Patents by Inventor Kuo-Liang Lu

Kuo-Liang Lu 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: 20240084455
    Abstract: Some implementations described herein include systems and techniques for fabricating a wafer-on-wafer product using a filled lateral gap between beveled regions of wafers included in a stacked-wafer assembly and along a perimeter region of the stacked-wafer assembly. The systems and techniques include a deposition tool having an electrode with a protrusion that enhances an electromagnetic field along the perimeter region of the stacked-wafer assembly during a deposition operation performed by the deposition tool. Relative to an electromagnetic field generated by a deposition tool not including the electrode with the protrusion, the enhanced electromagnetic field improves the deposition operation so that a supporting fill material may be sufficiently deposited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Che Wei YANG, Chih Cheng SHIH, Kuo Liang LU, Yu JIANG, Sheng-Chan LI, Kuo-Ming WU, Sheng-Chau CHEN, Chung-Yi YU, Cheng-Yuan TSAI
  • Publication number: 20240088193
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device are provided. The semiconductor device comprises a substrate and a wafer disposed on the substrate. The wafer includes a p-doped layer disposed on the substrate; a first diode disposed on the p-doped layer; a second diode disposed on the p-doped layer; a third diode disposed on the p-doped layer; and a dielectric layer disposed on the substrate and covering the first, second, and third diodes. The first, second, and third diodes are disposed side by side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: CHUN-LIANG LU, CHUN-HAO CHOU, KUO-CHENG LEE
  • Patent number: 11923393
    Abstract: A semiconductor image sensor includes a pixel. The pixel includes a first substrate; and a photodiode in the first substrate. The semiconductor image sensor further includes an interconnect structure electrically connected to the pixel. The semiconductor image sensor further includes a reflection structure between the interconnect and the photodiode, wherein the reflection structure is configured to reflect light passing through the photodiode back toward the photodiode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chun-Liang Lu, Cheng-Hao Chiu, Huan-En Lin, Chun-Hao Chou, Kuo-Cheng Lee
  • Publication number: 20230420222
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip processing tool. The integrated chip processing tool includes a gas distribution ring configured to extend along a perimeter of a process chamber. The gas distribution ring includes a lower ring extending around the process chamber. The lower ring has a plurality of gas inlets arranged along a bottom surface of the lower ring and a plurality of gas conveyance channels arranged along an upper surface of the lower ring directly over the plurality of gas inlets. The gas distribution ring further includes an upper ring disposed on the upper surface of the lower ring and covering the plurality of gas conveyance channels. A plurality of gas outlets are arranged along opposing ends of the plurality of gas conveyance channels. A plurality of gas conveyance paths extending between the plurality of gas inlets and the plurality of gas outlets have approximately equal lengths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Po-Hsiang Wang, Min-Chang Ching, Kuo Liang Lu, Bo-Han Chu
  • Patent number: 11742321
    Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to a workpiece bonding apparatus. The workpieces bonding apparatus includes a first substrate holder having a first surface configured to receive a first workpiece, and a second substrate holder having a second surface configured to receive a second workpiece. A vacuum apparatus is positioned between the first substrate holder and the second substrate holder and is configured to selectively induce a vacuum between the first surface and the second surface. The vacuum is configured to attract the first surface and the second surface toward one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Xin-Hua Huang, Kuan-Liang Liu, Kuo Liang Lu, Ping-Yin Liu
  • Publication number: 20230062974
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a process tool that includes a chamber housing defining a processing chamber. Within the processing chamber is a wafer chuck configured to hold a substrate. Further, a bell jar structure is arranged over the wafer chuck such that an opening of the bell jar structure faces the wafer chuck. A plasma coil is arranged over the bell jar structure. An oxygen source coupled to the processing chamber and configured to input oxygen gas into the processing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Yen-Liang Lin, Chia-Wen Zhong, Yao-Wen Chang, Min-Chang Ching, Kuo Liang Lu, Cheng-Yuan Tsai, Ru-Liang Lee
  • Publication number: 20210272928
    Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to a workpiece bonding apparatus. The workpieces bonding apparatus includes a first substrate holder having a first surface configured to receive a first workpiece, and a second substrate holder having a second surface configured to receive a second workpiece. A vacuum apparatus is positioned between the first substrate holder and the second substrate holder and is configured to selectively induce a vacuum between the first surface and the second surface. The vacuum is configured to attract the first surface and the second surface toward one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Xin-Hua Huang, Kuan-Liang Liu, Kuo Liang Lu, Ping-Yin Liu
  • Patent number: 11031369
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for controlling a propagation of a bond wave during semiconductor processing. The apparatus has a first chuck to selectively retain a first workpiece. A second chuck selectively retains a second workpiece. The first and second chucks selectively secure at least a periphery of the respective first workpiece and second workpiece. An air vacuum is circumferentially located in a region between the first chuck and second chuck. The air vacuum is configured to induce a vacuum between the first workpiece and second workpiece to selectively bring the first workpiece and second workpiece together from a propagation point. The air vacuum can be localized air vacuum guns, a vacuum disk, or an air curtain positioned about the periphery of the region between the first chuck and second chuck. The air curtain induces a lower pressure within the region between the first and second chucks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xin-Hua Huang, Kuan-Liang Liu, Kuo Liang Lu, Ping-Yin Liu
  • Patent number: 10889097
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a debonding apparatus. In some embodiments, the debonding apparatus comprises a wafer chuck configured to hold a pair of bonded substrates on a chuck top surface. The debonding apparatus further comprises a pair of separating blades including a first separating blade and a second separating blade placed at edges of the pair of bonded substrates. The first separating blade has a first thickness that is smaller than a second thickness of the second separating blade. The debonding apparatus further comprises a flex wafer assembly configured to pull the pair of bonded substrates upwardly to separate a second substrate from a first substrate of the pair of bonded substrate. By providing unbalanced initial torques on opposite sides of the bonded substrate pair, edge defects and wafer breakage are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-Chen Tsao, Kuo Liang Lu, Ru-Liang Lee, Sheng-Hsiang Chuang, Yu-Hung Cheng, Yeur-Luen Tu, Cheng-Kang Hu
  • Publication number: 20200397663
    Abstract: A storage rack structure and a storage panel module thereof are disclosed. The storage panel module includes an inclined carrying panel, a rolling unit and a plurality of storage boxes. The inclined carrying panel has an inclined top wall and a first lateral side and a second lateral side arranged at two sides of the inclined top wall, and a height of the inclined top wall is gradually reduced from the first lateral side to the second lateral side. The rolling unit is disposed on the inclined top wall and crossly arranged between the first lateral side and the second lateral side. The storage boxes are disposed on the inclined top wall and the rolling unit and adjacently arranged between the first lateral side and the second lateral side. Accordingly advantages of easily taking out medicines and efficiently managing expire dates of the medicines are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Kuo-Liang LU, Fu-Chi TSAI
  • Publication number: 20200108592
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a debonding apparatus. In some embodiments, the debonding apparatus comprises a wafer chuck configured to hold a pair of bonded substrates on a chuck top surface. The debonding apparatus further comprises a pair of separating blades including a first separating blade and a second separating blade placed at edges of the pair of bonded substrates. The first separating blade has a first thickness that is smaller than a second thickness of the second separating blade. The debonding apparatus further comprises a flex wafer assembly configured to pull the pair of bonded substrates upwardly to separate a second substrate from a first substrate of the pair of bonded substrate. By providing unbalanced initial torques on opposite sides of the bonded substrate pair, edge defects and wafer breakage are reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: Chang-Chen Tsao, Kuo Liang Lu, Ru-Liang Lee, Sheng-Hsiang Chuang, Yu-Hung Cheng, Yeur-Luen Tu, Cheng-Kang Hu
  • Patent number: 10569520
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a debonding apparatus. In some embodiments, the debonding apparatus comprises a wafer chuck configured to hold a pair of bonded substrates on a chuck top surface. The debonding apparatus further comprises a pair of separating blades including a first separating blade and a second separating blade placed at edges of the pair of bonded substrates diametrically opposite to each other. The first separating blade has a first thickness that is smaller than a second thickness of the second separating blade. The debonding apparatus further comprises a flex wafer assembly placed above the pair of bonded substrates and configured to pull the pair of bonded substrates upwardly to separate a second substrate from a first substrate of the pair of bonded substrate. By providing unbalanced initial torques on opposite sides of the bonded substrate pair, edge defects and wafer breakage are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-Chen Tsao, Kuo Liang Lu, Ru-Liang Lee, Sheng-Hsiang Chuang, Yu-Hung Cheng, Yeur-Luen Tu, Cheng-Kang Hu
  • Publication number: 20200051950
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for controlling a propagation of a bond wave during semiconductor processing. The apparatus has a first chuck to selectively retain a first workpiece. A second chuck selectively retains a second workpiece. The first and second chucks selectively secure at least a periphery of the respective first workpiece and second workpiece. An air vacuum is circumferentially located in a region between the first chuck and second chuck. The air vacuum is configured to induce a vacuum between the first workpiece and second workpiece to selectively bring the first workpiece and second workpiece together from a propagation point. The air vacuum can be localized air vacuum guns, a vacuum disk, or an air curtain positioned about the periphery of the region between the first chuck and second chuck. The air curtain induces a lower pressure within the region between the first and second chucks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Xin-Hua Huang, Kuan-Liang Liu, Kuo Liang Lu, Ping-Yin Liu
  • Patent number: 10497667
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for controlling a propagation of a bond wave during semiconductor processing. The apparatus has a first chuck to selectively retain a first workpiece. A second chuck selectively retains a second workpiece. The first and second chucks selectively secure at least a periphery of the respective first workpiece and second workpiece. An air vacuum is circumferentially located in a region between the first chuck and second chuck. The air vacuum is configured to induce a vacuum between the first workpiece and second workpiece to selectively bring the first workpiece and second workpiece together from a propagation point. The air vacuum can be localized air vacuum guns, a vacuum disk, or an air curtain positioned about the periphery of the region between the first chuck and second chuck. The air curtain induces a lower pressure within the region between the first and second chucks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xin-Hua Huang, Kuan-Liang Liu, Kuo Liang Lu, Ping-Yin Liu
  • Publication number: 20190118522
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a debonding apparatus. In some embodiments, the debonding apparatus comprises a wafer chuck configured to hold a pair of bonded substrates on a chuck top surface. The debonding apparatus further comprises a pair of separating blades including a first separating blade and a second separating blade placed at edges of the pair of bonded substrates diametrically opposite to each other. The first separating blade has a first thickness that is smaller than a second thickness of the second separating blade. The debonding apparatus further comprises a flex wafer assembly placed above the pair of bonded substrates and configured to pull the pair of bonded substrates upwardly to separate a second substrate from a first substrate of the pair of bonded substrate. By providing unbalanced initial torques on opposite sides of the bonded substrate pair, edge defects and wafer breakage are reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Chang-Chen Tsao, Kuo Liang Lu, Ru-Liang Lee, Sheng-Hsiang Chuang, Yu-Hung Cheng, Yeur-Luen Tu, Cheng-Kang Hu
  • Publication number: 20190096848
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for controlling a propagation of a bond wave during semiconductor processing. The apparatus has a first chuck to selectively retain a first workpiece. A second chuck selectively retains a second workpiece. The first and second chucks selectively secure at least a periphery of the respective first workpiece and second workpiece. An air vacuum is circumferentially located in a region between the first chuck and second chuck. The air vacuum is configured to induce a vacuum between the first workpiece and second workpiece to selectively bring the first workpiece and second workpiece together from a propagation point. The air vacuum can be localized air vacuum guns, a vacuum disk, or an air curtain positioned about the periphery of the region between the first chuck and second chuck. The air curtain induces a lower pressure within the region between the first and second chucks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Xin-Hua Huang, Kuan-Liang Liu, Kuo Liang Lu, Ping-Yin Liu
  • Patent number: 10155369
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for debonding a pair of bonded substrates. In the method, a debonding apparatus is provided comprising a wafer chuck, a flex wafer assembly, and a set of separating blades. The pair of bonded substrates is placed upon the wafer chuck so that a first substrate of the bonded substrate pair is in contact with a chuck top surface. The flex wafer assembly is placed above the bonded substrate pair so that its first surface is in contact with an upper surface of a second substrate of the bonded substrate pair. A pair of separating blades having different thicknesses is inserted between the first and second substrates from edges of the pair of bonded substrates diametrically opposite to each other while the second substrate is concurrently pulled upward until the flex wafer assembly flexes the second substrate from the first substrate. By providing unbalanced initial torques on opposite sides of the bonded substrate pair, edge defects and wafer breakage are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-Chen Tsao, Kuo Liang Lu, Ru-Liang Lee, Sheng-Hsiang Chuang, Yu-Hung Cheng, Yeur-Luen Tu, Cheng-Kang Hu
  • Patent number: 10056275
    Abstract: Embodiments using immersion de-taping are described. A substrate having a substrate tape attached thereto is provided. The substrate includes electrically conductive connectors attached to the substrate tape. A fluid is provided between the substrate and the substrate tape. While the fluid is between the substrate and the substrate tape, the substrate tape is removed from the substrate. Another embodiment is an apparatus comprising an immersion tank, a substrate chuck, first and second fixed rollers, and a moveable roller. The substrate chuck is configured to secure a substrate and to place the substrate into the immersion tank. The first fixed roller is operable to dispense a clamp tape. The second fixed roller is operable to roll the clamp tape. The moveable roller is operable to extend into the immersion tank and to adhere the clamp tape to a substrate tape on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ching Tasi Liu, Fu-Chen Chang, Chien-Chen Li, Te Lung Liu, Kuo Liang Lu
  • Publication number: 20180147825
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for debonding a pair of bonded substrates. In the method, a debonding apparatus is provided comprising a wafer chuck, a flex wafer assembly, and a set of separating blades. The pair of bonded substrates is placed upon the wafer chuck so that a first substrate of the bonded substrate pair is in contact with a chuck top surface. The flex wafer assembly is placed above the bonded substrate pair so that its first surface is in contact with an upper surface of a second substrate of the bonded substrate pair. A pair of separating blades having different thicknesses is inserted between the first and second substrates from edges of the pair of bonded substrates diametrically opposite to each other while the second substrate is concurrently pulled upward until the flex wafer assembly flexes the second substrate from the first substrate. By providing unbalanced initial torques on opposite sides of the bonded substrate pair, edge defects and wafer breakage are reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Chang-Chen Tsao, Kuo Liang Lu, Ru-Liang Lee, Sheng-Hsiang Chuang, Yu-Hung Cheng, Yeur-Luen Tu, Cheng-Kang Hu
  • Publication number: 20170186632
    Abstract: Embodiments using immersion de-taping are described. A substrate having a substrate tape attached thereto is provided. The substrate includes electrically conductive connectors attached to the substrate tape. A fluid is provided between the substrate and the substrate tape. While the fluid is between the substrate and the substrate tape, the substrate tape is removed from the substrate. Another embodiment is an apparatus comprising an immersion tank, a substrate chuck, first and second fixed rollers, and a moveable roller. The substrate chuck is configured to secure a substrate and to place the substrate into the immersion tank. The first fixed roller is operable to dispense a clamp tape. The second fixed roller is operable to roll the clamp tape. The moveable roller is operable to extend into the immersion tank and to adhere the clamp tape to a substrate tape on the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2017
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: Ching Tasi Liu, Fu-Chen Chang, Chien-Chen Li, Te Lung Liu, Kuo Liang Lu