Patents by Inventor Katsuhito Hirose

Katsuhito Hirose 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: 11873560
    Abstract: Provided is an abnormality detection system that includes a first controller configured to control a substrate processing apparatus and a second controller configured to control a device provided in the substrate processing apparatus according to an instruction from the first controller, thereby detecting an abnormality in the device. The second controller includes a storage unit configured to collect status signals for the device for a predetermined time and at a predetermined sampling interval in a predetermined cycle and accumulate the collected status signals for the device, and the first controller includes an abnormality determination unit configured to acquire the accumulated status signals for the device from the second controller at a time interval equal to or longer than the predetermined time, and determine presence or absence of an abnormality in the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Katsuhito Hirose, Toshio Hasegawa, Shohei Yoshida, Takeshi Shinohara, Shinji Kawasaki
  • Publication number: 20220251705
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a radio-frequency power supply part configured to supply radio-frequency power for plasma generation to a processing container, and a monitoring part configured to detect an abnormality in the supply of the radio-frequency power to the processing container, wherein the monitoring part is configured to detect the abnormality in the supply of the radio-frequency power to the processing container based on a signal data obtained by sampling a signal propagating between the radio-frequency power supply part and the processing container at a sampling frequency higher than a frequency of the radio-frequency power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Kazushi HIKAWA, Katsuhito HIROSE
  • Patent number: 11276592
    Abstract: A processing apparatus for processing a substrate includes: a plurality of end devices; a low-level controller configured to control specific end devices among the plurality of end devices; and a module controller configured to execute a recipe for processing the substrate, to specify control steps satisfying a specific condition among a plurality of control steps of the recipe, and to transmit the specified control steps to the low-level controller, wherein the low-level controller controls the specific end devices based on the control steps received from the module controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Katsuhito Hirose, Koichi Miyashita, Hiroshi Hirose, Satoshi Gomi, Yasunori Kumagai, Takashi Yoshiyama
  • Patent number: 11081322
    Abstract: A film forming apparatus 1 includes a plasma generating mechanism 47 commonly used for plasmarizing a processing gas and a cleaning gas supplied into a processing vessel 11 in which a vacuum atmosphere is formed; an exhaust device 17 configured to evacuate an exhaust line 61 connected to a processing gas discharge unit 43 while the plasmarization of the cleaning gas is being performed by the plasma generating mechanism 47; a tank 62 provided at the exhaust line 61; and a valve V2 which is provided at the exhaust line 61 between the tank 62 and the processing gas discharge unit 43. The valve V2 is configured to be closed to reduce an internal pressure of the tank 62 and opened to attract the plasmarized cleaning gas into the tank 62 from a processing space 40 through the processing gas discharge unit 43.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Naotaka Noro, Toshio Hasegawa, Tamaki Takeyama, Shinya Iwashita, Katsuhito Hirose
  • Patent number: 10815567
    Abstract: A film deposition device includes a reaction gas supply part which is in communication with a process space defined between a placement part and a ceiling part. An annular gap in a plan view exists between an outer peripheral portion of the placement part and an outer peripheral portion of the ceiling part in circumferential directions of the placement part and the ceiling part. A reaction gas supplied from the reaction gas supply part into the process space via the ceiling part flows outside of the process space via the annular gap. A plurality of gas flow channels, which is used for forming gas-flow walls, is formed in the outer peripheral portion of the ceiling part which provides the annular gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Katsuhito Hirose, Kunihiro Tada, Kenji Suzuki, Takeshi Shinohara
  • Publication number: 20200328100
    Abstract: A processing apparatus for processing a substrate includes: a plurality of end devices; a low-level controller configured to control specific end devices among the plurality of end devices; and a module controller configured to execute a recipe for processing the substrate, to specify control steps satisfying a specific condition among a plurality of control steps of the recipe, and to transmit the specified control steps to the low-level controller, wherein the low-level controller controls the specific end devices based on the control steps received from the module controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Katsuhito HIROSE, Koichi MIYASHITA, Hiroshi HIROSE, Satoshi GOMI, Yasunori KUMAGAI, Takashi YOSHIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20200299841
    Abstract: Provided is an abnormality detection system that includes a first controller configured to control a substrate processing apparatus and a second controller configured to control a device provided in the substrate processing apparatus according to an instruction from the first controller, thereby detecting an abnormality in the device. The second controller includes a storage unit configured to collect status signals for the device for a predetermined time and at a predetermined sampling interval in a predetermined cycle and accumulate the collected status signals for the device, and the first controller includes an abnormality determination unit configured to acquire the accumulated status signals for the device from the second controller at a time interval equal to or longer than the predetermined time, and determine presence or absence of an abnormality in the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Katsuhito Hirose, Toshio Hasegawa, Shohei Yoshida, Takeshi Shinohara, Shinji Kawasaki
  • Publication number: 20180108518
    Abstract: A film forming apparatus 1 includes a plasma generating mechanism 47 commonly used for plasmarizing a processing gas and a cleaning gas supplied into a processing vessel 11 in which a vacuum atmosphere is formed; an exhaust device 17 configured to evacuate an exhaust line 61 connected to a processing gas discharge unit 43 while the plasmarization of the cleaning gas is being performed by the plasma generating mechanism 47; a tank 62 provided at the exhaust line 61; and a valve V2 which is provided at the exhaust line 61 between the tank 62 and the processing gas discharge unit 43. The valve V2 is configured to be closed to reduce an internal pressure of the tank 62 and opened to attract the plasmarized cleaning gas into the tank 62 from a processing space 40 through the processing gas discharge unit 43.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Naotaka Noro, Toshio Hasegawa, Tamaki Takeyama, Shinya Iwashita, Katsuhito Hirose
  • Publication number: 20170314130
    Abstract: A film deposition device includes a reaction gas supply part which is in communication with a process space defined between a placement part and a ceiling part. An annular gap in a plan view exists between an outer peripheral portion of the placement part and an outer peripheral portion of the ceiling part in circumferential directions of the placement part and the ceiling part. A reaction gas supplied from the reaction gas supply part into the process space via the ceiling part flows outside of the process space via the annular gap. A plurality of gas flow channels, which is used for forming gas-flow walls, is formed in the outer peripheral portion of the ceiling part which provides the annular gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Katsuhito HIROSE, Kunihiro TADA, Kenji SUZUKI, Takeshi SHINOHARA
  • Patent number: 9725804
    Abstract: A processing apparatus includes a plurality of first gas supply channels configured to supply a plurality of gases to the process chamber, a second gas supply channel configured to supply a gas to the process chamber, the gas being used in processing the target substrate, a plurality of first valves configured to open and close the plurality of first gas supply channels, a second valve configured to open and close the second gas supply channel, and a controller. One of the plurality of first valves is a follow-up target valve. The controller controls opening/closing operation of the plurality of first valves such that opening durations of the plurality of first valves do not overlap with each other, and controls opening/closing operation of the second valve such that opening duration of the second valve has a predetermined time relationship with opening duration of the follow-up target valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Katsuhito Hirose, Toshio Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 9708711
    Abstract: A processing apparatus includes a processing chamber, gas supply paths provided in a corresponding relationship with the kinds of process gases supplied into the processing chamber, and valves respectively arranged in the gas supply paths. The apparatus further includes a measuring unit for measuring a physical parameter associated with each of the process gases passing through the gas supply paths, a register unit which stores the physical parameter, and a control unit configured to determine a process status based on the physical parameter stored in the register unit. The register unit is provided in a lower-hierarchy control device connected to the control unit of a higher hierarchy to transmit and receive signals to and from the control unit. The lower-hierarchy control device is configured to control input and output signals between the control unit and end devices under the control of the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Katsuhito Hirose, Toshio Miyazawa, Toshiharu Hirata, Toshimasa Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20160047039
    Abstract: A processing apparatus includes a plurality of first gas supply channels configured to supply a plurality of gases to the process chamber, a second gas supply channel configured to supply a gas to the process chamber, the gas being used in processing the target substrate, a plurality of first valves configured to open and close the plurality of first gas supply channels, a second valve configured to open and close the second gas supply channel, and a controller. One of the plurality of first valves is a follow-up target valve. The controller controls opening/closing operation of the plurality of first valves such that opening durations of the plurality of first valves do not overlap with each other, and controls opening/closing operation of the second valve such that opening duration of the second valve has a predetermined time relationship with opening duration of the follow-up target valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Katsuhito HIROSE, Toshio MIYAZAWA
  • Patent number: 8834631
    Abstract: A processing apparatus includes a processing chamber configured to accommodate a target object to be processed, gas supply paths provided in a corresponding relationship with the kinds of process gases supplied into the processing chamber, and valves respectively arranged in the gas supply paths to open and close the gas supply paths. The processing apparatus further includes valve drive units configured to independently drive the valves, sensor units configured to independently monitor opening and closing operations of the valves, and a control unit configured to determine operation statuses of the valves based on valve opening and closing drive signals transmitted to the valve drive units and/or valve opening and closing detection signals transmitted from the sensor units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Katsuhito Hirose, Toshio Miyazawa, Toshiharu Hirata, Toshimasa Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20130180448
    Abstract: A substrate transfer device includes a pick which has positioning pins to position a substrate and holds a positioned substrate; a drive unit which drives the pick such that the substrate is loaded/unloaded to/from a vacuum processing unit by using a pick; and a transfer control unit which controls a transfer operation of the substrate using the pick. The transfer control unit obtains in advance information on a reference position of the substrate at room temperature when the substrate is loaded into the vacuum processing unit, calculates a positional deviation from the reference position of the substrate when the substrate is loaded into the vacuum processing unit in actual processing, and controls a drive unit such that the substrate is loaded into the vacuum processing unit by correcting the positional deviation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Sakaue, Masahito Ozawa, Yuichi Furuya, Nanako Shinoda, Katsuhito Hirose, Morihito Inagaki
  • Publication number: 20100080444
    Abstract: A CCD detector 30 captures an image of an arc shape of an outer periphery of a semiconductor wafer W that is on standby position W1 close to an inlet of a processing unit 1. A calculation unit 40 detects, from the captured image of the arc shape, positional data on multiple positions of the shape, obtains a phantom circle of the semiconductor wafer W, calculates center coordinates of the phantom circle, and calculates “information on positional displacement” of the semiconductor wafer W at the standby position W1. A controller 50 controls a transfer unit 12 based on the “information on displacement” to correct the position of the semiconductor wafer W on the processing unit 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Hirofumi Yamaguchi, Katsuhito Hirose, Gaku Ikeda