Patents by Inventor David C. Conklin

David C. Conklin 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).

  • Patent number: 11994807
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide a wafer processing device for optimizing wafer shape. For example, the wafer processing device can include a first hot plate, a second hot plate and a controller. The first hot plate can be configured to heat a wafer. For example, the first hot plate can provide uniform heating across a surface of the first hot plate. The second hot plate has multiple heating zones with each heating zone independently controllable such that each heating zone can be set to a temperature value independent of other heating zones. The controller is configured to control the first hot plate to provide the uniform heating, receive a bow measurement from wafer curvature measurement of a wafer, and set the multiple heating zones of the second hot plate to their respective temperature values that correspond to the bow measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Weloth, Michael Murphy, Daniel J. Fulford, Steven Gueci, David C. Conklin
  • Publication number: 20230359128
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide a wafer processing device for optimizing wafer shape. For example, the wafer processing device can include a first hot plate, a second hot plate and a controller. The first hot plate can be configured to heat a wafer. For example, the first hot plate can provide uniform heating across a surface of the first hot plate. The second hot plate has multiple heating zones with each heating zone independently controllable such that each heating zone can be set to a temperature value independent of other heating zones. The controller is configured to control the first hot plate to provide the uniform heating, receive a bow measurement from wafer curvature measurement of a wafer, and set the multiple heating zones of the second hot plate to their respective temperature values that correspond to the bow measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Andrew WELOTH, Michael MURPHY, Daniel J. FULFORD, Steven GUECI, David C. CONKLIN
  • Publication number: 20230326738
    Abstract: Methods described herein address the chuck degradation challenge that can result in wafer distortion upon wafer coupling, leading to downstream fabrication issues. Techniques include actively monitoring wear of a chuck and counteracting chuck degradation by wafer shape manipulation to maintain an ideal working surface. Techniques include using chuck-based flatness metrology and/or modeling based on previous wafer level results and/or historical database of chuck wear information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Anthony R. SCHEPIS, Daniel J. FULFORD, David C. CONKLIN, Anton J. DEVILLIERS
  • Publication number: 20230326814
    Abstract: A device includes a first set of modules configured for wafer shape correction and a second set of modules configured for wafer bonding. The first set of modules includes a metrology module configured to measure wafer shape data of a first wafer and a second wafer, including relative z-height values of the first wafer and the second wafer. A stressor film deposition module is configured to form a first stressor film on the first wafer. A stressor film modification module is configured to modify the first stressor film based on a first modification map that defines adjustments to internal stresses of the first wafer and is generated based on the wafer shape data. The second set of modules includes an alignment module configured to align the first wafer with the second wafer, and a bonding module configured to bond the first wafer to the second wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Anthony R. SCHEPIS, Andrew WELOTH, David C. CONKLIN, Anton J. DEVILLIERS
  • Publication number: 20230326767
    Abstract: A method, for bonding a first wafer to a second wafer, includes generating a first modification map based on wafer shape data of the first wafer and the second wafer. The first modification map defines adjustments to internal stresses of the first wafer. A first wafer shape of the first wafer is modified by forming a first stressor film on the first wafer based on the first modification map. The first wafer is aligned with the second wafer after the modifying. The first wafer is bonded to the second wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Anthony R. SCHEPIS, Andrew WELOTH, David C. CONKLIN, Anton J. DEVILLIERS
  • Patent number: 7077311
    Abstract: A document transport control system for controlling the throughput rate of the document transport, the document transport has a preset throughput rate. The system includes a smart card for storing data including a throughput rate which is greater than the preset throughput rate. A card reader reads data stored on the smart card. A controller is responsive to the data read by the smart card reader for changing the preset throughput rate to the throughput rate stored on the smart card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: BancTec, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Conklin, Bret Stubbs