Patents by Inventor Koji Kaneyama

Koji Kaneyama 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: 20230166301
    Abstract: A substrate treating apparatus and a substrate transporting method wherein a platform is disposed on a first ID block, and a platform is placed on a second ID block. A currently-used carrier platform is provided only on the first ID block. Accordingly, a substrate is transported in both a forward path and a return path between the first ID block and a second treating block. The substrate is returned not to the first ID block but to the second ID block disposed between the two treating blocks in the return path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2023
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Joji KUWAHARA, Koji KANEYAMA
  • Patent number: 11590540
    Abstract: A substrate treating apparatus and a substrate transporting method wherein a platform is disposed on a first ID block, and a platform is placed on a second ID block. A currently-used carrier platform is provided only on the first ID block. Accordingly, a substrate is transported in both a forward path and a return path between the first ID block and a second treating block. The substrate is returned not to the first ID block but to the second ID block disposed between the two treating blocks in the return path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Inventors: Joji Kuwahara, Koji Kaneyama
  • Publication number: 20220134389
    Abstract: A substrate treating apparatus and a substrate transporting method wherein a platform is disposed on a first ID block, and a platform is placed on a second ID block. A currently-used carrier platform is provided only on the first ID block. Accordingly, a substrate is transported in both a forward path and a return path between the first ID block and a second treating block. The substrate is returned not to the first ID block but to the second ID block disposed between the two treating blocks in the return path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Joji KUWAHARA, Koji KANEYAMA
  • Patent number: 11260429
    Abstract: A substrate treating apparatus and a substrate transporting method wherein a platform is disposed on a first ID block, and a platform is placed on a second ID block. A currently-used carrier platform is provided only on the first ID block. Accordingly, a substrate is transported in both a forward path and a return path between the first ID block and a second treating block. The substrate is returned not to the first ID block but to the second ID block disposed between the two treating blocks in the return path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Inventors: Joji Kuwahara, Koji Kaneyama
  • Patent number: 11243469
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a development processor and a reversal film former, and processes a substrate having one surface on which a resist film made of a photosensitive material is formed. The development processor forms a resist pattern on the one surface of the substrate by performing development processing on a resist film using a development liquid. A reversal film former forms a reversal film having etch resistance higher than that of the resist film on the one surface of the substrate to cover the resist pattern while regulating a temperature of the substrate in a certain range after the development processing is performed by the development processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Inventors: Masahiko Harumoto, Koji Kaneyama, Yuji Tanaka, Masaya Asai
  • Patent number: 11139192
    Abstract: Disclosed are a substrate treating apparatus and a substrate transporting method. A first ID block takes a substrate from a carrier placed on a carrier platform and sends the taken substrate to one of six treatment layers. Moreover, a second ID block returns the substrate, sent from the treatment layer, for example, to a carrier placed on a platform. This allows the first ID block to transport many substrates to the six treatment layers arranged in an upward/downward direction more rapidly. Moreover, this simultaneously allows the second ID block to transport many substrates, having been sent from the six treatment layers arranged in the upward/downward direction, to the carrier more rapidly. As a result, a throughput of a substrate treating apparatus can be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Inventors: Joji Kuwahara, Koji Kaneyama
  • Publication number: 20210233784
    Abstract: A nozzle is stored in a nozzle storage hole of a waiting pod. In this state, a cleaning liquid is discharged to an outer peripheral surface of the nozzle from a plurality of discharge ports. Thus, a coating liquid and its solidified matter adhering to the nozzle are dissolved and removed from the nozzle. Subsequently, a metal removal liquid is discharged from a plurality of discharge ports to the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle. Thus, a metallic component remaining on the nozzle is dissolved and removed from the nozzle. Further, pure water is discharged to the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle from the plurality of discharge ports, and the metal removal liquid adhering to the nozzle is cleaned away.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Yuji TANAKA, Masaya ASAI, Masahiko HARUMOTO, Koji KANEYAMA
  • Publication number: 20210159293
    Abstract: Disclosed are a substrate treating apparatus and a substrate transporting method. A first treating block includes a developing-treatment layer and an interface layer arranged in an up-down direction. Accordingly, the interface layer is couplable with the indexer block. Moreover, a substrate transport mechanism of the indexer block transports a substrate from one of buffer units located at a predetermined height position in a substrate buffer to another of the buffer units located at a different height position in the substrate buffer. Accordingly, the interface layer is accessible to the buffer unit located at a height position corresponding to the interface layer. Thus, the interface layer can be made compact. Moreover, the interface layer is located in the upper part or the lower part of the developing-treatment layer, leading to reduction in footprint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Joji KUWAHARA, Koji KANEYAMA
  • Patent number: 11004702
    Abstract: A nozzle is stored in a nozzle storage hole of a waiting pod. In this state, a cleaning liquid is discharged to an outer peripheral surface of the nozzle from a plurality of discharge ports. Thus, a coating liquid and its solidified matter adhering to the nozzle are dissolved and removed from the nozzle. Subsequently, a metal removal liquid is discharged from a plurality of discharge ports to the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle. Thus, a metallic component remaining on the nozzle is dissolved and removed from the nozzle. Further, pure water is discharged to the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle from the plurality of discharge ports, and the metal removal liquid adhering to the nozzle is cleaned away.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Inventors: Yuji Tanaka, Masaya Asai, Masahiko Harumoto, Koji Kaneyama
  • Patent number: 10955745
    Abstract: Exhaust of gas in the processing chamber is started by a gas exhaust section, and supply of an inert gas into the processing chamber is started by a gas supply section after a predetermined time length has elapsed since the exhaust of gas is started. Alternatively, the gas in the processing chamber in which a substrate is stored is exhausted by the gas exhaust section, the inert gas is supplied into the processing chamber by the gas supply section, and the pressure in a light emitter that has a light-transmitting plate is allowed to match or be close to the pressure in the processing chamber. The substrate in the processing chamber is irradiated with vacuum ultraviolet rays by the light emitter with an oxygen concentration in the gas in the processing chamber lowered to a predetermined concentration. Thus, the substrate is exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Inventors: Chisayo Nakayama, Yuji Tanaka, Masahiko Harumoto, Masaya Asai, Yasuhiro Fukumoto, Koji Kaneyama
  • Publication number: 20210078036
    Abstract: A coating liquid containing metal as a metal-containing coating liquid is supplied to a surface to be processed of a substrate by a coating processing unit, whereby a metal-containing coating film is formed on the surface to be processed. The substrate on which the metal-containing coating film has been formed is transported to a metal removal unit by a transport mechanism. A removal liquid for dissolving the metal is supplied to a peripheral portion of the substrate by the metal removal unit such that the metal-containing coating film remains in a region except for the peripheral portion of the surface to be processed of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Yuji TANAKA, Masaya ASAI, Masahiko HARUMOTO, Koji KANEYAMA
  • Patent number: 10854480
    Abstract: A substrate is held and rotated by a spin chuck, and a coating liquid is discharged to the substrate. The coating liquid that is splashed outwardly from the substrate is received by an outer cup. A cleaning liquid that has been discharged from a cup cleaning nozzle is discharged to an inner peripheral surface of the outer cup through a first guide to clean the outer cup. Thus, the coating liquid, its solidified matter and the like adhering to the outer cup are dissolved and removed from the outer cup. Subsequently, a metal removal liquid that has been discharged from the cup cleaning nozzle is discharged to an inner peripheral surface of the outer cup through a second guide. Thus, a metallic component remaining on the outer cup is dissolved and removed from the outer cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Inventors: Yuji Tanaka, Masaya Asai, Masahiko Harumoto, Koji Kaneyama
  • Patent number: 10832925
    Abstract: A heating plate is stored in a chamber. With a solvent containing gas present in the chamber, a substrate on which a DSA film is formed is held at a position further upward than the heating plate. Thus, neutralization of an atmosphere is performed at a temperature at which microphase separation does not occur. Thereafter, with the solvent containing gas present in the chamber, the substrate is held on an upper surface of the heating plate. Thus, thermal processing is performed on the DSA film on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Harumoto, Masaya Asai, Yuji Tanaka, Koji Kaneyama
  • Patent number: 10754251
    Abstract: A substrate having a film of a coating liquid containing metal is held by a spin chuck, the film having been exposed in a predetermined pattern. A slit nozzle supplies a development liquid to a surface to be processed of the substrate supported by the spin chuck. A cleaning liquid for removing or dissolving metal is supplied by a cleaning nozzle to the surface to be processed of the substrate to which the development liquid has been supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Tanaka, Masaya Asai, Masahiko Harumoto, Koji Kaneyama
  • Publication number: 20200206788
    Abstract: Disclosed are a substrate treating apparatus and a substrate transporting method. A platform is disposed on a first ID block, and a platform is placed on a second ID block. A currently-used carrier platform is provided only on the first ID block. Accordingly, a substrate is transported in both a forward path and a return path between the first ID block and a second treating block. According to the disclosure, the substrate is returned not to the first ID block but to the second ID block disposed between the two treating blocks in the return path. Thus, transportation process by the first treating block disposed between the first ID block and the second ID block is reduced in the return path. As a result, an entire throughput of a substrate treating apparatus can be enhanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Joji KUWAHARA, Koji KANEYAMA
  • Publication number: 20200211882
    Abstract: Disclosed are a substrate treating apparatus and a substrate transporting method. A first ID block takes a substrate from a carrier placed on a carrier platform and sends the taken substrate to one of six treatment layers. Moreover, a second ID block returns the substrate, sent from the treatment layer, for example, to a carrier placed on a platform. This allows the first ID block to transport many substrates to the six treatment layers arranged in an upward/downward direction more rapidly. Moreover, this simultaneously allows the second ID block to transport many substrates, having been sent from the six treatment layers arranged in the upward/downward direction, to the carrier more rapidly. As a result, a throughput of a substrate treating apparatus can be enhanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Joji KUWAHARA, Koji KANEYAMA
  • Patent number: 10684548
    Abstract: In a developing method, a developing nozzle starts discharge of developer to a position set in advance on a substrate, spinning about the center thereof, away from the center. This causes a flow of the developer at the center having a small centrifugal force immediately after the discharge is started. Accordingly, a dissolution product of a resist can be ejected outside the substrate more efficiently than the case when the discharge of the developer to the center is started. Moreover, this achieves distributed arrival positions of the developer directly discharged from the developing nozzle immediately after the discharge is started. Consequently, thin resist patterns especially at the center of the substrate are eliminated to obtain suppression in treatment variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Tanaka, Tadashi Miyagi, Masahiko Harumoto, Koji Kaneyama
  • Patent number: 10591820
    Abstract: A resist film including a metallic component and a photosensitive material is formed on a surface of a substrate, and then a peripheral portion of the resist film on the substrate is irradiated with light by an edge exposer. Subsequently, development processing is performed with a development liquid from a nozzle on the exposed portion of the resist film. Thus, the part of the resist film formed on the peripheral portion of the substrate is removed. Thereafter, exposure processing is performed on the substrate in an exposure device, so that an exposure pattern is formed on the resist film. Then, a development liquid is supplied to the exposed substrate in a development processing unit, so that development processing is performed on the resist film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Harumoto, Masaya Asai, Yuji Tanaka, Koji Kaneyama
  • Patent number: 10539877
    Abstract: After a developing step is performed by feeding developer to the substrate, a second nozzle starts dispensation of a surfactant rinse liquid to a position away from the center of a rotating substrate. This operation is performed such that the center of the substrate does not enter into a reaching region of the substrate where the surfactant rinse liquid dispensed from the second nozzle firstly reaches. Accordingly, a point of the reaching region of the surfactant rinse liquid is dispersed, leading to suppression in locally smaller or larger line width of a resist pattern at the center and around the center of the substrate. Consequently, this achieves enhanced uniformity of the line widths of the resist pattern within a surface of the substrate during the rinse process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Harumoto, Koji Kaneyama, Masaya Asai, Yuji Tanaka, Chisayo Nakayama, You Arisawa
  • Publication number: 20190294049
    Abstract: After a developing step is performed by feeding developer to the substrate, a second nozzle starts dispensation of a surfactant rinse liquid to a position away from the center of a rotating substrate. This operation is performed such that the center of the substrate does not enter into a reaching region of the substrate where the surfactant rinse liquid dispensed from the second nozzle firstly reaches. Accordingly, a point of the reaching region of the surfactant rinse liquid is dispersed, leading to suppression in locally smaller or larger line width of a resist pattern at the center and around the center of the substrate. Consequently, this achieves enhanced uniformity of the line widths of the resist pattern within a surface of the substrate during the rinse process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Masahiko HARUMOTO, Koji KANEYAMA, Masaya ASAI, Yuji TANAKA, Chisayo NAKAYAMA, You ARISAWA