Patents by Inventor Linan Ji

Linan Ji 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: 9583330
    Abstract: A supercritical drying method for a semiconductor substrate is disclosed. The method may include introducing the semiconductor substrate into a chamber in a state, a surface of the semiconductor substrate being wet with alcohol, substituting the alcohol on the semiconductor substrate with a supercritical fluid of carbon dioxide by impregnating the semiconductor substrate to the supercritical fluid in the chamber, and discharging the supercritical fluid and the alcohol from the chamber and reducing a pressure inside the chamber. The method may also include performing a baking treatment by supplying an oxygen gas or an ozone gas to the chamber after the reduction of the pressure inside the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Linan Ji, Hidekazu Hayashi, Hiroshi Tomita, Hisashi Okuchi, Yohei Sato, Takayuki Toshima, Mitsuaki Iwashita, Kazuyuki Mitsuoka, Gen You, Hiroki Ohno, Takehiko Orii
  • Patent number: 9570286
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a supercritical drying method for a semiconductor substrate comprises introducing a semiconductor substrate, a surface of the semiconductor substrate being wet with a water-soluble organic solvent, to the inside of a chamber, hermetically sealing the chamber and increasing a temperature inside the chamber to not lower than a critical temperature of the water-soluble organic solvent, thereby bringing the water-soluble organic solvent into a supercritical state, decreasing a pressure inside the chamber and changing the water-soluble organic solvent in the supercritical state to a gas, thereby discharging the water-soluble organic solvent from the chamber, starting a supply of an inert gas into the chamber as the pressure inside the chamber decreases to atmospheric pressure, and cooling the semiconductor substrate in a state where the inert gas exists inside the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yohei Sato, Hisashi Okuchi, Hiroshi Tomita, Hidekazu Hayashi, Linan Ji
  • Publication number: 20150135549
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a supercritical drying method for a semiconductor substrate comprises introducing a semiconductor substrate, a surface of the semiconductor substrate being wet with a water-soluble organic solvent, to the inside of a chamber, hermetically sealing the chamber and increasing a temperature inside the chamber to not lower than a critical temperature of the water-soluble organic solvent, thereby bringing the water-soluble organic solvent into a supercritical state, decreasing a pressure inside the chamber and changing the water-soluble organic solvent in the supercritical state to a gas, thereby discharging the water-soluble organic solvent from the chamber, starting a supply of an inert gas into the chamber as the pressure inside the chamber decreases to atmospheric pressure, and cooling the semiconductor substrate in a state where the inert gas exists inside the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Yohei Sato, Hisashi Okuchi, Hiroshi Tomita, Hidekazu Hayashi, Linan Ji
  • Patent number: 8961696
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for cleaning a semiconductor substrate comprises supplying water vapor to a surface of a semiconductor substrate on which a concave-convex pattern is formed while heating the semiconductor substrate at a predetermined temperature, cooling the semiconductor substrate after stopping the heating and the supply of the water vapor and freezing water on the semiconductor substrate, after freezing the water, supplying pure water onto the semiconductor substrate and melting a frozen film, and after melting the frozen film, drying the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tomita, Minako Inukai, Hiaashi Okuchi, Linan Ji
  • Patent number: 8950082
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a supercritical drying method for a semiconductor substrate comprises introducing a semiconductor substrate, a surface of the semiconductor substrate being wet with a water-soluble organic solvent, to the inside of a chamber, hermetically sealing the chamber and increasing a temperature inside the chamber to not lower than a critical temperature of the water-soluble organic solvent, thereby bringing the water-soluble organic solvent into a supercritical state, decreasing a pressure inside the chamber and changing the water-soluble organic solvent in the supercritical state to a gas, thereby discharging the water-soluble organic solvent from the chamber, starting a supply of an inert gas into the chamber as the pressure inside the chamber decreases to atmospheric pressure, and cooling the semiconductor substrate in a state where the inert gas exists inside the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yohei Sato, Hisashi Okuchi, Hiroshi Tomita, Hidekazu Hayashi, Linan Ji
  • Publication number: 20140250714
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a supercritical drying method for a semiconductor substrate, comprises introducing the semiconductor substrate into a chamber in a state, a surface of the semiconductor substrate being wet with alcohol, substituting the alcohol on the semiconductor substrate with a supercritical fluid of carbon dioxide by impregnating the semiconductor substrate to the supercritical fluid in the chamber, and discharging the supercritical fluid and the alcohol from the chamber and reducing a pressure inside the chamber. The method further comprises performing a baking treatment by supplying an oxygen gas or an ozone gas to the chamber after the reduction of the pressure inside the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: Linan JI, Hidekazu Hayashi, Hiroshi Tomita, Hisashi Okuchi, Yohei Sato, Takayuki Toshima, Mitsuaki Iwashita, Kazayuki Mitsuoka, Gen You, Hiroki Ohno, Takehiko Orii
  • Patent number: 8771429
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a supercritical drying method for a semiconductor substrate, comprises introducing the semiconductor substrate into a chamber in a state, a surface of the semiconductor substrate being wet with alcohol, substituting the alcohol on the semiconductor substrate with a supercritical fluid of carbon dioxide by impregnating the semiconductor substrate to the supercritical fluid in the chamber, and discharging the supercritical fluid and the alcohol from the chamber and reducing a pressure inside the chamber. The method further comprises performing a baking treatment by supplying an oxygen gas or an ozone gas to the chamber after the reduction of the pressure inside the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Linan Ji, Hidekazu Hayashi, Hiroshi Tomita, Hisashi Okuchi, Yohei Sato, Takayuki Toshima, Mitsuaki Iwashita, Kazuyuki Mitsuoka, Gen You, Hiroki Ohno, Takehiko Orii
  • Patent number: 8567420
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for a semiconductor wafer includes: a gas jet device including a gas nozzle which jets a first gas onto the surface of a semiconductor wafer to thin the thickness of a stagnant layer on the surface of the semiconductor wafer; and a two-fluid jet device including a two-fluid nozzle which jets droplet mist onto a region where thickness of the stagnant layer of the semiconductor wafer is thinned, the droplet mist being mixed two-fluid of a liquid and a second gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Minako Inukai, Hiroshi Tomita, Kaori Umezawa, Yasuhito Yoshimizu, Linan Ji
  • Publication number: 20130068257
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for cleaning a semiconductor substrate comprises supplying water vapor to a surface of a semiconductor substrate on which a concave-convex pattern is formed while heating the semiconductor substrate at a predetermined temperature, cooling the semiconductor substrate after stopping the heating and the supply of the water vapor and freezing water on the semiconductor substrate, after freezing the water, supplying pure water onto the semiconductor substrate and melting a frozen film, and after melting the frozen film, drying the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventors: Hiroshi TOMITA, Minako Inukai, Hiaashi Okuchi, Linan Ji
  • Publication number: 20130061492
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a supercritical drying apparatus comprises a chamber being hermetically sealable and configured to store a semiconductor substrate, a heater configured to heat an inner side of the chamber, a supply unit configured to supply carbon dioxide to the chamber, a discharge unit configured to discharge carbon dioxide from the chamber, and a rotation unit configured to rotate the chamber by an angle equal to or greater than 90 degrees and equal to or smaller than 180 degrees with respect to the horizontal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: Hisashi OKUCHI, Hidekazu HAYASHI, Linan JI, Yohei SATO, Hiroshi TOMITA
  • Publication number: 20130055584
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a supercritical drying method for a semiconductor substrate comprises introducing a semiconductor substrate, a surface of the semiconductor substrate being wet with a water-soluble organic solvent, to the inside of a chamber, hermetically sealing the chamber and increasing a temperature inside the chamber to not lower than a critical temperature of the water-soluble organic solvent, thereby bringing the water-soluble organic solvent into a supercritical state, decreasing a pressure inside the chamber and changing the water-soluble organic solvent in the supercritical state to a gas, thereby discharging the water-soluble organic solvent from the chamber, starting a supply of an inert gas into the chamber as the pressure inside the chamber decreases to atmospheric pressure, and cooling the semiconductor substrate in a state where the inert gas exists inside the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Inventors: Yohei Sato, Hisashi Okuchi, Hiroshi Tomita, Hidekazu Hayashi, Linan Ji
  • Publication number: 20130019905
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a supercritical drying method for a semiconductor substrate, comprises introducing the semiconductor substrate into a chamber in a state, a surface of the semiconductor substrate being wet with alcohol, substituting the alcohol on the semiconductor substrate with a supercritical fluid of carbon dioxide by impregnating the semiconductor substrate to the supercritical fluid in the chamber, and discharging the supercritical fluid and the alcohol from the chamber and reducing a pressure inside the chamber. The method further comprises performing a baking treatment by supplying an oxygen gas or an ozone gas to the chamber after the reduction of the pressure inside the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventors: Linan JI, Hidekazu Hayashi, Hiroshi Tomita, Hisashi Okuchi, Yohei Sato, Takayuki Toshima, Mitsuaki Iwashita, Kazuyuki Mitsuoka, Gen You, Hiroki Ohno, Takehiko Orii
  • Patent number: 7985683
    Abstract: A method of treating a semiconductor substrate has forming convex patterns over the semiconductor substrate by dry etching, cleaning and modifying a surface of the convex patterns by using chemical, forming a hydrophobic functional surface on the modified surface of the convex patterns, after forming the hydrophobic functional surface, rinsing the semiconductor substrate by using water, drying the semiconductor substrate, and removing the hydrophobic functional group from the hydrophobic functional surface of the convex patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tomita, Tatsuhiko Koide, Hisashi Okuchi, Kentaro Shimayama, Hiroyasu Iimori, Linan Ji
  • Patent number: 7838425
    Abstract: A method of treating the surface of a semiconductor substrate has cleaning the semiconductor substrate having a pattern formed thereon by using a chemical solution, removing the chemical solution by using pure water, forming a water repellent protective film on the surface of the semiconductor substrate, rinsing the semiconductor substrate by using pure water, and drying the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tomita, Hiroyasu Iimori, Hisashi Okuchi, Tatsuhiko Koide, Linan Ji
  • Publication number: 20100240219
    Abstract: A method of treating a semiconductor substrate has forming convex patterns over the semiconductor substrate by dry etching, cleaning and modifying a surface of the convex patterns by using chemical, forming a hydrophobic functional surface on the modified surface of the convex patterns, after forming the hydrophobic functional surface, rinsing the semiconductor substrate by using water, drying the semiconductor substrate, and removing the hydrophobic functional group from the hydrophobic functional surface of the convex patterns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tomita, Tatsuhiko Koide, Hisashi Okuchi, Kentaro Shimayama, Hiroyasu Iimori, Linan Ji
  • Patent number: 7749909
    Abstract: A method of treating a semiconductor substrate has forming convex patterns over the semiconductor substrate by dry etching, cleaning and modifying a surface of the convex patterns by using chemical, forming a hydrophobic functional surface on the modified surface of the convex patterns, after forming the hydrophobic functional surface, rinsing the semiconductor substrate by using water, drying the semiconductor substrate, and removing the hydrophobic functional group from the hydrophobic functional surface of the convex patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tomita, Tatsuhiko Koide, Hisashi Okuchi, Kentaro Shimayama, Hiroyasu Iimori, Linan Ji
  • Publication number: 20100075504
    Abstract: A method of treating a semiconductor substrate has forming convex patterns over the semiconductor substrate by dry etching, cleaning and modifying a surface of the convex patterns by using chemical, forming a hydrophobic functional surface on the modified surface of the convex patterns, after forming the hydrophobic functional surface, rinsing the semiconductor substrate by using water, drying the semiconductor substrate, and removing the hydrophobic functional group from the hydrophobic functional surface of the convex patterns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tomita, Tatsuhiko Koide, Hisashi Okuchi, Kentaro Shimayama, Hiroyasu Iimori, Linan Ji
  • Publication number: 20100044343
    Abstract: A substrate treatment apparatus for treating a substrate on which a plurality of patterns are formed adjacently, has a first chamber which has resistance to a chemical and cleans the substrate with the chemical; a second chamber which is disposed above or below the first chamber, has higher pressure resistance than the first chamber, and supercritically dries the substrate; and a gate unit which is provided between the first and second chambers and can be opened/closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tomita, Linan Ji, Hisashi Okuchi, Tatsuhiko Koide, Hiroyasu Iimori, Hidekazu Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20090311874
    Abstract: A method of treating the surface of a semiconductor substrate has cleaning the semiconductor substrate having a pattern formed thereon by using a chemical solution, removing the chemical solution by using pure water, forming a water repellent protective film on the surface of the semiconductor substrate, rinsing the semiconductor substrate by using pure water, and drying the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tomita, Hiroyasu Iimori, Hisashi Okuchi, Tatsuhiko Koide, Linan Ji
  • Publication number: 20090255558
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for a semiconductor wafer includes: a gas jet device including a gas nozzle which jets a first gas onto the surface of a semiconductor wafer to thin the thickness of a stagnant layer on the surface of the semiconductor wafer; and a two-fluid jet device including a two-fluid nozzle which jets droplet mist onto a region where thickness of the stagnant layer of the semiconductor wafer is thinned, the droplet mist being mixed two-fluid of a liquid and a second gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Inventors: Minako Inukai, Hiroshi Tomita, Kaori Umezawa, Yasuhito Yoshimizu, Linan Ji