Patents by Inventor Takashi Sasa

Takashi Sasa 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: 9778571
    Abstract: A processing liquid supplying apparatus supplies a processing liquid to a process object via a discharging part. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes: a processing liquid source that supplies a processing liquid; an intermediate tank connected to the processing liquid source via a transport line; a feed line provided between the intermediate tank and the discharging part; an evacuating unit that evacuates an interior of the intermediate tank to transport the processing liquid from the processing liquid source to the intermediate tank through the transport line; and a pressure adjusting unit that supplies a gas into the intermediate tank to return a pressure in the evacuated intermediate tank from a reduced pressure to a normal pressure, thereby to place the intermediate tank ready for feeding the processing liquid, having been transported into the intermediate tank, into the feed line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Takashi Sasa, Daisuke Ishimaru
  • Patent number: 9732910
    Abstract: A processing-liquid supply apparatus includes a source, a discharge device, a supply channel connecting the source and discharge device, a filter device positioned in the channel to form first side having the source and second side having the discharge device, a pump device positioned in the channel, and a control device which controls suction and discharge by the pump device. The control device controls the pump device such that the liquid is discharged from the discharge device, that remaining of the liquid on the second side is suctioned to be returned to the first side and that the remaining of the liquid returned to the first side flows from the first toward second side together with refill of the liquid from the source, and the control device is set such that return amount of the liquid to the filter device is equal to or greater than amount of the discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Koji Takayanagi, Kousuke Yoshihara, Yuichi Terashita, Toshinobu Furusho, Takashi Sasa
  • Patent number: 9731226
    Abstract: A solution treatment apparatus connected to a supply nozzle that supplies a treatment solution to a substrate, includes: a supply pipeline connecting a treatment solution storage container and the supply nozzle; a filter apparatus provided in the supply pipeline; a pump on a secondary side of the filter apparatus; a circulation pipeline connecting a discharge side of the pump and an intake side of the filter apparatus; a supply control valve provided in the supply pipeline on a secondary side of the pump; a circulation control valve provided in the circulation pipeline; and a control unit, wherein the control unit opens the circulation control valve and drives the pump when supply of the treatment solution from the supply nozzle to the substrate is stopped by closing the supply control valve, to thereby circulate the treatment solution between the supply pipeline having the filter apparatus and the circulation pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Kousuke Yoshihara, Katsunori Ichino, Toshinobu Furusho, Takashi Sasa, Katsuhiro Tsuchiya, Yuichi Terashita, Hirofumi Takeguchi
  • Patent number: 9372405
    Abstract: The pressure sensor detects a pressure in the operation chamber when the first opening/closing valve is opened at a time of starting a replenishment of the chemical liquid into the chemical liquid pump. The flow rate sensor detects an exhaust flow rate exhausted from the operation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Toshinobu Furusho, Takahiro Ookubo, Takashi Sasa, Tsuyoshi Nogami
  • Publication number: 20160115952
    Abstract: A stay of a liquid can be suppressed. A pump 100 includes a tube 102, having elasticity, in which a liquid as a target to be delivered flows; a tube housing 104 which covers an outside of the tube 102 and keeps a gas in an inner space V between an outer surface of the tube 102 and the tube housing 104; and an electropneumatic regulator RE configured to supply the gas into the inner space V and discharge the gas from the inner space V.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Takashi Sasa, Daisuke Ishimaru, Takahiro Okubo, Tomoyuki Yumoto, Tomohiko Muta
  • Publication number: 20160116845
    Abstract: A liquid can be delivered with a simple configuration. A liquid delivery method includes allowing a liquid to flow in a tube having elasticity depending on a pressure of a gas filled in an inner space between a tube housing covering an outside of the tube and an outer surface of the tube; obtaining a magnitude of a pressure of the liquid flowing in the tube as a first value; obtaining a magnitude of the pressure of the gas filled in the inner space as a second value; calculating a difference between the first value and the second value as a third value; and detecting a status of the tube on the basis of the third value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Takashi Sasa, Katsuya Hashimoto, Daiki Shibata, Takeshi Ohto
  • Publication number: 20150159642
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a feed pump (6) of a tube pump type is used for supplying a processing liquid. The tube pump has a squeezing member (65) that moves from a first axial position of a tube (62) at which the squeezing member starts pinching of the tube, to a second axial position at which the squeezing member leaves the tube after feeding the processing liquid toward an ejecting part such as a nozzle (51). Only one pinched part pinched between the squeezing member and a guide member (61) is formed between the first axial position and the second axial position of the tube, and the only one pinched part moves along the axial direction of the tube, during feeding of a dose of the processing liquid toward the ejecting part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Takashi SASA, Daiki SHIBATA
  • Publication number: 20150140485
    Abstract: A processing liquid supplying apparatus supplies a processing liquid to a process object via a discharging part. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes: a processing liquid source that supplies a processing liquid; an intermediate tank connected to the processing liquid source via a transport line; a feed line provided between the intermediate tank and the discharging part; an evacuating unit that evacuates an interior of the intermediate tank to transport the processing liquid from the processing liquid source to the intermediate tank through the transport line; and a pressure adjusting unit that supplies a gas into the intermediate tank to return a pressure in the evacuated intermediate tank from a reduced pressure to a normal pressure, thereby to place the intermediate tank ready for feeding the processing liquid, having been transported into the intermediate tank, into the feed line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Takashi SASA, Daisuke ISHIMARU
  • Publication number: 20150125793
    Abstract: A processing liquid supplying apparatus performs an ejecting step in which a processing liquid suctioned into a pump passes through a filter device and is ejected from an ejecting part without returning the processing liquid back to the pump; a returning step in which the processing liquid suctioned into the pump is returned to a processing liquid source side of a mixing section; and a replenishing step in which the processing liquid returned to the processing liquid source side is suctioned into the pump together with the processing liquid replenished from the processing liquid source. The processing liquid passes through the filter device in at least one of the returning step and the replenishing step. The amount of the processing liquid returned to the processing liquid source side in the returning step is larger than the amount of the processing liquid ejected from the ejecting part in the ejecting step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Kousuke YOSHIHARA, Koji TAKAYANAGI, Toshinobu FURUSHO, Takashi SASA, Daisuke ISHIMARU
  • Patent number: 9019377
    Abstract: A drive recorder and a drive recorder system that can check the content of the image captured by an image capturing unit that outputs a video signal at a frequency not affected by LED traffic light flashing. The drive recorder includes an image converting unit for converting a received video signal into image information, and for outputting the image information in the form of a video signal, a storage unit for storing the converted image information, and a control unit for performing control so that the video signal is converted into the image information by using a first frequency not affected by LED traffic light flashing, and so that the image information stored in the storage unit is output in the form of a video signal by using a second frequency corresponding to a standard video signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventors: Munenori Maeda, Fujio Tonokawa, Katsutoshi Okada, Takashi Sasa
  • Publication number: 20150090340
    Abstract: A processing-liquid supply apparatus includes a source, a discharge device, a supply channel connecting the source and discharge device, a filter device positioned in the channel to form first side having the source and second side having the discharge device, a pump device positioned in the channel, and a control device which controls suction and discharge by the pump device. The control device controls the pump device such that the liquid is discharged from the discharge device, that remaining of the liquid on the second side is suctioned to be returned to the first side and that the remaining of the liquid returned to the first side flows from the first toward second side together with refill of the liquid from the source, and the control device is set such that return amount of the liquid to the filter device is equal to or greater than amount of the discharge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Koji Takayanagi, Kousuke Yoshihara, Yuichi Terashita, Toshinobu Furusho, Takashi Sasa
  • Publication number: 20150092167
    Abstract: Disclosed is a processing liquid supplying apparatus. The apparatus includes: a processing liquid supply source configured to supply a processing liquid for processing a substrate to be processed; an ejection unit configured to eject the processing liquid to the substrate to be processed; a filter device configured to remove foreign matters in the processing liquid; a supply pump and an ejection pump which are provided in the supply path at a primary side and a secondary side of the filter device, respectively; and a control unit configured to output a control signal to decompress and degas the processing liquid supplied from the processing liquid supply source by using one of the supply pump and the ejection pump, and subsequently, pass the degassed processing liquid through the filter device beginning from the primary side to the secondary side of the filter device by using the supply pump and the ejection pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Yuichi Terashita, Kousuke Yoshihara, Koji Takayanagi, Toshinobu Furusho, Takashi Sasa
  • Publication number: 20150000517
    Abstract: A solution treatment apparatus connected to a supply nozzle that supplies a treatment solution to a substrate, includes: a supply pipeline connecting a treatment solution storage container and the supply nozzle; a filter apparatus provided in the supply pipeline; a pump on a secondary side of the filter apparatus; a circulation pipeline connecting a discharge side of the pump and an intake side of the filter apparatus; a supply control valve provided in the supply pipeline on a secondary side of the pump; a circulation control valve provided in the circulation pipeline; and a control unit, wherein the control unit opens the circulation control valve and drives the pump when supply of the treatment solution from the supply nozzle to the substrate is stopped by closing the supply control valve, to thereby circulate the treatment solution between the supply pipeline having the filter apparatus and the circulation pipeline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Kousuke Yoshihara, Katsunori Ichino, Toshinobu Furusho, Takashi Sasa, Katsuhiro Tsuchiya, Yuichi Terashita, Hirofumi Takeguchi
  • Publication number: 20140174475
    Abstract: A filtration efficiency, which is similar to the filtration efficiency obtained when a plurality of filters are provided, can be obtained by one filter, and decrease in throughput can be prevented. Based on a control signal from a control unit 101, a resist liquid L is sucked into a pump 70 through a filter. A part of the resist liquid sucked in the pump is discharged from a discharge nozzle 7. The remaining resist liquid is returned to a supply conduit 51b on a primary side of the filter. A process is synthesized by adding a replenishment amount equal to the discharge amount to the return amount. The discharge of the synthesized process liquid and the filtration thereof by the filter are performed the number of times corresponding to a rate between the discharge amount and the return amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Koji TAKAYANAGI, Yukie MINEKAWA, Yuichi YOSHIDA, Kousuke YOSHIHARA, Yuichi TERASHITA, Toshinobu FURUSHO, Takashi SASA
  • Patent number: 8396623
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a drive recorder that can detect acceleration so that the acceleration exerted on a vehicle traveling around a curve will not be erroneously detected as excessive acceleration, as long as the steering wheel is operated in a usual manner. More particularly, the invention provides a drive recorder that includes an acceleration sensor for detecting a first acceleration along a traveling direction of a vehicle and a second acceleration along a transverse direction of the vehicle, and a control unit which obtains a combined acceleration based on the first acceleration and on a value obtained by subtracting a correction value from the absolute value of the second acceleration, and when the combined acceleration exceeds a threshold value, records video information received from an image capturing unit onto a recording device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventors: Munenori Maeda, Fujio Tonokawa, Mariko Yago, Tetsuya Uetani, Takashi Sasa
  • Publication number: 20120181239
    Abstract: There is provided a chemical liquid supply system configured to filter a chemical liquid by opening/closing operations of first and second opening/closing valves and a supply/exhaust operation. The chemical liquid supply system includes a pressure sensor, a flow meter, an electro-pneumatic regulator and a controller. The pressure sensor detects a pressure in the operation room when the first opening/closing valve is opened at a time of starting a replenishment of the chemical liquid into the chemical liquid pump. The flow rate sensor detects an exhaust flow rate exhausted from the operation room. The controller adjusts an exhaust pressure by controlling the electro-pneumatic regulator based on the detected pressure and the detected exhaust flow rate so as not to cause an excessive pressure change when the replenishment of the chemical liquid is started.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Toshinobu Furusho, Takahiro Ookubo, Takashi Sasa, Tsuyoshi Nogami
  • Publication number: 20100250060
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a drive recorder that can detect acceleration so that the acceleration exerted on a vehicle traveling around a curve will not be erroneously detected as excessive acceleration, as long as the steering wheel is operated in a usual manner. More particularly, the invention provides a drive recorder that includes an acceleration sensor for detecting a first acceleration along a traveling direction of a vehicle and a second acceleration along a transverse direction of the vehicle, and a control unit which obtains a combined acceleration based on the first acceleration and on a value obtained by subtracting a correction value from the absolute value of the second acceleration, and when the combined acceleration exceeds a threshold value, records video information received from an image capturing unit onto a recording device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Munenori Maeda, Fujio Tonokawa, Mariko Yago, Tetsuya Uetani, Takashi Sasa
  • Publication number: 20090278933
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a drive recorder and a drive recorder system that can check the content of the image captured by an image capturing unit that outputs a video signal at a frequency not affected by LED traffic light flashing. More specifically, the invention provides a drive recorder includes an image converting unit for converting a received video signal into image information, and for outputting the image information in the form of a video signal, a storage unit for storing the converted image information, and a control unit for performing control so that the video signal is converted into the image information by using a first frequency not affected by LED traffic light flashing, and so that the image information stored in the storage unit is output in the form of a video signal by using a second frequency corresponding to a standard video signal; the invention also provides a drive recorder system comprising such a drive recorder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventors: Munenori Maeda, Fujio Tonokawa, Katsutoshi Okada, Takashi Sasa