Methods Patents (Class 355/77)
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Patent number: 11977246Abstract: A method of forming patterned features on a substrate is provided. The method includes positioning a plurality of masks arranged in a mask layout over a substrate. The substrate is positioned in a first plane and the plurality of masks are positioned in a second plane, the plurality of masks in the mask layout have edges that each extend parallel to the first plane and parallel or perpendicular to an alignment feature on the substrate, the substrate includes a plurality of areas configured to be patterned by energy directed through the masks arranged in the mask layout. The method further includes directing energy towards the plurality of areas through the plurality of masks arranged in the mask layout over the substrate to form a plurality of patterned features in each of the plurality of areas.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2023Date of Patent: May 7, 2024Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Yongan Xu, Rutger Meyer Timmerman Thijssen, Jinrui Guo, Ludovic Godet
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Patent number: 11920919Abstract: An apparatus includes a display screen that includes OLED pixels disposed at a particular pitch in a first plane. A light projector includes light emitting elements disposed in a second plane parallel to the first plane. The light emitting elements are disposed at the same pitch as the OLED pixels or at an integer multiple of the pitch of the plurality of OLED pixels. The light emitting elements are operable to produce light at a wavelength for transmission through the display screen, and the first and second planes are separated from one another by a distance D such that d2=2*(?)*(D)/(N), where d is the pitch of the OLED pixels, ? is the wavelength, and N is a positive integer.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2020Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: ams Sensors Asia Pte. LtdInventor: Nicolino Stasio
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Patent number: 11906903Abstract: A device for measuring reference points in real time during lithographic printing includes a light source providing an exposure beam; a light modulator modulating the exposure beam according to an exposure pattern; a measurement system configured to measure a position of a number of alignment marks previously arranged on a substrate; and an exposure optical system comprising a control unit. The exposure optical system delivers the modulated exposure beam as an image provided by the light modulator onto the substrate. The exposure system control unit is configured to calculate the orientation of the substrate based on the position of the alignment marks and control the delivering of the modulated exposure beam relative to the calculated orientation of the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2020Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: Visitech ASInventors: Øyvind Tafjord, Trond Jørgensen, Endre Kirkhorn, Roy Almedal
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Patent number: 11885738Abstract: An imaging system, and method of its use, for viewing a sample surface at an inclined angle, preferably in functional combination with a sample investigating reflectometer, spectrophotometer, ellipsometer or polarimeter system; wherein the imaging system provides that a sample surface and multi-element imaging detector surface are oriented with respect to one another to meet the Scheimpflug condition, and wherein a telecentric lens system is simultaneously positioned between the sample surface and the input surface of the multi-element imaging detector such that an image of the sample surface produced by said multi-element imaging detector is both substantially in focus over the extent thereof, and such that substantially no keystone error is demonstrated in said image.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2020Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: J.A. WOOLLAM CO., INC.Inventors: Martin M. Liphardt, Galen L Pfeiffer, Ping He
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Patent number: 11849769Abstract: An apparatus is provided for enabling smokable material to be heated to volatize at least one component of the smokable material. In one example, the apparatus has a capacitive sensor arranged to sense a change in capacitance when an article of smokable material is associated with a housing of the apparatus in use. In another example, the apparatus has a resistive sensor arranged to provide a measure of electrical resistance when an article of smokable material is associated with a housing of the apparatus in use. A combination of capacitive and resistive sensing may be used in some examples. In another example, a sensor makes use of at least two different sensing techniques. There is also provided an article of smokable material having a non-metallic electrically conductive region for detection by a sensor of an apparatus arranged to cause heating of the smokable material.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2020Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Nicoventures Trading LimitedInventors: Duane Anthony Kaufman, Jesse Eugene Robinson
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Patent number: 11835871Abstract: An imprint apparatus which is advantageous in improving the accuracy of alignment of a mold and a substrate without reducing productivity is provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2020Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Satoshi Iino
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Patent number: 11822259Abstract: A method of extreme ultraviolet lithography includes: generating within a source vessel extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light by striking a stream of droplets of target material shot across the source vessel with pulses from a laser to create a plasma from which EUV light is emitted; directing the generated EUV light out of the source vessel through an intermediate focus cap along a pathway toward a reticle of a scanner; creating a longitudinal mechanical wave extending across the pathway; and exposing a photoresist layer on a semiconductor substrate to pattern a circuit layout by the generated EUV light.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2022Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, LTD.Inventors: Tai-Yu Chen, Sagar Deepak Khivsara, Shang-Chieh Chien, Kai Tak Lam, Sheng-Kang Yu
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Patent number: 11815818Abstract: Methods for patterning a substrate are described. A substrate is scanned using a spatial light modulator with a plurality of exposures timed according to a non-crystalline shot pattern. Lithography systems for performing the substrate patterning method and non-transitory computer-readable medium for executing the patterning method are also described.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2022Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.Inventors: Joseph R. Johnson, Christopher Dennis Bencher
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Patent number: 11809133Abstract: An optical image generation system including: a spatial light modulator (SLM) configured to receive an input collimated laser beam and modulate the wavefront of the laser beam; one or more optical elements configured to project the modulated laser beam onto a focal plane; a first mirror and a second mirror situated at the focal plane, an edge of the first mirror being adjacent to an edge of the second mirror, the first mirror reflects a first portion of the modulated laser beam in a first direction, the second mirror reflects a second portion of the modulated laser beam in a second direction; and an objective lens projects the first and second portions into a combined image; wherein the zeroth order diffraction is block or suppressed at the center of the focal plane.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2022Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: Thorlabs, Inc.Inventors: Hongzhou Ma, Jeffery S. Brooker
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Patent number: 11762298Abstract: There is provided an exposure apparatus including a first light shielding unit including a first light shielding member and a second light shielding member, which include end potions facing each other in a scanning direction and in which a relative distance therebetween in the scanning direction can be changed, and arranged at a position away from a conjugate plane of a surface to be illuminated to a side of a light source, and a second light shielding unit including a third light shielding member and a fourth light shielding member, which include end portions facing each other in the scanning direction and in which a relative distance therebetween in the scanning direction can be changed, and arranged at a position away from the conjugate plane to a side of the surface.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2022Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Daisuke Kobayashi
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Patent number: 11762281Abstract: Membranes for EUV lithography are disclosed. In one arrangement, a membrane has a stack having layers in the following order: a first capping layer including an oxide of a first metal; a base layer including a compound having a second metal and an additional element selected from the group consisting of Si, B, C and N; and a second capping layer including an oxide of a third metal, wherein the first metal is different from the second metal and the third metal is the same as or different from the first metal.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2020Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.Inventors: Maxim Aleksandrovich Nasalevich, Erik Achilles Abegg, Nirupam Banerjee, Michiel Alexander Blauw, Derk Servatius Gertruda Brouns, Paul Janssen, Matthias Kruizinga, Egbert Lenderink, Nicolae Maxim, Andrey Nikipelov, Arnoud Willem Notenboom, Claudia Piliego, Mária Péter, Gijsbert Rispens, Nadja Schuh, Marcus Adrianus Van De Kerkhof, Willem Joan Van Der Zande, Pieter-Jan Van Zwol, Antonius Willem Verburg, Johannes Petrus Martinus Bernardus Vermeulen, David Ferdinand Vles, Willem-Pieter Voorthuijzen, Aleksandar Nikolov Zdravkov
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Patent number: 11720028Abstract: A measurement illumination optical unit guides illumination light into an object field of a projection exposure apparatus for EUV lithography. The illumination optical unit has a field facet mirror with a plurality of field facets and a pupil facet mirror with a plurality of pupil facets. The latter serve for overlaid imaging in the object field of field facet images of the field facets. A field facet imaging channel of the illumination light is guided via any one field facet and any one pupil facet. A field stop specifies a field boundary of an illumination field in the object plane. The illumination field has a greater extent along one field dimension than any one of the field facet images. At least some of the field facets include tilt actuators which help guide the illumination light into the illumination field via various field facets and one and the same pupil facet.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2021Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbHInventors: Thomas Fischer, Lars Wischmeier, Michael Patra, Hubert Holderer
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Patent number: 11703767Abstract: Electron beam overlay targets and method of performing overlay measurements on a target using a semiconductor metrology tool are provided. One target includes a plurality of electron beam overlay elements and a plurality of two-dimensional elements that provide at least one two-dimensional imaging. The plurality of two dimensional elements are an array of evenly-spaced polygonal gratings across at least three rows and at least three columns. Another target includes a plurality of electron beam overlay elements and a plurality of AIMid elements. Each of the electron beam overlay elements includes at least two gratings that are overlaid at a perpendicular orientation to each other. The plurality of AIMid elements includes at least two gratings that are overlaid at a perpendicular orientation to each other.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2021Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Inventors: Inna Steely-Tarshish, Stefan Eyring, Mark Ghinovker, Yoel Feier, Eitan Hajaj, Ulrich Pohlmann, Nadav Gutman, Chris Steely, Raviv Yohanan, Ira Naot
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Patent number: 11678071Abstract: An image sensing device includes a pixel array configured to include a first pixel group and a second pixel group that are contiguous to each other, each of the first pixel group and second pixel group including a plurality of imaging pixels to convert light into pixel signals, and a light field lens array disposed over the pixel array to direct light to the imaging pixels and configured as a moveable structure that is operable to move between a first position and a second position in a horizontal direction by a predetermined distance corresponding to a width of the first pixel group or a width of the second pixel group, the light field lens array configured to include one or more lens regions each including a light field lens and one or more open regions formed without the light field lens to enable both light filed imaging and conventional imaging.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2020Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: SK HYNIX INC.Inventor: Jong Eun Kim
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Patent number: 11670555Abstract: Method and devices to reduce integrated circuit fabrication process yield loss due to undesired interactions between PCMs and the wafer test probes during wafer sorting tests are disclosed. The described methods entail the use of a properly patterned metal layer on the PCM dies adjacent to the product dies under test. Such patterned metal layers shield traces of the wafer probes from the circuits of the PCM dies. Various exemplary metal layer patterns are also presented.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2020Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: PSEMI CORPORATIONInventors: Jacob Hamilton, Tran Kononova, Jay Kothari, Matt Allison, Kim T. Nguyen, Eric S. Shapiro
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Patent number: 11650510Abstract: A projection optical unit for microlithography includes a plurality of mirrors and has a numerical aperture having a value larger than 0.5. The plurality of mirrors includes at least three grazing incidence mirrors, which deflect a chief ray of a central object field point with an angle of incidence of greater than 45°. Different polarized light beams passing the projection optical unit are rotated in their polarization direction by different angles of rotation. The projection optical unit includes first and second groups of mirrors. The second group of mirrors includes the final two mirrors of the plurality of mirrors at the image side. A linear portion in the pupil dependence of the total geometrical polarization rotation of the projection optical unit is less than 20% of a linear portion in the pupil dependence of the geometrical polarization rotation of the second group of mirrors.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2021Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbHInventors: Hans-Juergen Rostalski, Holger Muenz, Christoph Menke
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Patent number: 11644756Abstract: Methods and systems for determining information for a specimen are provided. Certain embodiments relate to bump height 3D inspection and metrology using deep learning artificial intelligence. For example, one embodiment includes a deep learning (DL) model configured for predicting height of one or more 3D structures formed on a specimen based on one or more images of the specimen generated by an imaging subsystem. One or more computer systems are configured for determining information for the specimen based on the predicted height. Determining the information may include, for example, determining if any of the 3D structures are defective based on the predicted height. In another example, the information determined for the specimen may include an average height metric for the one or more 3D structures.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2021Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: KLA Corp.Inventors: Scott A. Young, Kris Bhaskar, Lena Nicolaides
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Patent number: 11614691Abstract: In a method of inspecting an outer surface of a mask pod, a stream of air is directed at a first location of a plurality of locations on the outer surface. One or more particles are removed by the directed stream of air from the first location on the outer surface. Scattered air from the first location of the outer surface is extracted and a number of particles in the extracted scattered air is determined as a sampled number of particles at the first location. The mask pod is moved and the stream of air is directed at other locations of the plurality of locations to determine the sampled number of particles in extracted scattered air at the other locations. A map of the particles on the outer surface of the mask pod is generated based on the sampled number of particles at the plurality of locations.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2021Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Shih-Jui Huang, ShinAn Ku, Ting-Hao Hsu, Hsin-Chang Lee
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Patent number: 11543756Abstract: A lithographic apparatus comprises a projection system comprising position sensors to measure a position of optical elements of the projection system. The positions sensors are referenced to a sensor frame. Damping actuators damp vibrations of the sensor frame. A control device drives the actuators and is configured to derive sensor frame damping force signals from at least one of the acceleration signals and the sensor frame position signals, derive an estimated line of sight error from the position signals, determine actuator drive signals from the sensor frame damping force signals and the estimated line of sight error, drive the actuators using the actuator drive signals to dampen the sensor frame and to at least partly compensate the estimated line of sight error.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2018Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.Inventor: Hans Butler
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Patent number: 11537042Abstract: An overlay correcting method capable of optimizing correction of an overlay within a scanner correction limit of a scanner of a scanner system, and a photolithography method, a semiconductor device manufacturing method and the scanner system which are based on the overlay correcting method are provided. The overlay correcting method includes collecting overlay data by measuring an overlay of a pattern; calculating correction parameters of the overlay by performing regularized regression using the overlay data, the regularized regression being based on a correction limit of the scanner such that the correction parameters fall within the correction limit of the scanner; and providing the correction parameters to the scanner.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2020Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Inventors: Jeongjin Lee, Minseok Kang, Seungyoon Lee, Chan Hwang
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Patent number: 11532490Abstract: Semiconductor device packages and associated methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the semiconductor device package includes (1) a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; (2) a semiconductor die positioned between the first and second surfaces; and (3) an indication positioned in a designated area of the first surface. The indication includes a code presenting information for operating the semiconductor die. The code is configured to be read by an indication scanner coupled to a controller.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2019Date of Patent: December 20, 2022Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Federico Pio
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Patent number: 11372337Abstract: A model-based tuning method for tuning a first lithography system utilizing a reference lithography system, each of which has tunable parameters for controlling imaging performance. The method includes the steps of defining a test pattern and an imaging model; imaging the test pattern utilizing the reference lithography system and measuring the imaging results; imaging the test pattern utilizing the first lithography system and measuring the imaging results; calibrating the imaging model utilizing the imaging results corresponding to the reference lithography system, where the calibrated imaging model has a first set of parameter values; tuning the calibrated imaging model utilizing the imaging results corresponding to the first lithography system, where the tuned calibrated model has a second set of parameter values; and adjusting the parameters of the first lithography system based on a difference between the first set of parameter values and the second set of parameter values.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2020Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Jun Ye, Yu Cao
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Patent number: 11375078Abstract: A reflective member is disposed on the optical path from the linear light source to the lens array. An ultraviolet light blocking filter is provided closer to a light-receiving unit than the reflective member. A color filter is provided closer to the light-receiving unit than the ultraviolet light blocking filter. A light-receiving surface of the light-receiving unit has a first region opposed to the reflective member without the ultraviolet light blocking filter and the color filter interposed therebetween, a second region opposed to the reflective member and the ultraviolet light blocking filter without the color filter interposed therebetween, and a third region opposed to the reflective member, the ultraviolet light blocking filter, and the color filter.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2018Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignees: GLORY LTD, VIENEX CORPORATIONInventors: Akira Bogaki, Masashi Nishikawa, Yasutoshi Hayashi, Kazuaki Ryuman
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Patent number: 11320759Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable photosensitive member. A charging member charges a surface of the photosensitive member. A developing roller carries developer. The developing roller supplies the developer in normal polarity to the surface of the photosensitive member. A regulating member regulates the developer on the developing roller. A common voltage applying unit applies charging voltage and regulating voltage. The regulating voltage is applied with the developing roller rotating such that a potential difference in a direction in which electrostatic force from the regulating member to the developing roller acts on the developer charged in the normal polarity, is formed between the regulating member and the developing roller, and in which the charging voltage to be applied in a non-image-forming period is controlled so as to be smaller in absolute value than in an image-forming period.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2019Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Jun Miura, Yuki Yamamoto, Takashi Hiramatsu, Masanori Tanaka
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Patent number: 11294294Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for determining a position of an alignment mark applied to a region of a first layer on a substrate using a lithographic process by: obtaining an expected position of the alignment mark; obtaining a geometrical deformation of the region due to a control action correcting the lithographic process; obtaining a translation of the alignment mark due to the geometrical deformation; and determining the position of the alignment mark based on the expected position and the translation.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2019Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Richard Johannes Franciscus Van Haren, Leon Paul Van Dijk, Orion Jonathan Pierre Mouraille, Anne Marie Pastol
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Patent number: 11276550Abstract: Provided is a charged particle beam device capable of making a time lag as small as possible when transporting a succeeding wafer from an FOUP to an SC in parallel with returning a preceding wafer from a sample chamber to the FOUP. The charged particle beam device according to the disclosure predicts a completion time point at which a recipe of the preceding wafer is ended, and sets a time point at which the succeeding wafer is started to be taken out from the FOUP so that a timing at which the succeeding wafer is taken out from the FOUP to a load lock chamber and vacuum evacuation of the load lock chamber is completed matches the completion time point.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2020Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: Hitachi High-Tech CorporationInventors: Mari Takabatake, Kazuyuki Hirao
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Patent number: 11268912Abstract: A substrate inspection method includes: acquiring a feature amount of each of divided areas in an inspection target peripheral edge image, the inspection target peripheral edge image being an image of a peripheral portion of a target substrate as an inspection target, the divided areas being obtained by dividing a predetermined area in the image of the peripheral portion of the target substrate into a plurality of areas; and performing a predetermined determination concerning inspection of the peripheral portion of the target substrate based on an acquisition result in the acquiring the feature amount.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2019Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Kazuya Hisano, Akiko Kiyotomi
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Patent number: 11256183Abstract: A detection method for a pellicle membrane of a photomask includes applying a predetermined pressure under which the pellicle membrane undergoes a deformation, measuring and calculating at least one of deformation level, Young's modulus, and flexural rigidity level of the pellicle membrane by detection, and obtaining a detection result about the pellicle membrane according to at least one of the deformation level, Young's modulus, and flexural rigidity level of the pellicle membrane, so as to evaluate the quality of the pellicle membrane.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2020Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: SOUTHERN TAIWAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYInventor: Yu-Ching Lee
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Patent number: 11254053Abstract: A three-dimensional printing system for fabricating a three-dimensional article includes a motorized build platform, a dispensing module, a pulsed light source, an imaging module, a movement mechanism, and a controller. The imaging module receives radiation from the pulsed light source and includes a two-dimensional mirror array. The movement mechanism imparts lateral motion between the imaging module and the build platform. The controller is configured to operate the motorized build platform and the dispensing module to form a layer of build material at a build plane, operate the movement mechanism to laterally scan the imaging module over the build plane, operate the pulsed light source to generate a sequence of radiation pulses that illuminate the mirror array, and operate the mirror array to selectively image the build material.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2020Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: 3D Systems, Inc.Inventor: Evgeny Korol
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Patent number: 11237373Abstract: A surgical microscope system for use in a medical procedure. The surgical microscope system is controlled in a first mode of operation corresponding to a phase of the medical procedure and defining at least one setting for adjusting a set of adjustable optics. While in the first mode of operation, the surgical microscope system automatically determines, from a captured image, an indication that a second mode of operation is relevant. The mode of operation is switched to the second mode of operation.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2020Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: SYNAPTIVE MEDICAL INC.Inventors: Siu Wai Jacky Mak, Tammy Lee
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Circuit board structure and fabricating method thereof, display panel and fabricating method thereof
Patent number: 11234332Abstract: A circuit board structure includes a circuit board body having an adsorption surface; an auxiliary board on which a binding mark is disposed. The auxiliary board is spliced to the circuit board body, and a surface of the auxiliary board is flush with the adsorption surface. A part of the adsorption surface and a part of the surface of the auxiliary board together form an adsorption zone.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2019Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignees: Ordos Yuansheng Optoelectronics Co., Ltd., BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.Inventor: Chunghao Cheng -
Patent number: 11204239Abstract: A diffraction measurement target that has at least a first sub-target and at least a second sub-target, and wherein (1) the first and second sub-targets each include a pair of periodic structures and the first sub-target has a different design than the second sub-target, the different design including the first sub-target periodic structures having a different pitch, feature width, space width, and/or segmentation than the second sub-target periodic structure or (2) the first and second sub-targets respectively include a first and second periodic structure in a first layer, and a third periodic structure is located at least partly underneath the first periodic structure in a second layer under the first layer and there being no periodic structure underneath the second periodic structure in the second layer, and a fourth periodic structure is located at least partly underneath the second periodic structure in a third layer under the second layer.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2020Date of Patent: December 21, 2021Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Kaustuve Bhattacharyya, Henricus Wilhelmus Maria Van Buel, Christophe David Fouquet, Hendrik Jan Hidde Smilde, Maurits Van Der Schaar, Arie Jeffrey Den Boef, Richard Johannes Franciscus Van Haren, Xing Lan Liu, Johannes Marcus Maria Beltman, Andreas Fuchs, Omer Abubaker Omer Adam, Michael Kubis, Martin Jacobus Johan Jak
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Patent number: 11173740Abstract: An erasing unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is a unit that performs erasing of information written on a reversible recording medium. This erasing unit includes: a light source section including one or a plurality of laser devices; and a controller that controls the light source section to cause the light source section to emit a smaller number of laser light beams having emission wavelengths than the number of the recording layers included in the reversible recording medium.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2018Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Isao Takahashi, Satoko Asaoka, Taichi Takeuchi, Asuka Tejima, Kentaro Kuriyama, Mitsunari Hoshi
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Patent number: 11169359Abstract: For the purposes of positioning a component part, provision is made in an optical system for a stray magnetic field to be detected via a sensor device and for a correction signal for compensating the effect of the stray magnetic field on the positioning of the component part to be ascertained.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2019Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbHInventors: Pascal Marsollek, Stefan Hembacher
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Patent number: 11133187Abstract: A method for forming a photo-mask includes providing a first pattern, wherein the first pattern includes a first light-transmitting region and a first light-shielding region; transforming the first pattern into a second pattern, wherein the second pattern includes a second light-transmitting region and a second light-shielding region, the second light-transmitting region is located within range of the first light-transmitting region, and the second light-transmitting region has an area which is smaller than that of the first light-transmitting region, the second light-shielding region includes the entire region of the first light-shielding region, and the second light-shielding region has an area which is greater than that of the first light-shielding region; and forming the second pattern on a photo-mask substrate to form a photo-mask, wherein the photo-mask is used in an ion implantation process of a material layer.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2018Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignee: WINBOND ELECTRONICS CORP.Inventors: Chun-Hung Lin, Ching-Chun Huang, Chung-Chen Hsu
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Patent number: 11042087Abstract: The present invention discloses a digital photolithography method for a fiber optic device (FOD) based on a DMD combination. In this method, reflected light modulated by two DMDs is simultaneously projected onto a same position on an optical fiber end surface through one reduction projection lens. The two DMDs form a primary and secondary digital mask for joint control of an exposure dose distribution formed when patterns are shrunk and projected onto the optical fiber end surface. After the optical fiber end surface coated with photoresist is subject to this dose of exposure, developing, fixing, and etching are conducted, to form a micro-optic device on the optical fiber end surface. In the present invention, distribution of the exposure dose jointly modulated by a digital mask combination formed by the primary and secondary DMD exceeds an order of modulation of an exposure dose by a single DMD.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2020Date of Patent: June 22, 2021Assignee: NANCHANG HANGKONG UNIVERSITYInventors: Zhimin Zhang, Ningning Luo, Luming Wang
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Patent number: 10986263Abstract: A calibration method of a variable-focal-length lens including a liquid lens unit whose focal-length is periodically varied in response to a periodic drive-signal includes: using a calibration tool having a plurality of height-different parts on a surface; preparing a calibration table by repeating outputting a drive-signal having a predetermined voltage to the variable-focal-length lens, detecting a surface image of the calibration tool using an image detector, detecting two points having maximum image contrast in the surface image, calculating a focal-depth from a difference in a focal-length between the two points; and recording the focal-depth and the voltage of the drive-signal in a corresponding combination, and retrieving a value of the voltage corresponding to a desired focal-depth from the calibration table to set the variable-focal-length lens at the desired focal-depth, and adjusting the voltage of the drive-signal outputted to the variable-focal-length lens based on the retrieved value.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2019Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroshi Sakai, Yutaka Watanabe
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Patent number: 10983227Abstract: Methods and systems for more efficient X-Ray scatterometry measurements of on-device structures are presented herein. X-Ray scatterometry measurements of one or more structures over a measurement area includes a decomposition of the one or more structures into a plurality of sub-structures, a decomposition of the measurement area into a plurality of sub-areas, or both. The decomposed structures, measurement areas, or both, are independently simulated. The scattering contributions of each of the independently simulated decomposed structures are combined to simulate the actual scattering of the measured structures within the measurement area. In a further aspect, measured intensities and modelled intensities including one or more incidental structures are employed to perform measurement of structures of interest. In other further aspects, measurement decomposition is employed to train a measurement model and to optimize a measurement recipe for a particular measurement application.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2018Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: KLA-Tencor CorporationInventors: John Hench, Antonio Arion Gellineau, Alexander Kuznetsov
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Patent number: 10976196Abstract: A sensor mark including: a substrate having: a deep ultra violet (DUV) radiation absorbing layer including a first material which substantially absorbs DUV radiation; and a protecting layer including a second material, wherein: the DUV radiation absorbing layer has a through hole in it; the protecting layer is positioned, in plan, in the through hole and the protecting layer in the through hole has a patterned region having a plurality of through holes; and the second material is more noble than the first material.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2018Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Joost André Klugkist, Vadim Yevgenyevich Banine, Johan Franciscus Maria Beckers, Madhusudhanan Jambunathan, Maxim Aleksandrovich Nasalevich, Andrey Nikipelov, Roland Johannes Wilhelmus Stas, David Ferdinand Vles, Wilhelmus Jacobus Johannes Welters, Sandro Wricke
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Patent number: 10928739Abstract: A method of measuring misregistration in the manufacture of semiconductor devices including providing a multilayered semiconductor device, using a scatterometry metrology tool to perform misregistration measurements at multiple sites on the multilayered semiconductor device, receiving raw misregistration data for each of the misregistration measurements, thereafter providing filtered misregistration data by removing outlying raw misregistration data points from the raw misregistration data for each of the misregistration measurements, using the filtered misregistration data to model misregistration for the multilayered semiconductor device, calculating correctables from the modeled misregistration for the multilayered semiconductor device, providing the correctables to the scatterometry metrology tool, thereafter recalibrating the scatterometry metrology tool based on the correctables and measuring misregistration using the scatterometry metrology tool following the recalibration.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2019Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: KLA-Tencor CorporationInventors: Roie Volkovich, Ido Dolev
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Patent number: 10884695Abstract: A display system capable of displaying appropriate information on a controller that performs control on an industrial machine including at least a machine tool or a robot on an external terminal is provided. A numerical controller of a display system includes a display data transmitting unit that transmits display data including a screen data ID of all pieces of data displayed on a touch panel to an external terminal. The external terminal includes: a description information storage unit that stores the screen data ID and description information in correlation; and a description information output unit that acquires, from the description information storage unit, description information based on the screen data ID included in the display data received from the numerical controller and outputs the description information to a touch panel.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2019Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: FANUC CORPORATIONInventor: Kun Liu
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Patent number: 10870207Abstract: One or more embodiments are directed to cap attach trays for holding barrel caps such that a pick-and-place tool can readily identify the cap and pick the barrel cap from the cap attach tray during the manufacturing process. The cap attach trays include a receiving layer having a plurality of protrusions each of which secures a barrel cap by mating to a through-hole in the barrel cap.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2017Date of Patent: December 22, 2020Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (MALTA) LTDInventors: Ryan Debono, Stanley Martin Parnis, Nathan John Zammit
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Patent number: 10836098Abstract: A 3D printing method for binary stereolithography 3D printer includes following steps of: controlling a binary stereolithography 3D printer (20) to retrieve a plurality of gray-scale slice images (802,822,842); mapping a pixel value of each pixel of each gray-scale slice images (802,822,842) from a pixel value full range to an accumulation value range for obtaining a printing parameter of each pixel; selecting one of the gray-scale slice images (802,822,842) orderly; controlling a binary lighting module (204) of the binary stereolithography 3D printer (20) to irradiate for generating a layer of physical slice model (320,322,340,342) according to the printing parameter of each pixel of the selected gray-scale slice image (802,822,842); and repeatedly executing aforementioned steps to generate a physical 3D model (8?) constituted by a stack of multiple of the physical slice models (320,322,340,342).Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2017Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignees: XYZPRINTING, INC., KINPO ELECTRONICS, INC.Inventor: Peng-Yang Chen
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Patent number: 10802397Abstract: Micro- and nano-patterns in imprint layers formed on a substrate and lithographic methods for forming such layers. The layers include a plurality of structures, and a residual layer having a residual layer thickness (RLT) that extends from the surface of the substrate to a base of the structures, where the RLT varies across the surface of the substrate according to a predefined pattern.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2020Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: Molecular Imprints, Inc.Inventors: Vikramjit Singh, Kang Luo, Michael Nevin Miller, Shuqiang Yang, Frank Y. Xu
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Patent number: 10802112Abstract: A chirped radio frequency signal is transmitted across an area of a potential threat. A reflected radio frequency return signal from an open barrel of a weapon at a location within the area of the potential threat is received at an incident angle through an aperture. An antenna at a position in an antenna array detects the reflected radio frequency return signal received at the incident angle through the aperture. The position of the antenna within the antenna array corresponds to a direction from which the reflected radio frequency return signal originates.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2018Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Paul David Swanson, Jia-Chi S. Chieh
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Patent number: 10733744Abstract: Methods and systems for aligning images for a specimen acquired with different modalities are provided. One method includes acquiring information for a specimen that includes at least first and second images for the specimen. The first image is acquired with a first modality different than a second modality used to acquire the second image. The method also includes inputting the information into a learning based model. The learning based model is included in one or more components executed by one or more computer systems. The learning based model is configured for transforming one or more of the at least first and second images to thereby render the at least the first and second images into a common space. In addition, the method includes aligning the at least the first and second images using results of the transforming. The method may also include generating an alignment metric using a classifier.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2018Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corp.Inventors: Thanh Huy Ha, Scott A. Young, Mohan Mahadevan
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Patent number: 10732455Abstract: The present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device which is capable of suppressing reflected glare of a display screen on a windshield and the like, has excellent front contrast, and has excellent visibility of a display screen as viewed via polarized sunglasses. A liquid crystal display device includes, in order from a viewing side, a viewing side polarizer, a liquid crystal cell, a non-viewing side polarizer, and an anisotropic light absorption layer having an absorption axis in a thickness direction. The liquid crystal display device further includes at least one polarization control layer, in which the polarization control layer is arranged on a viewing side of the viewing side polarizer or on a non-viewing side of the non-viewing side polarizer.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2019Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventors: Fumitake Mitobe, Naoya Nishimura, Jun Takeda
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Patent number: 10705437Abstract: Disclosed is a method, and associated apparatuses, for measuring a parameter of interest relating to a structure having at least two layers. The method comprises illuminating the structure with measurement radiation and detecting scattered radiation having been scattered by said structure. The scattered radiation comprises normal and complementary higher diffraction orders. A scatterometry model which relates a scattered radiation parameter to at least a parameter of interest and an asymmetry model which relates the scattered radiation parameter to at least one asymmetry parameter are defined, the asymmetry parameter relating to one or more measurement system errors and/or an asymmetry in the target other than a misalignment between the two layers. A combination of the scatterometry model and asymmetry model is used to determine a system of equations, and the system of equations is then solved for the parameter of interest.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2018Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.VInventors: Narjes Javaheri, Mohammadreza Hajiahmadi, Murat Bozkurt, Alberto Da Costa Assafrao, Marc Johannes Noot, Simon Gijsbert Josephus Mathijssen, Jin Lian
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Patent number: 10699875Abstract: Methods and systems for charged particle microscope confocal imaging are disclosed herein. An example method includes obtaining a plurality of probe images of a portion of a sample, each probe image of the plurality of probe images obtained at a different focal depth within the sample, applying a virtual aperture to each probe image of the plurality of probe images to form a respective plurality of confocal images, and forming a three-dimensional reconstruction of the sample based on the plurality of confocal images.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2018Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: FEI CompanyInventors: Mark Williamson, Andrew Barnum, Dong Tang
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Patent number: 10698325Abstract: Alignment can be monitored by positioning at least one alignment verification location per alignment frame. The alignment verification location is a coordinate within the alignment frame. A distance between each of the alignment verification locations and a closest instance of an alignment target is determined. An alignment score can be determined based on the distance. The alignment score can include a number of the alignment frames between the alignment verification location and the alignment target. If the alignment score is below a threshold, then alignment setup can be performed.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2019Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: KLA-Tencor CorporationInventor: Bjorn Brauer