# US 12,000,455 B2 · Systems and methods for reducing vibration of apparatuses > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,000,455 B2 - Document ID: US12000455B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/691,805 - Filed: 2022-03-10 - Published: 2023-09-14 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2022-03-10 - Assignees: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd. - Applicants: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd. - Inventors: Yi Chen Ho; Chih Ping Liao; Chien Ting Lin; Jie-Ying Yang; Wei-Ming Wang; Ker-Hsun Liao; Chi-Hsun Lin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12000455B2 ## CPC - F16F 7/10: using inertia effect (F16F13/108, F16F13/22, F16F15/10, F16F15/22 take precedence; stabilising vehicle bodies by means of movable masses B62D37/04; protection of buildings against vibrations or shocks by mass dampers E04H9/0215; arrangements or devices for damping mechanical oscillations of power lines H02G7/14) - F16F 15/02: Suppression of vibrations of non-rotating, e.g. reciprocating systems; Suppression of vibrations of rotating systems by use of members not moving with the rotating systems ({F16F15/005 takes precedence } ; layered products B32B; suppression of vibration in ships B63; {relieving load on bearings, using magnetic means F16C39/06}) - H10P 72/0462: {characterised by the construction of the processing chambers, e.g. modular processing chambers} - H10P 72/0604: {Process monitoring, e.g. flow or thickness monitoring} - H10P 72/0616: {Monitoring of warpages, curvatures, damages, defects or the like} - F16F 2222/08: Inertia - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION - H10P: GENERIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10 ## Abstract A method that includes measuring vibration levels in a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, determining one or more sections of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus that vibrate at levels greater than a predetermined vibration level, and reducing the vibration levels in the one or more sections to be at or within the predetermined vibration level by coupling one or more weights to an external surface of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus in the one or more sections. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: measuring vibration levels in semiconductor manufacturing apparatus; determining one or more sections of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus that vibrate at levels greater than a predetermined vibration level; and reducing the vibration levels in the one or more sections to be at or within the predetermined vibration level by coupling a plurality of weights to an external surface of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus in the one or more sections, the plurality of weights being coupled to opposite lateral walls of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of weights are coupled spaced from a ground surface on which the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus is positioned. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein each weight of the plurality of weights is coupled opposite another weight of the plurality of weights. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the opposite lateral walls include external surfaces of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus and the weights coupled to the opposite lateral walls face toward each other. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the weights attached to the opposite lateral walls face away from each other. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising increasing an overall weight amount attached to the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus by coupling additional weights to existing weights coupled to the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein each weight of the plurality of weights has a same weight value. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus is placed on an anti-vibration platform that is placed on a ground surface, and method includes coupling the plurality of weights between a base of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus and an upper surface of the anti-vibration platform. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of weights are spaced from the upper surface of the anti-vibration platform and the ground surface. ### Claim 10 A method, comprising: attaching a first weight to a first external surface of a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus; attaching a second weight to a second external surface of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, the second external surface being opposite to the first external surface and the first external surface and the second external surface forming opposite lateral walls of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus; measuring vibration levels in portions of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus having the first weight and the second weight; and increasing the first weight and the second weight when the vibration levels are greater than a predetermined level. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the first weight is attached exactly opposite the second weight. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: attaching a third weight on the first external surface and a fourth weight on the second external surface to reduce the vibration levels to be less than or equal to the predetermined level. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein a plurality of weights are attached to the first external surface and the second external surface, the plurality of weights including the first weight and the second weight, and a same number of weights are attached to the first external surface and the second external surface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein each weight on the first external surface has a corresponding weight on the second external surface and attached exactly opposite to each other. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the first weight and the second weight are attached separated from a ground surface on which the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus is positioned. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein increasing the first weight and the second weight comprises: coupling additional weights to each of the first weight and the second weight. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the first weight and the second weight have a same weight value. ### Claim 18 Semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, comprising: a first lateral wall; a second lateral wall opposite the first lateral wall, the first lateral wall and the second lateral wall forming external surfaces of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus; and one or more weights each attached to the external surfaces formed by the first lateral wall and the second lateral wall, wherein the weights are attached on locations on the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus that maximize a reduction in vibrations of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus at those locations. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The semiconductor manufacturing apparatus of claim 18, wherein each weight is attached separated from a ground surface on which the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus is positioned. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The semiconductor manufacturing apparatus of claim 18, further comprising: one or more additional weights coupled to the one or more weights to increase an overall weight on the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus.