By Optical Sensor Patents (Class 451/6)
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Patent number: 11513034Abstract: A probe adapter includes an adapter body including a probe aperture and a slot. The probe adapter further includes a driver slidably mounted within the slot and slidable between a first position and a second position. The driver includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end includes a ramped recess extending in a direction from the first end toward the second end. The probe adapter further includes a threaded fastener configured to contact the second end of the driver so as to retain the driver in the first position.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2020Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: Raytheon Technologies CorporationInventors: Bryan J. Hackett, Eli C. Warren, Michael J. Saitta
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Patent number: 11513072Abstract: A real-time ablation sensor uses an optical detector, such as a spectrometer or radiometer, to detect ablation of a material, for example by detecting a signal indicative of ablation of the material, which may be an engineered material. The optical detector may detect reflected light, either from the material being ablated, or from products of the ablation, such as in the vicinity of the material being ablated. A light source may be used to provide light that is reflected by the material and/or the ablation products, with the reflected light received by the detector. The light may be of a selected wavelength or wavelengths, with the selection made in combination with the selection/configuration of the material to be ablated, and/or the selection/configuration of the optical detector.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2021Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventors: Gary A. Frazier, John J. Coogan
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Patent number: 11511386Abstract: A polishing apparatus capable of forming a step-shaped recess having a right-angled cross section in an edge portion of a substrate, such as a wafer, is disclosed. The polishing apparatus includes: a substrate rotating device configured to rotate the substrate about a rotation axis; a first roller having a first circumferential surface configured to press a polishing tape against the edge portion of the substrate; and a second roller having a second circumferential surface in contact with the first circumferential surface. The second roller has a tape stopper surface that restricts movement of the polishing tape in a direction away from the rotation axis. The tape stopper surface is located radially outward of the first circumferential surface.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2019Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: EBARA CORPORATIONInventors: Masaya Seki, Masayuki Nakanishi, Makoto Kashiwagi
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Patent number: 11508630Abstract: A thin film analyzing device includes a processing and analyzing chamber for performing processing and analyzing of a subject having a thin film on a substrate. The processing and analyzing chamber includes a sample holder arranged to hold the subject, an X-ray irradiation source arranged to irradiate the subject with X-rays, a fluorescent X-ray detector configured to detect fluorescent X-rays which are emitted from the subject, a diffracted/reflected X-ray detector configured to detect reflected X-rays and diffracted X-rays which are emitted from the subject, and a substrate remover arranged to remove the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2020Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: KIOXIA CORPORATIONInventors: Yuki Wakisaka, Yuji Yamada, Sho Kato, Takumi Nishioka
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Patent number: 11478894Abstract: Methods and apparatus for monitoring and controlling relative concentrations of polishing fluid additives and, or, the distribution of a polishing fluid and, or, polishing fluid additives across the surface of a polishing pad during chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) of a substrate are provided herein. In one embodiment, a method for polishing a substrate includes delivering a polishing fluid to one or more locations on a polishing surface of a polishing pad, wherein the polishing fluid comprises an optical marker; detecting optical information at a plurality of locations across a scan region of the polishing surface using an optical sensor facing theretowards; communicating the optical information to a system controller; determining a polishing fluid distribution across the scan region using the optical information; and changing an aspect of the delivery of the polishing fluid based on the polishing fluid distribution.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2019Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.Inventor: Nicholas Alexander Wiswell
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Patent number: 11478893Abstract: A polishing method capable of improving a spatial resolution of a film-thickness measurement without changing a measuring cycle of a film-thickness sensor and without increasing an amount of measurement data is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2018Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: EBARA CORPORATIONInventors: Keita Yagi, Toshimitsu Sasaki
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Patent number: 11471994Abstract: A lens blocker includes a drive cam having a blocker arm guide groove; a blocker arm coupled to the drive cam to be movable up and down along the drive cam or to be rotatable about the drive cam, and having a blocker arm guide formed at one end thereof, wherein the blocker arm guide is inserted into the blocker arm guide groove of the drive cam and moves along the blocker arm guide groove; a leap block mount (50), to which a leap block to be attached to a blank lens is mounted and which is coupled to the blocker arm; a blocker arm base moving the blocker arm up and down along the drive cam; and a lens mount onto which the blank lens, is mounted.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2018Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: HUVITZ CO., LTD.Inventor: Byung Woo Kyon
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Patent number: 11467205Abstract: A substrate testing apparatus configured to perform a hot electron analysis (HEA) test for analyzing a stand-by failure in a substrate includes a heating chuck having a first surface configured to support the substrate and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The heating chuck is configured to heat the substrate and has an aperture passing through the first surface and the second surface. A substrate moving device moves the substrate on the heating chuck in a lateral direction. A camera is under the heating chuck and photographs the substrate, which is exposed by the heating chuck aperture.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2021Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Inventors: Kyoonwoo Kim, Jaehun Lee, Taejun Park, Sanghun Lim, Seokyung Kim, Junnyeon Jeong
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Patent number: 11469350Abstract: Various embodiments of SST dies and solid state lighting (“SSL”) devices with SST dies, assemblies, and methods of manufacturing are described herein. In one embodiment, a SST die includes a substrate material, a first semiconductor material and a second semiconductor material on the substrate material, an active region between the first semiconductor material and the second semiconductor material, and a support structure defined by the substrate material. In some embodiments, the support structure has an opening that is vertically aligned with the active region.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2020Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Vladimir Odnoblyudov, Martin F. Schubert
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Patent number: 11440162Abstract: Disclosed herein are an apparatus and system for separating reusable abrasive media from non-reusable media. The system for separating reusable abrasive media from non-reusable media having a housing defining an enclosure and being configured for further separating previously sorted and discarded abrasive media, the shot peening efficiency system operating via the housing comprising: a symmetrically bisected housing having a left housing component and a right housing component having an angled opening configured to receive an abrasive media inlet valve wherein the left housing component and the right housing component are connected via one or more fasteners; wherein the symmetrically bisected housing is deep set at the left housing component and the right housing component in a manner configured to accept a separator assembly comprising at least one wire mesh screen, at least one vibratory motor, and one or more mounting hardware components. Also disclosed are methods of using apparatus and system.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2019Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignee: Blastec, Inc.Inventors: Stan Griffin, Joe Craig
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Patent number: 11370081Abstract: A synchronous grinding-deburring method and system for a valve spool based on measurement of an overlap value. In the system, a synchronous grinding-deburring machine is configured to complete automatic clamping of the valve spool workpiece and synchronous precise grinding-deburring processing of a working edge; a loading-unloading robot is configured to grab and transport the valve spool workpiece; and a charged-coupled device (CCD)-based industrial visual camera is provided to facilitate an automatic assembly of a slide valve pair; a computer-based pneumatic mate-grinding test bench for an electro-hydraulic servo valve is provided for automatic clamping of the servo valve and automatic detection of the overlap value of a servo valve; and an industrial control console is provided for real-time control of a complete workflow and adaptive control of a processing parameter.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2021Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityInventors: Ming Chen, Qinglong An, Weiwei Ming, Jianwen Wang, Jiaqiang Dang, Chang Liu
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Patent number: 11017524Abstract: A metrology system for obtaining a measurement representative of a thickness of a layer on a substrate includes a camera positioned to capture a color image of at least a portion of the substrate. A controller is configured to receive the color image from the camera, store a predetermined path in a coordinate space of at least two dimension including a first color channel and a second color channel, store a function that provides a value representative of a thickness as a function of a position on the predetermined path, determine a coordinate of a pixel in the coordinate space from color data in the color image for the pixel, determine a position of a point on the predetermined path that is closest to the coordinate of the pixel, and calculate a value representative of a thickness from the function and the position of the point on the predetermined path.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2019Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventor: Dominic J. Benvegnu
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Patent number: 10821573Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to advanced polishing pads with tunable chemical, material and structural properties, and new methods of manufacturing the same. According to one or more embodiments of the disclosure, it has been discovered that a polishing pad with improved properties may be produced by an additive manufacturing process, such as a three-dimensional (3D) printing process. Embodiments of the present disclosure thus may provide an advanced polishing pad that has discrete features and geometries, formed from at least two different materials that include functional polymers, functional oligomers, reactive diluents, and curing agents. For example, the advanced polishing pad may be formed from a plurality of polymeric layers, by the automated sequential deposition of at least one resin precursor composition followed by at least one curing step, wherein each layer may represent at least one polymer composition, and/or regions of different compositions.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2015Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.Inventors: Rajeev Bajaj, Daniel Redfield, Mahendra C. Orilall, Boyi Fu, Aniruddh Khanna, Jason G. Fung, Mario Cornejo, Ashwin Chockalingam, Mayu Yamamura, Veera Raghava Reddy Kakireddy, Ashavani Kumar, Venkat Hariharan, Gregory E. Menk, Fred C. Redeker, Nag B. Patibandla, Hou T. Ng, Robert E. Davenport, Amritanshu Sinha
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Patent number: 10507306Abstract: An optical guidewire system employs an optical guidewire (10), an optical guidewire controller (12), a guide interface (13) and an optical connector (15). The optical guidewire (10) is for advancing a catheter (20) to a target region relative to a distal end of the optical guidewire (10), wherein the optical guidewire (10) includes one or more guidewire fiber cores (11) for generating an encoded optical signal (16) indicative of a shape of the optical guidewire (10). The optical guidewire controller (12) is responsive to the encoded optical signal (16) for reconstructing the shape of the optical guidewire (10). The guidewire interface (13) includes one or more interface fiber core(s) (14) optically coupled to the optical guidewire controller (12). The optical connector (15) facilitates a connection, disconnection and reconnection of the optical guidewire (10) to the guidewire interface (13) that enables a backloading the catheter (20) on the optical guidewire (10).Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2011Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.Inventors: Luis Felipe Gutierrez, Robert Manzke, Raymond Chan
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Patent number: 10507561Abstract: A grinding apparatus that performs thickness measurement across an entire wafer surface without degradation of throughput of wafer grinding and grinds the wafer precisely to a target thickness. A grinding apparatus includes a rough grinding stage for roughly grinding a wafer and a fine grinding stage for finely grinding the wafer. A first thickness measuring means for measuring the thickness of the wafer while the wafer is being transferred is provided to a column so disposed as to span an index table. A control unit of the grinding apparatus corrects a target thickness after fine grinding and computes a target thickness after correction on the basis of an average thickness across the entire surface of the wafer before fine grinding obtained from measured values of the first thickness measuring means.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2017Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: Tokyo Seimitsu Co., LTDInventors: Masaki Kanazawa, Makoto Shimoda
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Patent number: 10473558Abstract: An metallographic system comprising a programmable controller, a robotic arm, a specimen clamping or holding device, a sectioning saw, a mounting station, a polishing station, a specimen preparation station, and an analyzer for examining the specimen.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2016Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: UES, INC.Inventors: Umesha P. S. Adiga, Daylond J. Hooper, Nina Joshi, Daniel S. Banks, Murali K. Gorantla, Roland Adrian Hogendoorn, Elizabeth J. Jenkins, Robert F. Ondera
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Patent number: 10391606Abstract: The present invention provides a chemical mechanical (CMP) polishing pad for polishing three dimensional semiconductor or memory substrates comprising a polishing layer of a polyurethane reaction product of a thermosetting reaction mixture of a curative of 4,4?-methylenebis(3-chloro-2,6-diethylaniline) (MCDEA) or mixtures of MCDEA and 4,4?-methylene-bis-o-(2-chloroaniline) (MbOCA), and a polyisocyanate prepolymer formed from one or two aromatic diisocyanates, such as toluene diisocyanate (TDI), or a mixture of an aromatic diisocyanate and an alicyclic diisocyanate, and a polyol of polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG), polypropylene glycol (PPG), or a polyol blend of PTMEG and PPG and having an unreacted isocyanate (NCO) concentration of from 8.6 to 11 wt. %. The polyurethane in the polishing layer has a Shore D hardness according to ASTM D2240-15 (2015) of from 60 to 90, a shear storage modulus (G?) at 65° C.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2017Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignees: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials CMP Holdings, Inc., Dow Global Technologies LLCInventors: Jonathan G. Weis, Nan-Rong Chiou, George C. Jacob, Bainian Qian
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Patent number: 10302486Abstract: A spectrometer module and a fabrication method thereof are provided. The fabrication method includes the steps of: providing at least one substrate; and forming at least one positioning side and at least one optical component of the spectrometer on the at least one substrate by a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) process. The spectrometer module fabricated by the fabrication method includes a plurality of substrates and at least one optical component. At least one of the substrates has at least one positioning side, and the at least one optical component of the spectrometer is formed on at least one of the substrates. The positioning side and the optical component are fabricated by a MEMS process.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2016Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: OTO PHOTONICS INC.Inventor: Chien-Hsiang Hung
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Patent number: 9909985Abstract: A preferred embodiment biosensor is a multi-layer micro-porous thin film structure. Pores in a top layer of the micro-porous thin film structure are sized to accept a first molecule of interest. Pores in a second layer of the micro-porous thin film structure are smaller than the pores in the top layer and are sized to accept a second molecule of interest that is smaller than the first molecule of interest. The pores in the second layer are too small to accept the first molecule of interest. The pores in the top layer and the pores in the second layer are sized and arranged such that light reflected from the multi-layer micro-porous thin film structure produces multiple superimposed interference patterns that can be resolved. In preferred embodiments, the multi-layer micro-porous thin film structure is a porous silicon thin film multi-layer structure formed on a silicon substrate, such as a silicon wafer. Specific and nonspecific binding can be detected with biosensors of the invention.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2010Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Claudia Pacholski, Gordon M. Miskelly, Michael J. Sailor
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Patent number: 9829351Abstract: An encoding device includes a sensing unit having a signal transmitting element and a signal receiving element. The signal transmitting element and the signal receiving element are respectively disposed on different carrier members. Accordingly, when performing the rectification and alignment processes between the signal receiving element and the signal unit, the other components are prevented from hindering the rectification and alignment processes, whereby the rectification and alignment processes can be easily performed.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2016Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: HIWIN MIKROSYSTEM CORP.Inventors: Yan-Shiang Wang, Yi-Shun Huang
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Patent number: 9804067Abstract: An observation and photography apparatus that has a polishing mechanism attached thereto. The polishing mechanism is provided with a turntable with a perpendicular rotation shaft, a polishing cloth for polishing the surface of a sample attached to the bottom surface of the turntable, and a polishing-fluid spraying nozzle disposed below the polishing cloth for spraying polishing fluid containing polishing material upward to we the polishing cloth.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2013Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignees: KAGOSHIMA UNIVERSITY, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION, NAKAYAMADENKI CO., LTD.Inventors: Yoshitaka Adachi, Makoto Nakayama
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Patent number: 9636796Abstract: A method for manufacturing a laminated polishing pad of the present invention, comprising the steps of: forming a polishing layer by providing a light transmitting region in an opening A of a polishing region; providing an adhesive member X on one side of the polishing layer, wherein the adhesive member X contains a hot-melt adhesive; providing a removable protective member on a part of the adhesive member X corresponding to the light transmitting region; bonding a support layer to the adhesive member X on which the removable protective member is provided; and removing a part of the support layer corresponding to the light transmitting region and also removing the removable protective member to form an opening B.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2013Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: ROHM AND HAAS ELECTRONIC MATERIALS CMP HOLDINGS, INC.Inventor: Kenji Nakamura
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Patent number: 9579767Abstract: A computer-implemented method of generating reference spectra includes polishing a first substrate in a polishing apparatus having a rotatable platen, measuring a sequence of spectra from the substrate during polishing with an in-situ monitoring system, associating each spectrum in the sequence of spectra with a index value equal to a number of platen rotations at which the each spectrum was measured, and storing the sequence of spectra as reference spectra.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2011Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Jun Qian, Harry Q. Lee
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Patent number: 9573241Abstract: A polishing apparatus capable of eliminating a variation in film thickness along a circumferential direction of a substrate, such as a wafer, is disclosed. The polishing apparatus includes: a polishing head including an elastic membrane for pressing the substrate against the polishing surface and a retainer ring arranged so as to surround the substrate, the retainer ring being capable of contacting the polishing surface; a rotating mechanism configured to rotate the polishing head about its own axis; a rotation angle detector configured to detect a rotation angle of the polishing head; and a polishing controller configured to periodically change a polishing condition of the substrate in synchronization with the rotation angle of the polishing head.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2015Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: Ebara CorporationInventors: Makoto Fukushima, Hozumi Yasuda, Keisuke Namiki
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Patent number: 9536787Abstract: Disclosed herein is a wafer processing method for dividing a wafer into a plurality of individual devices along a plurality of crossing division lines. The wafer is composed of a substrate and a functional layer formed on the front side of the substrate. The division lines are formed on the front side of the functional layer. A laser beam having a transmission wavelength to the substrate is applied to the wafer from the back side thereof to detect the height of an interface between the functional layer and the substrate in an area corresponding to each division line. The depth of cut by a cutting blade for cutting the substrate is next set according to the height detected above.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2016Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: Disco CorporationInventors: Yuki Ogawa, Kensuke Nagaoka, Tsubasa Obata, Yuri Ban
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Patent number: 9460954Abstract: The invention relates to a method of clamping a substrate on a surface of a substrate support structure. First, a liquid is applied on a surface of the substrate support structure. The surface is provided with a plurality of contact elements. The liquid is applied such that the contact elements are fully covered by a liquid layer. Then the substrate is provided and placed onto the liquid layer. Finally, liquid underneath the substrate is removed such that the substrate rests on the plurality of contact elements and is clamped by means of a capillary clamping force exerted by a capillary layer of the liquid between the substrate and the surface of the substrate support structure.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2010Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: MAPPER LITHOGRAPHY IP B.V.Inventors: Hendrik Jan De Jong, Marco Jan-Jaco Wieland
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Patent number: 9390903Abstract: A workpiece processing apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a rotary turntable having one or more spindles thereon, the turntable being configured to rotate about a turntable axis. Each of the spindles is configured to receive and secure thereon a workpiece to be processed by the apparatus. Each of the spindles can rotate about their own independent axes. The apparatus includes one or more grind spindles that overlay the turntable and are configured to communicate with the workpieces. The apparatus processes the workpieces by transitioning between first and second operational states. The first operational state centers the spindles and the workpieces thereon under the grind spindle to condition an entire top surface of the workpieces. The second operational state offsets the spindles from the center of the grind spindle to condition a perimeter edge of the workpieces. A controller can govern the transition between first and second operational states.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2013Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: AXUS TECHNOLOGY, LLCInventors: Daniel R. Trojan, Richard Ciszek, Clifford Daniel
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Patent number: 9233450Abstract: A method of controlling polishing includes polishing a metal layer of a substrate. The metal layer overlies an underlying layer structure. During polishing of the metal layer, a light beam is directed onto the first substrate. The metal layer is sufficiently thin that a portion of the light beam reflects from an exposed surface of the metal layer and a portion of the light beam passes through the metal layer and reflects from the underlying layer structure to generate a reflected light beam. The reflected light beam is monitored during polishing and a sequence of measured spectra is generated from the reflected light beam. At least one of a polishing endpoint or an adjustment for a polishing rate is determined from the sequence of measured spectra.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2012Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Drue David, Dominic J. Benvegnu
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Patent number: 9227293Abstract: A polishing apparatus includes a plurality of stations supported on a platform, the plurality of stations including at least two polishing stations and a transfer station, each polishing station including a platen to support a polishing pad, a plurality of carrier heads suspended from and movable along a track such that each polishing station is selectively positionable at the stations, and a controller configured to control motion of the carrier heads along the track such that during polishing at each polishing station only a single carrier head is positioned in the polishing station.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2013Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Drue David, Boguslaw A. Swedek, Doyle E. Bennett, Thomas H. Osterheld, Benjamin Cherian, Dominic J. Benvegnu, Harry Q. Lee, Allen L. D'Ambra, Jagan Rangarajan
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Patent number: 9205522Abstract: An equipment for coating an airfoil of a turbine blade of a turbine engine in a coating block, including a base on which a molding block is positioned for flow of the coating metal, the molding block including a cavity defining a reference plane on the block for positioning the block in space, wherein the base also includes a cradle supporting the blade via six bearing points defining an orientation plane representative of an angular position of the airfoil relative to a root of the blade. The cradle is rotatably movable relative to the base about an axis oriented so as to be substantially parallel to a direction of a leading edge of the blade, to enable a modification in an angle formed between the reference and orientation planes.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2011Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: SNECMAInventors: Jose Chacon, Jean-Jacques Michel Roussel
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Patent number: 9156123Abstract: The present invention is directed to a double-side polishing method including interposing a wafer held by a carrier between upper and lower turn tables to which respective polishing pads are attached, and rotating and revolving the carrier while supplying a polishing agent to polish both surfaces of the wafer at the same time, the method including the steps of: first polishing at a high polishing rate; second polishing at a low polishing rate; measuring flatness of the polished wafer; and determining polishing conditions of the second polishing in a next polishing batch on a basis of the measured flatness. The method can stably improve the flatness of a wafer without being affected by variations in carrier thickness over time.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2012Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: SHIN-ETSU HANDOTAI CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazuaki Aoki, Shigeru Oba
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Patent number: 9156125Abstract: The invention provides a polishing pad that contains at least one light-transmitting region and optionally a polishing pad body. The light-transmitting region is composed of a material comprising (a) a polymeric resin and (b) at least one light-absorbing compound, and the light-transmitting region has a total light transmittance of about 25% or more at one or more wavelengths in a range of 250 nm to 395 nm.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2012Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: Cabot Microelectronics CorporationInventor: Abaneshwar Prasad
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Patent number: 9149274Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for controlling movement of a working end of a surgical device. In one embodiment, methods and devices are provided for moving an end effector on a distal end of a surgical fastening device. Movement can include rotational movement of the end effector about an axis of the shaft, articulation of the end effector relative to the shaft, and actuation of an end effector, e.g., closing, firing, and/or cutting. In other embodiments, a single cable actuator is provided and is movable between a first position, in which it is effective to rotate an end effector without actuating (i.e., closing and firing) the end effector, and a second position, in which it is effective to actuate the end effector without rotating the end effector. In other aspects, methods and devices are provided for moving a flexible neck formed on a distal end of an accessory channel for use with an endoscope.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2011Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.Inventors: James T. Spivey, Mark S. Ortiz, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
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Patent number: 9144878Abstract: There is provided a polishing apparatus capable of detecting uneven wear occurring on a polishing pad and detecting an appropriate replacement timing of the polishing pad. The polishing apparatus detects, every predetermined time, a value of rotation speed or a value of rotation torque of a table drive shaft for rotationally driving a polishing table or a dresser drive shaft for driving a dresser, or a value of swing torque of a dresser swing shaft for driving the dresser; calculates a change quantity thereof based on the value of the detected rotation speed, the value of the detected rotation torque, or the value of the detected swing torque; determines whether or not the change quantity exceeds a predetermined value; and notifies a user of a warning when a determination is made that the change quantity exceeds the predetermined value.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2014Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: EBARA CORPORATIONInventors: Ryuichi Kosuge, Tadakazu Sone
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Patent number: 9126304Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a polishing pad which enables high accuracy optical end-point detection in a state where polishing is carrying out, and which can prevent slurry leakage from a polishing layer to a cushion layer even in the case of being used for a long period. Another object is to provide a method for producing a semiconductor device using the polishing pad. The present invention relates to a polishing pad in which a polishing layer having a polishing region and a light-transmitting region, and a cushion layer having a through hole are laminated via a double-sided adhesive sheet such that the light-transmitting region and the through hole are laid one upon another, wherein a transparent member is stuck on an adhesive layer of the double-sided adhesive sheet in the through hole.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2011Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: TOYO TIRE & RUBBER CO., LTD.Inventor: Tsuyoshi Kimura
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Patent number: 9123582Abstract: Various embodiments describe a method of quantifying bow in a wafer. In one embodiment, the method includes measuring a first plurality of distances from a first sensor to a first surface of the wafer to calculate the bow in the wafer. The first sensor is positioned outside of a set of process modules of the plasma processing system. A determination is made whether the calculated bow of the wafer is within a pre-determined range. If the calculated bow of the wafer is within the pre-determined range, the wafer is moved into a process module of the set of process modules for processing and a recipe for processing the wafer is adjusted based on the calculated bow of the wafer. If the calculated bow of the wafer is outside the pre-determined range, the wafer is removed from the plasma processing system. Other methods are described as well.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2012Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATIONInventor: Andrew D. Bailey, III
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Patent number: 9108289Abstract: A wafer polishing apparatus configured to polish simultaneously both surfaces of a wafer by pressing and rubbing the wafer, while holding the wafer with: a lower turn table having a flat polishing-upper-surface rotationally driven; an upper turn table having a flat polishing-lower-surface rotationally driven, the upper turn table being arranged with facing to the lower turn table; and a carrier having a wafer-holding hole for holding the wafer, wherein the polishing is performed while measuring a thickness of the wafer through a plurality of openings provided between a rotation center and an edge of the upper turn table or the lower turn table, and switching a polishing slurry with a polishing slurry having a different polishing rate during the polishing of the wafer. As a result, the wafer polishing apparatus can manufacture a wafer having a high flatness and a high smoothness at high productivity and high yield.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2014Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: SHIN-ETSU HANDOTAI CO., LTD.Inventors: Daisuke Furukawa, Kazumasa Asai, Takahiro Kida, Tadao Tanaka
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Patent number: 9056383Abstract: A method of operating a polishing system includes polishing a substrate at a polishing station, the substrate held by a carrier head during polishing, transporting the substrate to an in-sequence optical metrology system positioned between the polishing station and another polishing station or a transfer station, measuring a plurality of spectra reflected from the substrate with a probe of the optical metrology system while moving the carrier head to cause the probe to traverse a path across the substrate and while the probe remains stationary, the path across the substrate comprising either a plurality of concentric circles or a plurality of substantially radially aligned arcuate segments, and adjusting a polishing endpoint or a polishing parameter of the polishing system based on one or more characterizing values generated based on at least some of the plurality of spectra.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2013Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Drue David, Benjamin Cherian, Dominic J. Benvegnu, Boguslaw A. Swedek, Thomas H. Osterheld, Jun Qian, Thomas Li, Doyle E. Bennett, David J. Lischka, Steven M. Zuniga
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Patent number: 9028302Abstract: Polishing pads for polishing semiconductor substrates using eddy current end-point detection are described. Methods of fabricating polishing pads for polishing semiconductor substrates using eddy current end-point detection are also described.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2013Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: NexPlanar CorporationInventors: William C. Allison, Diane Scott, Ping Huang, Richard Frentzel, Alexander William Simpson
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Patent number: 9017140Abstract: A CMP polishing pad comprising (a) a polishing layer having a polishing surface and a back surface opposite said polishing surface; said polishing layer having at least one cured opaque thermoset polyurethane region and at least one aperture region; said at least one cured opaque thermoset region has a porosity from about 10% to about 55% by volume; said at least one aperture region having (1) a top opening positioned below the polishing surface, (2) a bottom opening that is co-planar with said back surface and (3) straight line vertical sidewalls extending from said aperture top opening to said aperture bottom opening; said at least one aperture region filled with a cured plug of thermoset polyurethane local area transparency material that has a light transmission of less than 80% at a wavelength from 700 to 710 nanometers and is chemically bonded directly to a thermoset polyurethane opaque area; (b) an aperture-free removable release sheet covering at least a portion of said back surface of the polishing lType: GrantFiled: January 13, 2010Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: NexPlanar CorporationInventors: William Allison, Ping Huang, Diane Scott, Richard Frentzel, Robert Kerprich
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Patent number: 9018099Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a polishing pad that is prevented from causing an end-point detection error due to a reduction in light transmittance from the early stage to the final stage of the process, and to provide a method of producing a semiconductor device with the polishing pad. The present invention is directed to a polishing pad, comprising a polishing layer comprising a polishing region and a light-transmitting region, wherein a polishing side surface of the light-transmitting region is subjected to a surface roughness treatment, and the light-transmitting region has a light transmittance of 40% to 60% at a wavelength of 600 nm before use.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2008Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuyuki Ogawa, Atsushi Kazuno, Tsuyoshi Kimura, Tetsuo Shimomura
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Patent number: 9011202Abstract: A method of controlling a polishing operation includes obtaining a sequence over time of measured spectra with an in-situ optical monitoring system during polishing. For each measured spectrum from the sequence an optical model is fit. The optical model includes dimensions of a repeating structure and the fitting includes calculating a output spectrum using diffraction effects of the repeating structure, and parameters of the optical model include an endpoint parameter and a parameter of the repeating structure. The fitting generates the sequence of fitted endpoint parameter values, and at least one of a polishing endpoint or an adjustment of a pressure to the substrate is determined from the sequence of fitted endpoint parameter values.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2012Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventor: Jeffrey Drue David
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Publication number: 20150099423Abstract: A TSV wafer thinning controlling method and system is provided, which can improve the accuracy of the wafer thinning technique. The system includes a chuck table used for carrying a wafer and a grinding device used for thinning the wafer; and further includes: an infrared sensor equipped on the chuck table or grinding device, and a measurement feedback system connected with the infrared sensor and the grinding device; wherein, the infrared sensor comprises an infrared emitting and receiving circuit, signal amplifying and filtering circuit and a data processor.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2014Publication date: April 9, 2015Applicant: NATIONAL CENTER FOR ADVANCED PACKAGING CO., LTD.Inventors: Feng JIANG, Haiyang GU, Hongwen HE
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Publication number: 20150099425Abstract: A method and apparatus for sanding a number of surface features on a surface of an object. A first type of operation may be performed on the number of surface features on the surface of the object using a first end effector. Feedback laser data may be generated about the number of surface features after the first type of operation has been performed using a laser device. A second type of operation may be performed on the number of surface features using a second end effector and the feedback laser data to rework the number of surface features until the number of surface features has been reworked to within selected tolerances.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2013Publication date: April 9, 2015Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventor: Thomas Edward Trnka
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Patent number: 8992286Abstract: A method of controlling a polishing operation includes measuring a plurality of spectra at a plurality of different positions on a substrate to provide a plurality of measured spectra. For each measured spectrum of the plurality of measured spectra, a characterizing value is generated based on the measured spectrum. For each characterizing value, a goodness of fit of the measured spectrum to another spectrum used in generating the characterizing value is determined. A wafer-level characterizing value map is generated by applying a regression to the plurality of characterizing values with the plurality of goodnesses of fit used as weighting factors in the regression. A polishing endpoint or a polishing parameter of the polishing apparatus is adjusted based on the wafer-level characterizing map, and the substrate or a subsequent substrate is polished in the polishing apparatus with the adjusted polishing endpoint or polishing parameter.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2013Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin Cherian, Jeffrey Drue David, Boguslaw A. Swedek, Dominic J. Benvegnu, Jun Qian, Thomas H. Osterheld
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Publication number: 20150079878Abstract: Polishing pads with apertures are described. Methods of fabricating polishing pads with apertures are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2014Publication date: March 19, 2015Inventors: William C. Allison, Diane Scott, Rajeev Bajaj
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Publication number: 20150072594Abstract: Manufacturing methods are provided. A component may be polished to remove defects thereon. An identifier may be added to the polishing material employed to polish the component. A detector may detect the identifier. For example, the identifier may be a fluroescing material that may illuminate in the presence of a fluorescent light. A determining apparatus may determine a status of the component based on the presence or absence of the identifier. For example, the determining apparatus may determine that the component needs to be re-cleaned based on presence of the identifier. Related systems and computer program products are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2013Publication date: March 12, 2015Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Duco B. Pasmooij, Kee Han Sim, Christopher R. Fagan
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Publication number: 20150056891Abstract: There is disclosed a measuring method of a surface roughness of a polishing pad which can measure a surface roughness index of the polishing pad showing a strong relationship with polishing performance. A method for measuring a surface roughness of a polishing pad includes acquiring an image of a surface of a polishing pad by using a laser microscope, selecting only a region which has a height larger than an average height from the acquired image, and calculating a surface roughness from only the selected region.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2014Publication date: February 26, 2015Inventor: Hisanori MATSUO
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Patent number: 8961265Abstract: In the case of a method for the material-removing fine machining of a workpiece surface of a workpiece, in particular for the honing or finishing of workpiece portions having substantially rotationally symmetrically curved workpiece surfaces, at least one fine machining tool machines the workpiece surface and, by means of a measuring system, a measurement of the workpiece surface is performed. In this case, at at least one measuring position, radar radiation is directed onto the workpiece surface, and the radar radiation reflected from the workpiece surface is acquired and evaluated for the purpose of determining at least one surface measurement value.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2011Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Nagel Maschinen-und Werkzeugfabrik GmbHInventors: Herbert Rauscher, Joachim Klima
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Patent number: 8961266Abstract: A polishing article has a polishing surface and an aperture, the aperture including a first section and a second section. The polishing article includes a projection extending inwardly into the aperture. The polishing article includes a lower portion on a side of the first surface farther from the polishing surface. A window has a first portion positioned in the first section of the aperture and a second portion extending into the second section of the aperture. The window has a second surface substantially parallel to the polishing surface. A first adhesive adheres the first surface of the projection to the second surface of the window to secure the window to the projection and a second adhesive of different material composition than the first adhesive. The second adhesive is positioned laterally between the second portion of the window and the lower portion of the polishing article.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Rajkumar Alagarsamy, Yongqi Hu, Simon Yavelberg, Periya Gopalan, Christopher R. Mahon