Patents Examined by Ronald P Jarrett
  • Patent number: 11342207
    Abstract: A micro LED transfer head is proposed. The micro LED transfer head includes: a holding member including a holding region that holds a micro LED by means of vacuum holding force and a non-holding region that does not hold the micro LED; and a porous member provided on top of the holding member and having arbitrary pores, wherein the holding region includes: a first holding region; and a second holding region provided above the first holding region, formed to have a larger opening area than the first holding region, and communicating with the first holding region and the porous member, whereby the micro LED transfer head selectively transfers the micro LED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: POINT ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bum Mo Ahn, Seung Ho Park, Sung Hyun Byun
  • Patent number: 11339011
    Abstract: Disclosed is a substrate treating system and a substrate transporting method. A substrate transport mechanism of an indexer block can take a substrate W into and out of a carrier placed on a platform. Moreover, the substrate transport mechanism transports the substrate W between two treatment layers at different height positions in a first treating block and a second treating block. Accordingly, any delivery block configured to move substrates between two treatment layers in an up-down direction is not necessarily provided between the indexer block and the treating block as in the prior art. This achieves suppression of a footprint of the substrate treating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Inventor: Joji Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 11328945
    Abstract: A wafer forming apparatus includes a conveying tray having an ingot accommodating section that accommodates a semiconductor ingot and a wafer accommodating section that accommodates a wafer formed from the semiconductor ingot, a belt conveyor unit that conveys the conveying tray to each processing apparatus, a cassette rack on which cassettes accommodating the wafers are placed correspondingly to the conveying trays, and a transferring unit that transfers the wafer from the wafer accommodating section of the conveying tray to the cassette placed on the cassette rack. The conveying tray is provided with an identification mark. The cassette rack or the cassette corresponding to the conveying tray is provided with the same identification mark as the identification mark provided on the conveying tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kentaro Iizuka, Ryohei Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11309199
    Abstract: A substrate transfer apparatus for transferring a substrate includes a plurality of vacuum transfer chambers, each having therein a substrate transfer mechanism for holding and transferring the substrate, and an intermediate chamber disposed between the vacuum transfer chambers adjacent to each other. When one of the vacuum transfer chambers adjacent to each other is set as a first vacuum transfer chamber and the other is set as a second vacuum transfer chamber, a first substrate loading/unloading port is disposed between the intermediate chamber and the first vacuum transfer chamber and a second substrate loading/unloading port is disposed between the intermediate chamber and the second vacuum transfer chamber. A gate valve is provided only for the second substrate loading/unloading port. Further, the first and the second substrate loading/unloading port have different height positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Keita Horiuchi, Koji Maeda, Morihiro Takanashi
  • Patent number: 11309209
    Abstract: A wafer holder and a wafer transfer apparatus, system and method are disclosed. The wafer holder is mounted onto the wafer transfer apparatus and includes a holder body and a sucker. The holder body defines a first opening, while the sucker includes a first skirt. The first skirt is located on one side of the holder body and connected to the first opening. A groove is formed at a joint between the first skirt and the first opening. The groove is located at an outer side of the first skirt, and is able to relief stresses produced at a base portion of the sucker during deformation of the first skirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Shanghai Micro Electronics Equipment (Group) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gang Wang, Rongjun Zhang, Xiaoyu Jiang, Yichao Shi, Kai Liu, Junpeng Chen
  • Patent number: 11299894
    Abstract: A foldable boom for conveying an item, said foldable boom being foldable about at least one folding axis, said foldable boom being locatable in a folded stowed position, and moveable to unfolded extended positions; said foldable boom having a near end arranged for pivotal movement about a first horizontal axis located on a turret, said turret being rotatable about a vertical axis; said foldable boom having first conveying apparatus to convey an item therealong, internally within said foldable boom, to a remote end of the foldable boom; wherein said foldable boom is foldable about a folding axis, and a pivoting shuttle equipped with a clamp to releasably hold an item is provided at said folding axis to transfer said item between said first conveying apparatus in boom elements connected about said folding axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: FASTBRICK IP PTY LTD
    Inventor: Mark Pivac
  • Patent number: 11302547
    Abstract: A carrier structure suitable for transferring or supporting a plurality of micro devices includes a carrier and a plurality of transfer units. The carrier has a carrier surface and a plurality of recesses disposed on the carrier surface. The transfer units are respectively disposed in the recesses and a plurality of transferring surfaces are exposed. Each micro device has a device surface. The transferring surface of each transfer unit is configured to be connected to the device surface of the corresponding micro device. A micro device structure including the carrier structure is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: PlayNitride Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Pei-Hsin Chen, Yi-Chun Shih, Yi-Ching Chen, Ying-Tsang Liu, Yu-Chu Li, Huan-Pu Chang, Tzu-Yang Lin, Yu-Hung Lai
  • Patent number: 11276593
    Abstract: Systems and methods to manipulate stacks of silicon wafers and rings are described. In one aspect, a robotic actuator includes a robotic end effector that further a first surface having multiple attached wafer suction cups arranged to collectively grasp a silicon wafer. The robotic end effector also includes a second surface that further includes multiple attached ring suction cups arranged to collectively grasp a ring. The second surface also includes a bulk grabber positionable to grasp a collective stack of rings. The robotic actuator also includes an axial actuator configured to rotate the robotic end effector about a flip axis, such that either the first surface or the second surface faces vertically upwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Rorze Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Royal Wallace Cherry, III, Omied Surendra Lele, Bernardo Gonzalez, Rahul Janardhan Chalmela, Yinglong Li
  • Patent number: 11273995
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a material sorting system comprises: a suction gripper assembly, the suction gripper comprising: a body assembly that includes: an internal airflow passage configured to communicate an airflow between an airflow application port positioned at a first end of the body assembly and a gripping port positioned at the opposing second end of the body assembly; a cup fitting attached to the gripping port; a suction cup secured to the cup fitting; an attachable filter inserted into the suction cup and fastened to the cup fitting; and a mounting assembly, wherein the mounting assembly includes one or more mounting points for pivotally attaching the suction gripper assembly to a sorting robot of the material sorting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: AMP Robotics Corporation
    Inventors: Travis W. Martin, Scott E. Krueger, John C. McCoy, Jr., Matanya B. Horowitz
  • Patent number: 11270904
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus including a frame, a first SCARA arm having an end effector and being configured to extend and retract along a first axis, a second SCARA arm having an end effector and being configured to extend and retract along a second axis, a drive section including a splitting drive pulley rotatably mounted to rotate at an axis of rotation of the drive section that is shared by the first and second SCARA arms, the splitting drive pulley being coupled to at least two idler pulleys by respective segmented transmission loops of separate band segments so that the splitting drive pulley is a common pulley splitting one degree of freedom of the drive section between the at least two idler pulleys so as to commonly drive the at least two idler pulleys, wherein at least one band of each respective transmission loop share a common band interface level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: BROOKS AUTOMATION US, LLC
    Inventors: Vincent W. Tsang, Charles W. Su
  • Patent number: 11268257
    Abstract: A bucket assembly for attachment to a machine, such as a skid steer or tractor, that includes a bucket and a mounting assembly that permits swiveling of the bucket about a vertical axis and pivoting of the bucket about a horizontal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Leonardi Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Leonardi, Bruce C. Jordan
  • Patent number: 11267659
    Abstract: An apparatus for taking out a workpiece includes: a nozzle head that has a plurality of suction nozzles, each of which has a suction unit configured to suction a workpiece, a frame that is attached to a transport apparatus, and a support unit that supports the plurality of suction nozzles and is supported by the frame in a movable manner, wherein the support unit is caused to move relative to the frame, thereby selectively arranging one of the plurality of suction nozzles at a predetermined use position; and a drive unit that causes one suction nozzle arranged at the predetermined use position to move relative to the frame and causes the one suction nozzle to move to a predetermined suction position at which the workpiece is suctioned by the suction unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshio Motowaki
  • Patent number: 11255068
    Abstract: A compact utility loader is operated by a standing operator at the rear of a frame. A loader arm assembly comprises a scissors linkage on either side of the frame nesting around the prime mover. Each scissors linkage has an upper loader arm that is pivoted at its rear end to rears ends of a pair of lower loader arms such that the pivot connections to the upper loader arm move upwardly and forwardly relative to the frame during elevation of the loader arm assembly to provide a high lift capability. The frame is self-propelled by a differential drive and steering system that is operated by dual levers. A hand grip extends between and unifies the operation of the levers to permit the operator to more easily move the levers in the ways that are needed to provide either straight motion of the frame or turns of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: John P. Azure, Joseph C. Knipp, James A. Kuemper
  • Patent number: 11232964
    Abstract: A pod opener includes an elevating mechanism elevating the cassette in a vertical direction, a first hook member engaging with an engagement means of the cassette and supporting the cassette, a second hook member supported by the first hook member, a forward and backward movement mechanism moving the first hook member and the second hook member forward and backward with respect to the cassette, an urging member urging the second hook member upward, and an atmosphere maintaining device maintaining an internal space having the cassette disposed therein in a predetermined atmosphere and the second hook member is displaceable with respect to the first hook member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: RORZE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Katsunori Sakata
  • Patent number: 11232962
    Abstract: An alignment device which aligns notch portions of wafers includes mounting tables that hold the wafers, movement units that move the mounting tables, notch portion detection units that detect a circumferential positions of the notch portion, and a controller that controls positions of the mounting tables by the movement units. The mounting tables includes a mounting table main body portion and a pad member attached to an opening in the mounting table main body portion to hold the wafers. The pad member includes the main body portion that is attached to the opening and has a through hole in a center portion thereof, the first annular portion on an end side of the pad member to abut against wafers, and the first collar portion that is integrally provided with the first annular portion and the main body portion and extends toward outside of the main body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: HIRATA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki Watanabe, Tetsuya Sakai, Hiroshi Kikai
  • Patent number: 11217469
    Abstract: A vacuum transfer apparatus includes a vacuum chamber, a transfer robot, and a bellows. The vacuum chamber has a through-hole communicating with an outside. The transfer robot includes an arm unit disposed in the vacuum chamber to support a substrate, a support unit configured to support the arm unit while passing through the through-hole with a gap between the support unit and the through-hole, and a base unit disposed at the outside of the vacuum chamber to support the support unit. The bellows surrounds a periphery of the support unit and is sealed and attached to the arm unit and an inner wall of the vacuum chamber around the through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Taiki Sato
  • Patent number: 11208786
    Abstract: A compact utility loader compact utility loader comprising a frame and a loader arm configured in a vertical-lift configuration. The compact utility loader additionally comprises a link pivotably secured to the loader arm and to the frame, and an actuator pivotably secured to the loader arm and to the frame. The compact utility loader further comprises a track assembly configured to maintain the loader arm in direct attachment to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Carlson, John Relph, Jeff Welsh
  • Patent number: 11201073
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus comprising a transport arm having serially connected arm links, at least one of the arm links having a predetermined arm link height, at least a first pulley and a second pulley, where the second pulley is fixed to an arm link of the serially connected arm links, and at least one torque transmission band extending longitudinally between and coupled to each of the first pulley and the second pulley, the at least one torque transmission band having a corresponding band height for the predetermined arm link height and a variable lateral thickness such that the at least one torque transmission band includes a segment of laterally increased cross section for the corresponding band height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc
    Inventor: Ulysses Gilchrist
  • Patent number: 11192759
    Abstract: Provided is a method for raising or lowering a load parallel to a wind turbine tower, including raising or lowering the load using a cable, and exerting a force acting on the load towards the tower using guiding means supported at the tower. In the present method, a raising or lowering operation is assisted and the undesired movements of the load during raising or lowering are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY A/S
    Inventor: Thorkil Munk-Hansen
  • Patent number: 11192239
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus including a frame, a SCARA arm mounted to the frame at a shoulder joint having two links with at least one end effector dependent therefrom, the links defining an upper arm and a forearm, each end effector pivotally joined to the forearm at a wrist to rotate about a wrist axis, and a drive section with at least one degree of freedom operably coupled to the arm to rotate the arm about a shoulder axis articulating extension and retraction, wherein the end effector is coupled to a wrist joint pulley so that extension and retraction effects rotation of the pulley and end effector as a unit about the wrist axis, and wherein a height of the end effector is within a stack height profile of the wrist joint so that a total stack height is sized to conform with and pass through a pass-through of a slot valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent W. Tsang, Robert T. Caveney