Patents Assigned to Photronics, Inc.
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Patent number: 12164225Abstract: Methods and systems for building a photomask from obtained pattern information relating to a photomask that exhibits defects on wafer. Spatial domain analysis is conducted on the pattern information so that corrective photomask structures can be generated and applied to a photomask layout. A photomask is built using the corrective photomask structures. The photomask is verified for effectiveness.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2021Date of Patent: December 10, 2024Assignee: Photronics, Inc.Inventors: Mohamed Ramadan, Michael Green, Young Ham, Christopher J. Progler
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Publication number: 20240242996Abstract: A pellicle removal tool including a stage that holds a photomask and an associated pellicle, two or more arms positioned around the stage and configured to engage pellicle side wells of the pellicle, and two or more actuators each configured to adjust at least a vertical position of a corresponding one of the two or more arms so as to apply a lifting force to the pellicle for removal of the pellicle from the photomask.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2024Publication date: July 18, 2024Applicant: PHOTRONICS, INC.Inventors: Hilario Ar-Miguel Alvarez, Spencer Allen Mullens, Jesse Eugene Williams, II
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Patent number: 12013642Abstract: A pellicle assembly for large-size photomasks including a frame member configured to be affixed to a large-size photomask substrate, a substantially rigid and transparent pellicle membrane affixed to the frame member so as to protect at least a portion of the large-size photomask substrate from contamination during usage, storage and/or transport, and a coating on at least one of top and bottom surfaces of the pellicle membrane that binds the pellicle membrane to prevent separation of pellicle membrane material in the event of breakage.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2022Date of Patent: June 18, 2024Assignee: PHOTRONICS, INC.Inventors: Bryan S. Kasprowicz, Christopher Progler
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Patent number: 11948824Abstract: A pellicle removal tool including a stage that holds a photomask and an associated pellicle, two or more arms positioned around the stage and configured to engage pellicle side wells of the pellicle, and two or more actuators each configured to adjust at least a vertical position of a corresponding one of the two or more arms so as to apply a lifting force to the pellicle for removal of the pellicle from the photomask.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2023Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: PHOTRONICS, INC.Inventors: Hilario Ar-Miguel Alvarez, Spencer Allen Mullens, Jesse Eugene Williams, II
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Patent number: 11682573Abstract: A pellicle removal tool including a stage that holds a photomask and an associated pellicle, two or more arms positioned around the stage and configured to engage pellicle side wells of the pellicle, and two or more actuators each configured to adjust at least a vertical position of a corresponding one of the two or more arms so as to apply a lifting force to the pellicle for removal of the pellicle from the photomask.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2021Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: PHOTRONICS, INC.Inventors: Hilario Ar-Miguel Alvarez, Spencer Allen Mullens, Jesse Eugene Williams, II
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Patent number: 11537050Abstract: A pellicle assembly for large-size photomasks including a frame member configured to be affixed to a large-size photomask substrate, a substantially rigid and transparent pellicle membrane affixed to the frame member so as to protect at least a portion of the large-size photomask substrate from contamination during usage, storage and/or transport, and a coating on at least one of top and bottom surfaces of the pellicle membrane that binds the pellicle membrane to prevent separation of pellicle membrane material in the event of breakage.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2021Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: PHOTRONICS, INC.Inventors: Bryan S. Kasprowicz, Christopher Progler
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Patent number: 11183410Abstract: A pellicle removal tool including a stage that holds a photomask and an associated pellicle, two or more arms positioned around the stage and configured to engage pellicle side wells of the pellicle, and two or more actuators each configured to adjust at least a vertical position of a corresponding one of the two or more arms so as to apply a lifting force to the pellicle for removal of the pellicle from the photomask.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2018Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: PHOTRONICS, INC.Inventors: Hilario Ar-Miguel Alvarez, Spencer Allen Mullens, Jesse Eugene Williams, II
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Patent number: 9933611Abstract: A microfluidic panel including at least one substrate, one or more channels formed in the substrate, and fluid disposed within the one or more channels. The fluid is selected to store thermal energy and the microfluidic panel is adapted to convert the thermal energy into useable energy or condition the energy to adjust optical wavelength passband of the panel.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2016Date of Patent: April 3, 2018Assignee: PHOTRONICS, INC.Inventor: Christopher J. Progler
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Patent number: 9304334Abstract: A microfluidic panel including at least one substrate, one or more channels formed in the substrate, and fluid disposed within the one or more channels. The fluid is selected to store thermal energy and the microfluidic panel is adapted to convert the thermal energy into useable energy or condition the energy to adjust optical wavelength passband of the panel.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2014Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: PHOTRONICS, INC.Inventor: Christopher J. Progler
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Patent number: 9005848Abstract: A photomask used for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes a substrate; and one or more layers disposed over the substrate, the one or more layers defining a full field area and a reduced field area with a primary pattern being formed in the reduced field area, wherein the full field area is defined by a width of at least 90 mm and a length of at least 100 mm, and the reduced field area is defined by a width within the range of approximately 20-80 mm and a length within the range of approximately 20-80 mm.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2009Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Photronics, Inc.Inventors: Bryan S. Kasprowicz, Christopher J. Progler
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Patent number: 9005849Abstract: A photomask used for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes a substrate; and one or more layers disposed over the substrate, the one or more layers defining a full field area and a reduced field area with a primary pattern being formed in the reduced field area, wherein the full field area is defined by a width of at least 90 mm and a length of at least 100 mm, and the reduced field area is defined by a width within the range of approximately 20-80 mm and a length within the range of approximately 20-80 mm, a center point of the primary patterned area being spaced a predetermined distance from a center point of the photomask so that the primary patterned area avoids photomask defects.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2010Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Photronics, Inc.Inventors: Bryan S. Kasprowicz, Christopher J. Progler
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Publication number: 20140272688Abstract: A method for forming a three-dimensional microstructure includes providing a photosensitive glass substrate; exposing the photosensitive glass substrate to energy through a continuous tone, variable transmission photomask so as to form opaque portions in the photosensitive glass substrate, each of the opaque portions having one of a variety of depths extending through the entire thickness of the photosensitive glass substrate; and removing the opaque portions so as to form three-dimensional features in the photosensitive glass substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: PHOTRONICS, INC.Inventor: PHOTRONICS, INC.
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Publication number: 20140204450Abstract: A microfluidic panel including at least one substrate, one or more channels formed in the substrate, and fluid disposed within the one or more channels. The fluid is selected to store thermal energy and the microfluidic panel is adapted to convert the thermal energy into useable energy or condition the energy to adjust optical wavelength passband of the panel.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2014Publication date: July 24, 2014Applicant: PHOTRONICS, INC.Inventor: Christopher J. Progler
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Publication number: 20140146636Abstract: A microfluidic mixer including one or more mixer channels, each of the mixer channels having at least one glass surface on which are formed protrusions arranged in a herringbone pattern.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: May 29, 2014Applicant: PHOTRONICS, INC.Inventor: Brian W. DILLION
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Patent number: 8102031Abstract: An integrated circuit including a substrate; a circuit pattern formed over the substrate; and one or more fences formed around edges of the circuit pattern, each of the one or more fences having a determined electrical resistance which is used to detect the addition of malicious circuitry. Each fence has a determined electrical resistance which is used to monitor the validity of the fence.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2008Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: Photronics, Inc.Inventors: Brian Dillon, Christopher J. Progler
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Patent number: 7943273Abstract: A photomask for integrated circuit production for development of integrated circuit components, where the integrated circuit production uses a radiation source that generates a source image, includes a substrate with one or more layers disposed thereon; a source separator element that separates the source image into one or more duplicate source images; one or more polarizing elements each corresponding to one of the one or more duplicate source images; and one or more sensors each corresponding to one of the one or more polarizing elements, the one or more sensors sensing one or more radiation characteristics of the radiation source.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2008Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: Photronics, Inc.Inventor: Christopher J. Progler
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Patent number: 7910269Abstract: A photomask for integrated circuit production comprising a substrate, one or more layers and a detector for monitoring a process parameter of the integrated circuit production in combination with one or more of the following: communication circuitry for communicating with external equipment for the integrated circuit production, a computational processor for analyzing the monitored process parameter, and a data storage component. In addition, a method of integrated circuit production comprising the steps of providing a photomask in the integrated circuit production process and monitoring a process parameter of the integrated circuit production using the photomask, in combination with one or more following steps: analyzing the monitored process parameter using the photomask; communicating the monitored process parameter from the photomask to external equipment involved in the integrated circuit production; and storing the monitored process parameter in the photomask.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2010Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Photronics, Inc.Inventor: Christopher Progler
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Patent number: 7851110Abstract: A secure photomask including a substrate having one or more pattern layers formed thereon and a blocking aperture disposed below the one or more pattern layers that prevents at least one of unauthorized use and copying of the photomask.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2008Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Photronics, Inc.Inventor: Christopher J. Progler
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Patent number: 7790340Abstract: A photomask for integrated circuit production comprising a substrate, one or more layers and a detector for monitoring a process parameter of the integrated circuit production in combination with one or more of the following: communication circuitry for communicating with external equipment for the integrated circuit production, a computational processor for analyzing the monitored process parameter, and a data storage component. In addition, a method of integrated circuit production comprising the steps of providing a photomask in the integrated circuit production process and monitoring a process parameter of the integrated circuit production using the photomask, in combination with one or more following steps: analyzing the monitored process parameter using the photomask; communicating the monitored process parameter from the photomask to external equipment involved in the integrated circuit production; and storing the monitored process parameter in the photomask.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2007Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: Photronics, Inc.Inventor: Christopher Progler
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Patent number: 7669167Abstract: A system for generating photomask orders in a specified format includes at least one template or order for entry and storage of photomask order data, wherein the at least one template or order is created based upon requirements of a specified photomask order format. The system includes at least one set of rules corresponding to the at least one template or order, wherein the set of rules includes instructions which insure that a user enter complete information into the at least one template or order as required by the specified order format. A graphical user interface is associated with the at least one template or order, wherein the user can access the at least one template or order to enter photomask order data and create an order in a specified format. A data processing mechanism imports electronic information from external media into the at least one template or order.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2004Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Assignee: Photronics, Inc.Inventors: Charles E. Croke, Edward J. Suttile, Daniel J. Cahalane, Nick Ridgway