Patents by Inventor Bunji Mizuno

Bunji Mizuno 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: 9502220
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus that performs plasma processing on a substrate held on a transport carrier including an annular frame and a holding sheet. The apparatus includes: a process chamber; a plasma excitation device that generates plasma; a stage in the chamber; a cooling mechanism for cooling the stage; a cover that partly covers the holding sheet and the frame and has a window section through which the substrate is partly exposed to plasma; and a movement device that moves a relative position of the cover to the frame. The cover has a roof section, a cylindrical circumferential side section extending from a circumferential edge of the roof section toward the stage, and a correction member that protrudes from the roof section and/or the circumferential side section toward the frame and presses the frame onto the stage to correct warpage of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shogo Okita, Bunji Mizuno, Tomohiro Okumura
  • Publication number: 20160064196
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus that performs plasma processing on a substrate held on a transport carrier including an annular frame and a holding sheet. The apparatus includes: a process chamber; a plasma excitation device that generates plasma; a stage in the chamber; a cooling mechanism for cooling the stage; a cover that partly covers the holding sheet and the frame and has a window section through which the substrate is partly exposed to plasma; and a movement device that moves a relative position of the cover to the frame. The cover has a roof section, a cylindrical circumferential side section extending from a circumferential edge of the roof section toward the stage, and a correction member that protrudes from the roof section and/or the circumferential side section toward the frame and presses the frame onto the stage to correct warpage of the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Shogo OKITA, Bunji MIZUNO, Tomohiro OKUMURA
  • Patent number: 8709926
    Abstract: In order to realize a plasma doping method capable of carrying out a stable low-density doping, exhaustion is carried out with a pump while introducing a predetermined gas into a vacuum chamber from a gas supplying apparatus, the pressure of the vacuum chamber is held at a predetermined pressure and a high frequency power is supplied to a coil from a high frequency power source. After the generation of plasma in the vacuum chamber, the pressure of the vacuum chamber is lowered, and the low-density plasma doping is performed to a substrate placed on a substrate electrode. Moreover, the pressure of the vacuum chamber is gradually lowered, and the high frequency power is gradually increased, thereby the low-density plasma doping is carried out to the substrate placed on the substrate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Okumura, Ichiro Nakayama, Bunji Mizuno, Yuichiro Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8652953
    Abstract: In a plasma doping device according to the invention, a vacuum chamber is evacuated with a turbo-molecular pump as an exhaust device via a exhaust port while a predetermined gas is being introduced from a gas supply device in order to maintain the inside of the vacuum chamber to a predetermined pressure with a pressure regulating valve. A high-frequency power of 13.56 MHz is supplied by a high-frequency power source to a coil provided in the vicinity of a dielectric window opposed to a sample electrode to generate inductive-coupling plasma in the vacuum chamber. A high-frequency power source for supplying a high-frequency power to the sample electrode is provided. Uniformity of processing is enhanced by driving a gate shutter and covering a through gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Okumura, Yuichiro Sasaki, Katsumi Okashita, Bunji Mizuno, Hiroyuki Ito, Ichiro Nakayama, Cheng-Guo Jin
  • Publication number: 20130323916
    Abstract: A plasma doping apparatus which introduces a predetermined mass flow of gas from a gas supply device into a vacuum chamber while discharging the gas through an exhaust port by a turbo-molecular pump, which is an exhaust device in order to maintain the vacuum chamber under a predetermined pressure by a pressure adjusting valve. A high-frequency power source supplies high-frequency power of 13.56 MHz to a coil disposed in the vicinity of a dielectric window opposite a sample electrode in order to generate an inductively coupled plasma in the vacuum chamber. A sum of an area of an opening of a gas flow-off port opposed to a center portion of the sample electrode is configured to be smaller than that of an area of an opening of the gas flow-off port opposed to a peripheral portion of the sample electrode in order to improve the uniformity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiro OKUMURA, Yuichiro SASAKI, Katsumi OKASHITA, Bunji MIZUNO, Hiroyuki ITO, Ichiro NAKAYAMA, Cheng-Guo JIN
  • Patent number: 8536000
    Abstract: First and second gate insulating films are formed so as to cover at least the upper corner of first and second fin-shaped semiconductor regions. The radius of curvature r1? of the upper corner of the first fin-shaped semiconductor region located outside the first gate insulating film is greater than the radius of curvature r1 of the upper corner of the first fin-shaped semiconductor region located under the first gate insulating film and is less than or equal to 2×r1. The radius of curvature r2? of the upper corner of the second fin-shaped semiconductor region located outside the second gate insulating film is greater than the radius of curvature r2 of the upper corner of the second fin-shaped semiconductor region located under the second gate insulating film and is less than or equal to 2×r2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichiro Sasaki, Keiichi Nakamoto, Katsumi Okashita, Hisataka Kanada, Bunji Mizuno
  • Patent number: 8409939
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes: forming a fin-type semiconductor region on a substrate; and introducing an n-type impurity into at least a side of the fin-type semiconductor region by a plasma doping process, thereby forming an n-type impurity region in the side of the fin-type semiconductor region. In the introducing the n-type impurity, when a source power in the plasma doping process is denoted by a character Y [W], the supply of a gas containing the n-type impurity per unit time and per unit volume is set greater than or equal to 5.1×10?8/((1.72.51/24.51)×(Y/500)) [mol/(min·L·sec)], and the supply of a diluent gas per unit time and per unit volume is set greater than or equal to 1.7×10?4/((202.51/24.51)×(Y/500)) [mol/(min·L·sec)].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichiro Sasaki, Katsumi Okashita, Bunji Mizuno
  • Patent number: 8404573
    Abstract: With the evacuation of an interior of a vacuum chamber halted and with gas supply into the vacuum chamber halted, in a state that a mixed gas of helium gas and diborane gas is sealed in the vacuum chamber, a plasma is generated in a vacuum vessel and simultaneously a high-frequency power is supplied to a sample electrode. By the high-frequency power supplied to the sample electrode, boron is introduced to a proximity to a substrate surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Okumura, Yuichiro Sasaki, Satoshi Maeshima, Ichiro Nakayama, Bunji Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20130022759
    Abstract: With the evacuation of an interior of a vacuum chamber halted and with gas supply into the vacuum chamber halted, in a state that a mixed gas of helium gas and diborane gas is sealed in the vacuum chamber, a plasma is generated in a vacuum vessel and simultaneously a high-frequency power is supplied to a sample electrode. By the high-frequency power supplied to the sample electrode, boron is introduced to a proximity to a substrate surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiro OKUMURA, Yuichiro SASAKI, Satoshi MAESHIMA, Ichiro NAKAYAMA, Bunji MIZUNO
  • Publication number: 20120285818
    Abstract: In a plasma doping device according to the invention, a vacuum chamber is evacuated with a turbo-molecular pump as an exhaust device via a exhaust port while a predetermined gas is being introduced from a gas supply device in order to maintain the inside of the vacuum chamber to a predetermined pressure with a pressure regulating valve. A high-frequency power of 13.56 MHz is supplied by a high-frequency power source to a coil provided in the vicinity of a dielectric window opposed to a sample electrode to generate inductive-coupling plasma in the vacuum chamber. A high-frequency power source for supplying a high-frequency power to the sample electrode is provided. Uniformity of processing is enhanced by driving a gate shutter and covering a through gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro OKUMURA, Yuichiro Sasaki, Katsumi Okashita, Bunji Mizuno, Hiroyuki Ito, Ichiro Nakayama, Cheng-Guo Jin
  • Patent number: 8288259
    Abstract: With the evacuation of an interior of a vacuum chamber halted and with gas supply into the vacuum chamber halted, in a state that a mixed gas of helium gas and diborane gas is sealed in the vacuum chamber, a plasma is generated in a vacuum vessel and simultaneously a high-frequency power is supplied to a sample electrode. By the high-frequency power supplied to the sample electrode, boron is introduced to a proximity to a substrate surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Okumura, Ichiro Nakayama, Satoshi Maeshima, Bunji Mizuno, Yuichiro Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8258585
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a fin-type semiconductor region (13) formed on a substrate (11); a gate insulating film (14) formed so as to cover an upper surface and both side surfaces of a predetermined portion of the fin-type semiconductor region (13); a gate electrode (15) formed on the gate insulating film (14); and an impurity region (17) formed on both sides of the gate electrode (15) in the fin-type semiconductor region (13). An impurity blocking portion (15a) for blocking the introduction of impurities is provided adjacent both sides of the gate electrode (15) over an upper surface of the fin-type semiconductor region (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichiro Sasaki, Katsumi Okashita, Keiichi Nakamoto, Bunji Mizuno
  • Patent number: 8257501
    Abstract: In a plasma doping device according to the invention, a vacuum chamber (1) is evacuated with a turbo-molecular pump (3) as an exhaust device via a exhaust port 11 while a predetermined gas is being introduced from a gas supply device (2) in order to maintain the inside of the vacuum chamber (1) to a predetermined pressure with a pressure regulating valve (4). A high-frequency power of 13.56 MHz is supplied by a high-frequency power source (5) to a coil (8) provided in the vicinity of a dielectric window (7) opposed to a sample electrode (6) to generate inductive-coupling plasma in the vacuum chamber (1). A high-frequency power source (10) for supplying a high-frequency power to the sample electrode (6) is provided. Uniformity of processing is enhanced by driving a gate shutter (18) and covering a through gate (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Okumura, Yuichiro Sasaki, Katsumi Okashita, Bunji Mizuno, Hiroyuki Ito, Ichiro Nakayama, Cheng-Guo Jin
  • Publication number: 20120186519
    Abstract: A plasma doping method and apparatus in which a prescribed gas is introduced into a vacuum container while being exhausted by a turbomolecular pump as an exhaust apparatus. The pressure in the vacuum container is kept at a prescribed value by a pressure regulating valve. High-frequency electric power of 13.56 MHz is supplied to a coil disposed close to a dielectric window which is opposed to a sample electrode, whereby induction-coupled plasma is generated in the vacuum container. Every time a prescribed number of samples have been processed, a dummy sample is subjected to plasma doping and then to heating. The conditions for processing of a sample are controlled so that the measurement value of the surface sheet resistance becomes equal to a prescribed value, whereby the controllability of the impurity concentration can be increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Okumura, Yuichiro Sasaki, Katsumi Okashita, Hiroyuki Ito, Bunji Mizuno, Cheng-Guo Jin, Ichiro Nakayama
  • Patent number: 8222128
    Abstract: A method for introducing impurities includes a step for forming an amorphous layer at a surface of a semiconductor substrate, and a step for forming a shallow impurity-introducing layer at the semiconductor substrate which has been made amorphous, and an apparatus used therefore. Particularly, the step for forming the amorphous layer is a step for irradiating plasma to the surface of the semiconductor substrate, and the step for forming the shallow impurity-introducing layer is a step for introducing impurities into the surface which has been made amorphous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichiro Sasaki, Bunji Mizuno, Cheng-Guo Jin
  • Patent number: 8193080
    Abstract: An impurity is introduced into a fin-type semiconductor region (102) formed on a substrate (100) using a plasma doping process, thereby forming an impurity-introduced layer (105). Carbon is introduced into the fin-type semiconductor region (102) using a plasma doping process to overlap at least a part of the impurity-introduced layer (105), thereby forming a carbon-introduced layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichiro Sasaki, Katsumi Okashita, Bunji Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20120119295
    Abstract: A fin-type semiconductor region (103) is formed on a substrate (101), and then a resist pattern (105) is formed on the substrate (101). An impurity is implanted into the fin-type semiconductor region (103) by a plasma doping process using the resist pattern (105) as a mask, and then at least a side of the fin-type semiconductor region (103) is covered with a protective film (107). Thereafter, the resist pattern (105) is removed by cleaning using a chemical solution, and then the impurity implanted into the fin-type semiconductor region (103) is activated by heat treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichiro SASAKI, Katsumi Okashita, Bunji Mizuno
  • Patent number: 8138582
    Abstract: An impurity doping system is disclosed, which includes an impurity doping device for doping an impurity into a surface of a solid state base body, a measuring device for measuring an optical characteristic of an area into which the impurity is doped, and an annealing device for annealing the area into which the impurity is doped. The impurity doping system realizes an impurity doping not to bring about a rise of a substrate temperature, and measures optically physical properties of a lattice defect generated by the impurity doping step to control such that subsequent steps are optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Cheng-Guo Jin, Yuichiro Sasaki, Bunji Mizuno
  • Patent number: 8129202
    Abstract: It is intended to provide a plasma doping method and apparatus which are superior in the controllability of the concentration of an impurity that is introduced into a surface layer of a sample. A prescribed gas is introduced into a vacuum container 1 from a gas supply apparatus 2 while being exhausted by a turbomolecular pump 3 as an exhaust apparatus. The pressure in the vacuum container 1 is kept at a prescribed value by a pressure regulating valve 4. High-frequency electric power of 13.56 MHz is supplied from a high-frequency power source 5 to a coil 8 disposed close to a dielectric window 7 which is opposed to a sample electrode 6, whereby induction-coupled plasma is generated in the vacuum container 1. A high-frequency power source 10 for supplying high-frequency electric power to the sample electrode 6 is provided. Every time a prescribed number of samples have been processed, a dummy sample is subjected to plasma doping and then to heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Okumura, Yuichiro Sasaki, Katsumi Okashita, Hiroyuki Ito, Bunji Mizuno, Cheng-Guo Jin, Ichiro Nakayama
  • Patent number: 8124507
    Abstract: A fin-type semiconductor region (103) is formed on a substrate (101), and then a resist pattern (105) is formed on the substrate (101). An impurity is implanted into the fin-type semiconductor region (103) by a plasma doping process using the resist pattern (105) as a mask, and then at least a side of the fin-type semiconductor region (103) is covered with a protective film (107). Thereafter, the resist pattern (105) is removed by cleaning using a chemical solution, and then the impurity implanted into the fin-type semiconductor region (103) is activated by heat treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichiro Sasaki, Katsumi Okashita, Bunji Mizuno