Patents by Inventor Eiji Natori

Eiji Natori 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: 20060081902
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a ferroelectric memory includes: (a) stacking a lower electrode layer, a ferroelectric layer, and an upper electrode layer on a base in that order to form a ferroelectric laminate; (b) patterning the ferroelectric laminate to form a ferroelectric capacitor; (c) forming a first barrier film which covers the ferroelectric capacitor by physical vapor deposition (PVD); and (d) forming a second barrier film which covers the first barrier film by chemical vapor deposition (CVD).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Publication date: April 20, 2006
    Inventors: Akihito Matsumoto, Toshiyuki Kamiya, Kenji Yamada, Eiji Natori, Tomoo Kinoshita
  • Publication number: 20060083933
    Abstract: A ferroelectric film is formed by an oxide that is described by a general formula AB1-xNbxO3. An A element includes at least Pb, and a B element includes at least one of Zr, Ti, V, W, Hf and Ta. The ferroelectric film includes Nb within the range of: 0.05?x<1. The ferroelectric film can be used for any of ferroelectric memories of 1T1C, 2T2C and simple matrix types.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2005
    Publication date: April 20, 2006
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Kijima, Yasuaki Hamada, Eiji Natori, Koji Ohashi
  • Patent number: 7031180
    Abstract: A method of reading data in a ferroelectric memory device includes applying a read voltage to a ferroelectric capacitor, and detecting a voltage that reflects an amount of a dynamic change in capacitance of the ferroelectric capacitor to which the read voltage is applied. Since a voltage difference ?V occurs at a time T between the case where the polarization of a memory cell which has stored first data is not reversed and the case where the polarization of a memory cell which has stored second data is reversed, a read margin increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Karasawa, Takeshi Kijima, Eiji Natori
  • Patent number: 7026169
    Abstract: A method of forming a ferroelectric film including a complex oxide of PZT family on a metal film formed of Pt by using a metalorganic chemical vapor deposition method. At first, supply of Pb is started to form an alloy film of Pb and Pt on the metal film. Supply of Ti is then started to form an initial crystal nuclei of PbTiO3 on the alloy film. Then, supply of Zr is started to form a crystal grown layer of the complex oxide of PZT family on the initial crystal nuclei.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Kijima, Yasuaki Hamada, Eiji Natori
  • Patent number: 7018676
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing ceramics includes a step of forming a ceramic film on a substrate by mixing a fine particle of a raw material species which becomes at least part of raw materials for ceramics with an active species, and feeding the mixed fine particle and active species to the substrate. A manufacture device includes a disposing section which also serves as a heating section for a substrate, a raw material species feeding section for feeding a fine particle of a raw material species, an active species feeding section for feeding an active species, and a mixing section for mixing the raw material species and the active species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Eiji Natori
  • Publication number: 20060051601
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a ceramic film includes forming the ceramic film by crystallizing a ceramic raw material liquid which includes a first raw material liquid and a second raw material liquid. The first raw material liquid and the second raw material liquid are different types of liquids, the first raw material liquid is a raw material liquid for producing a ferroelectric, the second raw material liquid is a raw material liquid for producing an oxide such as an ABO-type oxide, a solvent included in the first raw material liquid and a solvent included in the second raw material liquid have different polarities, and the ceramic film is formed in a state in which the first raw material liquid and the second raw material liquid are phase separated so that first crystals formed of the first raw material liquid are intermittently formed in a surface direction of the ceramic film and second crystals formed of the second raw material liquid are formed so as to interpose between the first crystals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Publication date: March 9, 2006
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiji Natori, Takeshi Kijima, Koichi Furuyama, Yuzo Tasaki
  • Patent number: 7008669
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a ceramic includes forming a film which includes a complex oxide material having an oxygen octahedral structure and a paraelectric material having a catalytic effect for the complex oxide material in a mixed state, and performing a heat treatment to the film, wherein the paraelectric material is one of a layered catalytic substance which includes Si in the constituent elements and a layered catalytic substance which includes Si and Ge in the constituent elements. The heat treatment includes sintering and post-annealing. At least the post-annealing is performed in a pressurized atmosphere including at least one of oxygen and ozone. A ceramic is a complex oxide having an oxygen octahedral structure, and has Si and Ge in the oxygen octahedral structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Natori, Takeshi Kijima, Koichi Furuyama, Yuzo Tasaki
  • Publication number: 20060027849
    Abstract: A ferroelectric thin film formed of a highly oriented polycrystal in which 180° domains and 90° domains arrange at a constant angle to an applied electric field direction in a thin film plane and reversely rotate in a predetermined electric field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Publication date: February 9, 2006
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Kijima, Yasuaki Hamada, Eiji Natori
  • Publication number: 20050263809
    Abstract: A ferroelectric memory includes a substrate and a sheet-shaped device formed over the substrate through an adhesive layer. The sheet-shaped device includes a memory cell array in which a ferroelectric layer is disposed at least in intersecting regions of a plurality of lower electrodes and a plurality of upper electrodes which are formed in the shape of lines, and a peripheral circuit section for the memory cell array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Publication date: December 1, 2005
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Natori, Tatsuya Shimoda, Takeshi Kijima
  • Publication number: 20050205670
    Abstract: A store management system has a merchandise information management apparatus which transmits merchandise information, a merchandise tag which is provided with a first display, and receives the merchandise information which is transmitted from the merchandise information management apparatus to the merchandise tag itself and displays the merchandise information, and a display apparatus for display rack which is provided with a second display, and has a function of receiving the merchandise information which is transmitted from the merchandise information management apparatus to the display apparatus itself and displaying the merchandise information, and checking the merchandise information which is displayed on the display apparatus itself and the merchandise information which is displayed on the merchandise tag by communicating with the merchandise tag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Inventors: Eiji Natori, Yasuhiro Nomura
  • Patent number: 6930340
    Abstract: A memory cell array is provided that includes ferroelectric capacitors with enhanced characteristics, a method of making the same, and a ferroelectric memory device including the memory cell. In a memory cell array, memory cells including ferroelectric capacitors are arrayed in a matrix. Each ferroelectric capacitor includes a lower electrode, an upper electrode, and a ferroelectric section disposed between the lower electrode and the upper electrode. The ferroelectric section is disposed in an intersection between the lower electrode and the upper electrode. An intermediate electrode is disposed between the ferroelectric section 14 and the upper electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazumasa Hasegawa, Eiji Natori, Masao Nakayama, Tatsuo Sawasaki, Hiroaki Tamura
  • Patent number: 6930339
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a ferroelectric memory having a matrix-type memory cell array which has a superior degree of integration, in which the angularity of the ferroelectric layer's hysteresis curve is improved, the production yield is increased and costs are reduced. A ferroelectric memory having improved angularity in the hysteresis curve, and superior memory characteristics, production yield and costs is realized as follows. Namely, a peripheral circuit chip and a memory cell array chip are engaged onto an inexpensive assembly base 300 such as glass or plastic. In memory cell array chip 200, a ferroelectric layer is made to undergo epitaxial growth on to a Si single crystal via a buffer layer and first signal electrode. As a result, a ferroelectric memory can be realized which has improved angularity in the hysteresis curve and superior memory characteristics, production yield, and cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takamitsu Higuchi, Setsuya Iwashita, Hiromu Miyazawa, Kazumasa Hasegawa, Eiji Natori
  • Publication number: 20050172895
    Abstract: [Object] To provide an MOCVD apparatus and a MOCVD method which can deposit a thin film having satisfactory properties by preventing temperature decrease of a source gas. [Solving Means] An MOCVD apparatus according to the present invention is an apparatus for supplying a source gas as a mixture of an MO source gas with an oxidizing gas to a substrate 13 to thereby form a film. The MOCVD apparatus includes a substrate holder 14 for holding the substrate 13; a deposition chamber for housing the substrate holder; a supply mechanism for supplying the source gas to a surface of the substrate; and a heating device for heating the substrate 13 held by the substrate holder. The deposition chamber includes a substrate housing unit for housing the substrate holder holding the substrate, and a passage housing unit being connected to the substrate housing unit and constituting a passage for supplying the source gas to the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Publication date: August 11, 2005
    Applicants: Seiko Epson Corporation, YOUTEC Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Kijima, Eiji Natori, Mitsuhiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6924155
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a ferroelectric memory of the present invention includes applying pulsed laser light 70 to a ferroelectric capacitor 105 from above the ferroelectric capacitor in a state in which at least the ferroelectric capacitor 105 is formed over a substrate 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuo Sawasaki, Eiji Natori, Tomokazu Kobayashi, Yasuaki Hamada
  • Patent number: 6922351
    Abstract: A ferroelectric memory device includes first electrodes, second electrodes arranged in a direction which intersects the first electrodes, and ferroelectric films disposed in at least intersecting regions of the first electrodes and the second electrodes. Capacitors formed of the first electrodes, the ferroelectric films, and the second electrodes are disposed in a matrix. A ferroelectric phase and a paraelectric phase are mixed in each of the ferroelectric films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Natori, Takeshi Kijima
  • Publication number: 20050151177
    Abstract: A ferroelectric film is provided that is expressed by a general formula of A1-bB1-aXaO3, wherein: A includes Pb; B is composed of at least one of Zr and Ti; X is composed of at least one of V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo and W; a is in a range of 0.05?a?0.3; and b is in a range of 0.025?b?0.15.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Inventors: Hiromu Miyazawa, Takeshi Kijima, Eiji Natori, Taku Aoyama
  • Patent number: 6917063
    Abstract: A ferroelectric memory includes a substrate and a sheet-shaped device formed over the substrate through an adhesive layer. The sheet-shaped device includes a memory cell array in which a ferroelectric layer is disposed at least in intersecting regions of a plurality of lower electrodes and a plurality of upper electrodes which are formed in the shape of lines, and a peripheral circuit section for the memory cell array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Natori, Tatsuya Shimoda, Takeshi Kijima
  • Patent number: 6917062
    Abstract: A ferroelectric memory device and a method of manufacturing the memory device are provided that facilitate the formation of different types of a plurality of memories on an identical substrate. A ferroelectric memory device includes a first ferroelectric memory and a second ferroelectric memory. The first ferroelectric memory includes a first memory cell array. The second ferroelectric memory includes a second memory cell array. In the first memory cell array, memory cells are arranged in a matrix manner, and the first memory cell array includes first signal electrodes, second signal electrodes extending in the direction intersecting the first signal electrodes, and a ferroelectric layer at least between the first signal electrodes and the second signal electrodes. The second ferroelectric memory includes a different type of memory cells from that of the memory cells of the first ferroelectric memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Eiji Natori
  • Publication number: 20050148200
    Abstract: The invention provides a film forming apparatus that is capable of forming films sequentially with two types of film forming mechanisms in the same chamber. The film forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a Pt target disposed at one side within a film forming chamber, a sputtering output mechanism to supply to the Pt target, a Pt vapor deposition source disposed at an other side within the film forming chamber, a vapor deposition output mechanism to supply to the Pt vapor deposition source, a substrate holder disposed between the Pt target and the Pt vapor deposition source within the film forming chamber to mount a substrate, a rotating mechanism to move the substrate holder so that the substrate directs to the Pt target or to the Pt vapor deposition source, a heating mechanism to heat the substrate when the substrate is subjected to a sputtering film forming, and a cooling mechanism to cool the substrate when the substrate is subjected to vapor deposition film forming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Applicants: Seiko Epson Corporation, Youtec Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Kijima, Eiji Natori, Mitsuhiro Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20050146249
    Abstract: A piezoelectric film is provided having good piezoelectric properties. The piezoelectric film is represented by the following general formula: A1-bB1-aXaO3 wherein A contains Pb; B is at least one of Zr and Ti; X is at least one of V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo and W; a satisfies 0.05?a?0.3; and b satisfies 0.025?b?0.15.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Inventors: Hiromu Miyazawa, Takeshi Kijima, Eiji Natori, Taku Aoyama, Setsuya Iwashita, Takamitsu Higuchi