Computer Controlled Patents (Class 451/5)
  • Patent number: 11958161
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a polishing apparatus having a surface-property measuring device for measuring surface properties of a polishing pad which is used to polish a substrate, such as semiconductor wafer, and a polishing system including such a polishing apparatus. The polishing apparatus includes a surface-property measuring device (30) for measuring surface properties of a polishing pad (2), a support arm (50) for supporting the surface-property measuring device (30), and a moving unit (53) coupled to the support arm (50) and configured to move the surface-property measuring device (30) from a retreat position to a measure position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keisuke Kamiki, Toru Maruyama, Yasuyuki Motoshima
  • Patent number: 11904430
    Abstract: A method includes polishing a wafer on a polishing pad, performing conditioning on the polishing pad using a disk of a pad conditioner, and conducting a heat-exchange media into the disk. The heat-exchange media conducted into the disk has a temperature different from a temperature of the polishing pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kei-Wei Chen, Chih Hung Chen
  • Patent number: 11897078
    Abstract: A polishing apparatus that is capable of referring to a storage in which a machine learning model is stored, the machine learning model being learned using learning data in which a feature amount of a signal regarding a frictional force between a polishing member and a substrate in polishing or a feature amount of a temperature of the polishing member or the substrate in polishing is input, and data regarding a film thickness of the polished substrate or a parameter related to yield of a product included in the polished substrate is output, the device including: a polishing table provided with the polishing member and configured to be rotatable; a polishing head facing the polishing table and configured to be rotatable, wherein the substrate is attachable to a surface facing the polishing table; a control unit configured to perform control to polish the substrate by pressing the substrate against the polishing member while rotating the polishing table and the polishing head having the substrate attached there
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Nakamura, Tsuneo Torikoshi, Yuta Suzuki, Hisanori Matsuo, Takahito Kagoshima
  • Patent number: 11883922
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a polishing head defining plural pressure chambers D1 to D5 for pressing a wafer W on a polishing pad 42, a pressure control unit performing pressure feedback control by individually controlling pressures in the pressure chambers D1 to D5, a film thickness measurement unit measuring a film thickness distribution of the wafer W being polished, a storage unit storing multiple pieces of information on a preset pressure of the pressure chambers D1 to D5, and a response characteristic acquisition unit changing the preset pressure every time a predetermined condition is satisfied during polishing of the wafer W, measuring a polishing rate applied to the wafer W, and acquiring a response characteristic of the polishing of the wafer W. The response characteristic indicates responsiveness of the polishing of the wafer W to the pressure feedback. The response characteristic is acquired based on the obtained polishing rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Watanabe, Keita Yagi
  • Patent number: 11850695
    Abstract: A disc changing system for a robotic defect repair system is presented. The system has a first abrasive disc and a second abrasive disc. The first and second abrasive discs are coupled to a liner. The system includes an abrasive disc placement device configured to automatically: remove the first abrasive disc from the liner, transport the first abrasive disc to a robotic tool of the robotic defect repair system, and place the first abrasive disc on a backup pad coupled to the robotic tool. The system also includes an abrasive disc remover configured to automatically remove the first abrasive disc after receiving a removal signal. The system also includes a controller configured to send an instruction to the disc placement device to remove, transport and place the first abrasive disc, instruct the robotic tool to conduct an abrasive operation. The controller is also configured to send the removal signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Aaron K. Nienaber, Mark W. Orlando, Nathan J. Herbst, Christie L. Vitale, Marc Eberwein, Brett R. Hemes, Jonathan B. Arthur, Thomas J. Strey
  • Patent number: 11794357
    Abstract: A processing apparatus includes a table base to which a jig table is removably secured, a cutting unit, a moving assembly for moving the table base between a processing area and a mounting/dismounting area, and a delivery assembly for delivering the jig table from a temporary rest area onto the table base while applying a negative pressure to a second suction channel of the jig table. The delivery assembly includes a pair of grippers for gripping both sides of the jig table, a suction pipe connected to the second suction channel of the jig table that is gripped by the grippers, and a lifting and lowering unit for positioning the suction pipe selectively in an operative position where the suction pipe is connected to the second suction channel and a lifted position where the suction pipe is spaced from the second suction channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takeomi Fukuoka
  • Patent number: 11774235
    Abstract: Among other things, a computer-based method is described. The method comprises receiving, by one or more computers, a plurality of measured spectra reflected from a substrate at a plurality of different positions on the substrate. The substrate comprises at least two regions having different structural features. The method also comprises performing, by the one or more computers, a clustering algorithm on the plurality of measured spectra to separate the plurality of measured spectra into a number of groups based on the spectral characteristics of the plurality of measured spectra; selecting one of the number of groups to provide a selected group having a subset of spectra from the plurality of measured spectra; and determining, in the one or more computers, at least one characterizing value for the substrate based on the subset of spectra of the selected group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Drue David, Boguslaw A. Swedek
  • Patent number: 11768379
    Abstract: A system may include a head-mounted device. The head-mounted device may have a head-mounted housing that includes a display. The display is configured to display an image for viewing by a user when the user's eyes are located in eye boxes adjacent to the head-mounted housing. The head-mounted housing may have a compressible opaque light seal. The light seal may have a ring shape and may block stray ambient light around the periphery of the head-mounted housing, thereby ensuring that stray light does not interfere with viewing of the image by the user. Sensors may be provided in the light seal to measure facial expressions and gather other measurements. Information on a measured facial expression of a user can be transmitted to external devices so that the external devices can update corresponding facial expressions on an avatar to reflect the user's current facial expression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Muhammad F. Hossain, Samuel A. Resnick
  • Patent number: 11761195
    Abstract: Material delivery systems as well as systems and methods relating thereto are disclosed. In an embodiment, the material delivery system includes a tank to hold water therein. In addition, the material delivery system includes a hopper to hold dry ingredients of the extrudable building material therein. Further, the material delivery system includes a mixing unit to receive water from the tank and dry ingredients from the hopper. The mixing unit includes an agitator to mix the water and the dry ingredients together to form the extrudable building material. Still further, the material delivery system includes a controller coupled to the agitator that is to: measure a load imparted to the agitator by the extrudable building material, add additional water to the mixing unit when the load is above a first threshold, and add additional dry ingredients to the mixing unit when the load is below a second threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: ICON Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Alex Le Roux
  • Patent number: 11738422
    Abstract: A management method of a machining system includes a chuck table, a machining unit, a transfer unit that transfers a wafer onto the chuck table, a camera unit that acquires an image containing a pattern formed on a side of a front surface of the wafer, and an information recording section. The management method is applied when the pattern is recorded in association with machining conditions in the information recording section; and records in the information recording section new machining conditions to be used when machining a new type of wafer, causes an automatic machining program, which automatically machines the new type of wafer, to start, forms an image, which contains a new pattern of the new type of wafer, by the camera unit, and records the new pattern in association with the new machining conditions in the information recording section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuma Sekiya
  • Patent number: 11731239
    Abstract: A processing apparatus includes: a selection section that selects two or more components from a plurality of components including a holding table, a processing unit, a robot, a temporary placing unit, a carrying-in mechanism, a cleaning unit, and a carrying-out mechanism; and a control unit that handles a workpiece at part of routes that correspond to the components selected by the selection section, of the routes for passage of the workpiece at the time of processing the workpiece full-automatically by use of the plurality of components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Fukushi
  • Patent number: 11691239
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a carbide blade grinding forming processing production line, relates to the field of blade processing in forming, and provides a production line for grinding forming processing of a carbide blade with inscribed circular holes, which has functions of blade grinding forming processing, blade cleaning and drying and detection of external dimension of a formed blade, and has an automatic loading and uninstalling function. In most processing course of the blade, the cutter head is taken as a carrier, and an overturning device is configured to overturn a whole cutter die box, such that integral end surface overturning of the cutter head in the cutter die box after single end surface grinding is realized, and blade filling processes in different processing links are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignees: QINGDAO UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, NINGBO SANHAN ALLOY MATERIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Min Yang, Changhe Li, Shuo Yin, Liang Luo, Weixi Ji, Binhui Wan, Wenfeng Ding, Haogang Li, Huajun Cao, Bingheng Lu, Lizhi Tang, Xin Cui, Mingzheng Liu, Yanbin Zhang, Jie Xu, Huiming Luo, Haizhou Xu, Huaping Hong, Teng Gao, Yuying Yang, Wuxing Ma, Shuai Chen
  • Patent number: 11667003
    Abstract: A wafer held on a delivery pad is lifted from a holding surface, and when a lower surface of the wafer has been spaced in its entirety from the holding surface, an air flow rate regulating valve is opened to eject air from the holding surface. As the distance between the holding surface and the wafer spaced from the holding surface increases by lifting of a delivery unit, the degree of opening of the air flow rate regulating valve is adjusted to increase a flow rate of air from the holding surface, thereby spacing the wafer from the holding surface in a short period of time without rupturing the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Fukushi, Tetsuo Kubo
  • Patent number: 11660722
    Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing system includes a platen to support a polishing pad, a carrier head to hold a substrate and bring a lower surface of the substrate into contact with the polishing pad, and an in-situ friction monitoring system including a friction sensor. The friction sensor includes a pad portion having a substrate contacting portion with an upper surface to contact the lower surface of the substrate, and a pair of capacitive sensors positioned below and on opposing sides of the substrate contacting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Wiswell, Chih Chung Chou, Dominic J. Benvegnu
  • Patent number: 11633832
    Abstract: A system for sanding a surface includes a sanding tool, a robotic manipulator to move the sanding tool relative to the surface, and a control unit operatively coupled with the sanding tool and the robotic manipulator. The control unit is operable to: (1) move the sanding tool to a sanding position relative to the surface in which an abrasive surface is in contact with the surface and a sanding force is approximately normal to the surface; (2) set one or more sanding parameters corresponding to a model material removal rate; (3) monitor one or more of the sanding parameters; (4) determine an actual material removal rate, based on one or more of the sanding parameters being monitored; and (5) modify one or more of the sanding parameters until the actual material removal rate is approximately equal to the model material removal rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignees: The Boeing Company, University of Washington
    Inventors: John R. Aubin, Lance O. McCann, Alexander H. de Marne, Terrence J. Rowe, Gary Davis, Cameron Devine, Tony Piaskowy, Kenneth W. Latimer, III
  • Patent number: 11633828
    Abstract: A first and a second substrate polishing apparatus and are provided with a film thickness sensor for measuring a film thickness of layer to be polished and polish the layer by pressing the substrate against a polishing pad. The first substrate polishing apparatus outputs difference between output value of the film thickness sensor when an underlayer is exposed and output value of the film thickness sensor when the substrate is not present, as a first offset value. The second substrate polishing apparatus has a storage unit that stores information of the first offset value, an output correction unit that corrects the output value from the film thickness sensor based on the first offset value, and an end point detection unit that outputs control signal indicating end point of substrate polishing when measured value of the film thickness of the layer calculated based on the corrected output value reaches target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuta Suzuki, Taro Takahashi, Akihiko Ogawa, Shigeyuki Furuya, Yuji Yagi, Nobuyuki Takada, Shinpei Tokunaga
  • Patent number: 11623317
    Abstract: A set includes a molding device having a molding face having the same shape as a contact face of the blocking device. A removable overlay of rigid material has a first face attached to a first face of the semi-finished optical element and a second face opposite to the first face having the same shape as the contact face of the blocking device, the set being configured for having a first subset configuration in which the second face of the removable overlay is in molding contact with the molding face of the molding device, then a second subset configuration in which the second face of the removable overlay is free and then a third subset configuration in which the second face of the removable overlay is retained in contact with the contact face of the blocking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Essilor International
    Inventors: Jérome Moine, Luc Martin, Sébastien Pinault, Xavier Bultez
  • Patent number: 11618122
    Abstract: Examples are directed to an approach to specifying design guidelines for fabricating a free-form optical component, and methods of fabricating the free-form optical components. In one example, a family of optical prescriptions is created, and a fabricator may manufacture the free-form optical element to any selected prescription within the family. According to certain examples, the series of prescriptions in the family each describe a very similar optical surface providing the same or similar optical performance, and are layered relative to one another such that the thickness of the optical element at any point is slightly less for each subsequent surface defined by the next prescription in the series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Alejandro Maldonado, David J. Knapp
  • Patent number: 11612980
    Abstract: A grinding apparatus includes a chuck table for holding a workpiece thereon, a table base supporting the chuck table, a grinding unit for grinding the workpiece held on the chuck table with a grinding wheel mounted on an end of a spindle, a load detecting unit for detecting a load applied from the grinding unit to the table base, a tilt adjustment unit supporting the table base thereon, for adjusting a tilt of the table base, a storage for storing a correlative relation between loads applied to the table base and changes in the tilt of the table base, and a controller for controlling the tilt adjustment unit based on the load detected by the load detecting unit and the correlative relation, to adjust the tilt of the table base so that a change in the tilt of the table base that corresponds to the detected load is cancelled out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Inventor: Yujiro Sudo
  • Patent number: 11583971
    Abstract: A machine (10) for machining workpieces with optical quality has at least one workpiece spindle (12), which rotatably drives a workpiece (L) to be machines about a workpiece axis of rotation (C). A swivel head (14) located opposite the workpiece spindle, is pivotable about a pivot axis (B), and bears at least two tool spindles (16, 18), each of which rotatably driving at least one machining tool (T1, T2, T3) about a tool axis of rotation (D, D?). The workpiece spindle and the swivel head (14) are adjustable relative to one another along three mutually perpendicular linear axes (X, Y, Z). One axis (Y) extends parallel to the pivot axis (B). Another axis (Z) extends parallel to the axis (C) of workpiece rotation. At least one tool spindle is attached to the swivel head with its tool axis of rotation (D?) extending parallel to the pivot axis (B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Inventors: Joachim Diehl, Alexander Hofmann, Steffen Moos
  • Patent number: 11587838
    Abstract: A grinding control method and device for a wafer, and a grinding device are provided. A grinder is controlled to grind a mass production wafer with a set grinding parameter. In a case that it is determined to perform a test using a test wafer, the grinder may be controlled to grind the test wafer with the set grinding parameter. A first total thickness variation of the grinded test wafer is acquired by a dedicated measurement device, and an updated grinding parameter is acquired based on the first total thickness variation. The grinder is controlled to grind the mass production wafer with the updated grinding parameter. In this way, a wafer with a uniform thickness can be obtained, thereby improving flatness of the grinded wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Wuhan Xinxin Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hongsheng Yi, Zhijun Zhang, Yifan Yang
  • Patent number: 11554420
    Abstract: Disclosed are threading device and threading method, including a turning step for threading a rotating workpiece with a predetermined cutting depth, by relatively moving a tool in the axial direction of the workpiece and then rounding-up the workpiece obliquely by relatively moving the tool in the axial direction and radially outward. The workpiece is subjected to the threading process by repeatedly carrying out the turning step while sequentially shifting the axial position for starting the rounding-up of the workpiece relative to an axial position where the rounding-up of the workpiece has been started in a previous turning step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignees: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD., CITIZEN MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hikaru Takahashi, Tamotsu Katsuta
  • Patent number: 11548163
    Abstract: A grinding package fitted on robotic arm includes a main body, a pneumatic motor, a bridging part and a grinding tool. The main body is formed with a first space, a second space, a communicating hole communicating the first space to the second space, a connecting wall within the first space, an intake channel, an exhaust channel, openings of the first space and the second space respectively located on each of two parallel sides of the main body, the connecting wall having a ventilation hole. The pneumatic motor includes a motor body within the first space, and a transmission shaft connected to the motor body while extended from the second space through the communicating hole. The bridging part is combined with the main body and the robotic arm, the bridging part closing off the first space, the grinding tool facing the second space and being joined to the transmission shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: X'POLE PRECISION TOOLS INC.
    Inventor: Yi-Jung Liaw
  • Patent number: 11545366
    Abstract: A system and method for thinning an integrated circuit (IC) wafer. The system includes a support structure to hold the IC wafer and a mechanism to operate on the IC wafer. The support structure includes one or more inductive coils configured to transmit a power signal to the IC wafer and receive a feedback signal from the IC wafer. The system further includes a process controller to control the operation based at least in part on the feedback signal received from the IC wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Stephen L. Morein
  • Patent number: 11479839
    Abstract: A method for producing a hot-rolled titanium plate includes, [1] melting at least one part of the side surface of the titanium slab by radiating a beam or plasma toward the side surface, not toward the surface to be rolled, and thereafter causing re-solidification to form, in the side surface, a layer having grain diameter of 1.5 mm or less and a depth of 3.0 mm or more from the side surface; [2] performing a finishing process on the surface to be rolled of the titanium slab in which the layer is formed, to thereby bring a slab flatness index X to 3.0 or less; and [3] subjecting the titanium slab after the finishing process to hot rolling under a condition in which a length of an arc of contact of a roll L in a first pass of rough rolling is 230 mm or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshitsugu Tatsuzawa, Tomonori Kunieda, Kenichi Mori, Kazuhiro Takahashi, Hideki Fujii
  • Patent number: 11446786
    Abstract: An object is to enable accurate machining by enabling shots to be accurately blasted on a workpiece even while workpiece is being deformed. A part manufacturing system includes: a peening device including a nozzle that projects a plurality of shots toward a workpiece, and a sensor that detects a distance to the workpiece; and a machining robot including a hand to which the peening device is attached, and a control unit that adjusts a position or an orientation of the peening device by controlling the hand based on the distance detected by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignees: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD., SINTOKOGIO, LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Kozaki, Kosuke Akanuma, Hideaki Kaga, Kyoichi Iwata, Seiya Ikeda
  • Patent number: 11428617
    Abstract: Provided herein are particle detection systems, and related methods configured to characterize a liquid sample, comprising: a first probe configured to determine a first parameter set of a plurality of first particles in a liquid sample, the first particles characterized by a size characteristic selected from a first size range; wherein the first parameter set comprises a first size distribution and a first concentration; and a second probe configured to determine a second parameter set of one or more second particles in the liquid sample, the second particles being characterized by a size characteristic selected from a second size range; wherein the second parameter set comprises a second size distribution and a second concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Particle Measuring Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian A. Knollenberg, Daniel Rodier
  • Patent number: 11407081
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a substrate polishing system comprising a polishing pad covered on the polishing platen; a plurality of substrate carriers including a first substrate carrier which moves in a state in which a substrate is mounted and performs a polishing process in a state in which the substrate is in contact with the polishing pad on the polishing pad; a monitoring unit of displaying the information including the identity, position of at least one of the substrate carriers; and a control unit of outputting a warning signal and/or changes the operation of operating devices when an error occurs in real time thereby improving the monitoring efficiency and operation reliability of the polishing process of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: KCTECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jong-Tae Joo, Sang Hyun Kim, Ho Cheon Jeong, Jae Yeol Kim
  • Patent number: 11389927
    Abstract: A processing apparatus includes a first distinguishing display unit which, when a mechanism making a holding force or a processing force act on a workpiece causes an error, displays a workpiece illustration representing the workpiece to which the error is caused and on which the holding force or the processing force acts distinguishably from another workpiece illustration. The workpiece on which the holding force or the processing force of the mechanism causing the error acts can be thereby identified easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Fukushi, Souichi Matsubara, Suzu Hoshino, Hidekazu Nakayama
  • Patent number: 11312017
    Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and devices related to robotic control for tool sharpening. The device may determine a first location associated with a first cutting tool of the one or more cutting tools relative to the first container. The device may grip the first cutting tool based on the first location of the first cutting tool relative to the first container. The device may move the robotic device to one more scanning sensors. The device may collect three dimensional data. The device may extract a profile of the first cutting tool. The device may determine a top edge and a bottom edge based on the profile. The device may determine a tip of the first cutting tool. The device may generate a sharpening path based on the tip and the profile of the first cutting tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Omnisharp, LLC
    Inventors: Russell Aldridge, Marc Christenson, Jacob Robinson, Isaac Jones, Joshua Foss, Mathius Jules, Michael Morgan, Austin Christensen, Jason Orr, Nathan Powelson, Sam Grayson
  • Patent number: 11285578
    Abstract: A height of an upper surface of a sub-chuck table is measured by a holding surface measuring unit in contact with the upper surface of the sub-chuck table. A height of a holding surface of a chuck table is measured by an upper surface height measuring unit in contact with the holding surface of the chuck table. A first difference between the height of the upper surface of the sub-chuck table and the height of the holding surface of the chuck table is calculated. A workpiece is held on the holding surface, and the height of the upper surface of the sub-chuck table is calculated again by the holding surface measuring unit. The upper surface height measuring unit is brought into contact with the upper surface of the workpiece by vertically moving it, and the height of the upper surface of the workpiece is measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jiro Genozono
  • Patent number: 11289387
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus perform backside via reveal processes using a centralized control framework for multiple process tools. In some embodiments, a method for performing a backside via reveal process may include receiving process tool operational parameters from process tools involved in the backside via reveal process by a central controller, receiving sensor metrology data from at least one or more of the process tools involved in the backside via reveal process, and altering the backside reveal process based, at least in part, on the process tool operational parameters and the sensor metrology data by adjusting two or more of the process tools involved in the backside via reveal process. The profile parameters are configured to prevent backside via breakage during a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Prayudi Lianto, Sik Hin Chi, Shih-Chao Hung, Pin Gian Gan, Ricardo Fujii Vinluan, Gaurav Mehta, Ramesh Chidambaram, Guan Huei See, Arvind Sundarrajan, Upendra V. Ummethala, Wei Hao Kew, Muhammad Adli Danish Bin Abdullah, Michael Charles Kutney, Mark McTaggart Wylie, Amulya Ligorio Athayde, Glen T. Mori
  • Patent number: 11278976
    Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a gear component includes, in a soft machining process, introducing a preliminary toothing 3 with a machining allowance 7 that is fixed relative to a final toothing 4 into a blank such that a semi-finished part 2 is produced. The method also includes, in a fine machining process, removing the machining allowance 7 and producing the final toothing 4 of the toothed component. The machining allowance 7 is removed in a single-stage hobbing method by a grinding tool 1, wherein the grinding tool 1 removes the machining allowance completely in a single stroke movement H.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Franz-Josef Hoener, Frank Klein, Thomas Barrois
  • Patent number: 11224953
    Abstract: A method for determining a dimension between the back and the cutting edge of a vibrating blade mounted on a cutting head includes successively of acquiring a digital image of the blade mounted on the cutting tool so a line corresponding to a cutting edge of the blade and a line corresponding to a back of the blade are visible in the image, determining on the digital image along a straight line perpendicular to the line corresponding to the cutting edge of the blade the pixels comprised between the line corresponding to the cutting edge of the blade and the line corresponding to the back of the blade, and calculating a filtered dimension between the back and the cutting edge of the blade from the number of pixels comprised between the line corresponding to the cutting edge of the blade and the line corresponding to the back of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: LECTRA
    Inventors: Didier Chabirand, Régis Pierre André Lallement
  • Patent number: 11203839
    Abstract: A rail treatment machine, mobile on a track, for removing irregularities on a rail head surface of at least one rail of a laid track, includes a machine frame supported on a front on-track undercarriage and a rear on-track undercarriage, as seen in a working direction. A tool frame accommodates at least one tool carrier. A rear end of the tool frame is articulated on the rear on-track undercarriage in an articulation point on a vertical axis of rotation. A front end of the tool frame is supported on a separate on-track undercarriage situated between the front on-track undercarriage and the rear on-track undercarriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Plasser & Theurer Export von Bahnbaumaschinen Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventor: Herbert Woergoetter
  • Patent number: 11183435
    Abstract: A method of detecting a polishing endpoint includes storing a plurality of library spectra, measuring a sequence of spectra from the substrate in-situ during polishing, and for each measured spectrum of the sequence of spectra, finding a best matching library spectrum from the plurality of library spectra to generate a sequence of best matching library spectra. Each library spectrum has a stored associated value representing a degree of progress through a polishing process, and the stored associated value for the best matching library spectrum is determined for each best matching library spectrum to generate a sequence of values representing a progression of polishing of the substrate. The sequence of values is compared to a target value, and a polishing endpoint is triggered when the sequence of values reaches the target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Dominic J. Benvegnu, Jeffrey Drue David, Boguslaw A. Swedek
  • Patent number: 11117265
    Abstract: Exemplary substrate processing systems may include a transfer region housing defining a transfer region fluidly coupled with a plurality of processing regions. A sidewall of the transfer region housing may define a sealable access for providing and receiving substrates. The systems may include a transfer apparatus having a central hub including a shaft extending at a distal end through the transfer region housing into the transfer region. The transfer apparatus may include a lateral translation apparatus coupled with an exterior surface of the transfer region housing, and configured to provide at least one direction of lateral movement of the shaft. The systems may also include an end effector coupled with the shaft within the transfer region. The end effector may include a plurality of arms having a number of arms equal to a number of substrate supports of the plurality of substrate supports in the transfer region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Z. Wirth, Charles T. Carlson, Jason M. Schaller
  • Patent number: 11103974
    Abstract: An automated apparatus for grinding an ice blade on an ice skate comprises a processor, an input device in communication with said processor, a skate holder, a non-contact measuring device in communication with said processor, and a grinding device in communication with said processor. The input device permits a user to select an ice blade grinding option. The skate holder releasably holds at least one said ice skate to said apparatus. The non-contact measuring device is configured to measure a three-dimensional (3D) shape of said ice blade. The grinding device is configured to perform a grinding action on said ice blade in said holder based on said selected ice blade grinding option to change said 3D shape of said ice blade to a desired 3D shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Skatescribe Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan Chan, Steve Martin, Jamie A. Gonzalez, Emidio Di Pietro, Tony Di Pietro
  • Patent number: 11072138
    Abstract: A spectacle lens manufacturing system includes resin material filling means which fills a lens mold with a lens material (heat-curable resin material), and at least a portion of the lens mold is formed by a three-dimensional printer. The lens mold includes a front lens mold having a rear surface that defines a front surface of a spectacle lens, a rear lens mold having a front surface that defines a rear surface of the spectacle lens, and a side peripheral lens mold having an inner surface that defines a side periphery of the spectacle lens. The side peripheral lens mold is formed by the three-dimensional printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Tokai Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Nagao, Hiroaki Watanabe, Shingo Ono, Hiroshi Ueno
  • Patent number: 10994381
    Abstract: To provide a controller, a data generation device, a control method, and a control program allowing a part of a machining program to be changed easily. A controller comprises: a storage unit that stores change designation data describing a command value in association with respective identifiers indicating at least one block among multiple blocks constituting a machining program for a machine tool; a change unit that reads the multiple blocks in the machining program sequentially, and changes the block indicated by the identifier based on the command value described in the change designation data; and an analysis unit that analyzes the block changed by the change unit, and generates execution data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Giichi Nakanishi, Yorikazu Fukui
  • Patent number: 10978321
    Abstract: A system and method are presented for controlling a process applied to a structure comprising at least one of material removal and material deposition processes. The system comprises: a heating radiation source configured and operable to generate a temperature field profile across a processing area of the structure; and a control unit configured and operable to control operation of said heating radiation source in accordance with a predetermined pattern map within the processing area, so as to create a corresponding pattern selective profile of said temperature field across said processing area providing desired pattern selective distribution of at least one parameter characterizing the process applied to the processing area of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: NOVA MEASURING INSTRUMENTS LTD.
    Inventor: Igor Turovets
  • Patent number: 10935957
    Abstract: A cutting apparatus includes a chuck table that holds a workpiece, a processing unit that forms a processed groove in the workpiece, an imaging unit that images the workpiece, a display unit that displays a captured image of a processed groove imaged by the imaging unit, and a control unit that executes display control of a display screen of the display unit. The control unit causes a mark that indicates the latest processed groove based on the Y-coordinate of the latest processed groove to be displayed on the display unit while being superimposed on a captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiji Kashiwagi, Satoshi Miyata
  • Patent number: 10919122
    Abstract: Grinding and/or erosion machine (10) for machining a chip-cutting rotary tool including a tool body (18) and several cutting plates (19) per existing pitch (TR). A control device (25) activates an axis arrangement (11) to move a machine tool (12) and the rotary tool (13) to be machined relative to each other. An interface device (26) triggers a data import function for reading-in the position data of the cutting plates (19). The position data (P) describe at least one angular value (?1, ?2), a first length value (z1) and a second length value (z2). The control device (25) imports the position data (P) in chaotic order and allocates the position data (P) of each cutting plate (19) in the imported machine data set (M) to respectively one separate virtual pitch (TV), independent of whether the cutting plates (19) belong to a common pitch of the rotary tool (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: WALTER Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Siegfried Hegele, Ulrich Braendle
  • Patent number: 10759020
    Abstract: In a first step, an output of an eddy current sensor is measured while a polishing target whose film thickness has been known is in contact with the polishing face, thereby obtaining a measurement value of the eddy current sensor which corresponds to the film thickness. In a second step, an output of the eddy current sensor is measured when the polishing target is polished while pressed against the polishing face, thereby obtaining a measurement value of the eddy current sensor that corresponds to a film thickness during polishing. A correspondence relationship between the film thickness of the polishing target and the measurement value of the eddy current sensor is determined from the measurement value obtained in the first step and the measurement value obtained in the second step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10713111
    Abstract: A method includes initiating a power on sequence of a computer equipment including a plurality of sensors at a serviceable location within a component of the computer equipment, the plurality of sensors communicating with a sensor monitor coupled with an interlock mechanism, and a service console capable of communicating with the sensor monitor, receiving feedback data from the plurality of sensors during the power on sequence, each of the plurality of sensors is detecting a physical condition at the serviceable location, determining whether the feedback data exceeds a predefined threshold value, the feedback data exceeding the predefined threshold value is associated with a fault at a serviceable location, in response to the feedback data exceeding the predefined threshold value, logging the fault at the serviceable location, aborting the power on sequence of the equipment, and prompting an equipment servicer of the fault at the serviceable location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Bradbury, Jonathan R. Fry, Michael R. Kane, Jeffrey Nettey
  • Patent number: 10705502
    Abstract: A numerical controller includes a position instruction generating unit configured to generate the position instruction; an oscillation instruction generating unit configured to generate the oscillation instruction; a position speed control unit configured to add the position instruction and the oscillation instruction to generate a synthesized instruction; and a current control unit configured to control movement of a tool or rotation of a spindle. The oscillation instruction generating unit includes a tracking error calculating unit configured to obtain and calculate an actual angle and an ideal angle of the spindle, and a frequency recalculating unit configured to recalculate the oscillation frequency or a rotational speed of the spindle based on the actual angle and the ideal angle. The current control unit controls the movement of the tool or the rotation of the spindle according to the recalculated oscillation frequency or rotational speed of the spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventor: Toshihiro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10688623
    Abstract: A slurry dispersion system is provided, and includes a slurry source system, an in-line analyzer and a controller. The slurry source system provides a slurry for a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process. The in-line analyzer measures at least one parameter of a sampled slurry sampled from the slurry dispersion system, and generates an indication signal based on the parameter, in which the indication signal indicates at lease one characteristic of the slurry. The controller receives the indication signal, and generates a control signal based on the indication signal for performing a real time control on the slurry dispersion system for controlling quality of the slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: I-Chen Chiang, Hwai-Te Chiu, Yi-Tsang Chen, Chih-Chiang Tseng, Yung-Long Chen
  • Patent number: 10688622
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus is provided with a polishing part that polishes a substrate, a transporting part that transports a substrate before polishing to the polishing part, and a cleaning part that cleans the polished substrate. The cleaning part has a first cleaning unit and a second cleaning unit that are vertically arranged in two stages. The first cleaning unit and the second cleaning unit each have a plurality of cleaning modules that are arranged in series. The transporting part has a slide stage that is disposed between the first cleaning unit and the second cleaning unit, and transports a substrate before polishing along an arrangement direction of the plurality of cleaning modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Aono, Kuniaki Yamaguchi, Hiroshi Shimomoto, Koji Maeda, Tetsuya Yashima, Kenji Shinkai, Koichi Hashimoto, Mitsuhiko Inaba, Hidetatsu Isokawa, Hidetaka Nakao, Soichi Isobe
  • Patent number: 10668590
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for blocking an unfinished optical lens member on a blocker for manufacturing an optical lens from the unfinished optical lens member, the latter being provided with a finished surface having a first reference frame, the blocker having a second reference frame, includes: placing the unfinished optical lens member on the blocker; measuring the relative positioning of the first reference frame of the finished surface of the placed unfinished lens member with respect to the positioning of the second reference frame of the blocker; comparing the measured relative positioning with a predetermined relative positioning to determine a relative positioning shift; moving at least the blocker and/or the lens member to change the relative positioning of the first reference frame with respect to the second reference frame to compensate for the relative positioning shift; and blocking the unfinished lens member on the blocker at the changed relative positioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Essilor International
    Inventor: Vincent Godot
  • Patent number: 10654148
    Abstract: Systems and methods for conditioning blades are provided. A method may include, for example, obtaining a cutting device, measuring various characteristics of the cutting edge of the cutting device, creating a current edge profile based on the characteristics, creating a modified edge profile, and/or conditioning the blade. Conditioning may include grinding, buffing and/or polishing. One or more of the conditioning steps may be based on the modified edge profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Wolff Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David Vogel, Walker Newell