Patents by Inventor Tomoaki Aihara

Tomoaki Aihara 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: 11996302
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus 100 includes a processing unit, a reservoir 31, a processing liquid pipe 32, a pump 34, a filter 35, a first flow rate section 36, a first return pipe 51, a first adjustment valve 52, a second return pipe 41, a branch supply pipe 16, a second flow rate section 42, and a controller. The first flow rate section 36 is placed in the processing liquid pipe 32 and measures a flow rate or pressure of the processing liquid flowing through the processing liquid pipe 32. The first adjustment valve 52 is placed in the first return pipe 51 and adjusts a flow rate of the processing liquid flowing through the first return pipe 51. The controller controls an opening degree of the first adjustment valve 52 based on the flow rate or the pressure of the processing liquid measured by the first flow rate section 36.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: SCREEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Aihara, Takahiro Yamaguchi, Jun Sawashima
  • Publication number: 20230307264
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a substrate holding unit which holds a substrate horizontally, a processing liquid supplying unit which has a processing liquid nozzle discharging a processing liquid and supplies the processing liquid to an upper surface of the substrate, and a moving unit which moves the processing liquid supplying unit between a process position at which the processing liquid nozzle faces the upper surface of the substrate and a retreat position at which the processing liquid nozzle retreats from positions at which the processing liquid nozzle faces the upper surface of the substrate, wherein the processing liquid supplying unit includes a first flow path which is formed in the processing liquid nozzle, the first flow path having one end part and the other end part that face acentralregion of the substrate and a peripheral region of the substrate, respectively, in a state where the processing liquid supplying unit is positioned at the process position, a second flow path which exte
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Takashi OTA, Tomoaki AIHARA, Masayuki HAYASHI, Jiro OKUDA, Kunio YAMADA
  • Patent number: 11670523
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a substrate holder, a processing liquid supplying unit with a liquid nozzle discharging a processing liquid to an upper surface of the substrate. A moving unit moves the supplying unit between a process position at which the liquid nozzle faces the upper surface of the substrate and a retreat position. The supplying unit includes a first flow path in the processing liquid nozzle. The first flow path has one end part and the other end part that face a central region of the substrate and a peripheral region of the substrate, respectively, in a state where the supplying unit is positioned at the process position. It has a second flow path that supplies the processing liquid to the one end part, and a plurality of discharge ports in the processing liquid nozzle that are arranged along the first flow path direction and discharge the processing liquid in the first flow path to the substrate's upper surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Inventors: Takashi Ota, Tomoaki Aihara, Masayuki Hayashi, Jiro Okuda, Kunio Yamada
  • Publication number: 20220310416
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a processing liquid tank, a first circulation pipe, a filter, a pump, and a controller. The first circulation pipe has an upstream end connected to the processing liquid tank and a downstream end connected to the processing liquid tank. A processing liquid circulates in the first circulation pipe. The filter is deposed in the first circulation pipe and captures particles contained in the processing liquid. The pump is disposed in the first circulation pipe. The pump includes a rotor and feeds the processing liquid by rotating the rotor. In activation of the pump in a stopped state, the controller controls the pump so that the rotor rotates at a rotational acceleration of no greater than 400 rpm/sec.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Rikuta AOKI, Daijo MIZUKAMI, Tomoaki AIHARA
  • Publication number: 20220301894
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus 100 includes a processing unit, a reservoir 31, a processing liquid pipe 32, a pump 34, a filter 35, a first flow rate section 36, a first return pipe 51, a first adjustment valve 52, a second return pipe 41, a branch supply pipe 16, a second flow rate section 42, and a controller. The first flow rate section 36 is placed in the processing liquid pipe 32 and measures a flow rate or pressure of the processing liquid flowing through the processing liquid pipe 32. The first adjustment valve 52 is placed in the first return pipe 51 and adjusts a flow rate of the processing liquid flowing through the first return pipe 51. The controller controls an opening degree of the first adjustment valve 52 based on the flow rate or the pressure of the processing liquid measured by the first flow rate section 36.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Tomoaki AIHARA, Takahiro Yamaguchi, Jun Sawashima
  • Publication number: 20180337068
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a substrate holding unit which holds a substrate horizontally, a processing liquid supplying unit which has a processing liquid nozzle discharging a processing liquid and supplies the processing liquid to an upper surface of the substrate, and a moving unit which moves the processing liquid supplying unit between a process position at which the processing liquid nozzle faces the upper surface of the substrate and a retreat position at which the processing liquid nozzle retreats from positions at which the processing liquid nozzle faces the upper surface of the substrate, wherein the processing liquid supplying unit includes a first flow path which is formed in the processing liquid nozzle, the first flow path having one end part and the other end part that face a central region of the substrate and a peripheral region of the substrate, respectively, in a state where the processing liquid supplying unit is positioned at the process position, a second flow path which ex
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: Takashi OTA, Tomoaki AIHARA, Masayuki HAYASHI, Jiro OKUDA, Kunio YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20140109430
    Abstract: A substrate treating apparatus for drying substrates with a solvent vapor after treating the substrates with a treating liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: Dainippon Screen MFG. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoaki AIHARA
  • Patent number: 8640359
    Abstract: A substrate treating apparatus for drying substrates with a solvent vapor after treating the substrates with a treating liquid, includes a solvent vapor supply device for supplying the solvent vapor into a treating chamber, an exhaust device for exhausting gas from the chamber through an exhaust pipe, a drain pipe connected to the chamber for draining the treating liquid from the chamber, a gas-liquid separator at the other end of the exhaust pipe for receiving the gas from the exhaust device, and connected to the other end of the drain pipe for receiving the treating liquid from the drain pipe, the gas-liquid separator separating the gas and the liquid, and a mixer mounted on the exhaust pipe for mixing deionized water into the gas exhausted by the exhaust device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoaki Aihara
  • Patent number: 8178821
    Abstract: A substrate treating apparatus for treating substrates with a treating liquid is disclosed. The apparatus includes a treating tank for storing the treating liquid, and treating the substrates as immersed in the treating liquid, a chamber surrounding the treating tank, a supply device for supplying an inert gas containing an organic solvent into the chamber, a lift mechanism vertically movable, while supporting the substrates, between a process position in the treating tank and a wait position above the treating tank and inside the chamber, a tank temperature control device for controlling temperature of the treating tank, a chamber temperature control device for controlling temperature of the chamber, and a control device for causing the tank temperature control device and the chamber temperature control device to perform heating treatment at least while the inert gas containing the organic solvent is supplied from the supply device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoaki Aihara
  • Publication number: 20090158613
    Abstract: A substrate treating apparatus for drying substrates with a solvent vapor after treating the substrates with a treating liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventor: Tomoaki AIHARA
  • Patent number: 7506457
    Abstract: A substrate treating apparatus for drying substrates by moving the substrates out of a treating liquid into a solvent atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoaki Aihara
  • Publication number: 20070295375
    Abstract: A substrate treating apparatus for drying substrates by moving the substrates out of a treating liquid into a solvent atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Inventor: Tomoaki Aihara
  • Publication number: 20070113744
    Abstract: A substrate treating apparatus for treating substrates with a treating liquid is disclosed. The apparatus includes a treating tank for storing the treating liquid, and treating the substrates as immersed in the treating liquid, a chamber surrounding the treating tank, a supply device for supplying an inert gas containing an organic solvent into the chamber, a lift mechanism vertically movable, while supporting the substrates, between a process position in the treating tank and a wait position above the treating tank and inside the chamber, a tank temperature control device for controlling temperature of the treating tank, a chamber temperature control device for controlling temperature of the chamber, and a control device for causing the tank temperature control device and the chamber temperature control device to perform heating treatment at least while the inert gas containing the organic solvent is supplied from the supply device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Inventor: Tomoaki Aihara
  • Publication number: 20070045161
    Abstract: A substrate treating apparatus for treating substrates with a treating liquid is disclosed. The apparatus includes a treating tank for storing the treating liquid, and receiving the substrates for treatment with the treating liquid, a chamber surrounding the treating tank, a lift mechanism vertically movable, while supporting the substrates, between a process position inside the treating tank and a wait position above the treating tank and inside the chamber, an outlet for discharging the treating liquid from the treating tank, and a shutter mechanism for opening and closing an upper part of the treating tank. The shutter mechanism has a lower nozzle for supplying an inert gas containing an organic solvent toward an interior of the treating tank when the shutter mechanism is closed and the treating liquid has been discharged through the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventor: Tomoaki AIHARA
  • Patent number: 6788090
    Abstract: An inspection apparatus by which an increased number of semiconductor devices can be inspected simultaneously. The inspection apparatus includes a driver for outputting a signal to be used for inspection, a branching point to which the output terminal of the driver is connected, a current limiting element interposed between each of the terminals of the semiconductor devices to be inspected and the branching point, and a capacitor connected in parallel to each of the current limiting elements. A resistor or a thermistor, for example, is used for the current limiting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignees: NEC Corporation, NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoaki Aihara
  • Publication number: 20010030553
    Abstract: An inspection apparatus by which an increased number of semiconductor devices can be inspected simultaneously. The inspection apparatus includes a driver for outputting a signal to be used for inspection, a branching point to which the output terminal of the driver is connected, a current limiting element interposed between each of the terminals of the semiconductor devices to be inspected and the branching point, and a capacitor connected in parallel to each of the current limiting elements. A resistor or a thermistor, for example, is used for the current limiting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Applicant: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoaki Aihara