Patents by Inventor Claudiu Valentin Puha

Claudiu Valentin Puha 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: 20240312827
    Abstract: Some examples provide a vacuum wafer chuck assembly for supporting a wafer. An example chuck assembly comprises a chuck hub and a centering hub disposed within the chuck hub. Chuck arms are mounted to the chuck hub, with each chuck arm extending radially between a proximal end adjacent the chuck hub, and a distal end remote therefrom. At least one vacuum pad is provided for supporting the wafer during a wafer centering or wafer processing operation. A vacuum sensor detects a presence or absence of a vacuum pressure at the vacuum pad during the wafer centering or processing operation, a detection indicative of a presence or absence of the wafer in the chuck assembly, or a presence of a defective wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2024
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Inventors: Aaron Louis LaBrie, Claudiu Valentin Puha
  • Patent number: 12027409
    Abstract: Some examples provide a vacuum wafer chuck assembly for supporting a wafer. An example chuck assembly comprises a chuck hub and a centering hub disposed within the chuck hub. Chuck arms are mounted to the chuck hub, with each chuck arm extending radially between a proximal end adjacent the chuck hub, and a distal end remote therefrom. At least one vacuum pad is provided for supporting the wafer during a wafer centering or wafer processing operation. A vacuum sensor detects a presence or absence of a vacuum pressure at the vacuum pad during the wafer centering or processing operation, a detection indicative of a presence or absence of the wafer in the chuck assembly, or a presence of a defective wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron Louis LaBrie, Claudiu Valentin Puha
  • Patent number: 11508609
    Abstract: Some examples provide a vacuum wafer chuck assembly for supporting a wafer. An example chuck assembly comprises a chuck hub and a centering hub disposed within the chuck hub. Chuck arms are mounted to the chuck hub, with each chuck arm extending radially between a proximal end adjacent the chuck hub, and a distal end remote therefrom. A plurality of centering cams is provided, each cam mounted at or towards a distal end of a chuck arm and being movable radially inwardly or outwardly relative to the centering hub to engage or release an edge of a supported wafer in response to a rotational movement of the centering hub. At least one vacuum pad is provided for supporting the wafer during a wafer centering or wafer processing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron Louis LaBrie, Claudiu Valentin Puha
  • Publication number: 20210183684
    Abstract: Some examples provide a vacuum wafer chuck assembly for supporting a wafer. An example chuck assembly comprises a chuck hub and a centering hub disposed within the chuck hub. Chuck arms are mounted to the chuck hub, with each chuck arm extending radially between a proximal end adjacent the chuck hub, and a distal end remote therefrom. At least one vacuum pad is provided for supporting the wafer during a wafer centering or wafer processing operation. A vacuum sensor detects a presence or absence of a vacuum pressure at the vacuum pad during the wafer centering or processing operation, a detection indicative of a presence or absence of the wafer in the chuck assembly, or a presence of a defective wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Aaron Louis LaBrie, Claudiu Valentin Puha
  • Publication number: 20200411358
    Abstract: Some examples provide a vacuum wafer chuck assembly for supporting a wafer. An example chuck assembly comprises a chuck hub and a centering hub disposed within the chuck hub. Chuck arms are mounted to the chuck hub, with each chuck arm extending radially between a proximal end adjacent the chuck hub, and a distal end remote therefrom. A plurality of centering cams is provided, each cam mounted at or towards a distal end of a chuck arm and being movable radially inwardly or outwardly relative to the centering hub to engage or release an edge of a supported wafer in response to a rotational movement of the centering hub. At least one vacuum pad is provided for supporting the wafer during a wafer centering or wafer processing operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Aaron Louis LaBrie, Claudiu Valentin Puha
  • Patent number: 10811299
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to chuck technology for supporting semiconductor wafers during processing. In one example, a wafer chuck assembly comprises a chuck hub and a centering hub disposed within the chuck hub. An engagement device is operable between an engaged position and a disengaged position respectively to engage the chuck hub with the centering hub to prevent relative movement therebetween in at least a first direction, or to allow relative movement therebetween. A chuck motor is provided for selectively rotating the chuck hub and/or the centering hub during a wafer processing operation and a wafer centering operation based on an engaged or disengaged position of the engagement device. A plurality of chuck arms is mounted to the chuck hub, each chuck arm extending radially between a proximal end adjacent the chuck hub, and a distal end remote therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron Louis LaBrie, Claudiu Valentin Puha, Robert Marshall Stowell
  • Publication number: 20190341290
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to chuck technology for supporting semiconductor wafers during processing. In one example, a wafer chuck assembly comprises a chuck hub and a centering hub disposed within the chuck hub. An engagement device is operable between an engaged position and a disengaged position respectively to engage the chuck hub with the centering hub to prevent relative movement therebetween in at least a first direction, or to allow relative movement therebetween. A chuck motor is provided for selectively rotating the chuck hub and/or the centering hub during a wafer processing operation and a wafer centering operation based on an engaged or disengaged position of the engagement device. A plurality of chuck arms is mounted to the chuck hub, each chuck arm extending radially between a proximal end adjacent the chuck hub, and a distal end remote therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Aaron Louis LaBrie, Claudiu Valentin Puha, Robert Marshall Stowell