IP Library Granted Patent US 12,172,430
Granted Patent B2
US 12,172,430 · App. 18/314,503 · Granted Dec 24, 2024

Substrate positioning for deposition machine

Inventors: Karl Mathia (Menlo Park, CA); Jesse Lu (Milpitas, CA); Jerry Chang (Cupertino, CA); Matt Audet (Campbell, CA); Stephen Baca (Livermore, CA); Vadim Mashevsky (Palo Alto, CA); David C. Darrow (Pleasanton, CA)
Assignee: Kateeva, Inc.
B41J11/42B41J3/28B41J3/407B41J11/00B41J11/009H05K3/1241H05K3/125B41J2202/09
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,172,430
App. No.
18/314,503
Granted
Dec 24, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A deposition device is described. The deposition device has a substrate support and a laser imaging system disposed to image a portion of a substrate positioned on the substrate support. The laser imaging system comprises a laser source and an imaging unit, and is coupled to a deposition assembly disposed across the substrate support.

Claims (37)

1. A method of imaging a feature on a substrate, comprising:

relatively scanning a substrate and a laser imaging system comprising a laser source and an imaging unit, wherein the imaging unit is a camera having sensitivity matched to an emission wavelength of the laser;

activating the imaging unit before an extremity of a feature of the substrate to be imaged reaches an illumination field of the laser source;

activating the laser source when a portion of the feature reaches the illumination field;

deactivating the laser source after an active time of less than 5 μsec; and

deactivating the imaging source after an imaging time, wherein the imaging time encompasses the active time.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising relatively positioning the substrate and the laser imaging system based on an expected location of the feature.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising automatically identifying a boundary of the feature in the image.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising automatically identifying a position error of the feature.

5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising automatically identifying a rotation error of the feature.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the laser imaging system is a first laser imaging system, and further comprising:

capturing a first image of the feature using the first laser imaging system; and

capturing a second image of the feature using a second laser imaging system.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first laser imaging system and the second laser imaging system are coupled to a support extending across a substrate support on which the substrate is disposed for imaging.

8. A method, comprising:

relatively scanning a substrate and a laser imaging system comprising a fiber-coupled laser source and an imaging unit;

activating the imaging unit before an extremity of a feature of the substrate to be imaged reaches an illumination field of the laser source;

activating the laser source when a portion of the feature reaches the illumination field;

capturing an image of the feature while the laser source is activated;

deactivating the laser source after an active time; and

deactivating the imaging source after an imaging time, wherein the imaging time encompasses the active time.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the laser imaging system is coupled to a deposition assembly of a deposition device, and relatively scanning the substrate and the laser imaging system comprises moving the substrate during the active time.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the imaging unit is a camera having sensitivity matched to the emission wavelength of the laser source.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising automatically identifying a boundary of the feature in the image, automatically identifying a position error of the feature, automatically identifying a rotation error of the feature, or any combination thereof.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein automatically identifying a boundary of the feature in the image comprises analyzing brightness of pixels of the image.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising determining when to activate the imaging unit and the laser source based on an expected position of the feature on the substrate and a movement rate of the substrate.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising using a substrate holder to move the substrate and determining a movement rate of the substrate based on signals from the substrate holder.

15. The method of claim 8 , wherein the image of the feature is captured while the substrate and the laser imaging system are in relative motion.

16. The method of claim 8 , wherein the active time is a time during which the feature is within the illumination field.

17. A method, comprising:

relatively scanning a substrate and a laser imaging system comprising a fiber-coupled laser source and an imaging unit;

activating the imaging unit before an extremity of a feature of the substrate to be imaged reaches an illumination field of the laser source;

activating the laser source when a portion of the feature reaches the illumination field;

capturing an image of the feature while the feature is located within the illumination field;

deactivating the laser source after an active time; and

deactivating the imaging source after an imaging time, wherein the imaging time encompasses the active time.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the image of the feature is captured while the substrate and the laser imaging system are in relative motion.

Assignments (1)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 13, 2025
From: KATEEVA, INC.
To: SINO XIN JI LIMITED
Reel/Frame 072891/0259 →