Patents by Inventor Thomas Miu

Thomas Miu 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: 9002504
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods and systems for evaluating wafer size handling capabilities of wafer handling robots and wafer stations in a wafer processing environment. In one embodiment, a method is provided in which size parameters for each of one or more wafer stations and one or more robot hands of a wafer handling robot are set based on user input. A user command identifying a desired robot hand and a desired wafer station is received. A first size parameter of the desired robot hand is compared to a second size parameter of the desired wafer station. If the first size parameter is equal to the second size parameter, or if the second size parameter is an all-size parameter, the user command is executed. If the first size parameter is not equal to the second size parameter, an error is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Kawasaki Robotics (USA) Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Miu, Shinya Kitano, Simon Jeyapalan, Ming Zeng, Avish A. Bharwani
  • Publication number: 20140277727
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods and systems for evaluating wafer size handling capabilities of wafer handling robots and wafer stations in a wafer processing environment. In one embodiment, a method is provided in which size parameters for each of one or more wafer stations and one or more robot hands of a wafer handling robot are set based on user input. A user command identifying a desired robot hand and a desired wafer station is received. A first size parameter of the desired robot hand is compared to a second size parameter of the desired wafer station. If the first size parameter is equal to the second size parameter, or if the second size parameter is an all-size parameter, the user command is executed. If the first size parameter is not equal to the second size parameter, an error is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: KAWASAKI ROBOTICS (USA), INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Miu, Shinya Kitano, Simon Jeyapalan, Ming Zeng, Avish A. Bharwani
  • Publication number: 20080283387
    Abstract: In a first aspect, a programmable transfer device is provided for transferring conductive pieces to electrode pads of a target substrate. The programmable transfer device includes (1) a transfer substrate; and (2) a plurality of individually addressable electrodes formed on the transfer substrate. Each electrode is adapted to selectively attract and hold a conductive piece during transfer of the conductive piece to an electrode pad of a target substrate. Numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Michael R. Rice, Claes H. Bjorkman, Jun Zhao, Kenneth S. Collins, Thomas Miu
  • Patent number: 7407081
    Abstract: In a first aspect, a programmable transfer device is provided for transferring conductive pieces to electrode pads of a target substrate. The programmable transfer device includes (1) a transfer substrate; and (2) a plurality of individually addressable electrodes formed on the transfer substrate. Each electrode is adapted to selectively attract and hold a conductive piece during transfer of the conductive piece to an electrode pad of a target substrate. Numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Rice, Claes H. Bjorkman, Jun Zhao, Kenneth S. Collins, Thomas Miu
  • Publication number: 20050232728
    Abstract: In a first aspect, a programmable transfer device is provided for transferring conductive pieces to electrode pads of a target substrate. The programmable transfer device includes (1) a transfer substrate; and (2) a plurality of individually addressable electrodes formed on the transfer substrate. Each electrode is adapted to selectively attract and hold a conductive piece during transfer of the conductive piece to an electrode pad of a target substrate. Numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Publication date: October 20, 2005
    Inventors: Michael Rice, Claes Bjorkman, Jun Zhao, Kenneth Collins, Thomas Miu
  • Patent number: 5869401
    Abstract: A method in a plasma processing chamber, the chamber being employed for processing a substrate, for removing corrosive species from the plasma processing chamber after the substrate is processed. The method includes introducing a flash source gas comprising an oxidizing agent such as oxygen into the plasma processing chamber. The method further includes performing, a flash process, including striking a plasma in the plasma processing chamber with the flash source gas, thereby permitting oxygen species in the plasma to reduce a concentration of the corrosive species in the plasma processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Paul E. Brunemeier, Thomas Miu