Patents by Inventor Yao-Yuan SHANG

Yao-Yuan SHANG 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: 20230360938
    Abstract: A wafer cleaning method for cleaning contaminants on a wafer is provided, wherein the backside of the wafer has a clear area and an unclear area, and the contaminants are located in the unclear area. The wafer cleaning method includes inspecting the backside of the wafer and generating an inspection signal by an inspection device. The wafer cleaning method includes generating a control signal according to the inspection signal by a process module, wherein the control signal includes movement information of a brush element according to coordinates of the contaminants obtained from the inspection signal. The wafer cleaning method includes controlling the brush element to clean the contaminants on the backside of the wafer according to the control signal by a control device along a predetermined path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Kuo-Shu TSENG, Yao-Yuan SHANG, You-Feng CHEN
  • Patent number: 11742227
    Abstract: A wafer cleaning system and method are provided. A brush element is configured to clean a backside of the wafer. The backside has a clear area and an unclear area, and some contaminants are located in the unclear area. A control device performs a first cleaning process to the brush element when the brush element is located at the clear area, and the control device performs a second cleaning process when the brush element is located at the unclear area. The contaminants are cleaned by an enhanced cleaning process. Since the contaminants are cleaned, the backside of the wafer is flatter, and quality of the exposed photoresist on the wafer is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD
    Inventors: Kuo-Shu Tseng, Yao-Yuan Shang, You-Feng Chen
  • Patent number: 11387123
    Abstract: A method for fault detection in a fabrication facility is provided. The method includes moving a wafer carrier along a predetermined path multiple times using a transportation apparatus. The method also includes collecting data associated with an environmental condition within the wafer carrier or around the wafer carrier using a metrology tool on the predetermined path in a previous movement of the transportation apparatus. The method further includes measuring the environmental condition within the wafer carrier or around the wafer carrier using the metrology tool during the movement of the wafer carrier. In addition, the method includes issuing a warning when the measured environmental condition is outside a range of acceptable values. The range of acceptable values is derived from the data collected in the previous movement of the transportation apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD
    Inventors: Powen Huang, Yao-Yuan Shang, Kuo-Shu Tseng, Yen-Yu Chen, Chun-Chih Lin, Yi-Ming Dai
  • Publication number: 20200251365
    Abstract: A method for fault detection in a fabrication facility is provided. The method includes moving a wafer carrier along a predetermined path multiple times using a transportation apparatus. The method also includes collecting data associated with an environmental condition within the wafer carrier or around the wafer carrier using a metrology tool on the predetermined path in a previous movement of the transportation apparatus. The method further includes measuring the environmental condition within the wafer carrier or around the wafer carrier using the metrology tool during the movement of the wafer carrier. In addition, the method includes issuing a warning when the measured environmental condition is outside a range of acceptable values. The range of acceptable values is derived from the data collected in the previous movement of the transportation apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Powen HUANG, Yao-Yuan SHANG, Kuo-Shu TSENG, Yen-Yu CHEN, Chun-Chih LIN, Yi-Ming DAI
  • Patent number: 10651066
    Abstract: A method for fault detection in a fabrication facility is provided. The method includes moving a wafer carrier using a transportation apparatus. The method further includes measuring an environmental condition within the wafer carrier or around the wafer carrier using a metrology tool positioned on the wafer carrier during the movement of the wafer carrier. The method also includes issuing a warning when the detected environmental condition is outside a range of acceptable values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Powen Huang, Yao-Yuan Shang, Kuo-Shu Tseng, Yen-Yu Chen, Chun-Chih Lin, Yi-Ming Dai
  • Publication number: 20200135516
    Abstract: A wafer cleaning system and method are provided. A brush element is configured to clean a backside of the wafer. The backside has a clear area and an unclear area, and some contaminants are located in the unclear area. A control device performs a first cleaning process to the brush element when the brush element is located at the clear area, and the control device performs a second cleaning process when the brush element is located at the unclear area. The contaminants are cleaned by an enhanced cleaning process. Since the contaminants are cleaned, the backside of the wafer is flatter, and quality of the exposed photoresist on the wafer is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Kuo-Shu TSENG, Yao-Yuan SHANG, You-Feng CHEN
  • Patent number: 10515833
    Abstract: Embodiments of a wafer cleaning system and method are provided. A brush element is configured to clean a backside of the wafer. The backside has a clear area and an unclear area, and some contaminants are located in the unclear area. A control device performs a first cleaning process to the brush element when the brush element is located at the clear area, and the control device performs a second cleaning process when the brush element is located at the unclear area. The contaminants are cleaned by an enhanced cleaning process. Since the contaminants are cleaned, the backside of the wafer is flatter, and quality of the exposed photoresist on the wafer is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD
    Inventors: Kuo-Shu Tseng, Yao-Yuan Shang, You-Feng Chen
  • Patent number: 10345716
    Abstract: A method for fault detection in a fabrication system is provided. The method includes transferring a reticle carrier containing a reticle from an original position to a destination position. The method further includes detecting environmental condition in the reticle carrier during the transfer of the reticle carrier using a metrology tool that is positioned at the reticle carrier. The method also includes issuing a warning when the detected environmental condition is outside a range of acceptable values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yao-Yuan Shang, Kuo-Shu Tseng, Yen-Yu Chen, Chun-Chih Lin, Yi-Ming Dai
  • Publication number: 20190163070
    Abstract: A method for fault detection in a fabrication system is provided. The method includes transferring a reticle carrier containing a reticle from an original position to a destination position. The method further includes detecting environmental condition in the reticle carrier during the transfer of the reticle carrier using a metrology tool that is positioned at the reticle carrier. The method also includes issuing a warning when the detected environmental condition is outside a range of acceptable values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Yao-Yuan SHANG, Kuo-Shu TSENG, Yen-Yu CHEN, Chun-Chih LIN, Yi-Ming DAI
  • Publication number: 20190164792
    Abstract: A method for fault detection in a fabrication facility is provided. The method includes moving a wafer carrier using a transportation apparatus. The method further includes measuring an environmental condition within the wafer carrier or around the wafer carrier using a metrology tool positioned on the wafer carrier during the movement of the wafer carrier. The method also includes issuing a warning when the detected environmental condition is outside a range of acceptable values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Powen HUANG, Yao-Yuan SHANG, Kuo-Shu TSENG, Yen-Yu CHEN, Chun-Chih LIN, Yi-Ming DAI
  • Patent number: 9919350
    Abstract: A cup-wash device is provided. The cup-wash device includes a supporting disk and a base disposed on the supporting disk. The base includes a catchment groove, a first dispensing opening formed on an edge of the base, and a first channel connected with the catchment groove and the first dispensing opening. The cup-wash device also includes a cover disposed on the base and covering the first channel, and the cover has an injection opening connected to the catchment groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Shu Tseng, Chih-Hsien Hung, Cheng-Yi Lin, You-Feng Chen, Yao-Yuan Shang
  • Patent number: 9770092
    Abstract: A brush for back surface treatment (BST) is provided. The brush includes a base portion and a brushing portion. The brushing portion is connected to the base portion. The brushing portion has a plurality of gutters disposed on a surface away from the base portion, in which at least one of the gutters has at least one open end located at least partially on a perimeter of the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Shu Tseng, Yao-Yuan Shang
  • Publication number: 20170049221
    Abstract: A brush for back surface treatment (BST) is provided. The brush includes a base portion and a brushing portion. The brushing portion is connected to the base portion. The brushing portion has a plurality of gutters disposed on a surface away from the base portion, in which at least one of the gutters has at least one open end located at least partially on a perimeter of the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Kuo-Shu TSENG, Yao-Yuan SHANG
  • Patent number: 9570334
    Abstract: A method for positioning a wafer in semiconductor fabrication is provided. The method includes sending a wafer into a processing chamber by a transferring module. The method further includes producing a video image in relation to an edge of the wafer by a monitoring module. The method also includes performing an image analysis on the video image to determine if the edge of the wafer is in a correct position. If the edge of the wafer is not in a correct position a shifting value is calculated and the wafer is moved according to the shifting value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yao-Yuan Shang, Kuo-Shu Tseng, Chune-Te Yang, Chi-Hsin Chan, Chung-Jhieh Chen
  • Publication number: 20160293471
    Abstract: A method for positioning a wafer in semiconductor fabrication is provided. The method includes sending a wafer into a processing chamber by a transferring module. The method further includes producing a video image in relation to an edge of the wafer by a monitoring module. The method also includes performing an image analysis on the video image to determine if the edge of the wafer is in a correct position. If the edge of the wafer is not in a correct position a shifting value is calculated and the wafer is moved according to the shifting value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Yao-Yuan SHANG, Kuo-Shu TSENG, Chune-Te YANG, Chi-Hsin CHAN, Chung-Jhieh CHEN
  • Publication number: 20160276207
    Abstract: A cup-wash device is provided. The cup-wash device includes a supporting disk and a base disposed on the supporting disk. The base includes a catchment groove, a first dispensing opening formed on an edge of the base, and a first channel connected with the catchment groove and the first dispensing opening. The cup-wash device also includes a cover disposed on the base and covering the first channel, and the cover has an injection opening connected to the catchment groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: Kuo-Shu TSENG, Chih-Hsien HUNG, Cheng-Yi LIN, You-Feng CHEN, Yao-Yuan SHANG
  • Publication number: 20150214027
    Abstract: Embodiments of a wafer cleaning system and method are provided. A brush element is configured to clean a backside of the wafer. The backside has a clear area and an unclear area, and some contaminants are located in the unclear area. A control device performs a first cleaning process to the brush element when the brush element is located at the clear area, and the control device performs a second cleaning process when the brush element is located at the unclear area. The contaminants are cleaned by an enhanced cleaning process. Since the contaminants are cleaned, the backside of the wafer is flatter, and quality of the exposed photoresist on the wafer is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Kuo-Shu TSENG, Yao-Yuan SHANG, You-Feng CHEN