Patents by Inventor Wun-Kai TSAI

Wun-Kai TSAI 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: 20230253195
    Abstract: A fabrication system for fabricating IC is provided. A processing tool includes at least one electrode and a RF sensor. The electrode is configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal from an RF signal generator during first and second semiconductor manufacturing processes. The RF sensor wirelessly detects intensity of the RF signal. A computation device extracts statistical characteristics with a sampling rate based on the detected intensity of the RF signal. A fault detection and classification (FDC) system includes a processor. The processor is configured to determine whether or not the detected intensity of the RF signal exceeds a threshold value or a threshold range according to the extracted statistical characteristics. When the detected intensity of the RF signal exceeds the threshold value or the threshold range, the processor notifies the processing tool to adjust the RF signal or stop tool to check parts damage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Wun-Kai TSAI, Wen-Che LIANG, Chao-Keng LI, Zheng-Jie XU, Chih-Kuo CHANG, Sing-Tsung LI, Feng-Kuang WU, Hsu-Shui LIU
  • Patent number: 11721662
    Abstract: A method of aligning two wafers during a bonding process includes aligning a first wafer having a plurality of alignment markings with a second wafer having a plurality of alignment markings. The method further includes placing a plurality of flags between the first wafer and the second wafer. The method further includes detecting movement of the plurality of flags with respect to the first wafer and the second wafer using at least one sensor. The method further includes determining whether the wafers remain aligned within an alignment tolerance based on the detected movement of the plurality of flags relative to the first wafer and the second wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yun-Tai Shih, Ching-Hou Su, Chyi-Tsong Ni, I-Shi Wang, Jeng-Hao Lin, Kuan-Ming Pan, Jui-Mu Cho, Wun-Kai Tsai
  • Patent number: 11664206
    Abstract: A fabrication system for fabricating an IC is provided which includes a processing tool, a computation device and a FDC system. The processing tool includes an electrode and an RF sensor to execute a semiconductor manufacturing process to fabricate the IC. The RF sensor wirelessly detects the intensity of the RF signal. The computation device extracts statistical characteristics based on the detection of the intensity of the RF signal. The FDC system determines whether or not the intensity of the RF signal meets a threshold value or a threshold range according to the extracted statistical characteristics. When the detected intensity of the RF signal exceeds the threshold value or the threshold range, the FDC system notifies the processing tool to adjust the RF signal or stop tool to check parts damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wun-Kai Tsai, Wen-Che Liang, Chao-Keng Li, Zheng-Jie Xu, Chih-Kuo Chang, Sing-Tsung Li, Feng-Kuang Wu, Hsu-Shui Liu
  • Publication number: 20210050324
    Abstract: A method of aligning two wafers during a bonding process includes aligning a first wafer having a plurality of alignment markings with a second wafer having a plurality of alignment markings. The method further includes placing a plurality of flags between the first wafer and the second wafer. The method further includes detecting movement of the plurality of flags with respect to the first wafer and the second wafer using at least one sensor. The method further includes determining whether the wafers remain aligned within an alignment tolerance based on the detected movement of the plurality of flags relative to the first wafer and the second wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Yun-Tai SHIH, Ching-Hou SU, Chyi-Tsong NI, I-Shi WANG, Jeng-Hao LIN, Kuan-Ming PAN, Jui-Mu CHO, Wun-Kai TSAI
  • Patent number: 10847490
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an alignment module configured to align a first wafer and a second wafer based on alignment markers on the first wafer and corresponding alignment markers on the second wafer. The apparatus further includes a flag placement module configured to insert a plurality of flags between the first wafer and the second wafer, a flag-out mechanism configured to simultaneously move the plurality of flags to a flag-out position, and a controller configured to determine whether the wafers remain aligned within an alignment tolerance based on an amount of time for each flag of the plurality of flags to reach the flag-out position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yun-Tai Shih, Kuan-Ming Pan, Jeng-Hao Lin, I-Shi Wang, Jui-Mu Cho, Ching-Hou Su, Chyi-Tsong Ni, Wun-Kai Tsai
  • Publication number: 20190378813
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an alignment module configured to align a first wafer and a second wafer based on alignment markers on the first wafer and corresponding alignment markers on the second wafer. The apparatus further includes a flag placement module configured to insert a plurality of flags between the first wafer and the second wafer, a flag-out mechanism configured to simultaneously move the plurality of flags to a flag-out position, and a controller configured to determine whether the wafers remain aligned within an alignment tolerance based on an amount of time for each flag of the plurality of flags to reach the flag-out position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Yun-Tai SHIH, Kuan-Ming PAN, Jeng-Hao LIN, I-Shi WANG, Jui-Mu CHO, Ching-Hou SU, Chyi-Tsong NI, Wun-Kai TSAI
  • Patent number: 10396054
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a bonding system configured to bond at least two wafers. The bonding system has a flag-out mechanism configured to remove a plurality of flags from an area between the at least two wafers. The apparatus also includes sensors configured to detect data related to a flag-out condition of the flags of the plurality of flag. The apparatus further includes at least one processor configured to receive inputs from the sensors, to calculate at least one value related to flag-out timing, and to drive a display indicating an alignment of the at least two wafers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yun-Tai Shih, Kuan-Ming Pan, Jeng-Hao Lin, I-Shi Wang, Jui-Mu Cho, Ching-Hou Su, Chyi-Tsong Ni, Wun-Kai Tsai
  • Publication number: 20190139746
    Abstract: A fabrication system for fabricating an IC is provided which includes a processing tool, a computation device and a FDC system. The processing tool includes an electrode and an RF sensor to execute a semiconductor manufacturing process to fabricate the IC. The RF sensor wirelessly detects the intensity of the RF signal. The computation device extracts statistical characteristics based on the detection of the intensity of the RF signal. The FDC system determines whether or not the intensity of the RF signal meets a threshold value or a threshold range according to the extracted statistical characteristics. When the detected intensity of the RF signal exceeds the threshold value or the threshold range, the FDC system notifies the processing tool to adjust the RF signal or stop tool to check parts damage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Wun-Kai TSAI, Wen-Che LIANG, Chao-Keng LI, Zheng-Jie XU, Chih-Kuo CHANG, Sing-Tsung LI, Feng-Kuang WU, Hsu-Shui LIU
  • Publication number: 20150340337
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a bonding system configured to bond at least two wafers. The bonding system has a flag-out mechanism configured to remove a plurality of flags from an area between the at least two wafers. The apparatus also includes sensors configured to detect data related to a flag-out condition of the flags of the plurality of flag. The apparatus further includes at least one processor configured to receive inputs from the sensors, to calculate at least one value related to flag-out timing, and to drive a display indicating an alignment of the at least two wafers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: Yun-Tai SHIH, Kuan-Ming PAN, Jeng-Hao LIN, I-Shi WANG, Jui-Mu CHO, Ching-Hou SU, Chyi-Tsong NI, Wun-Kai TSAI
  • Patent number: 9123754
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for detecting flag velocity during a eutectic process for bonding two wafers. The apparatus includes a plurality of sensors for detecting a time and/or velocity of a plurality of flags within a flag-out mechanism. The apparatus also includes one or more displays displaying time durations associated with the movement of the flags during the bonding process. Also disclosed is a method of aligning wafers in a eutectic bonding process. The method includes determining one or more time durations associated with the movement of the flags in the plurality of flags. The method also includes determining if a misalignment has occurred based on the one or more time durations associated with the movement of the flags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yun-Tai Shih, Kuan-Ming Pan, Jeng-Hao Lin, I-Shi Wang, Jui-Mu Cho, Ching-Hou Su, Chyi-Tsong Ni, Wun-Kai Tsai
  • Publication number: 20130086786
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for detecting flag velocity during a eutectic process for bonding two wafers. The apparatus includes a plurality of sensors for detecting a time and/or velocity of a plurality of flags within a flag-out mechanism. The apparatus also includes one or more displays displaying time durations associated with the movement of the flags during the bonding process. Also disclosed is a method of aligning wafers in a eutectic bonding process. The method includes determining one or more time durations associated with the movement of the flags in the plurality of flags. The method also includes determining if a misalignment has occurred based on the one or more time durations associated with the movement of the flags.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yun-Tai SHIH, Kuan-Ming PAN, Jeng-Hao LIN, I-Shi WANG, Jui-Mu CHO, Ching-Hou SU, Chyi-Tsong NI, Wun-Kai TSAI