SUSS MICROTEC LITHOGRAPHY, GMBH Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20150251396 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TEMPORARY BONDING OF ULTRA THIN WAFERS - An apparatus for temporary bonding first and second wafers includes, a first coating chamber configured to apply a first adhesive layer upon a first surface of a first wafer; a second coating chamber configured to apply a second adhesive layer upon a first surface of a second wafer; a curing chamber configured to cure the first adhesive layer of the first wafer; a bonder module comprising an upper chuck assembly and a lower chuck assembly arranged below and opposite the upper chuck assembly. The upper chuck assembly is configured to hold the first wafer so that its first surface with the cured first adhesive layer faces down. The lower chuck assembly is configured to hold the second wafer so that the second adhesive layer faces up and is opposite to the cured first adhesive layer. The lower chuck assembly is configured to move upwards and thereby to bring the second adhesive layer in contact with the cured first adhesive layer. The curing chamber is further configured to cure the second adhesive layer after it is brought in contact with the cured first adhesive layer, thereby forming a temporary bond between the first and second wafers. | 09-10-2015 |
20150206783 | SYSTEM AMD METHOD FOR SUBSTRATE HOLDING - A system for mechanically holding a substrate during processing includes a closeable processing chamber and an upper block assembly located inside the processing chamber and configured to hold a wafer via three mechanical holding assemblies. The three mechanical holding assemblies protrude above a cover of the wafer processing chamber and are configured to hold the wafer at an edge of the wafer and to be adjusted from outside of the processing chamber. Two of the mechanical holding assemblies are lockable in position relative to the wafer edge and one of the mechanical holding assemblies is configured to maintain a hold preload on the wafer edge via a preload mechanism. | 07-23-2015 |
20150083342 | METHOD FOR THERMAL-SLIDE DEBONDING OF TEMPORARY BONDED SEMICONDUCTOR WAFERS - A method for debonding two temporary bonded wafers, includes providing a debonder comprising a top chuck assembly, a bottom chuck assembly, a static gantry supporting the top chuck assembly, an X-axis carriage drive supporting the bottom chuck assembly and an X-axis drive control configured to drive horizontally the X-axis carriage drive and the bottom chuck assembly from a loading zone to a process zone under the top chuck assembly and from the process zone back to the loading zone. Next, loading a wafer pair comprising a carrier wafer bonded to a device wafer via an adhesive layer upon the bottom chuck assembly at the loading zone oriented so that the unbonded surface of the device wafer is in contact with the bottom assembly. Next, driving the X-axis carriage drive and the bottom chuck assembly to the process zone under the top chuck assembly. Next, placing the unbonded surface of the carrier wafer in contact with the top chuck assembly and holding the carrier wafer by the top chuck assembly. Next, initiating horizontal motion of the X-axis carriage drive while heat is applied to the carrier wafer and while the carrier wafer is held by the top chuck assembly. | 03-26-2015 |
20140319786 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ALIGNING AND CENTERING WAFERS - A device for locating and engaging a notch on the perimeter of a circular wafer includes a notch locating component and a first plate. The notch locating component is configured to move linearly along a first axis and includes a front elongated component extending along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis and having a front surface, a back surface opposite to the front surface and a first protrusion extending from the front surface of the elongated component. The first protrusion has a shape complementing the shape of a notch formed on the perimeter of a circular wafer. As the notch locating component is driven toward the perimeter of the circular wafer along the first axis, a distance between the back surface of the elongated component and a front surface of the first plate is measured and the value of the measured distance is used to determine engagement of the first protrusion with the notch. | 10-30-2014 |
20130244400 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TEMPORARY BONDING OF ULTRA THIN WAFERS - A method for temporary bonding first and second wafers includes, applying a first adhesive layer upon a first surface of a first wafer and then curing the first adhesive layer. Next, applying a second adhesive layer upon a first surface of a second wafer. Next, inserting the first wafer into a bonder module and holding the first wafer by an upper chuck assembly so that its first surface with the cured first adhesive layer faces down. Next, inserting the second wafer into the bonder module and placing the second wafer upon a lower chuck assembly so that the second adhesive layer faces up and is opposite to the first adhesive layer. Next, moving the lower chuck assembly upwards and bringing the second adhesive layer in contact with the cured first adhesive layer, and then curing the second adhesive layer. | 09-19-2013 |
20120080146 | APPARATUS FOR HIGH THROUGHPUT WAFER BONDING - An industrial-scale high throughput wafer bonding apparatus includes a wafer bonder chamber extending along a main axis and comprising a plurality of chamber zones, a plurality of heater/isolator plates, a guide rod system extending along the main axis, a pair of parallel track rods extending along the main axis, and first pressure means. The chamber zones are separated from each other and thermally isolated from each other by the heater/isolator plates. The heater/isolator plates are oriented perpendicular to the main axis, are movably supported and guided by the guide rod system and are configured to move along the direction of the main axis. Each of the chamber zones is dimensioned to accommodate an aligned wafer pair and the wafer pairs are configured to be supported by the parallel track rods. The first pressure means is configured to apply a first force perpendicular to a first end heater/isolator plate. The applied first force causes the heater/isolator plates to move toward each other along the main axis and thereby causes the collapse of each chamber zone volume and the application of bonding pressure onto the wafer pairs. | 04-05-2012 |
20110290415 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETAPING AN ADHESIVE LAYER FROM THE SURFACE OF ULTRA THIN WAFERS - An apparatus for removing an adhesive layer from a wafer surface includes a chuck, a contact roller, a pick-up roller and a detaping tape. The chuck is configured to support and hold a wafer that comprises an adhesive layer on its top surface. The contact roller comprises an elongated cylindrical body extending along a first axis passing through its center and is configured to rotate around the first axis and to move linearly along a direction perpendicular to the first axis over the chuck and the supported wafer. The pick-up roller comprises an elongated cylindrical body extending along a second axis passing through its center and is configured to rotate around the second axis. The second axis is parallel to the first axis and the pick-up roller is arranged at a first distance from the contact roller. The detaping tape rolls around the contact roller and the pick-up roller, and as it rolls it attaches to the adhesive layer, and then is removed together with the adhesive layer. The contact roller comprises a 360° degrees circular surface layer rolled around and attached to its outer cylindrical surface. The contact roller further includes means for attaching the detaping tape onto the adhesive layer by rotating clock-wise around its axis and linearly moving along a first direction over the wafer and means for contacting the adhesive layer with the 360° degrees circular surface layer. | 12-01-2011 |
20110253315 | DEBONDING EQUIPMENT AND METHODS FOR DEBONDING TEMPORARY BONDED WAFERS - A debonder apparatus for debonding a temporary bonded wafer pair includes a clam-shell type reactor, an upper chuck and a lower chuck. The reactor includes first and second isolated chambers. The upper chuck is contained within the first chamber and has a lower surface protruding into the second chamber and an edge configured to be held in fixed position via clamping means. The lower chuck is contained within the second chamber and has an upper surface oriented parallel and opposite to the lower surface of the upper chuck. The debonder apparatus also includes means for holding an unbonded surface of the first wafer of the temporary bonded wafer pair onto the lower surface of the upper chuck, and means for pressurizing the first chamber. The first chamber pressurizing means applies pressure onto an upper surface of the upper chuck while the upper chuck edge is held in fixed position via the clamping means, and thereby causes the lower surface of the upper chuck and the attached wafer pair to bow downward. The debonder apparatus also includes means for initiating a separation front at a point of the bonding interface of the temporary bonded wafer pair. The debonder apparatus also includes means for pressurizing the second chamber while the first chamber pressure is reduced thereby causing removal of the downward bowing of the upper chuck and the attached wafer pair and propagation of the separation front through the entire bond interface. The debonder apparatus also includes means for attaching the unbonded surface of the separated second wafer onto the upper surface of the lower chuck. | 10-20-2011 |
20110253314 | DEBONDING EQUIPMENT AND METHODS FOR DEBONDING TEMPORARY BONDED WAFERS - A debonder apparatus for debonding a temporary bonded wafer pair includes a chuck assembly, a flex plate assembly, a contact roller and a resistance roller. The chuck assembly includes a chuck and a first wafer holder configured to hold a first wafer of the temporary bonded wafer pair in contact with a top surface of the chuck. The flex plate assembly includes a flex plate and a second wafer holder configured to hold a second wafer of the temporary bonded wafer pair in contact with a first surface of the flex plate. The flex plate is configured to be placed above the top surface of the chuck. The contact roller is arranged adjacent to a first edge of the chuck and includes means for pushing and lifting up a first edge of the flex plate. The resistance roller includes means for traversing horizontally over the flex plate and means for applying a downward force upon the flex plate. The contact roller pushes and lifts up the first edge of the flex plate while the resistance roller simultaneously applies the downward force upon the flex plate and traverses horizontally away from the first edge of the flex plate and thereby the temporary bonded wafer pair delaminates along a release layer and the first and second wafers are separated from each other. | 10-20-2011 |