Patents by Inventor Yu-Chi Tsai

Yu-Chi 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: 20240136226
    Abstract: An ammonium fluoride gas may be used to form a protection layer for one or more interlayer dielectric layers, one or more insulating caps, and/or one or more source/drain regions of a semiconductor device during a pre-clean etch process. The protection layer can be formed through an oversupply of nitrogen trifluoride during the pre-clean etch process. The oversupply of nitrogen trifluoride causes an increased formation of ammonium fluoride, which coats the interlayer dielectric layer(s), the insulating cap(s), and/or the source/drain region(s) with a thick protection layer. The protection layer protects the interlayer dielectric layer(s), the insulating cap(s), and/or the source/drain region(s) during the pre-clean process from being etched by fluorine ions formed during the pre-clean process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2024
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Li-Wei CHU, Ying-Chi SU, Yu-Kai CHEN, Wei-Yip LOH, Hung-Hsu CHEN, Chih-Wei CHANG, Ming-Hsing TSAI
  • Patent number: 11915976
    Abstract: An ammonium fluoride gas may be used to form a protection layer for one or more interlayer dielectric layers, one or more insulating caps, and/or one or more source/drain regions of a semiconductor device during a pre-clean etch process. The protection layer can be formed through an oversupply of nitrogen trifluoride during the pre-clean etch process. The oversupply of nitrogen trifluoride causes an increased formation of ammonium fluoride, which coats the interlayer dielectric layer(s), the insulating cap(s), and/or the source/drain region(s) with a thick protection layer. The protection layer protects the interlayer dielectric layer(s), the insulating cap(s), and/or the source/drain region(s) during the pre-clean process from being etched by fluorine ions formed during the pre-clean process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Li-Wei Chu, Ying-Chi Su, Yu-Kai Chen, Wei-Yip Loh, Hung-Hsu Chen, Chih-Wei Chang, Ming-Hsing Tsai
  • Publication number: 20230330803
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for predicting irregular motions of one or more mechanical components of a semiconductor processing apparatus. A mechanical motion irregular prediction system includes one or more motion sensors that sense motion-related parameters associated with at least one mechanical component of a semiconductor processing apparatus. The one or more motion sensors output sensing signals based on the sensed motion-related parameters. Defect prediction circuitry predicts an irregular motion of the at least one mechanical component based on the sensing signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Chunhung Chen, Yu Chi Tsai, Chin Wei Chuang, Bo-An Chen, Sheng-Chen Wang, Chen-Hua Tsai
  • Publication number: 20230308741
    Abstract: An image processing method includes following operations: executing, by a transmitter device, a driver program of a camera to acquire a dynamic image; executing, by the transmitter device, the driver program to acquire a plurality of position data of input information, in which the plurality of position data is associated with the transmitter device; executing, by the transmitter device, the driver program to perform a superimpose process on the input information and the dynamic image according to the plurality of position data so as to generate a superimposed dynamic image; and executing, by the transmitter device, the driver program to display the superimposed dynamic image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2022
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Yu-Chi TSAI, Wen-Tsung HUANG, Han-Yang WANG
  • Publication number: 20230265586
    Abstract: A woven textile has one or more weavable threads and at least one lighting filament in which the weavable threads and the at least one lighting filament are woven together to form a textile with integrally woven lighting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Robert BOHLIN, Yu chi TSAI
  • Publication number: 20230265578
    Abstract: A method of controlling chemical concentration in electrolyte includes measuring the chemical concentration in the electrolyte in a tank, wherein an end of an exhaust pipe is connected to a top of the tank; determining, by a valve moved along a top surface of the tank, a vapor flux through the exhaust pipe based on the measured chemical concentration; rotating, by using a motor connected to a ball screw connected to the valve, the ball screw to move a gate of the valve based on the determined vapor flux; electroplating, using the electrolyte provided by the tank, wafers respectively in a plurality of electroplating cells that are connected to the tank; and recycling the electrolyte to the tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yung-Chang HUANG, You-Fu CHEN, Yu-Chi TSAI, Chu-Ting CHANG
  • Patent number: 11731232
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for predicting irregular motions of one or more mechanical components of a semiconductor processing apparatus. A mechanical motion irregular prediction system includes one or more motion sensors that sense motion-related parameters associated with at least one mechanical component of a semiconductor processing apparatus. The one or more motion sensors output sensing signals based on the sensed motion-related parameters. Defect prediction circuitry predicts an irregular motion of the at least one mechanical component based on the sensing signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chunhung Chen, Yu Chi Tsai, Chin Wei Chuang, Bo-An Chen, Sheng-Chen Wang, Chen-Hua Tsai
  • Publication number: 20230197484
    Abstract: A method for annealing a wafer includes loading the wafer to a fork of a delivering robot in an annealing apparatus, wherein the wafer is in contact with a vibration-detecting sensor on the fork; rotating the fork between a heating plate and a cooling plate of the annealing apparatus; outputting, by the vibration-detecting sensor, a first signal in response to a motion of the fork of the delivering robot when the wafer is loaded on the fork; and providing, by a circuitry of the annealing apparatus, a response in response to the first signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2023
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yung-Chang HUANG, Yu-Chi TSAI
  • Patent number: 11668019
    Abstract: A method of controlling chemical concentration in electrolyte includes measuring a chemical concentration in an electrolyte, wherein the electrolyte is contained in a tank; and increasing a vapor flux through an exhaust pipe connected to the tank when the measured chemical concentration is lower than a control lower limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yung-Chang Huang, You-Fu Chen, Yu-Chi Tsai, Chu-Ting Chang
  • Patent number: 11587807
    Abstract: An annealing apparatus includes a heater plate and a cooler plate disposed in a chamber, a delivering robot, a sensor and circuitry. The delivering robot is configured to deliver a wafer between the heater plate and the cooler plate in the chamber. The sensor is located on the delivering robot and configured to output a first signal in response to a motion of the delivering robot. The circuitry is coupled to the sensor and configured to detect whether an abnormality of the delivering robot occurs according to the first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yung-Chang Huang, Yu-Chi Tsai
  • Publication number: 20230002926
    Abstract: A method of controlling chemical concentration in electrolyte includes measuring a chemical concentration in an electrolyte, wherein the electrolyte is contained in a tank; and increasing a vapor flux through an exhaust pipe connected to the tank when the measured chemical concentration is lower than a control lower limit value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yung-Chang HUANG, You-Fu CHEN, Yu-Chi TSAI, Chu-Ting CHANG
  • Publication number: 20220310432
    Abstract: An electrostatic substrate holder for use in an extreme ultraviolet radiation lithography system includes a substrate receiving surface having a plurality of gas passages in fluid communication with a variable gas pressure pump. Varying the pressure in a void space between the backside of the substrate and the substrate receiving surface of the substrate holder promotes removal of non-gaseous materials within the void space between the backside of the substrate and the substrate receiving surface of the substrate holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Yu-Chi TSAI, Chueh-Chi KUO
  • Patent number: 11280021
    Abstract: A method of controlling chemical concentration in electrolyte includes measuring a chemical concentration in an electrolyte, wherein the electrolyte is contained in a tank; and increasing a vapor flux through an exhaust pipe connected to the tank when the measured chemical concentration is lower than a control lower limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yung-Chang Huang, You-Fu Chen, Yu-Chi Tsai, Chu-Ting Chang
  • Patent number: 11256312
    Abstract: A method for managing electrical power to a server or server system is used in a power management system. The power management system comprises a power module, a backup power module, and a server system, the method comprises setting the server system to operate under a first working mode and controlling initialization of a BMC by an initialization command. A specified pin of the BMC is measured for a logic low voltage level and the server system is set to operate under a second working mode if the specified pin of the BMC is at the logic low voltage level. In different modes, the manner of supplying power and the working parameters of the server system are adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: HONGFUJIN PRECISION ELECTRONICS (TIANJIN) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin-Jia Hu, Yu-Chi Tsai
  • Patent number: 11056365
    Abstract: A method for fault detection in a fabrication tool is provided. The method includes processing a semiconductor wafer in a fabrication tool according to a plurality of process events of a process run. The method further includes measuring humidity in the fabrication tool in at least one of the process events. The method also includes comparing the humidity measured in one of the process events with an expected humidity associated with the process event. In addition, the method includes based on the comparison, indicating an alarm condition when a difference between the measured humidity and the expected humidity exceeds a range of acceptable values associated with the process event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hom-Chung Lin, Jih-Churng Twu, Chin-Yun Chen, Tai-Hsiang Lin, Yu-Chi Tsai
  • Patent number: 10892634
    Abstract: A lower-cost power distribution apparatus (PDU) using a lesser number of components that connects with many power supply units. The PDU comprises first and second switching modules, for outputting AC from a first or a second power source. The first switching module and the second switching module automatically switch between opposite states (turned on or turned off) based on the AC power source. At a given instant, the first switching module and the second switching module are in opposite states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Shenzhen Fugui Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Chi Tsai, Hsiao-Ping Hsueh
  • Publication number: 20200393879
    Abstract: A lower-cost power distribution apparatus (PDU) using a lesser number of components that connects with many power supply units. The PDU comprises first and second switching modules, for outputting AC from a first or a second power source. The first switching module and the second switching module automatically switch between opposite states (turned on or turned off) based on the AC power source. At a given instant, the first switching module and the second switching module are in opposite states.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: YU-CHI TSAI, HSIAO-PING HSUEH
  • Publication number: 20200341526
    Abstract: A method for managing electrical power to a server or server system is used in a power management system. The power management system comprises a power module, a backup power module, and a server system, the method comprises setting the server system to operate under a first working mode and controlling initialization of a BMC by an initialization command. A specified pin of the BMC is measured for a logic low voltage level and the server system is set to operate under a second working mode if the specified pin of the BMC is at the logic low voltage level. In different modes, the manner of supplying power and the working parameters of the server system are adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: JIN-JIA HU, YU-CHI TSAI
  • Publication number: 20200319688
    Abstract: A system for monitoring power usage includes a power distribution unit (PDU) and a monitoring device. The PDU includes a detecting module and a storing module, the monitoring device includes an amplifying module and a processing module. The detecting module obtains signal as to voltage and current relating to a power supply, and the storing module stores data as to calibration. The amplifying module obtains the signal as to voltage and current, and amplifies the same. The processing module obtains the amplified signal and processes the amplified to obtain data as to electrical flow. The processing module can obtain calibration data from the storing module, and apply corrections according to the calibration data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: HSIAO-PING HSUEH, YU-CHI TSAI, HONG-MING LAN
  • Patent number: 10757914
    Abstract: A feeding analysis system of milk-production livestock includes a plurality of image analysis devices and a central server signally connected to each image analysis device. Each image analysis device is configured to capture a plurality of images of a feeding field, perform a clear processing on the images, identify a plurality of facial images of the plurality of milk-production livestock for feeding action from the cleared images and generate a plurality of capturing signals by capturing the plurality of facial images and a feeding duration corresponding to the facial images, and transmit the capturing signals to the central server. The central server is configured to receive the capturing signals, identify the milk-production livestock identities of the facial images of the corresponding capturing signal and generate a feeding record by integrating the identified milk-production livestock identity and the feeding duration of the capturing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: National Taiwan University
    Inventors: Ta-Te Lin, Cheng-Yu Kuan, Yu-Chi Tsai, Jih-Tay Hsu, Shih-Torng Ding