Patents by Inventor Hiroshi Sone

Hiroshi Sone 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: 20230249306
    Abstract: A method of cooling a substrate by bringing a cooler into direct contact with a stage on which the substrate is placed, and processing the substrate while rotating the stage in a state in which the cooler is moved away from the stage, includes: cooling the cooler to a target temperature in a state in which the stage is brought into direct contact with the cooler, and cooling the stage to an initial cooling temperature; raising a temperature of the stage; controlling the temperature of the stage to a steady cooling temperature when the temperature of the stage reaches the steady cooling temperature; and placing the substrate on the stage kept at the steady cooling temperature, and continuously performing a substrate processing on a plurality of substrates while rotating the stage in a state in which the stage is moved away from the cooler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Yusuke KIKUCHI, Masato SHINADA, Motoi YAMAGATA, Hiroshi SONE
  • Patent number: 11551918
    Abstract: A film forming apparatus includes: a processing container; a substrate holder that holds the substrate in the processing container; and a target assembly disposed in an upper side of the substrate holder. The target assembly includes: a target made of metal, including a main body and a flange provided around the main body, and emitting sputter particles from the main body; a target holder including a target electrode configured to supply power to the target, and holding the target; a target clamp that clamps the flange of the target to the target holder; and an anti-deposition shield provided around the main body of the target to cover the flange, the target clamp, and the target holder, and having a labyrinth structure in which an inner tip end thereof is disposed to enter a recess between the main body of the target and the target clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Kenichi Imakita, Yasuhiko Kojima, Atsushi Gomi, Hiroyuki Yokohara, Hiroshi Sone
  • Patent number: 11414747
    Abstract: A sputtering device includes a processing chamber where a substrate is accommodated, and a slit plate that partitions the processing chamber into a first space where a target member is disposed and a second space where the substrate is disposed. The slit plate includes an inner member having an opening that penetrates therethrough in a thickness direction of the slit plate, and an outer member disposed around the inner member. The inner member is attachable to and detachable from the outer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Junichi Takei, Hiroshi Sone, Naoyuki Suzuki, Shinji Orimoto
  • Publication number: 20220238314
    Abstract: A mounting table structure includes a mounting table on which a substrate is mounted, a refrigerating mechanism configured to cool the substrate, an elevating drive part configured to move the mounting table or the refrigerating mechanism up and down, and at least one contact provided at a position between the refrigerating mechanism and the mounting table which face each other. The refrigerating mechanism and the mounting table are allowed to be brought into contact with each other via the contact by moving the mounting table or the refrigerating mechanism up and down by the elevating drive part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Motoi YAMAGATA, Hiroshi SONE, Masato SHINADA
  • Publication number: 20220189813
    Abstract: There is provided a mounting table. The mounting table comprises: a dielectric plate having a through-hole at an outer peripheral portion thereof and having a substrate support on which a substrate is placed; a support member; a first heat insulating member disposed between the dielectric plate and the support member; a first biasing member disposed between the first heat insulating member and the support member, and a fastening member configured to detachably fix the dielectric plate to the support member by way of penetrating through the through-hole of the dielectric plate, the first heat insulating member, and the first biasing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi AIKAWA, Hiroshi SONE, Shinji ORIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20220098717
    Abstract: A film forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a processing chamber; a substrate holder for holding a substrate within the processing chamber; a target electrode, disposed above the substrate holder, for holding a metal target and supplying electrical power from a power source to the target; an oxidizing gas introduction mechanism for supplying an oxidizing gas to the substrate; and a gas supply unit for supplying an inert gas to the space where the target is disposed. Constituent metal is discharged from the target in the form of sputter particles, whereby a metal film is deposited on the substrate, and the metal film is oxidized by the oxidizing gas introduced by the oxidizing gas introduction mechanism, thereby forming a metal oxide film. When the oxidizing gas is introduced, the gas supply unit supplies the inert gas to the space where the target is disposed so that the pressure therein is positive with respect to the pressure in a processing space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Kenichi IMAKITA, Kazunaga ONO, Toru KITADA, Keisuke SATO, Atsushi GOMI, Hiroyuki YOKOHARA, Hiroshi SONE
  • Patent number: 11282733
    Abstract: There is provided a stage mechanism, including: an electrostatic chuck having a conductive film formed on a front surface thereof, the conductive film configured to make electrically contact with a rear surface of a substrate; a conductive member electrically connected to the conductive film and formed to extend to a rear surface of the electrostatic chuck; and a moving member electrically connected to the conductive member via a connecting member and configured to move between a first position connected to a ground potential and a second position not connected to the ground potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yuuki Motomura, Hiroshi Sone, Yasuyuki Kagaya, Naoyuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11193200
    Abstract: Disclosed is a PVD processing method including a first process, a second process, a third process, and a fourth process. In the first process, an opening of a shield, which is provided between a first target containing a metal oxide and a second target containing a metal constituting the metal oxide, and a stage on which a substrate as a film formation object is placed, is made to coincide with the first target so as to expose the first target to the stage and the opening is brought close to the first target. In the second process, sputtering is performed using the first target. In the third process, the opening is made to coincide with the second target so as to expose the first target to the stage, and the opening is brought close to the second target. In the fourth process, sputtering is performed using the second target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Koji Maeda, Hiroyuki Yokohara, Hiroshi Sone, Tetsuya Miyashita
  • Patent number: 11149342
    Abstract: A sputtering apparatus includes: a target disposed on a ceiling of a processing container capable of being depressurized; a gas inlet configured to supply a sputtering gas into the processing container; a first shield disposed around the target and configured to prevent deposition of a film around the target; and a second shield disposed in the processing container to cover an inner wall of the ceiling with a space from the ceiling, and including an opening in a portion corresponding to the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Junichi Takei, Hiroshi Sone
  • Publication number: 20210262080
    Abstract: The sputter device according to one embodiment of the present invention has: a treatment vessel in which a substrate is housed; a slit plate which is disposed above the substrate inside the treatment vessel so as to be located parallel to a surface of the substrate and which has formed therein an opening that penetrates in the plate-thickness direction; and a heat-receiving plate which is formed of a material having a higher heat resistance than the slit plate and which is placed on top of the slit plate beneath a target material provided at a slant with respect the slit plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Junichi TAKEI, Naoki WATANABE, Hiroshi SONE, Naoyuki SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20200381226
    Abstract: A film forming apparatus includes: a processing container; a substrate holder that holds the substrate in the processing container; and a target assembly disposed in an upper side of the substrate holder. The target assembly includes: a target made of metal, including a main body and a flange provided around the main body, and emitting sputter particles from the main body; a target holder including a target electrode configured to supply power to the target, and holding the target; a target clamp that clamps the flange of the target to the target holder; and an anti-deposition shield provided around the main body of the target to cover the flange, the target clamp, and the target holder, and having a labyrinth structure in which an inner tip end thereof is disposed to enter a recess between the main body of the target and the target clamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Kenichi IMAKITA, Yasuhiko KOJIMA, Atsushi GOMI, Hiroyuki YOKOHARA, Hiroshi SONE
  • Patent number: 10748750
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a supporting table having a mounting region for a substrate. A rotation shaft supporting a shutter extends in a vertical direction. The shutter is moved between a first region above the supporting table and a second region by rotating the rotation shaft about its central axis. The shutter includes a pipe having gas output holes. When the shutter is disposed in the first region, the gas output holes are located outside the mounting region in a rotation direction from the second region toward the first region. The minimum distance between the central axis and the gas output holes is smaller than or equal to the minimum distance between the central axis and the mounting region. The maximum distance between the central axis and the gas output holes is greater than equal to the maximum distance between the central axis and the mounting region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroaki Chihaya, Hiroshi Sone
  • Publication number: 20200255935
    Abstract: A sputtering apparatus includes: a target disposed on a ceiling of a processing container capable of being depressurized; a gas inlet configured to supply a sputtering gas into the processing container; a first shield disposed around the target and configured to prevent deposition of a film around the target; and a second shield disposed in the processing container to cover an inner wall of the ceiling with a space from the ceiling, and including an opening in a portion corresponding to the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Junichi Takei, Hiroshi Sone
  • Publication number: 20200035537
    Abstract: There is provided a stage mechanism, including: an electrostatic chuck having a conductive film formed on a front surface thereof, the conductive film configured to make electrically contact with a rear surface of a substrate; a conductive member electrically connected to the conductive film and formed to extend to a rear surface of the electrostatic chuck; and a moving member electrically connected to the conductive member via a connecting member and configured to move between a first position connected to a ground potential and a second position not connected to the ground potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Yuuki MOTOMURA, Hiroshi SONE, Yasuyuki KAGAYA, Naoyuki SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20190390326
    Abstract: A substrate stage includes: a shaft rotatably disposed with respect to a bottom surface of a processing container; a base provided on the shaft; and a horizontal mover attached to the base and configured to move a substrate in the processing container in a horizontal direction with respect to the bottom surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Junichi Takei, Naoyuki Suzuki, Hiroshi Sone, Shinji Orimoto
  • Publication number: 20190390325
    Abstract: A sputtering device includes a processing chamber where a substrate is accommodated, and a slit plate that partitions the processing chamber into a first space where a target member is disposed and a second space where the substrate is disposed. The slit plate includes an inner member having an opening that penetrates therethrough in a thickness direction of the slit plate, and an outer member disposed around the inner member. The inner member is attachable to and detachable from the outer member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Junichi TAKEI, Hiroshi SONE, Naoyuki SUZUKI, Shinji ORIMOTO
  • Patent number: 10381258
    Abstract: In a processing apparatus according to one embodiment, a stage is installed inside a process chamber. The stage has a plurality of through-holes formed therein, which corresponds to a plurality of lift pins. The plurality of lift pins is supported by a spline shaft through a support body. The spline shaft is supported by a spline bearing such that the spline shaft is vertically moved. The plurality of lift pins is biased upward by a spring member through the spline shaft. The spline shaft, the spline bearing, and the spring member are installed in an outer space separated from a depressurizable inner space of the process chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Takuya Umise, Hiroshi Sone, Naoyuki Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20190172690
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a supporting table having a mounting region for a substrate. A rotation shaft supporting a shutter extends in a vertical direction. The shutter is moved between a first region above the supporting table and a second region by rotating the rotation shaft about its central axis. The shutter includes a pipe having gas output holes. When the shutter is disposed in the first region, the gas output holes are located outside the mounting region in a rotation direction from the second region toward the first region. The minimum distance between the central axis and the gas output holes is smaller than or equal to the minimum distance between the central axis and the mounting region. The maximum distance between the central axis and the gas output holes is greater than equal to the maximum distance between the central axis and the mounting region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Hiroaki CHIHAYA, Hiroshi SONE
  • Publication number: 20190169737
    Abstract: Disclosed is a PVD processing method including a first process, a second process, a third process, and a fourth process. In the first process, an opening of a shield, which is provided between a first target containing a metal oxide and a second target containing a metal constituting the metal oxide, and a stage on which a substrate as a film formation object is placed, is made to coincide with the first target so as to expose the first target to the stage and the opening is brought close to the first target. In the second process, sputtering is performed using the first target. In the third process, the opening is made to coincide with the second target so as to expose the first target to the stage, and the opening is brought close to the second target. In the fourth process, sputtering is performed using the second target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Koji Maeda, Hiroyuki Yokohara, Hiroshi Sone, Tetsuya Miyashita
  • Patent number: 10309005
    Abstract: A deposition device according to one embodiment includes a processing container. A mounting table is installed inside the processing container, and a metal target is installed above the mounting table. Further, a head is configured to inject an oxidizing gas toward the mounting table. This head is configured to move between a first region that is defined between the metal target and a mounting region where a target object is mounted on the mounting table and a second region spaced apart from a space defined between the metal target and the mounting region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kojima, Hiroshi Sone, Atsushi Gomi, Kanto Nakamura, Toru Kitada, Yasunobu Suzuki, Yusuke Suzuki, Koichi Takatsuki, Tatsuo Hirasawa, Keisuke Sato, Chiaki Yasumuro, Atsushi Shimada