Patents by Inventor Ming-Hsun Kuo

Ming-Hsun Kuo 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).

  • Automated inspection tool
    Patent number: 11961770
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a processing tool. The tool includes a housing enclosing a processing chamber, and an input/output port configured to pass a wafer through the housing into and out of the processing chamber. A back-side macro-inspection system is arranged within the processing chamber and is configured to image a back side of the wafer. A front-side macro-inspection system is arranged within the processing chamber and is configured to image a front side of the wafer according to a first image resolution. A front-side micro-inspection system is arranged within the processing chamber and is configured to image the front side of the wafer according to a second image resolution which is higher than the first image resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-Han Lin, Chien-Fa Lee, Hsu-Shui Liu, Jiun-Rong Pai, Sheng-Hsiang Chuang, Surendra Kumar Soni, Shou-Wen Kuo, Wu-An Weng, Gary Tsai, Chien-Ko Liao, Ya Hsun Hsueh, Becky Liao, Ethan Yu, Ming-Chi Tsai, Kuo-Yi Liu
  • Self-cleaning etch process
    Patent number: 6699399
    Abstract: A process for etching a substrate 25 in an etching chamber 30, and simultaneously cleaning a thin, non-homogeneous, etch residue deposited on the surfaces of the walls 45 and components of the etching chamber 30. In the etching step, process gas comprising etchant gas is used to etch a substrate 25 in the etching chamber 30 thereby depositing etch residue inside the chamber 30. Cleaning gas is added to the process gas for a sufficient time and in a volumetric flow ratio that is sufficiently high, to react with and remove substantially all the etch residue deposited by the process gas. The present method advantageously cleans the etch residue in the chamber 30, during the etching process, and without use of separate cleaning, conditioning, and seasoning process steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc
    Inventors: Xue-Yu Qian, Zhi-Wen Sun, Weinan Jiang, Arthur Y. Chen, Gerald Zheyao Yin, Ming-Hsun Yang, Ming-Hsun Kuo, David S. L. Mui, Jeffrey Chinn, Shaoher X. Pan, Xikun Wang
  • Self-cleaning etch process
    Patent number: 6136211
    Abstract: A process for etching a substrate 25 in an etching chamber 30, and simultaneously cleaning a thin, non-homogeneous, etch residue deposited on the surfaces of the walls 45 and components of the etching chamber 30. In the etching step, process gas comprising etchant gas is used to etch a substrate 25 in the etching chamber 30 thereby depositing etch residue inside the chamber 30. Cleaning gas is added to the process gas for a sufficient time and in a volumetric flow ratio that is sufficiently high, to react with and remove substantially all the etch residue deposited by the process gas. The present method advantageously cleans the etch residue in the chamber 30, during the etching process, and without use of separate cleaning, conditioning, and seasoning process steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Xue-Yu Qian, Zhi-Wen Sun, Weinan Jiang, Arthur Y. Chen, Gerald Zheyao Yin, Ming-Hsun Yang, Ming-Hsun Kuo, David S. L. Mui, Jeffrey Chinn, Shaoher X. Pan, Xikun Wang