Patents by Inventor Atsushi Ueki

Atsushi Ueki 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: 20230398641
    Abstract: A detection method of resistivity is a detection method of resistivity in which resistivity of a plate-shaped workpiece having a back surface and a front surface on a side opposite to the back surface is detected. The detection method includes an interference waveform acquisition step of irradiating the back surface of the plate-shaped workpiece with light from a light source and acquiring an interference waveform between light reflected by the back surface and light that has been transmitted through the back surface and been reflected by the front surface, and an estimation step of estimating the resistivity of the plate-shaped workpiece on the basis of the interference waveform acquired in the interference waveform acquisition step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventor: Atsushi UEKI
  • Publication number: 20230298925
    Abstract: An expansion method includes an expansion step of expanding a sheet between an outer periphery of a wafer and an inner periphery of an annular frame in a wafer unit, and a heating step of heating the sheet in its region between the outer periphery of the wafer and the inner periphery of the annular frame by a heating unit to allow slack of the sheet, the slack having been formed in the expansion step, to shrink. The region includes a first region, and a second region that is harder to shrink by the heating than the first region. On the sheet, heat spots of a temperature higher than that of the sheet surrounding the heat spots are formed with heat radiated to the sheet. In the heating step, the heating unit is moved such that the heat spots are positioned over an entirety of at least the second region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Atsushi UEKI, Takayuki MASADA
  • Patent number: 11752574
    Abstract: A laser beam irradiation unit of a laser processing apparatus includes a laser oscillator, a condenser lens that condenses a laser beam emitted from the laser oscillator, and a phase modulation element arranged between the laser oscillator and the condenser lens. Individual differences of the condenser lens are prevented by applying, to the phase modulation element, voltages corresponding to a combined pattern of a shape correction pattern which is configured to correct differences between an actual shape and design values of the condenser lens, and an adjustment pattern which is configured to adjust optical characteristics of the laser beam at each processing point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Ueki, Nobuyuki Kimura
  • Patent number: 11621201
    Abstract: A laser beam spot shape correcting method includes a laser beam irradiating step of irradiating a concave mirror with a laser beam, an imaging step of imaging reflected light by a beam profiler, an image forming step of forming an XZ plane image or a YZ plane image from an XY plane image imaged in the imaging step, and a comparing step of comparing the image formed in the image forming step with an XZ plane image or a YZ plane image of an ideal laser beam. A phase pattern displayed on a display unit of a spatial light modulator is changed such that the XZ plane image or the YZ plane image formed in the image forming step coincides with the XZ plane image or the YZ plane image of the ideal laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Ueki, Teppei Nomura
  • Patent number: 11351631
    Abstract: A calculating section of a control unit calculates a vertical position Defocus for a condensing lens using a height value H1 of a modified layer in a wafer that is set by a setting section according to the equation (1) below. Defocus=(thickness T1 of wafer?height value H1?b)/a??(1) The calculating section calculates an appropriate vertical position for the condensing lens according to the equation (1) depending on the height value H1 of the modified layer that is set by the setting section. Therefore, the vertical position of the condensing lens in laser processing operation can be determined more easily, and a time-consuming and tedious experiment for fine adjustment of the vertical position of the condensing lens does not need to be conducted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Ueki, Yutaka Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11325205
    Abstract: In a laser processing apparatus, a height of a focusing lens in a processing unit can be changed according to a change in height of an upper surface of a wafer, thereby changing a vertical position of a focal point of a laser beam inside the wafer. Accordingly, the laser beam can be applied to the wafer as feeding the wafer in a condition where the focal point is set at a vertical position spaced a fixed distance from the lower surface of the wafer. As a result, a modified layer can be formed inside the wafer at a uniform height from the lower surface of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Atsushi Ueki
  • Publication number: 20210276123
    Abstract: A laser beam irradiation unit of a laser processing apparatus includes a laser oscillator, a condenser lens that condenses a laser beam emitted from the laser oscillator, and a phase modulation element arranged between the laser oscillator and the condenser lens. Individual differences of the condenser lens are prevented by applying, to the phase modulation element, voltages corresponding to a combined pattern of a shape correction pattern which is configured to correct differences between an actual shape and design values of the condenser lens, and an adjustment pattern which is configured to adjust optical characteristics of the laser beam at each processing point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Atsushi UEKI, Nobuyuki KIMURA
  • Publication number: 20210183714
    Abstract: A laser beam spot shape correcting method includes a laser beam irradiating step of irradiating a concave mirror with a laser beam, an imaging step of imaging reflected light by a beam profiler, an image forming step of forming an XZ plane image or a YZ plane image from an XY plane image imaged in the imaging step, and a comparing step of comparing the image formed in the image forming step with an XZ plane image or a YZ plane image of an ideal laser beam. A phase pattern displayed on a display unit of a spatial light modulator is changed such that the XZ plane image or the YZ plane image formed in the image forming step coincides with the XZ plane image or the YZ plane image of the ideal laser beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Atsushi UEKI, Teppei NOMURA
  • Publication number: 20210146482
    Abstract: A laser processing apparatus includes a laser beam applying unit for applying a laser beam to a workpiece, and a control unit. The laser beam applying unit includes a laser oscillator for emitting a laser, a condensing lens, a concave mirror having a focal point at a focused spot of the condensing lens and having a spherical reflecting surface, a beam splitter for transmitting therethrough the laser beam emitted from the laser oscillator toward the condensing lens and branching off a reflected beam, and a wavefront measuring unit for receiving the reflected beam and acquiring wavefront data. The control unit changes a phase pattern to be displayed on a display portion of a spatial light modulator on the basis of the wavefront data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Teppei NOMURA, Atsushi UEKI
  • Publication number: 20210008661
    Abstract: A calculating section of a control unit calculates a vertical position Defocus for a condensing lens using a height value H1 of a modified layer in a wafer that is set by a setting section according to the equation (1) below. Defocus=(thickness T1 of wafer?height value H1?b)/a??(1) The calculating section calculates an appropriate vertical position for the condensing lens according to the equation (1) depending on the height value H1 of the modified layer that is set by the setting section. Therefore, the vertical position of the condensing lens in laser processing operation can be determined more easily, and a time-consuming and tedious experiment for fine adjustment of the vertical position of the condensing lens does not need to be conducted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Atsushi UEKI, Yutaka KOBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20200306877
    Abstract: In a laser processing apparatus, a height of a focusing lens in a processing unit can be changed according to a change in height of an upper surface of a wafer, thereby changing a vertical position of a focal point of a laser beam inside the wafer. Accordingly, the laser beam can be applied to the wafer as feeding the wafer in a condition where the focal point is set at a vertical position spaced a fixed distance from the lower surface of the wafer. As a result, a modified layer can be formed inside the wafer at a uniform height from the lower surface of the wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventor: Atsushi UEKI
  • Patent number: 10580698
    Abstract: A wafer processing method includes a modified layer forming step of forming a modified layer along a planned dividing line within a wafer and a dividing step of dividing the wafer along the planned dividing line with the modified layer as a starting point by applying a force to the wafer. The modified layer forming step includes a forward path modified layer forming step, a backward path modified layer forming step, and a phase shift mask reversing step of reversing a phase shift mask so as to reverse phase distribution of a laser beam applied to the wafer in an X-axis direction after the forward path modified layer forming step and before the backward path modified layer forming step, or after the backward path modified layer forming step and before the forward path modified layer forming step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Atsushi Ueki
  • Patent number: 10559487
    Abstract: A wafer is divided at division starting points along division lines to form a predetermined gap between adjacent chips. Next, that area of a tape to which the wafer is adhered is suction held by a table, after which the table and a ring frame holding section are relatively moved further away from each other to expand the tape in a ring shape between an outer periphery of the wafer and an inner periphery of a ring frame. Thereafter, the table and the ring frame holding section are relatively moved closer to each other to slacken the ring-shaped tape, and the ring-shaped tape is heated by a heater, to heat shrink the tape and to maintain the predetermined gap between the adjacent chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Atsushi Ueki
  • Publication number: 20190164832
    Abstract: A wafer processing method includes a modified layer forming step of forming a modified layer along a planned dividing line within a wafer and a dividing step of dividing the wafer along the planned dividing line with the modified layer as a starting point by applying a force to the wafer. The modified layer forming step includes a forward path modified layer forming step, a backward path modified layer forming step, and a phase shift mask reversing step of reversing a phase shift mask so as to reverse phase distribution of a laser beam applied to the wafer in an X-axis direction after the forward path modified layer forming step and before the backward path modified layer forming step, or after the backward path modified layer forming step and before the forward path modified layer forming step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventor: Atsushi UEKI
  • Patent number: 10292090
    Abstract: An object is to provide a mobile station, a mobile communication system, and a network device that can realize more appropriate call origination control per service as intended by an operator. An MMTEL function unit (120) of a UE (100), based on ssac-BarringForMMTEL-Voice, upon determining that call origination of a VoLTE call is possible, transmits Bearer Request to an NAS function unit (170). The NAS function unit (170), in accordance with the Bearer Request, transmits Service Request to an RRC function unit (190). The RRC function unit (190), in accordance with the Service Request, based on ac-BarringForMO-Data or Tbarring, transmits RRC Connection Request to a mobile communication network (200) without determining a possibility of call origination of the VoLTE call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: NTT DOCOMO, INC.
    Inventors: Atsushi Ueki, Shinya Takeda, Takehiro Ida, Itsuma Tanaka, Wuri Andarmawanti Hapsari, Kenichiro Aoyagi
  • Patent number: 10249547
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a using method for a test wafer including a test substrate and a metal foil formed on the front side of the test substrate. The using method includes a modified layer forming step of applying a laser beam having a transmission wavelength to the test substrate from the back side of the test wafer in the condition where the focal point of the laser beam is set inside the test substrate, thereby forming a modified layer inside the test substrate, and a damage detecting step of observing the front side of the test wafer after performing the modified layer forming step, thereby detecting damage to the metal foil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORTATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Kobayashi, Shunsuke Teranishi, Nobumori Ogoshi, Atsushi Ueki, Yuriko Sato, Yasuhiro Shimma
  • Publication number: 20180358256
    Abstract: A wafer is divided at division starting points along division lines to form a predetermined gap between adjacent chips. Next, that area of a tape to which the wafer is adhered is suction held by a table, after which the table and a ring frame holding section are relatively moved further away from each other to expand the tape in a ring shape between an outer periphery of the wafer and an inner periphery of a ring frame. Thereafter, the table and the ring frame holding section are relatively moved closer to each other to slacken the ring-shaped tape, and the ring-shaped tape is heated by a heater, to heat shrink the tape and to maintain the predetermined gap between the adjacent chips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventor: Atsushi Ueki
  • Patent number: 9991151
    Abstract: A chip spacing maintaining apparatus for maintaining the spacing between any adjacent ones of a plurality of chips obtained by dividing a workpiece attached to an expand sheet, the expand sheet being supported at its peripheral portion to an annular frame is provided. The chip spacing maintaining apparatus includes a far-infrared radiation applying unit for applying far-infrared radiation toward the expand sheet expanded in a target area between the outer circumference of the workpiece and the inner circumference of the annular frame, thereby shrinking the expand sheet in the target area, and an air layer forming unit provided adjacent to the far-infrared radiation applying unit, the air layer forming unit having a nozzle hole for discharging a gas toward the workpiece in applying the far-infrared radiation from the far-infrared radiation applying unit toward the expand sheet, thereby forming an air layer above the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Hattori, Atsushi Ueki
  • Patent number: 9794778
    Abstract: An objective is to prohibit retransmission of “UE assistance information”. A mobile communication method according to the present invention includes the steps of: transmitting “UE assistance information” to a radio base station (eNB) by a mobile station (UE), the “UE assistance information” prompting the radio base station (eNB) to change a parameter for the mobile station UE used in the radio base station; notifying, by the radio base station (eNB), the mobile station (UE) of a transmission-prohibited period of the “UE assistance information”; and stopping, by the mobile station (UE), retransmission of the “UE assistance information” on the basis of the transmission-prohibited period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: NTT DOCOMO, INC.
    Inventors: Yasufumi Morioka, Tooru Uchino, Wuri Andarmawanti Hapsari, Atsushi Ueki, Kenichiro Aoyagi, Hideaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9591487
    Abstract: A mobile station, a networking apparatus, and a mobile communication method with which access restriction according to SSAC can be achieved with greater reliability even when the mobile station is in an RRC CONNECTED state. A UE 100 acquires restriction information indicating a content of Service Specific Access Control, and cancels transmission of a call-origination request based on the acquired restriction information if the call-origination request is generated when the UE 100 is in an RRC CONNECTED state in which connection to an access network is established on a radio resource control layer, the transmission being cancelled in the RRC CONNECTED state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: NTT DOCOMO, INC.
    Inventors: Atsushi Ueki, Takehiro Ida, Kenichiro Aoyagi