Patents by Inventor Kazunobu Fujiwara

Kazunobu Fujiwara 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: 11594398
    Abstract: An apparatus for plasma processing is configured to generate plasma in a chamber and periodically apply a pulsed negative DC voltage to an upper electrode from a DC power supply in the plasma processing on a substrate and in plasma cleaning. A duty ratio of the pulsed negative DC voltage used for the plasma processing is smaller than a duty ratio of the pulsed negative DC voltage used for the plasma cleaning. An absolute value of an average value of an output voltage of the DC power supply used for the plasma processing is smaller than an absolute value of an average value of the output voltage of the DC power supply used for the plasma cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yusuke Aoki, Fumiya Takata, Toshikatsu Tobana, Shinya Morikita, Kazunobu Fujiwara, Jun Abe, Koichi Nagami
  • Patent number: 11251048
    Abstract: A plasma processing method according to an exemplary embodiment includes generating plasma from a film formation gas in a chamber of a plasma processing apparatus by supplying radio frequency power from a radio frequency power source. The plasma processing method further includes forming a protective film on an inner wall surface of a side wall of the chamber by depositing a chemical species from the plasma on the inner wall surface. In the forming a protective film, a pulsed negative direct-current voltage is periodically applied from a direct-current power source device to an upper electrode of the plasma processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yusuke Aoki, Toshikatsu Tobana, Fumiya Takata, Shinya Morikita, Kazunobu Fujiwara, Jun Abe, Koichi Nagami
  • Publication number: 20220028665
    Abstract: A decrease of an etching rate of a substrate can be suppressed, and energy of ions irradiated to an inner wall of a chamber main body can be reduced. A plasma processing apparatus includes a DC power supply configured to generate a negative DC voltage to be applied to a lower electrode of a stage. In a plasma processing performed by using the plasma processing apparatus, a radio frequency power is supplied to generate plasma by exciting a gas within a chamber. Further, the negative DC voltage from the DC power supply is periodically applied to the lower electrode to attract ions in the plasma onto the substrate placed on the stage. A ratio occupied, within each of cycles, by a period during which the DC voltage is applied to the lower electrode is set to be equal to or less than 40%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Koichi Nagami, Kazunobu Fujiwara, Tatsuro Ohshita, Takashi Dokan, Koji Maruyama, Kazuya Nagaseki, Shinji Himori
  • Patent number: 11170979
    Abstract: A decrease of an etching rate of a substrate can be suppressed, and energy of ions irradiated to an inner wall of a chamber main body can be reduced. A plasma processing apparatus includes a DC power supply configured to generate a negative DC voltage to be applied to a lower electrode of a stage. In a plasma processing performed by using the plasma processing apparatus, a radio frequency power is supplied to generate plasma by exciting a gas within a chamber. Further, the negative DC voltage from the DC power supply is periodically applied to the lower electrode to attract ions in the plasma onto the substrate placed on the stage. A ratio occupied, within each of cycles, by a period during which the DC voltage is applied to the lower electrode is set to be equal to or less than 40%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Koichi Nagami, Kazunobu Fujiwara, Tatsuro Ohshita, Takashi Dokan, Koji Maruyama, Kazuya Nagaseki, Shinji Himori
  • Publication number: 20200402805
    Abstract: A plasma processing method according to an exemplary embodiment includes generating plasma from a film formation gas in a chamber of a plasma processing apparatus by supplying radio frequency power from a radio frequency power source. The plasma processing method further includes forming a protective film on an inner wall surface of a side wall of the chamber by depositing a chemical species from the plasma on the inner wall surface. In the forming a protective film, a pulsed negative direct-current voltage is periodically applied from a direct-current power source device to an upper electrode of the plasma processing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Yusuke AOKI, Toshikatsu TOBANA, Fumiya TAKATA, Shinya MORIKITA, Kazunobu FUJIWARA, Jun ABE, Koichi NAGAMI
  • Publication number: 20200266036
    Abstract: An apparatus for plasma processing is configured to generate plasma in a chamber and periodically apply a pulsed negative DC voltage to an upper electrode from a DC power supply in the plasma processing on a substrate and in plasma cleaning. A duty ratio of the pulsed negative DC voltage used for the plasma processing is smaller than a duty ratio of the pulsed negative DC voltage used for the plasma cleaning. An absolute value of an average value of an output voltage of the DC power supply used for the plasma processing is smaller than an absolute value of an average value of the output voltage of the DC power supply used for the plasma cleaning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yusuke AOKI, Fumiya TAKATA, Toshikatsu TOBANA, Shinya MORIKITA, Kazunobu FUJIWARA, Jun ABE, Koichi NAGAMI
  • Publication number: 20200126770
    Abstract: A decrease of an etching rate of a substrate can be suppressed, and energy of ions irradiated to an inner wall of a chamber main body can be reduced. A plasma processing apparatus includes a DC power supply configured to generate a negative DC voltage to be applied to a lower electrode of a stage. In a plasma processing performed by using the plasma processing apparatus, a radio frequency power is supplied to generate plasma by exciting a gas within a chamber. Further, the negative DC voltage from the DC power supply is periodically applied to the lower electrode to attract ions in the plasma onto the substrate placed on the stage. A ratio occupied, within each of cycles, by a period during which the DC voltage is applied to the lower electrode is set to be equal to or less than 40%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Koichi Nagami, Kazunobu Fujiwara, Tatsuro Ohshita, Takashi Dokan, Koji Maruyama, Kazuya Nagaseki, Shinji Himori
  • Patent number: 10615005
    Abstract: In a method of an embodiment, radio-frequency power is supplied to an electrode via a matching device from a radio-frequency power supply in order to generate plasma within a chamber. During the supply of the radio-frequency power, it is determined whether or not plasma is generated within the chamber from one or more parameters reflecting plasma generation within the chamber. When it is determined that plasma is not generated, a frequency of the radio-frequency power output from the radio-frequency power supply is adjusted to set the load side reactance of the radio-frequency power supply to zero or to bring the load side reactance close to zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Koichi Nagami, Kazunobu Fujiwara, Tadashi Gondai, Norikazu Yamada, Naoyuki Umehara
  • Patent number: 10553407
    Abstract: A decrease of an etching rate of a substrate can be suppressed, and energy of ions irradiated to an inner wall of a chamber main body can be reduced. A plasma processing apparatus includes a DC power supply configured to generate a negative DC voltage to be applied to a lower electrode of a stage. In a plasma processing performed by using the plasma processing apparatus, a radio frequency power is supplied to generate plasma by exciting a gas within a chamber. Further, the negative DC voltage from the DC power supply is periodically applied to the lower electrode to attract ions in the plasma onto the substrate placed on the stage. A ratio occupied, within each of cycles, by a period during which the DC voltage is applied to the lower electrode is set to be equal to or less than 40%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Koichi Nagami, Kazunobu Fujiwara, Tatsuro Ohshita, Takashi Dokan, Koji Maruyama, Kazuya Nagaseki, Shinji Himori
  • Publication number: 20190318915
    Abstract: In a method of an embodiment, radio-frequency power is supplied to an electrode via a matching device from a radio-frequency power supply in order to generate plasma within a chamber. During the supply of the radio-frequency power, it is determined whether or not plasma is generated within the chamber from one or more parameters reflecting plasma generation within the chamber. When it is determined that plasma is not generated, a frequency of the radio-frequency power output from the radio-frequency power supply is adjusted to set the load side reactance of the radio-frequency power supply to zero or to bring the load side reactance close to zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Koichi NAGAMI, Kazunobu FUJIWARA, Tadashi GONDAI, Norikazu YAMADA, Naoyuki UMEHARA
  • Publication number: 20190057845
    Abstract: A decrease of an etching rate of a substrate can be suppressed, and energy of ions irradiated to an inner wall of a chamber main body can be reduced. A plasma processing apparatus includes a DC power supply configured to generate a negative DC voltage to be applied to a lower electrode of a stage. In a plasma processing performed by using the plasma processing apparatus, a radio frequency power is supplied to generate plasma by exciting a gas within a chamber. Further, the negative DC voltage from the DC power supply is periodically applied to the lower electrode to attract ions in the plasma onto the substrate placed on the stage. A ratio occupied, within each of cycles, by a period during which the DC voltage is applied to the lower electrode is set to be equal to or less than 40%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: Koichi Nagami, Kazunobu Fujiwara, Tatsuro Ohshita, Takashi Dokan, Koji Maruyama, Kazuya Nagaseki, Shinji Himori
  • Patent number: 8923526
    Abstract: An audio device (e.g. an AV amplifier), with a plurality of audio output terminals according to the HDMI standard, converts audio data of a source device into audio signals suited to audio reproduction abilities (e.g. channel counts) of sink devices. The audio device stores a plurality of audio reproduction ability information describing the predetermined channel count thereof and the channel counts of sink devices, wherein arbitrary audio reproduction ability information precluding audio reproduction ability information of a sink device with the smallest channel count is provided to a source device. The audio device performs down-mixing on audio signals with respect to a sink device whose channel count is smaller than the predetermined channel count, while the audio device performs signal processing on audio signals with respect to a sink device whose channel count is larger than the predetermined channel count.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Masaya Kano, Toshihito Uchiyama, Kunihiro Kumagai, Kazunobu Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20120128179
    Abstract: An audio device (e.g. an AV amplifier), with a plurality of audio output terminals according to the HDMI standard, converts audio data of a source device into audio signals suited to audio reproduction abilities (e.g. channel counts) of sink devices. The audio device stores a plurality of audio reproduction ability information describing the predetermined channel count thereof and the channel counts of sink devices, wherein arbitrary audio reproduction ability information precluding audio reproduction ability information of a sink device with the smallest channel count is provided to a source device. The audio device performs down-mixing on audio signals with respect to a sink device whose channel count is smaller than the predetermined channel count, whilst the audio device performs signal processing on audio signals with respect to a sink device whose channel count is larger than the predetermined channel count.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Masaya Kano, Toshihito Uchiyama, Kunihiro Kumagai, Kazunobu Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 7092331
    Abstract: The present invention provides an audio data recording medium reproducer, wherein CPU 10 which writes audio data read by reader 11 into buffer memory 13 and buffer memory controller 21 which transfers the data to buffer memory 22 and inputs it into DAC 23 at a predetermined data rate are connected by a bus, and furthermore, CPU 20 for controlling a user interface is separately provided. Provision of a plurality of such simple controllers reduces costs to be lower than in the case of providing one high-performance controller. Furthermore, it also becomes possible to separately construct the respective functional parts as units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunobu Fujiwara, Tadashi Sugiyama, Sadayuki Narusawa
  • Publication number: 20060149973
    Abstract: A digital information copying management apparatus includes a data storage unit that is arranged to store data, a data processing unit that controls writing and reading of the data to and from the data storage unit, a bus that connects the data storage unit and the data processing unit for transmitting data having plural bits in parallel, and a logic circuit unit that is provided between the data storage unit and the data processing unit, and that inverts at least one bit data of the data that is transferred in the bus in parallel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Koseki, Kazunobu Fujiwara, Tetsuya Matsuyama, Sadayuki Narusawa
  • Patent number: 6891782
    Abstract: Push-pull signal is created on the basis of reflected-light detection signals output from four divided light receiving elements that receive a reflection of a recording laser light beam off an optical disk. The push-pull signal is sent to a gain variation circuit. The push-pull signal is normalized by setting the gain of the gain variation circuit to a low level in response to a mark forming section of a recording signal, but to a high level in response to a blank forming section of the recording signal. Wobble detection and pre-pit detection are performed on the basis of the normalized push-pull signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Saito, Kazunobu Fujiwara, Kazuhiko Honda
  • Patent number: 6757231
    Abstract: For each sync frame, an AND circuit detects whether a pre-pit synchronization signal can be obtained within a window set by a timing generator. Detection result of the AND circuit is held by a shift register, where it is shifted in response to each sync frame. On the basis of a parallel output from the shift register, a decoder determines whether the detection of the pre-pit synchronization signal is accurate or erroneous. Count value of a counter is incremented by one each time the decoder determines that the detection of the pre-pit synchronization signal is accurate, but is decremented by one each time the decoder determines that the detection of the pre-pit synchronization signal is erroneous. Identification section identifies stability/instability of the pre-pit synchronization signal detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Kazunobu Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20020118616
    Abstract: The present invention provides an audio data recording medium reproducer, wherein CPU 10 which writes audio data read by reader 11 into buffer memory 13 and buffer memory controller 21 which transfers the data to buffer memory 22 and inputs it into DAC 23 at a predetermined data rate are connected by a bus, and furthermore, CPU 20 for controlling a user interface is separately provided. Provision of a plurality of such simple controllers reduces costs to be lower than in the case of providing one high-performance controller. Furthermore, it also becomes possible to separately construct the respective functional parts as units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventors: Kazunobu Fujiwara, Tadashi Sugiyama, Sadayuki Narusawa
  • Publication number: 20010024412
    Abstract: For each sync frame, an AND circuit detects whether a pre-pit synchronization signal can be obtained within a window set by a timing generator. Detection result of the AND circuit is held by a shift register, where it is shifted in response to each sync frame. On the basis of a parallel output from the shift register, a decoder determines whether the detection of the pre-pit synchronization signal is accurate or erroneous. Count value of a counter is incremented by one each time the decoder determines that the detection of the pre-pit synchronization signal is accurate, but is decremented by one each time the decoder determines that the detection of the pre-pit synchronization signal is erroneous. Identification section identifies stability/instability of the pre-pit synchronization signal detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Publication date: September 27, 2001
    Inventor: Kazunobu Fujiwara
  • Patent number: RE39811
    Abstract: There is generated a rhythm corresponding to a designated tempo and meter of a music piece to be recorded. Performance of a musical instrument is started at specific timing according to the generated rhythm, and the musical information resulting from the performance is recorded onto an MD (Mini Disk). The address on the MD read out when the performance of the music piece is started is retrieved as a start address of the music piece. After the recording, the retrieved start address is recorded onto the UTOC (User's-table-of-contents) area of the disk along with the designated tempo and meter. By reading out the start address, tempo and meter to calculate a measure number and start address of a desired measure on the basis of the read out information, display of a measure number being currently reproduced and quick access to the starting point of any desired measure can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Mikio Ogusu, Kazunobu Fujiwara, Kei Tanaka