Patents by Inventor Kai-Yu Liu

Kai-Yu Liu 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).

  • Publication number: 20240145596
    Abstract: A device includes a fin extending from a semiconductor substrate; a gate stack over the fin; a first spacer on a sidewall of the gate stack; a source/drain region in the fin adjacent the first spacer; an inter-layer dielectric layer (ILD) extending over the gate stack, the first spacer, and the source/drain region, the ILD having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the second portion of the ILD is closer to the gate stack than the first portion of the ILD; a contact plug extending through the ILD and contacting the source/drain region; a second spacer on a sidewall of the contact plug; and an air gap between the first spacer and the second spacer, wherein the first portion of the ILD extends across the air gap and physically contacts the second spacer, wherein the first portion of the ILD seals the air gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2024
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Su-Hao Liu, Kuo-Ju Chen, Kai-Hsuan Lee, I-Hsieh Wong, Cheng-Yu Yang, Liang-Yin Chen, Huicheng Chang, Yee-Chia Yeo, Syun-Ming Jang, Meng-Han Chou
  • Patent number: 11967522
    Abstract: A method includes depositing an etch stop layer over a first conductive feature, performing a first treatment to amorphize the etch stop layer, depositing a dielectric layer over the etch stop layer, etching the dielectric layer to form an opening, etching-through the etch stop layer to extend the opening into the etch stop layer, and filling the opening with a conductive material to form a second conductive feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jyh-Nan Lin, Chia-Yu Wu, Kai-Shiung Hsu, Ding-I Liu
  • Publication number: 20240001414
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a wafer stage and a particle removing assembly. The wafer stage includes a cup adjacent to a wafer chuck. The particle removing assembly is configured to remove contaminant particles from the cup. In some embodiments, the particle removing assembly comprises a flexible ejecting member that includes one or more elongated tubes, a front tip, and a cleaning tip adapter configured to attach the front tip to each of the one or more elongated tubes. The front tip includes front openings and lateral openings from which pressurized cleaning material are introduced onto an unreachable area of the cup to remove the contaminant particles from the cup.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Meng-Hsueh WU, Faung Yu Kuo, Kai Yu Liu, Yu-Chun Wu, Jao Huang, Wei-Yi Chen
  • Patent number: 11779967
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a wafer stage and a particle removing assembly. The wafer stage includes a cup adjacent to a wafer chuck. The particle removing assembly is configured to remove contaminant particles from the cup. In some embodiments, the particle removing assembly comprises a flexible ejecting member that includes one or more elongated tubes, a front tip, and a cleaning tip adapter configured to attach the front tip to each of the one or more elongated tubes. The front tip includes front openings and lateral openings from which pressurized cleaning material are introduced onto an unreachable area of the cup to remove the contaminant particles from the cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Meng-Hsueh Wu, Fang Yu Kuo, Kai Yu Liu, Yu-Chun Wu, Jao Huang, Wei-Yi Chen
  • Publication number: 20210268558
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a wafer stage and a particle removing assembly. The wafer stage includes a cup adjacent to a wafer chuck. The particle removing assembly is configured to remove contaminant particles from the cup. In some embodiments, the particle removing assembly comprises a flexible ejecting member that includes one or more elongated tubes, a front tip, and a cleaning tip adapter configured to attach the front tip to each of the one or more elongated tubes. The front tip includes front openings and lateral openings from which pressurized cleaning material are introduced onto an unreachable area of the cup to remove the contaminant particles from the cup.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: M.H. WU, Fang-Yu KUO, Kai-Yu LIU, Yu-Chun WU, Jao Sheng HUANG, W.Y. CHEN
  • Publication number: 20110164253
    Abstract: A method of modifying a substrate for deposition of charged particles thereon, the method comprising the steps of: providing a substrate that is incapable of bonding to a polyelectrolyte coating that has a charge that is opposite to the charge of the particles that are to be deposited thereon; modifying the surface of the substrate to provide a layer of silicon thereon or therein; and coating the silicon layered surface of the substrate with the polyelectrolyte coating, the polyelectrolyte coating containing functional groups that are capable of forming bonds with said silicon layer and wherein said polyelectrolyte coating enables a substantially even distribution of said charged particles to be deposited thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: Xiaodong Zhou, Nan Zhang, Kai Yu Liu, Su Yin Oh, Jisheng Pan
  • Patent number: 7815412
    Abstract: A glass substrate distribution system includes a cassette, a first transmission mechanism, and a second transmission mechanism. The first transmission mechanism transmits the glass substrate to several standby positions outside the cassette. The second transmission mechanism transmits the glass substrate between the standby positions and the glass substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: AU Optronics, Corp.
    Inventor: Kai-Yu Liu
  • Publication number: 20080273960
    Abstract: A glass substrate distribution system includes a cassette, a first transmission mechanism, and a second transmission mechanism. The first transmission mechanism transmits the glass substrate to several standby positions outside the cassette. The second transmission mechanism transmits the glass substrate between the standby positions and the glass substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: AU OPTRONICS CORP.
    Inventor: Kai-Yu Liu
  • Patent number: 7431551
    Abstract: A glass substrate distribution system includes a cassette, a first transmission mechanism, and a second transmission mechanism. The first transmission mechanism transmits the glass substrate to several standby positions outside the cassette. The second transmission mechanism transmits the glass substrate between the standby positions and the glass substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventor: Kai-Yu Liu
  • Publication number: 20060075825
    Abstract: A cassette for placing multiple-sized substrates includes a first board, a second board, two sidewalls, a number of dividers and an adjustable positioning device. The first board, the second board and the two sidewalls form a space. The dividers divide the space into several substrate-receiving spaces for placing substrates. The adjustable positioning device which movably connected to the first board and the second board is used to adjust the width of the substrate-receiving spaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Publication date: April 13, 2006
    Inventor: Kai-Yu Liu
  • Publication number: 20060045675
    Abstract: A glass substrate distribution system includes a cassette, a first transmission mechanism, and a second transmission mechanism. The first transmission mechanism transmits the glass substrate to several standby positions outside the cassette. The second transmission mechanism transmits the glass substrate between the standby positions and the glass substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2005
    Publication date: March 2, 2006
    Applicant: AU OPTRONICS CORP.
    Inventor: Kai-Yu Liu
  • Publication number: 20060016770
    Abstract: A support device of a cassette includes a plurality of spacers and a support. The spacers extend from the side boards of the cassette into the substrate retaining space. The support is disposed on the spacers to support the substrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Publication date: January 26, 2006
    Applicant: AU OPTRONICS CORP.
    Inventor: Kai-Yu Liu