Patents by Inventor Cao ZHANG

Cao ZHANG has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20250104216
    Abstract: Based on an initial probability of occurrence of a stochastic defect over a layout of a workpiece, a subset of locations on the workpiece are selected where the initial probability is above a threshold. The subset of locations are grouped by pattern shapes. An expected defect count is determined for each of the pattern shapes. A subset of the pattern shapes is then selected for repair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2024
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Inventors: Pradeep Vukkadala, Cao Zhang, Anatoly Burov, Guy Parsey, Kyeongeun Ko, Sergei G. Bakarian, Janez Krek, Kunlun Bai, Craig Higgins, John S. Graves, Mark D. Smith, John Biafore
  • Publication number: 20250104214
    Abstract: Using an initial probability of occurrence of a stochastic defect over an inspection area of a workpiece, one or more defects within the inspection area are imaged using an optical tool or an electron beam tool. A probability of occurrence of a stochastic defect at each of the defect locations is generated using the model. The defect locations are grouped into probability bins. A consistency between the initial probability and observed results is determined and the model can be tuned based on the consistency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2024
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Inventors: Pradeep Vukkadala, Cao Zhang, Anatoly Burov, Guy Parsey, Kyeongeun Ko, Sergei G. Bakarian, Janez Krek, Kunlun Bai, Craig Higgins, John S. Graves, Mark D. Smith, John J. Biafore
  • Publication number: 20250104215
    Abstract: An initial probability of occurrence of a stochastic defect over an inspection area of a workpiece is received. All locations of the stochastic defects are sorted by the initial probability of occurrence. A cumulative expected defect count is determined and the cumulative expected defect count is normalized to be a fraction of a total expected defect count. A number of defect locations is determined to capture potential stochastic defects above a threshold of total stochastic defects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2024
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Inventors: Pradeep Vukkadala, Cao Zhang, Anatoly Burov, Guy Parsey, Kyeongeun Ko, Sergei G. Bakarian, Janez Krek, Kunlun Bai, Craig Higgins, John S. Graves, Mark D. Smith, John J. Biafore
  • Patent number: 11966156
    Abstract: A system for mask design repair may develop a simulation-based model of a layer thickness after one or more process steps for fabricating features on a sample, develop a transformed model of the fabrication process that emulates the simulation-based model and has a faster evaluation speed than the simulation-based model, and where the inputs to the transformed model include the input mask design, and where the outputs of the transformed model include one or more output parameters associated with fabrication of the input mask design as well as one or more sensitivity metrics describing sensitivities of the one or more output parameters to variations of the input mask design. The system may further receive a candidate mask design and generate a repaired mask design based on the transformed model and the candidate mask design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: KLA Corporation
    Inventors: Pradeep Vukkadala, Guy Parsey, Kunlun Bai, Xiaohan Li, Anatoly Burov, Cao Zhang, John S. Graves, John Biafore
  • Publication number: 20240061327
    Abstract: A system for mask design repair may develop a simulation-based model of a layer thickness after one or more process steps for fabricating features on a sample, develop a transformed model of the fabrication process that emulates the simulation-based model and has a faster evaluation speed than the simulation-based model, and where the inputs to the transformed model include the input mask design, and where the outputs of the transformed model include one or more output parameters associated with fabrication of the input mask design as well as one or more sensitivity metrics describing sensitivities of the one or more output parameters to variations of the input mask design. The system may further receive a candidate mask design and generate a repaired mask design based on the transformed model and the candidate mask design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Pradeep Vukkadala, Guy Parsey, Kunlun Bai, Xiaohan Li, Anatoly Burov, Cao Zhang, John S. Graves, John Biafore
  • Publication number: 20220129775
    Abstract: A mask pattern for a semiconductor device can be used as an input to determine a photoresist thickness probability distribution using a machine learning module. For example, the machine learning module can determine a probability map of Z-height. This can be used to determine stochastic variation in photoresist thickness for a semiconductor device. The Z-height may be calculated at a coordinate in the X-direction and Y-direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Anatoly Burov, Guy Parsey, Kunlun Bai, Pradeep Vukkadala, Cao Zhang, John S. Graves, Xiaohan Li, Craig Higgins
  • Patent number: 11077973
    Abstract: A bread slice delivery device for an automatic sandwich packaging machine. The device consists of a base plate (1), a bread receptacle base (2), a bread receptacle (3), three ball screw-type linear slide platforms, three L-shaped brackets, a rectangular push plate, two flat carrier plates, one photoelectric switch, and six proximity switches. The bread slice delivery device for an automatic sandwich packaging machine ensures that bread slices land on point accurately and that sandwich layers do not become misaligned during the delivery process; moreover, the bread storage receptacle can be swapped out easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: NANTONG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Liang Hua, Yusong Zhou, Juping Gu, Cao Zhang, Ting Ji, Fengshen Zhao, Hao Dai, Xiaojie Tian, Pengfei Li
  • Publication number: 20200002038
    Abstract: A bread slice delivery device for an automatic sandwich packaging machine. The device consists of a base plate (1), a bread receptacle base (2), a bread receptacle (3), three ball screw-type linear slide platforms, three L-shaped brackets, a rectangular push plate, two flat carrier plates, one photoelectric switch, and six proximity switches. The bread slice delivery device for an automatic sandwich packaging machine ensures that bread slices land on point accurately and that sandwich layers do not become misaligned during the delivery process; moreover, the bread storage receptacle can be swapped out easily.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Liang HUA, Yusong ZHOU, Juping GU, Cao ZHANG, Ting JI, Fengshen ZHAO, Hao DAI, Xiaojie TIAN, Pengfei LI