Patents by Inventor Kouichirou Tanaka

Kouichirou Tanaka 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: 11923218
    Abstract: A development processing apparatus includes: a substrate holder that holds a substrate horizontally wherein the substrate includes a resist film; a rotator that rotates the substrate holder; first and second developer supplies that supply a developer to the substrate; and a liquid receiver that receives the developer from the substrate. The first developer supply is formed to have a length smaller than a diameter of the substrate. The second developer supply is formed to have a length equal to or larger than the diameter of the substrate. The liquid receiver includes first and second annular walls that are formed in an annular shape having a circular opening having a diameter larger than the diameter of the substrate. The first and second annular walls are movable up and down independently of each other, and a vertical distance between the first annular wall and the second annular wall is variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Kouichirou Tanaka, Masahiro Fukuda
  • Patent number: 11774854
    Abstract: A method of processing a substrate includes: performing a first developing process of moving a nozzle having one end surface and a discharge port opened at the end surface while making the end surface come into contact with a developer on a front surface of a substrate in a state in which the nozzle is disposed so that the end surface faces the front surface and the developer is discharged from the discharge port at a first flow rate while rotating the substrate; and after the first developing process, performing a second developing process of discharging the developer from the discharge port at a second flow rate higher than the first flow rate in a state in which the end surface is in contact with the developer on the front surface at a position facing a center of the front surface of the substrate while rotating the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yusaku Hashimoto, Kouichirou Tanaka, Masahiro Fukuda, Atsushi Ookouchi
  • Patent number: 11720026
    Abstract: A developing treatment method performs a developing treatment on a resist film on a substrate. The method includes: a pattern forming step of forming a resist pattern by supplying a developing solution to the substrate and developing the resist film on the substrate; a coating step of coating the developed substrate with an aqueous solution of a water-soluble polymer; and a rinse step of cleaning the substrate by supplying a rinse solution to the substrate coated with the aqueous solution of the water-soluble polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Akiko Kai, Kousuke Yoshihara, Kouichirou Tanaka, Hiroshi Ichinomiya
  • Patent number: 11693322
    Abstract: A liquid processing apparatus includes a substrate holder configured to hold a substrate; a processing liquid supply configured to supply a processing liquid onto a front surface of the substrate; a gas supply configured to supply a gas onto the front surface of the substrate; and a controller. The gas supply includes a diffusion nozzle which is provided with multiple discharge openings respectively elongated at different angles with respect to the front surface of the substrate. The controller performs controlling the gas supply to jet the gas from the diffusion nozzle onto a region of the front surface of the substrate including at least a central portion thereof in a state that the processing liquid is supplied on the front surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Takuya Miura, Shougo Takahashi, Kouichirou Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20230026275
    Abstract: A method of processing a substrate includes: performing a first developing process of moving a nozzle having one end surface and a discharge port opened at the end surface while making the end surface come into contact with a developer on a front surface of a substrate in a state in which the nozzle is disposed so that the end surface faces the front surface and the developer is discharged from the discharge port at a first flow rate while rotating the substrate; and after the first developing process, performing a second developing process of discharging the developer from the discharge port at a second flow rate higher than the first flow rate in a state in which the end surface is in contact with the developer on the front surface at a position facing a center of the front surface of the substrate while rotating the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Yusaku HASHIMOTO, Kouichirou TANAKA, Masahiro FUKUDA, Atsushi OOKOUCHI
  • Patent number: 11508589
    Abstract: When performing a liquid processing on a substrate W being rotated and removing a processing liquid by a cleaning liquid, a cleaning liquid nozzle 421 configured to discharge a cleaning liquid slantly with respect to a surface of the substrate W toward a downstream side of a rotational direction of the substrate W and a gas nozzle 411 configured to discharge a gas toward a position adjacent to a central portion side of the substrate W when viewed from a liquid arrival position R of the cleaning liquid are moved from the central portion side toward a peripheral portion side. A rotation number of the substrate is varied such that rotation number in a period during which the liquid arrival position R moves in the second region becomes smaller than a maximum rotation number in a period during which the liquid arrival position moves in the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Akiko Kai, Kouichirou Tanaka, Hiroshi Ichinomiya, Masahiro Fukuda
  • Patent number: 11480881
    Abstract: A method of processing a substrate includes: performing a first developing process of moving a nozzle having one end surface and a discharge port opened at the end surface while making the end surface come into contact with a developer on a front surface of a substrate in a state in which the nozzle is disposed so that the end surface faces the front surface and the developer is discharged from the discharge port at a first flow rate while rotating the substrate; and after the first developing process, performing a second developing process of discharging the developer from the discharge port at a second flow rate higher than the first flow rate in a state in which the end surface is in contact with the developer on the front surface at a position facing a center of the front surface of the substrate while rotating the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yusaku Hashimoto, Kouichirou Tanaka, Masahiro Fukuda, Atsushi Ookouchi
  • Patent number: 11325426
    Abstract: A tire comprises a tread portion comprising at least one circumferentially continuously extending main groove, and a land portion divided by the above-said at least one main groove, wherein the land portion is provided with straight sipes and curved sipes each extending in the tire axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Kouichirou Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20220035248
    Abstract: A method of processing a substrate includes: performing a first developing process of moving a nozzle having one end surface and a discharge port opened at the end surface while making the end surface come into contact with a developer on a front surface of a substrate in a state in which the nozzle is disposed so that the end surface faces the front surface and the developer is discharged from the discharge port at a first flow rate while rotating the substrate; and after the first developing process, performing a second developing process of discharging the developer from the discharge port at a second flow rate higher than the first flow rate in a state in which the end surface is in contact with the developer on the front surface at a position facing a center of the front surface of the substrate while rotating the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Yusaku HASHIMOTO, Kouichirou TANAKA, Masahiro FUKUDA, Atsushi OOKOUCHI
  • Publication number: 20210333707
    Abstract: A nozzle unit for a liquid treatment apparatus that performs a liquid treatment on a substrate using a liquid, includes a first gas nozzle having a discharge flow path for allowing a first gas to flow through the discharge flow path and a first discharge port for discharging the first gas flowing through the discharge flow path toward a surface of the substrate, wherein the first discharge port is formed so as to extend in a first direction along the surface, and wherein a width of the discharge flow path in the first direction increases as the discharge flow path approaches the first discharge port, so that the first gas is discharged radially from the first discharge port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Takuya MIURA, Kouichirou TANAKA, Shogo TAKAHASHI, Yusuke MIYAKUBO, Kentaro YOSHIHARA
  • Publication number: 20210272826
    Abstract: A development processing apparatus includes: a substrate holder that holds a substrate horizontally wherein the substrate includes a resist film; a rotator that rotates the substrate holder; first and second developer supplies that supply a developer to the substrate; and a liquid receiver that receives the developer from the substrate. The first developer supply is formed to have a length smaller than a diameter of the substrate. The second developer supply is formed to have a length equal to or larger than the diameter of the substrate. The liquid receiver includes first and second annular walls that are formed in an annular shape having a circular opening having a diameter larger than the diameter of the substrate. The first and second annular walls are movable up and down independently of each other, and a vertical distance between the first annular wall and the second annular wall is variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Kouichirou TANAKA, Masahiro FUKUDA
  • Patent number: 11079679
    Abstract: A method includes forming a liquid puddle of a mixed solution of the diluting liquid and the processing liquid; rotating the substrate at a first rotation speed which allows the mixed solution located at a region facing an inner side than an edge of the liquid contact surface to stay between the liquid contact surface and the surface of the substrate and allows the mixed solution located at a region facing an outer side than the edge of the liquid contact surface to be diffused toward an edge of the substrate; rotating the substrate at a second rotation speed smaller than the first rotation speed after the substrate is rotated at the first rotation speed; and moving the nozzle toward the edge of the substrate while discharging the processing liquid from the discharge hole in a state that the substrate is rotated at the second rotation speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yusaku Hashimoto, Takeshi Shimoaoki, Masahiro Fukuda, Kouichirou Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20210191271
    Abstract: A liquid processing apparatus includes a substrate holder configured to hold a substrate; a processing liquid supply configured to supply a processing liquid onto a front surface of the substrate; a gas supply configured to supply a gas onto the front surface of the substrate; and a controller. The gas supply includes a diffusion nozzle which is provided with multiple discharge openings respectively elongated at different angles with respect to the front surface of the substrate. The controller performs controlling the gas supply to jet the gas from the diffusion nozzle onto a region of the front surface of the substrate including at least a central portion thereof in a state that the processing liquid is supplied on the front surface of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Takuya Miura, Shougo Takahashi, Kouichirou Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20200064742
    Abstract: A developing treatment method for performing a developing treatment on a resist film on a substrate, includes: a pattern forming step of forming a resist pattern by supplying a developing solution to the substrate and developing the resist film on the substrate; a coating step of coating the developed substrate with an aqueous solution of a water-soluble polymer; and a rinse step of cleaning the substrate by supplying a rinse solution to the substrate coated with the aqueous solution of the water-soluble polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Akiko KAI, Kousuke YOSHIHARA, Kouichirou TANAKA, Hiroshi ICHINOMIYA
  • Publication number: 20200050111
    Abstract: A method includes forming a liquid puddle of a mixed solution of the diluting liquid and the processing liquid; rotating the substrate at a first rotation speed which allows the mixed solution located at a region facing an inner side than an edge of the liquid contact surface to stay between the liquid contact surface and the surface of the substrate and allows the mixed solution located at a region facing an outer side than the edge of the liquid contact surface to be diffused toward an edge of the substrate; rotating the substrate at a second rotation speed smaller than the first rotation speed after the substrate is rotated at the first rotation speed; and moving the nozzle toward the edge of the substrate while discharging the processing liquid from the discharge hole in a state that the substrate is rotated at the second rotation speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Yusaku Hashimoto, Takeshi Shimoaoki, Masahiro Fukuda, Kouichirou Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10406864
    Abstract: A tire includes a tread portion provided with at least one circumferentially and continuously extending shoulder main groove and at least one circumferentially and continuously extending crown main groove. The at least one crown main groove extends in a straight manner in a tire circumferential direction. The at least one shoulder main groove includes narrow segments inclined at angles with respect to the tire circumferential direction and wide segments each having widths greater than widths of the narrow segments. The narrow segments and the wide segments are arranged alternately in the tire circumferential direction so as to form a zigzag groove shape, wherein the widths of the narrow segments are in a range of from 5% to 7% of a tread width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Kouichirou Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20190105950
    Abstract: A tire comprises a tread portion comprising at least one circumferentially continuously extending main groove, and a land portion divided by the above-said at least one main groove, wherein the land portion is provided with straight sipes and curved sipes each extending in the tire axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Applicant: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kouichirou TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20190096706
    Abstract: When performing a liquid processing on a substrate W being rotated and removing a processing liquid by a cleaning liquid, a cleaning liquid nozzle 421 configured to discharge a cleaning liquid slantly with respect to a surface of the substrate W toward a downstream side of a rotational direction of the substrate W and a gas nozzle 411 configured to discharge a gas toward a position adjacent to a central portion side of the substrate W when viewed from a liquid arrival position R of the cleaning liquid are moved from the central portion side toward a peripheral portion side. A rotation number of the substrate is varied such that rotation number in a period during which the liquid arrival position R moves in the second region becomes smaller than a maximum rotation number in a period during which the liquid arrival position moves in the first region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Akiko Kai, Kouichirou Tanaka, Hiroshi Ichinomiya, Masahiro Fukuda
  • Patent number: 10203605
    Abstract: A development method includes: a development step of supplying a developing solution to a surface of a substrate for manufacturing a semiconductor device after undergoing formation of a resist film and exposure, to perform development; a first rotation step of, after the development step, increasing revolution speed of the substrate to rotate the substrate in a first rotational direction around a central axis so as to spin off and remove part of the developing solution from the substrate; and a second rotation step of, after the first rotation step, rotating the substrate in a second rotational direction reverse to the first rotational direction so as to spin off and remove the developing solution remaining on the substrate from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Yusaku Hashimoto, Takeshi Shimoaoki, Masahiro Fukuda, Kouichirou Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10185220
    Abstract: A substrate processing method includes steps of: supplying a developer onto a substrate surface from a discharge port while the substrate is rotated at a first rotation speed and a liquid contact surface faces the surface, and moving the nozzle while the liquid contact surface contacts with the developer so that a liquid film of the developer is formed on the surface; rotating the substrate at a second rotation speed slower than the first rotation speed, after the liquid film is formed, in a state where supply of the developer is stopped; rotating the substrate at a third rotation speed faster than the first rotation speed, after the substrate is rotated at the second rotation speed; and reducing rotation speed of the substrate to the second rotation speed or less, after the substrate is rotated at the third rotation speed, so that the liquid film is held on the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Yusaku Hashimoto, Takeshi Shimoaoki, Masahiro Fukuda, Kouichirou Tanaka