Patents by Inventor Tsung-Lung Lai
Tsung-Lung Lai 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).
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Patent number: 12311498Abstract: In an embodiment, a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) system includes: a monolithic platen within a platen housing, wherein the monolithic platen is formed of a single piece of material, wherein the monolithic platen includes: a first portion within a first opening, and a second portion within a second opening, wherein the first portion has a different diameter than the second portion; and a polishing fluid delivery module above the monolithic platen, wherein the polishing fluid delivery module is configured to deliver slurry to the monolithic platen during performance of CMP.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2024Date of Patent: May 27, 2025Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventors: Tsung-Lung Lai, Cheng-Ping Chen, Shih-Chung Chen, Sheng-Tai Peng
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Publication number: 20250069906Abstract: A fitting for an upper brush in a double brush scrubbing chamber of a wafer cleaning system is disclosed. The fitting includes a base plate, a flanged pipe, and a threaded connector. The base plate includes a threaded hole with a stop surface therein and a channel extending from the stop surface through a lower surface of the base plate. The flanged pipe is inserted into the base plate such that the flange at the top end of a hollow tube rests on the stop surface and the hollow tube passes through the channel of the base plate. The threaded connector has a passage therethrough, and engages the threaded hole of the base plate to fix the flanged pipe in place. This structure is able to provide fluid while minimizing particle generation.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2024Publication date: February 27, 2025Inventors: Cheng-Ping Chen, Ping-Shen Chou, Tsung-Lung Lai, Ching-Wen Cheng, Chun Yan Chen
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Patent number: 12237179Abstract: A fitting for an upper brush in a double brush scrubbing chamber of a wafer cleaning system is disclosed. The fitting includes a base plate, a flanged pipe, and a threaded connector. The base plate includes a threaded hole with a stop surface therein and a channel extending from the stop surface through a lower surface of the base plate. The flanged pipe is inserted into the base plate such that the flange at the top end of a hollow tube rests on the stop surface and the hollow tube passes through the channel of the base plate. The threaded connector has a passage therethrough, and engages the threaded hole of the base plate to fix the flanged pipe in place. This structure is able to provide fluid while minimizing particle generation.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2022Date of Patent: February 25, 2025Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Cheng-Ping Chen, Ping-Shen Chou, Tsung-Lung Lai, Ching-Wen Cheng, Chun Yan Chen
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Publication number: 20240181598Abstract: In an embodiment, a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) system includes: a monolithic platen within a platen housing, wherein the monolithic platen is formed of a single piece of material, wherein the monolithic platen includes: a first portion within a first opening, and a second portion within a second opening, wherein the first portion has a different diameter than the second portion; and a polishing fluid delivery module above the monolithic platen, wherein the polishing fluid delivery module is configured to deliver slurry to the monolithic platen during performance of CMP.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2024Publication date: June 6, 2024Inventors: Tsung-Lung LAI, Cheng-Ping CHEN, Shih-Chung CHEN, Sheng-Tai PENG
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Patent number: 11975421Abstract: The present disclosure provides a chemical mechanical polishing system having a unitary platen. The platen includes one or more recesses within the platen to house various components for the polishing/planarization process. In one embodiment, the platen includes a first recess and a second recess. The first recess is located under the second recess. An end point detector is placed in the first recess and a detector cover may be placed in the second recess. A sealing mean is provided in a space between the end point detector and the detector cover to prevent any external or foreign materials from coming in contact with the end point detector. A fastener used for fastening the detector cover to the platen also provides addition protection to prevent foreign materials from coming in contact with components received in the recesses.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2023Date of Patent: May 7, 2024Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tsung-Lung Lai, Cheng-Ping Chen, Shih-Chung Chen, Sheng-Tai Peng, Rong-Long Hung
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Patent number: 11919126Abstract: In an embodiment, a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) system includes: a monolithic platen within a platen housing, wherein the monolithic platen is formed of a single piece of material, wherein the monolithic platen includes: a first portion within a first opening, and a second portion within a second opening, wherein the first portion has a different diameter than the second portion; and a polishing fluid delivery module above the monolithic platen, wherein the polishing fluid delivery module is configured to deliver slurry to the monolithic platen during performance of CMP.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2021Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tsung-Lung Lai, Cheng-Ping Chen, Shih-Chung Chen, Sheng-Tai Peng
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Patent number: 11850702Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) tool. The CMP tool includes a carrier and a malleable membrane coupled to the carrier and having a lower surface facing away from the carrier. The lower surface of the malleable membrane includes a first malleable material within a central region of the lower surface and a second malleable material within a peripheral region of the lower surface, which surrounds the central region. The first malleable material provides the central region of the lower surface with a first stiffness and the second malleable material provides the peripheral region of the lower surface with a second stiffness that is different than the first stiffness.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2022Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventors: Cheng-Ping Chen, Ren-Dou Lee, Sheng-Tai Peng, Tsung-Lung Lai, Tzi-Yi Shieh, Chien-Wei Chang
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Publication number: 20230133331Abstract: The present disclosure provides a chemical mechanical polishing system having a unitary platen. The platen includes one or more recesses within the platen to house various components for the polishing/planarization process. In one embodiment, the platen includes a first recess and a second recess. The first recess is located under the second recess. An end point detector is placed in the first recess and a detector cover may be placed in the second recess. A sealing mean is provided in a space between the end point detector and the detector cover to prevent any external or foreign materials from coming in contact with the end point detector. A fastener used for fastening the detector cover to the platen also provides addition protection to prevent foreign materials from coming in contact with components received in the recesses.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2023Publication date: May 4, 2023Inventors: Tsung-Lung Lai, Cheng-Ping Chen, Shih-Chung Chen, Sheng-Tai Peng, Rong-Long Hung
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Publication number: 20230051164Abstract: A fitting for an upper brush in a double brush scrubbing chamber of a wafer cleaning system is disclosed. The fitting includes a base plate, a flanged pipe, and a threaded connector. The base plate includes a threaded hole with a stop surface therein and a channel extending from the stop surface through a lower surface of the base plate. The flanged pipe is inserted into the base plate such that the flange at the top end of a hollow tube rests on the stop surface and the hollow tube passes through the channel of the base plate. The threaded connector has a passage therethrough, and engages the threaded hole of the base plate to fix the flanged pipe in place. This structure is able to provide fluid while minimizing particle generation.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2022Publication date: February 16, 2023Inventors: Cheng-Ping Chen, Ping-Shen Chou, Tsung-Lung Lai, Ching-Wen Cheng, Chun Yan Chen
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Patent number: 11571782Abstract: The present disclosure provides a chemical mechanical polishing system having a unitary platen. The platen includes one or more recesses within the platen to house various components for the polishing/planarization process. In one embodiment, the platen includes a first recess and a second recess. The first recess is located under the second recess. An end point detector is placed in the first recess and a detector cover may be placed in the second recess. A sealing mean is provided in a space between the end point detector and the detector cover to prevent any external or foreign materials from coming in contact with the end point detector. A fastener used for fastening the detector cover to the platen also provides addition protection to prevent foreign materials from coming in contact with components received in the recesses.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2019Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Tsung-Lung Lai, Cheng-Ping Chen, Shih-Chung Chen, Sheng-Tai Peng, Rong-Long Hung
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Publication number: 20220184773Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) tool. The CMP tool includes a carrier and a malleable membrane coupled to the carrier and having a lower surface facing away from the carrier. The lower surface of the malleable membrane includes a first malleable material within a central region of the lower surface and a second malleable material within a peripheral region of the lower surface, which surrounds the central region. The first malleable material provides the central region of the lower surface with a first stiffness and the second malleable material provides the peripheral region of the lower surface with a second stiffness that is different than the first stiffness.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2022Publication date: June 16, 2022Inventors: Cheng-Ping Chen, Ren-Dou Lee, Sheng-Tai Peng, Tsung-Lung Lai, Tzi-Yi Shieh, Chien-Wei Chang
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Patent number: 11267099Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to a method of forming a CMP membrane. The method is performed by providing a malleable material within a cavity within a membrane mold. The cavity has a central region and a peripheral region surrounding the central region. The malleable material within the cavity is cured to form a membrane. Curing the malleable material is performed by heating the malleable material within the central region of the membrane mold to a first temperature and heating the malleable material within the peripheral region of the membrane mold to a second temperature that is greater than the first temperature.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2018Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventors: Cheng-Ping Chen, Ren-Dou Lee, Sheng-Tai Peng, Tsung-Lung Lai, Tzi-Yi Shieh, Chien-Wei Chang
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Patent number: 11020837Abstract: In an embodiment, a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) system includes: a monolithic platen within a platen housing, wherein the monolithic platen is formed of a single piece of material, wherein the monolithic platen includes: a first portion within a first opening, and a second portion within a second opening, wherein the first portion has a different diameter than the second portion; and a polishing fluid delivery module above the monolithic platen, wherein the polishing fluid delivery module is configured to deliver slurry to the monolithic platen during performance of CMP.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2018Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tsung-Lung Lai, Cheng-Ping Chen, Shih-Chung Chen, Sheng-Tai Peng
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Publication number: 20200164481Abstract: The present disclosure provides a chemical mechanical polishing system having a unitary platen. The platen includes one or more recesses within the platen to house various components for the polishing/planarization process. In one embodiment, the platen includes a first recess and a second recess. The first recess is located under the second recess. An end point detector is placed in the first recess and a detector cover may be placed in the second recess. A sealing mean is provided in a space between the end point detector and the detector cover to prevent any external or foreign materials from coming in contact with the end point detector. A fastener used for fastening the detector cover to the platen also provides addition protection to prevent foreign materials from coming in contact with components received in the recesses.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2019Publication date: May 28, 2020Inventors: Tsung-Lung Lai, Cheng-Ping Chen, Shih-Chung Chen, Sheng-Tai Peng, Rong-Long Hung
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Publication number: 20190091829Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to a method of forming a CMP membrane. The method is performed by providing a malleable material within a cavity within a membrane mold. The cavity has a central region and a peripheral region surrounding the central region. The malleable material within the cavity is cured to form a membrane. Curing the malleable material is performed by heating the malleable material within the central region of the membrane mold to a first temperature and heating the malleable material within the peripheral region of the membrane mold to a second temperature that is greater than the first temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2018Publication date: March 28, 2019Inventors: Cheng-Ping Chen, Ren-Dou Lee, Sheng-Tai Peng, Tsung-Lung Lai, Tzi-Yi Shieh, Chien-Wei Chang