Apparatus For Moving Material Between Zones Having Different Pressures And Inhibiting Change In Pressure Gradient Therebetween Patents (Class 414/217)
  • Patent number: 11964379
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a first arm comprising an unequal-link linkage having a first end effector; a second arm comprising an equal-link linkage having a second end effector; and a drive unit coupled to the first arm and the second arm, the drive unit being configured to move the first arm and the second arm. The first end effector is asymmetric to the second end effector. The first end effector is angled relative to the second end effector such that a first substrate support section on the first end effector is not positioned over or under a second substrate support section on the second end effector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Persimmon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Wilkas, Martin Hosek
  • Patent number: 11958691
    Abstract: A rooftop package delivery receptacle for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) is transformed from a normally closed downwardly pitched transparent or translucent aesthetically acceptable rooftop aperture, appearing as an ordinary skylight, into a preferably larger substantially horizontal delivery platform providing a safe, secure, above ground location for a drone to land or tether for package delivery. Upon a wireless command signal from either an arriving UAV or a local user, the curb frame mounted receptacle containing a center pivoting platform supporting a plurality of slidably mounted panels rotates upwards and expands both longitudinally and transversely enabling a larger substantially horizontal landing area. After the package is delivered the platform contracts to its original size and continues in an upwards rotation urging the package to move inwards for collection. A pair of weatherproof accordion shaped shudders surround the openings and enclose any gaps during the operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Inventor: David John Teoli
  • Patent number: 11952213
    Abstract: An overhead transport vehicle temporarily places a FOUP at a ceiling suspended shelf while transporting the FOUP to a target position by traveling along a rail on a ceiling of a building from which the ceiling suspended is suspended. The ceiling suspended shelf includes an upper shelf including an upper support surface that supports the FOUP. A level of the upper support surface is the same or substantially the same as a level of the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventors: Masayoshi Torazawa, Masataka Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11946141
    Abstract: An apparatus for automated chemical vapor processing. The apparatus includes a chemical vapor processing chamber to treat articles with surface-smoothing chemical vapor and an article loading chamber to receive articles pending treatment by the chemical vapor processing chamber. The apparatus further includes an automated conveyor to move the articles between the article loading chamber and the chemical vapor processing chamber. The apparatus further includes an air lock to connect the article loading chamber to the chemical vapor processing chamber, and a controller to control the automated conveyor to move the articles between the article loading chamber and the chemical vapor processing chamber, and to control the air lock to seal the chemical vapor processing chamber from the article loading chamber when the automated conveyor is not moving articles between the article loading chamber and the chemical vapor processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Michael Anthony Crockett
  • Patent number: 11945115
    Abstract: An action of a robot included in a robot system is controlled based on a learning result of a machine learning device. The machine learning device includes a behavior observing unit, a displaced amount observing unit, and a learning unit. The behavior observing unit observes a behavior pattern of the robot picking out a workpiece from a container. The displaced amount observing unit observes, based on pieces of image data captured before and after the pick-out action of the robot and output from an image capturing device, a workpiece displaced amount indicating a displaced amount of an untargeted workpiece in the container caused by picking out a targeted workpiece from the container. The learning unit learns an influence rate on the untargeted workpiece with an associated behavior pattern of the robot for picking out the targeted workpiece from the container, the influence rate depending on the workpiece displaced amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kunimune Komaike
  • Patent number: 11913108
    Abstract: A method and a device are provided for homogeneously coating surfaces of 3D substrates in a vacuum chamber which has a sputtering source, such as a planar source or a tube or double-tube source, wherein individual substrates, with a curved substrate surface directed toward the sputtering source, are able to be moved past said source in a translational manner. The sputtering source is fastened to a chamber wall within a vacuum chamber so as to have two degrees of freedom such that the sputtering source is able to be set both in terms of its spacing to a surface to be coated of a substrate, which is moved past in front of said sputtering source in a translational manner, and with respect to the surface normal of the surface to be coated proceeding from a fixed point such that the surface normal deviation is 0° at all times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: FHR ANLAGENBAU GMBH
    Inventors: Sven Häberlein, Andreas Vogt, Roland Maudrich
  • Patent number: 11901198
    Abstract: A workpiece processing system has a cooling chamber enclosing a chamber volume. A workpiece support within the cooling chamber supports a workpiece having a material with an outgassing temperature, above which, the material outgases an outgas material at an outgassing rate that is toxic to personnel. A cooling apparatus selectively cools the workpiece to a predetermined temperature. A vacuum source and purge gas source selectively evacuates and selectively provides a purge gas to the chamber volume. A controller controls the cooling apparatus to cool the workpiece to the predetermined temperature, where the one or more materials are cooled below the outgassing temperature. The vacuum source and purge gas source are controlled to provide a predetermined heat transfer rate while removing the respective outgas material from the chamber volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John F. Baggett
  • Patent number: 11897811
    Abstract: A processing system for forming an optical coating on a substrate is provided, wherein the optical coating including an anti-reflective coating and an oleophobic coating, the system comprising: a linear transport processing section configured for processing and transporting substrate carriers individually and one at a time in a linear direction; at least one evaporation processing system positioned in the linear transport processing system, the evaporation processing system configured to form the oleophobic coating; a batch processing section configured to transport substrate carriers in unison about an axis; at least one ion beam assisted deposition processing chamber positioned in the batch processing section, the ion beam assisted deposition processing chamber configured to deposit layer of the anti-reflective coating; a plurality of substrate carriers for mounting substrates; and, means for transferring the substrate carriers between the linear transport processing section and the batch processing section
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: INTEVAC, INC.
    Inventors: Terry Bluck, Wendell Thomas Blonigan
  • Patent number: 11894251
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a transport system and a substrate processing and transfer (SPT) system. The SPT system includes a transport system that connects two processing tools. The transport system includes a vacuum tunnel that is configured to transport substrates between the processing tools. The vacuum tunnel includes a substrate transport carriage to move the substrate through the vacuum tunnel. The SPT system has a variety of configurations that allow the user to add or remove processing chambers, depending on the process chambers required for a desired substrate processing procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob Newman, Ulrich Oldendorf, Martin Aenis, Andrew J. Constant, Shay Assaf, Jeffrey C. Hudgens, Alexander Berger, William Tyler Weaver
  • Patent number: 11883958
    Abstract: A robot apparatus may include an upper arm adapted to rotate about a first rotational axis and a forearm rotatably coupled to the upper arm at a second rotational axis. A first wrist member may be rotatably coupled to the forearm at a third rotation axis. A second wrist member may be rotatably coupled to the forearm at the third rotation axis. A first end effector may be coupled to the first wrist member and a second end effector may be coupled to the second wrist member. The first wrist member and the second wrist member may be configured to rotate about the third rotational axis between a first pitch and a second pitch as a function of extension of the robot apparatus. Other apparatus and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Karuppasamy Muthukamatchy, Rajkumar Thanu, Eran Weiss, Jeffrey C. Hudgens, Chandrakant M. Sapkale
  • Patent number: 11887921
    Abstract: A warped semiconductor die is attached onto a substrate such as a leadframe by dispensing a first mass of die attach material onto an area of the substrate followed by dispensing a second mass of die attach material so that the second mass of die attach material provides a raised formation of die attach material. For instance, the second mass may be deposited centrally of the first mass. The semiconductor die is placed onto the first and second mass of die attach material with its concave/convex shape matching the distribution of the die attach material thus effectively countering undesired entrapment of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., STMicroelectronics SDN BHD
    Inventors: Andrea Albertinetti, Marifi Corregidor Cagud
  • Patent number: 11876009
    Abstract: An overhead transport vehicle travels along a rail on a ceiling of a building to transport a FOUP. The overhead transport vehicle includes a holding base and an upper shelf transfer device. The holding base holds at least one of a side surface and a bottom surface of the FOUP. The upper shelf transfer device moves the holding base at least upwardly while holding the FOUP. The upper shelf transfer device moves the holding base from the holding position in which the holding base holds and transfers the FOUP to the upper transfer position to transfer the FOUP, which is a different position from the holding position in a plan view and higher than the holding position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventors: Masayoshi Torazawa, Masataka Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11869789
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a carrier block, a first processing block including first lower and upper processing blocks to deliver a substrate to and from the carrier block, a second processing block including second lower and upper processing blocks provided adjacent to the first lower and upper processing blocks, a relay block including a lifting and transferring mechanism that delivers the substrate between the second lower and upper processing blocks, a controller that controls an operation of each main transfer mechanism such that one of upper and lower processing blocks forms an outward path through which the substrate is transferred from the carrier block to the relay block and the other forms a return path through which the substrate is transferred from the relay block to the carrier block, and a bypass transfer mechanism provided for each of the first and second processing blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Watanabe, Masashi Tsuchiyama, Suguru Enokida, Taro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11842913
    Abstract: The disclosure describes devices and systems for a two-sided seal for a load port, and methods for using said seal. A factory interface for an electronic device manufacturing system can include a load port for receiving a substrate carrier. The load port can include a frame adapted for connecting the load port to a factory interface, the frame comprising a transport opening. The load port can also include a seal coupled to the frame. The seal can include a first contact point configured to engage with a load port door when the load port door is in a first position, and configured to disengage with the load port door when the load port door is in a second position and a second contact point configured to engage with a front of a substrate carrier when the substrate carrier is docked on the load port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas B. Baumgarten, Paul B. Reuter, James C Hansen
  • Patent number: 11833528
    Abstract: Provided is a centrifuge apparatus for a processing cartridge, including a rotary plate and at least one cartridge holder, and the cartridge holder is rotatable around its centre axis and arranged off-centre the centre axis of the rotary plate and comprises an inner side wall surrounding a through-going passage, wherein the through-going passage is able to accommodate the processing cartridge; and the inner side wall includes a resilient locking assembly for interaction with at least one cooperating first abutting surface on the processing cartridge, such that the processing cartridge may be inserted into the through-going passage and releasably secured by the locking assembly; and at least one stopping element for interaction with at least one cooperating second abutting surface on the processing cartridge, the at least one stopping element being arranged to retain the processing cartridge at a desired vertical level when the cartridge is releasably secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: SpinChip Diagnostics AS
    Inventors: Ole Christian Tronrud, Sebastian Stenmark, Rolf Jahren, Torgeir Hamsund, Stig Morten Borch
  • Patent number: 11829158
    Abstract: Synchronization of multiple vehicles in an independent cart system to reduce spacing and increase throughput designates one of the movers as a leader and at least one additional mover as a follower, defining a chain of vehicles. A motion command for the chain is provided to a controller for the leader, and the controller generates a motion profile. The controller passes this motion profile to a controller for each of the follower movers. If the follower is unable to maintain the motion profile for the leader, the controller for the follower generates a message to the controller for the leader indicating a modification to the motion profile is required. The controller for the leader modifies the motion profile and forwards the modified motion profile to controllers for each follower. If all movers are following the modified profile, the controller for the leader may return to the original motion profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhong Huang, Tracy M. Clark, Jason A. Young, Neil R. Bentley, Jesse R. Mendenhall
  • Patent number: 11827968
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus for forming patterns on a surface of a substrate plate by a sputtering process, and the apparatus comprises a first vacuum chamber, a sputtering source inside the first vacuum chamber, and an arrangement to place a mask between the sputtering source and the surface of the substrate plate. The disclosure also relates to a method for forming patterns on a surface of a substrate plate by a sputtering process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: VOLFRAMI OY LTD
    Inventor: Jukka Vuoristo
  • Patent number: 11823939
    Abstract: Methods for aligning a processing chamber using a centering ring and processing chambers having the centering ring are describes. The method includes determining an average central position for the centering ring based on the concentricity of the centering with the support surfaces and adjusting average position of centering ring to a final position based on the average central position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kwok Feng Wong, Rakesh Ramadas, Ashutosh Agarwal
  • Patent number: 11823933
    Abstract: A side storage pod includes an outer enclosure having a sealing surface configured to couple to an EFEM and a side storage pod chamber having a body coupled to vertically-spaced storage members. Each of the vertically-spaced storage members is configured to support a corresponding substrate within the body. The side storage pod further includes a removable door. The removable door and the body are to seal relative to each other responsive to the removable door being in a closed position. A load-unload robot of the EFEM is to access the vertically-spaced storage members responsive to the removable door being in an open position. An environment within the side storage pod chamber is to be controlled to be one or more of: at first environmental conditions responsive to the removable door being in the closed position; or at second environmental conditions responsive to the removable door being in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick Pannese
  • Patent number: 11810805
    Abstract: Disclosed are implementations for efficient purging of substrate carriers (and content held therein) and preventing external contaminants from entering a gas purge apparatus by coupling the gas purge apparatus to a substrate carrier, performing a first gas purging session of an environment of the substrate carrier, receiving a first signal of a first signal type, responsive to receiving the first signal, keeping the gas purge apparatus coupled to the substrate carrier, performing a second gas purging session of the environment of the substrate carrier, receiving a second signal of a second signal type, and, responsive to receiving the second signal, decoupling the purge apparatus from the substrate carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Brian Baumgarten, Russell Kaplan, Amitabh Puri, Paul B. Reuter
  • Patent number: 11810801
    Abstract: A substrate transport apparatus includes a transport chamber, a drive section, a robot arm, an imaging system with a camera mounted through a mounting interface of the drive section in a predetermined location with respect to the transport chamber and disposed to image part of the arm, and a controller connected to the imaging system and configured to image, with the camera, the arm moving to or in the predetermined location, the controller effecting capture of a first image of the arm on registry of the arm proximate to or in the predetermined location, the controller is configured to calculate a positional variance of the arm from comparison of the first image with a calibration image of the arm, and determine a motion compensation factor changing an extended position of the arm. Each camera effecting capture of the first image is disposed inside the perimeter of the mounting interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Brooks Automation US, LLC
    Inventor: Jairo Terra Moura
  • Patent number: 11801918
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for handling the content of a catch from a fishing boat comprising the steps of providing a sorting table having crate handling platforms and installing crates on these platforms. The method also has the step of replacing a full crate with an empty crate and placing the full crates on a crate handling frame which frame can be secured within vertical storage containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Inventors: Roch Chiasson, Marius Duguay, Louis DeGrace, Wesley Stewart
  • Patent number: 11804391
    Abstract: A transfer system includes: a transfer chamber having a side wall provided thereon with a plurality of processing chambers in which a processing is performed on a substrate under a decompressed atmosphere, and configured such that the substrate is transferred in the decompressed atmosphere; a plurality of robots fixed in the transfer chamber and configured to transfer the substrate; and a movable buffer configured to hold the substrate and move in a horizontal direction along the side wall between the side wall and the robots in the transfer chamber. The robots exchange the substrate between the movable buffer and the processing chambers in cooperation with a movement of the movable buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Osamu Komiyaji, Hiromitsu Akae, Go Yamaguchi, Tadataka Noguchi
  • Patent number: 11798830
    Abstract: A vertical batch furnace assembly for processing wafers having a cassette handling space, a wafer handling space, and a first wall and separating the cassette handling space from the wafer handling space. The first wall has at least one wafer transfer opening in front of which, at a side of the first wall which is directed to the cassette handling space, a wafer transfer position for a wafer cassette is provided. The cassette handling space comprises a cassette storage having a plurality of cassette storage positions and a cassette handler configured to transfer wafer cassettes between the cassette storage positions and the wafer transfer position. The cassette handler has a first cassette handler arm and a second cassette handler arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: ASM IP Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Theodorus G. M. Oosterlaken, Jeroen Fluit
  • Patent number: 11787042
    Abstract: A transport apparatus including a drive with a drive axis and a first arm connected to the drive. The first arm includes a first link, a second link and an end effector connected in series with the drive. The end effector includes a substrate support section and a leg connecting the substrate support section to a wrist joint of the end effector with the second link. The leg has a first section connected to the wrist joint, a second section connected to the substrate support section, and a bend portion between the first and second sections such that the first and second sections are angled or offset relative to each other. Connection of the leg to the second link at the wrist joint is offset relative to a centerline of the substrate support section and offset relative to the drive axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Persimmon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Hosek, Christopher Hofmeister
  • Patent number: 11781995
    Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus includes a transfer chamber, an annealing station, a robot arm, an edge detector and a trigger device. The transfer chamber is configured to interface with an electroplating apparatus. The robot arm is arranged to transfer a wafer from the transfer chamber to the annealing station. The edge detector, disposed over a predetermined location between the transfer chamber and the annealing station, comprises a first charge-coupled device (CCD) sensor and a second CCD sensor. When the robot arm is carrying the wafer to pass through the predetermined location, the first CCD sensor and the second CCD sensor are located over a first portion and a second portion of the edge bevel removal area respectively, and the trigger device is configured to activate the first CCD sensor and the second CCD sensor to capture an image of the first portion and an image of the second portion respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Chao-Tung Wu, Kuo-Chung Yu, Chung-Hao Hu, Sheng-Ping Weng
  • Patent number: 11776828
    Abstract: In a vacuum processing device, a loading/unloading port, a normal pressure transfer chamber and a vacuum transfer chamber are arranged in that order from a front side toward a rear side, and load-lock chambers are connected to the normal pressure transfer chamber. The position in the front-rear direction in a movement range of a wafer W in the normal pressure transfer chamber overlaps with the positions in the front-rear direction of the load-lock chambers. Three vacuum processing modules are connected to each of the left and right sides of the vacuum transfer chamber. Vacuum processing units are arranged in each of the vacuum processing modules in a front-rear direction when viewed from the vacuum transfer chamber side. Wafer mounting shelves for holding wafers W in the load-lock chambers are arranged in the front-rear direction when viewed from the vacuum transfer chamber side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Hiromitsu Sakaue
  • Patent number: 11766782
    Abstract: A first robot arm places a calibration object into a load lock that separates a factory interface from a transfer chamber using a first taught position. A second robot arm retrieves the calibration object from the load lock using a second taught position. A controller determines, using a sensor, a first offset amount between a calibration object center of the calibration object and a pocket center of the second robot arm. The controller determines a characteristic error value that represents a misalignment between the first taught position of the first robot arm and the second taught position of the second robot arm based on the first offset amount. The first robot arm or the second robot arm uses the first characteristic error value to compensate for the misalignment for objects transferred between the first robot arm and the second robot arm via the load lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Michael Bergantz, Damon K. Cox, Alexander Berger
  • Patent number: 11753254
    Abstract: The invention relates to a transport apparatus for transferring a sample between two devices. The transport apparatus comprises a transport tube provided with a carrier for holding a sample. The carrier is movable within said transport tube along a length thereof. The transport apparatus further comprises an actuator tube extending substantially next to said transport tube and which is provided with an actuator element that is movable within said actuator tube. Said actuator element comprises a first magnet part, and said sample carrier is provided with a second magnet part, wherein said first magnet part and said second magnet part are configured such that movement of the sample carrier through said transport tube is linked to movement of the magnetic actuator element through the actuator tube. In this way, movement of the magnetic actuator causes movement of the sample carrier, allowing safe, reliable and protected transport of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: FEI Company
    Inventor: Tomas Kratochvíl
  • Patent number: 11730839
    Abstract: A surface decontamination device (1) for decontaminating outer packagings (2) which contain pre-sterilised consumer goods and have a circumferential collar (3) prior to transfer into an insulator includes a conveyor for conveying the outer packagings (2) in a conveying direction (F) along a conveying path from an inlet side to an outlet side of the device (1). The conveying path passes through a decontamination chamber (5) between the inlet side and outlet side. An irradiation source (6) is associated with the chamber (5) for irradiating the outer packagings (2) conveyed through the chamber (5). The conveying path passes through at least one lock chamber (8) arranged between the inlet side and outlet side, adjacent to the chamber (5) and having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet and outlet being able to be opened and closed by a closer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: METALL + PLASTIC GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Kleinmann, Thomas Kassner
  • Patent number: 11735436
    Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating a semiconductor device has a housing defining a buffer chamber, a plurality of reactor ports formed in the housing for establishing interfaces with a plurality of process chambers that are to receive a wafer during a fabrication process to fabricate the semiconductor device, a wafer positioning robot positioned within the buffer chamber to transport the wafer between the plurality of process chambers through the plurality of reactor ports, a purge port formed in the housing for introducing a purge gas into the buffer chamber, a pump port formed in the housing for exhausting a portion of the purge gas from the buffer chamber, and a first flow enhancer that directs the purge gas flowing in an axial direction along a longitudinal axis of the purge port into the buffer chamber in a plurality of radial directions relative to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Chih-Tsung Lee, Sheng-Chun Yang, Yun-Tzu Chiu, Chao-Hung Wan, Yi-Ming Lin, Chyi-Tsong Ni
  • Patent number: 11735456
    Abstract: The present disclosure is an alignment mechanism of a bonding machine, in particular an alignment mechanism of a wafer bonding machine, which mainly has a support pedestal, at least three first alignment pins, and at least three second alignment pins, a first cam and a second cam. When the first cam rotates relative to the support pedestal, it will drive the first alignment pin to move relative to the support pedestal to position the first substrate on the support pedestal. When the second cam rotates relative to the support pedestal, it drives the second alignment pin to move relative to the support pedestal to position the second substrate above the first substrate, so that the second substrate is aligned with the first substrate to facilitate bonding the first substrate and the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: SKY TECH INC.
    Inventors: Jing-Cheng Lin, Jung-Hua Chang, Mao-chan Chang
  • Patent number: 11735451
    Abstract: A support member system is described for association with an overhead transport system. The support member system provides a safety feature to the overhead transport system by which the overhead transport system is able to avoid damage to wafers that are contained within a wafer cassette that is unintentionally released by the overhead transport system. The support member system is able to prevent such released cassettes from impacting the ground or tools located under the overhead transport system. The support member system targets wafer cassettes that have dimensions which are different than the dimensions of wafer cassettes for which the overhead transport system was originally designed to transport. Stocker systems for receiving, storing and delivering different types of wafer cassettes are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Guancyun Li, Ching-Jung Chang, Chi-Feng Tung, Hsiang Yin Shen
  • Patent number: 11735455
    Abstract: A system comprises a front opening universal pod (FOUP) configured to hold one or more semiconductor wafers and a load dock having a stage and a receiving portion extending above the stage. The FOUP is positioned on the stage. A fan filter unit (FFU) positioned above the load dock. An air flow optimizer device is disposed on the receiving portion and under the FFU. The air flow optimizer device has an inlet opening and an outlet opening and a channel extends between the inlet opening and the outlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yi-Fam Shiu, Cheng-Lung Wu, Yang-Ann Chu, Hsu-Shui Liu, Jiun-Rong Pai
  • Patent number: 11721583
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a semiconductor processing tool for implementing hybrid laser and plasma dicing of a substrate is provided. The semiconductor processing tool comprises a transfer module, where the transfer module comprises a track robot for handling the substrate, and a loadlock attached to the transfer module. In an embodiment, the loadlock comprises a linear transfer system for handling the substrate. In an embodiment, the processing tool further comprises a processing chamber attached to the loadlock, wherein the linear transfer system of the loadlock is configured to insert and remove the substrate from the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Sriskantharajah Thirunavukarasu, Karthik Balakrishnan, Karthik Elumalai, Eng Sheng Peh
  • Patent number: 11703754
    Abstract: A reticle pod is provided. The reticle pod includes a container and a fluid regulating module mounted to the container. The fluid regulating module includes a first cap, a second cap and a sealing film. The first cap and the second cap are connected to each other. A flowing path is formed between the first cap and the second cap for allowing a fluid passing through the fluid regulating module. The sealing film is positioned between the first cap and the second cap and configured for regulating a flow of the fluid passing through the flowing path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Tzu Han Liu, Chih-Wei Wen, Chung-Hung Lin
  • Patent number: 11691635
    Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system includes a grid-based rail structure and a plurality of remotely operated vehicles arranged to operate on the grid-based rail structure. The automated storage and retrieval system includes a locking device arranged in a zone of the grid-based rail structure where a human and/or a robotic operator is permitted to interact with the remotely operated vehicle or contents of a storage container that the remotely operated vehicle is carrying. The locking device is arranged to lock the remotely operated vehicle against accidental displacement prior to interaction with the human and/or robotic operator, and wherein the locking device being arranged to unlock the remotely operated vehicle once interaction with the human and/or robotic operator is no longer required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Autostore Technology AS
    Inventors: Trond Austrheim, Øystein Gjerdevik, Ingvar Fagerland
  • Patent number: 11684999
    Abstract: To realize a laser irradiation apparatus by using which accuracy in processing a substrate can be improved. A laser irradiation apparatus according to an embodiment includes a laser irradiation unit configured to apply laser light to a substrate, a base part, and a conveyance stage configured to convey the substrate. The conveyance stage includes a stage configured to be movable over the base part, a base flange fixed over the stage, a substrate stage fixed to an upper end part of the base flange and configured so that the substrate is placed thereover, and a pusher pin for supporting the substrate, the pusher pin being configured to penetrate the substrate stage and to be movable up and down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: JSW AKTINA SYSTEM CO., LTD
    Inventors: Atsushi Yamamoto, Hirotaka Sazuka, Daisuke Ito
  • Patent number: 11676842
    Abstract: A substrate treating apparatus includes a transporting space, transport mechanisms, and heat-treating sections. The transport mechanisms are provided in the transporting space. The heat-treating section, transporting space, and heat-treating section are aligned in the stated order in a transverse direction. One heat-treating section includes a plurality of heat-treating units. The heat-treating units are arranged in a longitudinal direction. The other heat-treating section includes a plurality of heat-treating units. These heat-treating units are also arranged in the longitudinal direction. One transport mechanism transports substrates to the heat-treating units. The other transport mechanism also transports substrates to the heat-treating units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Inventor: Joji Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 11670527
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a first atmosphere control system configured to control an atmosphere inside a processing zone of a substrate processing area and a second atmosphere control system configured to control an atmosphere inside a substrate transfer zone of the substrate processing area. The first atmosphere control system supplies, when a liquid processing is performed in a liquid processing unit, an atmosphere control gas to the corresponding liquid processing unit by a first gas supply, and discharges an atmosphere inside the corresponding liquid processing unit by a first gas discharge unit. The second atmosphere control system circulates an atmosphere adjustment gas in a circulation system of the corresponding second atmosphere control system, and discharges an atmosphere inside the circulation system of the second atmosphere control system when at least one of the liquid processing unit is opened to the substrate transfer zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Daisuke Aoki, Junya Minamida, Yasunori Toyoda
  • Patent number: 11664199
    Abstract: A substrate processing method capable of improving thin film uniformity on a substrate by controlling the position of a substrate supporting apparatus includes: a first operation of moving the substrate supporting apparatus in a first direction by a first predetermined distance; a second operation of moving the substrate supporting apparatus in a second direction by a second predetermined distance; a third operation of moving the substrate supporting apparatus in the second direction by the first predetermined distance; and a fourth operation of moving the substrate supporting apparatus in the first direction by the second predetermined distance, wherein the second direction may be opposite to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: ASM IP Holding B.V.
    Inventors: JaeMin Roh, DaeYoun Kim, JulIl Lee, ChangMin Lee
  • Patent number: 11661669
    Abstract: Provided is a technique configured to cause a first actual operation to be started in a short time when the actual operation of a substrate processing component group is performed a plurality of times. A substrate processing system 10 includes a substrate processing apparatus 11 having a substrate processing component group 20 and a controller 40. The substrate processing component group 20 is configured to perform a test operation and an actual operation. The substrate processing component group 20 has a first substrate processing component and a second substrate processing component. When the actual operation is performed a plurality of times, the controller 40 causes the first substrate processing component to perform the test operation and causes the actual operation of the first substrate processing component to be started after completion of the test operation of the first substrate processing component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuma Ideguchi, Shugo Midorikawa, Yosuke Nagasawa, Tensei Sato, Hideki Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 11631604
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a load port device, a gas gate and a gas-providing method. The load port device includes a gas-providing nozzle and the gas gate. The gas-providing nozzle is used for providing gas to a wafer container. The gas gate includes a plurality of gas inlet ports, a gas-providing port and a controller. Each gas inlet port connects to a gas source. The gas-providing port connects to the gas-providing nozzle. The controller is configured to: select one of the plurality of gas inlet ports; and connect the selected gas inlet port to the gas-providing port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: NANYA TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jih-Cheng Huang, Sun-Fu Chou
  • Patent number: 11629016
    Abstract: A system for transferring solid particles from a first environment at a first gas pressure to a second environment at a second gas pressure. The system comprises a first rotary valve having an inlet which is in fluid communication with the first environment, a second rotary valve having an outlet which is in fluid communication with the second environment, and an intermediate housing bounding an intermediate channel, of which an inlet is fluidly connected to an outlet of the first rotary valve and of which an outlet is fluidly connected to an inlet of the second rotary valve. The intermediate channel is fluidly connected to a third environment maintained at a third gas pressure. The third gas pressure is higher than both the first gas pressure and the second gas pressure or lower than both the first gas pressure and the second gas pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Inventors: Stephen John Benstead, Theodorus Gerardus Marinus Maria Kappen
  • Patent number: 11618950
    Abstract: Coating processes for vacuum chamber arrangements and apparatus thereof are herein disclosed. In some aspects, a coating process may include coating at least one workpiece using a vacuum chamber arrangement. The vacuum chamber arrangement may include a vacuum chamber, a substrate holding arrangement, an additional substrate holding arrangement, one or more bearings, a supply hose and an additional supply hose. The vacuum chamber may include a lock chamber, an additional lock chamber, a heating chamber, an additional heating chamber, and a coating chamber. The one or more bearings may support the substrate holding arrangement in such a way that it can be moved between the lock chamber and the coating chamber. The one or more bearings may also support the additional substrate holding arrangement in such a way that it can be moved between the additional lock chamber and the coating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: VON ARDENNE Asset GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Lutz Gottsmann, Georg Laimer, Jens Melcher
  • Patent number: 11615971
    Abstract: There is provided a substrate processing apparatus including: a processing part configured to process a substrate with a processing liquid; and a processing liquid generation part configured to generate the processing liquid supplied to the processing part. The processing liquid generation part includes: a reservoir configured to store the processing liquid; a circulation line through which the processing liquid stored in the reservoir is circulated; a heater configured to heat the processing liquid; and a nozzle provided at a downstream side of the circulation line and has at least one ejection port formed to eject the processing liquid heated by the heater from above a liquid level of the processing liquid stored in the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Teruaki Konishi, Kouzou Kanagawa, Osamu Kuroda, Koji Tanaka, Kotaro Tsurusaki, Hidemasa Aratake, Kouji Ogura, Keita Hirase
  • Patent number: 11610793
    Abstract: Substrate loading device including a frame adapted to connect the substrate loading device to a substrate processing apparatus, the frame having a transport opening through which substrates are transported between the substrate loading device and the substrate processing apparatus, a cassette support connected to the frame for holding at least one substrate cassette container for transfer of substrates to and from the at least one substrate cassette container through the transport opening, and selectably variable cassette support purge ports with a variable purge port nozzle outlet, variable between more than one selectable predetermined purge port nozzle characteristics, disposed on the cassette support, each of the more than one purge port nozzle characteristics being configured so that the purge port nozzle outlet with each selected predetermined purge port nozzle characteristic complements and couples to at least one purge port of the at least one substrate cassette container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Brooks Automation US, LLC
    Inventors: Radik Sunugatov, Robert Carlson
  • Patent number: 11581181
    Abstract: An orientation chamber is provided. The orientation chamber includes a substrate holder, an orientation detector, and a purging system. The substrate holder is configured to hold a substrate. The orientation detector is configured to detect an orientation of the substrate. The purging system is configured to inject a cleaning gas into the orientation chamber and remove contaminants from the substrate. The purging system includes a gas regulator adjusting a volume of the cleaning gas supplied into the orientation chamber according to a detection signal output from a gas detector which indicates a content of a specific gas contaminant outgassed from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Wei-Hua Houng
  • Patent number: 11581203
    Abstract: The disclosure describes devices, systems, and methods for integrating load locks into a factory interface footprint space. A factory interface for an electronic device manufacturing system can include an interior volume defined by a bottom, a top and a plurality of sides, a first load lock disposed within the interior volume of the factory interface, and a first factory interface robot disposed within the interior volume of the factory interface, wherein the first factory interface robot is configured to transfer substrates between a first set of substrate carriers and the first load lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob Newman, Andrew J. Constant, Michael R. Rice, Paul B. Reuter, Shay Assaf, Sushant S. Koshti
  • Patent number: RE49671
    Abstract: A wafer transfer apparatus is provided. In a minimum transformed state where a robot arm is transformed such that a distance defined from a pivot axis to an arm portion, which is farthest in a radial direction relative to the pivot axis, is minimum, a minimum rotation radius R, is set to exceed ½ of a length B in the forward and backward directions of an interface space, the length B corresponding to a length between the front wall and the rear wall of the interface space forming portion, and is further set to be equal to or less than a subtracted value obtained by subtracting a distance L0 in the forward and backward directions from the rear wall of the interface space forming portion to the pivot axis, from the length B in the forward and backward directions of the interface space (i.e., B/2<R?B?L0).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Hashimoto