Patents Assigned to Kokusai Electric Corporation
  • Patent number: 11885016
    Abstract: There is included (a) forming a film on a substrate by supplying a first processing gas to the substrate in a process container; (b) forming a first pre-coated film, which has a first thickness and has a material different from a material of the film formed in (a), in the process container by supplying a second processing gas into the process container in a state in which the substrate does not exist in the process container; and (c) forming a second pre-coated film, which has a second thickness smaller than the first thickness and has the same material as the material of the film formed in (a), on the first pre-coated film formed in the process container by supplying a third processing gas into the process container in the state in which the substrate does not exist in the process container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Harada, Shintaro Kogura, Masayoshi Minami
  • Publication number: 20240030026
    Abstract: There is provided a technique that includes (a) forming a first adsorption-inhibiting layer by adsorbing at least a portion of a molecular structure of molecules constituting a first precursor on a surface of a first base by supplying the first precursor to a substrate including the first base and a second base on a surface of the substrate, (b) forming an adsorption-promoting layer on a surface of the second base by supplying a reactant to the substrate, (c) forming a second adsorption-inhibiting layer by adsorbing at least a portion of a molecular structure of molecules constituting a second precursor on a surface of the adsorption-promoting layer by supplying the second precursor, which is different in molecular structure from the first precursor, to the substrate, and (d) forming a film on the surface of the first base by supplying a film-forming substance to the substrate subjected to (a), (b), and (c).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: Kokusai Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shoma MIYATA, Kimihiko NAKATANI, Takayuki WASEDA, Yoshitomo HASHIMOTO
  • Patent number: 11873555
    Abstract: Described herein is a technique capable of stabilizing a supply flow rate of a vaporized gas. According to one aspect of the technique, there is provided a vaporizer including: a liquid vessel in which a liquid source is stored; a first heater capable of heating the liquid source by immersion into the liquid source stored in the liquid vessel; a second heater capable of heating the liquid vessel; a first temperature sensor capable of measuring a temperature of the liquid source by immersion into the liquid source; a second temperature sensor capable of measuring a temperature of the liquid vessel; and a controller capable of controlling the first heater based on the temperature measured by the first temperature sensor and controlling the second heater based on the temperature measured by the second temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Kokusai Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Gen Li, Hirohisa Yamazaki, Kenichi Suzaki
  • Patent number: 11876010
    Abstract: There is provided a configuration that includes a substrate holder configured to hold substrates; a transfer mechanism configured to transfer the substrates to the substrate holder; and a controller configured to: acquire a number of substrates mountable on the substrate holder and a number of the product substrates to be mounted on the substrate holder; divide the product substrates into product substrate groups; divide the dummy substrates into dummy substrate groups based on the number of the product substrates, the number of the substrates mountable on the substrate holder, and a number of the product substrate groups; combine the product substrate groups and the dummy substrate groups; create substrate arrangement data for distributing and mounting the product substrates on the substrate holder; and cause the transfer mechanism to transfer the substrates according to the substrate arrangement data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadashi Okazaki, Hajime Abiko, Tomoyuki Miyada, Yukinao Kaga
  • Publication number: 20240014032
    Abstract: There is included (a) loading a substrate where a conductive metal-element-containing film is exposed on a surface of the substrate into a process chamber under a first temperature; (b) supplying a reducing gas to the substrate while raising a temperature of the substrate to a second temperature higher than the first temperature in the process chamber; (c) forming a first film on the metal-element-containing film, by supplying a first process gas, which does not include an oxidizing gas, to the substrate under the second temperature in the process chamber; and (d) forming a second film on the first film such that the second film is thicker than the first film, by supplying a second process gas, which includes an oxidizing gas, to the substrate under a third temperature higher than the first temperature in the process chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: Kokusai Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro HARADA, Masayoshi Minami, Shintaro Kogura, Shogo Otani, Yoshitomo Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20240014055
    Abstract: There is provided a technique, which includes: at least one substrate processing apparatus including a controller configured to be capable of controlling processing of a substrate according to a recipe including at least one step and a first memory configured to be capable of storing data of the at least one substrate processing apparatus that is reported during the processing of the substrate; and a data manager connected to the at least one substrate processing apparatus, configured to acquire the data, and configured to be capable of specifying the number of the at least one step that is included in the data to be acquired such that the data falls within a predefined data acquirable range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: Kokusai Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi YAMAMOTO, Hidemoto Hayashihara, Kayoko Yashiki, Kyohei Kita, Kazuhide Asai
  • Patent number: 11869785
    Abstract: Described herein is a technique capable of detecting a substrate state without contacting the substrate. According to one aspect of the technique, there is provided (a) loading a substrate retainer, where a plurality of substrates is placed, into a reaction tube; (b) processing the plurality of the substrates by supplying a gas into the reaction tube; (c) unloading the substrate retainer out of the reaction tube after the plurality of the substrates is processed; and (d) detecting the plurality of the substrates placed on the substrate retainer after the substrate retainer is rotated by a first angle with respect to a transferable position, wherein the plurality of the substrates is transferable to/from the substrate retainer in the transferable position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Kokusai Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Miyada, Hajime Abiko, Junichi Kawasaki, Tadashi Okazaki
  • Patent number: 11869748
    Abstract: Described herein is a technique capable of suppressing sputtering on an inner peripheral surface of a process vessel when a process gas is plasma-excited in the process vessel. According to one aspect thereof, a substrate processing apparatus includes: a process vessel accommodating a process chamber where a process gas is excited into plasma; a gas supplier supplying the process gas into the process chamber; a coil wound around an outer peripheral surface of the process vessel and spaced apart therefrom, wherein a high frequency power is supplied to the coil; and an electrostatic shield disposed between the outer peripheral surface and the coil, wherein the electrostatic shield includes: a partition extending in a circumferential direction to partition between a part of the coil and the outer peripheral surface; and an opening extending in the circumferential direction and opened between another part of the coil and the outer peripheral surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Kokusai Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Yasui, Katsunori Funaki, Yasutoshi Tsubota, Koichiro Harada
  • Patent number: 11866822
    Abstract: There is provided a technique that includes a precursor vessel in which a liquid precursor is stored; a first heater immersed in the liquid precursor stored in the precursor vessel and configured to heat the liquid precursor; a second heater configured to heat the precursor vessel; a first temperature sensor immersed in the liquid precursor stored in the precursor vessel and configured to measure a temperature of the liquid precursor; a second temperature sensor immersed in the liquid precursor stored in the precursor vessel and configured to measure a temperature of the liquid precursor; and a controller configured to be capable of: controlling the first heater based on the temperature measured by the first temperature sensor; and controlling the second heater based on the temperature measured by the second temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirohisa Yamazaki, Ryuichi Nakagawa, Kenichi Suzaki, Yasunori Ejiri
  • Patent number: 11869790
    Abstract: There is provided a technique that includes: at least one process chamber configured to be capable of processing a substrate; one or more supports configured to be capable of supporting the substrate; a transporter configured to be capable of transporting the one or more supports; a transfer chamber configured to be capable of transferring the substrate; a transport chamber that is adjacent to the transfer chamber and the at least one process chamber and is configured to be capable of moving the transporter; and a delivery chamber that is disposed in the transport chamber and is configured to be capable of delivering the one or more supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuji Takebayashi, Toshiro Koshimaki
  • Patent number: 11869764
    Abstract: Described herein is a technique capable of acquiring, monitoring and recording the progress of the reaction between a substrate and a reactive gas contained in a process gas in a process chamber during the processing of the substrate. According to the technique, there is provided a substrate processing apparatus including: a process chamber accommodating a substrate; a process gas supply system configured to supply a process gas into the process chamber via a process gas supply pipe; an exhaust pipe configured to exhaust an inner atmosphere of the process chamber; a first gas concentration sensor configured to detect a first concentration of a reactive gas contained in the process gas in the process gas supply pipe; and a second gas concentration sensor configured to detect a second concentration of the reactive gas contained in an exhaust gas in the exhaust pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akinori Tanaka, Hideto Tateno, Sadayoshi Horii
  • Publication number: 20240006206
    Abstract: There is provided a technique that includes: a storage storing at least a temperature control table where a set value of a heater heating a substrate and a set value of a lamp heating the substrate are set for a target temperature of the substrate, and a process recipe constituted by steps of processing the substrate; and a controller capable of performing a control of executing the process recipe, wherein the controller is capable of performing a control of: searching the temperature control table with target temperature corresponding to a substrate temperature set in the process recipe; and setting a set value for the target temperature corresponding to the substrate temperature to at least one selected from the group of a temperature set value of the heater, a temperature ratio of the heater, a power set value of the lamp, and a lamp rate value in the process recipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: Kokusai Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masako Sueyoshi, Makoto Nomura, Taku Hisada
  • Publication number: 20240003012
    Abstract: A technique including: a process chamber in which a substrate is processed; a heater configured to heat the substrate in the process chamber; and a housing including the heater and the process chamber, in which the heater includes: an outer tube; an inner tube disposed inside the outer tube; and a heater wire including a power line disposed in an inner space of the inner tube and a power line that is different from the power line disposed in the inner space of the inner tube and is disposed between the outer tube and the inner tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: Kokusai Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Yuji TAKEBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20240006184
    Abstract: According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a gas line whose gas flow rate is to be edited by a user can be confirmed. There is provided a technique that includes: (a) displaying, on a recipe edit screen, a parameter setting region configured to set control parameters including a gas flow rate of a flow rate controller and a gas pattern screen configured to set an opening/closing state of a valve; (b) editing the recipe on the recipe edit screen; and (c) processing a substrate by performing the recipe edited in (b). When the gas flow rate of the flow rate controller is set on the parameter setting region, a flow rate controller on the gas pattern screen in association with the flow rate controller whose gas flow rate is set on the parameter setting region is clearly specified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: Kokusai Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi KAWASAKI, Shinichiro MORI, Yasuhiro JOHO, Satomi YAMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20240003005
    Abstract: There is provided a technique, which includes: dividing an inside of a process chamber, into which a cleaning gas is to be supplied, into three or more zones in a gas flow direction and heating the inside of the process chamber such that, in the process chamber, a temperature difference between a zone positioned on an upstream side in the gas flow direction and a zone adjacent to the zone positioned on the upstream side is greater than a temperature difference between a zone positioned on a downstream side in the gas flow direction and a zone adjacent to the zone positioned on the downstream side; and supplying the cleaning gas into the process chamber after the act of heating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: Kokusai Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunobu KOSHI, Yuji URANO, Shingo NOHARA, Kazuhiro HARADA
  • Publication number: 20240006200
    Abstract: A technique that includes: a transfer chamber including a transfer space in which a substrate loaded from a substrate accommodation container is transferred; a gas circulation path connecting both ends of the transfer space; a fan in the gas circulation path for circulating atmosphere in the transfer space and the gas circulation path; a loading port through which the substrate is loaded into the transfer space; a side surface opening provided on at least one side surface putting therebetween a side surface of the transfer chamber provided with the loading port, among a plurality of side surfaces forming the transfer chamber, the side surface opening communicating with the transfer space; a door for closing the side surface opening; and a circulation duct movable integrally with the door and provided to constitute the gas circulation path in a state where the door is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: Kokusai Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi HIROTANI, Akira TAKAHASHI, Takuya SAITO
  • Patent number: 11859280
    Abstract: Described herein is a technique capable of improving a film thickness uniformity on a surface of a wafer whereon a film is formed. According to one aspect of the technique of the present disclosure, there is provided a substrate processing apparatus including: a process chamber in which a substrate is processed; a process gas nozzle configured to supply a process gas into the process chamber; an inert gas nozzle configured to supply an inert gas into the process chamber while a concentration of the process gas at the center of the substrate is higher than a concentration required for processing the substrate; and an exhaust pipe configured to exhaust an inner atmosphere of the process chamber; wherein the process gas nozzle and the inert gas nozzle are disposed beside the edge of substrate with a predetermined distance therebetween corresponding to an angle of circumference of 90 to 180 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Mimura, Takafumi Sasaki, Hidenari Yoshida, Yusaku Okajima
  • Publication number: 20230416916
    Abstract: A technique includes a process container configured to process a substrate, a storage container which is at least partially in contact with an outer wall of the process container and is configured to store a gas to be supplied into the process container, and a temperature regulator configured to regulate an internal temperature of the storage container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Applicant: Kokusai Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Hidehiro YANAI
  • Patent number: 11854850
    Abstract: Described herein is a technique capable of improving the controllability of a thickness of a film formed on a large surface area substrate having a surface area greater than a surface area of a bare substrate and improving the thickness uniformity between films formed on a plurality of large surface area substrates accommodated in a substrate loading region by reducing the influence of the surface area of the large surface area substrate and the number of the large surface area substrates due to a loading effect even when the plurality of large surface area substrates are batch-processed using a batch type processing furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Kokusai Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yukinao Kaga, Ryosuke Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11854799
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including: (a) loading a substrate into a process chamber; (b) supplying a processing gas including H2O-containing radicals to the substrate; (c) supplying a gas including a halogen element; (d) supplying a gas including one or both of an oxygen element and a nitrogen element after (c); (e) repeating (c) and (d); and (f) repeating (b) and (e).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ashihara, Toshiyuki Kikuchi