Patent Number: 056082231
Section: claims

1. A method for use with an ion implantation system, the method comprising the steps of: a) positioning a plurality of wafers at spaced distances from one another around a circumference of a support disk, the support disk defining spacings that pass through the support disk between adjacent pairs of the positioned wafers such that the spacing between one adjacent pair of the positioned wafers is wider along the circumference of the support disk than the spacing between another adjacent pair of the positioned wafers;  b) rotating the support disk about an axis with respect to the ion beam such that the ion beam scans each positioned wafer and passes the support disk through the spacings between the positioned wafers;  c) detecting charge of the ion beam as the ion beam passes through the spacings between the positioned wafers while the support disk is rotating;  d) determining changes in the detected ion beam charge; and  e) controlling a radial scan of the positioned wafers with the ion beam based on the determined changes in ion beam charge.  a) a support disk for supporting a plurality of wafers positioned at spaced distances from one another around a circumference of the support disk, the support disk defining spacings that pass through the support disk between adjacent pairs of the positioned wafers such that the spacing between one adjacent pair of the positioned wafers is wider along the circumference of the support disk than the spacing between another adjacent pair of the positioned wafers;  b) a rotation drive mechanism for rotating the support disk about an axis with respect to the ion beam such that the ion beam scans each positioned wafer and passes the support disk through the spacings between the positioned wafers;  c) a charge detection device for detecting charge of the ion beam as the ion beam passes through the spacings between the positioned wafers while the support disk is rotating;  d) a radial drive mechanism for radially scanning the positioned wafers with the ion beam; and  e) a controller for determining changes in the detected ion beam charge and for controlling the radial scan of the positioned wafers based on the determined changes in ion beam charge. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the controlling step (e) comprises the step of moving the support disk with respect to the ion beam such that the ion beam scans the positioned wafers in a radial direction from the axis of rotation of the support disk. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the controlling step (e) comprises the step of controlling the speed of the radial scan based on the determined changes in ion beam charge, the circumferential widths of the spacings between the positioned wafers, and the radial distance between the ion beam and the axis of rotation of the support disk. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the positioning step (a) comprises the step of positioning the wafers at spaced distances from one another around the circumference of the support disk such that at least two spacings between adjacent pairs of the positioned wafers are each wider along the circumference of the support disk than any other spacing between an adjacent pair of the positioned wafers. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the method performs the determining step (d) and the controlling step (e) for each revolution of the support disk. 6. An apparatus for use in an ion implantation system, the apparatus comprising: 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the radial drive mechanism moves the support disk with respect to the ion beam such that the ion beam scans the positioned wafers in a radial direction from the axis of rotation of the support disk. 8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the controller controls the speed of the radial scan based on the determined changes in ion beam charge, the circumferential widths of the spacings between the positioned wafers, and the radial distance between the ion beam and the axis of rotation of the support disk. 9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the support disk supports the positioned wafers at spaced distances from one another around the circumference of the support disk such that at least two spacings between adjacent pairs of the positioned wafers are each wider along the circumference of the support disk than any other spacing between an adjacent pair of the positioned wafers. 10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the controller determines changes in ion beam charge and controls the radial scan of the positioned wafers for each revolution of the support disk. 11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the support disk supports each wafer with a wafer attachment portion coupled by a bridge to a central portion of the support disk.