Patents by Inventor Junya Minamida

Junya Minamida 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: 11670527
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a first atmosphere control system configured to control an atmosphere inside a processing zone of a substrate processing area and a second atmosphere control system configured to control an atmosphere inside a substrate transfer zone of the substrate processing area. The first atmosphere control system supplies, when a liquid processing is performed in a liquid processing unit, an atmosphere control gas to the corresponding liquid processing unit by a first gas supply, and discharges an atmosphere inside the corresponding liquid processing unit by a first gas discharge unit. The second atmosphere control system circulates an atmosphere adjustment gas in a circulation system of the corresponding second atmosphere control system, and discharges an atmosphere inside the circulation system of the second atmosphere control system when at least one of the liquid processing unit is opened to the substrate transfer zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Daisuke Aoki, Junya Minamida, Yasunori Toyoda
  • Publication number: 20230065374
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a liquid processing unit configured to supply, onto a front surface of a substrate, individual multiple processing liquids different from each other; an exhaust unit configured to exhaust an exhaust gas exhausted from the liquid processing unit to an outside. The exhaust unit includes a main exhaust pipe including a first portion and a second portion, a first individual exhaust pipe, a second individual exhaust pipe, a switching unit and an outside air introduction pipe. The switching unit includes a first switching mechanism, a second switching mechanism, a third switching mechanism provided between the first portion and the second portion of the main exhaust pipe, an outside air introduction pipe connected to the second portion to allow outside air to be introduced into the second portion, and a fourth switching mechanism provided in the outside air introduction pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Jun Tamada, Junya Minamida
  • Patent number: 11404295
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a container carrying in/out section on which a substrate conveyance container accommodating a substrate is placed; a processing unit that performs a process on the substrate; a conveyance space through which the substrate is conveyed; a substrate conveyor that conveys the substrate between the container carrying in/out section and the processing unit through the conveyance space; a first gas supply passage that supplies an atmosphere adjusting gas to the processing unit; a first gas discharge passage that discharges the atmosphere adjusting gas from the processing unit; a circulation passage that returns the atmosphere adjusting gas flowing out from the conveyance space to the conveyance space; a second gas supply passage that supplies the atmosphere adjusting gas to a circulation system constituted by the conveyance space and the circulation passage; and a second gas discharge passage that discharges the atmosphere adjusting gas from the circulation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Junya Minamida, Tatsuya Ito, Yasunori Toyoda, Daisuke Aoki
  • Publication number: 20200219736
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a first atmosphere control system configured to control an atmosphere inside a processing zone of a substrate processing area and a second atmosphere control system configured to control an atmosphere inside a substrate transfer zone of the substrate processing area. The first atmosphere control system supplies, when a liquid processing is performed in a liquid processing unit, an atmosphere control gas to the corresponding liquid processing unit by a first gas supply, and discharges an atmosphere inside the corresponding liquid processing unit by a first gas discharge unit. The second atmosphere control system circulates an atmosphere adjustment gas in a circulation system of the corresponding second atmosphere control system, and discharges an atmosphere inside the circulation system of the second atmosphere control system when at least one of the liquid processing unit is opened to the substrate transfer zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Daisuke Aoki, Junya Minamida, Yasunori Toyoda
  • Publication number: 20190252223
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a container carrying in/out section on which a substrate conveyance container accommodating a substrate is placed; a processing unit that performs a process on the substrate; a conveyance space through which the substrate is conveyed; a substrate conveyor that conveys the substrate between the container carrying in/out section and the processing unit through the conveyance space; a first gas supply passage that supplies an atmosphere adjusting gas to the processing unit; a first gas discharge passage that discharges the atmosphere adjusting gas from the processing unit; a circulation passage that returns the atmosphere adjusting gas flowing out from the conveyance space to the conveyance space; a second gas supply passage that supplies the atmosphere adjusting gas to a circulation system constituted by the conveyance space and the circulation passage; and a second gas discharge passage that discharges the atmosphere adjusting gas from the circulation system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Junya Minamida, Tatsuya Ito, Yasunori Toyoda, Daisuke Aoki
  • Patent number: 10373849
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a plurality of processing units and a gas supply unit. The plurality of processing units are stacked and arranged, and each configured to hold a substrate in a chamber and to process the substrate by a processing liquid, and the gas supply unit is provided for each of the processing units to supply a gas into each of the processing units. The gas supply unit includes an intake unit and an air supply unit. The intake unit takes in and purifies outside air, and the air supply unit configured to supplies a clean air purified by the intake unit into the processing units. In addition, the intake unit is arranged on a lateral side of the chamber, and is arranged on the same side face of the chambers between the stacked and arranged processing units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Junya Minamida, Masaru Oda, Sho Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10186433
    Abstract: Particles can be suppressed from adhering to a substrate. A substrate processing apparatus includes a carry-in/out chamber, a transfer chamber, and a delivery chamber. In the carry-in/out chamber, the substrate is carried in and out with respect to a carrier, and in the transfer chamber, a transfer path for the substrate toward a substrate processing chamber, where a predetermined process is performed on the substrate, is formed. Further, the delivery chamber is arranged between the carry-in/out chamber and the transfer chamber. Moreover, an internal pressure of the delivery chamber is higher than an internal pressure of the carry-in/out chamber and an internal pressure of the transfer chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Junya Minamida, Daisuke Aoki
  • Patent number: 10128132
    Abstract: A substrate liquid processing apparatus includes a liquid unit configured to process a liquid processing unit configured to process a substrate with multiple kinds of processing liquids, an exhaust pipe connected to the liquid processing unit, and configured to allow an exhaust gas from the liquid processing unit to flow therein, a plurality of individual exhaust pipes provided to correspond to at least one of the multiple kinds of processing liquids, and an exhaust switching unit connected to the exhaust pipe and the individual exhaust pipes, and configured to change a discharge destination of the exhaust gas flowing within the exhaust pipe to one of the individual exhaust pipes. The exhaust switching unit is positioned above the liquid processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Junya Minamida, Keisuke Tsugao
  • Patent number: 10056269
    Abstract: Gas-liquid separation of an exhaust gas from a liquid processing unit can be improved. A substrate liquid processing apparatus includes a liquid processing unit, a first exhaust pipe and a second exhaust pipe. The liquid processing unit is configured to process a substrate with a processing liquid. At least a part of the first exhaust pipe at is located above the liquid processing unit. One end of the second exhaust pipe is connected to the liquid processing unit, and the second exhaust pipe is configured to evacuate the liquid processing unit through the first exhaust pipe by an exhaust device. Further, the other end of the second exhaust pipe is connected to a portion of the first exhaust pipe which is located above the liquid processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Junya Minamida, Shogo Kiyama
  • Publication number: 20180068873
    Abstract: A substrate liquid processing apparatus includes a liquid unit configured to process a liquid processing unit configured to process a substrate with multiple kinds of processing liquids, an exhaust pipe connected to the liquid processing unit, and configured to allow an exhaust gas from the liquid processing unit to flow therein, a plurality of individual exhaust pipes provided to correspond to at least one of the multiple kinds of processing liquids, and an exhaust switching unit connected to the exhaust pipe and the individual exhaust pipes, and configured to change a discharge destination of the exhaust gas flowing within the exhaust pipe to one of the individual exhaust pipes. The exhaust switching unit is positioned above the liquid processing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Junya Minamida, Keisuke Tsugao
  • Publication number: 20180061688
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a plurality of processing units and a gas supply unit. The plurality of processing units are stacked and arranged, and each configured to hold a substrate in a chamber and to process the substrate by a processing liquid, and the gas supply unit is provided for each of the processing units to supply a gas into each of the processing units. The gas supply unit includes an intake unit and an air supply unit. The intake unit takes in and purifies outside air, and the air supply unit configured to supplies a clean air purified by the intake unit into the processing units. In addition, the intake unit is arranged on a lateral side of the chamber, and is arranged on the same side face of the chambers between the stacked and arranged processing units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Junya Minamida, Masaru Oda, Sho Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9842747
    Abstract: A substrate liquid processing apparatus includes a liquid processing unit that processes a substrate with processing liquids, an exhaust pipe, individual exhaust pipes corresponding to at least one of the processing liquids and an exhaust switching unit. Further, the exhaust switching unit comprises an exhaust gas inlet chamber and switching mechanisms. The switching mechanisms correspond to the individual exhaust pipes, respectively, and each of the switching mechanisms includes an exhaust gas suction opening communicating with the exhaust gas inlet chamber; an outlet opening communicating with a corresponding one of the individual exhaust pipes; an exterior air suction opening; and a valve body that switches a communication state of the exhaust gas suction opening, the outlet opening and the exterior air suction opening between a state where the exhaust gas suction opening communicates with the outlet opening and a state where the exterior air suction opening communicates therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Junya Minamida, Keisuke Tsugao
  • Patent number: 9666463
    Abstract: A throughput can be improved. A substrate processing apparatus includes processing units arranged in a vertical direction and configured to process substrates; and a substrate transfer device configured to be moved in the vertical direction and perform loading/unloading of the substrates into/from the processing units. Further, the substrate transfer device comprises a first transfer arm and a second transfer arm which are arranged in the vertical direction and configured to be moved in the vertical direction independently, and movement ranges of the first transfer arm and the second transfer arm in the vertical direction are overlapped with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Morikawa, Issei Ueda, Akira Murata, Junya Minamida
  • Publication number: 20160126112
    Abstract: Gas-liquid separation of an exhaust gas from a liquid processing unit can be improved. A substrate liquid processing apparatus includes a liquid processing unit, a first exhaust pipe and a second exhaust pipe. The liquid processing unit is configured to process a substrate with a processing liquid. At least a part of the first exhaust pipe at is located above the liquid processing unit. One end of the second exhaust pipe is connected to the liquid processing unit, and the second exhaust pipe is configured to evacuate the liquid processing unit through the first exhaust pipe by an exhaust device. Further, the other end of the second exhaust pipe is connected to a portion of the first exhaust pipe which is located above the liquid processing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Junya Minamida, Shogo Kiyama
  • Publication number: 20160124438
    Abstract: A substrate liquid processing apparatus includes a liquid processing unit that processes a substrate with processing liquids, an exhaust pipe, individual exhaust pipes corresponding to at least one of the processing liquids and an exhaust switching unit. Further, the exhaust switching unit comprises an exhaust gas inlet chamber and switching mechanisms. The switching mechanisms correspond to the individual exhaust pipes, respectively, and each of the switching mechanisms includes an exhaust gas suction opening communicating with the exhaust gas inlet chamber; an outlet opening communicating with a corresponding one of the individual exhaust pipes; an exterior air suction opening; and a valve body that switches a communication state of the exhaust gas suction opening, the outlet opening and the exterior air suction opening between a state where the exhaust gas suction opening communicates with the outlet opening and a state where the exterior air suction opening communicates therewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Junya Minamida, Keisuke Tsugao
  • Publication number: 20160121373
    Abstract: Particles can be suppressed from adhering to a substrate. A substrate processing apparatus includes a carry-in/out chamber, a transfer chamber, and a delivery chamber. In the carry-in/out chamber, the substrate is carried in and out with respect to a carrier, and in the transfer chamber, a transfer path for the substrate toward a substrate processing chamber, where a predetermined process is performed on the substrate, is formed. Further, the delivery chamber is arranged between the carry-in/out chamber and the transfer chamber. Moreover, an internal pressure of the delivery chamber is higher than an internal pressure of the carry-in/out chamber and an internal pressure of the transfer chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Junya Minamida, Daisuke Aoki
  • Publication number: 20150187621
    Abstract: A throughput can be improved. A substrate processing apparatus includes processing units arranged in a vertical direction and configured to process substrates; and a substrate transfer device configured to be moved in the vertical direction and perform loading/unloading of the substrates into/from the processing units. Further, the substrate transfer device comprises a first transfer arm and a second transfer arm which are arranged in the vertical direction and configured to be moved in the vertical direction independently, and movement ranges of the first transfer arm and the second transfer arm in the vertical direction are overlapped with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Morikawa, Issei Ueda, Akira Murata, Junya Minamida
  • Patent number: 8978670
    Abstract: Provided is a substrate processing apparatus wherein, even if a trouble occurs, it is bound to continue a process for the substrate without stopping the substrate processing apparatus entirely. The substrate processing apparatus according to the present disclosure includes first and second substrate conveying devices configured to convey wafers, and first and second processing blocks provided on the right and left sides of the substrate conveying device and having processing unit arrays each configured to perform the same process. Processing unit arrays on one side and processing unit arrays on the other side are respectively connected to a processing liquid supply system commonly provided with them. And, when any one of substrate conveying devices, processing liquid supply systems has a problem, the process for the wafer can be performed in the processing unit array to which the substrate conveying device and the processing liquid supply system under normal operation belong.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Junya Minamida, Issei Ueda, Yasuhiro Chouno, Osamu Kuroda, Kazuyoshi Eshima, Masahiro Yoshida, Satoshi Morita
  • Patent number: 8662811
    Abstract: Manufacturing cost or energy consumption of a substrate processing apparatus can be reduced. The substrate processing apparatus includes a substrate loading/unloading unit (a substrate transit chamber 12) that transfers a substrate 2 accommodated in a carrier 3; a substrate transfer chamber 14 (25) communicating with the substrate loading/unloading unit via a substrate loading/unloading port 37 (39); a plurality of substrate processing chambers 15 to 24 (26 to 35) arranged along the substrate transfer chamber 14 (25); a substrate transfer device 36 (38) provided in the substrate transfer chamber 14 (25) and configured to transfer the substrate 2 between the substrate loading/unloading unit and the substrate processing chambers 15 to 24 (26 to 35); and a clean air flowing unit 41 (42) that allows clean air to flow along the substrate transfer chamber 14 (25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Junya Minamida, Issei Ueda
  • Patent number: 8033244
    Abstract: Leakage of an atmosphere of a solvent vapor used by a smoothing process for smoothing the surface of a resist pattern outside from a smoothing unit is prevented to facilitate incorporating the smoothing unit into a coating and developing system. A substrate processing system has a coating and developing block 20, a smoothing block 50, an airflow producing unit 60 for producing down airflow that flows down from above the coating and developing block 20 and the smoothing block 50, and a main controller 100 for controlling the airflow producing unit 60.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Junya Minamida, Seiki Ishida