Patents by Inventor Hidehiro Maeda

Hidehiro Maeda has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11967371
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes i first word lines connected to the i first memory cells, i second word lines connected to the i second memory cells, a driver capable of supplying voltage to each of the i first word lines and each of the i second word lines, and a logic control circuit controlling both a write operation including a verify operation and a read operation including a verify operation. In the semiconductor memory device, when an order of performing a sense operation for determining whether or not a threshold voltage of the k-th first memory cell has reached a j-th threshold voltage in the verify operation is different from that of in the read operation, a voltage applied to the k-th first word line in the verify operation is different from a voltage applied to the k-th first word line in the read operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Kioxia Corporation
    Inventors: Rieko Funatsuki, Takashi Maeda, Hidehiro Shiga
  • Publication number: 20240096413
    Abstract: A control circuit of a semiconductor memory device performs a write operation on a memory cell transistor of the semiconductor memory device by performing a first pulse application operation of lowering a threshold voltage of the memory cell transistor, a precharge operation, and then a second pulse application operation. In the precharge operation, in a state in which first and second select transistors connected to the memory cell transistor are turned on, a bit line connected to the memory cell transistor is charged by applying a ground voltage to a word line connected to a gate of the memory cell transistor and applying a voltage higher than the ground voltage to a source line. In the second pulse application operation, in a state in which the first select transistor is turned on and the second select transistor is turned off, a program voltage is applied to the word line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Natsuki SAKAGUCHI, Takashi MAEDA, Rieko FUNATSUKI, Hidehiro SHIGA
  • Publication number: 20230052396
    Abstract: A control device configured to control a supply condition of a gas which is supplied between two substrates that are to be bonded to each other by a substrate bonding device, is configured to control the supply condition based on a measurement result obtained by a measurement in relation to at least one of the substrate, another substrate bonded before the substrate is bonded, or the substrate bonding device, and the two substrates are bonded to each other by a contact region expanding after the contact region is formed in a center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidehiro MAEDA, Toshimasa SHIMODA, Hajime MITSUISHI, Hiroshi MORI, Kishou TAKAHATA, Masahiro YOSHIHASHI, Takashi SHIOMI, Yoshihiro MAEHARA
  • Publication number: 20220084870
    Abstract: A substrate holder includes a central support portion configured to support a central portion of a substrate, and an circumferential support portion arranged on an outside of the central support portion and configured to support a circumferential portion on an outside of the central portion, and the circumferential support portion is configured to support the circumferential portion so that at least a partial region of the circumferential portion is curved toward the substrate holder with a curvature greater than that of the central portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hajime MITSUISHI, Isao SUGAYA, Atsushi KAMASHITA, Masashi OKADA, Minoru FUKUDA, Hidehiro MAEDA
  • Publication number: 20210225651
    Abstract: A method for bonding a first substrate and a second substrate includes: forming a protrusion at a partial region of the first substrate; measuring a position of the first substrate after the protrusion is formed in the first substrate; and bonding the first substrate and the second substrate by contacting the protrusion of the first substrate with a surface of the second substrate to form a contact region and enlarging the contact region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hajime MITSUISHI, Isao SUGAYA, Minoru FUKUDA, Masaki TSUNODA, Hidehiro MAEDA, Ikuhiro KUWANO
  • Patent number: 11004686
    Abstract: A method for bonding a first substrate and a second substrate includes: forming a protrusion at a partial region of the first substrate; measuring a position of the first substrate after the protrusion is formed in the first substrate; and bonding the first substrate and the second substrate by contacting the protrusion of the first substrate with a surface of the second substrate to form a contact region and enlarging the contact region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hajime Mitsuishi, Isao Sugaya, Minoru Fukuda, Masaki Tsunoda, Hidehiro Maeda, Ikuhiro Kuwano
  • Patent number: 10714351
    Abstract: Provided is a substrate holding unit that holds a pair of substrates that are aligned and layered, comprising a first holding member that holds one of the substrates; a plurality of members to be joined that are connected to the first holding member; a second holding member that holds the other of the substrates to face the one of the substrates; a plurality of joining members that exert an adhesion force on the members to be joined and are connected to the second holding member at positions corresponding to positions of the members to be joined; and an adhesion restricting section that restricts the adhesion force until the substrates are aligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hidehiro Maeda, Satoshi Katagiri
  • Publication number: 20190267238
    Abstract: A method for bonding a first substrate and a second substrate includes: forming a protrusion at a partial region of the first substrate; measuring a position of the first substrate after the protrusion is formed in the first substrate; and bonding the first substrate and the second substrate by contacting the protrusion of the first substrate with a surface of the second substrate to form a contact region and enlarging the contact region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hajime MITSUISHI, lsao SUGAYA, Minoru FUKUDA, Masaki TSUNODA, Hidehiro MAEDA, lkuhiro KUWANO
  • Patent number: 9240339
    Abstract: A substrate holder is reliably transported in a state of holding a substrate. There is provided a substrate holder for holding a substrate by means of electrostatic force generated by power supplied from an external source. The substrate holder is to be transported in a state of holding the substrate. The substrate holder includes a holder body that is to have the substrate placed thereon, and a connector terminal that is externally exposed through the holder body, where the connector terminal is attachable to and detachable from an external power supply terminal. There is also provided a substrate transport apparatus for transporting a substrate holder holding a substrate by means of electrostatic force generated by power supplied from an external source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidehiro Maeda, Masahiro Yoshihashi
  • Patent number: 9054140
    Abstract: Provided is a substrate holder system comprising a first substrate holder that holds a first substrate; an engaging member provided on the first substrate holder; a second substrate holder that holds a second substrate and can, together with the first substrate holder, sandwich the first substrate and the second substrate; an engagement receiving member that is provided on the second substrate holder and engages with the engaging member; and a dust restricting means for restricting generation of dust caused by the engagement of the engaging member and the engagement receiving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Isao Sugaya, Junichi Chonan, Hidehiro Maeda
  • Patent number: 9015930
    Abstract: Provided is a substrate holding unit that holds a pair of substrates that are aligned and layered, comprising a first holding member that holds one of the substrates; a plurality of members to be joined that are connected to the first holding member; a second holding member that holds the other of the substrates to face the one of the substrates; a plurality of joining members that exert an adhesion force on the members to be joined and are connected to the second holding member at positions corresponding to positions of the members to be joined; and an adhesion restricting section that restricts the adhesion force until the substrates are aligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hidehiro Maeda, Satoshi Katagiri
  • Publication number: 20140345805
    Abstract: A substrate holder that holds a substrate when the substrate is being aligned with another substrate and transports the substrate in a held state, comprising a mounting portion on which the substrate is mounted; a supported section that is provided on the mounting portion and is supported by another member during transport; and a restricting section that restricts damage from stress caused by a difference in expansion and contraction due to heat between the mounting portion and the supported section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Hidehiro MAEDA, Isao SUGAYA, Naohiko KURATA, Hiroshi MORI
  • Publication number: 20140036403
    Abstract: A substrate holder is reliably transported in a state of holding a substrate. There is provided a substrate holder for holding a substrate by means of electrostatic force generated by power supplied from an external source. The substrate holder is to be transported in a state of holding the substrate. The substrate holder includes a holder body that is to have the substrate placed thereon, and a connector terminal that is externally exposed through the holder body, where the connector terminal is attachable to and detachable from an external power supply terminal. There is also provided a substrate transport apparatus for transporting a substrate holder holding a substrate by means of electrostatic force generated by power supplied from an external source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidehiro Maeda, Masahiro Yoshihashi
  • Patent number: 8570704
    Abstract: A substrate holder is reliably transported in a state of holding a substrate. There is provided a substrate holder for holding a substrate by means of electrostatic force generated by power supplied from an external source. The substrate holder is to be transported in a state of holding the substrate. The substrate holder includes a holder body that is to have the substrate placed thereon, and a connector terminal that is externally exposed through the holder body, where the connector terminal is attachable to and detachable from an external power supply terminal. There is also provided a substrate transport apparatus for transporting a substrate holder holding a substrate by means of electrostatic force generated by power supplied from an external source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hidehiro Maeda, Masahiro Yoshihashi
  • Publication number: 20130274915
    Abstract: Provided is a transport method comprising judging whether there is a possibility that misalignment greater than or equal to a threshold value occurs between substrates to be layered that are held by a pair of substrate holders aligned and stacked by an aligning section, the misalignment occurring when the pair of substrate holders is transported from the aligning section to a pressure applying section; and if the judgment indicates that there is the possibility of misalignment, transporting the pair of substrate holders to a region other than the pressure applying section. Whether there is the possibility of misalignment may be judged based on acceleration of the substrate holders. Whether there is the possibility of misalignment may be judged based on acceleration of a transporting section that transports the substrate holders. Whether there is the possibility of misalignment may be judged based on relative positions of the substrate holders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Hidehiro Maeda, Kazuya Okamoto, Yasuaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8489227
    Abstract: Provided is a transport method comprising judging whether there is a possibility that misalignment greater than or equal to a threshold value occurs between substrates to be layered that are held by a pair of substrate holders aligned and stacked by an aligning section, the misalignment occurring when the pair of substrate holders is transported from the aligning section to a pressure applying section; and if the judgment indicates that there is the possibility of misalignment, transporting the pair of substrate holders to a region other than the pressure applying section. Whether there is the possibility of misalignment may be judged based on at least one of an acceleration of the substrate holders, an acceleration of a transporting section that transports the substrate holders, relative positions of the substrate holders, or relative positions of the transporting section and one of the pair of substrate holders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hidehiro Maeda, Kazuya Okamoto, Yasuaki Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20130157438
    Abstract: Provided is a substrate holding unit that holds a pair of substrates that are aligned and layered, comprising a first holding member that holds one of the substrates; a plurality of members to be joined that are connected to the first holding member; a second holding member that holds the other of the substrates to face the one of the substrates; a plurality of joining members that exert an adhesion force on the members to be joined and are connected to the second holding member at positions corresponding to positions of the members to be joined; and an adhesion restricting section that restricts the adhesion force until the substrates are aligned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidehiro MAEDA, Satoshi Katagiri
  • Publication number: 20120330459
    Abstract: Provided is a transport method comprising judging whether there is a possibility that misalignment greater than or equal to a threshold value occurs between substrates to be layered that are held by a pair of substrate holders aligned and stacked by an aligning section, the misalignment occurring when the pair of substrate holders is transported from the aligning section to a pressure applying section; and if the judgment indicates that there is the possibility of misalignment, transporting the pair of substrate holders to a region other than the pressure applying section. Whether there is the possibility of misalignment may be judged based on at least one of an acceleration of the substrate holders, an acceleration of a transporting section that transports the substrate holders, relative positions of the substrate holders, or relative positions of the transporting section and one of the pair of substrate holders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hidehiro MAEDA, Kazuya OKAMOTO, Yasuaki TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20120214290
    Abstract: Provided is a substrate holder pair comprising a first substrate holder that has a first holding portion holding a first substrate; a second substrate holder that has a second holding portion holding a second substrate to be bonded with the first substrate and that, together with the first substrate holder, sandwiches the first substrate and the second substrate; an engaging member that causes the first substrate holder to engage with the second substrate holder; and a dust inhibiting section inhibits dust generated by the engaging of the engaging member from entering between the first holding portion and the second holding portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventors: Isao Sugaya, Junichi Chonan, Hidehiro Maeda, Keiichi Tanaka, Tomoyuki Yasuda
  • Publication number: 20120205024
    Abstract: Provided is a substrate holder system comprising a first substrate holder that holds a first substrate; an engaging member provided on the first substrate holder; a second substrate holder that holds a second substrate and can, together with the first substrate holder, sandwich the first substrate and the second substrate; an engagement receiving member that is provided on the second substrate holder and engages with the engaging member; and a dust restricting means for restricting generation of dust caused by the engagement of the engaging member and the engagement receiving member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: Isao SUGAYA, Junichi CHONAN, Hidehiro MAEDA