Patents by Inventor Masaaki Ueno

Masaaki Ueno 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: 10418293
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes: a reaction tube configured to accommodate a substrate holder holding a plurality of substrates and process a substrate held on the substrate holder; a heating unit installed outside the reaction tube and configured to heat an inside of the reaction tube; a protection tube installed to extend in a vertical direction in contact with an outer wall of the reaction tube; an insulating tube disposed inside the protection tube and having through-holes extending in a vertical direction; a thermocouple having a thermocouple junction provided at an upper end thereof, and thermocouple wires joined at the thermocouple junction and inserted into the through-holes of the insulating tube; a gas supply unit configured to supply a gas, for processing a substrate accommodated in the reaction tube, into the reaction tube; and an exhaust unit configured to exhaust a gas from the reaction tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideto Yamaguchi, Tetsuya Kosugi, Masaaki Ueno
  • Patent number: 10415136
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a reaction tube processing a substrate, a heating part disposed on an outside of the reaction tube that heats the interior of the reaction tube, an insulating part disposed on an outside of the heating part, a plurality of flow channels installed in the insulating part and allows an air or a cooling medium to flow, and a ceiling part configured to cover an upper surface of the insulating part. The ceiling part includes a first member having a supply hole formed to communicate with the flow channels and to supply the air or cooling medium into the flow channels, and a second member having a space formed between the second member and the first member and allowing the air or the cooling medium to flow therein and having a partition part to partition the space into at least two spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Motoya Takewaki, Tetsuya Kosugi, Masaaki Ueno
  • Publication number: 20190276938
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the technique of the present disclosure, there is provided a substrate processing apparatus including: a heater heating a substrate in a reaction tube; a temperature controller controlling the heater; a valve controller adjusting an opening degree of a control valve to adjust a gas flow rate; and a main controller instructing a recipe including: (a) elevating an inner temperature of the reaction tube to a predetermined temperature at an elevating rate; (b) processing the substrate at the predetermined temperature; and (c) lowering the inner temperature of the reaction tube at a lowering rate. The main controller controls the temperature controller and the valve controller so that the inner temperature of the reaction tube changes in (a) or (c) at the elevating or lowering rate by heating in parallel with cooling by the gas supplied through the control valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Masashi SUGISHITA, Masaaki UENO
  • Patent number: 10340151
    Abstract: A ceiling heat insulator installed above a side wall heat insulator of a heating apparatus for a substrate processing apparatus for processing a substrate is provided. The ceiling heat insulator includes a gas-flow path installed therein to allow a cooling gas to pass therethrough so that the ceiling heat insulator has a solid cross-sectional area in an outer edge side of the ceiling heat insulator that is smaller than that in a center side of the ceiling heat insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kosugi, Motoya Takewaki, Masaaki Ueno, Hitoshi Murata
  • Publication number: 20190080941
    Abstract: There is provided a cooling unit, comprising: an intake pipe provided for each of a plurality of zones and configured to supply a gas for cooling a reaction tube; a control valve provided in the intake pipe and configured to adjust a flow rate of the gas; a buffer part configured to temporarily store the gas supplied from the intake pipe; and openings provided so as to blow the gas stored in the buffer part toward the reaction tube, wherein the flow rate of the gas introduced into the intake pipe is set according to vertical length ratios of the zones such that the flow rate and a flow velocity of the gas injected from the openings toward the reaction tube are adjusted by opening and closing the control valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Applicant: KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuya KOSUGI, Hitoshi MURATA, Masaaki UENO
  • Publication number: 20180040520
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes: a reaction tube configured to accommodate a substrate holder holding a plurality of substrates and process a substrate held on the substrate holder; a heating unit installed outside the reaction tube and configured to heat an inside of the reaction tube; a protection tube installed to extend in a vertical direction in contact with an outer wall of the reaction tube; an insulating tube disposed inside the protection tube and having through-holes extending in a vertical direction; a thermocouple having a thermocouple junction provided at an upper end thereof, and thermocouple wires joined at the thermocouple junction and inserted into the through-holes of the insulating tube; a gas supply unit configured to supply a gas, for processing a substrate accommodated in the reaction tube, into the reaction tube; and an exhaust unit configured to exhaust a gas from the reaction tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Applicant: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC, INC.
    Inventors: Hideto YAMAGUCHI, Tetsuya KOSUGI, Masaaki UENO
  • Patent number: 9779970
    Abstract: A heater supporting device for use in a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus is provided so as to improve the uniformity of a temperature property and the expected lifespan by preventing support pieces from being damaged and separated from piece holders, and preventing deterioration in adiabatic efficiency in the vicinity of a ceiling of a vertical type furnace. A heating element of a coil shape is disposed around an object. The support pieces are vertically connected in multiple. Hollows of an elliptical shape are formed between the respective support pieces. Concave insertions are formed on one of upper and lower surfaces of the respective support pieces, and convex insertions are formed on the other one of the upper and lower surfaces of the respective support pieces. The convex insertions are insert-fitted with the concave insertions. The support pieces are vertically connected in multiple by insert-fitting the concave insertions to the convex insertions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kosugi, Hitoshi Murata, Shinobu Sugiura, Masaaki Ueno
  • Patent number: 9695511
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus including a vertical reaction container; an insulating wall formed of an insulating material and including a reaction container accommodation chamber for accommodating the reaction container therein; a heater installed in an inner wall of the reception container reception chamber on the insulating wall; an air circulation channel installed vertically in a sidewall of the insulating wall; a blower for distributing air upward or downward in the air circulation channel; intake valves for communicating the air circulation channel with the air; and exhaust valves for communicating the air circulation channel with an equipment exhaust system. In a temperature elevating process and a temperature lowering process, the intake valves and the exhaust valves are switched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Murata, Tetsuya Kosugi, Masaaki Ueno, Masashi Sugishita
  • Publication number: 20170186634
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus, including: a process chamber configured to process a substrate, a transfer chamber adjoining the process chamber, a shaft installed in the transfer chamber, a substrate mounting stand connected to the shaft and including a heating part, a first thermal insulation part installed in a wall of the transfer chamber at a side of the process chamber, and a second thermal insulation part installed in the shaft at a side of the substrate mounting stand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Applicant: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko YANAGISAWA, Masaaki UENO, Naofumi OHASHI
  • Patent number: 9587884
    Abstract: A heat insulation structure, which has a cylindrical side wall part formed in a multilayer structure, includes: a cooling gas supply port provided in an upper portion of a side wall outer layer disposed in an outer side of the side wall part; a cooling gas passage provided between a side wall inner layer disposed in an inner side of the side wall part and the side wall outer layer; a space provided in an inner side of the side wall inner layer; a plurality of blowout holes provided in the side wall inner layer for distributing cooling gas from the cooling gas passage to the space; a buffer area continuously provided in the cooling gas supply port and the cooling gas passage; and a throttle part configured to reduce a cross-sectional area of a boundary surface between the buffer area and the cooling gas passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kosugi, Motoya Takewaki, Hitoshi Murata, Masaaki Ueno
  • Publication number: 20160376701
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a reaction tube processing a substrate, a heating part disposed on an outside of the reaction tube that heats the interior of the reaction tube, an insulating part disposed on an outside of the heating part, a plurality of flow channels installed in the insulating part and allows an air or a cooling medium to flow, and a ceiling part configured to cover an upper surface of the insulating part. The ceiling part includes a first member having a supply hole formed to communicate with the flow channels and to supply the air or cooling medium into the flow channels, and a second member having a space formed between the second member and the first member and allowing the air or the cooling medium to flow therein and having a partition part to partition the space into at least two spaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Applicant: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
    Inventors: Motoya TAKEWAKI, Tetsuya KOSUGI, Masaaki UENO
  • Patent number: 9418881
    Abstract: Provided is a substrate processing apparatus capable of suppressing inferiority when heat treatment is controlled using a temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
    Inventors: Shinobu Sugiura, Masaaki Ueno, Kazuo Tanaka, Masashi Sugishita, Hideto Yamaguchi, Kenji Shirako
  • Patent number: 9269638
    Abstract: A temperature detecting apparatus is provided which is capable of suppressing disconnection of a thermocouple wire or positional deviation of a thermocouple junction portion caused by change over time. The temperature detecting apparatus includes: an insulation rod installed to extend in a vertical direction and including a through-hole in vertical direction; a thermocouple wire inserted in the through-hole of the insulation rod, the thermocouple wire including a thermocouple junction portion at an upper end thereof and an angled portion at a lower end of the insulation rod; and a buffer area installed below the insulation rod and configured to suppress a restriction of a horizontal portion of the angled portion upon heat expansion, wherein an upper portion of the thermocouple wire or a middle portion in the vertical direction are supported by the insulation rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kosugi, Masaaki Ueno, Hideto Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20150370245
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a substrate processing apparatus, a substrate processing method, a semiconductor device manufacturing method, and a control program capable of controlling thickness uniformity of a film formed on a substrate. The substrate processing apparatus includes a process chamber into which a substrate is transferred; a heating device heating the substrate, transferred into the process chamber, from its periphery side; a cooling device cooling the substrate, transferred into the process chamber, from its periphery side; a process gas supply unit supplying a process gas into the process chamber; and a control unit controlling the heating device and the cooling device to generate temperature difference between a center and the periphery sides of the substrate and controls the process gas supply unit. The control unit operates the process gas supply unit to stop operation of the cooling device during supply of the process gas into the process chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Applicant: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
    Inventors: Masashi SUGISHITA, Yuuji URANO, Kiyohiko MAEDA, Masaaki UENO, Tetsuya KOSUGI, Masaya NISHIDA
  • Patent number: 9184069
    Abstract: A heating apparatus comprises a heating element, an inner shell for supporting the heating element, an outer shell disposed along the outer boundary of the inner shell, a cooling medium passage for conveying a cooling medium between the inner shell and the outer shell, a first opening provided in the inner shell, a second opening provided in the outer shell, and a partition arranged to extend from the first opening to the second opening for developing at least a space separated from the cooling medium passage and between the inner shell and the outer shell. The heating apparatus further comprises an insulator for shutting up a gap provided between the partition and the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignees: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc., Teitokusha Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Hayashida, Masaaki Ueno, Masakazu Shimada, Masashi Sugishita, Toshimitsu Miyata, Kimio Kitamura, Kenji Tanaka, Jyunichi Nishihara
  • Publication number: 20150221532
    Abstract: A ceiling heat insulator installed above a side wall heat insulator of a heating apparatus for a substrate processing apparatus for processing a substrate is provided. The ceiling heat insulator includes a gas-flow path installed therein to allow a cooling gas to pass therethrough so that the ceiling heat insulator has a solid cross-sectional area in an outer edge side of the ceiling heat insulator that is smaller than that in a center side of the ceiling heat insulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
    Inventors: Tetsuya KOSUGI, Motoya TAKEWAKI, Masaaki UENO, Hitoshi MURATA
  • Patent number: D803075
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
    Inventors: Tokunobu Akao, Motoya Takewaki, Akihiro Osaka, Masaaki Ueno, Tetsuya Kosugi, Masashi Sugishita
  • Patent number: D818850
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
    Inventors: Tokunobu Akao, Atushi Umekawa, Masaaki Ueno, Tetsuya Kosugi, Hitoshi Murata, Masashi Sugishita, Kenji Shinozaki
  • Patent number: D819463
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
    Inventors: Tokunobu Akao, Atushi Umekawa, Masaaki Ueno, Tetsuya Kosugi, Hitoshi Murata, Masashi Sugishita, Kenji Shinozaki
  • Patent number: D860420
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kosugi, Hitoshi Murata, Masaaki Ueno