Patents by Inventor Toshio Yokoyama

Toshio Yokoyama 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: 20160059271
    Abstract: A rinsing bath which can simplify a discharging structure of a rinsing liquid is disclosed. The rinsing bath includes an inner bath for storing the rinsing liquid, an overflow bath configured to receive the rinsing liquid overflowing the inner bath, a stopper for closing a drain hole provided on a bottom of the inner bath, an actuator configured to move the stopper between a closing position in which the stopper closes the drain hole and a opening position in which the stopper is away from the drain hole, a rinsing liquid supply pipe configured to supply the rinsing liquid into the inner bath, and a drain pipe coupled to a bottom of the overflow bath. The drain hole communicates between an inside of the inner bath and an inside of the overflow bath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Masahiko SEKIMOTO, Toshio YOKOYAMA, Kenichi KOBAYASHI, Kenichi AKAZAWA
  • Publication number: 20150357213
    Abstract: A substrate attaching/detaching unit includes a stocker accommodating a plurality of substrate holders 80 and adapted so that the substrate holders 80 are aligned in a vertical direction with one another in a horizontal posture, a first substrate holder conveying mechanism that takes the substrate holders 80 into and out of the stocker, an elevating mechanism that raises and lowers the first substrate holder conveying mechanism in the vertical direction, a second substrate holder conveying mechanism that transfers the substrate holder to and from the first substrate holder conveying mechanism, and a substrate attaching/detaching mechanism that attaches and detaches the substrate to and from the substrate holder held in the second substrate holder conveying mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Toshio YOKOYAMA, Masahiko SEKIMOTO, Kenichi KOBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20150270151
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a transferring device including a grasping section configured to grasp a substrate holder, and a transferring section configured to transfer the substrate holder grasped by the grasping section, and a processing bath for storing a substrate held by the substrate holder so that a surface of the substrate is vertically oriented, and processing the substrate. The grasping section is configured to grasp the substrate holder with a surface of the substrate oriented horizontally. The transferring section is configured to transfer the substrate holder above the processing bath, with the surface of the substrate oriented horizontally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Toshio YOKOYAMA, Masahiko SEKIMOTO, Kenichi KOBAYASHI, Kenichi AKAZAWA, Takashi MITSUYA, Keiichi KURASHINA
  • Publication number: 20150270147
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus capable of inhibiting diffusion of a chemical solution atmosphere around a processing bath. The substrate processing apparatus has a processing bath for storing a substrate holder holding a substrate and for processing the substrate, a lifter configured to support the substrate holder, store the substrate holder in the processing bath, and take out the substrate holder from the processing bath, and a cover configured to cover the periphery of the substrate holder taken out from the processing bath by the lifter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Kenichi KOBAYASHI, Masahiko SEKIMOTO, Toshio YOKOYAMA, Kenichi AKAZAWA, Keiichi KURASHINA, Takashi MITSUYA
  • Publication number: 20150221536
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus can prevent photo-corrosion of, e.g., copper interconnects due to exposure of a surface to be processed of a substrate to light, and can perform processing, such as cleaning, of a substrate surface while preventing photo-corrosion of, e.g., copper interconnects due to exposure to light. The substrate processing apparatus includes a plurality of processing areas housing therein processing units which have been subjected to light shielding processing; and at least one transfer area housing therein a transfer robot and disposed between two adjacent ones of the plurality of processing areas. A light shielding wall is provided between the transfer area and each of the two adjacent processing areas, and a light-shielding maintenance door is provided for the front opening of the transfer area. The processing units are coupled to the light shielding walls in a light-shielding manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: Toshio YOKOYAMA, Junji KUNISAWA, Mitsuru MIYAZAKI, Kenichi SUZUKI, Hiroshi SOTOZAKI
  • Publication number: 20150082613
    Abstract: [Problem] An object of the present invention is to facilitate height level adjustment of a substrate processing apparatus regardless of size thereof. [Means for Solving] A lifting device 630b includes: a lifting mechanism 640 that is provided between at least one of a plurality of units of a substrate processing apparatus and an installation surface of the unit, and that adjusts height of the at least one unit with respect to the installation surface; and an adjustment member 660 that is provided with an extended section 664 extended from the lifting mechanism 640, and that is capable of operating the lifting mechanism 640 through the extended section 664.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Hiroyuki SHINOZAKI, Kenji SHINKAI, Tadakazu SONE, Hideo AIZAWA, Hiroshi AONO, Toshio YOKOYAMA
  • Publication number: 20140311532
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus has a substrate rotating device 10, 20 for holding and rotating a substrate W, a cleaning device 41 configured to clean a substrate W which is rotated by the substrate rotating device 10, 20 at predetermined rotating speed, a movement device 42 configured to move the cleaning device 41 between a cleaning position P3 and a separate position P2, and a control unit 64. The control unit 64 controls the movement device 42 so that the cleaning device 41 located at the separate position P2 starts moving toward the cleaning position P3 before a rotating speed of the substrate W held by the substrate rotating device 10, 20 reaches the predetermined rotating speed and the cleaning device 41 reaches the cleaning position P3 after a rotating speed of the substrate W reaches the predetermined rotating speed. Therefore, it is possible to improve the throughput in the substrate cleaning step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshio YOKOYAMA, Junji KUNISAWA, Mitsuru MIYAZAKI, Teruaki HOMBO, Naoki TOYOMURA
  • Publication number: 20120308356
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus can prevent photo-corrosion of, e.g., copper interconnects due to exposure of a surface to be processed of a substrate to light, and can perform processing, such as cleaning, of a substrate surface while preventing photo-corrosion of, e.g., copper interconnects due to exposure to light. The substrate processing apparatus includes a plurality of processing areas housing therein processing units which have been subjected to light shielding processing; and at least one transfer area housing therein a transfer robot and disposed between two adjacent ones of the plurality of processing areas. A light shielding wall is provided between the transfer area and each of the two adjacent processing areas, and a light-shielding maintenance door is provided for the front opening of the transfer area. The processing units are coupled to the light shielding walls in a light-shielding manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Toshio YOKOYAMA, Junji KUNISAWA, Mitsuru MIYAZAKI, Kenichi SUZUKI, Hiroshi SOTOZAKI
  • 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: 20110237163
    Abstract: A substrate polishing apparatus includes a substrate holding mechanism having a head for holding a substrate to be polished, and a polishing mechanism including a polishing table with a polishing pad mounted thereon. The substrate held by the head is pressed against the polishing pad on the polishing table to polish the substrate by relative movement of the substrate and the polishing pad. The substrate polishing apparatus also includes a substrate transfer mechanism for delivering the substrate to be polished to the head and receiving the polished substrate. The substrate transfer mechanism includes a substrate to-be-polished receiver for receiving the substrate to be polished, and a polished substrate receiver for receiving the substrate which has been polished.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Seiji Katsuoka, Masahiko Sekimoto, Junji Kunisawa, Mitsuru Miyazaki, Teruyuki Watanabe, Kenichi Kobayashi, Masayuki Kumekawa, Toshio Yokoyama
  • Publication number: 20110203518
    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: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventors: Seiji KATSUOKA, Masahiko Sekimoto, Toshio Yokoyama, Teruyuki Watanabe, Takahiro Ogawa, Kenichi Kobayashi, Mitsuru Miyazaki, Yasuyuki Motojima
  • Patent number: 7976362
    Abstract: A substrate polishing apparatus includes a substrate holding mechanism having a head for holding a substrate to be polished, and a polishing mechanism including a polishing table with a polishing pad mounted thereon. The substrate held by the head is pressed against the polishing pad on the polishing table to polish the substrate by relative movement of the substrate and the polishing pad. The substrate polishing apparatus also includes a substrate transfer mechanism for delivering the substrate to be polished to the head and receiving the polished substrate. The substrate transfer mechanism includes a substrate to-be-polished receiver for receiving the substrate to be polished, and a polished substrate receiver for receiving the substrate which has been polished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Katsuoka, Masahiko Sekimoto, Junji Kunisawa, Mitsuru Miyazaki, Teruyuki Watanabe, Kenichi Kobayashi, Masayuki Kumekawa, Toshio Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 7959977
    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: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Katsuoka, Masahiko Sekimoto, Toshio Yokoyama, Teruyuki Watanabe, Takahiro Ogawa, Kenichi Kobayashi, Mitsuru Miyazaki, Yasuyuki Motojima
  • Publication number: 20100221432
    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: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: Seiji Katsuoka, Masahiko Sekimoto, Toshio Yokoyama, Teruyuki Watanabe, Takahiro Ogawa, Kenichi Kobayashi, Mitsuru Miyazaki, Yasuyuki Motojima
  • Patent number: 7735451
    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: November 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Katsuoka, Masahiko Sekimoto, Toshio Yokoyama, Teruyuki Watanabe, Takahiro Ogawa, Kenichi Kobayashi, Mitsuru Miyazaki, Yasuyuki Motojima
  • Patent number: 7735450
    Abstract: A substrate processing unit includes: a vertically-movable substrate holder for holding a substrate; a pan surrounding a periphery of the substrate holder; a cell, located below the substrate holder and within the pan, having in its interior a chemical processing section; and a cell cover, capable of closing a top opening of the cell, having a plurality of spray nozzles for separately spraying at least two types of processing liquids, wherein the pan and the cell each have an individual liquid discharge line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Katsuoka, Masahiko Sekimoto, Teruyuki Watanabe, Ryo Kato, Toshio Yokoyama, Kenichi Suzuki, Kenichi Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20090291624
    Abstract: A substrate polishing apparatus includes a substrate holding mechanism having a head for holding a substrate to be polished, and a polishing mechanism including a polishing table with a polishing pad mounted thereon. The substrate held by the head is pressed against the polishing pad on the polishing table to polish the substrate by relative movement of the substrate and the polishing pad. The substrate polishing apparatus also includes a substrate transfer mechanism for delivering the substrate to be polished to the head and receiving the polished substrate. The substrate transfer mechanism includes a substrate to-be-polished receiver for receiving the substrate to be polished, and a polished substrate receiver for receiving the substrate which has been polished.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventors: Seiji KATSUOKA, Masahiko Sekimoto, Junji Kunisawa, Mitsuru Miyazaki, Teruyuki Watanabe, Kenichi Kobayashi, Masayuki Kumekawa, Toshio Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 7585205
    Abstract: A substrate polishing apparatus includes a substrate holding mechanism having a head for holding a substrate to be polished, and a polishing mechanism including a polishing table with a polishing pad mounted thereon. The substrate held by the head is pressed against the polishing pad on the polishing table to polish the substrate by relative movement of the substrate and the polishing pad. The substrate polishing apparatus also includes a substrate transfer mechanism for delivering the substrate to be polished to the head and receiving the polished substrate. The substrate transfer mechanism includes a substrate to-be-polished receiver for receiving the substrate to be polished, and a polished substrate receiver for receiving the substrate which has been polished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Katsuoka, Masahiko Sekimoto, Junji Kunisawa, Mitsuru Miyazaki, Teruyuki Watanabe, Kenichi Kobayashi, Masayuki Kumekawa, Toshio Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 7575636
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a substrate processing apparatus useful for plating a substrate or processing a substrate by dipping a substrate in a processing liquid. A substrate processing apparatus of the present invention includes: a loading/unloading area for carrying in and out a substrate; a cleaning area for cleaning the substrate; and a plating area for plating the substrate. The loading/unloading area is provided with a substrate transfer robot having a plurality of hands of dry-use design, a loading port mounted with a cassette for housing substrates, and a reversing machine of dry-use design for reversing the substrate from face up to face down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Katsuoka, Masahiko Sekimoto, Toshio Yokoyama, Teruyuki Watanabe, Takahiro Ogawa, Kenichi Kobayashi, Mitsuru Miyazaki, Yasuyuki Motoshima, Akira Owatari, Naoki Dai
  • Publication number: 20090092469
    Abstract: To provide a substrate processing unit, a substrate transfer method, a substrate cleansing process unit, and a substrate plating apparatus that make it possible for a substrate carry-in mechanism such as a robot arm to quickly release hold on the substrate after carrying in the substrate so as to shorten the time for holding the substrate and improve throughput. The substrate processing unit 10 includes a substrate holding mechanism 10 for holding the substrate 11 in a specified holding position, and a processing mechanism 32 for applying a specified process to the substrate held with the substrate holding mechanism in which a substrate guide mechanism 20 is provided with a guide pin 15 for guiding the substrate to vicinity of a holding position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiko Sekimoto, Toshio Yokoyama, Teruyuki Watanabe, Kenichi Suzuki, Kenichi Kobayashi, Ryo Kato