Patents by Inventor Seiji Katsuoka

Seiji Katsuoka 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: 20230158632
    Abstract: In a scheme in which a top ring is held to an end portion of a swing arm, the present invention improves accuracy of polishing end point detection. A polishing apparatus for polishing between a polishing pad 10 and a semiconductor wafer 16 disposed opposed to the polishing pad 10 includes a polishing table 30A for holding the polishing pad 10 and a top ring 31A for holding the semiconductor wafer 16. A swing shaft motor 14 swings a swing arm 110 for holding the top ring 31A. The arm torque detection section 26 detects arm torque applied to the swing arm 110. An end point detection section 28 detects a polishing end point indicating an end of polishing based on the detected arm torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Shinozaki, Yuta Suzuki, Taro Takahashi, Seiji Katsuoka, Masahiro Hatakeyama
  • Patent number: 11583973
    Abstract: In a scheme in which a top ring is held to an end portion of a swing arm, the present invention improves accuracy of polishing end point detection. A polishing apparatus for polishing between a polishing pad 10 and a semiconductor wafer 16 disposed opposed to the polishing pad 10 includes a polishing table 30A for holding the polishing pad 10 and a top ring 31A for holding the semiconductor wafer 16. A swing shaft motor 14 swings a swing arm 110 for holding the top ring 31A. The arm torque detection section 26 detects arm torque applied to the swing arm 110. An end point detection section 28 detects a polishing end point indicating an end of polishing based on the detected arm torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Shinozaki, Yuta Suzuki, Taro Takahashi, Seiji Katsuoka, Masahiro Hatakeyama
  • Patent number: 11426834
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing a substrate is disclosed. The apparatus includes a polishing section configured to polish a substrate, a transfer mechanism configured to transfer the substrate, and a cleaning section configured to clean and dry the polished substrate. The cleaning section has plural cleaning lines for cleaning plural substrates. The plural cleaning lines have plural cleaning modules and plural transfer robots for transferring the substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuru Miyazaki, Seiji Katsuoka, Naoki Matsuda, Junji Kunisawa, Kenichi Kobayashi, Hiroshi Sotozaki, Hiroyuki Shinozaki, Osamu Nabeya, Shinya Morisawa, Takahiro Ogawa, Natsuki Makino
  • Publication number: 20200269381
    Abstract: In a scheme in which a top ring is held to an end portion of a swing arm, the present invention improves accuracy of polishing end point detection. A polishing apparatus for polishing between a polishing pad 10 and a semiconductor wafer 16 disposed opposed to the polishing pad 10 includes a polishing table 30A for holding the polishing pad 10 and a top ring 31A for holding the semiconductor wafer 16. A swing shaft motor 14 swings a swing arm 110 for holding the top ring 31A. The arm torque detection section 26 detects arm torque applied to the swing arm 110. An end point detection section 28 detects a polishing end point indicating an end of polishing based on the detected arm torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Shinozaki, Yuta Suzuki, Taro Takahashi, Seiji Katsuoka, Masahiro Hatakeyama
  • Patent number: 10688620
    Abstract: In a scheme in which a top ring is held to an end portion of a swing arm, the present invention improves accuracy of polishing end point detection. A polishing apparatus for polishing between a polishing pad 10 and a semiconductor wafer 16 disposed opposed to the polishing pad 10 includes a polishing table 30A for holding the polishing pad 10 and a top ring 31A for holding the semiconductor wafer 16. A swing shaft motor 14 swings a swing arm 110 for holding the top ring 31A. The arm torque detection section 26 detects arm torque applied to the swing arm 110. An end point detection section 28 detects a polishing end point indicating an end of polishing based on the detected arm torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Shinozaki, Yuta Suzuki, Taro Takahashi, Seiji Katsuoka, Masahiro Hatakeyama
  • Publication number: 20200047309
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing a substrate is disclosed. The apparatus includes a polishing section configured to polish a substrate, a transfer mechanism configured to transfer the substrate, and a cleaning section configured to clean and dry the polished substrate. The cleaning section has plural cleaning lines for cleaning plural substrates. The plural cleaning lines have plural cleaning modules and plural transfer robots for transferring the substrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Mitsuru Miyazaki, Seiji Katsuoka, Naoki Matsuda, Junji Kunisawa, Kenichi Kobayashi, Hiroshi Sotozaki, Hiroyuki Shinozaki, Osamu Nabeya, Shinya Morisawa, Takahiro Ogawa, Natsuki Makino
  • Patent number: 10486285
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing a substrate is disclosed. The apparatus includes a polishing section configured to polish a substrate, a transfer mechanism configured to transfer the substrate, and a cleaning section configured to clean and dry the polished substrate. The cleaning section has plural cleaning lines for cleaning plural substrates. The plural cleaning lines have plural cleaning modules and plural transfer robots for transferring the substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: EBARA Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuru Miyazaki, Seiji Katsuoka, Naoki Matsuda, Junji Kunisawa, Kenichi Kobayashi, Hiroshi Sotozaki, Hiroyuki Shinozaki, Osamu Nabeya, Shinya Morisawa, Takahiro Ogawa, Natsuki Makino
  • Publication number: 20180093360
    Abstract: In a scheme in which a top ring is held to an end portion of a swing arm, the present invention improves accuracy of polishing end point detection. A polishing apparatus for polishing between a polishing pad 10 and a semiconductor wafer 16 disposed opposed to the polishing pad 10 includes a polishing table 30A for holding the polishing pad 10 and a top ring 31A for holding the semiconductor wafer 16. A swing shaft motor 14 swings a swing arm 110 for holding the top ring 31A. The arm torque detection section 26 detects arm torque applied to the swing arm 110. An end point detection section 28 detects a polishing end point indicating an end of polishing based on the detected arm torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Hiroyuki SHINOZAKI, Yuta SUZUKI, Taro TAKAHASHI, Seiji KATSUOKA, Masahiro HATAKEYAMA
  • Publication number: 20170252894
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing a substrate is disclosed. The apparatus includes a polishing section configured to polish a substrate, a transfer mechanism configured to transfer the substrate, and a cleaning section configured to clean and dry the polished substrate. The cleaning section has plural cleaning lines for cleaning plural substrates. The plural cleaning lines have plural cleaning modules and plural transfer robots for transferring the substrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Mitsuru MIYAZAKI, Seiji KATSUOKA, Naoki MATSUDA, Junji KUNISAWA, Kenichi KOBAYASHI, Hiroshi SOTOZAKI, Hiroyuki SHINOZAKI, Osamu NABEYA, Shinya MORISAWA, Takahiro OGAWA, Natsuki MAKINO
  • Patent number: 9687957
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing a substrate is disclosed. The apparatus includes a polishing section configured to polish a substrate, a transfer mechanism configured to transfer the substrate, and a cleaning section configured to clean and dry the polished substrate. The cleaning section has plural cleaning lines for cleaning plural substrates. The plural cleaning lines have plural cleaning modules and plural transfer robots for transferring the substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuru Miyazaki, Seiji Katsuoka, Naoki Matsuda, Junji Kunisawa, Kenichi Kobayashi, Hiroshi Sotozaki, Hiroyuki Shinozaki, Osamu Nabeya, Shinya Morisawa, Takahiro Ogawa, Natsuki Makino
  • Patent number: 9358662
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing a substrate is disclosed. The apparatus includes a polishing section configured to polish a substrate, a transfer mechanism configured to transfer the substrate, and a cleaning section configured to clean and dry the polished substrate. The cleaning section has plural cleaning lines for cleaning plural substrates. The plural cleaning lines have plural cleaning modules and plural transfer robots for transferring the substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuru Miyazaki, Seiji Katsuoka, Naoki Matsuda, Junji Kunisawa, Kenichi Kobayashi, Hiroshi Sotozaki, Hiroyuki Shinozaki, Osamu Nabeya, Shinya Morisawa, Takahiro Ogawa, Natsuki Makino
  • Patent number: 9144881
    Abstract: A polishing apparatus includes a peripheral-portion polishing unit configured to polish a peripheral portion of the substrate, a CMP unit configured to polish a flat surface of the substrate W, a cleaning unit configured to clean the polished substrate, a transport system configured to transport the substrate. The transport system transports the substrate that has been polished in one of the peripheral-portion polishing unit and the CMP unit to the cleaning unit, and transports the substrate that has been cleaned in the cleaning unit to the other of the peripheral-portion polishing unit and the CMP unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidetaka Nakao, Soichi Isobe, Seiji Katsuoka, Naoki Matsuda
  • Publication number: 20150050863
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing a substrate is disclosed. The apparatus includes a polishing section configured to polish a substrate, a transfer mechanism configured to transfer the substrate, and a cleaning section configured to clean and dry the polished substrate. The cleaning section has plural cleaning lines for cleaning plural substrates. The plural cleaning lines have plural cleaning modules and plural transfer robots for transferring the substrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Mitsuru MIYAZAKI, Seiji KATSUOKA, Naoki MATSUDA, Junji KUNISAWA, Kenichi KOBAYASHI, Hiroshi SOTOZAKI, Hiroyuki SHINOZAKI, Osamu NABEYA, Shinya MORISAWA, Takahiro OGAWA, Natsuki MAKINO
  • Publication number: 20140302676
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing a substrate is disclosed. The apparatus includes a polishing section configured to polish a substrate, a transfer mechanism configured to transfer the substrate, and a cleaning section configured to clean and dry the polished substrate. The cleaning section has plural cleaning lines for cleaning plural substrates. The plural cleaning lines have plural cleaning modules and plural transfer robots for transferring the substrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Mitsuru MIYAZAKI, Seiji KATSUOKA, Naoki MATSUDA, Junji KUNISAWA, Kenichi KOBAYASHI, Hiroshi SOTOZAKI, Hiroyuki SHINOZAKI, Osamu NABEYA, Shinya MORISAWA, Takahiro OGAWA, Natsuki MAKINO
  • Publication number: 20140242885
    Abstract: A polishing apparatus includes a peripheral-portion polishing unit configured to polish a peripheral portion of the substrate, a CMP unit configured to polish a flat surface of the substrate W, a cleaning unit configured to clean the polished substrate, a transport system configured to transport the substrate. The transport system transports the substrate that has been polished in one of the peripheral-portion polishing unit and the CMP unit to the cleaning unit, and transports the substrate that has been cleaned in the cleaning unit to the other of the peripheral-portion polishing unit and the CMP unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventors: Hidetaka Nakao, Soichi Isobe, Seiji Katsuoka, Naoki Matsuda
  • Patent number: 8795032
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing a substrate is disclosed. The apparatus includes a polishing section configured to polish a substrate, a transfer mechanism configured to transfer the substrate, and a cleaning section configured to clean and dry the polished substrate. The cleaning section has plural cleaning lines for cleaning plural substrates. The plural cleaning lines have plural cleaning modules and plural transfer robots for transferring the substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuru Miyazaki, Seiji Katsuoka, Naoki Matsuda, Junji Kunisawa, Kenichi Kobayashi, Hiroshi Sotozaki, Hiroyuki Shinozaki, Osamu Nabeya, Shinya Morisawa, Takahiro Ogawa, Natsuki Makino
  • Patent number: 8777198
    Abstract: A substrate holding apparatus can meet the request for a smaller-sized compact apparatus while ensuring a sufficient immersion depth of a substrate in a processing liquid. The substrate holding apparatus includes: a substrate holder for supporting a substrate (W) by bringing a peripheral portion of a surface of the substrate (W) into contact with a first sealing member; and a substrate pressing section for lowering relative to the substrate holder so as to press the substrate (W) held by the substrate holder downward, thereby bringing a first sealing member into pressure contact with the substrate (W). The substrate pressing section is provided with a second ring-shaped sealing member which makes pressure contact with an upper surface of a ring-shaped holding section of the substrate holder, thereby sealing the peripheral region of the substrate pressing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiko Sekimoto, Seiji Katsuoka, Naoki Dai, Teruyuki Watanabe, Takahiro Ogawa, Kenichi Suzuki, Kenichi Kobayashi, Yasuyuki Motoshima, Ryo Kato
  • Patent number: 8257143
    Abstract: A method can effectively eliminate a surface level difference (irregularities) in a film formed on an object without producing scratches in a surface of the film, and can polish and remove the film into a flat surface with greatly increased productivity. The method comprises carrying out a first polishing step by pressing a polishing pad of a polishing device, having a diameter which is smaller than the radius of the object, against the surface of the object at a first pressure while moving the polishing pad and the object relative to each other at a first relative speed. The first polishing step is terminated at a point in time when a surface level difference in the object is eliminated to a targeted level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Katsuoka, Manabu Tsujimura
  • Patent number: 8225803
    Abstract: A substrate processing method and apparatus can securely carry out a pre-plating treatment that enables uniform plating in the necessary area of the surface of a substrate. The substrate processing method carries out a cleaning treatment and a catalyst-imparting treatment of a surface of a substrate as pre-plating treatments and then electroless plates a metal film on the catalyst-imparted surface of the substrate. The cleaning treatment is carried out in a wider area of the surface of the substrate than that area to which a catalyst is imparted by the catalyst-imparting treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Katsuoka, Masahiko Sekimoto, Toshio Yokoyama, Teruyuki Watanabe, Takahiro Ogawa, Kenichi Kobayashi, Mitsuru Miyazaki, Yasuyuki Motojima
  • Publication number: 20120141246
    Abstract: A substrate holding apparatus can meet the request for a smaller-sized compact apparatus while ensuring a sufficient immersion depth of a substrate in a processing liquid. The substrate holding apparatus includes: a substrate holder for supporting a substrate (W) by bringing a peripheral portion of a surface of the substrate (W) into contact with a first sealing member; and a substrate pressing section for lowering relative to the substrate holder so as to press the substrate (W) held by the substrate holder downward, thereby bringing a first sealing member into pressure contact with the substrate (W). The substrate pressing section is provided with a second ring-shaped sealing member which makes pressure contact with an upper surface of a ring-shaped holding section of the substrate holder, thereby sealing the peripheral region of the substrate pressing section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Masahiko SEKIMOTO, Seiji Katsuoka, Naoki Dai, Teruyuki Watanabe, Takahiro Ogawa, Kenichi Suzuki, Kenichi Kobayashi, Yasuyuki Motoshima, Ryo Kato