Patents by Inventor Hidemitsu Aoki

Hidemitsu Aoki 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: 7192835
    Abstract: According to the present invention, high-k film can be etched to provide a desired geometry without damaging the silicon underlying material. A silicon oxide film 52 is formed on a silicon substrate 50 by thermal oxidation, and a high dielectric constant insulating film 54 comprising HfSiOx is formed thereon. Thereafter, polycrystalline silicon layer 56 and high dielectric constant insulating film 54 are selectively removed in stages by a dry etching through a mask of the resist layer 58, and subsequently, the residual portion of the high dielectric constant insulating film 54 and the silicon oxide film 52 are selectively removed by wet etching through a mask of polycrystalline silicon layer 56. A liquid mixture of phosphoric acid and sulfuric acid is employed for the etchant solution. The temperature of the etchant solution is preferably equal to or lower than 200 degree C., and more preferably equal to or less than 180 degree C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignees: NEC Electronics Corporation, NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Tomimori, Hidemitsu Aoki, Toshiyuki Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 7186354
    Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided an anticorrosive treating concentrate usable for an exposed surface of a metal (e.g. copper or a copper alloy), containing an anticorrosive agent and a precipitation inhibitor and having a pH of 4 to 12 when used in the form of an aqueous solution, in which concentrate the anticorrosive agent is a triazole type compound and/or a derivative thereof and is contained in a concentration of 0.05 to 20% by weight and the precipitation inhibitor is a compound having at least one nitrogen atom but no metal atom in the molecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignees: NEC Electronics Corporation, Sumitomo Chemical Company Limited
    Inventors: Hidemitsu Aoki, Hiroaki Tomimori, Masayuki Takashima
  • Patent number: 7170172
    Abstract: An oxide film formed on the surface of copper film of an electrode pad is cleaned by oxalic acid after unevenness is formed on the surface of copper film by treating the surface with organic acid. Thereby, stable resistance is obtained when carrying out a characteristic inspection by bringing a probe into contact with the electrode pad, and it is easily recognized by observation through a microscope that the probe is brought into contact with the electrode pad. In addition, wettability with respect to solder is satisfactory, and it is possible to favorably form a solder bump on the electrode pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Tomimori, Hidemitsu Aoki, Kaoru Mikagi, Akira Furuya, Tetsuya Tao
  • Publication number: 20070015351
    Abstract: An oxide film formed on the surface of copper film of an electrode pad is cleaned by oxalic acid after unevenness is formed on the surface of copper film by treating the surface with organic acid. Thereby, stable resistance is obtained when carrying out a characteristic inspection by bringing a probe into contact with the electrode pad, and it is easily recognized by observation through a microscope that the probe is brought into contact with the electrode pad. In addition, wettability with respect to solder is satisfactory, and it is possible to favorably form a solder bump on the electrode pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Publication date: January 18, 2007
    Applicant: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Tomimori, Hidemitsu Aoki, Kaoru Mikagi, Akira Furuya, Tetsuya Tao
  • Patent number: 7141121
    Abstract: The invention provides a semiconductor washing solution which can suppress occurrence of variation of the shape of a semiconductor device when the semiconductor device is washed and can maintain a stabilized washing capacity for a long period of time. An organic acid ammonium salt is added to a mixed solution of ammonium hydroxide, hydrogen peroxide and water (NH4OH:H2O2:H2O) to prepare the semiconductor washing solution. The organic acid ammonium salt to be added is one or more selected from ammonium acetate, ammonium citrate, ammonium formate and ammonium oxalate. The concentration of the added organic acid ammonium salt ranges from 0.1 mol/l to 20 mol/l.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Hidemitsu Aoki
  • Patent number: 7138362
    Abstract: There is provided a washing liquid composition for a semiconductor substrate having a contact angle between the surface thereof and water dropped thereon of at least 70 degrees, the washing liquid composition including an aliphatic polycarboxylic acid and a surfactant, and the washing liquid composition having a contact angle of at most 50 degrees when dropped on the semiconductor substrate. It is thereby possible to effectively remove particles and metals on the surface of a hydrophobic substrate without corroding it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignees: Kanto Kagaku Kabushiki Kaisha, NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Yumiko Abe, Norio Ishikawa, Hidemitsu Aoki, Hiroaki Tomimori, Yoshiko Kasama
  • Publication number: 20060234513
    Abstract: A first oxide film and a second oxide film 16 are formed in a first region 13a and a second region 13b, respectively, on the surface of the semiconductor substrate 10, via thermal oxidization method, and the first oxide film is removed while the second oxide film 16 is covered with the resist layer 18 formed thereon, and then the resist layer 18 is removed with a chemical solution containing an organic solvent such as isopropyl alcohol as a main component. Subsequently, a third oxide film 22 having different thickness than the second oxide film 16 is formed in the first region 13a.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Publication date: October 19, 2006
    Applicant: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuya Suzuki, Hidemitsu Aoki
  • Patent number: 7087494
    Abstract: A first oxide film and a second oxide film 16 are formed in a first region 13a and a second region 13b, respectively, on the surface of the semiconductor substrate 10, via thermal oxidization method, and the first oxide film is removed while the second oxide film 16 is covered with the resist layer 18 formed thereon, and then the resist layer 18 is removed with a chemical solution containing an organic solvent such as isopropyl alcohol as a main component. Subsequently, a third oxide film 22 having different thickness than the second oxide film 16 is formed in the first region 13a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Suzuki, Hidemitsu Aoki
  • Patent number: 7087562
    Abstract: A post-CMP washing liquid composition is provided which includes one type or two or more types of aliphatic polycarboxylic acids and one type or two or more types selected from the group consisting of glyoxylic acid, ascorbic acid, glucose, fructose, lactose, and mannose, and which has a pH of less than 3.0. This washing liquid has excellent performance in removing micro particles and metal impurities adhering to the surface of a semiconductor substrate after CMP and does not corrode a metal wiring material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignees: Kanto Kagaku Kabushiki Kaisha, NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Yumiko Abe, Takuo Oowada, Norio Ishikawa, Hidemitsu Aoki, Hiroaki Tomimori
  • Publication number: 20060081180
    Abstract: The invention provides a substrate processing apparatus that offers high processing efficiency in resist removal, cleaning and so on. The substrate processing apparatus includes a substrate mounting table that rotates with a semiconductor substrate retained thereon, a first container that stores a first liquid to be supplied to a surface of the semiconductor substrate, a second container that stores a second liquid to be supplied to the surface of the semiconductor substrate, a mixing unit connecting the first container and the second container, so as to mix the first liquid and the second liquid supplied from the first and the second containers thus to give a mixed solution, and a nozzle connecting the mixing unit so as to supply the mixed solution to the surface of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Publication date: April 20, 2006
    Inventors: Hidemitsu Aoki, Tatsuya Suzuki, Yuuji Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6998352
    Abstract: A cleaning solution having an oxidation-reduction potential lower than that of pure water and a pH value of 4 or below is used to remove metal contamination, thereby efficiently removing the metal contamination adhered onto a surface of a substrate without damaging an underlayer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hidemitsu Aoki, Hiroaki Tomimori, Kenichi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6992050
    Abstract: A stripping composition comprising (a) an anticorrosive agent, (b) a stripping agent and (c) a solvent, wherein the anticorrosive agent (a) is a heterocyclic compound having a nitrogen atom-containing six-membered ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Koita, Keiji Hirano, Hidemitsu Aoki, Hiroaki Tomimori
  • Publication number: 20050257889
    Abstract: An etching/cleaning apparatus is provided, which makes it possible to effectively remove an unnecessary material or materials existing on a semiconductor wafer without damaging the device area with good controllability. The apparatus comprises (a) a rotating means for holding a semiconductor wafer and for rotating the wafer in a horizontal plane; the wafer having a device area and a surface peripheral area on its surface; the surface peripheral area being located outside the device area; and (b) an edge nozzle for emitting an etching/cleaning liquid toward a surface peripheral area of the wafer. The etching/cleaning liquid emitted from the edge nozzle selectively removes an unnecessary material existing in the surface peripheral area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Publication date: November 24, 2005
    Inventors: Shinya Yamasaki, Hidemitsu Aoki
  • Patent number: 6964724
    Abstract: An etching/cleaning apparatus is provided, which makes it possible to effectively remove an unnecessary material or materials existing on a semiconductor wafer without damaging the device area with good controllability. The apparatus comprises (a) a rotating means for holding a semiconductor wafer and for rotating the wafer in a horizontal plane; the wafer having a device area and a surface peripheral area on its surface; the surface peripheral area being located outside the device area; and (b) an edge nozzle for emitting an etching/cleaning liquid toward a surface peripheral area of the wafer. The etching/cleaning liquid emitted from the edge nozzle selectively removes an unnecessary material existing in the surface peripheral area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Yamasaki, Hidemitsu Aoki
  • Publication number: 20050236362
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device forms an interlayer insulating film on a nickel silicide layer formed on a substrate, and forms a through hole by performing dry etching using a resist pattern, formed on the interlayer insulating film, as a mask and then removing the resist pattern by ashing. A wafer after an ashing process is cleaned using a cleaning solution comprised of aqueous solution having a content of the fluorine-containing compound of 1.0 to 5.0 mass %, a content of chelating agent of 0.2 to 5.0 mass %, and a content of the organic acid salt of 0.1 to 3.0 mass %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Applicants: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION, KANTO KAGAKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidemitsu Aoki, Tatsuya Suzuki, Takuo Ohwada, Kaoru Ikegami, Norio Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6949465
    Abstract: According to this invention, residues generated after selectively removing a low-dielectric-constant film such as SiOC can be effectively removed without damage on an insulating film or metal film. Specifically, residues 126 and 128 generated after forming an interconnect trench in an SiOC film 116 are removed using a fluoride-free weak alkaline amine stripper. After the removing step, the wafer is rinsed with isopropyl alcohol and then dried without drying with pure water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hidemitsu Aoki, Kenichi Tokioka, Yoshiko Kasama, Tatsuya Koito, Keiji Hirano
  • Publication number: 20050156140
    Abstract: A removing solution for removing tungsten metal which causes a film formation on a semiconductor substrate or adheres to it, wherein orthoperiodic acid and water are contained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Publication date: July 21, 2005
    Applicants: Kanto Kagaku Kabushiki Kaisha, NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Toshikazu Shimizu, Kaori Watanabe, Hidemitsu Aoki
  • Patent number: 6897150
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating a surface of a semiconductor substrate, the surface of the semiconductor substrate including at least any one of a copper region, a copper based region and a copper alloy region, the method comprises the steps of: carrying out an anti-corrosion treatment by exposing the surface of the semiconductor substrate to a solution containing an anti-corrosive agent; and forming a copper-diffusion stopper insulating film over the surface of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hidemitsu Aoki, Hiroaki Tomimori
  • Patent number: 6890391
    Abstract: The stripping agent is sprayed from the tip of the nozzle 33 onto the wafer surface, while the first supply nozzle 33 is actuated to scan from the central portion of the wafer to the outer portion thereof. This operation provides the situation, in which the interface of the residual droplet 38 is pulled back from the center of the wafer to the outer portion of the wafer by the surface tension of the stripping agent supplied from the nozzle. Meanwhile, the second supply nozzle 36 also scans at a same scanning speed as the first supply nozzle 33 scans. Vapor IPA is sprayed from the orifice of the second supply nozzle 36. This provides that vapor IPA is sprayed onto the wafer surface immediately after the stripping agent is sprayed thereon from the first supply nozzle 33, and the residual stripping agent on the wafer surface is efficiently replaced with IPA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hidemitsu Aoki, Yoshiko Kasama, Tatsuya Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6890864
    Abstract: There are provided a semiconductor device fabricating method for forming a wiring layer on a semiconductor substrate, followed by cleaning, which may prevent elution and oxidation of the wiring layer, and a treating liquid used in the fabricating method. A Cu wiring, an interlayer film over the Cu wiring and an opening in the interlyaer film to expose the surface of the Cu wiring are formed in a plasma atmosphere. IPA is sprayed to the semiconductor device, and then, an organic release process is performed thereto with an amine solvent to remove an etching residue. The semiconductor device is rinsed with the IPA again to remove the remaining amine, and then is cleaned with a treating liquid, which is alkalescent. Then, it is rinsed with pure water or CO2 water and is dried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hidemitsu Aoki, Kenichi Nakabeppu, Hiroaki Tomimori, Toshiyuki Takewaki, Nobuo Hironaga, Hiroyuki Kunishima