Patents Assigned to ACM Research (Shanghai) Inc.
  • Patent number: 11581205
    Abstract: A method for cleaning semiconductor substrate without damaging patterned structure on the substrate using ultra/mega sonic device comprising applying liquid into a space between a substrate and an ultra/mega sonic device; setting an ultra/mega sonic power supply at frequency f1 and power P1 to drive said ultra/mega sonic device; before bubble cavitation in said liquid damaging patterned structure on the substrate, setting said ultra/mega sonic power supply at frequency f2 and power P2 to drive said ultra/mega sonic device; after temperature inside bubble cooling down to a set temperature, setting said ultra/mega sonic power supply at frequency f1 and power P1 again; repeating above steps till the substrate being cleaned. Normally, if f1=f2, then P2 is equal to zero or much less than P1; if P1=P2, then f2 is higher than f1; if the f1<f2, then, P2 can be either equal or less than P1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: ACM Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Hui Wang, Fufa Chen, Fuping Chen, Jian Wang, Xi Wang, Xiaoyan Zhang, Yinuo Jin, Zhaowei Jia, Liangzhi Xie, Jun Wang, Xuejun Li
  • Patent number: 11498100
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning semiconductor substrates including a chamber, a chuck, a liquid collector, an enclosing wall, at least one driving mechanism, at least one internal dispenser, and at least one external dispenser. The chamber has a top wall, a side wall and a bottom wall. The chuck is disposed in the chamber. The liquid collector surrounds the chuck. The enclosing wall surrounds the liquid collector. The driving mechanism drives the enclosing wall to move up and down, wherein when the enclosing wall is driven to move up, a seal room is formed by the liquid collector, the enclosing wall, the top wall and bottom wall of the chamber. The internal dispenser is disposed inside the seal room. The external dispenser is disposed outside the seal room and capable of getting in and out of the seal room after the enclosing wall is driven to move down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: ACM RESEARCH (SHANGHAI) INC.
    Inventors: Hui Wang, Xiaofeng Tao, Fuping Chen, Shena Jia, Xi Wang, Xiaoyan Zhang, Xuejun Li
  • Publication number: 20220351962
    Abstract: A method for cleaning a substrate with pattern structures comprises the following steps: using gas-liquid atomization to clean a substrate surface (601); using TEBO megasonic to clean the substrate surface (602); and drying the substrate (603). The TEBO megasonic cleaning is used to remove small size particles on the substrate and the gas-liquid atomization cleaning is used to remove large size particles on the substrate. The method enables achieving an effect of cleaning the substrate without or with less device damage. A substrate cleaning apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Applicant: ACM Research (Shanghai) Inc.
    Inventors: Wenjun Wang, Ting Yao, Xiaoyan Zhang, Fuping Chen, Hui Wang
  • Patent number: 11469134
    Abstract: A plating chuck for holding a substrate during plating processes, wherein the substrate has a notch area (3031) and a patterned region (3032) adjacent to the notch area (3031). The plating chuck comprises a cover plate (3033) configured to cover the notch area (3031) of the substrate to shield the electric field at the notch area (3031) when the substrate is being plated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: ACM RESEARCH (SHANGHAI) INC.
    Inventors: Hui Wang, Jian Wang, Zhaowei Jia, Hongchao Yang
  • Patent number: 11462423
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning semiconductor wafer, combining batch cleaning and single wafer cleaning together. The method includes: taking at least two wafers from a cassette in a load port and putting said wafers into a first tank filled with chemical solution; after processing said wafers in the first tank, taking said wafers out of the first tank and keeping said wafers wet; putting said wafers into a second tank filled with liquid; after processing said wafers in the second tank, taking said wafers out of the second tank and keeping said wafers wet; putting one of said wafers on a chuck inside a single wafer cleaning module; rotating the chuck while applying chemical solution on said wafer; applying deionized water on said wafer; drying said wafer; taking said wafer out of the single wafer cleaning module and putting said wafer back to the cassette in the load port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: ACM Research (Shanghai) Inc.
    Inventors: Hui Wang, Fuping Chen, Liangzhi Xie, Shena Jia, Xi Wang, Xiaoyan Zhang
  • Publication number: 20220246420
    Abstract: A method for cleaning semiconductor wafer includes putting at least one wafer on a cassette bracket in a first cleaning tank filled with chemical solution; after said wafers have been processed in the first cleaning tank, transferring the wafers from the first cleaning tank to a second cleaning tank with the wafers immersing in the chemical solution; and after said wafers have been processed in the second cleaning tank, taking the wafers out of the second cleaning tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: ACM Research (Shanghai) Inc.
    Inventors: Hui Wang, Xi Wang, Fuping Chen
  • Patent number: 11335550
    Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and a method which ensure the wafers immersing in the chemical solution from one cleaning tank to the other cleaning tanks. The apparatus includes an inner tank (1001); at least one divider (1002) for dividing the inner tank (1001) into at least two cleaning tanks filled with chemical solution; a first robot (1005) equipped with at least a pair of end effectors (1051) for gripping and taking a wafer from a first cleaning tank (1011) to a second cleaning tank (1012); wherein each cleaning tank is provided with a cassette bracket (1003) in the bottom for holding wafers, and the at least one divider (1002) is provided with at least one slot (1004)< wherein the first robot (1005) grips and takes the wafer from the first cleaning tank (1011) to the second cleaning tank (1012) through the slot (1004) while keeping the wafer immersing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: ACM Research (Shanghai) Inc.
    Inventors: Hui Wang, Xi Wang, Fuping Chen
  • Publication number: 20220139697
    Abstract: A method for cleaning semiconductor substrate without damaging patterned structure on the semiconductor substrate using ultra/mega sonic device comprises applying liquid into a space between a substrate and an ultra/mega sonic device; setting an ultra/mega sonic power supply at frequency f1 and power P1 to drive the ultra/mega sonic device; before bubble cavitation in the liquid damaging patterned structure on the substrate, setting the ultra/mega sonic power supply at zero output; after temperature inside bubble cooling down to a set temperature, setting the ultra/mega sonic power supply at frequency f1 and power P1 again; detecting power on time at power P1 and frequency f1 and power off time separately or detecting amplitude of each waveform output by the ultra/mega sonic power supply; comparing the detected power on time with a preset time ?1, or comparing the detected power off time with a preset time ?2, or comparing detected amplitude of each waveform with a preset value, if the detected power on time
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: ACM Research (Shanghai) Inc.
    Inventors: Jun WANG, Hui WANG, Fufa CHEN, Fuping CHEN, Jian WANG, Xi WANG, Xiaoyan ZHANG, Yinuo JIN, Zhaowei JIA, Liangzhi XIE, Xuejun LI
  • Patent number: 11298727
    Abstract: A substrate cleaning apparatus, including a chuck assembly, at least one first nozzle (107,207), and an ultra or mega sonic device (206,306). The chuck assembly is configured to receive and clamp a substrate. The at least one first nozzle (107,207) is configured to spray liquid onto the top surface of the substrate. The ultra or mega sonic device (206,306) is configured to dispose above the top surface of the substrate for providing an ultra or mega sonic cleaning to the substrate. A gap is formed between the ultra or mega sonic device (206,306) and the top surface of the substrate, and the gap is fully and continuously filled with the liquid so that the entire underneath of the ultra or mega sonic device (206,306) is filled with the liquid all the time during the cleaning process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: ACM Research (Shanghai) Inc.
    Inventors: Hui Wang, Jun Wu, Cheng Cheng, Xi Wang, Zhenming Chu
  • Publication number: 20220081796
    Abstract: A plating apparatus and plating methods for plating metal layers on a substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Applicant: ACM Research (Shanghai) Inc.
    Inventors: Yinuo Jin, Hongchao Yang, Jian Wang, Hui Wang
  • Patent number: 11257667
    Abstract: A method for cleaning a semiconductor substrate without damaging its patterned structure via an ultra/mega sonic device comprises applying liquid into a space between the substrate and the sonic device; setting an ultra/mega sonic device power supply at a frequency f1 and power P1; and at zero output before bubble cavitation occurs; followed by at f1 and P1 again after bubble temperature is lowered; detecting power on time (at P1, f1), power off time or amplitude of each waveform output by the power supply; comparing the detected power on time with a preset time T1, power off time with a preset time ?2, amplitude of each waveform with a preset value, if the detected power on time is longer than ?1, or power off time is shorter than ?2, or amplitude of any waveform is larger than the preset value, shut down the power supply and send out an alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: ACM Research (Shanghai) Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Wang, Hui Wang, Fufa Chen, Fuping Chen, Jian Wang, Xi Wang, Xiaoyan Zhang, Yinuo Jin, Zhaowei Jia, Liangzhi Xie, Xuejun Li
  • Publication number: 20220037172
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for cleaning substrate without damaging patterned structure on the substrate using ultra/mega sonic device, comprising: applying liquid into a space between a substrate and an ultra/mega sonic device; setting an ultra/mega sonic power supply at frequency f1 and power P1 to drive said ultra/mega sonic device; after micro jet generated by bubble implosion and before said micro jet generated by bubble implosion damaging patterned structure on the substrate, setting said ultra/mega sonic power supply at frequency f2 and power P2 to drive said ultra/mega sonic device; after temperature inside bubble cooling down to a set temperature, setting said ultra/mega sonic power supply at frequency f1 and power P1 again; repeating above steps till the substrate being cleaned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Applicant: ACM Research (Shanghai) Inc.
    Inventors: Hui WANG, Xi WANG, Fuping CHEN, Fufa CHEN, Jian WANG, Xiaoyan ZHANG, Yinuo JIN, Zhaowei JIA, Jun WANG, Xuejun LI
  • Publication number: 20210402444
    Abstract: A system for controlling damages in cleaning a semiconductor wafer comprising features of patterned structures, the system comprising: a wafer holder for temporary restraining a semiconductor wafer during a cleaning process; an inlet for delivering a cleaning liquid over a surface of the semiconductor wafer; a sonic generator configured to alternately operate at a first frequency and a first power level for a first predetermined period of time and at a second frequency and a second power level for a second predetermined period of time, to impart sonic energy to the cleaning liquid, the first predetermined period of time and the second predetermined period of time consecutively following one another; and a controller programmed to provide the cleaning parameters, wherein at least one of the cleaning parameters is determined such that a percentage of damaged features as a result of the imparting sonic energy is lower than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Applicant: ACM Research (Shanghai) Inc.
    Inventors: Hui WANG, Fufa CHEN, Fuping CHEN, Jian WANG, Xi WANG, Xiaoyan ZHANG, Yinuo JIN, Zhaowei JIA, Liangzhi XIE, Jun WANG, Xuejun LI
  • Patent number: 11141762
    Abstract: A system for controlling damages in cleaning a semiconductor wafer comprising features of patterned structures, the system comprising: a wafer holder for temporary restraining a semiconductor wafer during a cleaning process; an inlet for delivering a cleaning liquid over a surface of the semiconductor wafer; a sonic generator configured to alternately operate at a first frequency and a first power level for a first predetermined period of time and at a second frequency and a second power level for a second predetermined period of time, to impart sonic energy to the cleaning liquid, the first predetermined period of time and the second predetermined period of time consecutively following one another; and a controller programmed to provide the cleaning parameters, wherein at least one of the cleaning parameters is determined such that a percentage of damaged features as a result of the imparting sonic energy is lower than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: ACM Research (Shanghai), Inc.
    Inventors: Hui Wang, Fufa Chen, Fuping Chen, Jian Wang, Xi Wang, Xiaoyan Zhang, Yinuo Jin, Zhaowei Jia, Liangzhi Xie, Jun Wang, Xuejun Li
  • Publication number: 20210301416
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an electroplating apparatus for electroplating on a surface of a wafer, the electroplating apparatus comprising a plurality of electrodes, the plurality of electrodes forming electric fields on the surface of the wafer, wherein an independent electric field is formed in a designated area, the intensity of the independent electric field is independently controlled, when a notch of the wafer is positioned within the designated area, a total amount of power received by the notch within the designated area is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: ACM Research (Shanghai) Inc.
    Inventors: Zhaowei JIA, Jian WANG, Hui WANG, Hongchao YANG
  • Patent number: 11103898
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for effectively cleaning vias, trenches or recessed areas on a substrate using an ultra/mega sonic device, comprising: applying liquid into a space between a substrate and an ultra/mega sonic device; setting an ultra/mega sonic power supply at frequency f1 and power P1 to drive said ultra/mega sonic device; after the ratio of total bubbles volume to volume inside vias, trenches or recessed areas on the substrate increasing to a first set value, setting said ultra/mega sonic power supply at frequency f2 and power P2 to drive said ultra/mega sonic device; after the ratio of total bubbles volume to volume inside the vias, trenches or recessed areas reducing to a second set value, setting said ultra/mega sonic power supply at frequency f1 and power P1 again; repeating above steps till the substrate being cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: ACM Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Hui Wang, Xi Wang, Fuping Chen, Fufa Chen, Jian Wang, Xiaoyan Zhang, Yinuo Jin, Zhaowei Jia, Jun Wang, Xuejun Li
  • Publication number: 20210249257
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for cleaning semiconductor wafers(202).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Applicant: ACM Research (Shanghai) Inc.
    Inventors: Hui Wang, Zhiyou Fang, Jun Wu, Guanzhong Lu, Fuping Chen, Jian Wang, Jun Wang, Deyun Wang
  • Publication number: 20210236961
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high temperature chemical solution supply system for cleaning substrates. The system includes a solution tank, a buffer tank, a first pump and a second pump. The solution tank contains high temperature chemical solution. The buffer tank has a tank body, a vent line and a needle valve. The tank body contains the high temperature chemical solution. An end of the vent line connects to the tank body, and the other end of the vent line connects to the solution tank. The needle valve is mounted on the vent line, wherein the needle valve is adjusted to reach a flow rate to vent gas bubbles inside of the high temperature chemical solution out of the buffer tank through the vent line. An inlet of the first pump connects to the solution tank, and an outlet of the first pump connects to the buffer tank. An inlet of the second pump connects to the buffer tank, and an outlet of the second pump connects to a cleaning chamber in which a substrate is cleaned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: ACM Research (Shanghai) Inc.
    Inventors: Fuping Chen, Hui Wang, Xi Wang, Shena Jia, Danying Wang, Chaowei Jiang, Yingwei Dai, Jian Wang
  • Publication number: 20210187563
    Abstract: A substrate cleaning apparatus, including a chuck assembly, at least one first nozzle (107,207), and an ultra or mega sonic device (206,306). The chuck assembly is configured to receive and clamp a substrate. The at least one first nozzle (107,207) is configured to spray liquid onto the top surface of the substrate. The ultra or mega sonic device (206,306) is configured to dispose above the top surface of the substrate for providing an ultra or mega sonic cleaning to the substrate. A gap is formed between the ultra or mega sonic device (206,306) and the top surface of the substrate, and the gap is fully and continuously filled with the liquid so that the entire underneath of the ultra or mega sonic device (206,306) is filled with the liquid all the time during the cleaning process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: ACM Research (Shanghai) Inc.
    Inventors: Hui Wang, Jun Wu, Cheng Cheng, Xi Wang, Zhenming Chu
  • Patent number: 11037804
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for cleaning substrate without damaging patterned structure on the substrate using ultra/mega sonic device, comprising: applying liquid into a space between a substrate and an ultra/mega sonic device; setting an ultra/mega sonic power supply at frequency f1 and power P1 to drive said ultra/mega sonic device; after micro jet generated by bubble implosion and before said micro jet generated by bubble implosion damaging patterned structure on the substrate, setting said ultra/mega sonic power supply at frequency f2 and power P2 to drive said ultra/mega sonic device; after temperature inside bubble cooling down to a set temperature, setting said ultra/mega sonic power supply at frequency f1 and power P1 again; repeating above steps till the substrate being cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: ACM Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Hui Wang, Xi Wang, Fuping Chen, Fufa Chen, Jian Wang, Xiaoyan Zhang, Yinuo Jin, Zhaowei Jia, Jun Wang, Xuejun Li