. The charged particle beam is used to mill the sample, while the scanning probe microscope is used to measure elements exposed by the milling.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2007Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignee: DCG Systems, Inc.Inventor: Theodore R. Lundquist
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Patent number: 7842935Abstract: A method for writing a master image on a substrate includes dividing the master image into a matrix of frames, each frame including an array of pixels defining a respective frame image in a respective frame position within the master image. An electron beam is scanned in a raster pattern over the substrate, while shaping the electron beam responsively to the respective frame image of each of the frames as the electron beam is scanned over the respective frame position, so that in each frame, the electron beam simultaneously writes a multiplicity of the pixels onto the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2006Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignee: Applied Materials Israel, Ltd.Inventors: Meir Aloni, Mula Friedman, Jimmy Vishnipolsky, Gilad Almogy, Alon Litman, Yonatan Lehman, Doron Meshulach, Ehud Tirosh
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Patent number: 7842931Abstract: An extraction electrode manipulator system, comprising an ion source, a suppression electrode and a ground electrode, wherein the two electrode are supported by coaxially arranged two water cooled support tubes. A high voltage insulator ring is located on the other end of the coaxial support tube system to act as a mechanical support of the inner tube and also as a high voltage vacuum feedthrough to prevent sputtering and coating of the insulating surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2008Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignee: Axcelis Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Shu Satoh, John Adamik, Manny Sieradzki
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Patent number: 7842934Abstract: Terminal structures of an ion implanter having insulated conductors with dielectric fins are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the terminal structures of an ion implanter may be realized with insulated conductors with one or more dielectric fins. For example, the ion implanter may comprise an ion source configured to provide an ion beam. The ion implanter may also comprise a terminal structure defining a cavity, wherein the ion source may be at least partially disposed within the cavity. The ion implanter may further comprise an insulated conductor having at least one dielectric fin disposed proximate an exterior portion of the terminal structure to modify an electric field.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2007Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.Inventors: Kasegn D. Tekletsadik, Eric Hermanson, Doug May, Steve Krause, Russell John Low
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Publication number: 20100297836Abstract: A top plate, disposed on an upper portion of a vacuum container so as to face a substrate-placing area of a sample electrode, is provided with an impurity-containing film that contains an impurity, and is formed on a top plate peripheral edge portion area that is a face exposable to a plasma generated in the vacuum container, and is located on a peripheral edge of a top plate center portion area that faces the center portion of the substrate-placing area.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2008Publication date: November 25, 2010Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Yuichiro Sasaki, Katsumi Okashita, Bunji Mizuno
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Patent number: 7838850Abstract: 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: March 31, 2008Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: SemEquip, Inc.Inventors: Sami K. Hahto, Richard Goldberg, Edward McIntyre, Thomas N. Horsky
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Patent number: 7838849Abstract: The present invention relates to components in ion implanters having surfaces, such as graphite surfaces, adjacent to the path of the ion beam through the ion implanter. Such surfaces will be prone to sputtering, and sputtered material may become entrained in the ion beam. The present invention sees the use of surfaces that are formed so as to present a series of angled faces that meet at sharp intersections. In this way, any material will be sputtered away from the ion beam.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2007Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Gregory Robert Alcott, Adrian Murrell
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Patent number: 7834315Abstract: A method for sample examination in a dual-beam FIB calculates a first angle as a function of second, third and fourth angles defined by the geometry of the FIB and the tilt of the specimen stage. A fifth angle is calculated as a function of the stated angles, where the fifth angle is the angle between the long axis of an excised sample and the projection of the axis of the probe shaft onto the X-Y plane. The specimen stage is rotated by the calculated fifth angle, followed by attachment to the probe tip and lift-out. The sample may then be positioned perpendicular to the axis of the FIB electron beam for STEM analysis by rotation of the probe shaft through the first angle.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2008Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Omniprobe, Inc.Inventors: Lyudmila Zaykova-Feldman, Thomas M. Moore, Gonzalo Amador, Matthew Hammer
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Patent number: 7834333Abstract: In the charged particle beam lithography system, a pattern area to be drawn is divided into a plurality of frames, a main deflection positions a charged particle beam to a subfield within the frame, and an auxiliary deflection draws a pattern in units of the subfield. The charged particle beam lithography system includes a beam optical system including a deflector deflecting the beam, a driver driving the deflector, and a deflection control portion controlling the driver according to drawing data indicating a pattern to be drawn. The deflection control portion controls the driver according to a settling time that is determined so that an offset of an irradiation position of the charged particle beam has a certain value irrespective of any changes in deflection amount of the auxiliary deflection in the subfield.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2007Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: NuFlare Technology, Inc.Inventors: Rieko Nishimura, Shuichi Tamamushi
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Patent number: 7829870Abstract: An apparatus for in-situ specimen preparation is described. The apparatus includes an ion beam column 21 including at least: an liquid metal alloy ion source 56 including a first element for providing a light ion species with a mass of 10 g/mol to 60 g/mol and a second element for providing a heavy ions species with a mass of 150 g/mol or higher, a mass separator 58 for selectively separating the light ion species and the heavy ion species, and a focusing element for focusing the ion beam on a specimen. The apparatus further includes a specimen-beam-tilt unit for tilting the ion beam with respect to the specimen.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2007Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: ICT Integrated Circuit Testing Gesellschaft für Halbleiterprüftechnik mbHInventor: Juergen Frosien
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Patent number: 7829866Abstract: A method and apparatus satisfying growing demands for improving the intensity of implanting ions that impact a semiconductor wafer as it passes under an ion beam. The method and apparatus are directed to the design and combination together of novel magnetic ion-optical transport elements for implantation purposes for combating the disruptive effects of ion-beam induced space-charge forces. The design of the novel optical elements makes possible: (1) Focusing of a ribbon ion beam as the beam passes through uniform or non-uniform magnetic fields; (2) Reduction of the losses of ions comprising a d.c. ribbon beam to the magnetic poles when a ribbon beam is deflected by a magnetic field.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2008Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Inventors: Kenneth H. Purser, Norman L. Turner
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Patent number: 7825389Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling a gas cluster ion beam formed from a plurality of process gases in a gas mixture. The methods and apparatus involve measuring gas analysis data relating to the composition of the gas mixture and modifying the irradiation of the workpiece in response to the detected parameter. The gas analysis data can be derived from samples of the composition of the gas mixture flowing from a gas source to the gas cluster ion beam apparatus or samples of the residual gases inside the vacuum vessel of the gas cluster ion beam apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2007Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: TEL Epion Inc.Inventors: John J. Hautala, Matthew C. Gwinn, Jerald P. Dykstra
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Patent number: 7825015Abstract: The present invention provides a method for implanting ions in a semiconductor device capable of compensating for a difference in threshold voltages between a central portion and edge portions of a substrate generated while performing uniform ion implantation to entire surfaces of a substrate and another method for fabricating a semiconductor device capable of improving distribution of transistor parameters inside a substrate by forming a nonuniform channel doping layer or by forming a nonuniform junction profile.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2004Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Yong-Sun Sohn, Seung-Woo Jin, Min-Yong Lee, Kyoung-Bong Rouh
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Patent number: 7820988Abstract: An apparatus and method for ion implantation that include destabilizing the ion beam as it passes through magnetic field, preferably a dipole magnetic field is disclosed. By introducing a bias voltage at certain points within the magnetic field, electrons from the plasma are drawn toward the magnet, thereby causing the ion beam to expand due to space charge effects. The bias voltage can be introduced into the magnet in a region where the magnetic field has only one component. Alternatively, the bias voltage can be in a region wherein the magnetic field has two components.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2008Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.Inventors: Victor M. Benveniste, Antonella Cucchetti, Bon-Woong Koo
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Patent number: 7820987Abstract: An approach for predicting dose repeatability in an ion implantation is described. In one embodiment, an ion source is tuned to generate an ion beam with desired beam current. Beam current measurements are obtained from the tuned ion beam. The dose repeatability is predicted for the ion implantation as a function of the beam current measurements.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2007Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.Inventors: Morgan Evans, Norman E. Hussey, Steven R. Walther, Rekha Padmanabhan
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Patent number: 7820986Abstract: Techniques for controlling a charged particle beam are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a charged particle acceleration/deceleration system. The charged particle acceleration/deceleration system may comprise an acceleration column. The acceleration column may comprise a plurality of electrodes having apertures through which a charged particle beam may pass. The charged particle acceleration/deceleration system may also comprise a plurality of resistors electrically coupled to the plurality of electrodes. The charged particle acceleration/deceleration system may further comprise a plurality of switches electrically coupled to the plurality of electrodes and the plurality of resistors, each of the plurality of switches may be configured to be selectively switched respectively in a plurality of operation modes.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2007Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.Inventors: Piotr R. Lubicki, Russell J. Low, Joseph C. Olson, Anthony Renau
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Patent number: 7820985Abstract: The present invention comprises a method for high tilt angle implantation, with angular precision not previously achievable. An ion beam, having a width and height dimension, is made up of a number of individual beamlets. These beamlets typically display a higher degree of parallelism in one of these two dimensions. Thus, to minimize angular error, the workpiece is tilted about an axis substantially perpendicular to the dimension having the higher degree of parallelism. The workpiece is then implanted at a high tilt angle and rotated about a line orthogonal to the surface of the workpiece. This process can be repeated until the high tilt implantation has been performed in all required regions.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2007Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.Inventors: Atul Gupta, Joseph C. Olson
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Method of implanting ion species into microstructure products by concurrently cleaning the implanter
Patent number: 7816656Abstract: By operating an implantation tool with a source gas having a halogen fraction of 66 atomic percent or less relative to the total composition of the source gas, an in situ cleaning effect may be achieved while performing an implantation process.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2008Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.Inventors: Christian Krueger, Rastislav Kocis, Marek Braun, Niels-Wieland Hauptmann, Heinz Seidel -
Patent number: 7812325Abstract: A system, method and program product for improving uniformity and angle control wafers being implanted. A system is provided that includes an end station for positioning a wafer being implanted, comprising: a platen for holding the wafer, wherein the platen is rotatable to provide wafer rotation; a housing for holding the platen, wherein the housing is rotatable about a first orthogonal axis to provide a first type of wafer tilt; a structure for supporting the housing, wherein the structure is rotatable about a second orthogonal axis to provide a second type of wafer tilt; and a control system which, during an implant process of the wafer, causes wafer rotation, the first type of wafer tilt, and the second type of wafer tilt.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2006Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.Inventors: James Buonodono, Paul Murphy, Joseph C. Olson, Anthony Renau
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Patent number: 7812320Abstract: An ion source element, an ion implanter having the ion source element and a method of modifying the ion source element are provided. In the ion source element, a chamber may have a cavity divided into a plurality of inner sections configured substantially perpendicularly to an axis defined through centers of ends of the cavity. The larger inner sections may be at, or near, a center of the cavity and become smaller toward the ends of the cavity. A filament may be disposed at one end of the chamber to emit thermal electrons. A repeller may extend into the chamber through the other end of the chamber. An inlet may be formed in a first cavity wall to introduce gas having a dopant species into the chamber. A beam slit may be formed in a second cavity wall, opposite the inlet, of the chamber to extract an ionized species of the gas from the chamber.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2006Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Su-han Yun, Jong-hyun Yang, Do-in Bae, Seong-gu Kim
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Patent number: 7812321Abstract: Techniques for providing a multimode ion source are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as an apparatus for ion implantation comprising an ion source that operates in multiple modes such that a first mode is an arc-discharge mode and a second mode is an RF mode.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2008Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.Inventors: Peter Kurunczi, Rajesh Dorai, Costel Biloiu, Wilhelm Platow
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Patent number: 7807984Abstract: Components in an ion implanter that may see incidence of the ion beam include a chamber having an elongate slot opening defined by edges so that a central portion of the ion beam enters the component through the opening with the edges clipping at least a peripheral portion of the ion beam. The arrangement mitigates the problem of sputtered material escaping back out from the component and becoming entrained in the ion beam.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2008Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Gregory Robert Alcott, Adrian Murrell, Matthew Castle, Martin Hilkene
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Patent number: 7807980Abstract: The present invention provides a charged particle beam apparatus used to measure micro-dimensions (CD value) of a semiconductor apparatus or the like which captures images for measurement. For the present invention, a sample for calibration, on which a plurality of polyhedral structural objects with known angles on surfaces produced by the crystal anisotropic etching technology are arranged in a viewing field, is used. A beam landing angle at each position within a viewing field is calculated based on geometric deformation on an image of each polyhedral structural object. Beam control parameters for equalizing the beam landing angle at each position within the viewing field are pre-registered. The registered beam control parameters are applied according to the position of the pattern to be measured within the viewing field when performing dimensional measurement.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2006Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies CorporationInventors: Chie Shishido, Mayuka Oosaki, Mitsugu Sato, Hiroki Kawada, Tatsuya Maeda
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Patent number: 7807983Abstract: A technique for reducing magnetic fields at an implant location is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as an apparatus and method for reducing magnetic fields at an implant location. The apparatus and method may comprise a corrector-bar assembly comprising a set of magnetic core members, a plurality of coils distributed along the set of magnetic core members, and connecting elements to connect ends of the set of magnetic core members with each other to form a rectangular corrector-bar configuration. The corrector-bar assembly may be positioned at an exit region of a magnetic deflector to improve uniformity of a ribbon beam having a plurality of beamlets exiting from the magnetic deflector and the rectangular corrector-bar configuration may provide a desired magnetic field clamping action.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2007Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth H. Purser, James S. Buff, Victor Benveniste
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Patent number: 7807961Abstract: Techniques for ion implantation of molecular ions are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as an apparatus for ion implantation comprising an ion implanter for implanting a target material with a molecular ion at a predetermined temperature to improve at least one of strain and amorphization of the target material, wherein the molecular ion is generated in-situ within an ion source.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2008Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.Inventors: Christopher R. Hatem, Christopher A. Rowland
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Patent number: 7807986Abstract: An ion implanter and method for adjusting the shape of an ion beam are disclosed. After an ion beam is outputted from an analyzer magnet unit, at least one set of bar magnets is used to adjust the shape of the ion beam when the ion beam passes through a space enclosed by the bar magnets. The set of bar magnets can apply a multi-stage magnetic field on the ion beam. Hence, different portions of the ion beam will have different deformations or alterations, because the multi-stage magnetic field will apply a non-uniform force to change the trajectory of ions. Moreover, each bar magnet of the set is powered by one and only one power source, such that the set of bar magnets essentially only can adjust the magnitude of the multi-stage magnetic field. Particular structures and techniques for achieving the multi-stage magnetic field are not limited.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2009Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: Advanced Ion Beam Technology, Inc.Inventors: Ko-Chuan Jen, York Yang, Zhimin Wan
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Patent number: 7807985Abstract: The central axis of a source head and an extraction electrode is aligned on a line, and confirmed by a laser beam whether the line is coaxial with the ion beam axis. Thus, a light emitting unit that emits the laser beam on the ion beam axis is fitted to a housing instead of the source head, and a reflector that reflects the laser beam is fitted to the extraction electrode. A light emitting apparatus also has a function of detecting the laser beam to detect the laser beam that is reflected by the reflector, and sends the intensity of the detected laser beam to a control unit. The extraction electrode is positionally adjusted so that the intensity of the laser beam becomes maximum, whereby the ion beam axis can coincide with the central axes of the ion source and the extraction electrode.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2008Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.Inventor: Masaaki Itoh
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Publication number: 20100243879Abstract: The present invention provides a mass analyzing magnet which can bend a very wide charged particle ribbon beams through angles between 90 to 200 degrees. The shorter dimension of the ribbon beam is aligned with the magnetic field. The magnet can focus the longer dimension of the ribbon beam through a resolving slot inside the magnet for mass or momentum analysis. The magnet pole is shaped to increase the mass resolving power and to provide the focusing force in the direction of the shorter dimension of the ribbon beam. This magnet can achieve high mass resolving power with very small system aberrations for very wide ribbon beam. This feature is of significant value, for example, in the ion implantation industry. The ribbon beam width can be 300 mm, 450 mm and even 1000 mm. Integrated with the present invention, the ion implanter systems can be built to provide mass analyzed ribbon beams for various applications.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2010Publication date: September 30, 2010Inventors: Yongzhang Huang, Xinping Hu
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Publication number: 20100243431Abstract: An ion radiation damage prediction method includes a parameter computation step of computing the collision position and the incidence angle of an incident ion hitting a fabricated object by considering a transport path of the ion and by adopting the Monte Carlo method which takes distributions of flux quantities, incidence energies and angles of incident ions as input parameters; and a defect-distribution computation step of searching for data by referring to information found at the parameter computation step and databases created in advance, the databases storing distributions of quantities of crystalline defects having an effect on the fabricated object, ion reflection probabilities and ion penetration depths, finding the penetration depth and location of the incident ion based on the data found in the search operation, and the incidence energy and angle of the incident ion, and computing a distribution of defects in the fabricated object from the penetration depth and location.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2010Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: Sony CorporationInventors: Nobuyuki Kuboi, Shoji Kobayashi
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Patent number: 7804076Abstract: An insulator usable in high current ion implantation systems includes increased surface due to the configuration of an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder coupled to the inner cylinder at one end. A cylindrical cavity extends between the two cylinders increasing the surface area and making the insulator resistant to being coated by a coating that could produce a leakage path.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2006Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., LtdInventors: James Huang, Yung-Cheng Kuo, Min-Kung Hsu
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Patent number: 7804073Abstract: An emitter of a Ga liquid metal ion source is constituted to include W12 of a base material and Ga9 of an ion source element covering a surface as construction materials. By making back-sputtered particles become elements (W and Ga) of the Ga liquid metal ion sour source, if back-sputtered particles attach to the Ga liquid metal ion source, contamination which may change physical characteristics of Ga9 does not occur. A W aperture is used as a beam limiting (GUN) aperture to place Ga of approx. 25 mg (of melting point of 30° C.) on a surface of a portion included in a beam emission region (Ga store). When emitting ions to the beam limiting (GUN) aperture, Ga in the emission region melts and diffuses on a surface of the beam emission region of the W aperture.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2008Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies CorporationInventors: Hiroyasu Kaga, Yuichi Madokoro, Shigeru Izawa, Tohru Ishitani, Kaoru Umemura