Thickness Patents (Class 356/630)
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Patent number: 11965984Abstract: A night vision device with distance measurement function is configured to obtain a distance between a target object and the night vision device with distance measurement function by inputting a size of the target object and by using a focal length of an objective lens unit, a pixel information of an image sensing module, and a resolution of a display unit. In this way, a simple, fast and inexpensive distance measurement can be achieved without the conventional laser rangefinder.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2021Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: NEW POCKET DEVICE CORP.Inventor: Pei Hsiang Chang
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Patent number: 11965730Abstract: A method includes: determining height Z1 of a focus by an optical microscope having autofocus function which uses irradiation light of wavelength ?0 to adjust the focus; determining a wavelength ?1 of irradiation light used for obtaining observation image of second thin film; obtaining observation image of second thin film by using irradiation light of the wavelength ?1, while altering heights of the focus with the Z1 as reference point; calculating standard deviation of reflected-light intensity distribution within the observation image, obtaining height Z2 of the focus corresponding to a peak position where standard deviation is greatest, and calculating a difference ?Z between Z1 and Z2; correcting the autofocus function with ?Z as a correction value; and using the corrected autofocus function to adjust the focus, obtaining the observation image of the second thin film, and calculating the film thickness distribution from the reflected-light intensity distribution within the observation image.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2020Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignees: SHIN-ETSU HANDOTAI CO., LTD., UNITY SEMICONDUCTORInventors: Susumu Kuwabara, Kevin Quinquinet, Philippe Gastaldo
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Patent number: 11959737Abstract: A method and system implementing the method for characterising structures etched in a substrate, such as a wafer, includes at least one structure etched in the substrate, an imaging step including the following steps: capturing, with an imaging device positioned on the top surface of the substrate, at least one image of a top surface of the substrate, and measuring a first data relating to the structure from at least one captured image, at least one interferometric measurement step, carried out with a low-coherence interferometer positioned on the top surface, for measuring with a measurement beam positioned on the structure, at least one depth data relating to a depth of the structure; and a first adjusting step for adjusting the measurement beam according to the first data.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2023Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: UNITY SEMICONDUCTORInventor: Wolfgang Alexander Iff
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Patent number: 11852458Abstract: An oxide layer thickness measurement device according to the present invention stores, for each of layer thickness measurement sub-ranges constituting a layer thickness measurement range, layer thickness conversion information representing a correlation between a layer thickness and an emissivity where a ratio of a change in the emissivity to a change in the layer thickness in the layer thickness measurement sub-range falls within a set extent. Emitting light luminances of a surface of a steel sheet are measured at respective measurement wavelengths different from each other, and a temperature of the surface of the steel sheet is measured to thereby calculate the emissivity at each of the measurement wavelengths.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2019Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.Inventors: Masahiro Inui, Hiroyuki Takamatsu, Ryota Nakanishi
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Patent number: 11835447Abstract: A method for measuring a characteristic of a thin film is disclosed. The method includes a) obtaining a measured spectrum from a target region on the substrate by using a spectroscopic ellipsometer, b) obtaining a physical model capable of obtaining an estimated parameter value related to the characteristic of the thin film through regression analysis of the measured spectrum, c) obtaining a machine learning model capable of obtaining a reference parameter value related to the characteristic of the thin film by using the measured spectrum, and d) obtaining an integrated model which uses an integrated error function capable of considering both of a first error function and a second error function, and obtaining an optimum parameter value through regression analysis of the integrated model.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2023Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: AUROS TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventor: Tae Dong Kang
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Patent number: 11815447Abstract: Disclosed are a femtosecond laser-based ultrasonic measuring apparatus for a 3D printing process, and a 3D printing system including the apparatus. The apparatus includes a femtosecond laser source for generating a femtosecond laser beam irradiated to inspect a state of a printing object formed by melting a base material by a printing laser beam irradiated from the laser source for 3D printing, a beam splitter for separating the femtosecond laser beam generated by the femtosecond laser source into a pump laser beam and a probe laser beam, an electric/acoustic optical modulator for modulating the pump laser beam, a time delay unit for delaying the probe laser beam, a photo detector for detecting the probe laser beam reflected by the printing object, and a lock-in amplifier for detect an amplitude and a phase of the output signal from the photo detector. The femtosecond laser source is disposed coaxially with a laser source for 3D printing.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2020Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and TechnologyInventors: Hoon Sohn, Peipei Liu
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Patent number: 11790328Abstract: A recycling kiosk for recycling and financial remuneration for submission of a mobile telephone is disclosed herein. The recycling kiosk includes an inspection area with at least one camera and a plurality of electrical connectors in order to perform a visual analysis and an electrical analysis of the mobile telephone for determination of a value of the mobile telephone. The recycling kiosk also includes a processor, a display and a user interface.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2021Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: ecoATM, LLCInventor: Mark Vincent Bowles
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Enhanced resolution in semiconductor fabrication data acquisition instruments using machine learning
Patent number: 11763161Abstract: A data set is stored in memory circuitry that is indicative of a state of a semiconductor fabrication process or of semiconductor structure fabricated thereby. Features in the data set are discernable to an extent limited by a data resolution. A machine-learning model comprising parameters having respective values assigned thereto as constrained by a model training process is also stored in the memory circuitry. Processor circuitry communicatively coupled to the memory circuitry generates an output data set from the data set in accordance with the machine-learning model such that features in the output data set are discernable to an extent limited by an output data resolution that is finer than the data resolution of the data set.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2020Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Yan Chen, Xinkang Tian, Zheng Yan -
Patent number: 11747137Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method including: providing a light guiding arrangement (LGA) configured to redirect light, incident thereon in a direction perpendicular to an external surface of the sample, into or onto the sample, such that light impinges on an internal facet of the sample nominally normally thereto; generating a first incident light beam (LB), directed at the external surface normally thereto, and a second incident LB, parallel to the first incident LB and directed at the LGA; obtaining a first returned LB by reflection of the first incident LB off the external surface, and a second returned LB by redirection by the LGA of the second incident LB into or onto the sample, reflection thereof off the internal facet, and inverse redirection by the LGA; measuring an angular deviation between the returned LBs and deducing therefrom an actual inclination angle of the internal facet relative to the external surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2021Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: LUMUS LTD.Inventor: Ido Eisenberg
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Patent number: 11668558Abstract: A thickness estimation method may include: obtaining a test spectrum image; obtaining test spectrum data; measuring a thickness of a test layer formed on the test substrate at the plurality of positions; generating a regression analysis model using a correlation between the thickness of the test layer and the test spectrum data; obtaining a spectrum image; and estimating a thickness of a target layer over the entire area of the semiconductor substrate by applying the spectrum image to the regression analysis model. The thickness corresponding to the entire area of the semiconductor substrate that is being transferred is estimated using the thickness estimation method according to an exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure, such that whether or not processing is normally performed may be examined without requiring a separate time. In addition, an examination result may be feedbacked to processing equipment to improve production yield.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2021Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Jongsu Kim, Wansung Park, Doohyun Cho, Sungha Kim, Jaeyoun Wi, Kijoo Hong, Taejoong Kim, Youngsu Ryu, Kwangsung Lee, Min Hong
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Patent number: 11592286Abstract: System and methods are provided for characterizing an internal surface of a lens using interferometry measurements. Sphere-fitting a distorted radius determines distorted pathlengths. Ray-tracing simulates refraction at all upstream surfaces to determine a cumulative path length. A residual pathlength is scaled by the group-index and rays are propagated based on the phase-index. After aspheric surface fitting, a corrected radius is determined. To estimate a glass type for the lens, a thickness between focal planes of the lens surfaces is determined using RCM measurements. Then, for both surfaces, the surface is positioned into focus, interferometer path length matching is performed, a reference arm is translated to stationary phase point positions for three wavelengths to determine three per-color optical thicknesses, and ray-tracing is performed. A glass type is identified by minimizing an error function based on optical parameters of the lens and parameters determined from known glass types from a database.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2021Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: Vanderbilt UniversityInventors: Yuankai Tao, Mohamed T. El-Haddad
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Patent number: 11580631Abstract: Dynamic thin film interferometry is a technique used to non-invasively characterize the thickness of thin liquid films that are evolving in both space and time. Recovering the underlying thickness from the captured interferograms, unconditionally and automatically is still an open problem. A compact setup is provided employing a snapshot hyperspectral camera and the related algorithms for the automated determination of thickness profiles of dynamic thin liquid films. The technique is shown to recover film thickness profiles to within 100 nm of accuracy as compared to those profiles reconstructed through the manual color matching process. Characteristics and advantages of hyperspectral interferometry are discussed including the increased robustness against imaging noise as well as the ability to perform thickness reconstruction without considering the absolute light intensity information.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2021Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior UniversityInventors: Gerald G. Fuller, Vineeth Chandran Suja
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Patent number: 11570998Abstract: A processing system (10) and a corresponding method are provided for processing work products (WP), including food items, to locate and quantify voids, undercuts and similar anomalies in the work products. The work products are conveyed past an X-ray scanner (14) by a conveyance device (12). Data from the X-ray scanning is transmitted to control system (18). Simultaneously with the X-ray scanning of the work product, the work product is optically scanned at the same location on the work product where X-ray scanning is occurring. The data from the optical scanner is also transmitted to the control system. Such data is analyzed to develop or generate the thickness profile of the work product. From the differences in the thickness profiles generated from the X-ray scanning data versus the optical scanning data, the location of voids, undercuts and similar anomalies can be determined by the control system.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2020Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: John Bean Technologies CorporationInventors: David Pfanstiel, Daniel Holmes, Richard D. Stockard, Arthur W. Vogeley, Jr.
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Patent number: 11552636Abstract: An ultra-high resolution capacitive sensor affixed above an imaging member surface measures the thickness of fountain solution on the imaging member surface in real-time during a printing operation. The sensor is considered ultra-high resolution with a resolution high enough to detect nanometer scale thicknesses. The capacitive sensor would initially be zeroed to the imaging member surface. As fluid is added, the capacitive sensor detects the increase and can measure and communicate with the image forming device to adjust fountain solution flow rate to the imaging member surface and correct for any anomalies in thickness. This fountain solution monitoring system may be fully automated. The capacitive sensor may have a resolution (e.g., as low as about 1 nm resolution) of about 0.001% of the distance/gap that the capacitive sensor is mounted away from the imaging member surface.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2020Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Joseph M. Ferrara, Jr., Carlos M. Terrero, Jacob Mccarthy, Roberto A. Irizarry
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Patent number: 11538713Abstract: A controller for adjusting a height of an edge ring in a substrate processing system includes an edge ring wear calculation module configured to receive at least one input indicative of one or more erosion rates of the edge ring, calculate at least one erosion rate of the edge ring based on the at least one input, and calculate an amount of erosion of the edge ring based on the at least one erosion rate. An actuator control module is configured to adjust the height of the edge ring based on the amount of erosion as calculated by the edge ring wear calculation module.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2018Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: Lam Research CorporationInventors: Tom A. Kamp, Carlos Leal-Verdugo
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Patent number: 11478978Abstract: Methods of making a composite article are provided herein. The method can include an unwinding step including unwinding a fiber substrate material from a creel at an unwinding velocity and an impregnation step including applying an uncured resin composition to the fiber substrate material to form a resin-fiber material. The method further includes a winding step comprising applying the resin-fiber material onto a shaped surface at a winding velocity and a solidifying step comprising applying heat to the resin-fiber material to initiate an exothermic reaction comprising polymerization, cross-linking, or both of the uncured resin composition. Temperature of the resin-fiber material can be monitored during operation of the method and a polymerization front velocity set point (vpfs) and an operating polymerization front velocity (vpfo) can be determined. Parameters can be adjusted to maintain a vpfo that is substantially the same as the vpfs. Systems for performing said methods are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2019Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventor: Bradley A. Newcomb
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Patent number: 11474028Abstract: A substrate inspection system is provided to monitor characteristics of a substrate, while the substrate is disposed within (or being transferred into/out of) a processing unit of a liquid dispense substrate processing system. The inspection system is integrated within a liquid dispense substrate processing system and includes one or more optical sensors of a reflectometer (such as a spectrometer or laser-based transceiver) configured to obtain spectral data from a substrate. A controller is coupled to receive the spectral data from the optical sensors(s). The one or more optical sensors (or one or more optical fibers coupled to the rest of the optical sensor hardware) are coupled at locations within the substrate processing system. The controller analyzes the spectral data received from the optical sensors(s) to detect characteristic(s) of the substrate including, but not limited to, film thickness (FT), refractive index changes, and associated critical dimension (CD) changes.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2020Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Michael Carcasi, Mark Somervell, Joshua Hooge, Masahide Tadokoro
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Patent number: 11346646Abstract: A thickness detector device and method, a detector system and a slot device are provided, and the thickness detector device includes: a base, which has a side wall provided with a through slot that penetrates through the base; a slot component at the base and has n slots, n being an integer greater than 1, and a width of each slot being less than a width of the through slot; a driver component which is provided on the base, is in a fixed connection with the slot component, and is configured to change the slot that is in the slot component and is in communication with the through slot by driving the slot component to move.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2019Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignees: CHONGQING BOE DISPLAY LIGHTING CO., LTD., BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.Inventors: Rongdong Liang, Guoxin Liu, Yong Yang, Shijun Zhao, Ping Zhao
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Patent number: 11320259Abstract: A spectroscopic measuring apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus includes a first light source, object, microlens, and imaging lenses, an optical fiber, a spectrometer and a position controller. The object lens to allows light from the first light source to be incident on a stage configured to support a measurement object. The microlens is disposed between the object lens and the stage. The imaging lens images light reflected from the measurement object. The optical fiber has an input terminal disposed on a first image plane of the imaging lens. The spectrometer is disposed at an output terminal of the optical fiber. The position controller controls positions of the object lens, the microlens, and the optical fiber, and adjusts the position of the object lens so that a focus of the object lens is positioned at a virtual image position of a virtual image generated by the microlens.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2021Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Kwangrak Kim, Soonyang Kwon, Jangryul Park, Yunje Cho
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Patent number: 11287323Abstract: A semiconductor substrate processing apparatus includes a transfer chamber disposed between process chambers performing processing of a semiconductor substrate, a transfer robot disposed inside the transfer chamber to load the semiconductor substrate into the process chamber and unload the semiconductor substrate whose processing has been performed in the process chamber, an optical assembly irradiates irradiation light having multiple wavelengths onto the semiconductor substrate, the optical assembly splitting measurement light reflected from a surface of the semiconductor substrate into first and second measurement light and collecting interference light caused by first reflected light and second reflected light, a light detector detecting the interference light and converting the interference light into an electric signal to produce an interference signal, and a controller extracting spectrum information for each wavelength of the measurement light from the interference signal and calculating distributionType: GrantFiled: August 26, 2020Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hoonseop Kim, Vladmir Protopopov, Minju Kim
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Patent number: 11287400Abstract: A large-panel ultrasonic on-machine scanning thickness measurement equipment and method is disclosed. A GNCMT is adopted as the measuring machine main body on which a measured large panel is clamped and conducts scanning measurement motion; a non-contact ultrasonic measurement device is installed on the spindle of the machine tool for realizing transmission and acquisition of ultrasonic signals; a coupling liquid circulation system with the functions of multi-layer filtering, flow monitoring and regulation is set up; a jet flow immersion coupling mode is adopted on the surface of the measured large panel, and micro-emulsion cutting fluid is used as compatible coupling liquid of ultrasonic on-machine thickness measurement; and the coupling liquid is recycled, purified and stably supplied circularly. The thickness measurement equipment has high multi-function integration and reliable performance.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2019Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: DALIAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGYInventors: Yongqing Wang, Haibo Liu, Te Li, Meng Lian, Kuo Liu, Zhenyuan Jia
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Patent number: 11279001Abstract: A method of monitoring a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) apparatus including an arm configured to swing a polishing component includes performing a CMP process; learning at least two positions of the polishing component during a normal swing motion of the polish component by an optical acceptor and a processing unit to determine a plurality of expected positions of the polish component; analyzing at least one real position of the polishing component at predetermined time points during the CMP process by the optical acceptor and the processing unit; inspecting whether an abnormal event occurs based on the analyzed real position of the polishing component and the expected positions by the processing unit during the CMP process; and determining whether to send an alarm and stop the CMP process based on the inspecting result.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2019Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Chung-Wei Huang, Ren-Hao Jheng
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Patent number: 11275027Abstract: A method for use in measuring one or more characteristics of patterned structures, the method including providing measured data comprising data indicative of at least one Raman spectrum obtained from a patterned structure under measurements using at least one selected optical measurement scheme each with a predetermined configuration of at least one of illuminating and collected light conditions corresponding to the one or more characteristics to be measured, processing the measured data, and determining, for each of the at least one Raman spectrum, a distribution of Raman-contribution efficiency (RCE) within at least a part of the structure under measurements, being dependent on characteristics of the structure and the predetermined configuration of the at least one of illuminating and collected light conditions in the respective optical measurement scheme, and analyzing the distribution of Raman-contribution efficiency and determining the one or more characteristics of the structure.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2020Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: NOVA LTDInventors: Gilad Barak, Yanir Hainick, Yonatan Oren, Vladimir Machavariani
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Patent number: 11262300Abstract: Dust accumulation monitors are provided to autonomously monitor dust accumulations. The dust accumulation monitors include a casing having a translucent portion, a light sensor configured to output a sensing signal based on sensed light penetrating through the translucent portion, a controller coupled to the light sensor to receive the sensing signal and configured to output a dust alert signal based on the received sensing signal, and a communication interface coupled to the controller and configured to output an alert based on the dust alert signal output by the controller. A dust accumulation monitoring system includes a plurality of dust accumulation monitors, and a central monitor communicatively connected to each of the plurality of dust accumulation monitors and configured to receive dust sensing signals from each of the plurality of dust accumulation monitors. The dust accumulation monitors may communicate through wired or wireless links with the central monitor.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2021Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: BAKER ENGINEERING & RISK CONSULTANTS, INC.Inventors: Philip James Parsons, Benjamin Stover, Yujie Hou
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Patent number: 11260497Abstract: A polishing apparatus includes a holder holding a target. A polisher polishes the target. An irradiator irradiates the target with an irradiation light from below the polisher. A photoreceiver receives a reflection light reflected from the polishing target to detect a relation between a wavelength and a light quantity of the reflection light. A first reflector bends the irradiation light from the irradiator in a direction tilted to the polishing target. A second reflector bends the reflection light from the polishing target to the photoreceiver. The first reflector irradiates the polishing target with the irradiation light in a direction tilted to the polishing target.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2019Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATIONInventor: Takashi Watanabe
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Patent number: 11243070Abstract: In the embodiment in association with the present disclosure, an apparatus and method for multilayer thin film thickness measurement using single-shot angle-resolved spectral reflectometry are provided which allow simultaneously obtaining the absolute reflectance and phase data of a measurement object over a broad wavelength range and wide incident angle according to various polarization states by a single-shot measurement.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2020Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignee: KOREA RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND SCIENCEInventors: Young-Sik Ghim, Hyug-gyo Rhee
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Patent number: 11150190Abstract: A method and system are presented for use in measuring characteristic(s) of patterned structures. The method utilizes processing of first and second measured data, wherein the first measured data is indicative of at least one Raman spectrum obtained from a patterned structure under measurements using at least one selected optical measurement scheme each with a predetermined configuration of illuminating and/or collected light conditions corresponding to the characteristic(s) to be measured, and the second measured data comprises at least one spectrum obtained from the patterned structure in Optical Critical Dimension (OCD) measurement session. The processing comprises applying model-based analysis to the at least one Raman spectrum and the at least one OCD spectrum, and determining the characteristic(s) of the patterned structure under measurements.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2020Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: NOVA LTDInventors: Gilad Barak, Yanir Hainick, Yonatan Oren
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Patent number: 11139170Abstract: A device and method is described for producing an electrically conductive direct bond between a bonding side of a first substrate and a bonding side of a second substrate. A workspace is included that can be closed, gas-tight, against the environment and can be supplied with a vacuum. The workspace includes a) at least one plasma chamber for modifying at least one of the bonding sides and at least one bonding chamber for bonding the bonding sides, and/or b) at least one combined bonding/plasma chamber for modifying at least one of the bonding sides and for bonding the bonding sides.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2019Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: EV GROUP E. THALLNER GMBHInventors: Markus Wimplinger, Viorel Dragoi, Christoph Flotgen
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Patent number: 11137358Abstract: A testing system for testing a workpiece for a characteristic by irradiating microwaves to the workpiece and also irradiating a laser beam at an irradiation position of the microwaves, receiving microwaves reflected at the irradiation position where the workpiece has a reflectivity increased by carriers generated through photoexcitation, and measuring a lifetime of the carriers. The testing system includes a chuck table that holds the workpiece, a microwave irradiation unit that irradiates the microwaves to the workpiece held on the chuck table, a microwave reception unit that receives microwaves reflected by the workpiece, and a laser beam irradiation unit that irradiates the laser beam onto the irradiation position to which the microwaves have been irradiated.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2020Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: DISCO CORPORATIONInventors: Keiji Nomaru, Taiki Sawabe
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Patent number: 11032456Abstract: An imaging unit for an ultrafast imaging apparatus includes an objective lens opposing a workpiece supported on a chuck table, a beam splitter disposed in a first optical path extending from the objective lens, an image processing unit disposed in a second optical path extending from the beam splitter, and an illumination unit disposed in a third optical path extending from the beam splitter. The illumination unit includes a broadband pulsed light source, and a spectrometer configured to divide a single pulse of light, which has been emitted from the broadband pulsed light source, into a plurality of wavelengths and to produce a time lag between each two adjacent ones of the plurality of wavelengths.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2020Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: DISCO CORPORATIONInventors: Keiji Nomaru, Yusaku Ito
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Patent number: 10957564Abstract: A self-calibration apparatus and method for a real-time temperature measurement system of a MOCVD device belong to the technical field of semiconductor manufacturing. The apparatus comprises a MOCVD reactor chamber (1) and an optical detector (6). The MOCVD reactor chamber (1) comprises an epitaxial wafer (4). A detection window (5) is provided on the top of the MOCVD reactor chamber (1). The optical detector (6) emits detection light beams whose wavelengths are respectively ?1 and ?2 toward the epitaxial wafer (4) through the detection window (5). The detection light beams are reflected by the epitaxial wafer (4) to form reflected light beams which are detected by the optical detector (6). In the method, points corresponding to the actual thermal radiation ratios are depicted on the theoretical thermal radiation ratio-temperature curve according to actual thermal radiation ratios, and values of the temperatures T corresponding to the points are substituted into formulas to obtain m1 and m2 respectively.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2014Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: AK OPTICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Chengmin Li, Dong Yan, Linzi Wang, Jianpeng Liu, Hongda Jiao, Tang Zhang, Xiaochao Ma
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Patent number: 10928329Abstract: Disclosed herein are optical near-field systems and methods that provide a noninvasive and fast approach to detect and characterize dislocation defects in semiconductors films caused by a mismatched film-substrate, such as found in GaAs—Si. The embodiments disclosed utilize optical cavities formed by the dislocation defects. The optical cavities act to localize a beam excitation light, which elicits second harmonic generated (SHG) light from the same region. The SHG light can be probed and mapped to provide information regarding the defects. The information derived from the map includes defect location, defect density, and defect orientation.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2018Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas SystemInventors: Farbod Shafiei, Michael W. Downer
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Patent number: 10903241Abstract: A system of forming a debonding layer includes a debonding layer forming device configured to form a coating layer by coating a graphene oxide layer on a support substrate. The debonding layer forming device is configured to form a debonding layer by heat-treating the coating layer. An optical measuring device is configured to classify the support substrate into a plurality of cell areas. The optical measuring device is configured to measure a thickness of at least one of the coating layer in at least one cell area of the plurality of cell areas.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2018Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.Inventors: Minwoo Lee, Byunghoon Kang, Heekyun Shin, Seungjun Moon, Woojin Cho
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Patent number: 10875124Abstract: A method for producing or repairing a three-dimensional work piece, the method comprising the following steps: providing at least one substrate (15); depositing a first layer of a raw material powder onto the substrate (15); and irradiating selected areas of the deposited raw material powder layer with an electromagnetic or particle radiation beam (22) in a site selective manner in accordance with an irradiation pattern which corresponds to a geometry of at least part of a layer of the three-dimensional work piece to be produced, wherein the irradiation is controlled so as to produce a metallurgical bond between the substrate (15) and the raw material powder layer deposited thereon. Moreover, a use and apparatus are likewise disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2017Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: SLM Solutions Group AGInventors: Dieter Schwarze, Jiachun Chen
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Patent number: 10818482Abstract: Methods are disclosed to detect plasma light emissions during plasma processing, to analyze light intensity data associated with the plasma source, and to adjust operating parameters for the plasma source and/or the process chamber based upon light intensity distributions associated with the plasma processing. The light intensity distributions for the plasma sources and related analysis can be conducted across multiple processing tools. For some embodiments, plasma discharge stability and/or chamber-to-chamber matching information is determined based upon light intensity data, and the operation of the processing tools are adjusted or controlled based upon stability and/or matching determinations. The disclosed embodiments thereby provide simple, low-cost solutions to assess and improve plasma sources and discharge stability for plasma processing tools such as plasma etch and deposition tools.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2019Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Yusuke Yoshida, Jason Marion, Sergey Voronin, Alok Ranjan
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Patent number: 10816323Abstract: A film-thickness measuring apparatus includes: a light source; an illuminating fiber coupled to the light source and having a distal end disposed at a predetermined position in a wafer supporting structure; a spectrometer configured to decompose reflected light from a wafer in accordance with wavelength and measure an intensity of the reflected light at each of wavelengths; a first light-receiving fiber having a distal end disposed at the predetermined position; a second light-receiving fiber having a distal end which is disposed at the predetermined position and is adjacent to the distal end of the first light-receiving fiber; a processor configured to determine a film thickness of the wafer based on a spectral waveform indicating a relationship between the intensity of the reflected light and the wavelength; and an optical-path selecting mechanism configured to optically connect and disconnect the second light-receiving fiber and the spectrometer.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2018Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: EBARA CORPORATIONInventor: Toshifumi Kimba
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Patent number: 10788462Abstract: A dual function non-destructive inspection apparatus comprises a frame structure, a thermographic inspection system, a displacement system, and an ultrasonic inspection system. The frame structure has a channel, a first end, and a second end. The channel extends through the frame structure from the first end to the second end. The thermographic inspection system is associated with the first end of the frame structure. The displacement system is connected to the second end of the frame structure. The ultrasonic inspection system is connected to the displacement system such that the displacement system moves the ultrasonic inspection system relative to the channel of the frame structure.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2018Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: James J. Troy, Daniel J. Wright, Scott W. Lea, Gary Ernest Georgeson
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Patent number: 10732116Abstract: A method and system are presented for use in measuring characteristic(s) of patterned structures. The method utilizes processing of first and second measured data, wherein the first measured data is indicative of at least one Raman spectrum obtained from a patterned structure under measurements using at least one selected optical measurement scheme each with a predetermined configuration of illuminating and/or collected light conditions corresponding to the characteristic(s) to be measured, and the second measured data comprises at least one spectrum obtained from the patterned structure in Optical Critical Dimension (OCD) measurement session. The processing comprises applying model-based analysis to the at least one Raman spectrum and the at least one OCD spectrum, and determining the characteristic(s) of the patterned structure under measurements.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2016Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: NOVA MEASURING INSTRUMENTS LTD.Inventors: Gilad Barak, Yanir Hainick, Yonatan Oren
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Patent number: 10714306Abstract: A system, computer program product and a method for measuring a hole. The method may include charging a vicinity of the hole having a nanometric width; obtaining, multiple electron images of the hole; wherein each electron image is formed by sensing electrons of an electron energy that exceeds an electron energy threshold that is associated with the electron image; wherein electron energy thresholds associated with different electron images of the multiple electron images differ from each other; receiving or generating a mapping between height values and the electron energy thresholds; processing the multiple electron images to provide hole measurements; and generating three dimensional measurements of the hole based on the mapping and the hole measurements.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2018Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS ISRAEL LTD.Inventors: Konstantin Chirko, Orit Hava Armon Hershkovich
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Patent number: 10677585Abstract: An occurrence of a noise in a light receiver is suppressed, and an accuracy of measuring a film thickness is improved. A film thickness measuring apparatus includes: a stage being in contact with only an end portion of a substrate; a reflection suppressing unit located separately from the stage in a region surrounded by the stage; a light source; and a light receiver which a first light made up of light, which has been emitted from the light source, reflected on an upper surface of the measured film and a second light reflected on an upper surface of the substrate enter. The reflection suppressing unit is located separately from a lower surface of the substrate exposed to atmosphere, and suppresses a reflection of light, which enters the reflection suppressing unit from the light source, to the light receiver.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2019Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Yuichi Masumoto, Toru Jokaku, Nobuaki Yamanaka, Yosuke Nakanishi
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Patent number: 10620575Abstract: In some examples, a method includes capturing an image of a light projection across a print substrate and a background surface beside the background surface. The method may also include identifying a break point in the image where a gap in the light projection occurs and determining a thickness of the print substrate, an edge location of the print substrate, or both, using the break point in the image.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2015Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Raimon Castells De Monet, David Toussaint, Jose Miguel Ibanez Borau
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Patent number: 10602129Abstract: An image acquiring device comprises a first camera 14 for acquiring video images, consisting of frame images continuous in time series, a second camera 15 being in a known relation with the first camera and used for acquiring two or more optical spectral images of an object to be measured, and an image pickup control device 21, and in the image acquiring device, the image pickup control device is configured to extract two or more feature points from one of the frame images, to sequentially specify the feature points in the frame images continuous in time series, to perform image matching between the frame images regarding the frame images corresponding to the two or more optical spectral images based on the feature points, and to synthesize the two or more optical spectral images according to the condition obtained by the image matching.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2016Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TOPCONInventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Hitoshi Otani, Masayuki Momiuchi, Kazuki Osaragi
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Patent number: 10564106Abstract: A method and system are presented for use in measuring one or more characteristics of patterned structures. The method comprises: providing measured data comprising data indicative of at least one Raman spectrum obtained from a patterned structure under measurements using at least one selected optical measurement scheme each with a predetermined configuration of at least one of illuminating and collected light conditions corresponding to the characteristic(s) to be measured; processing the measured data, and determining, for each of the at least one Raman spectrum, a distribution of Raman-contribution efficiency (RCE) within at least a part of the structure under measurements, being dependent on characteristics of the structure and the predetermined configuration of the at least one of illuminating and collected light conditions in the respective optical measurement scheme; analyzing the distribution of Raman-contribution efficiency and determining the characteristic(s) of the structure.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2016Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: NOVA MEASURING INSTRUMENTS LTD.Inventors: Gilad Barak, Yanir Hainick, Yonatan Oren, Vladimir Machavariani
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Patent number: 10481002Abstract: A system for detecting an array of samples having detectable samples and at least one reference sample is provided. The system comprises an electromagnetic radiation source, a sensing surface comprising a plurality of sample fields, wherein the plurality of sample fields comprise at least one reference field, a phase difference generator configured to introduce differences in pathlengths of one or more samples in the array of samples, and an imaging spectrometer configured to image one or more samples in the array of samples.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2012Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Masako Yamada, Sandip Maity, Sameer Dinkar Vartak, Rajesh Langoju, Abhijit Patil
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Patent number: 10365212Abstract: The disclosure provides an optical calibration device for in-chamber calibration of optical signals associated with a processing chamber, a characterization system for plasma processing chambers, methods of characterizing plasma processing chambers, and a chamber characterizer. In one example, the optical calibration device includes: (1) an enclosure, (2) an optical source located within the enclosure and configured to provide a source light having a continuous spectrum, and (3) optical shaping elements located within the enclosure and configured to form the source light into a calibrating light that approximates a plasma emission during an operation within the processing chamber.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2017Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: Verity Instruments, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Weeks Kueny, Mike Whelan, Mark Anthony Meloni, John D. Corless, Rick Daignault, Sean Lynes
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Patent number: 10295330Abstract: A method includes introducing light into a glass article such that at least a portion of the introduced light is emitted from an edge of the glass article. The light emitted from an edge of the glass article is detected. An intensity profile of the emitted light is an intensity of the emitted light as a function of axial position. A first intensity boundary of the intensity profile and a second intensity boundary of the intensity profile are determined. A thickness of a layer of the glass article is determined based on an axial distance between the first intensity boundary and the second intensity boundary.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2015Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: CORNING INCORPORATEDInventors: Chong Pyung An, Sang-Mook Lee, James Patrick Trice
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Patent number: 10241051Abstract: Methods and systems are presented for analyzing semiconductor materials as they progress along a production line, using photoluminescence images acquired using line-scanning techniques. The photoluminescence images can be analyzed to obtain spatially resolved information on one or more properties of said material, such as lateral charge carrier transport, defects and the presence of cracks. In one preferred embodiment the methods and systems are used to obtain series resistance images of silicon photovoltaic cells without making electrical contact with the sample cell.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2017Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: BT IMAGING PTY LTDInventors: Thorsten Trupke, Juergen Weber
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Patent number: 10241058Abstract: Quality control of a periodic structure is performed using the damping rate of acoustic waves generated in the periodic structure. In this technique, an excitation light beam illuminates the first layer in the periodic structure to excite an acoustic wave. Possible irregularities in the periodic structure can scatter the acoustic wave, thereby increasing the damping rate of the acoustic wave. A sequence of probe light beams illuminates the periodic structure to measure the acoustic wave as a function of time to generated a temporal signal representing the damping rate of the acoustic signal. The acquired damping rate is employed to evaluate the quality of the periodic structure.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2017Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Alexei Maznev, Keith A. Nelson, Abdelhak Bensaoula, Jateen S. Gandhi, Donna Washington Stokes, Rebecca Lynne Forrest, Hyun Doug Shin
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Patent number: 10222255Abstract: A linearly-overlapping light measurement system “measurement head” having one or more linearly-overlapping modular light sources each having individual light sources arranged in a geometric pattern, the light sources being single- or multi-wavelength and programmable to generate light that is transmitted through and/or reflected from a work piece to be detected by linearly-overlapping modular light detectors having individual light detectors arranged in a geometric pattern. The “measurement head” also has linearly-overlapping modular light detectors arranged in a geometric pattern to receive light emitted by the light sources. A computer controller coordinating the operation of the light source array and light detector array to automatically sense and record the light transmittance and/or reflectance of one or more spectral ranges in real time from the work piece and then adjust the work being performed on the work piece to attain pre-determined standards.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2017Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Inventors: John P Waszak, Stephen J Waszak
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Patent number: 10184786Abstract: A wear amount measuring apparatus includes a light source, a light transmission unit, a first and a second irradiation unit, a spectroscope and an analysis unit. The light transmission unit splits a low-coherence light from the light source into a first and a second low-coherence light. The first and the second irradiation units irradiate the first and the second low-coherence light to the component to receive reflected lights from the component. The light transmission unit transmits the reflected lights received by the first irradiation unit and the second irradiation unit to the spectroscope. The spectroscope configured to detect intensity distribution of the reflected lights from the first and the second irradiation unit. The analysis unit calculates a thickness difference between a thickness of the component at the first measuring point and that at the second measuring point by performing Fourier transform on the intensity distribution.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2014Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventor: Tatsuo Matsudo