Patents by Inventor Toshifumi Inamasu

Toshifumi Inamasu 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: 11804466
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a chuck configured to attract and hold a substrate; an observer configured to observe multiple positions within a second surface of the substrate attracted to and held by the chuck, the second surface being opposite to a first surface thereof which is in contact with the chuck; and an analyzer configured to analyze observation results of the multiple positions. When a singularity regarding a height from a surface of the chuck attracting and holding the substrate exists on the second surface, the analyzer specifies a position of the singularity on the chuck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Toshifumi Inamasu
  • Publication number: 20230275062
    Abstract: A bonding apparatus includes a first holder, a second holder, a moving unit, a housing, an interferometer, a first gas supply and a second gas supply. The first holder is configured to attract and hold a first substrate. The second holder is configured to attract and hold a second substrate. The moving unit is configured to move a first one of the first holder and the second holder in a horizontal direction with respect to a second one thereof. The interferometer is configured to radiate light to the first one or an object moved along with the first one to measure a horizontal distance thereto. The first gas supply is configured to supply a clean first gas to an inside of the housing. The second gas supply is configured to supply a second gas to a space between the interferometer and the first one or the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2021
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Toshifumi Inamasu, Tetsuya Maki
  • Patent number: 11658146
    Abstract: A bonding apparatus configured to bond substrates includes a first holder configured to vacuum-exhaust a first substrate to attract and hold the first substrate on a bottom surface thereof; a second holder disposed under the first holder and configured to vacuum-exhaust a second substrate to attract and hold the second substrate on a top surface thereof; a rotator configured to rotate the first holder and the second holder relatively; a moving device configured to move the first holder and the second holder relatively in a horizontal direction; three position measurement devices disposed at the first holder or the second holder rotated by the rotator and configured to measure a position of the first holder or the second holder; and a controller configured to control the rotator and the moving device based on measurement results of the three position measurement devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Takashi Nakamitsu, Shuhei Matsumoto, Toshifumi Inamasu
  • Patent number: 11545383
    Abstract: A substrate positioning apparatus includes a holder and a rotating device. The holder is configured to hold a substrate. The rotating device is configured to rotate the holder. The rotating device includes a rotation shaft, a bearing member, a base member, a driving unit and a damping device. The rotation shaft is fixed to the holder. The bearing member is configured to support the rotation shaft in a non-contact state. The bearing member is fixed on the base member. The driving unit is configured to rotate the rotation shaft. The damping device includes a rail connected to the base member and a slider connected to the rotation shaft, and is configured to produce a damping force against a relative operation between the rotation shaft and the base member by a resistance generated between the rail and the slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Tetsuya Maki, Toshifumi Inamasu
  • Publication number: 20220375799
    Abstract: A bonding apparatus includes a first holder, a second holder, a first interferometer, a housing, a gas supply and an airflow control cover. The first holder attracts and holds the first substrate. The second holder attracts and holds the second substrate. The first interferometer measures, by radiating light to the second holder or a first object which is moved along with the second holder in the first horizontal direction, a distance to the second holder or the first object in the first horizontal direction. The housing accommodates therein the first holder, the second holder and the first interferometer. The gas supply is provided at a lateral side of the housing, and supplies a gas into the housing. The airflow control cover is provided within the housing, and redirects a part of a flow of the gas supplied from the gas supply toward a first path of the light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Tetsuya Maki, Tatsumi Oonishi, Toshifumi Inamasu
  • Publication number: 20220254636
    Abstract: A bonding apparatus configured to bond a first substrate and a second substrate includes a first holder configured to hold the first substrate; a second holder configured to hold the second substrate; a first imaging device provided at the first holder and configured to image the second substrate held by the second holder; a first light irradiating device provided at the first holder and configured to irradiate light to the second substrate when the second substrate is imaged; a second imaging device provided at the second holder and configured to image the first substrate held by the first holder; and a second light irradiating device provided at the second holder and configured to irradiate light to the first substrate when the first substrate is imaged. Each of the first light irradiating device and the second light irradiating device is connected to a first light source configured to irradiate white light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Toshifumi Inamasu, Shinichi Shinozuka
  • Patent number: 11348791
    Abstract: A bonding apparatus configured to bond a first substrate and a second substrate includes a first holder configured to hold the first substrate; a second holder configured to hold the second substrate; a first imaging device provided at the first holder and configured to image the second substrate held by the second holder; a first light irradiating device provided at the first holder and configured to irradiate light to the second substrate when the second substrate is imaged; a second imaging device provided at the second holder and configured to image the first substrate held by the first holder; and a second light irradiating device provided at the second holder and configured to irradiate light to the first substrate when the first substrate is imaged. Each of the first light irradiating device and the second light irradiating device is connected to a first light source configured to irradiate white light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Toshifumi Inamasu, Shinichi Shinozuka
  • Publication number: 20210343678
    Abstract: A bonding apparatus configured to bond substrates includes a first holder configured to vacuum-exhaust a first substrate to attract and hold the first substrate on a bottom surface thereof; a second holder disposed under the first holder and configured to vacuum-exhaust a second substrate to attract and hold the second substrate on a top surface thereof; a rotator configured to rotate the first holder and the second holder relatively; a moving device configured to move the first holder and the second holder relatively in a horizontal direction; three position measurement devices disposed at the first holder or the second holder rotated by the rotator and configured to measure a position of the first holder or the second holder; and a controller configured to control the rotator and the moving device based on measurement results of the three position measurement devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Takashi Nakamitsu, Shuhei Matsumoto, Toshifumi Inamasu
  • Patent number: 11094667
    Abstract: A bonding apparatus configured to bond substrates includes a first holder configured to vacuum-exhaust a first substrate to attract and hold the first substrate on a bottom surface thereof; a second holder disposed under the first holder and configured to vacuum-exhaust a second substrate to attract and hold the second substrate on a top surface thereof; a rotator configured to rotate the first holder and the second holder relatively; a moving device configured to move the first holder and the second holder relatively in a horizontal direction; three position measurement devices disposed at the first holder or the second holder rotated by the rotator and configured to measure a position of the first holder or the second holder; and a controller configured to control the rotator and the moving device based on measurement results of the three position measurement devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Takashi Nakamitsu, Shuhei Matsumoto, Toshifumi Inamasu
  • Publication number: 20210249293
    Abstract: A substrate positioning apparatus includes a holder and a rotating device. The holder is configured to hold a substrate. The rotating device is configured to rotate the holder. The rotating device includes a rotation shaft, a bearing member, a base member, a driving unit and a damping device. The rotation shaft is fixed to the holder. The bearing member is configured to support the rotation shaft in a non-contact state. The bearing member is fixed on the base member. The driving unit is configured to rotate the rotation shaft. The damping device includes a rail connected to the base member and a slider connected to the rotation shaft, and is configured to produce a damping force against a relative operation between the rotation shaft and the base member by a resistance generated between the rail and the slider.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Tetsuya Maki, Toshifumi Inamasu
  • Publication number: 20200381255
    Abstract: A bonding apparatus configured to bond a first substrate and a second substrate includes a first holder configured to hold the first substrate; a second holder configured to hold the second substrate; a first imaging device provided at the first holder and configured to image the second substrate held by the second holder; a first light irradiating device provided at the first holder and configured to irradiate light to the second substrate when the second substrate is imaged; a second imaging device provided at the second holder and configured to image the first substrate held by the first holder; and a second light irradiating device provided at the second holder and configured to irradiate light to the first substrate when the first substrate is imaged. Each of the first light irradiating device and the second light irradiating device is connected to a first light source configured to irradiate white light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Toshifumi Inamasu, Shinichi Shinozuka
  • Publication number: 20200273835
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a chuck configured to attract and hold a substrate; an observer configured to observe multiple positions within a second surface of the substrate attracted to and held by the chuck, the second surface being opposite to a first surface thereof which is in contact with the chuck; and an analyzer configured to analyze observation results of the multiple positions. When a singularity regarding a height from a surface of the chuck attracting and holding the substrate exists on the second surface, the analyzer specifies a position of the singularity on the chuck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventor: Toshifumi Inamasu
  • Publication number: 20190312006
    Abstract: A bonding apparatus configured to bond substrates includes a first holder configured to vacuum-exhaust a first substrate to attract and hold the first substrate on a bottom surface thereof; a second holder disposed under the first holder and configured to vacuum-exhaust a second substrate to attract and hold the second substrate on a top surface thereof; a rotator configured to rotate the first holder and the second holder relatively; a moving device configured to move the first holder and the second holder relatively in a horizontal direction; three position measurement devices disposed at the first holder or the second holder rotated by the rotator and configured to measure a position of the first holder or the second holder; and a controller configured to control the rotator and the moving device based on measurement results of the three position measurement devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Takashi Nakamitsu, Shuhei Matsumoto, Toshifumi Inamasu
  • Patent number: 10373847
    Abstract: A bonding apparatus includes an upper holding unit, a lower holding unit, a pushing unit and an attracting/holding unit. The upper holding unit is configured to hold a first substrate from a top surface thereof which is a non-bonding surface. The lower holding unit is provided under the upper holding unit and is configured to hold a second substrate from a bottom surface thereof while allowing the second substrate to face the first substrate. The pushing unit is configured to press a central portion of the first substrate from above to bring the central portion of the first substrate into contact with the second substrate. The attracting/holding unit is configured to be moved up and down with respect to the upper holding unit and hold a part of the top surface of the first substrate by attraction before the first substrate is held by the upper holding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Toshifumi Inamasu
  • Patent number: 10340248
    Abstract: A bonding system includes a substrate transfer device configured to transfer a first substrate and a second substrate in a normal pressure atmosphere, a surface modifying apparatus configured to modify surfaces of the first substrate and the second substrate to be bonded with each other in a depressurized atmosphere, a load lock chamber in which the first substrate and the second substrate are delivered between the substrate transfer device and the surface modifying apparatus and in which an internal atmosphere of the load lock chamber is switchable between an atmospheric pressure atmosphere and the depressurized atmosphere, a surface hydrophilizing apparatus configured to hydrophilize the modified surfaces of the first substrate and the second substrate, and a bonding apparatus configured to bond the hydrophilized surfaces of the first substrate and the second substrate by an intermolecular force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Masataka Matsunaga, Takashi Koga, Takeshi Tamura, Takahiro Masunaga, Yuji Mimura, Masaru Honda, Toshifumi Inamasu, Satoshi Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20180019225
    Abstract: A bonding system includes a substrate transfer device configured to transfer a first substrate and a second substrate in a normal pressure atmosphere, a surface modifying apparatus configured to modify surfaces of the first substrate and the second substrate to be bonded with each other in a depressurized atmosphere, a load lock chamber in which the first substrate and the second substrate are delivered between the substrate transfer device and the surface modifying apparatus and in which an internal atmosphere of the load lock chamber is switchable between an atmospheric pressure atmosphere and the depressurized atmosphere, a surface hydrophilizing apparatus configured to hydrophilize the modified surfaces of the first substrate and the second substrate, and a bonding apparatus configured to bond the hydrophilized surfaces of the first substrate and the second substrate by an intermolecular force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Masataka MATSUNAGA, Takashi KOGA, Takeshi TAMURA, Takahiro MASUNAGA, Yuji MIMURA, Masaru HONDA, Toshifumi INAMASU, Satoshi NISHIMURA
  • Publication number: 20180019140
    Abstract: A bonding apparatus includes an upper holding unit, a lower holding unit, a pushing unit and an attracting/holding unit. The upper holding unit is configured to hold a first substrate from a top surface thereof which is a non-bonding surface. The lower holding unit is provided under the upper holding unit and is configured to hold a second substrate from a bottom surface thereof while allowing the second substrate to face the first substrate. The pushing unit is configured to press a central portion of the first substrate from above to bring the central portion of the first substrate into contact with the second substrate. The attracting/holding unit is configured to be moved up and down with respect to the upper holding unit and hold a part of the top surface of the first substrate by attraction before the first substrate is held by the upper holding unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventor: Toshifumi Inamasu
  • Patent number: 9468946
    Abstract: A wiping pad includes: a scraping edge provided to cross a long side direction of a discharge port and come into contact with the discharge port and nozzle side surfaces, and a lead-out passage provided ahead of the scraping edge in a moving direction along a nozzle long side direction to drain a treatment solution scraped away with the scraping edge, wherein the lead-out passage is a V-shaped groove formed along the moving direction on a pad upper surface side, and the V-shaped groove has the scraping edge formed at a rear end edge portion thereof and is formed to gradually increase in groove width and depth toward a front thereof from the scraping edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Toshifumi Inamasu, Yukio Ogasawara, Kei Tashiro
  • Publication number: 20140373779
    Abstract: A wiping pad includes: a scraping edge provided to cross a long side direction of a discharge port and come into contact with the discharge port and nozzle side surfaces, and a lead-out passage provided ahead of the scraping edge in a moving direction along a nozzle long side direction to drain a treatment solution scraped away with the scraping edge, wherein the lead-out passage is a V-shaped groove formed along the moving direction on a pad upper surface side, and the V-shaped groove has the scraping edge formed at a rear end edge portion thereof and is formed to gradually increase in groove width and depth toward a front thereof from the scraping edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Toshifumi Inamasu, Yukio Ogasawara, Kei Tashiro
  • Patent number: 8307778
    Abstract: Jet lines C1, C3, C5, . . . extending in an X-direction and suction lines C2, C4, C6, . . . extending in the X-direction are arranged alternately at a fixed pitch W in a Y-direction. Jet openings 88 are arranged at fixed intervals 3D on the jet lines C2n?1, suction openings 90 are arranged at fixed intervals 3D on the suction lines C2n, and the jet openings 88 and the suction openings 90 on the adjacent ones of the jet lines C2n?1 and the suction lines C2n are spaced apart from each other by a fixed distance D with respect to the X-direction. Slots 88a and 90a are extended straight from the upper ends of the jet openings 88 and the upper ends of the suction openings 90, respectively, in a carrying direction (the X-direction) and a direction opposite the carrying direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Toshifumi Inamasu, Fumihiko Ikeda, Kenya Shinozaki, Yoshitaka Otsuka