Step And Repeat Patents (Class 355/53)
  • Patent number: 12366807
    Abstract: An exposure device and method for semiconductor manufacturing, focusing on the creation of exposure patterns with High Dynamic Range (HDR) capabilities, is disclosed. The exposure device includes a laser source, a first spatial light modulator (SLM), specifically a Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCOS) device, and a second SLM, specifically a Digital Micromirror Device (DMD). The LCOS is positioned upstream in the optical path and is optimized for modulating the phase of the laser. It also directs the laser light towards specific areas on the DMD, crucial for enhancing detail and contrast in exposure patterns. The DMD, placed downstream, is composed of micromirrors that modulate the amplitude of the reflected laser, essential for achieving HDR in exposure patterns. This cooperative interaction between the LCOS and DMD allows for the creation of exposure patterns with a wide range of light intensities, from very bright to very dark, thereby achieving high dynamic range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Inventors: Chun-Jung Chiu, Chun-Hsiung Chen, Wan-Chen Chuang
  • Patent number: 12360460
    Abstract: A semiconductor processing system includes a first photolithography system and a second photolithography system. The semiconductor processing system includes a layout database that stores a plurality of layouts indicating features to be formed in a wafer. The semiconductor processing system includes a layout analyzer that analyzes the layouts and selects either the first photolithography system or the second photolithography system based on dimensions of features in the layouts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shih-Ming Chang, Ken-Hsien Hsieh, Yu-Tien Shen
  • Patent number: 12353140
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire process information about a substrate process, the process information including process data and a process condition, and a display control unit configured to control a display on a display apparatus based on the process information acquired by the acquisition unit, wherein the display control unit selectively displays, on the display apparatus, a first screen that displays the process data of a lot including a plurality of substrates on a lot-by-lot basis and a second screen that displays the process data of a first lot on a substrate-by-substrate basis, the first lot being a lot designated by a user from the lot displayed on the first screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Takiguchi, Kenta Kita
  • Patent number: 12353124
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a lithography method, a lithography apparatus, and a computer storage medium. The method includes: determining an exposure intensity of a mask aligner; determining a target preset interval corresponding to the mask aligner according to the exposure intensity; determining, according to the target preset interval, at least one target wafer for which at least one exposure dose is a target exposure dose, the target preset interval has a corresponding relationship with the target exposure dose; and performing lithography process on the at least one target wafer by using the mask aligner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: CHANGXIN MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Heng Wang
  • Patent number: 12353123
    Abstract: A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus and a semiconductor manufacturing method thereof are provided. Wafers are grouped into a first wafer group and a second wafer group according to alignment mark position errors of the wafers and a first threshold value. The alignment mark position errors of the first wafer group are greater than the first threshold value, and the alignment mark position errors of the second wafer group are less than or equal to the first threshold value. A feedforward position correction value is calculated according to a difference between the alignment mark position errors of the first wafer group and a reference error value. A lithography process is performed on the wafers according to the feedforward position correction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Segawa, Isao Tanaka
  • Patent number: 12353141
    Abstract: A method of heating an optical element in a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus and an optical system includes using a heating arrangement to introduce a heating power into the optical element. The heating power is regulated based on a setpoint value. The setpoint value is varied over time during the operation of the projection exposure apparatus. Varying the setpoint value for the heating power comprises a simulation of the effects of changes in the heating power relative to the actual value thereof based on a model for the thermal behavior of the optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventor: Dirk Hellweg
  • Patent number: 12353138
    Abstract: The present subject matter provides a high-speed nanopatterning method and apparatus of two-color super-resolution photolithography.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: FOUNDATION OF SOONGSIL UNIVERSITY-INDUSTRY COOPERATION
    Inventor: Dong-Ryoung Lee
  • Patent number: 12347643
    Abstract: Systems and methods of reducing the Coulomb interaction effects in a charged particle beam apparatus are disclosed. The charged particle beam apparatus may comprise a charged particle source and a source conversion unit comprising an aperture-lens forming electrode plate configured to be at a first voltage, an aperture lens plate configured to be at a second voltage that is different from the first voltage for generating a first electric field, which enables the aperture-lens forming electrode plate and the aperture lens plate to form aperture lenses of an aperture lens array to respectively focus a plurality of beamlets of the charged particle beam, and an imaging lens configured to focus the plurality of beamlets on an image plane. The charged particle beam apparatus may comprise an objective lens configured to focus the plurality of beamlets onto a surface of the sample and form a plurality of probe spots thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Weiming Ren, Xuedong Liu, Xuerang Hu, Zhong-wei Chen
  • Patent number: 12345653
    Abstract: This defect inspection apparatus (100) is provided with an excitation unit (1), a laser illumination unit (2), an interference unit (30), an imaging unit (31), a holding member (4) for holding the imaging unit at a position spaced apart from an inspection target (90) by a predetermined distance, a connecting member (5) for connecting the holding member or the imaging unit and the excitation unit, and a controller (6) for generating an image (61) related to the propagation of an elastic wave on an inspection target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Horikawa, Kenji Takubo
  • Patent number: 12328802
    Abstract: An automated luminaire and method are provided. The automated luminaire includes a range sensing module and a control system. The range sensing module calculates a distance to a closest object in a direction that the automated luminaire is pointed. The control system reduces a beam power density of a light beam emitted from the automated luminaire when the distance is less than a threshold distance. The method includes determining whether an emitted beam power determinant of the automated luminaire has changed; if so, calculating a threshold distance from current values of one or more beam power determinants; determining whether the distance to the closest object is greater than the threshold distance; and, if not, reducing the beam power density of the light beam emitted from the automated luminaire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2025
    Assignee: ROBE lighting s.r.o.
    Inventors: Michal Stanek, Jan Vilem, Tomas David, Jindrich Vavrik, Josef Valchar
  • Patent number: 12321100
    Abstract: A lithography method to pattern a first semiconductor wafer is disclosed. An optical mask is positioned over the first semiconductor wafer. A first region of the first semiconductor wafer is patterned by directing light from a light source through transparent regions of the optical mask. A second region of the first semiconductor wafer is patterned by directing energy from an energy source to the second region, wherein the patterning of the second region comprises direct-beam writing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Tsiao-Chen Wu, Chi-Ming Yang, Hsu-Shui Liu
  • Patent number: 12321091
    Abstract: The present application relates to a device for determining placements of pattern elements of a reflective photolithographic mask in the operating environment thereof, wherein the device comprises: (a) at least one first means configured for determining surface unevenness data of a rear side of the reflective photolithographic mask and/or surface unevenness data of a mount of the reflective photolithographic mask in a measurement environment that does not correspond to the operating environment; (b) at least one second means configured for determining placement data of the pattern elements in the measurement environment; and (c) at least one computing unit configured for calculating the placements of the pattern elements of the reflective photolithographic mask in the operating environment from the determined surface unevenness data of the rear side and/or of the mount and the determined placement data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventor: Carola Blaesing-Bangert
  • Patent number: 12312671
    Abstract: A mask structure for a deposition device includes first segments and second segments. The first segments are arranged in a direction surrounding a central axis and separated from one another. The second segments are disposed above the first segments. Each of the second segments overlaps two of the first segments adjacent to each other in a vertical direction parallel to an extending direction of the central axis. A deposition device includes a process chamber, a stage, and the mask structure. The stage is at least partially disposed in the process chamber and includes a holding structure of a substrate. The mask structure is disposed in the process chamber, located over the stage, and covers a peripheral region of the substrate to be held on the stage. An operation method of the deposition device includes horizontally adjusting positions of the first segments and the second segments respectively between different deposition processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: United Semiconductor Japan Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Inagaki
  • Patent number: 12298675
    Abstract: A projection exposure apparatus has a vibration damper with a holder and a mass that is connected to the holder via a damping element. The vibration damper comprises a temperature control device for the temperature control of the damping element. The disclosure also relates to a method for designing a vibration damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Philipp Gaida, Michael Erath, Florian Herold
  • Patent number: 12289979
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a processing tool that includes a first wafer-mounting frame and a second wafer-mounting frame. The first wafer-mounting frame is configured to retain a target wafer. The second wafer-mounting frame is configured to retain a masking wafer. The masking wafer includes a mask pattern made up of a number of openings passing through the masking wafer to correspond to a predetermined deposition pattern to be formed on the target wafer. A deposition chamber is configured to receive the first and second wafer-mounting frames, when the first and second wafer-mounting frames are clamped together to retain the target wafer and the masking wafer. The deposition chamber includes a material deposition source configured to deposit material from the material deposition source through the number of openings in the mask pattern to form the material in the predetermined deposition pattern on the target wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ping-Yin Liu, Chia-Shiung Tsai, Xin-Hua Huang, Yu-Hsing Chang, Yeong-Jyh Lin
  • Patent number: 12285216
    Abstract: A measurement device including a light source configured to emit a broad-band light beam, an interference section configured to split the broad-band light beam into a measurement light beam and a reference light beam, and to generate an interference light beam from the reference light beam and a measurement light beam reflected from an object after shining the measurement light beam onto the object, a sweeper section configured to perform wavelength sweeping of the interference light beam, and a detection section configured to detect an interference light beam output from the sweeper section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shunsuke Furuya
  • Patent number: 12287580
    Abstract: A lithographic apparatus has a substrate holder configured to hold a substrate and a projection system configured to project a radiation beam onto the substrate held by the substrate holder. There is also a fluid handling system configured to confine immersion liquid to a space between a part of the projection system and a surface of the substrate so that the radiation beam can irradiate the surface of the substrate by passing through the immersion liquid. An excitation device is provided to generate surface acoustic waves in the substrate and propagating toward the immersion liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Cornelius Maria Rops, Christianus Wilhelmus Johannes Berendsen, Erik Henricus Egidius Catharina Eummelen, Dagmar Antoinette Wismeijer
  • Patent number: 12287587
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a damping arrangement for vibration damping of an element in an optical system, for example in a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus. A damping arrangement according to the disclosure has an element, a fluid located in a cavity, and at least one channel connected to the cavity. A vibration of the element causes vibration energy of the element to be dissipated by partial displacement of the fluid from the cavity into the at least one channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Marwene Nefzi, Stefan Hembacher, David Schoenen, Jens Kugler
  • Patent number: 12285876
    Abstract: There is provided a cleaning robot including a light source module and an image sensor. The light source module projects a horizontal line pattern toward a moving direction. The image sensor captures, toward the moving direction, an image of the horizontal line pattern. The light source module is arranged below the image sensor so as to eliminate the interference from second reflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.
    Inventors: Chi-Chieh Liao, Guo-Zhen Wang
  • Patent number: 12265337
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus arranged to project a radiation beam onto a target portion of a substrate, the exposure apparatus having: a first substrate holder configured to hold the substrate; a second substrate holder configured to hold the substrate; a sensor holder configured to hold a sensor and/or detector; a first measurement device having a first alignment system having an alignment sensor configured to measure positions of a substrate alignment mark on the substrate; a second measurement device having a second alignment system having a further alignment sensor configured to measure positions of the substrate alignment mark on the substrate; a first scale arranged on a lower surface of the first substrate holder; and a first encoder head arranged to cooperate with the first scale, the first encoder head located beneath the first alignment system and held by a stationary support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventor: Junichi Kanehara
  • Patent number: 12265336
    Abstract: An exposure tool is configured to remove contaminants and/or prevent contamination of mirrors and/or other optical components included in the exposure tool. In some implementations, the exposure tool is configured to flush and/or otherwise remove contaminants from an illuminator, a projection optics box, and/or one or more other subsystems of the exposure tool using a heated gas such as ozone (O3) or extra clean dry air (XCDA), among other examples. In some implementations, the exposure tool is configured to provide a gas curtain (or gas wall) that includes hydrogen (H2) or another type of gas to reduce the likelihood of contaminants reaching the mirrors included in the exposure tool. In this way, the mirrors and one or more other components of the exposure tool are cleaned and maintained in a clean environment in which radiation absorbing contaminants are controlled to increase the performance of the exposure tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kai-Chieh Chang, Che-Chang Hsu, Yen-Shuo Su, Chun-Lin Chang, Kai-Fa Ho, Li-Jui Chen, Heng-Hsin Liu
  • Patent number: 12253803
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (10) and a method for optically characterizing or processing an object (60), and to an object transport unit (55).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignees: Karlsruher Institut fur Technologie, Vanguard Photonics GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Lauermann, Christian Koos, Philipp-Immanuel Dietrich
  • Patent number: 12235589
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes dividing a number of dies along an x axis in a die matrix in each exposure field in an exposure field matrix delineated on the semiconductor substrate, wherein the x axis is parallel to one edge of a smallest rectangle enclosing the exposure field matrix. A number of dies is divided along a y axis in the die matrix, wherein the y axis is perpendicular to the x axis. Sequences SNx0, SNx1, SNx, SNxr, SNy0, SNy1, SNy, and SNyr are formed. p*(Nbx+1)?2 stepping operations are performed in a third direction and first sequence exposure/stepping/exposure operations and second sequence exposure/stepping/exposure operations are performed alternately between any two adjacent stepping operations as well as before a first stepping operation and after a last stepping operation. A distance of each stepping operation in order follows the sequence SNx.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shinn-Sheng Yu, Ru-Gun Liu, Hsu-Ting Huang, Kenji Yamazoe, Minfeng Chen, Shuo-Yen Chou, Chin-Hsiang Lin
  • Patent number: 12236642
    Abstract: Embodiments provide image display systems and methods for a camera calibration using a two-sided diffractive optical element (DOE). More specifically, embodiments are directed to determining intrinsic parameters of a camera using a single image obtained using a two-sided DOE. The two-sided DOE has a first pattern on a first surface and a second pattern on a second surface. Each of the first and second patterns may be formed by repeating sub-patterns that are lined when tiled on each surface. The patterns on the two-sided DOE are formed such that the brightness of the central intensity peak on the image of the image pattern formed by the DOE is reduced to a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhiheng Jia, Etienne Gregoire Grossmann, Hao Zheng, Daniel Roger Dominguez, Robert D. Tekolste
  • Patent number: 12222655
    Abstract: A stop, such as a numerical aperture stop, obscuration stop or false-light stop, for a lithography apparatus, includes a light-transmissive aperture and a stop element, in which or at which the aperture is provided. The stop element is opaque and fluid-permeable outside the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Benjahman Julius Modeste, Toralf Gruner, Daniel Golde, Ulrich Loering, Ralf Zweering, Stefan Xalter
  • Patent number: 12216414
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided for determining the alignment of a substrate. An example method can include emitting a multi-wavelength radiation beam including a first wavelength and a second wavelength toward a region of a surface of a substrate. The example method can further include measuring a first diffracted radiation beam indicative of first order diffraction at the first wavelength in response to an irradiation of the region by the multi-wavelength radiation beam. The example method can further include measuring a second diffracted radiation beam indicative of first order diffraction at the second wavelength in response to the irradiation of the region by the multi-wavelength radiation beam. Subsequently, the example method can include generating, based on the measured first set of photons and the measured second set of photons, an electronic signal for use in determining an alignment position of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: ASML Holding N.V.
    Inventors: Mohamed Swillam, Justin Lloyd Kreuzer, Stephen Roux
  • Patent number: 12216072
    Abstract: A reticle thermal expansion calibration method includes exposing a group of wafers and generating a sub-recipe, performing data mining and data parsing to generate a plurality of overlay parameters, extracting a plurality of predetermined parameters from the plurality of overlay parameters, performing a linear regression on each of the predetermined parameters, and generating a coefficient of determination for each of the predetermined parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: United Semiconductor (Xiamen) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Maohua Ren, Yuan-Chi Pai, Wen Yi Tan
  • Patent number: 12210295
    Abstract: Some implementations described herein provide a reticle cleaning device and a method of use. The reticle cleaning device includes a support member configured for extension toward a reticle within an extreme ultraviolet lithography tool. The reticle cleaning device also includes a contact surface disposed at an end of the support member and configured to bond to particles contacted by the contact surface. The reticle cleaning device further includes a stress sensor configured to measure an amount of stress applied to the support member at the contact surface. During a cleaning operation in which the contact surface is moving toward the reticle, the stress sensor may provide an indication that the amount of stress applied to the support member satisfies a threshold. Based on satisfying the threshold, movement of the contact surface and/or the support member toward the reticle ceases to avoid damaging the reticle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Che-Chang Hsu, Sheng-Kang Yu, Shang-Chieh Chien, Li-Jui Chen, Heng-Hsin Liu
  • Patent number: 12204313
    Abstract: A method includes calculating a processing tool offset for a processing tool, wherein the processing tool offset is a first portion of a process offset time attributable to a processing tool. The method further includes calculating a product offset, wherein the product tool offset is a second portion of the process offset time attributable to a product. The method further includes determining whether the product offset is stable based on a pre-determined tolerance and a number of processed wafers. The method further includes calculating an offset time for processing the product using the processing tool based on the calculated processing tool offset, without considering the product offset in response to a determination that the product offset is stable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ching-Hsi Nan, Chia-Jung Chang, Yu-Hsiu Fu
  • Patent number: 12204249
    Abstract: A system for oblique incidence nanopatterning a sample using a grating beam-splitter is disclosed. The system also includes a grating beam-splitter on a tip-tilt adjustable mount. The system also includes a photoresist coated sample mounted on a tip-tilt-z adjustable mount. The system also includes an alignment system to allow adjustment of the tip-tilt adjustable mounts so that a surface of the grating beam-splitter and a surface of the photoresist coated sample are substantially parallel. The system also includes a laser operating at a wavelength suitable for exposure of the photoresist. The system also includes an optical system to deliver a laser beam at oblique incidence to the grating beam-splitter to expose the photoresist coated sample. The system also includes means to control an exposure dose of the laser beam. A system using two grating beam-splitters to provide increased alignment tolerance is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Inventors: Steven R. J. Brueck, Alexander Neumann, Vineeth Sasidharan
  • Patent number: 12182983
    Abstract: A method for evaluating images of a printed pattern. The method includes obtaining a first averaged image of the printed pattern, where the first averaged image is generated by averaging raw images of the printed pattern. The method also includes identifying one or more features of the first averaged image. The method further includes evaluating the first averaged image, using an image quality classification model and based at least on the one or more features. The evaluating includes determining, by the image quality classification model, whether the first averaged image satisfies a metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Chen Zhang, Qiang Zhang, Jen-Shiang Wang, Jiao Liang
  • Patent number: 12174529
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes the following operations. A first layout including a plurality of first features is provided. A modified second layout is determined. The modified second layout includes a plurality of modified features separated from each other, and each of the plurality of modified features respectively overlaps each of the plurality of first features. The modified second layout is outputted to a photomask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Wei-Chung Hu, Chi-Ta Lu, Chi-Ming Tsai
  • Patent number: 12170848
    Abstract: Devices are described for high accuracy displacement of tools. In particular, embodiments provide a device for adjusting a position of a tool. The device includes a threaded shaft having a first end and a second end and a shaft axis extending from the first end to the second end, a motor that actuates the threaded shaft to move in a direction of the shaft axis. In some examples, the motor is operatively coupled to the threaded shaft. The device includes a carriage coupled to the camera, and a bearing assembly coupled to the threaded shaft and the carriage. In some examples, the bearing assembly permits a movement of the carriage with respect to the threaded shaft. The movement of the carriage allows the position of the camera to be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Nick Donaldson, Changxin Yan, Ankur Gupta, Vikram Chauhan
  • Patent number: 12153354
    Abstract: A method of using a dual stage lithographic apparatus, wherein the lithographic apparatus includes: two substrate supports each arranged to move and support a substrate, a measure field in which selectively one of the two substrate supports is positioned to measure a feature of the substrate supported by the respective one of the two substrate supports, and an expose field in which selectively one of the two substrate supports is positioned to expose the substrate supported by the respective one of the two substrate supports to a patterned beam of radiation, the method including thermal relaxation of a substrate loaded on one of the two substrate supports, wherein the thermal relaxation is at least partially performed at the expose field and/or in transfer between the measure field and the expose field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Wouter Jan Cornelis Vijselaar, Hugo Thomas Looijestijn
  • Patent number: 12135906
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus stores data including a transmission destination to which an image generated by the scanner is to be transmitted and a token that is used for storing the image in the transmission destination and attempt to transmit an image generated by the scanner to a transmission destination included in the data, using the token, in response to an instruction from a user. If the transmission fails, the image processing apparatus provides a notification about an error notification including information for causing authentication for reacquisition of a token to a client terminal, receive a token reacquired according to the authentication from the client terminal, and attempt to transmit an image generated by the scanner to the transmission destination included in the data by using the reacquired token.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takafumi Mizuno
  • Patent number: 12131960
    Abstract: To provide a new temperature distribution evaluation method, a temperature distribution evaluation device, and a soaking range evaluation method, as the temperature distribution evaluation method which evaluates a temperature distribution of a heating area 40A provided in a heating device 40, the present invention is a temperature distribution evaluation method which, in the heating area 40A, heats a semiconductor substrate 10 and a transmitting and receiving body 20 for transporting a raw material to and from the semiconductor substrate 10, and evaluates a temperature distribution of the heating area 40A on the basis of a substrate thickness variation amount A of the semiconductor substrate 10. Accordingly, temperature distribution evaluation can be implemented for a high temperature area at 1600-2200° C. or the like at which it is hard to evaluate the temperature distribution due to the limit of a thermocouple material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignees: KWANSEI GAKUIN EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION, TOYOTA TSUSHO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadaaki Kaneko, Daichi Dojima, Koji Ashida, Tomoya Ihara
  • Patent number: 12123087
    Abstract: A mask structure for a deposition device includes first segments and second segments. The first segments are arranged in a direction surrounding a central axis and separated from one another. The second segments are disposed above the first segments. Each of the second segments overlaps two of the first segments adjacent to each other in a vertical direction parallel to an extending direction of the central axis. A deposition device includes a process chamber, a stage, and the mask structure. The stage is at least partially disposed in the process chamber and includes a holding structure of a substrate. The mask structure is disposed in the process chamber, located over the stage, and covers a peripheral region of the substrate to be held on the stage. An operation method of the deposition device includes horizontally adjusting positions of the first segments and the second segments respectively between different deposition processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: United Semiconductor Japan Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Inagaki
  • Patent number: 12119204
    Abstract: A particle beam system and, such as a multi-beam particle microscope, can have a current intensity of individual particle beams that is flexibly set over large value ranges without structural modifications. The particle beam system can include a condenser lens system, a pre-multi-lens array with a specific pre-counter electrode and a pre-multi-aperture plate, and a multi-lens array. The system can includes a controller to supply adjustable excitations to the condenser lens system and the pre-counter electrode so that the charged particles are incident on the pre-multi-aperture plate in telecentric manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss MultiSEM GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Schubert, Dirk Zeidler, Georgo Metalidis, Hans Fritz, Ralf Lenke
  • Patent number: 12112962
    Abstract: An arrangement apparatus includes a stage, an arrangement part, and a control part. The stage supports a substrate. The arrangement part holds a die and arranges multiple dies on the substrate supported by the stage. The control part has a map data indicating arrangement positions of the dies and generated based on a positional relationship among patterns formed by an exposure apparatus, and controls, based on the map data, relative positions between the stage and the arrangement part when arranging the dies on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: SHINKAWA LTD.
    Inventor: Kohei Seyama
  • Patent number: 12092954
    Abstract: Provided is an imprint apparatus that forms a pattern on a shot region of a substrate by curing an imprint material on the shot region by light irradiation in a state in which the imprint material is in contact with a mold. The apparatus comprises a shutter plate, and an adjuster configured to adjust a state of the shutter plate to control the light irradiation to the imprint material on the shot region, wherein the shutter plate includes a first passing portion used to irradiate a portion of an entire portion of the imprint material on the shot region with light, and the adjuster adjusts a tilt of the shutter plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kohei Senshu
  • Patent number: 12085474
    Abstract: A device and a method for determining a microvibration effect on a millisecond-level space optical sensor are provided. The device includes: a light source, a star simulator, an air flotation vibration isolation platform, a suspension system/air flotation system, a zero stiffness system, a supporting system, a six-degree-of-freedom microvibration simulator, a signal driving apparatus, and a data acquisition and processing system. In the device for determining a microvibration effect on a space pointing measurement apparatus, a free boundary condition and a zero gravity environment are simulated by using a suspension system and a zero stiffness system. A light source and a star simulator simulate a star at infinity. A six-degree-of-freedom microvibration simulator simulates an on-orbit microvibration mechanical environment which is used as an input of a test. Extremely high-precision sensors collect system response data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: BEIJING INSTITUTE OF CONTROL ENGINEERING
    Inventors: Li Yuan, Li Wang, Lin Li, Ran Zheng, Yanpeng Wu, Jun Zhong, Jie Sui, Yuming Li, Miaomiao Wang, Huiyan Cheng, Xiaoyan Wang
  • Patent number: 12081872
    Abstract: An anti-shake camera includes a camera body, and a circuit board and a coil fixing plate which are fixed to a back surface of the camera body; a back surface of the coil fixing plate is divided into four areas according to diagonal lines, fan-shaped coils are respectively fixed to two symmetric areas among the four areas, and a rotating shaft is arranged in a center of the diagonal lines; and a substrate is arranged behind the back surface of the coil fixing plate, a surface, opposite to the back surface of the coil fixing plate, of the substrate is provided with a matching mechanism of the rotating shaft, and one or more fan-shaped permanent magnets forming gaps with included angles with the fan-shaped coils are fixed to areas, corresponding to areas of the coil fixing plate where no fan-shaped coils are fixed, on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: XI'AN ZHONGXING NEW SOFTWARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jian Ma, Shoujun Cai, Xiaoyuan Zhou
  • Patent number: 12072636
    Abstract: A fluid handling system for wetting a substrate irradiated by radiation. The fluid handling system include a first device to confine a first liquid to a first space between the first device and the substrate. The first device includes a first liquid supply member to provide the first liquid to the first space and an extraction member to remove liquid. The fluid handling system further includes a second device including a second liquid supply member to provide a second liquid to a second space between the second device and the substrate, wherein there is a gap on the surface of the substrate between the first and second liquids. The fluid handling system is configured to provide the second liquid to the second space without removing any liquid from the second space to form a liquid layer, and is configured to provide the first and second liquids on the substrate simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Theodorus Wilhelmus Polet, Koen Steffens, Ronald Van Der Ham, Gerben Pieterse, Erik Henricus Egidius Catharina Eummelen, Francis Fahrni
  • Patent number: 12050406
    Abstract: A method for controlling a lithographic apparatus, and associated apparatuses. The method is configured to provide product structures to a substrate in a lithographic process and includes determining optimization data. The optimization data includes measured and/or simulated data of at least one performance parameter associated with the product structures and/or their arrangement which are to be applied to the substrate in the lithographic process. Substrate specific metrology data as measured and/or modelled before the providing of product structures to the substrate is determined, the substrate specific metrology data including metrology data relating to a characteristic of the substrate to which the structures are being applied and/or the state of the lithographic apparatus at the time that the structures are applied to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventor: Frank Staals
  • Patent number: 12046388
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed for implementing a radio frequency quadrupole stark decelerator (RFQ-SD). The RFQ-SD includes two dielectric plates having substantially planar shapes. The first dielectric plate includes a first set of wires being attached onto a surface of the first dielectric plate and a second set of wires being attached onto the surface of the first dielectric plate. The second dielectric plate includes a third set of wires being attached onto a surface of the second dielectric plate and a fourth set of wires being attached onto the surface of the second dielectric plate. The first dielectric plate and the second dielectric plate are spaced apart such that every four wires, two wires from the first dielectric plate and two wires from the second dielectric plate, form a quadrupole electric field channel for guiding neutral polar molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: University of North Carolina at Greensboro
    Inventor: Liam Duffy
  • Patent number: 12044978
    Abstract: A method for obtaining a compensation pattern for a workpiece patterning device comprises printing (S11) a calibration pattern with a plurality of simultaneously operating exposure beams being sweepable in a second direction according to calibration pattern print data having a multitude of edges. Positions of the edges are measured (S12). Deviations of the measured positions relative calibration pattern are calculated (S13). Each deviation is associated (S14) with a used exposure beam, with a sweep position and a grid fraction position. Edge compensating data is computed (S15) for adapting edge representations of pattern print data prior to printing to compensate for the calculated deviations. The edge compensating data is dependent on the used exposure beam, the sweep position, and the grid fraction position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Mycronic AB
    Inventors: Anders Svensson, Fredric Ihren
  • Patent number: 12032296
    Abstract: A fluid handling system that includes a liquid confinement structure configured to confine immersion liquid to a space between at least a part of the liquid confinement structure and a surface of a substrate. The fluid handling system also includes a mechanism configured to vibrate a vibration component in contact with the immersion liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Yang-Shan Huang, Nicolaas Ten Kate
  • Patent number: 12030137
    Abstract: A laser processing apparatus includes a laser beam applying unit for applying a laser beam to a workpiece, and a control unit. The laser beam applying unit includes a laser oscillator for emitting a laser, a condensing lens, a concave mirror having a focal point at a focused spot of the condensing lens and having a spherical reflecting surface, a beam splitter for transmitting therethrough the laser beam emitted from the laser oscillator toward the condensing lens and branching off a reflected beam, and a wavefront measuring unit for receiving the reflected beam and acquiring wavefront data. The control unit changes a phase pattern to be displayed on a display portion of a spatial light modulator on the basis of the wavefront data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Teppei Nomura, Atsushi Ueki
  • Patent number: 12032284
    Abstract: Exemplary methods of packaging a substrate may include rotationally aligning a substrate to a predetermined angular position. The methods may include transferring the substrate to a metrology station. The methods may include measuring a topology of the substrate at the metrology station. The methods may include applying a first chucking force to the substrate to flatten the substrate. The methods may include generating a mapping of a die pattern on an exposed surface of the substrate. The methods may include transferring the substrate to a printing station. The methods may include applying a second chucking force to the substrate to flatten the substrate against a surface of the printing station. The methods may include adjusting a printing pattern based on the mapping of the die pattern. The methods may include printing the printing pattern on the exposed surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Shih-Hao Kuo, Hsiu-Jen Wang, Ulrich Mueller, Jang Fung Chen
  • Patent number: 11994804
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a lithography apparatus, patterning system, and method of patterning a layered structure. The patterning system includes an image formation device and a reactive layer. The patterning system allows for creating lithography patterns in a single operation. The lithography apparatus includes the patterning system and an optical system. The lithography apparatus uses a plurality of wavelengths of light, along with the image formation device, to create a plurality of color patterns on the reactive layer. The method of patterning includes exposing the reactive layer to a plurality of wavelengths of light. The light reacts differently with different regions of the reactive layer, depending on the wavelength of light emitted onto the different regions. The method and apparatuses disclosed herein require only one image formation device and one lithography operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Dennis Bencher