IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,628,610
Granted Patent B2
US 12,628,610 · App. 18/784,494 · Granted May 12, 2026

Integrated semiconductor die vessel processing workstations

Inventors: Tsung-Sheng Kuo (Hsin-Chu, TW); Guan-Wei Huang (Hsin-Chu, TW); Chih-Hung Huang (Hsin-Chu, TW); Yang-Ann Chu (Hsin-Chu, TW); Hsu-Shui Liu (Pingjhen City, TW); Jiun-Rong Pai (Jhubei City, TW)
Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
H10P72/0616H10P70/20H10P72/0414H10P74/203
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,628,610
App. No.
18/784,494
Granted
May 12, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

In certain embodiments, a workstation includes: a cleaning station configured to clean a die vessel, wherein the die vessel is configured to secure a semiconductor die; an inspection station configured to inspect the die vessel after cleaning to determine whether the die vessel is identified as passing inspection; and a conveyor configured to move the die vessel between the cleaning station and the inspection station.

Claims (42)

1 . A method, comprising:

receiving a die vessel at a disassembly station;

determining whether the die vessel comprises a first type of die vessel or a second type of die vessel; and

disassembling multiple parts of the die vessel when the die vessel is determined to be the first type of die vessel,

wherein the determining comprises measuring a weight of the die vessel using a weight sensor located at the disassembly station, and wherein the disassembly station determines whether the die vessel comprises the first or second type of die vessel based on an output of the weight sensor.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

inspecting the die vessel to determine whether the die vessel includes at least one of correct dimensions or expected surface features based on the determined type of die vessel;

determining the die vessel as passing inspection in response to determining that the die vessel includes at least one of correct dimensions or expected surface features; and

moving the die vessel to a pass output port or a fail output port based on whether the die vessel is identified as passing an inspection.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the pass output port interfaces with an automated material handling system.

4 . The method of claim 2 , further wherein inspecting the die vessel further comprises determining whether the die vessel comprises one or more expected parts, and further wherein determining the die vessel as passing inspection in response determining that the die vessel comprises one or more expected parts.

5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising assembling the multiple parts after the inspection of the die vessel when the die vessel is determined to comprise the first type of die vessel.

6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising drying the multiple parts.

7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising moving the one or more parts of the die vessel from the disassembly station, to a cleaning station, to the drying station, to the inspection station and to the assembly station.

8 . A method, comprising:

securing a semiconductor die in a die vessel;

receiving the die vessel at a disassembly station;

determining whether the die vessel comprises a first type of die vessel or a second type of die vessel;

disassembling multiple parts of the die vessel when the die vessel is determined to be the first type of die vessel; and

moving the one or more parts of the die vessel between the disassembly station and a pass output port or a fail output port based on whether the one or more parts of the die vessel is identified as passing an inspection when the die vessel comprises either the first type of die vessel or the second type of die vessel,

wherein the determining comprises measuring a weight of the die vessel using a weight sensor located at the disassembly station, and wherein the disassembly station determines whether the die vessel comprises the first or second type of die vessel based on an output of the weight sensor.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising inspecting the die vessel to determine a distance between two pins on the die vessel.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein moving the die vessel to the fail output port is performed in response to the distance between the two pins not being a predetermined distance apart.

11 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising inspecting the die vessel for warpage.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the moving the die vessel to the fail output port is in response to the warpage being at or more than a predetermined threshold across the die vessel.

13 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising cleaning the one or more parts of the die vessel before inspection by an inspection station.

14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the moving is performed by a conveyor belt.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the conveyor belt comprises a cleaning station portion and an inspection station portion that are physically separated from each other.

16 . A method, comprising:

receiving a die vessel at a disassembly station configured to receive a die vessel;

determining whether the die vessel comprises a first type of die vessel or a second type of die vessel, wherein the determining comprises measuring a weight of the die vessel using a weight sensor located at the disassembly station, and wherein the disassembly station determines whether the die vessel comprises the first or second type of die vessel based on an output of the weight sensor;

disassembling multiple parts of the die vessel when the die vessel comprises the first type of die vessel;

cleaning one or more parts of the die vessel;

inspecting the one or more parts of the die vessel after cleaning to determine whether the die vessel is identified as passing inspection; and

moving the one or more parts of the die vessel between the disassembly station, the cleaning station and the inspection station.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising moving the one or more parts of the die vessel to a pass output port or a fail output port based on whether the one or more parts of the die vessel is identified as passing inspection.

18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

assembling the multiple parts after inspection of the die vessel when the die vessel is determined to comprise the first type of die vessel;

drying the one or more parts of the die vessel; and

moving the one or more parts of the die vessel from the disassembly station, to the cleaning station, to the drying station, to the inspection station and to the assembly station.

19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising capturing an image of the die vessel.

20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the moving performed by a conveyor belt.

Continuity (5)
Continuation 18222328 · Jul 14, 2023
Continuation 17874174 · Jul 26, 2022
Division 16518352 · Jul 22, 2019
Provisional Application 62712656 · Jul 31, 2018
Related Publication 20240379393A1 · Nov 14, 2024
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