The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 28, 2000
Filed:
Mar. 08, 1999
Yi-Chuan Lo, Hsin-Chu, TW;
Chih-hsiung Lee, Hsin-Chu, TW;
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Hsin-Chu, TW;
Abstract
An method and apparatus for aligning a mask to a wafer for photolithographic processing steps which does not use optical alignment. Each wafer is provided a unique identification code, such as a bar code. As wafers are processed through photolithographic steps where optical detection of an alignment mark can be easily accomplished the alignment data for each wafer is stored in a memory unit. At the next photolithographic step a detector reads the identification code and identifies the wafer being processed. The wafer identification is fed to a data processing unit which retrieves the alignment data for that wafer fro the memory unit. The data processing unit then feed alignment data to a mechanical controller which positions the wafer relative to the mask image being used in the photolithographic step.