Patents by Inventor Kenetsu Mizusawa

Kenetsu Mizusawa 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: 9441791
    Abstract: A gas supply unit, for supplying a gas into a processing chamber in which a substrate is processed, includes a plurality of gas supply sources, a mixing line for mixing a plurality of gases supplied from the gas supply sources to make a gaseous mixture, a multiplicity of branch lines for branching the gaseous mixture to be supplied to a multiplicity of places in the processing chamber, and an additional gas supply unit for supplying a specified additional gas to a gaseous mixture flowing in at least one branch line. The gas supply unit also includes pressure gauges and valves for adjusting gas flow rates in the branch lines, respectively, and a pressure ratio controller for controlling that gaseous mixtures branched into the branch lines to have a specified pressure ratio by adjusting opening degrees of the valves based on measurement results obtained by using the pressure gauges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Kenetsu Mizusawa, Keiki Ito, Masahide Itoh
  • Patent number: 8906193
    Abstract: A gas supply unit, for supplying a gas into a processing chamber in which a substrate is processed, includes a plurality of gas supply sources, a mixing line for mixing a plurality of gases supplied from the gas supply sources to make a gaseous mixture, a multiplicity of branch lines for branching the gaseous mixture to be supplied to a multiplicity of places in the processing chamber, and an additional gas supply unit for supplying a specified additional gas to a gaseous mixture flowing in at least one branch line. The gas supply unit also includes pressure gauges and valves for adjusting gas flow rates in the branch lines, respectively, and a pressure ratio controller for controlling that gaseous mixtures branched into the branch lines to have a specified pressure ratio by adjusting opening degrees of the valves based on measurement results obtained by using the pressure gauges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Kenetsu Mizusawa, Keiki Ito, Masahide Itoh
  • Patent number: 8701593
    Abstract: A gas supply system for supplying a gas into a processing chamber for processing a substrate to be processed includes: a processing gas supply unit; a processing gas supply line; a first and a second processing gas branch line; a branch flow control unit; an additional gas supply unit; an additional gas supply line; a first and a second additional gas branch line; a flow path switching unit; and a control unit. Before processing the substrate to be processed, the control unit performs a pressure ratio control on the branch flow control unit while the processing gas supply unit supplies the processing gas. After the inner pressures of the first and the second processing gas branch line become stable, the control unit switches the pressure ratio control to a fixed pressure control, and then the additional gas supply unit supplies the additional gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Kenetsu Mizusawa
  • Patent number: 8561572
    Abstract: Prior to wafer processing, pressure ratio control is executed on a divided flow rate adjustment means so as to adjust the flow rates of divided flows to achieve a target pressure ratio with regard to the pressures in the individual branch passages. As the processing gas from a processing gas supply means is diverted into first and second branch pipings under the pressure ratio control and the pressures in the branch passages then stabilize, the control on the divided flow rate adjustment means is switched to steady pressure control for adjusting the flow rates of the divided flows so as to hold the pressure in the first branch passage at the level achieved in the stable pressure condition. Only after the control is switched to the steady pressure control, an additional gas is delivered into the second branch passage via an additional gas supply means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Kenetsu Mizusawa
  • Patent number: 8375893
    Abstract: Prior to wafer processing, pressure ratio control is executed on a divided flow rate adjustment means so as to adjust the flow rates of divided flows to achieve a target pressure ratio with regard to the pressures in the individual branch passages. As the processing gas from a processing gas supply means is diverted into first and second branch pipings under the pressure ratio control and the pressures in the branch passages then stabilize, the control on the divided flow rate adjustment means is switched to steady pressure control for adjusting the flow rates of the divided flows so as to hold the pressure in the first branch passage at the level achieved in the stable pressure condition. Only after the control is switched to the steady pressure control, an additional gas is delivered into the second branch passage via an additional gas supply means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Kenetsu Mizusawa
  • Publication number: 20120291953
    Abstract: A gas supply system for supplying a gas into a processing chamber for processing a substrate to be processed includes: a processing gas supply unit; a processing gas supply line; a first and a second processing gas branch line; a branch flow control unit; an additional gas supply unit; an additional gas supply line; a first and a second additional gas branch line; a flow path switching unit; and a control unit. Before processing the substrate to be processed, the control unit performs a pressure ratio control on the branch flow control unit while the processing gas supply unit supplies the processing gas. After the inner pressures of the first and the second processing gas branch line become stable, the control unit switches the pressure ratio control to a fixed pressure control, and then the additional gas supply unit supplies the additional gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Kenetsu MIZUSAWA
  • Publication number: 20120247668
    Abstract: Prior to wafer processing, pressure ratio control is executed on a divided flow rate adjustment means so as to adjust the flow rates of divided flows to achieve a target pressure ratio with regard to the pressures in the individual branch passages. As the processing gas from a processing gas supply means is diverted into first and second branch pipings under the pressure ratio control and the pressures in the branch passages then stabilize, the control on the divided flow rate adjustment means is switched to steady pressure control for adjusting the flow rates of the divided flows so as to hold the pressure in the first branch passage at the level achieved in the stable pressure condition. Only after the control is switched to the steady pressure control, an additional gas is delivered into the second branch passage via an additional gas supply means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Kenetsu MIZUSAWA
  • Patent number: 8236380
    Abstract: A gas supply system for supplying a gas into a processing chamber for processing a substrate to be processed includes: a processing gas supply unit; a processing gas supply line; a first and a second processing gas branch line; a branch flow control unit; an additional gas supply unit; an additional gas supply line; a first and a second additional gas branch line; a flow path switching unit; and a control unit. Before processing the substrate to be processed, the control unit performs a pressure ratio control on the branch flow control unit while the processing gas supply unit supplies the processing gas. After the inner pressures of the first and the second processing gas branch line become stable, the control unit switches the pressure ratio control to a fixed pressure control, and then the additional gas supply unit supplies the additional gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Kenetsu Mizusawa
  • Patent number: 8221638
    Abstract: Prior to wafer processing, pressure ratio control is executed on a divided flow rate adjustment means so as to adjust the flow rates of divided flows to achieve a target pressure ratio with regard to the pressures in the individual branch passages. As the processing gas from a processing gas supply means is diverted into first and second branch pipings under the pressure ratio control and the pressures in the branch passages then stabilize, the control on the divided flow rate adjustment means is switched to steady pressure control for adjusting the flow rates of the divided flows so as to hold the pressure in the first branch passage at the level achieved in the stable pressure condition. Only after the control is switched to the steady pressure control, an additional gas is delivered into the second branch passage via an additional gas supply means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Kenetsu Mizusawa
  • Publication number: 20100163112
    Abstract: A gas supply unit, for supplying a gas into a processing chamber in which a substrate is processed, includes a plurality of gas supply sources, a mixing line for mixing a plurality of gases supplied from the gas supply sources to make a gaseous mixture, a multiplicity of branch lines for branching the gaseous mixture to be supplied to a multiplicity of places in the processing chamber, and an additional gas supply unit for supplying a specified additional gas to a gaseous mixture flowing in at least one branch line. The gas supply unit also includes pressure gauges and valves for adjusting gas flow rates in the branch lines, respectively, and a pressure ratio controller for controlling that gaseous mixtures branched into the branch lines to have a specified pressure ratio by adjusting opening degrees of the valves based on measurement results obtained by using the pressure gauges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Kenetsu Mizusawa, Keiki Ito, Masahide Itoh
  • Publication number: 20090191337
    Abstract: Prior to wafer processing, pressure ratio control is executed on a divided flow rate adjustment means so as to adjust the flow rates of divided flows to achieve a target pressure ratio with regard to the pressures in the individual branch passages. As the processing gas from a processing gas supply means is diverted into first and second branch pipings under the pressure ratio control and the pressures in the branch passages then stabilize, the control on the divided flow rate adjustment means is switched to steady pressure control for adjusting the flow rates of the divided flows so as to hold the pressure in the first branch passage at the level achieved in the stable pressure condition. Only after the control is switched to the steady pressure control, an additional gas is delivered into the second branch passage via an additional gas supply means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Kenetsu MIZUSAWA
  • Publication number: 20090145484
    Abstract: A gas supply system for supplying a gas into a processing chamber for processing a substrate to be processed includes: a processing gas supply unit; a processing gas supply line; a first and a second processing gas branch line; a branch flow control unit; an additional gas supply unit; an additional gas supply line; a first and a second additional gas branch line; a flow path switching unit; and a control unit. Before processing the substrate to be processed, the control unit performs a pressure ratio control on the branch flow control unit while the processing gas supply unit supplies the processing gas. After the inner pressures of the first and the second processing gas branch line become stable, the control unit switches the pressure ratio control to a fixed pressure control, and then the additional gas supply unit supplies the additional gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Kenetsu MIZUSAWA
  • Publication number: 20070181181
    Abstract: A gas supply system includes a first and a second branch line branched from a processing gas supply line to be respectively connected with a first and a second gas introduction section for introducing a gas from different portions in a processing chamber and a branch flow control unit for controlling branch flows of the processing gas distributed from the processing gas supply line to the first and the second branch line based on pressures in the first and the second processing gas branch line. The gas supply system further includes an additional gas supply unit for supplying an additional gas and an additional gas supply line for allowing the additional gas to flow therein. The first or second gas introduction section is divided into a processing gas introduction section connected with the branch lines and an additional gas introduction section connected with the additional gas supply line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Kenetsu MIZUSAWA
  • Publication number: 20070175391
    Abstract: A gas supply system for supplying a gas into a processing chamber for processing a substrate to be processed includes: a processing gas supply unit; a processing gas supply line; a first and a second processing gas branch line; a branch flow control unit; an additional gas supply unit; an additional gas supply line; a first and a second additional gas branch line; a flow path switching unit; and a control unit. Before processing the substrate to be processed, the control unit performs a pressure ratio control on the branch flow control unit while the processing gas supply unit supplies the processing gas. After the inner pressures of the first and the second processing gas branch line become stable, the control unit switches the pressure ratio control to a fixed pressure control, and then the additional gas supply unit supplies the additional gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Kenetsu MIZUSAWA
  • Publication number: 20070151668
    Abstract: Prior to wafer processing, pressure ratio control is executed on a divided flow rate adjustment means so as to adjust the flow rates of divided flows to achieve a target pressure ratio with regard to the pressures in the individual branch passages. As the processing gas from a processing gas supply means is diverted into first and second branch pipings under the pressure ratio control and the pressures in the branch passages then stabilize, the control on the divided flow rate adjustment means is switched to steady pressure control for adjusting the flow rates of the divided flows so as to hold the pressure in the first branch passage at the level achieved in the stable pressure condition. Only after the control is switched to the steady pressure control, an additional gas is delivered into the second branch passage via an additional gas supply means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: KENETSU MIZUSAWA
  • Publication number: 20060124169
    Abstract: A gas supply unit, for supplying a gas into a processing chamber in which a substrate is processed, includes a plurality of gas supply sources, a mixing line for mixing a plurality of gases supplied from the gas supply sources to make a gaseous mixture, a multiplicity of branch lines for branching the gaseous mixture to be supplied to a multiplicity of places in the processing chamber, and an additional gas supply unit for supplying a specified additional gas to a gaseous mixture flowing in at least one branch line. The gas supply unit also includes pressure gauges and valves for adjusting gas flow rates in the branch lines, respectively, and a pressure ratio controller for controlling that gaseous mixtures branched into the branch lines to have a specified pressure ratio by adjusting opening degrees of the valves based on measurement results obtained by using the pressure gauges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Kenetsu Mizusawa, Keiki Ito, Masahide Itoh
  • Publication number: 20050064609
    Abstract: A semiconductor processing system includes a processing chamber, a gas exhaust unit, a gas supply unit, a flow rate controller, a flow rate measuring unit for inspecting the flow rate controller, and a control unit for controlling the processing system. The flow rate measuring unit contains an inspection vessel, a pressure gauge, and a flow rate calculation unit, and the control unit is configured to purge the inspection vessel before or after flowing the processing gas into thereto. Further, an inspecting method of the flow rate controller in the semiconductor processing system includes the steps of flowing the processing gas to the inspection vessel, detecting an inner pressure of the inspection vessel, obtaining a gas flow rate of the flow rate controller, and performing a purge process on the inspection vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Publication date: March 24, 2005
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Hideki Nagaoka, Aya Morokata, Norikazu Sasaki, Kazushige Shimura, Kenetsu Mizusawa, Akira Obi, Masaaki Abe