Patents by Inventor Howard I. Dwyer

Howard I. Dwyer 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: 4556317
    Abstract: An automatic patterned wafer inspection system includes macro and micro inspection stations having optical axes that are 10 inches apart on an X-Y crossed roller stage which provides 7 inches of travel in each of two directions along two orthogonal axes. A macro-micro transport arm is pivotally interconnected with the stage and supports a turntable with a vacuum chuck centrally located thereon. The transport arm is positioned to move the wafer from a position 5 inches to the left of center of the stage (the macro axis) to a position 5 inches to the right of the center of the stage (the micro axis). Repeatability of positioning of the arms is obtained by using a spring-loaded link to drive the transport arm against a hard stop located at the left and right of the stage. The turntable is mounted so as to have an outside edge adjacent the distal end of the transport arm. A vacuum chuck for holding the wafer is attached to the turntable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1985
    Assignee: KLA Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Sandland, Curt H. Chadwick, Howard I. Dwyer