Patents by Inventor Peter Thaulad

Peter Thaulad 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: 20230395410
    Abstract: A method for calibration including determining a temperature induced offset in a pedestal of a process module under a temperature condition for a process. The method includes delivering a wafer to the pedestal of the process module by a robot, and detecting an entry offset. The method includes rotating the wafer over the pedestal by an angle. The method includes removing the wafer from the pedestal by the robot and measuring an exit offset. The method includes determining a magnitude and direction of the temperature induced offset using the entry offset and exit offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Jacob L. Hiester, Richard Blank, Peter Thaulad, Paul Konkola
  • Patent number: 11742229
    Abstract: A method for calibration including determining a temperature induced offset in a pedestal of a process module under a temperature condition for a process. The method includes delivering a wafer to the pedestal of the process module by a robot, and detecting an entry offset. The method includes rotating the wafer over the pedestal by an angle. The method includes removing the wafer from the pedestal by the robot and measuring an exit offset. The method includes determining a magnitude and direction of the temperature induced offset using the entry offset and exit offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Jacob L. Hiester, Richard Blank, Peter Thaulad, Paul Konkola
  • Publication number: 20220134568
    Abstract: A robot calibration system includes a calibration fixture configured to be mounted on a substrate processing chamber. The calibration fixture includes at least one camera arranged to capture an image including an outer edge of a test substrate and an edge ring surrounding the test substrate. A controller is configured to receive the captured image, analyze the captured image to measure a distance between the outer edge of the test substrate and the edge ring, calculate a center of the test substrate based on the measured distance, and calibrate a robot configured to transfer substrate to and from the substrate processing chamber based on the calculated center of the test substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Richard BLANK, Aravind ALWAN, Behnam BEHZIZ, Peter THAULAD, Mark E. EMERSON
  • Publication number: 20220108902
    Abstract: A method for calibration including determining a temperature induced offset in a pedestal of a process module under a temperature condition for a process. The method includes delivering a wafer to the pedestal of the process module by a robot, and detecting an entry offset. The method includes rotating the wafer over the pedestal by an angle. The method includes removing the wafer from the pedestal by the robot and measuring an exit offset. The method includes determining a magnitude and direction of the temperature induced offset using the entry offset and exit offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Jacob L. Hiester, Richard Blank, Peter Thaulad, Paul Konkola
  • Patent number: 11239100
    Abstract: A method for calibration including determining a temperature induced offset in a pedestal of a process module under a temperature condition for a process. The method includes delivering a wafer to the pedestal of the process module by a robot, and detecting an entry offset. The method includes rotating the wafer over the pedestal by an angle. The method includes removing the wafer from the pedestal by the robot and measuring an exit offset. The method includes determining a magnitude and direction of the temperature induced offset using the entry offset and exit offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Jacob L. Hiester, Richard Blank, Peter Thaulad, Paul Konkola
  • Publication number: 20200273731
    Abstract: A method for calibration including determining a temperature induced offset in a pedestal of a process module under a temperature condition for a process. The method includes delivering a wafer to the pedestal of the process module by a robot, and detecting an entry offset. The method includes rotating the wafer over the pedestal by an angle. The method includes removing the wafer from the pedestal by the robot and measuring an exit offset. The method includes determining a magnitude and direction of the temperature induced offset using the entry offset and exit offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Jacob L. Hiester, Richard Blank, Peter Thaulad, Paul Konkola
  • Patent number: 10651065
    Abstract: A method for calibration including determining a temperature induced offset in a pedestal of a process module under a temperature condition for a process. The method includes delivering a wafer to the pedestal of the process module by a robot, and detecting an entry offset. The method includes rotating the wafer over the pedestal by an angle. The method includes removing the wafer from the pedestal by the robot and measuring an exit offset. The method includes determining a magnitude and direction of the temperature induced offset using the entry offset and exit offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Jacob L. Hiester, Richard Blank, Peter Thaulad, Paul Konkola
  • Publication number: 20190172738
    Abstract: A method for calibration including determining a temperature induced offset in a pedestal of a process module under a temperature condition for a process. The method includes delivering a wafer to the pedestal of the process module by a robot, and detecting an entry offset. The method includes rotating the wafer over the pedestal by an angle. The method includes removing the wafer from the pedestal by the robot and measuring an exit offset. The method includes determining a magnitude and direction of the temperature induced offset using the entry offset and exit offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Jacob L. Hiester, Richard Blank, Peter Thaulad, Paul Konkola
  • Patent number: 9831110
    Abstract: A wafer alignment system includes an image capture device that captures an image of a wafer positioned on a pedestal. An image analysis module analyzes the image to detect an edge of the wafer and a notch formed in the edge of the wafer and calculates, based on a position of the notch, first and second edge positions corresponding to the edge of the wafer. An offset calculation module calculates an angular offset of the wafer based on the first position and the second edge positions. A system control module controls transfer of the wafer from the pedestal to a process cell based on the angular offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gustavo G. Francken, Brandon Senn, Peter Thaulad, Zhuozhi Chen, Richard K. Lyons, Christian DiPietro, Christopher M. Bartlett
  • Publication number: 20170032510
    Abstract: A wafer alignment system includes an image capture device that captures an image of a wafer positioned on a pedestal. An image analysis module analyzes the image to detect an edge of the wafer and a notch formed in the edge of the wafer and calculates, based on a position of the notch, first and second edge positions corresponding to the edge of the wafer. An offset calculation module that calculates an angular offset of the wafer based on the first position and the second edge positions. A system control module controls transfer of the wafer from the pedestal to a process cell based on the angular offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Gustavo G. Francken, Brandon Senn, Peter Thaulad, Zhuozhi Chen, Richard K. Lyons, Christian DiPietro, Christopher M. Bartlett
  • Patent number: 7811153
    Abstract: A work piece handling apparatus moves workpieces with a plurality of independently movable load cups that have combined multiple axes of motion. The apparatus can load and unload work pieces from a wet process station and move work pieces between wet process stations and maintain wet chemistry delivery to the workpiece without involving a robot. A method of work piece handling using the apparatus provides a significant throughput improvement by reducing the inherent time lag of pneumatic systems and eliminating multiple steps involving the robot during inter-station wafer transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Rich Blank, Peter Thaulad, Wayne Tang, Kevin Bertsch, Paul Franzen, Ken Reynolds
  • Patent number: 7405531
    Abstract: Torque control capability is provided to a position controlled robot by calculating joint position inputs from transformation of the desired joint torques. This is based on calculating the transfer function 1/E(s), which relates the desired joint torque to joint position. Here E(s) is a servo transfer function D(s) or an effective servo transfer function D*(s). The use of an effective servo transfer function D*s) is helpful in cases where joint nonlinearities are significant. The effective servo transfer function D*(s) is defined with respect to an ideal joint transfer function G*(s)=1/(Ieffs2+beffs), where Ieff is an effective moment of inertia and beff is an effective damping coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Oussama Khatib, Peter Thaulad, Jaehoung Park
  • Publication number: 20070210738
    Abstract: Torque control capability is provided to a position controlled robot by calculating joint position inputs from transformation of the desired joint torques. This is based on calculating the transfer function 1/E(s), which relates the desired joint torque to joint position. Here E(s) is a servo transfer function D(s) or an effective servo transfer function D*(s). The use of an effective servo transfer function D*s) is helpful in cases where joint nonlinearities are significant. The effective servo transfer function D*(s) is defined with respect to an ideal joint transfer function G*(s)=1/(Ieffs2+beffs), where Ieff is an effective moment of inertia and beff is an effective damping coefficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Inventors: Oussama Khatib, Peter Thaulad, Jaehoung Park
  • Patent number: 7211979
    Abstract: Torque control capability is provided to a position controlled robot by calculating joint position inputs from transformation of the desired joint torques. This is based on calculating the transfer function 1/E(s), which relates the desired joint torque to joint position. Here E(s) is a servo transfer function D(s) or an effective servo transfer function D*(s). The use of an effective servo transfer function D*s) is helpful in cases where joint nonlinearities are significant. The effective servo transfer function D*(s) is defined with respect to an ideal joint transfer function G*(s)=1/(Ieffs2+beffs), where Ieff is an effective moment of inertia and beff is an effective damping coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: The Broad of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Oussama Khatib, Peter Thaulad, Jaehoung Park
  • Publication number: 20060250101
    Abstract: Torque control capability is provided to a position controlled robot by calculating joint position inputs from transformation of the desired joint torques. This is based on calculating the transfer function 1/E(s), which relates the desired joint torque to joint position. Here E(s) is a servo transfer function D(s) or an effective servo transfer function D*(s). The use of an effective servo transfer function D*s) is helpful in cases where joint nonlinearities are significant. The effective servo transfer function D*(s) is defined with respect to an ideal joint transfer function G*(s)=1/(Ieffs2+beffs) , where Ieff is an effective moment of inertia and beff is an effective damping coefficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Publication date: November 9, 2006
    Inventors: Oussama Khatib, Peter Thaulad, Jaehoung Park