Patents by Inventor Yasushi Kurata

Yasushi Kurata 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: 20060186373
    Abstract: This invention provides a polishing medium for CMP, comprising an oxidizing agent, a metal-oxide-dissolving agent, a protective-film-forming agent, a water-soluble polymer, and water, and a polishing method making use of this polishing medium. Also, it is preferable that the water-soluble polymer has a weight-average molecular weight of 500 or more and the polishing medium has a coefficient of kinetic friction of 0.25 or more, a Ubbelode's viscosity of from 0.95 mPa.s (0.95 cP) to 1.5 mPa.s (1.5 cP) and a point-of-inflection pressure of 5 kPa (50 gf/cm2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Inventors: Takeshi Uchida, Yasuo Kamigata, Hiroki Terasaki, Yasushi Kurata, Tetsuya Hoshino, Akiko Igarashi
  • Publication number: 20060186372
    Abstract: A CMP abrasive comprising a cerium oxide slurry containing cerium oxide particles, a dispersant and water, and a liquid additive containing a dispersant and water; and a liquid additive for the CMP abrasive. A method for polishing a substrate which comprises holding a substrate having, formed thereon, a film to be polished against a polishing pad of a polishing platen, followed by pressing, and moving the substrate and the polishing platen while supplying the above CMP abrasive in between the film to be polished and the polishing pad to thereby polish the film to be polished. The CMP abrasive and the method for polishing can be used for polishing a surface to be polished such as a silicone oxide film or a silicon nitride film without contaminating the surface to be polished with an alkali metal such as sodium ions and with no flaws, and the CMP abrasive is excellent in storage stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Applicant: HITACHI CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Akahori, Toranosuke Ashizawa, Keizo Hirai, Miho Kurihara, Masato Yoshida, Yasushi Kurata
  • Publication number: 20060180787
    Abstract: A cerium oxide abrasive slurry having, dispersed in a medium, cerium oxide particles whose primary particles have a median diameter of from 30 nm to 250 nm, a maximum particle diameter of 600 nm or smaller, and a specific surface area of from 7 to 45 m.2/g, and slurry particles have a median diameter of from 150 nm to 600 nm. The cerium oxide particles have structural parameter Y, representing an isotropic microstrain obtained by an X-ray Rietveld method (with RIETAN-94), of from 0.01 to 0.70, and structural parameter X, representing a primary particle diameter obtained by an X-ray Rietveld method (with RIETAN-94), of from 0.08 to 0.3. The cerium oxide abrasive slurry is made by a method of obtaining particles by firing at a temperature of from 600° C. to 900° C. and then pulverizing, then dispersing the resulting cerium oxide particles in a medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Applicant: HITACHI CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masato Yoshida, Toranosuke Ashizawa, Hiroki Terazaki, Yasushi Kurata, Jun Matsuzawa, Kiyohito Tanno, Yuuto Ootuki
  • Publication number: 20060148667
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a CMP polishing slurry, comprising cerium oxide particles, a dispersing agent, a water-soluble polymer and water, wherein the water-soluble polymer is a compound having a skeleton of any one of an N-mono-substituted product and an N,N-di-substituted product of any one selected from the group consisting of acrylamide, methacrylamide and ?-substituted products thereof. The amount of the water-soluble polymer is preferably in the range of 0.01 part or more by weight and 10 parts or less by weight for 100 parts by weight of the polishing slurry. Thus it is possible to provide a polishing slurry and a polishing method which make it possible to polish a film made of silicon oxide or the like effectively and rapidly and further control the process therefor easily in CMP technique for flattening an interlayer insulating film, a BPSG film, an insulator film for shallow trench isolation, and other films.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Applicant: Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Fukasawa, Masato Yoshida, Naoyuki Koyama, Yuto Ootsuki, Chiaki Yamagishi, Kazuhiro Enomoto, Kouji Haga, Yasushi Kurata
  • Publication number: 20060124591
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a CMP polishing slurry comprising cerium oxide particles, an organic compound having an acetylene bond (triple bond between carbon and carbon) and water, and a method for polishing a substrate which comprises a step of polishing a film to be polished of the substrate with the polishing slurry. In a CMP (chemical mechanical polishing) technique for flattening inter layer dielectrics, insulating films for shallow trench isolation and the like in a manufacturing process of semiconductor devices, the present invention enables the effective and high-speed polishing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Inventors: Kouji Haga, Yuto Ootsuki, Yasushi Kurata, Kazuhiro Enomoto
  • Publication number: 20060124597
    Abstract: This invention provides a polishing medium for chemical-mechanical polishing, comprising an oxidizing agent for a conductor, a protective-film-forming agent for protecting a metal surface, an acid, and. water; (1) the polishing medium having a pH of 3 or less, and the oxidizing agent being in a concentration of from 0.01 to 3% by weight, or (2) the polishing medium containing abrasive grains having an average particle diameter of 50 nm or less, and the abrasive grains having standard deviation of particle size distribution in a value of more than 5 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Inventors: Yasushi Kurata, Yasuo Kamigata, Takeshi Uchida, Hiroki Terasaki, Akiko Igarashi
  • Publication number: 20060118524
    Abstract: A cerium oxide abrasive slurry having, dispersed in a medium, cerium oxide particles whose primary particles have a median diameter of from 30 nm to 250 nm, a maximum particle diameter of 600 nm or smaller, and a specific surface area of from 7 to 45 m.2/g, and slurry particles have a median diameter of from 150 nm to 600 nm. The cerium oxide particles have structural parameter Y, representing an isotropic microstrain obtained by an X-ray Rietveld method (with RIETAN-94), of from 0.01 to 0.70, and structural parameter X, representing a primary particle diameter obtained by an X-ray Rietveld method (with RIETAN-94), of from 0.08 to 0.3. The cerium oxide abrasive slurry is made by a method of obtaining particles by firing at a temperature of from 600° C. to 900° C. and then pulverizing, then dispersing the resulting cerium oxide particles in a medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Applicant: HITACHI CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masato Yoshida, Toranosuke Ashizawa, Hiroki Terazaki, Yasushi Kurata, Jun Matsuzawa, Kiyohito Tanno, Yuuto Ootuki
  • Publication number: 20060037251
    Abstract: This invention provides a polishing medium for chemical-mechanical polishing, comprising an oxidizing agent for a conductor, a protective-film-forming agent for protecting a metal surface, an acid, and water; (1) the polishing medium having a pH of 3 or less, and the oxidizing agent being in a concentration of from 0.01 to 3% by weight, or (2) the polishing medium containing abrasive grains having an average particle diameter of 50 nm or less, and the abrasive grains having standard deviation of particle size distribution in a value of more than 5 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Publication date: February 23, 2006
    Inventors: Yasushi Kurata, Yasuo Kamigata, Takeshi Uchida, Hiroki Terasaki, Akiko Igarashi
  • Publication number: 20050269295
    Abstract: A CMP abrasive comprising a cerium oxide slurry containing cerium oxide particles, a dispersant and water, and a liquid additive containing a dispersant and water; and a liquid additive for the CMP abrasive. A method for polishing a substrate which comprises holding a substrate having, formed thereon, a film to be polished against a polishing pad of a polishing platen, followed by pressing, and moving the substrate and the polishing platen while supplying the above CMP abrasive in between the film to be polished and the polishing pad to thereby polish the film to be polished. The CMP abrasive and the method for polishing can be used for polishing a surface to be polished such as a silicone oxide film or a silicon nitride film without contaminating the surface to be polished with an alkali metal such as sodium ions and with no flaws, and the CMP abrasive is excellent in storage stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Publication date: December 8, 2005
    Applicant: Hitachi Chemical Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Akahori, Toranosuke Ashizawa, Keizo Hirai, Miho Kurihara, Masato Yoshida, Yasushi Kurata
  • Publication number: 20050181609
    Abstract: A polishing slurry including an oxidant, a metal oxide dissolver, a metal inhibitor and water and having a pH from 2 to 5. The metal oxide dissolver contains one or more types selected from one or more acids (A-group) selected from acids of which the dissociation constant (pKa) of a first dissociable acid group is less than 3.7 and from which five acids of lactic acid, phthalic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid and aminoacetic acid are excluded, ammonium salts of the A-group and esters of the A-group, and one or more types selected from one or more acids (B-group) selected from acids of which the dissociation constant (pKa) of a first dissociable acid group is 3.7 or more and the five acids, ammonium salts of the B-group and esters of the B-group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Publication date: August 18, 2005
    Inventors: Yasushi Kurata, Katsuyuki Masuda, Hiroshi Ono, Yasuo Kamigata, Kazuhiro Enomoto
  • Publication number: 20050173669
    Abstract: A polishing slurry comprises a metal-oxidizing agent, a metal anticorrosive agent, an oxidized metal dissolving agent and water. The oxidized metal dissolving agent is at least one kind selected from the group consisting of an acid in which the dissociation constant (pKa) of a first dissociable acid group is 3.5 or more, an ammonium salt of the acid and an organic acid ester of the acid. The pH of the polishing slurry is within the range of 3 to 4. The concentration of the metal-oxidizing agent is within the range of 0.01 to 3 percent by weight. In the wiring-formation process of the semiconductor device, the conductor used for the barrier layer can be polished at a high polishing rate by using the polishing slurry having the low polishing particle concentration and the low metal anticorrosive agent concentration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Publication date: August 11, 2005
    Applicant: Hitachi Chemical Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Kurata, Yasuo Kamigata, Sou Anzai, Hiroki Terazaki
  • Publication number: 20050118820
    Abstract: A CMP abrasive comprising a cerium oxide slurry containing cerium oxide particles, a dispersant and water, and a liquid additive containing a dispersant and water; and a liquid additive for the CMP abrasive. A method for polishing a substrate which comprises holding a substrate having, formed thereon, a film to be polished against a polishing pad of a polishing platen, followed by pressing, and moving the substrate and the polishing platen while supplying the above CMP abrasive in between the film to be polished and the polishing pad to thereby polish the film to be polished. The CMP abrasive and the method for polishing can be used for polishing a surface to be polished such as a silicone oxide film or a silicon nitride film without contaminating the surface to be polished with an alkali metal such as sodium ions and with no flaws, and the CMP abrasive is excellent in storage stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Publication date: June 2, 2005
    Applicant: Hitachi Chemical Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Akahori, Toranosuke Ashizawa, Keizo Hirai, Miho Kurihara, Masato Yoshida, Yasushi Kurata
  • Publication number: 20050085168
    Abstract: A cerium oxide abrasive slurry having, dispersed in a medium, cerium oxide particles whose primary particles have a median diameter of from 30 nm to 250 nm, a maximum particle diameter of 600 nm or smaller, and a specific surface area of from 7 to 45 m.2/g, and slurry particles have a median diameter of from 150 nm to 600 nm. The cerium oxide particles have structural parameter Y, representing an isotropic microstrain obtained by an X-ray Rietveld method (with RIETAN-94), of from 0.01 to 0.70, and structural parameter X, representing a primary particle diameter obtained by an X-ray Rietveld method (with RIETAN-94), of from 0.08 to 0.3. The cerium oxide abrasive slurry is made by a method of obtaining particles by firing at a temperature of from 600° C. to 900° C. and then pulverizing, then dispersing the resulting cerium oxide particles in a medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Publication date: April 21, 2005
    Inventors: Masato Yoshida, Toranosuke Ashizawa, Hiroki Terazaki, Yasushi Kurata, Jun Matsuzawa, Kiyohito Tanno, Yuuto Ootuki
  • Patent number: 6863700
    Abstract: A cerium oxide abrasive slurry having, dispersed in a medium, cerium oxide particles whose primary particles have a median diameter of from 30 nm to 250 nm, a maximum particle diameter of 600 nm or smaller, and a specific surface area of from 7 to 45 m2/g, and slurry particles have a median diameter of from 150 nm to 600 nm. The cerium oxide particles have structural parameter Y, representing an isotropic microstrain obtained by an X-ray Rietvelt method (with RIETAN-94), of from 0.01 to 0.70, and structural parameter X, representing a primary particle diameter obtained by an X-ray Rietvelt method (with RIETAN-94), of from 0.08 to 0.3. The cerium oxide abrasive slurry is made by a method of obtaining particles by firing at a temperature of from 600° C. to 900° C. and then pulverizing, then dispersing the resulting cerium oxide particles in a medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Yoshida, Toranosuke Ashizawa, Hiroki Terazaki, Yasushi Kurata, Jun Matsuzawa, Kiyohito Tanno, Yuuto Ootuki
  • Patent number: 6783434
    Abstract: A CMP abrasive comprising a cerium oxide slurry containing cerium oxide particles, a dispersant and water, and a liquid additive containing a dispersant and water; and a liquid additive for the CMP abrasive. A method for polishing a substrate which comprises holding a substrate having, formed thereon, a film to be polished against a polishing pad of a polishing platen, followed by pressing, and moving the substrate and the polishing platen while supplying the above CMP abrasive in between the film to be polished and the polishing pad to thereby polish the film to be polished. The CMP abrasive and the method for polishing can be used for polishing a surface to be polished such as a silicone oxide film or a silicon nitride film without contaminating the surface to be polished with an alkali metal such as sodium ions and with no flaws, and the CMP abrasive is excellent in storage stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Akahori, Toranosuke Ashizawa, Keizo Hirai, Miho Kurihara, Masato Yoshida, Yasushi Kurata
  • Publication number: 20040147206
    Abstract: A CMP abrasive comprising a cerium oxide slurry containing cerium oxide particles, a dispersant and water, and a liquid additive containing a dispersant and water; and a liquid additive for the CMP abrasive. A method for polishing a substrate which comprises holding a substrate having, formed thereon, a film to be polished against a polishing pad of a polishing platen, followed by pressing, and moving the substrate and the polishing platen while supplying the above CMP abrasive in between the film to be polished and the polishing pad to thereby polish the film to be polished. The CMP abrasive and the method for polishing can be used for polishing a surface to be polished such as a silicone oxide film or a silicon nitride film without contaminating the surface to be polished with an alkali metal such as sodium ions and with no flaws, and the CMP abrasive is excellent in storage stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Applicant: Hitachi Chemical Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Akahori, Toranosuke Ashizawa, Keizo Hirai, Miho Kurihara, Masato Yoshida, Yasushi Kurata
  • Publication number: 20030219982
    Abstract: A polishing liquid for metal containing a metal-oxidizing agent, an oxidized metal dissolving agent, a protective film forming agent, a water-soluble polymer and water, the polishing liquid being used for producing a wiring pattern having a metal-embedded wiring portion of 10 to 100 &mgr;m width and an insulating portion of 10 to 100 &mgr;m width in which pattern the wiring portion is arranged at a wiring density of 40 to 60%, the polishing liquid for metal being comprising in that, when a surface to be polished of a metal film embedded in the wiring portion and a surface to be polished of an insulating film formed at both side portions of the metal film is polished substantially flush, wherein (width of the metal-embedded wiring portion)/(magnitude of dishing (depth)) is no less than 103.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Applicant: HITACHI CHEMICAL CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yasushi Kurata, Yasuo Kamigata, Takeshi Uchida, Hiroki Terazaki, Akiko Igarashi
  • Patent number: 6420269
    Abstract: The invention relates to an abrasive containing a slurry of the cerium oxide grains dispersed in water. The Cerium oxide grains are obtained by adding hydrogen peroxide to an aqueous dispersion of cerium carbonate. The Cerium oxide grains are obtained by oxidizing a precipitate, which is formed through addition of ammonium hydrogencarbonate to an aqueous solution of cerium nitrate, with hydrogen peroxide. The Cerium oxide grains are obtained by neutralizing or alkallfying an aqueous solution of cerium ammonium nitrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Matsuzawa, Yasushi Kurata, Kiyohito Tanno, Yoshio Honma
  • Publication number: 20020090895
    Abstract: To polish polishing target surfaces of SiO2 insulating films or the like at a high rate without scratching the surface, the present invention provides an abrasive comprising a slurry comprising a medium and dispersed therein at least one of i) cerium oxide particles constituted of at least two crystallites and having crystal grain boundaries or having a bulk density of not higher than 6.5 g/cm3 and ii) abrasive grains having pores. Also provided are a method of polishing a target member and a process for producing a semiconductor device which make use of this abrasive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventors: Masato Yoshida, Toranosuke Ashizawa, Hiroki Terazaki, Yuuto Ootuki, Yasushi Kurata, Jun Matsuzawa, Kiyohito Tanno
  • Publication number: 20020069593
    Abstract: A cerium oxide abrasive slurry having, dispersed in a medium, cerium oxide particles whose primary particles have a median diameter of from 30 nm to 250 nm, a maximum particle diameter of 600 nm or smaller, and a specific surface area of from 7 to 45 m2/g, and slurry particles have a median diameter of from 150 nm to 600 nm. The cerium oxide particles have structural parameter Y, representing an isotropic microstrain obtained by an X-ray Rietvelt method (with RIETAN-94), of from 0.01 to 0.70, and structural parameter X, representing a primary particle diameter obtained by an X-ray Rietvelt method (with RIETAN-94), of from 0.08 to 0.3. The cerium oxide abrasive slurry is made by a method of obtaining particles by firing at a temperature of from 600° C. to 900° C. and then pulverizing, then dispersing the resulting cerium oxide particles in a medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Applicant: HITACHI CHEMICAL COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Masato Yoshida, Toranosuke Ashizawa, Hiroki Terazaki, Yasushi Kurata, Jun Matsuzawa, Kiyohito Tanno, Yuuto Ootuki