Patents by Inventor Hiroaki Inadomi

Hiroaki Inadomi 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: 20230402303
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a liquid processing apparatus configured to form a liquid film on a surface of a substrate; a supercritical drying apparatus configured to dry the substrate by replacing the liquid film with a supercritical fluid; a first load-lock apparatus configured to switch an atmosphere around the substrate from a first one of a normal pressure atmosphere and a decompressed pressure atmosphere to a second one thereof on a transfer path of the substrate; a dry-cleaning apparatus configured to dry-clean the surface of the substrate under a decompressed pressure; and a control device configured to perform forming of the liquid film by the liquid processing apparatus, drying of the substrate by the supercritical drying apparatus, switching of the atmosphere around the substrate by the first load-lock apparatus, and dry-cleaning of the substrate by the dry-cleaning apparatus in this order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: Tsunenaga Nakashima, Hiroaki Inadomi
  • Patent number: 11735439
    Abstract: A processing fluid supplying method includes: supplying a processing fluid of a gaseous state to a circulation line; generating a processing fluid of a liquid state by cooling the processing fluid of the gaseous state in the circulation line; branching the processing fluid of the liquid state from the circulation line to a branch line; and generating a processing fluid of a supercritical state by heating the processing fluid of the liquid state in the circulation line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Yasuo Kiyohara, Hiroaki Inadomi, Satoshi Okamura
  • Patent number: 11688613
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus is configured to dry a substrate by replacing a liquid film formed on a top surface of the substrate, which is horizontally held, with a supercritical fluid. The substrate processing apparatus includes a pressure vessel, a cover body and a supporting body. The pressure vessel has therein a drying chamber for the substrate. The cover body is configured to close an opening of the drying chamber. The supporting body is configured to support the substrate horizontally within the drying chamber. The supporting body is fixed to the drying chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Shota Umezaki, Hiroaki Inadomi
  • Publication number: 20230028053
    Abstract: A processing fluid supplying method includes: supplying a processing fluid of a gaseous state to a circulation line; generating a processing fluid of a liquid state by cooling the processing fluid of the gaseous state in the circulation line; branching the processing fluid of the liquid state from the circulation line to a branch line; and generating a processing fluid of a supercritical state by heating the processing fluid of the liquid state in the circulation line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Yasuo KIYOHARA, Hiroaki INADOMI, Satoshi OKAMURA
  • Patent number: 11482427
    Abstract: A substrate processing system includes: a substrate processing apparatus configured to process a substrate with a processing fluid; and a processing fluid supply apparatus configured to supply the processing fluid to the substrate processing apparatus. The processing fluid supply apparatus includes: a circulation line, a gas supply line, a cooler, a pump, a branch line, a heating unit, and a pressure regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yasuo Kiyohara, Hiroaki Inadomi, Satoshi Okamura
  • Publication number: 20220319876
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes multiple first substrate processing devices, one or more second substrate processing devices and a transfer unit. Each of the multiple first substrate processing devices is configured to process a substrate one by one. The one or more second substrate processing devices are configured to simultaneously process multiple substrates, which are processed in the multiple first substrate processing devices. The transfer unit is configured to simultaneously carry the multiple substrates, which are processed in the multiple first substrate processing devices, into a same second substrate processing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Shinichi Hayashi, Hiroaki Inadomi, Shota Umezaki, Suguru Enokida, Kouji Kimoto
  • Publication number: 20220208567
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a processing vessel; and a processing fluid supply configured to supply a processing fluid in a supercritical state into the processing vessel. The processing fluid supply includes a fluid supply line; a cooling device provided in the fluid supply line, and configured to cool the processing fluid in a gas state to produce the processing fluid in a liquid state; a pump positioned downstream of the cooling device; a heating device positioned downstream of the pump, and configured to heat the processing fluid in the liquid state to generate the processing fluid in the supercritical state; a first flow rate adjuster positioned between the pump and the heating device, and configured to adjust a supply flow rate of the processing fluid supplied to the processing vessel; and a controller configured to control the first flow rate adjuster.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Mikio Nakashima, Shota Umezaki, Hiroaki Inadomi
  • Patent number: 11295965
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus of a substrate processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment includes a nozzle and a scanner. The nozzle ejects a gas toward in an inner wall surface of a processing chamber in which a substrate is processed. The scanner causes the nozzle to scan along the inner wall surface of the processing chamber in the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Kohei Yamada, Hiroaki Inadomi, Satoshi Biwa
  • Publication number: 20220044944
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus is configured to dry a substrate by replacing a liquid film formed on a top surface of the substrate, which is horizontally held, with a supercritical fluid. The substrate processing apparatus includes a pressure vessel, a cover body and a supporting body. The pressure vessel has therein a drying chamber for the substrate. The cover body is configured to close an opening of the drying chamber. The supporting body is configured to support the substrate horizontally within the drying chamber. The supporting body is fixed to the drying chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Shota Umezaki, Hiroaki Inadomi
  • Publication number: 20220044945
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a transfer block in which a transfer device configured to transfer a substrate is placed, and a processing block provided adjacent to the transfer block. The processing block includes a liquid film forming unit configured to form a liquid film on a top surface of the substrate which is held horizontally, and a drying unit configured to replace the liquid film with a supercritical fluid to dry the substrate. The drying unit includes a pressure vessel having therein a drying chamber for the substrate, a cover body configured to close an opening of the drying chamber, and a supporting body configured to support the substrate horizontally in the drying chamber. The supporting body is fixed to the drying chamber. The transfer device advances into the drying chamber through the opening of the drying chamber while holding horizontally the substrate having the liquid film thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Shota Umezaki, Hiroaki Inadomi
  • Patent number: 11139181
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes a transport block and a plurality of processing blocks. In the transport block, a transport device for transporting a substrate is disposed. The plurality of processing blocks are disposed adjacent to the transport block and process the substrate transported by the transport device. Each processing block includes one liquid processing unit and one drying unit. The liquid processing unit performs a liquid film forming processing so as to form a liquid film on the top surface of the substrate. The drying unit performs a supercritical drying processing in which the substrate is dried by bringing the substrate into contact with the processing fluid in a supercritical state. The liquid processing unit and the drying unit included in the same processing block are disposed on the same side with respect to the movement direction of the transport device of the transport block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroaki Inadomi, Tooru Nakamura, Kouji Kimoto, Yoshihisa Aoyama
  • Patent number: 10867814
    Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid processing method of drying a substrate held horizontally after supplying deionized water to the substrate. The liquid processing method includes: supplying the deionized water to a front surface of the substrate; supplying a first solvent to the front surface of the substrate after supplying the deionized water; supplying a water-repellent agent to the front surface of the substrate to impart water-repellency to the front surface of the substrate; supplying a second solvent to the front surface of the substrate to which water-repellency is imparted; and removing the second solvent from the front surface of the substrate. A specific gravity of the first solvent is smaller than a specific gravity of the water-repellent agent, and a specific gravity of the second solvent is larger than the specific gravity of the water-repellent agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yosuke Kawabuchi, Kouzou Tachibana, Mitsunori Nakamori, Kotaro Ooishi, Keisuke Egashira, Koji Tanaka, Hiroaki Inadomi, Masami Yamashita, Yoshiteru Fukuda, Koji Yamashita, Yu Tsurifune, Takuro Masuzumi
  • Patent number: 10679845
    Abstract: Disclosed is a substrate processing apparatus. The substrate processing apparatus includes a container body, and a holding member that conveys the substrate from an outside of the container body into the container body and holds the substrate inside the container body during the processing. A substrate support pin supporting a wafer and a cooling plate cooling the holding member are provided outside the container body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroaki Inadomi, Satoshi Okamura, Satoshi Biwa
  • Publication number: 20200168482
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus configured to perform a drying processing of drying substrates by using a processing fluid in a supercritical state includes a processing vessel and multiple holders. In the processing vessel, the drying processing is performed. The multiple holders are respectively configured to hold the substrates within the processing vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Hiroaki Inadomi, Satoshi Biwa, Satoshi Okamura
  • Publication number: 20200098594
    Abstract: A substrate processing system includes: a substrate processing apparatus configured to process a substrate with a processing fluid; and a processing fluid supply apparatus configured to supply the processing fluid to the substrate processing apparatus. The processing fluid supply apparatus includes: a circulation line, a gas supply line, a cooler, a pump, a branch line, a heating unit, and a pressure regulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Yasuo Kiyohara, Hiroaki Inadomi, Satoshi Okamura
  • Patent number: 10593571
    Abstract: Provided is a substrate processing apparatus including a liquid processing unit that performs a liquid processing on a substrate; a drying processing unit that performs a drying processing on the substrate in a wet state; a first conveyance unit that conveys the substrate to the liquid processing unit; a second conveyance unit that conveys the substrate in the wet state from the liquid processing unit to the drying processing unit; and a third conveyance unit that conveys the substrate before the liquid processing in the liquid processing unit and to convey the substrate after the drying processing from the drying processing unit. The first and second conveyance units and the drying processing unit are disposed on a side that faces the third conveyance unit, and the liquid processing unit is disposed on a side that faces the first and second conveyance units and is opposite to the third conveyance unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Hiroaki Inadomi, Tooru Nakamura, Kouji Kimoto, Yasuo Kiyohara, Satoshi Okamura, Satoshi Biwa, Nobuya Yamamoto, Katsuhiro Ookawa, Keiichi Yahata, Tetsuro Nakahara
  • Publication number: 20190148182
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus of a substrate processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment includes a nozzle and a scanner. The nozzle ejects a gas toward in an inner wall surface of a processing chamber in which a substrate is processed. The scanner causes the nozzle to scan along the inner wall surface of the processing chamber in the processing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Kohei YAMADA, Hiroaki INADOMI, Satoshi BIWA
  • Publication number: 20190103291
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes a transport block and a plurality of processing blocks. In the transport block, a transport device for transporting a substrate is disposed. The plurality of processing blocks are disposed adjacent to the transport block and process the substrate transported by the transport device. Each processing block includes one liquid processing unit and one drying unit. The liquid processing unit performs a liquid film forming processing so as to form a liquid film on the top surface of the substrate. The drying unit performs a supercritical drying processing in which the substrate is dried by bringing the substrate into contact with the processing fluid in a supercritical state. The liquid processing unit and the drying unit included in the same processing block are disposed on the same side with respect to the movement direction of the transport device of the transport block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Hiroaki Inadomi, Tooru Nakamura, Kouji Kimoto, Yoshihisa Aoyama
  • Patent number: 10207349
    Abstract: In the present disclosure, the high-pressure chamber includes a chamber main body including a flat rectangular parallelepiped block of a metal which is formed with a flat cavity that serves as a substrate processing space in which a processing using a high-pressure fluid is performed on a substrate, and the substrate processing space being formed by machining the block from one of faces of the block other than the widest face towards another face opposing thereto. In a case where the cavity is constituted as a through hole, the though hole is provided with a cover configured to open or close the cavity on one side of the through hole, and a second block configured to air-tightly seal the cavity on the other side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Mitsuoka, Gen You, Hiroki Ohno, Takehiko Orii, Takayuki Toshima, Hiroaki Inadomi
  • Publication number: 20170287742
    Abstract: Provided is a substrate processing apparatus including a liquid processing unit that performs a liquid processing on a substrate; a drying processing unit that performs a drying processing on the substrate in a wet state; a first conveyance unit that conveys the substrate to the liquid processing unit; a second conveyance unit that conveys the substrate in the wet state from the liquid processing unit to the drying processing unit; and a third conveyance unit that conveys the substrate before the liquid processing in the liquid processing unit and to convey the substrate after the drying processing from the drying processing unit. The first and second conveyance units and the drying processing unit are disposed on a side that faces the third conveyance unit, and the liquid processing unit is disposed on a side that faces the first and second conveyance units and is opposite to the third conveyance unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Hiroaki Inadomi, Tooru Nakamura, Kouji Kimoto, Yasuo Kiyohara, Satoshi Okamura, Satoshi Biwa, Nobuya Yamamoto, Katsuhiro Ookawa, Keiichi Yahata, Tetsuro Nakahara