Patents Examined by Hung V Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11933737
    Abstract: A detection device for detecting a workpiece with multiple surfaces includes a rotary table carrying the workpiece and moving the workpiece by rotation and a plurality of photographing devices arranged at a plurality of different positions around the rotary table. Each photographing device has an image capture device capturing an image of a corresponding surface of the workpiece that is moved to the image capture device. An orientation of the image capture device is defined by a first offset angle and a second offset angle when the image capture device captures the image of the corresponding surface of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignees: Tyco Electronics AMP Guangdong Ltd., TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH, Tyco Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lei (Alex) Zhou, Dandan (Emily) Zhang, Roberto Francisco-Yi Lu, Yanlin Huang, Yangqin Ma, Wei Yang, Guishou Chen, Ming Yang, Yuanyi Zhao
  • Patent number: 11933739
    Abstract: An image of an inspection surface of a product shot with a first imaging unit is divided into partial area images. For each partial area, a narrow-angle partial area image shot with a second imaging unit is acquired under shooting conditions in a pre-learning table in which the conditions and IDs are set. For each partial area, the narrow-angle partial area image suitable for inspection is selected, an inspection image is generated, and an anomaly of the inspection surface is detected based on the inspection image. For each partial area, whether each condition is effective is determined based on a frequency of the ID included by the inspection image. For each partial area, whether a predetermined condition is established is determined, and, with respect to the partial area in which the predetermined condition is established, a post-learning table is established in which only the condition determined to be effective is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Shibata, Toru Takahashi, Rui Ishiyama
  • Patent number: 11934103
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying an electric field and/or a magnetic field to a photoresist layer without air gap intervention during photolithography processes is provided herein. The method and apparatus include a transfer device and a plurality of modules. The transfer device is configured to rotate a plurality of substrates between each of the modules, wherein one module includes a heating pedestal and another module includes a cooling pedestal. One module is utilized for inserting and removing the substrates from the system. At least the heating module is able to be sealed and filled with a process volume before applying the electric field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Buchberger, Jr., Dmitry Lubomirsky, John O. Dukovic, Srinivas D. Nemani
  • Patent number: 11933962
    Abstract: Spatial light modulators (SLMs) and systems using same are described. Generally, the system includes a laser, a fixture holding a workpiece to be processed using the laser, illumination optics to illuminate the SLM with laser light, imaging optics to focus modulated light from the SLM onto the workpiece, and a controller to control the laser, the SLM, imaging optics and the fixture to scan the modulated light across a workpiece surface. The SLM includes an array of microelectromechanical system based diffractors, each including an electrostatically deflectable member coupled to a first light reflective surface and to bring light reflected from the first light reflective surface into interference with light reflected from a second light reflective surface in the SLM. The controller is operable to provide analog gray-scale control of an intensity of modulated light reflected from each diffractor by controlling an electrostatic force generated by a driver coupled thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Inventors: Stephen Hamann, Alexander Payne, Lars Eng, James Hunter, Tianbo Liu, Gregory Jacob
  • Patent number: 11927539
    Abstract: This inspection apparatus is for inspecting an inspection subject device. The inspection subject device is formed on an object to be inspected, and is a reverse-side irradiation-type imaging device into which light enters from the reverse side opposite to the side where a wiring layer is provided. This inspection apparatus has: a placement table having a transparent surface on which the object to be inspected is placed; a light irradiation mechanism that is provided in the placement table and that irradiates the to-be-inspected object placed on the placement table with light through the placement surface; and an acquisition unit that acquires in-plane distribution of illuminance of light from the placement table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Naoki Akiyama, Hiroyuki Nakayama, Susumu Saito
  • Patent number: 11927544
    Abstract: Provided are a wafer defect tracing method and apparatus, an electronic device and a computer readable medium. The method includes: obtaining defect data of a wafer; obtaining position data of fail bits of the wafer; determining a defect area of a storage block in the wafer according to the defect data; determining a fail bit count of the storage block in the wafer according to the position data of the fail bits; processing the defect area and the fail bit count of each storage block in the wafer, so as to obtain a correlation coefficient; and determining an abnormal reason for the fail bits of the wafer according to the correlation coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: CHANGXIN MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Yui-Lang Chen
  • Patent number: 11927890
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a photoresist coater applying a photoresist film on a substrate, a humidifier increasing an amount of moisture in an ambient to which the photoresist film on the substrate is exposed, and an exposer irradiating the photoresist film exposed to the ambient having the increased amount of moisture with light. The humidifier is disposed between the photoresist coater and the exposer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seok Heo, Cha Won Koh, Sang Joon Hong, Hyun Woo Kim, Kyung-Won Kang, Dong-Wook Kim, Kyung Won Seo, Young Il Jang, Yong Suk Choi
  • Patent number: 11921430
    Abstract: A lithography method to pattern a first semiconductor wafer is disclosed. An optical mask is positioned over the first semiconductor wafer. A first region of the first semiconductor wafer is patterned by directing light from a light source through transparent regions of the optical mask. A second region of the first semiconductor wafer is patterned by directing energy from an energy source to the second region, wherein the patterning of the second region comprises direct-beam writing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Tsiao-Chen Wu, Chi-Ming Yang, Hsu-Shui Liu
  • Patent number: 11921435
    Abstract: A lithographic system for projecting an image onto a workpiece using radiation is provided. The lithographic system includes: a support structure for supporting a workpiece; a radiation source for providing radiation to project an image on the workpiece; a reticle positioned between the radiation source and the workpiece; and a mask positioned adjacent the reticle, the mask being configured to block radiation from the radiation source, the mask including a heat removal apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Kulicke & Soffa Liteq B.V.
    Inventors: Jeroen de Boeij, Mikhail Yurievich Loktev
  • Patent number: 11921422
    Abstract: Embodiments of baking chambers for baking a substrate and methods of use thereof are provided herein. In some embodiments, a multi-chamber process tool for processing a substrate including: a wet clean chamber for cleaning the substrate; and a baking chamber configured to heat the substrate to remove residue or haze left over after a wet clean process performed in the wet clean chamber, the baking chamber comprising: a chamber body enclosing an interior volume; a heater disposed in the interior volume, wherein the heater is configured to have a surface temperature of about 100 to about 400 degrees Celsius during use; a substrate support configured to support a substrate disposed in the interior volume, wherein the substrate support has a direct line of sight with the heater such that the heater heats the substrate support via convection; and a gas inlet and a gas outlet coupled to the interior volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Banqiu Wu, Khalid Makhamreh, Eliyahu Shlomo Dagan
  • Patent number: 11914308
    Abstract: A lithographic apparatus having a substrate table, a projection system, an encoder system, a measurement frame and a measurement system. The substrate table has a holding surface for holding a substrate. The projection system is for projecting an image on the substrate. The encoder system is for providing a signal representative of a position of the substrate table. The measurement system is for measuring a property of the lithographic apparatus. The holding surface is along a plane. The projection system is at a first side of the plane. The measurement frame is arranged to support at least part of the encoder system and at least part of the measurement system at a second side of the plane different from the first side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Hans Butler, Engelbertus Antonius Fransiscus Van Der Pasch, Paul Corné Henri De Wit
  • Patent number: 11915961
    Abstract: A measurement system used in a manufacturing line for micro-devices includes: a plurality of measurement devices in which each device performs measurement processing on a substrate; and a carrying system to perform delivery of a substrate with the plurality of measurement devices. The plurality of measurement devices includes a first measurement device that acquires position information on a plurality of marks formed on a substrate, and a second measurement device that acquires position information on a plurality of marks formed on a substrate. Position information on a plurality of marks formed on a substrate can be acquired under a setting of a first predetermined condition in the first measurement device, and position information on a plurality of marks formed on another substrate can be acquired under a setting of a second predetermined condition different from the first predetermined condition in the second measurement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Go Ichinose, Tomonori Dosho
  • Patent number: 11906439
    Abstract: According to the embodiment, an optical inspection method includes: emitting, acquiring, and comparing. The emitting includes emitting light beams having a first wavelength and a second wavelength toward an imaging unit in accordance with light beam directions from a subject, with light beam intensities of the first wavelength and the second wavelength being in a complementary relationship. The acquiring includes acquiring each of information of a first image related to the first wavelength and information of a second image related to the second wavelength with the imaging unit. The comparing includes comparing the information of the first image and the information of the second image to extract unevenness information of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignees: Kaushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroya Kano, Hiroshi Ohno
  • Patent number: 11906440
    Abstract: An inspection device includes control unit that acquires pre-charging irradiation amounts for inspection areas on an inspection target. The pre-charging irradiation amounts are based on pattern information for each of the inspection areas. An irradiation unit is provided to control a plurality of first beams to supply the pre-charging irradiation amounts to each of the inspection areas using a corresponding one of the plurality of first beams. After supplying the respective pre-charging irradiation amount to at least one of the inspection areas, irradiation unit controls one of a plurality of second beams to irradiate a pre-charged one of the inspection areas. A generation unit generates images of each of the plurality of inspection areas based on the respective irradiation of the inspection areas with the second beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Kioxia Corporation
    Inventor: Ryoji Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 11899372
    Abstract: An optical device includes a plurality of laser light sources, an output module having an optical modulator, and a time divider that is disposed between the plurality of laser light sources and the output module and that is configured to divide laser beams emitted from the plurality of laser light sources in time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasushi Mizuno, Masaki Kato
  • Patent number: 11898968
    Abstract: Disclosed is a solution for quickly specifying an optical condition of a wafer to be inspected, and in particular, accelerating optical condition setting after obtaining a customer wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation
    Inventors: Taichi Maeda, Yuko Sasaki
  • Patent number: 11892779
    Abstract: An optical element and a lithographic apparatus including the optical element. The optical element includes a first member having a curved optical surface and a heat transfer surface, and a second member that comprises at least one recess, the at least one recess sealed against the heat transfer surface to form at least one closed channel between the first member and the second member to allow fluid to flow therethrough for thermal conditioning of the curved optical surface. In an embodiment, one or more regions of the heat transfer surface exposed to the at least one closed channel are positioned along a curved profile similar to that of the curved optical surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: ASML HOLDING N.V.
    Inventor: Victor Antonio Perez-Falcon
  • Patent number: 11881426
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes: a first process chamber in which a developing process is performed by supplying a developer to a substrate that is in a dry state; a second process chamber in which a drying process is performed on the substrate by supplying a supercritical fluid to the substrate on which the developing process is performed and which is in a wet state; a third process chamber in which a bake operation is performed on the substrate on which the drying operation is performed and is in a dry state; a fourth process chamber in which a cooling operation is performed on the substrate on which the bake operation is performed and is in a dry state; and a substrate transferring unit configured to transfer the substrate between the first to fourth process chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sangjine Park, Kuntack Lee, Jihwan Park, Seungmin Shin
  • Patent number: 11868056
    Abstract: A heat treatment unit U2 includes a heat plate 20 configured to place a wafer W thereon and heat the wafer W placed thereon; multiple gap members 22 formed along a front surface 20a of the heat plate 20 on which the wafer W is placed, and configured to support the wafer W to secure a clearance V between the heat plate 20 and the wafer W; a suction unit 70 configured to suck the wafer W toward the heat plate 20; and an elevating pin 51 configured to penetrate the heat plate 20 and configured to be moved up and down to move the wafer W placed on the heat plate 20 up and down. The front surface 20a of the heat plate 20 has a concave region 20d inclined downwards from an outer side toward an inner side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Kouichi Mizunaga, Toshichika Takei
  • Patent number: 11868055
    Abstract: Provided is a multifunctional lithography device, including: a vacuum substrate-carrying stage configured to place a substrate and adsorb the substrate on the vacuum substrate-carrying stage by controlling an airflow, so as to control a gap between the substrate and the mask plate; a mask frame arranged above the vacuum substrate-carrying stage and configured to fix the mask plate; a substrate-carrying stage motion system arranged below the vacuum substrate-carrying stage and configured to adjust a position of the vacuum substrate-carrying stage, so that a distance between the substrate and the mask plate satisfies a preset condition; an ultraviolet light source system arranged above the mask plate and configured to generate an ultraviolet light for lithography; and a three-axis alignment optical path system configured to align the ultraviolet light with the mask plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: The Institute of Optics and Electronics, The Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Xiangang Luo, Xiaoliang Ma, Mingbo Pu, Ping Gao, Xiong Li