Patents by Inventor Min-Cheng Wu
Min-Cheng Wu 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: 20240312814Abstract: A method of operating a processing apparatus is provided. The method includes placing a substrate storage container on a load port. The method includes matching a plurality of positioning holes are on a base board of the substrate storage container with a plurality of positioning pins on a base frame of the load port. The method also includes transferring a substrate from the substrate storage container when the substrate storage container is placed on the base frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2024Publication date: September 19, 2024Inventors: Min-Cheng WU, Chi-Hung LIAO
-
Patent number: 12025923Abstract: A method includes shooting a primary droplet and a satellite droplet from a droplet generator along a common initial direction; applying a force to the primary droplet and the satellite droplet, wherein after applying the force, the primary droplet has a first deflection toward a first direction different than the common initial direction, and the satellite droplet has a second deflection toward a second direction different than the common initial direction, wherein the second deflection of the satellite droplet is greater than the first deflection of the primary droplet; and generating an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light using an excitation laser hitting the primary droplet with the first deflection.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2023Date of Patent: July 2, 2024Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Chi-Hung Liao, Min-Cheng Wu
-
Patent number: 12020963Abstract: A method of performing a substrate detection process is provided. The method includes emitting a signal to a surface of a substrate from an emitter disposed in a substrate storage container. The method also includes collecting the signal reflected from the surface of the substrate by a receiver disposed in the substrate storage container. The method further includes transmitting data corresponding to the collected signal to a signal processor. In addition, the method includes analyzing the data, and determining whether an action is to be performed on the substrate based on the analyzing.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2020Date of Patent: June 25, 2024Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Min-Cheng Wu, Chi-Hung Liao
-
Patent number: 12007691Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a substrate measuring device in a lithography projection apparatus that provides multiple light sources having different wavelengths. In some embodiments, a lithography projection apparatus includes a substrate measuring system disposed proximate to a substrate stage, the substrate measuring system further including an emitter including multiple light sources configured to provide multiple beams of light, each of at least some of the multiple beams of light having a different wavelength, at least one optical fiber, wherein each of respective portions of the at least one optical fiber is configured to pass a respective one of the multiple beams of light, and a receiver positioned to collected light emitted from the emitter and reflected off of a substrate disposed on the substrate stage.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2022Date of Patent: June 11, 2024Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Min-Cheng Wu, Chi-Hung Liao
-
Publication number: 20240085802Abstract: Some implementations described herein provide an exposure tool. The exposure tool includes a reticle deformation detector and one or more processors configured to obtain, via the reticle deformation detector, reticle deformation information associated with a reticle during a scanning process for scanning multiple fields of a wafer. The one or more processors determine, based on the reticle deformation information, a deformation of the reticle at multiple times during the scanning process, and perform, based on the deformation of the reticle at the multiple times, one or more adjustments of one or more components of the exposure tool during the scanning process.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2023Publication date: March 14, 2024Inventors: Min-Cheng WU, Ching-Ju HUANG
-
Patent number: 11923187Abstract: A method includes transferring a wafer to a position over a wafer chuck; lifting a lifting pin through the wafer chuck to a first position to support the wafer; holding the wafer on the lifting pin using a negative pressure source in gaseous communication with an inner gas passage of the lifting pin; introducing a gas to a region between the wafer and the wafer chuck through an outer gas passage of the lifting pin, wherein in a top view of the lifting pin, the inner gas passage has a circular profile, while the outer gas passage has a ring-shape profile; and lowering the lifting to dispose the wafer over the wafer chuck.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2022Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Min-Cheng Wu, Chi-Hung Liao
-
Patent number: 11923231Abstract: A substrate table is provided. The substrate table includes a main body having a surface and a plurality of burls extending from the surface. The burls are configured to support a substrate on the main body. The substrate table further includes a number of vacuum channels provided in the burls to apply a vacuum to the substrate. The vacuum channels are distributed throughout the main body and arranged in a grid pattern.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2021Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventors: Min-Cheng Wu, Chi-Hung Liao
-
Patent number: 11899378Abstract: A lithography system includes a collector having a mirror surface, a laser generator aiming at an excitation zone in front of the mirror surface of the collector, a droplet generator, and a droplet deflector operative to apply a force at a position between the droplet generator and the excitation zone.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2022Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Chi-Hung Liao, Min-Cheng Wu
-
Patent number: 11852980Abstract: Some implementations described herein provide an exposure tool. The exposure tool includes a reticle deformation detector and one or more processors configured to obtain, via the reticle deformation detector, reticle deformation information associated with a reticle during a scanning process for scanning multiple fields of a wafer. The one or more processors determine, based on the reticle deformation information, a deformation of the reticle at multiple times during the scanning process, and perform, based on the deformation of the reticle at the multiple times, one or more adjustments of one or more components of the exposure tool during the scanning process.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2021Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventors: Min-Cheng Wu, Ching-Ju Huang
-
Publication number: 20230161273Abstract: A method includes shooting a primary droplet and a satellite droplet from a droplet generator along a common initial direction; applying a force to the primary droplet and the satellite droplet, wherein after applying the force, the primary droplet has a first deflection toward a first direction different than the common initial direction, and the satellite droplet has a second deflection toward a second direction different than the common initial direction, wherein the second deflection of the satellite droplet is greater than the first deflection of the primary droplet; and generating an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light using an excitation laser hitting the primary droplet with the first deflection.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2023Publication date: May 25, 2023Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Chi-Hung LIAO, Min-Cheng WU
-
Publication number: 20230118862Abstract: A method includes transferring a wafer to a position over a wafer chuck; lifting a lifting pin through the wafer chuck to a first position to support the wafer; holding the wafer on the lifting pin using a negative pressure source in gaseous communication with an inner gas passage of the lifting pin; introducing a gas to a region between the wafer and the wafer chuck through an outer gas passage of the lifting pin, wherein in a top view of the lifting pin, the inner gas passage has a circular profile, while the outer gas passage has a ring-shape profile; and lowering the lifting to dispose the wafer over the wafer chuck.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2022Publication date: April 20, 2023Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Min-Cheng WU, Chi-Hung LIAO
-
Patent number: 11562898Abstract: A method includes transferring a wafer to a position over a wafer chuck; ejecting a first gas from a purging device above the wafer to clean a top surface of the wafer; after ejecting the first gas, lifting a lifting pin through the wafer chuck to receive the wafer; and after the wafer is received by the lifting pin, ejecting a second gas from first openings in a sidewall of the lifting pin to a region between a bottom surface of the wafer and a top surface of the wafer chuck.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2021Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Min-Cheng Wu, Chi-Hung Liao
-
Patent number: 11550233Abstract: A method including steps as follows is provided. A primary droplet and a satellite droplet are shot toward an excitation zone. The satellite droplet is deflected away from the excitation zone. A laser beam is emitted toward the excitation zone to excite the primary droplet to generate an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light. The EUV light is directed onto a reticle using a first optical reflector, such that the EUV light is imparted with a pattern of the reticle. The EUV light with the pattern is directed onto a wafer using a second optical reflector.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2019Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Chi-Hung Liao, Min-Cheng Wu
-
Publication number: 20220357677Abstract: A lithography system includes a collector having a mirror surface, a laser generator aiming at an excitation zone in front of the mirror surface of the collector, a droplet generator, and a droplet deflector operative to apply a force at a position between the droplet generator and the excitation zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2022Publication date: November 10, 2022Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Chi-Hung LIAO, Min-Cheng WU
-
Publication number: 20220334490Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a substrate measuring device in a lithography projection apparatus that provides multiple light sources having different wavelengths. In some embodiments, a lithography projection apparatus includes a substrate measuring system disposed proximate to a substrate stage, the substrate measuring system further including an emitter including multiple light sources configured to provide multiple beams of light, each of at least some of the multiple beams of light having a different wavelength, at least one optical fiber, wherein each of respective portions of the at least one optical fiber is configured to pass a respective one of the multiple beams of light, and a receiver positioned to collected light emitted from the emitter and reflected off of a substrate disposed on the substrate stage.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2022Publication date: October 20, 2022Inventors: Min-Cheng WU, Chi-Hung LIAO
-
Publication number: 20220283504Abstract: Some implementations described herein provide an exposure tool. The exposure tool includes a reticle deformation detector and one or more processors configured to obtain, via the reticle deformation detector, reticle deformation information associated with a reticle during a scanning process for scanning multiple fields of a wafer. The one or more processors determine, based on the reticle deformation information, a deformation of the reticle at multiple times during the scanning process, and perform, based on the deformation of the reticle at the multiple times, one or more adjustments of one or more components of the exposure tool during the scanning process.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2021Publication date: September 8, 2022Inventors: Min-Cheng WU, Ching-Ju HUANG
-
Patent number: 11409201Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods for processing a substrate using a measuring device in a lithography projection apparatus that provides multiple light sources having different wavelengths. In some embodiments, a lithography projection apparatus includes a substrate measuring system disposed proximate to a substrate stage, the substrate measuring system further including an emitter including multiple light sources configured to provide multiple beams of light, each of at least some of the multiple beams of light having a different wavelength, at least one optical fiber, wherein each of respective zones of the at least one optical fiber is configured to pass a respective one of the multiple beams of light, and a receiver positioned to collected light emitted from the emitter and reflected off of a substrate disposed on the substrate stage.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2021Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Min-Cheng Wu, Chi-Hung Liao
-
Patent number: 11409200Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a substrate measuring device in a lithography projection apparatus that provides multiple light sources having different wavelengths. In some embodiments, a lithography projection apparatus includes a substrate measuring system disposed proximate to a substrate stage, the substrate measuring system further including an emitter including multiple light sources configured to provide multiple beams of light, each of at least some of the multiple beams of light having a different wavelength, at least one optical fiber, wherein each of respective portions of the at least one optical fiber is configured to pass a respective one of the multiple beams of light, and a receiver positioned to collected light emitted from the emitter and reflected off of a substrate disposed on the substrate stage.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2021Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Min-Cheng Wu, Chi-Hung Liao
-
Patent number: 11302566Abstract: A method for fabricating a wafer includes providing a wafer table, wherein the wafer table includes support pins that are movable with respect to each other; identifying features of a layer to be formed on a wafer, wherein the features have a tolerance for overlay errors below a threshold; moving one or more support pins based on the features; after the moving of the one or more support pins, mounting the wafer on the wafer table; and after the mounting of the wafer on the wafer table, forming the layer on the wafer.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2020Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Chi-Hung Liao, Min-Cheng Wu
-
Patent number: 11269261Abstract: A system includes a frame, a projection lens, a wafer table, and a cleaner. The frame has an opening vertically extending through the frame. The projection lens is disposed on the frame. The wafer table is below the frame, in which the wafer table is movable along a horizontal direction. The cleaner is over the frame, in which the cleaner comprises a sticky structure movable along a vertical direction and through the opening of the frame.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2020Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Min-Cheng Wu, Chi-Hung Liao