Patents by Inventor Satoru Kawakami

Satoru Kawakami 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: 20230005720
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a stage provided in a processing container, and an upper electrode. The upper electrode includes a dielectric plate facing the stage, and a conductor formed on a surface of the dielectric plate opposite to a surface of the dielectric plate facing the stage. The dielectric plate includes a central portion, an outer peripheral portion, and an intermediate portion between the central portion and the outer peripheral portion. The intermediate portion has a thickness larger than the thicknesses of the central portion and the outer peripheral portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Taro IKEDA, Toshifumi KITAHARA, Satoru KAWAKAMI
  • Patent number: 11538667
    Abstract: A stage includes a stage body having a placement surface and a radio-frequency electrode embedded in the stage body. The stage body is made of ceramics, and the radio-frequency electrode extends in a thickness direction of the stage body in a region below an outer periphery of the placement surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Taro Ikeda, Satoru Kawakami, Sumi Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20220230896
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a vacuum processing container and a rotation arm including a rotary axis disposed at a central portion of the vacuum processing container, wherein, in the rotation arm, a rotation cylinder having a hollow interior constitutes the rotary axis, and a hollow portion of the rotation cylinder constitutes an exhaust path of the vacuum processing container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: Kiyoshi MORI, Satoru KAWAKAMI
  • Publication number: 20220165544
    Abstract: There is provided a plasma processing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Munehito KAGAYA, Satoru KAWAKAMI, Tsuyoshi MORIYA, Tatsuo MATSUDO, Jun YAMAWAKU, Hiroyuki ONODA
  • Publication number: 20220068603
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus capable of improving the in-plane uniformity of plasma and a lower stage used for the plasma processing apparatus are anticipated. In an exemplary embodiment, the lower stage is for a lower stage that generates plasma with an upper electrode. The lower stage includes: a lower dielectric body formed of ceramic, a lower electrode embedded in the lower dielectric body, and a heating element embedded in the lower dielectric body. The separation distance between the top surface of the lower dielectric body at the outer edge position thereof and the lower electrode is smaller than the separation distance between the top surface of the lower dielectric body in the central region thereof and the lower electrode. The lower electrode has an inclination region inclined with respect to the top surface between the outer edge position and the central region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Taro IKEDA, Sumi TANAKA, Satoru KAWAKAMI, Masaki HIRAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20220037117
    Abstract: In a shower plate, a plasma processing apparatus, and a plasma processing method, improvement of in-plane uniformity of plasma on a stage is required. The shower plate according to an exemplary embodiment includes an upper dielectric disposed to face a stage and an upper electrode embedded in the upper dielectric. A distance between a bottom surface of the upper dielectric and the upper electrode is shorter in a peripheral portion than in a central portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Taro IKEDA, Satoru KAWAKAMI, Masaki HIRAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20220037118
    Abstract: The plasma processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment includes a processing container, a stage, an upper electrode, a dielectric plate, and a waveguide. The stage is provided in the processing container. The dielectric plate is provided above the stage with a space in the processing container interposed therebetween. The upper electrode is provided above the dielectric plate. The waveguide has an end and guides high frequency waves in a VHF band or a UHF band. The end is arranged to face the space to radiate high frequency waves to the space. The dielectric plate includes a conductive film. The conductive film is provided on an upper surface of the dielectric plate. The upper surface faces the upper electrode. The conductive film is electrically connected to the upper electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Satoru KAWAKAMI, Hiroyuki YAMAMOTO, Taro IKEDA, Masaki HIRAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20210407766
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes: a chamber; a substrate support provided within the chamber; a shower head made of a metal and including a plurality of gas holes open toward a space within the chamber, the shower head being provided above the substrate support; a gas supply pipe made of the metal and extending vertically above the chamber to be connected to a center of an upper portion of the shower head; an introduction part formed of a dielectric material and provided along an outer circumference of the shower head so as to introduce electromagnetic waves, which are VHF waves or UHF waves, into the chamber; and an electromagnetic wave supply path connected to the gas supply pipe, wherein the gas supply pipe includes an annular flange, and the supply path includes a conductor connected to the flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Taro IKEDA, Toshifumi KITAHARA, Satoru KAWAKAMI
  • Publication number: 20210384513
    Abstract: An energy storage device includes a positive electrode terminal, an electrode assembly, and a positive electrode current collector connecting the positive electrode terminal and the electrode assembly, in which the positive electrode current collector has a terminal connecting portion connected to the positive electrode terminal, an electrode connecting portion connected to the electrode assembly in the first direction, and an intermediate portion connecting the terminal connecting portion and the electrode connecting portion, the intermediate portion is arranged at a position overlapping the terminal connecting portion when viewed in the first direction, and the electrode connecting portion and the terminal connecting portion are arranged on one side of the intermediate portion in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Satoru KAWAKAMI, Hironori AIDA, Koki MAEDA, Yudai KATO
  • Publication number: 20210384009
    Abstract: In a plasma processing apparatus, a processing chamber is provided. First electrodes are disposed inside the processing chamber and supplied with radio frequency powers. The second electrode is disposed inside the processing chamber and functions as a counter electrode for the first electrodes. The power supply source supplies radio frequency powers to the first electrodes to generate plasma between the first electrodes and the second electrode and process a target object using the plasma. The allocation setting unit is disposed between the power supply source and at least one of the first electrodes to set power allocations of the radio frequency powers to be supplied to the first electrodes. Further, the allocation setting unit has series circuits in each of which an impedance circuit and a switching element are connected in series. The series circuits are connected in parallel. The control device controls the switching elements in the series circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Satoru KAWAKAMI, Tadashi MITSUNARI, Shinya IWASHITA, Yusuke SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20210375588
    Abstract: In a plasma processing apparatus and a plasma processing method, improvement of the in-plane uniformity of plasma on a stage is required. The plasma processing apparatus includes a processing container, a stage, and a dielectric plate. The stage is provided within the processing container, the dielectric plate includes a plurality of through-holes for gas injection, and an upper surface of the dielectric plate is provided with a conductive film. A space between the conductive film and the stage within the processing container is used as a plasma processing space. The dielectric plate has a central portion and an outer peripheral portion, upper surfaces of the central portion and the outer peripheral portion include flat portions, and the central portion is larger in thickness than the outer peripheral portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Taro IKEDA, Satoru KAWAKAMI, Masaki HIRAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20210265138
    Abstract: A stage includes a stage body having a placement surface and a radio-frequency electrode embedded in the stage body. The stage body is made of ceramics, and the radio-frequency electrode extends in a thickness direction of the stage body in a region below an outer periphery of the placement surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Taro IKEDA, Satoru KAWAKAMI, Sumi TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20210074518
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a processing container in which a plasma processing is performed on a substrate; a plurality of microwave radiation mechanisms, a stage arranged in the processing container to accommodate the substrate thereon and including a lower heating source; and an upper heating source provided on the upper portion of the processing container and arranged at a position that faces the stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Satoru KAWAKAMI, Taro IKEDA
  • Publication number: 20210043426
    Abstract: A shower plate includes a plate-shaped dielectric main body having gas holes, and a plurality of sealed areas formed in the dielectric main body. Each of the sealed areas has a permittivity lower than a permittivity of the dielectric main body. A volume density of the sealed areas at a central region of the dielectric main body is higher than a volume density of the sealed areas at a peripheral region of the dielectric main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Satoru Kawakami, Atsushi Kubo, Taro Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20200294775
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a gas supply configured to supply a gas into a plasma generation chamber; a first power supply configured to convert the gas supplied into the plasma generation chamber into plasma by supplying a first high-frequency power into the plasma generation chamber; a separation plate configured to separate the plasma generation chamber and a processing chamber below the plasma generation chamber, the separation plate having a plurality of through holes so as to guide active species contained in the plasma generated in the plasma generation chamber to the processing chamber; and a temperature controller having a flow path through which a fluid flows in a temperature-controlled manner, the temperature controller being configured to control a temperature of the separation plate through heat exchange with the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventor: Satoru KAWAKAMI
  • Patent number: 10570512
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus of the present disclosure includes a placing table provided to be rotatable around an axis; a gas supplying section that supplies gas to regions through which a substrate sequentially passes while being moved in a circumferential direction with respect to the axis as the placing table is rotated; and a plasma generating section that generates plasma using the supplied gas. The plasma generating section includes an antenna that radiates microwaves, and a coaxial waveguide that supplies the microwaves to the antenna. Line segments constituting a plane shape of the antenna when viewed in a direction along the axis include two line segments which are spaced to be distant from each other as being spaced away from the axis. The coaxial waveguide supplies the microwaves to the antenna from a gravity center of the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Toshihiko Iwao, Takahiro Hirano, Kiyotaka Ishibashi, Satoru Kawakami
  • Publication number: 20180130681
    Abstract: A processing system includes: at least one processing unit. Each processing unit includes a plurality of processing chambers, and a utility module. Each of the processing chambers processes a processing target object using a supplied processing gas. The utility module includes a flow rate controller configured to control a flow rate of the processing gas supplied to each of the plurality of processing chambers. The plurality of processing chambers are disposed to overlap each other in a vertical direction. The utility module is disposed between two processing chambers adjacent in the vertical direction, among the plurality of processing chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Tamotsu Tanifuji, Tamaki Yuasa, Satoru Kawakami
  • Publication number: 20170350014
    Abstract: This plasma processing apparatus includes a processing container that defines a plasma processing space, a holder that holds a substrate to be processed, a gas supply unit that supplies gas into the plasma processing space, an antenna that radiates microwaves to the plasma processing space, a coaxial waveguide that supplies the microwaves to the antenna, a plurality of stubs that regulate distribution of the microwaves radiated from the antenna according to an insertion amount, a measuring unit that measures density of the plasma generated in the plasma processing space by the microwaves radiated from the antenna or a parameter having a correlation with the density of the plasma along a circumferential direction of the substrate to be processed, and a controller that individually controls an insertion amount of each of the plurality of stubs based on the density of the plasma or the parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Toshihiko IWAO, Satoru KAWAKAMI
  • Patent number: 9793569
    Abstract: A battery includes positive and negative external terminals having exposed portions exposed from a casing to the outside, positive and negative current collectors connected to the external terminals, and electrode assemblies having positive and negative electrodes and a separator. The positive and negative electrodes are wound with the separator being interposed so as to have positions shifted to opposite sides in a width direction to the separator. Formed in the casing is a narrowly elongated gap extending between the positive current collector side and the negative current collector side. The positive electrode side of the gap is closed by a closure member. A foreign material is prevented from moving without decreasing an electric capacity of the battery and deteriorating injection property of an electrolytic solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: GS YUASA INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventors: Keita Hamakawa, Noriyoshi Munenaga, Satoru Kawakami, Tomoko Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20170221681
    Abstract: A substrate processing system is provided with a transfer module that transports a substrate to be processed, and a plurality of processing units which are mounted and arranged vertically along a side surface of the transfer module, and each of which processes the substrate to be processed. Each of the processing units includes a chamber, a shower head, and a stage. The chamber includes an upper unit that includes a part of a sidewall forming a space in the chamber and that is fitted with the shower head, and a lower unit including the remaining portion of the side wall in the chamber and fitted with the stage. The upper unit and the lower unit are separable in a direction different from the direction in which the plurality of processing units are arranged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Satoru KAWAKAMI