Patents by Inventor Hsiao-Chieh CHOU

Hsiao-Chieh CHOU 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: 20250109870
    Abstract: The present disclosure is at least directed to utilizing air curtain devices to form air curtains to separate and isolate areas in which respective workpieces are stored from a transfer compartment within a workpiece processing apparatus. The transfer compartment of the workpiece processing apparatus includes a robot configured to transfer or transport ones of the workpieces to and from these respective storage areas through the transfer compartment and to and from a tool compartment. A tool is present in the tool compartment for processing and refining the respective workpieces. Clean dry air (CDA) may be circulated through the respective storage areas. The air curtains formed by the air curtain devices and the circulation of CDA through the respective storage areas reduces the likelihood of the generation of defects, damages, and degradation of the workpieces when present within the workpiece processing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2024
    Publication date: April 3, 2025
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-Wei WU, Hao YANG, Hsiao-Chieh CHOU, Chun-Hung CHAO, Jao Sheng HUANG, Neng-Jye YANG, Kuo-Bin HUANG
  • Patent number: 12188686
    Abstract: The present disclosure is at least directed to utilizing air curtain devices to form air curtains to separate and isolate areas in which respective workpieces are stored from a transfer compartment within a workpiece processing apparatus. The transfer compartment of the workpiece processing apparatus includes a robot configured to transfer or transport ones of the workpieces to and from these respective storage areas through the transfer compartment and to and from a tool compartment. A tool is present in the tool compartment for processing and refining the respective workpieces. Clean dry air (CDA) may be circulated through the respective storage areas. The air curtains formed by the air curtain devices and the circulation of CDA through the respective storage areas reduces the likelihood of the generation of defects, damages, and degradation of the workpieces when present within the workpiece processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-Wei Wu, Hao Yang, Hsiao-Chieh Chou, Chun-Hung Chao, Jao Sheng Huang, Neng-Jye Yang, Kuo-Bin Huang
  • Publication number: 20230349574
    Abstract: The present disclosure is at least directed to utilizing air curtain devices to form air curtains to separate and isolate areas in which respective workpieces are stored from a transfer compartment within a workpiece processing apparatus. The transfer compartment of the workpiece processing apparatus includes a robot configured to transfer or transport ones of the workpieces to and from these respective storage areas through the transfer compartment and to and from a tool compartment. A tool is present in the tool compartment for processing and refining the respective workpieces. Clean dry air (CDA) may be circulated through the respective storage areas. The air curtains formed by the air curtain devices and the circulation of CDA through the respective storage areas reduces the likelihood of the generation of defects, damages, and degradation of the workpieces when present within the workpiece processing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Chia-Wei WU, Hao YANG, Hsiao-Chieh CHOU, Chun-Hung CHAO, Jao Sheng HUANG, Neng-Jye YANG, Kuo-Bin HUANG