IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,438,018
Granted Patent B2
US 12,438,018 · App. 18/332,261 · Granted Oct 7, 2025

Method of supplying chemical liquid

Inventors: Yu-Cheng Chang (Miaoli County, TW); Keng-Hui Pan (Tainan, TW); Chieh-Jan Huang (Hsinchu, TW); Ming-Lee Lee (Kaohsiung, TW); Chiang-Jeh Chen (Hsinchu, TW)
Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
H01L21/67253H01L21/02008H01L21/306H01L21/6715H01L21/67294
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,438,018
App. No.
18/332,261
Granted
Oct 7, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method includes moving a drum containing a chemical liquid into a chamber of a chemical liquid supplying system. The drum is connected with a testing pipe. The chemical liquid is pumped from the drum to the testing pipe. A condition of the chemical liquid flowing through the testing pipe is monitored. Whether the chemical liquid is supplied to a processing tool is determined based on the condition of the chemical liquid.

Claims (51)

1. A method, comprising:

moving a drum containing a chemical liquid into a chamber of a chemical liquid supplying system;

connecting the drum with a testing pipe;

pumping the chemical liquid from the drum to the testing pipe;

monitoring a condition of the chemical liquid flowing through the testing pipe; and

determining whether the chemical liquid is supplied to a processing tool based on the condition of the chemical liquid.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

closing a front door of the chamber to form an air-tight enclosure in the chamber.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying the drum by scanning an RFID (radio-frequency identification) tag attached on the drum to reorganize what chemical liquid is intended to be stored in the drum.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

prior to connecting the drum with the testing pipe, producing an image of an outlet nozzle of the drum to determine a position of the outlet nozzle.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

creating an exhaust flow from the chamber prior to pumping the chemical liquid from the drum to the testing pipe.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

monitoring a condition of the exhaust flow.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein a time period between pumping the chemical liquid from the drum to the testing pipe and monitoring the condition of the chemical liquid flowing through the testing pipe is about 1 minute to about 3 minutes.

8. A method comprising:

transporting a drum containing a chemical liquid in front of a front door of a chamber of a chemical liquid supplying system;

opening the front door of the chamber;

moving the drum into the chamber;

after moving the drum into the chamber, closing the front door of the chamber;

pumping the chemical liquid to a testing pipe in the chamber;

monitoring a condition of the chemical liquid flowing in the testing pipe; and

determining if the chemical liquid is acceptable for a process in a processing tool based on the condition of the chemical liquid.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

when the chemical liquid is not acceptable for the process in the processing tool, moving the drum out of the chamber.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

when the chemical liquid is acceptable for the process in the processing tool, supplying the chemical liquid to the processing tool.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

after closing the front door of the chamber, producing an exhaust flow from the chamber.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein producing the exhaust flow from the chamber is performed prior to pumping the chemical liquid to the testing pipe in the chamber.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

re-circulating the chemical liquid from the testing pipe back to the drum.

14. A method, comprising:

moving a drum containing a chemical liquid into a chamber of a chemical liquid supplying system through a front door of the chemical liquid supplying system;

connecting the drum with a testing pipe;

pumping the chemical liquid from the drum to the testing pipe;

monitoring a condition of the chemical liquid flowing through the testing pipe; and

determining whether the chemical liquid is supplied to a processing tool based on the condition of the chemical liquid.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

closing the front door of the chamber.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

identifying the drum by scanning an RFID (radio-frequency identification) tag attached on the drum to reorganize what chemical liquid is intended to be stored in the drum.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

creating an exhaust flow from the chamber prior to pumping the chemical liquid from the drum to the testing pipe.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

monitoring a condition of the exhaust flow.

19. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

re-circulating the chemical liquid from the testing pipe back to the drum.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein a time period between pumping the chemical liquid from the drum to the testing pipe and monitoring the condition of the chemical liquid flowing through the testing pipe is about 1 minute to about 3 minutes.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 22, 2023
From: CHANG, YU-CHENG; PAN, KENG-HUI; HUANG, CHIEH-JAN; LEE, MING-LEE; CHEN, CHIANG-JEH
To: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 064028/0632 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 16837507 · Apr 1, 2020
Provisional Application 62953756 · Dec 26, 2019
Related Publication 20230326772A1 · Oct 12, 2023
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