Patents by Inventor Katsuhiko Kawabata

Katsuhiko Kawabata 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: 11837510
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for analyzing a silicon substrate, by which impurities such as a very small amount of metal in a silicon substrate provided with a thick nitride film can be analyzed with high accuracy with ICP-MS, and is characterized by use of a silicon substrate analysis apparatus including an analysis scan port having a load port, a substrate conveyance robot, an aligner, a drying chamber, a vapor phase decomposition chamber, an analysis stage and a nozzle for analysis of a substrate; an analysis liquid collection unit; and an analyzer for performing inductive coupling plasma analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: KIOXIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jiahong Wu, Katsuhiko Kawabata, Mitsumasa Ikeuchi, Sungjae Lee
  • Publication number: 20230335387
    Abstract: A method for analyzing a sample containing metal fine particles with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. The method enables analysis of the sample without the need of standard metal fine particles. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method for analyzing metal fine particles in liquid by use of an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. In the method, the analysis apparatus is provided with a standard solution introduction apparatus including a standard solution storage unit for storing a standard solution containing a specific element in a known concentration, a syringe pump for suctioning and discharging the standard solution, and a solution introduction unit having a standard solution nebulizer and a standard solution spray chamber that are supplied with the standard solution, the standard solution is directly supplied to the standard solution nebulizer at a flow rate of 3 ?L/min or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: IAS Inc.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Kawabata, Tatsuya Ichinose, Kohei Nishiguchi
  • Patent number: 11569081
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for analyzing a sample containing metal fine particles with an inductive coupling plasma mass spectrometer. The method enables analysis of the sample without the need of standard metal fine particles. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method for analyzing metal fine particles in liquid by use of an inductive coupling plasma mass spectrometer. In the method, the analysis apparatus is provided with a standard solution introduction apparatus including a standard solution storage unit for storing a standard solution containing a specific element in a known concentration, a syringe pump for suctioning and discharging the standard solution, and a solution introduction unit having a standard solution nebulizer and a standard solution spray chamber that are supplied with the standard solution, the standard solution is directly supplied to the standard solution nebulizer at a flow rate of 3 ?L/min or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: IAS INC.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Kawabata, Tatsuya Ichinose, Kohei Nishiguchi
  • Patent number: 11422071
    Abstract: A substrate analysis method using a nozzle for substrate analysis which discharges an analysis liquid from a tip thereof, scans a substrate surface with a discharged analysis liquid, and sucks the analysis liquid. This is done by arranging a liquid catch plate that catches the discharged analysis liquid, thus retaining analysis liquid discharged between the nozzle tip and the liquid catch plate; positioning the substrate so that the end part thereof can be inserted between the nozzle tip and the liquid catch plate; bringing the end part of the substrate into contact with analysis liquid retained between the nozzle tip and liquid catch plate; and moving the nozzle and liquid catch plate concurrently along a periphery of the substrate, while keeping the end part of the substrate in contact with the analysis liquid, to analyze the end part of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: IAS, INC.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Kawabata, Sungjae Lee, Takuma Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20220042882
    Abstract: A substrate analysis method using a nozzle for substrate analysis which discharges an analysis liquid from a tip thereof, scans a substrate surface with a discharged analysis liquid, and sucks the analysis liquid. This is done by arranging a liquid catch plate that catches the discharged analysis liquid, thus retaining analysis liquid discharged between the nozzle tip and the liquid catch plate; positioning the substrate so that the end part thereof can be inserted between the nozzle tip and the liquid catch plate; bringing the end part of the substrate into contact with analysis liquid retained between the nozzle tip and liquid catch plate; and moving the nozzle and liquid catch plate concurrently along a periphery of the substrate, while keeping the end part of the substrate in contact with the analysis liquid, to analyze the end part of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Applicant: IAS, INC.
    Inventors: KATSUHIKO KAWABATA, SUNGJAE LEE, TAKUMA HAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20210118751
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for analyzing a silicon substrate, by which impurities such as a very small amount of metal in a silicon substrate provided with a thick nitride film can be analyzed with high accuracy with ICP-MS, and is characterized by use of a silicon substrate analysis apparatus including an analysis scan port having a load port, a substrate conveyance robot, an aligner, a drying chamber, a vapor phase decomposition chamber, an analysis stage and a nozzle for analysis of a substrate; an analysis liquid collection unit; and an analyzer for performing inductive coupling plasma analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Applicants: Kioxia Corporation, IAS Inc.
    Inventors: Jiahong Wu, Katsuhiko Kawabata, Mitsumasa Ikeuchi, Sungjae Lee
  • Patent number: 10688485
    Abstract: The present invention provides a substrate analysis nozzle that reliably prevents a leakage (release) of analysis solution from the nozzle even in the case of a highly hydrophilic substrate and that collects the analysis solution with a high collection ratio after scanning. The present invention is directed to a substrate analysis nozzle configured to discharge an analysis solution from a tip of the substrate analysis nozzle onto a substrate, configured to scan a surface of the substrate using the discharged analysis solution, and configured to suck the analysis solution. The substrate analysis nozzle has a triple-tube structure made up of: a pipe through which the analysis solution is discharged and sucked; a first outer tube surrounding the pipe and surrounding the analysis solution used for scanning; and a second outer tube surrounding the first outer tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: IAS, INC
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Kawabata, Sungjae Lee
  • Publication number: 20190358622
    Abstract: The present invention provides a substrate analysis nozzle that reliably prevents a leakage (release) of analysis solution from the nozzle even in the case of a highly hydrophilic substrate and that collects the analysis solution with a high collection ratio after scanning. The present invention is directed to a substrate analysis nozzle configured to discharge an analysis solution from a tip of the substrate analysis nozzle onto a substrate, configured to scan a surface of the substrate using the discharged analysis solution, and configured to suck the analysis solution. The substrate analysis nozzle has a triple-tube structure made up of: a pipe through which the analysis solution is discharged and sucked; a first outer tube surrounding the pipe and surrounding the analysis solution used for scanning; and a second outer tube surrounding the first outer tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Applicant: IAS Inc.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Kawabata, Sungjae Lee
  • Publication number: 20190013248
    Abstract: Provided is a nozzle for substrate analysis with a simple structure, which enables analysis to be reliably performed without leaking an analysis liquid when a substrate having high hydrophilicity is scanned with the analysis liquid. The nozzle for analysis of a substrate according to the present invention includes: a double pipe including a nozzle main body that discharges and suctions an analysis liquid, and an outer pipe disposed on the outer periphery of the nozzle main body so as to surround the scanning analysis liquid; exhaust means having an exhaust path between the nozzle main body and the outer pipe; and a gas spraying pipe for spraying an inert gas to the tip of the nozzle main body in a direction substantially parallel to a substrate surface, the gas spraying pipe being disposed on the outer periphery of the tip of the outer pipe and on a side opposite to a scanning direction of the nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: IAS INC.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Kawabata, Sungjae Lee, Tatsuya Ichinose
  • Patent number: 10151727
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an analysis apparatus in which local analysis of a substrate with ICP-MS is automated. The present invention relates to an automatic analysis apparatus for a local region of a substrate, including: a nozzle for local analysis having: analysis-liquid supply means that ejects analysis liquid onto a substrate; analysis-liquid discharge means that takes the analysis liquid including an object to be analyzed from the substrate into the nozzle to feed the analysis liquid to a nebulizer; and exhaust means including an exhaust channel in the nozzle; automatic liquid-feed means that automatically feeds the collected analysis liquid to ICP-MS; flow adjustment means that adjusts the flow of the analysis liquid; and automatic control means that simultaneously performs local analysis and analysis of the object to be analyzed with the ICP-MS to perform automatic analysis to a plurality of adjacent predetermined regions, successively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignees: IAS, INC., SHIN_ETSU HANDOTAI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Kawabata, Tatsuya Ichinose, Toshihiko Imai
  • Publication number: 20180217036
    Abstract: A silicon substrate analyzing device with which impurities such as trace metals in a silicon substrate having a thick nitride film or oxide film formed on a silicon substrate surface can be analyzed with a high precision by ICP-MS. The silicon substrate analyzing device includes a load port, a substrate transportation robot, an aligner, a drying chamber, a gas-phase decomposition chamber, an analysis scan port having an analysis stage and a substrate analyzing nozzle, an analysis liquid collecting means, and an analysis means for performing inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The silicon substrate having an oxide film or a nitride film formed on the silicon substrate is subjected to scanning the surface of the silicon substrate with a high-concentration recovered liquid with use of the substrate analyzing nozzle so that the high-concentration recovered liquid is recovered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Applicant: IAS Inc.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Kawabata, Tatsuya Ichinose, Hayashi Takuma
  • Patent number: 10024801
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an analysis system capable of online transferring an analysis sample and promptly acquiring an analysis result. The analysis system capable of analyzing the analysis samples supplied from at least two sites, with one analysis apparatus, and requiring no cleaning process for a nebulizer and a spray chamber, is provided. The present invention relates to analysis system including at least two sample individually transferring units. Each sample transferring path of the sample individually transferring units is coupled to a plasma torch of a common analysis unit including the one analysis apparatus with inductively-coupled plasma or microwave plasma. Each sample transferring path has a main flow path, a makeup gas supply path, and a drain flow path. The plasma torch has a sample introducing pipe that introduces the atomized analysis sample, provided at a substantially center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: IAS Inc.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Kawabata, Tatsuya Ichinose, Mitsumasa Ikeuchi
  • Publication number: 20180024068
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an analysis system capable of online transferring an analysis sample and promptly acquiring an analysis result. The analysis system capable of analyzing the analysis samples supplied from at least two sites, with one analysis apparatus, and requiring no cleaning process for a nebulizer and a spray chamber, is provided. The present invention relates to analysis system including at least two sample individually transferring units. Each sample transferring path of the sample individually transferring units is coupled to a plasma torch of a common analysis unit including the one analysis apparatus with inductively-coupled plasma or microwave plasma. Each sample transferring path has a main flow path, a makeup gas supply path, and a drain flow path. The plasma torch has a sample introducing pipe that introduces the atomized analysis sample, provided at a substantially center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicant: IAS Inc.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Kawabata, Tatsuya Ichinose, Mitsumasa Ikeuchi
  • Patent number: 9741627
    Abstract: The present invention provides an etching apparatus suitable for etching polysilicon on a substrate or bulk silicon constituting the substrate. The present invention relates to an etching apparatus including a gas-flow adjusting means that allows etching gas to flow from a periphery of a substrate to substantially a center of the substrate, and relates to a technology capable of etching polysilicon or bulk silicon at a uniform thickness on an entire substrate surface. In addition, the gas-flow adjusting means is installed in a vertically movable manner, and an etching speed can be controlled by an adjustment of the gas-flow adjusting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: IAS, INC
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Kawabata, Takuma Hayashi, Mitsumasa Ikeuchi, Sungjae Lee, Jin Kunika
  • Publication number: 20170160233
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an analysis apparatus in which local analysis of a substrate with ICP-MS is automated. The present invention relates to an automatic analysis apparatus for a local region of a substrate, including: a nozzle for local analysis having: analysis-liquid supply means that ejects analysis liquid onto a substrate; analysis-liquid discharge means that takes the analysis liquid including an object to be analyzed from the substrate into the nozzle to feed the analysis liquid to a nebulizer; and exhaust means including an exhaust channel in the nozzle; automatic liquid-feed means that automatically feeds the collected analysis liquid to ICP-MS; flow adjustment means that adjusts the flow of the analysis liquid; and automatic control means that simultaneously performs local analysis and analysis of the object to be analyzed with the ICP-MS to perform automatic analysis to a plurality of adjacent predetermined regions, successively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Applicants: IAS Inc., Shin-Etsu Handotai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Kawabata, Tatsuya Ichinose, Toshihiko Shirakawa R&D Center Imai
  • Publication number: 20150357249
    Abstract: The present invention provides an etching apparatus suitable for etching polysilicon on a substrate or bulk silicon constituting the substrate. The present invention relates to an etching apparatus including a gas-flow adjusting means that allows etching gas to flow from a periphery of a substrate to substantially a center of the substrate, and relates to a technology capable of etching polysilicon or bulk silicon at a uniform thickness on an entire substrate surface. In addition, the gas-flow adjusting means is installed in a vertically movable manner, and an etching speed can be controlled by an adjustment of the gas-flow adjusting means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Applicant: IAS Inc.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Kawabata, Takuma Hayashi, Mitsumasa Ikeuchi, Sungjae Lee, Jin Kunika
  • Patent number: 8453524
    Abstract: A solution feeding device for feeding a sample solution which is precisely adjusted in the mixed quantity of a standard solution is realized. The solution feeding device comprises: a mixing module (100) including a first passage (101), a second passage (102), and a third passage (103) for providing communications of the midways of those two passages with a higher passage resistance than those of the two passages; a first storage unit (10) communicating with one end side of the first passage for storing a sample solution; a suctioning nebulizer (20) communicating with the other end side of the first passage for sucking the sample solution; a second storage unit (30) communicating through an on-off valve (31) with one end side of the second passage for storing a standard solution; and a syringe pump (40) communicating with the other end side of the second passage for sucking and discharging the standard solution, respectively, in the open state and the closed state of the on-off valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: IAS Inc.
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Kawabata
  • Publication number: 20120300440
    Abstract: A battery pack (40) includes battery modules, a flat battery box (20), and a solar panel (10). The modules are arranged in parallel to each other. Each module includes cylindrical rechargeable battery cells (41) that are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction of the cells. One of the cells is serially connected to another one of the cells arranged adjacent to this one of the cells in the longitudinal direction. The box (20) accommodates the battery pack (40). The panel (10) includes solar cells (41) capable of generating power for charging the pack (40). The box (20) is arranged on the back surface of the panel (10). The panel (10) and the pack (40) are arranged substantially in parallel to each other so that the distances between the parts of panel (10) and the pack (40) are substantially fixed. The modules are held in a non-horizontal orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventors: Ichiro Miyamae, Yuji Uehara, Katsuhiko Kawabata, Yuki Matsuo
  • Publication number: 20100276019
    Abstract: Intended is to realize a solution feeding device for feeding a sample solution which is precisely adjusted in the mixed quantity of a standard solution. The solution feeding device comprises: mixing means (100) including a first passage (101), a second passage (102), and a third passage (103) for providing communications of the midways of those two passages with a higher passage resistance than those of the two passages; first storage means (10) communicating with one end side of the first passage for storing a sample solution; suction means (20) communicating with the other end side of the first passage for sucking the sample solution; second storage means (30) communicating through an on-off valve (31) with one end side of the second passage for storing a standard solution; and a syringe pump (40) communicating with the other end side of the second passage for sucking and discharging the standard solution, respectively, in the open state and the closed state of the on-off valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Kawabata
  • Patent number: 7264760
    Abstract: Tips of the lug portions of a board touch the bottom of the opening between projecting portions and step portions, when the upper mold and the lower mold are fit together with a battery and board inserted. Thus the board is retained in position in the molds certainly. After the molds are fit together, polyamide resin is injected into a molding space from a resin-material-injecting orifice provided in the upper mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Kawabata, Hiroki Teraoka, Mikitaka Tamai, Hiroshi Osaka