Patents by Inventor Kenji Takenouchi

Kenji Takenouchi 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).

  • Publication number: 20240335918
    Abstract: A wafer grinding method for grinding, by a grindstone, a reverse side of a wafer formed on a face side thereof with devices includes a protective member forming step of covering a whole area of the face side of the wafer with a protective member, a holding step of holding the wafer by a chuck table with the protective member therebetween, and a grinding step of grinding the reverse side of the wafer by the grindstone while supplying grinding water containing a surfactant to the grindstone and the wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Inventors: Kenji TAKENOUCHI, Mitsutane KOKUBU, Masayoshi TERAMOTO, Koichi KUNIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20240071784
    Abstract: A cutting apparatus includes a cutting liquid supply nozzle disposed adjacent to a cutting unit, for supplying a cutting liquid to a point of contact between a cutting blade and a workpiece, and a rust inhibitor supply nozzle for supplying a rust inhibitor to the workpiece to prevent electrodes of devices divided from the workpiece from being rusted, the rust inhibitor supply nozzle having a length along a Y-axis in excess of the width of the workpiece along the Y-axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventor: Kenji TAKENOUCHI
  • Publication number: 20240009789
    Abstract: There is provided a cleaning tool which is used in a state of being mounted to a spindle configured such that an annular cutting blade containing abrasive grains is mountable thereto, and which is used to remove swarf that has been generated during processing of a workpiece by use of the cutting blade and that is present in a processed region processed by the cutting blade of the workpiece, from the processed region. The cleaning tool has in its central part an opening to be used at the time of mounting to the spindle. The cleaning tool is formed in an annular shape from an elastic material softer than the workpiece and does not contain abrasive grains, or the cleaning tool is formed in an annular shape from an elastic material having a Vickers hardness of less than 10.6 GPa and does not contain abrasive grains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventor: Kenji TAKENOUCHI
  • Publication number: 20230381906
    Abstract: A cutting apparatus includes a cutting liquid supply nozzle that is disposed adjacent to a cutting unit and supplies a cutting liquid to a contact point between a cutting blade and a workpiece and a chemical liquid supply nozzle that has a length in a Y-axis direction which is greater than the width of the workpiece and supplies a chemical liquid for preventing adhesion of cutting swarf to a front surface of the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventor: Kenji TAKENOUCHI
  • Patent number: 11618698
    Abstract: A waste fluid treatment apparatus includes a sedimentation tank that stores the processing waste fluid with the processing debris contained therein, an inflow port provided on the sedimentation tank for introduction of the processing waste fluid into the sedimentation tank, an acidification unit configured to acidify the processing waste fluid to be introduced from the inflow port into the sedimentation tank, whereby the processing debris is allowed to settle at a higher rate compared with a rate at which the processing debris would settle if the processing waste water is neutral, and an outflow port provided on the sedimentation tank for discharge of acidic supernatant that is obtained by allowing the processing debris in the processing waste fluid to settle in the sedimentation tank from the sedimentation tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Takenouchi, Hiroyuki Kashiwagi, Jun Suwano
  • Publication number: 20220367272
    Abstract: Provided is a method for processing a substrate having a metal formed on a planned dividing line along the planned dividing line, the method including a processed groove forming step of forming a processed groove in the substrate along the planned dividing line, and a burr removing step of, after the processed groove forming step is performed, making an etchant that includes at least an oxidizing agent and to which an ultrasonic vibration is imparted come into contact with the substrate, suppressing ductility of a metallic burr generated on a periphery of the formed processed groove and increasing fragility of the burr by modifying the burr by the oxidizing agent included in the etchant, and removing the burr by the ultrasonic vibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Tomohiro KANO, Kenji TAKENOUCHI
  • Patent number: 11383351
    Abstract: A grinding apparatus includes a table that holds a workpiece, and a grinding unit including a grinding wheel mounted to a spindle. The grinding wheel has a grindstone formed by binding abrasive grains with a bonding agent. In addition, the grinding apparatus further includes: a supply unit that supplies grinding water to at least the grindstone when grinding the workpiece; and a light applying unit that is disposed adjacent to the table and that applies light to a grinding surface of the grindstone grinding the workpiece held by the table. The light applying unit includes a light emission section that emits light, and a diffusion preventive wall that surrounds the light emission section and prevents diffusion of the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Takenouchi, Takayuki Gawazawa
  • Patent number: 11101151
    Abstract: A package substrate processing method for processing a package substrate having a division line, an electrode being formed on the division line includes a cutting step of cutting the package substrate along the division line by using a cutting blade and a burr removing step of removing burrs produced from the electrode in the cutting step by spraying a fluid to the package substrate along the division line after performing the cutting step. The cutting step includes a step of supplying a cutting liquid containing an organic acid and an oxidizing agent to a cutting area where the package substrate is to be cut by the cutting blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Takenouchi, Mitsutane Kokubu, Naoko Yamamoto, Chisato Yamada
  • Publication number: 20210188670
    Abstract: A waste fluid treatment apparatus includes a sedimentation tank that stores the processing waste fluid with the processing debris contained therein, an inflow port provided on the sedimentation tank for introduction of the processing waste fluid into the sedimentation tank, an acidification unit configured to acidify the processing waste fluid to be introduced from the inflow port into the sedimentation tank, whereby the processing debris is allowed to settle at a higher rate compared with a rate at which the processing debris would settle if the processing waste water is neutral, and an outflow port provided on the sedimentation tank for discharge of acidic supernatant that is obtained by allowing the processing debris in the processing waste fluid to settle in the sedimentation tank from the sedimentation tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Kenji TAKENOUCHI, Hiroyuki KASHIWAGI, Jun SUWANO
  • Patent number: 11040427
    Abstract: A method of processing a workpiece which includes metal in a work surface by a processing unit including a grindstone or a polishing pad includes a processing step of grinding or polishing the workpiece by the processing unit while supplying a processing fluid to the work surface of the workpiece. The processing fluid contains an organic acid and an oxidizing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenji Takenouchi
  • Patent number: 10953516
    Abstract: A grinding apparatus includes: a holding table for holding a workpiece thereon; a grinding unit including a grinding wheel for grinding the workpiece held on the holding table, the grinding wheel including a grinding stone made of abrasive grains and grains of photocatalyst bonded by a vitrified bonding material; a grinding water supply unit configured to supply grinding water to the grinding stone when the workpiece held on the holding table is ground by the grinding unit; and a light applying unit disposed adjacent to the holding table and configured to apply light to a grinding surface of the grinding stone while the workpiece held on the holding table being ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenji Takenouchi
  • Patent number: 10930512
    Abstract: A method of processing a plate-shaped workpiece that includes layered bodies containing metal which are formed in superposed relation to projected dicing lines, includes the steps of holding the workpiece on a holding table, and thereafter, cutting the workpiece along the projected dicing lines with an annular cutting blade, thereby separating the layered bodies. The cutting blade has a groove defined in a face side or a reverse side of an outer peripheral portion thereof that cuts into the workpiece in the step of cutting the workpiece. The step of cutting the workpiece includes the step of cutting the workpiece while supplying a cutting fluid containing an organic acid and an oxidizing agent to the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenji Takenouchi
  • Patent number: 10930558
    Abstract: A processing apparatus includes: a holding unit that holds a workpiece; a processing mechanism that processes the workpiece held by the holding unit; a processing liquid supplying mechanism that supplies a processing liquid containing an oxidizing agent to at least the workpiece held by the holding unit at the time of processing the workpiece by the processing means; a processing waste liquid recovery section that recovers a processing waste liquid containing the processing liquid supplied from the processing liquid supplying mechanism to the workpiece; a discharge passage through which the processing waste liquid is discharged from the processing waste liquid recovery section to the outside of the processing apparatus; and a waste liquid treatment mechanism that is disposed in the discharge passage and that decomposes the processing liquid contained in the processing waste liquid while the processing waste liquid flows through the discharge passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenji Takenouchi
  • Patent number: 10896822
    Abstract: A grinding apparatus includes a table that holds a workpiece, and a grinding unit including a grinding wheel mounted to a spindle. The grinding wheel has a grindstone formed by binding abrasive grains with a bonding agent. In addition, the grinding apparatus further includes: a grinding water supply unit that supplies grinding water to at least the grindstone; a light applying unit that is disposed adjacent to the table and that applies light to a grinding surface of the grindstone grinding the workpiece held by the table; and a light applying unit moving section by which the light applying unit can be positioned at a first position on a rotational trajectory of the grinding wheel in the case where the grinding wheel has a first diameter and a second position on a rotational trajectory of the grinding wheel in the case where the grinding wheel has a second diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Takenouchi, Takayuki Gawazawa
  • Patent number: 10872819
    Abstract: A processing method for processing a plate-shaped workpiece having a division line on the front side and a multilayer member containing metal formed on the back side is provided. The processing method includes a holding step of holding the front side of the workpiece on a holding table in the condition where the multilayer member formed on the back side of the workpiece is exposed, a cutting step of cutting the workpiece along the division line by using a cutting blade after performing the holding step, thereby forming a cut groove dividing the multilayer member, and a laser processing step of applying a laser beam to the workpiece along the cut groove after performing the cutting step. The cutting step includes the step of supplying a cutting fluid containing an organic acid and an oxidizing agent to the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenji Takenouchi
  • Patent number: 10665482
    Abstract: A method for processing a plate-shaped workpiece having a division line and a metal member formed on the division line or in an area corresponding to the division line includes a holding step of holding the workpiece on a chuck table with the metal member oriented downward, a first cutting step of cutting the workpiece along the division line by using a first cutting blade, thereby forming a first cut groove having a bottom not reaching the metal member, and a second cutting step of cutting the workpiece along the first cut groove by using a second cutting blade, thereby forming a second cut groove fully cutting the workpiece along the division line so as to divide the metal member. The second cutting step includes supplying a cutting fluid containing an organic acid and an oxidizing agent to the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenji Takenouchi
  • Patent number: 10607865
    Abstract: A method for processing a plate-shaped workpiece having a division line and a metal member formed on the division line or in an area corresponding to the division line includes a holding step of holding the plate-shaped workpiece on a chuck table where the metal member is exposed, a first cutting step of cutting the plate-shaped workpiece along the division line by using a first cutting blade after performing the holding step, thereby forming a first cut groove dividing the metal member, and a second cutting step of cutting the plate-shaped workpiece along the first cut groove by using a second cutting blade after performing the first cutting step, thereby forming a second cut groove fully cutting the plate-shaped workpiece. The first cutting step includes the step of supplying a cutting fluid containing an organic acid and an oxidizing agent to the plate-shaped workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenji Takenouchi
  • Publication number: 20200058525
    Abstract: A package substrate processing method for processing a package substrate having a division line, an electrode being formed on the division line includes a cutting step of cutting the package substrate along the division line by using a cutting blade and a burr removing step of removing burrs produced from the electrode in the cutting step by spraying a fluid to the package substrate along the division line after performing the cutting step. The cutting step includes a step of supplying a cutting liquid containing an organic acid and an oxidizing agent to a cutting area where the package substrate is to be cut by the cutting blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Kenji TAKENOUCHI, Mitsutane KOKUBU, Naoko YAMAMOTO, Chisato YAMADA
  • Patent number: 10546782
    Abstract: A method of processing a plate-shaped workpiece that includes layered bodies containing metal which are formed in superposed relation to projected dicing lines includes the steps of holding the workpiece on a first holding table such that the layered bodies are exposed, thereafter, cutting the workpiece along the projected dicing lines with a cutting blade to form cut grooves that sever the layered bodies, thereafter, holding the workpiece on a second holding table such that a mask disposed in areas that are exclusive of the projected dicing lines is exposed, and thereafter, performing dry etching on the workpiece through the mask to sever the workpiece along the projected dicing lines. The step of cutting the workpiece includes the step of cutting the workpiece while supplying a cutting fluid containing an organic acid and an oxidizing agent to the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenji Takenouchi
  • Patent number: 10522405
    Abstract: A method of processing a plate-shaped workpiece that includes layered bodies containing metal which are formed in superposed relation to projected dicing lines, includes the steps of holding the workpiece on a holding table, and thereafter, cutting the workpiece along the projected dicing lines with an annular cutting blade, thereby separating the layered bodies. The cutting blade has a slit which is open at an outer peripheral edge thereof. The step of cutting the workpiece includes the step of cutting the workpiece while supplying a cutting fluid containing an organic acid and an oxidizing agent to the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenji Takenouchi