Patents by Inventor Hirokazu Nishimaki

Hirokazu Nishimaki 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).

  • Publication number: 20200174370
    Abstract: A method for reducing the level difference (iso-dense bias) (reverse bump) of a resist underlayer film formed on a semiconductor substrate having a stepped portion and a non-stepped portion by 5 nm or more, which comprises a step of applying the composition to an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate having a stepped portion and a non-stepped portion. A method for reducing the level difference (iso-dense bias) of a resist underlayer film, comprising the steps of adding a fluorine-containing surfactant to a resist underlayer film-forming composition containing a polymer and a solvent and applying the composition containing the fluorine-containing surfactant to an upper surface of a semiconductor substrate having a stepped portion and a non-stepped portion. The level difference of a resist underlayer film formed on a semiconductor substrate between a stepped portion and a non-stepped portion (i.e., reverse bump) is reduced by 5 nm or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Applicant: NISSAN CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirokazu NISHIMAKI, Takafumi ENDO
  • Patent number: 10585353
    Abstract: There is provided a novel resist underlayer film forming composition comprising a polymer having a repeating structural unit of formula (1a) and/or (1b): [wherein two R1s are each independently a C1-10 alkyl group, a C2-6 alkenyl group, an aromatic hydrocarbon group, a halogen atom, a nitro group, or an amino group, two R2s are each independently a hydrogen atom, a C1-10 alkyl group, a C2-6 alkenyl group, an acetal group, an acyl group, or a glycidyl group, R3 is an aromatic hydrocarbon group optionally having a substituent or a heterocyclic group, R4 is a hydrogen atom, a phenyl group, or a naphthyl group, two ks are each independently 0 or 1, m is an integer of 3 to 500, p is an integer of 3 to 500, X is a benzene ring, and two —C(CH3)2— groups bonded to the benzene ring are in a meta position or a para position], and a solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: NISSAN CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirokazu Nishimaki, Keisuke Hashimoto, Rikimaru Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20190294046
    Abstract: There is provided a novel resist underlayer film forming composition comprising a polymer having a repeating structural unit of formula (1a) and/or (1b): [wherein two R1s are each independently a C1-10 alkyl group, a C2-6 alkenyl group, an aromatic hydrocarbon group, a halogen atom, a nitro group, or an amino group, two R2s are each independently a hydrogen atom, a C1-10 alkyl group, a C2-6 alkenyl group, an acetal group, an acyl group, or a glycidyl group, R3 is an aromatic hydrocarbon group optionally having a substituent or a heterocyclic group, R4 is a hydrogen atom, a phenyl group, or a naphthyl group, two ks are each independently 0 or 1, m is an integer of 3 to 500, p is an integer of 3 to 500, X is a benzene ring, and two —C(CH3)2— groups bonded to the benzene ring are in a meta position or a para position], and a solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Applicant: NISSAN CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirokazu NISHIMAKI, Keisuke HASHIMOTO, Rikimaru SAKAMOTO
  • Patent number: 10394124
    Abstract: A resist underlayer film-forming composition for lithography process having characteristics of enabling wafer surface planarization after film formation, excellent planarization performance on substrate with level difference, and good embeddability in fine hole pattern. The resist underlayer film-forming composition including polymer having unit structure of Formula (1) and solvent, wherein each of R1 to R4 is independently hydrogen atom or methyl group, and X1 is divalent organic group having at least one arylene group optionally substituted by alkyl group, amino group, or hydroxyl group, and wherein X1 in Formula (1) is organic group of Formula (2), wherein A1 is phenylene group or naphthylene group, A2 is phenylene group, naphthylene group, or organic group of Formula (3), and dotted line is bond, and wherein each of A3 and A4 is independently phenylene group or naphthylene group, and dotted line is bond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Keisuke Hashimoto, Rikimaru Sakamoto, Hirokazu Nishimaki, Takafumi Endo
  • Publication number: 20190079397
    Abstract: A stepped substrate coating composition includes: a compound (E) containing partial structures (I) and (II) and a solvent (F). The partial structure (II) contains a hydroxy group generated by an epoxy group and a proton-generating compound reaction; the partial structure (I) is at least one partial structure selected from partial structures of Formula (1-1) to Formula (1-5) or a partial structure combining a partial structure of Formula (1-6) and Formula (1-7) or Formula (1-8); and the partial structure (II) is a partial structure of Formula (2-1) or Formula (2-2). The photocurable stepped substrate coating composition wherein in the compound (E), the epoxy group and the hydroxy group are contained in a molar ratio of 0?(Epoxy group)/(Hydroxy group)?0.5 and the partial structure (II) is contained in a molar ratio of 0.01?(Partial structure (II))/(Partial structure (I)+Partial structure (II))?0.8.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Applicant: NISSAN CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takafumi ENDO, Keisuke HASHIMOTO, Hirokazu NISHIMAKI, Mamoru TAMURA, Rikimaru SAKAMOTO, Hikaru TOKUNAGA
  • Patent number: 10191374
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel resist underlayer film-forming composition capable of forming a resist underlayer film that has etching resistance and excellent embeddability in a surface having concave portions and/or convex portions. A resist underlayer film-forming composition comprising a polymer having a structural unit represented by formula (1) or formula (2): (wherein X is an arylene group, n is 1 or 2, and R1, R2, R3, and R4 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a hydroxy group, a C1-3 alkyl group, or a phenyl group), and a solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Nishimaki, Keisuke Hashimoto, Takafumi Endo, Rikimaru Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 10017664
    Abstract: Resist underlayer film-forming composition for forming resist underlayer film with high dry etching resistance, wiggling resistance and exerts good flattening property and embedding property for uneven parts, including resin obtained by reacting organic compound A including aromatic ring and aldehyde B having at least two aromatic hydrocarbon ring groups having phenolic hydroxy group and having structure wherein the aromatic hydrocarbon ring groups are bonded through tertiary carbon atom. The aldehyde B may be compound of Formula (1): The obtained resin may have a unit structure of Formula (2): Ar1 and Ar2 each are C6-40 aryl group. The organic compound A including aromatic ring may be aromatic amine or phenolic hydroxy group-containing compound. The composition may contain further solvent, acid and/or acid generator, or crosslinking agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takafumi Endo, Keisuke Hashimoto, Hirokazu Nishimaki, Rikimaru Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20170315445
    Abstract: A resist underlayer film-forming composition for lithography process having characteristics of enabling wafer surface planarization after film formation, excellent planarization performance on substrate with level difference, and good embeddability in fine hole pattern. The resist underlayer film-forming composition including polymer having unit structure of Formula (1) and solvent, wherein each of R1 to R4 is independently hydrogen atom or methyl group, and X1 is divalent organic group having at least one arylene group optionally substituted by alkyl group, amino group, or hydroxyl group, and wherein X1 in Formula (1) is organic group of Formula (2), wherein A1 is phenylene group or naphthylene group, A2 is phenylene group, naphthylene group, or organic group of Formula (3), and dotted line is bond, and wherein each of A3 and A4 is independently phenylene group or naphthylene group, and dotted line is bond.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Applicant: NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Keisuke HASHIMOTO, Rikimaru SAKAMOTO, Hirokazu NISHIMAKI, Takafumi ENDO
  • Publication number: 20170227850
    Abstract: A resist underlayer film for lithography has high solubility in a resist solvent (solvent used in lithography) for expressing good coating film forming property and a smaller selection ratio of dry etching rate as compared with a resist. A resist underlayer film-forming composition containing a novolac resin containing a structure (C) obtained by a reaction of an aromatic ring of an aromatic compound (A) with a hydroxy group-containing aromatic methylol compound (B). The aromatic compound (A) may be a component constituting the structure (C) in the novolac resin. The hydroxy group-containing aromatic methylol compound (B) may be a compound of Formula (1): The hydroxy group-containing aromatic methylol compound (B) may be 2-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, or 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxymethyl phenol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicant: NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hirokazu NISHIMAKI, Rikimaru SAKAMOTO, Keisuke HASHIMOTO, Takafumi ENDO
  • Publication number: 20170153548
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel resist underlayer film-forming composition capable of forming a resist underlayer film that has etching resistance and excellent embeddability in a surface having concave portions and/or convex portions. A resist underlayer film-forming composition comprising a polymer having a structural unit represented by formula (1) or formula (2): (wherein X is an arylene group, n is 1 or 2, and R1, R2, R3, and R4 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a hydroxy group, a C1-3 alkyl group, or a phenyl group), and a solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hirokazu NISHIMAKI, Keisuke HASHIMOTO, Takafumi ENDO, Rikimaru SAKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20170097568
    Abstract: A resist underlayer film-forming composition has high solubility in a solvent used at a lithography process for exhibiting good coating film forming properties and able to decrease a sublime generated during formation of a film. A resist underlayer film-forming composition having a novolac resin having a structure group (C) obtained by a reaction of an aromatic ring structure of an aromatic ring-containing compound (A) with a vinyl group of an aromatic vinyl compound (B). The aromatic vinyl compound (B) is represented by Formula (1), and is specifically styrene, 2-vinylnaphthalene, 4-tert-butylstyrene, or 4-tert-butoxystyrene. The structure group (C) is represented by Formula (2). The aromatic ring-containing compound (A) is an aromatic amine compound or a phenolic hydroxy group-containing compound. The novolac resin is a resin produced by a reaction of the aromatic amine compound or the phenolic hydroxy group-containing compound with aldehyde or ketone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Applicant: NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takafumi ENDO, Keisuke HASHIMOTO, Hirokazu NISHIMAKI, Rikimaru SAKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20160326396
    Abstract: A resist underlayer film which has an excellent hard mask function and can form an excellent pattern shape. A resist underlayer film-forming composition to be used for a lithography process, including a novolac polymer obtained by reaction of an aldehyde compound and an aromatic compound having a secondary amino group. The novolac polymer contains a unit structure of Formula (1): A method for producing a semiconductor device, including the steps of: forming a resist underlayer film from the resist underlayer film-forming composition on a semiconductor substrate; forming a hard mask on the resist underlayer film; further forming a resist film on the hard mask; forming a resist pattern by irradiation with light or an electron beam and development; etching the hard mask by using the formed resist pattern; etching the resist underlayer film by using the patterned hard mask; and processing the semiconductor substrate by using the patterned underlayer film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Applicant: NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hirokazu NISHIMAKI, Keisuke HASHIMOTO, Rikimaru SAKAMOTO, Takafumi ENDO
  • Patent number: 9469777
    Abstract: There is provided a composition for forming a resist underlayer film which has high dry-etching resistance and wiggling resistance, and achieves excellent planarizing properties for a semiconductor substrate surface having level differences or irregular portions. A resist underlayer film-forming composition including a phenol novolac resin that is obtained by causing a compound that has at least three phenolic groups, in which each of the phenolic groups has a structure bonded to a tertiary carbon atom or has a structure bonded to a quaternary carbon atom to which a methyl group binds, to react with an aromatic aldehyde or an aromatic ketone in the presence of an acid catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takafumi Endo, Tetsuya Shinjo, Keisuke Hashimoto, Yasunobu Someya, Hirokazu Nishimaki, Ryo Karasawa, Rikimaru Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 9436085
    Abstract: A composition for forming a resist underlayer film to be used in a lithography process, that includes: a polymer containing unit structures of Formula (1), Formula (2), and Formula (3): the polymer being a polymer in which the unit structure of Formula (1) has a ratio of mole number (a) within a range of 0.20?a?0.90, the unit structure of Formula (2) has a ratio of mole number (b) within a range of 0.05?b?0.60, and the unit structure of Formula (3) has a ratio of mole number (c) within a range of 0.001?c?0.40, when a total mole number of all unit structures constituting the polymer is 1.0, and the polymer having a weight average molecular weight of 3,000 to 100,000; a crosslinkable compound; a photoacid generator; and a solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Horiguchi, Makiko Umezaki, Noriaki Fujitani, Hirokazu Nishimaki, Takahiro Kishioka, Takahiro Hamada
  • Patent number: 9395628
    Abstract: There is provided a resist underlayer film-forming composition to reduce the amount of sublimate generated from the resist underlayer film at baking process and to suppress aging and have high storage stability. A resist underlayer film-forming composition including an aryl sulfonic acid salt compound having a hydroxy group of Formula (1): (where Ar is a benzene ring or an aromatic hydrocarbon ring wherein benzene rings are condensed; m1 is an integer of 0 to (2+2n), m2 and m3 each is an integer of 1 to (3+2n), and (m1+m2+m3) is an integer of 2 to (4+2n), with the proviso that n is the number of the benzene rings or condensed benzene rings in the aromatic hydrocarbon ring and is an integer of 1 to 6; X+ is NH4+, a primary ammonium ion, secondary ammonium ion, tertiary ammonium ion, quaternary ammonium ion, sulfonium ion, or an iodonium cation).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takafumi Endo, Keisuke Hashimoto, Hirokazu Nishimaki, Rikimaru Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20160147151
    Abstract: An excellent resist underlayer film having a selectivity of dry etching rate close to that of a resist, selectivity of dry etching rate lower than that of a resist, or selectivity of dry etching rate lower than that of semiconductor substrate. Resist underlayer film-forming composition including a polymer containing unit structure of Formula (1): (where R3 is hydrogen atom, or C6-40 aryl group or heterocyclic group optionally substituted with halogen group, nitro group, amino group, carbonyl group, C6-40 aryl group, or hydroxy group; R4 is a hydrogen atom, or C1-10 alkyl group, C6-40 aryl group, or heterocyclic group optionally substituted with halogen group, nitro group, amino group, or hydroxy group; R3 and R4 optionally form ring together with carbon atoms bonded thereto; and n is an integer of 0 to 2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Applicant: NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya SHINJO, Yasunobu SOMEYA, Ryo KARASAWA, Hirokazu NISHIMAKI, Takafumi ENDO, Keisuke HASHIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20160068709
    Abstract: Resist underlayer film-forming composition for forming resist underlayer film with high dry etching resistance, wiggling resistance and exerts good flattening property and embedding property for uneven parts, including resin obtained by reacting organic compound A including aromatic ring and aldehyde B having at least two aromatic hydrocarbon ring groups having phenolic hydroxy group and having structure wherein the aromatic hydrocarbon ring groups are bonded through tertiary carbon atom. The aldehyde B may be compound of Formula (1): The obtained resin may have a unit structure of Formula (2): Ar1 and Ar2 each are C6-40 aryl group. The organic compound A including aromatic ring may be aromatic amine or phenolic hydroxy group-containing compound. The composition may contain further solvent, acid and/or acid generator, or crosslinking agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Takafumi ENDO, Keisuke HASHIMOTO, Hirokazu NISHIMAKI, Rikimaru SAKAMOTO
  • Patent number: 9263286
    Abstract: A novel diarylamine novolac resin such as a phenylnaphthylamine novolac resin, and further a resist underlayer film-forming composition in which the resin is used in a lithography process for manufacturing a semiconductor device. A polymer including a unit structure (A) of Formula (1): (in Formula (1), each of Ar1 and Ar2 is a benzene ring or a naphthalene ring). A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, including: forming an underlayer film on a semiconductor substrate with the resist underlayer film-forming composition; forming a hardmask on the underlayer film; forming a resist film on the hardmask; forming a resist pattern by irradiation with light or an electron beam followed by development; etching the hardmask with the resist pattern; etching the underlayer film with the hardmask thus patterned; and processing the semiconductor substrate with the underlayer film thus patterned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Rikimaru Sakamoto, Yasunobu Someya, Keisuke Hashimoto, Hirokazu Nishimaki
  • Patent number: 9261790
    Abstract: A resist underlayer film-forming composition for forming a resist underlayer film having both dry etching resistance and heat resistance. A resist underlayer film-forming composition comprising a polymer containing a unit structure of Formula (1): In Formula (1), R3 is a hydrogen atom, and both n1 and n2 are 0. A method for producing a semiconductor device comprising the steps of: forming an underlayer film on a semiconductor substrate using the resist underlayer film-forming composition; forming a hard mask on the underlayer film; further forming a resist film on the hard mask; forming a resist pattern by irradiation with light or electron beams and development; etching the hard mask using the resist pattern; etching the underlayer film using the hard mask patterned; and fabricating the semiconductor substrate using the patterned underlayer film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasunobu Someya, Keisuke Hashimoto, Tetsuya Shinjo, Hirokazu Nishimaki, Ryo Karasawa, Rikimaru Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 9244353
    Abstract: A resist underlayer film forming composition including: a polymer having any one or more repeating structural units of Formulas (1a), (1b), and (1c): two R1s are each independently alkyl group, alkenyl group, aromatic hydrocarbon group, halogen atom, nitro group, or an amino group, two R2s are each independently hydrogen atom, alkyl group, alkenyl group, acetal group, acyl group, or glycidyl group, R3 is aromatic hydrocarbon group optionally having a substituent, R4 is hydrogen atom, phenyl group, or naphthyl group, in (1b), groups of two R3s and atoms or groups of two R4s are optionally different from each other, two “k”s are each independently 0 or 1, m is integer of 3 to 500, n, n1, and n2 are an integer of 2 to 500, p is integer of 3 to 500, X is a single bond or hetero atom, and two Qs are each independently a structural unit; and solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Nishimaki, Keisuke Hashimoto, Tetsuya Shinjo, Takafumi Endo, Rikimaru Sakamoto