Patents by Inventor Koukichi Hiroshiro

Koukichi Hiroshiro 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: 20230386855
    Abstract: A substrate processing method includes (A) to (C) described below. (A) A substrate having a surface in which a SiO film and a Low-k film or a SiN film are exposed is preprared. The Low-k film or the SiN film is exposed to oxygen plasma. (B) A protective film is formed on the Low-k film or the SiN film by supplying an organic compound (self-assembled monolayer (SAM) material) configured to form a SAM to the surface of the substrate. (C) The SiO film is etched by supplying hydrofluoric acid to the surface of the substrate while inhibiting etching of the Low-k film or the SiN film caused by the hydrofluoric acid with the protective film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Koji Kagawa, Koukichi Hiroshiro
  • Patent number: 11723259
    Abstract: A method of processing a substrate includes loading the substrate to which a processing liquid is adhered, inside a processing container, removing the processing liquid adhering to the substrate by supplying a first organic solvent to the loaded substrate, causing the substrate to be water-repellent by supplying a water repellent to the substrate from which the processing liquid has been removed, supplying a second organic solvent to the water-repellent substrate, and drying the substrate by volatilizing the second organic solvent adhering to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Koukichi Hiroshiro, Jun Nonaka, Kazuya Koyama, Mitsunori Nakamori
  • Publication number: 20220316059
    Abstract: A substrate processing method includes a protective film forming step, an insulating material depositing step, a protective film removing step, and a metal material depositing step. In the protective film forming step, a protective film is formed on a metal film among the metal film and an insulating film exposed on the surface of a substrate, using a film-forming material that is selectively adsorbed onto the metal film. In the insulating material depositing step, after the protective film forming step, an insulating material is deposited on the surface of the insulating film using an atomic layer deposition method. In the protective film removing step, the protective film is removed from the surface of the metal film after the insulating material depositing step. In the metal material depositing step, a metal material is deposited on the metal film after the protective film removing step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Koukichi HIROSHIRO, Makoto MURAMATSU, Koji KAGAWA, Kenji SEKIGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20220213382
    Abstract: A substrate processing method includes holding a substrate; and supplying an etching liquid to the substrate held in the holding of the substrate. The etching liquid contains an etching agent configured to etch a metal-based first material and a silicon-based second material exposed on the substrate and a protection agent configured to react with the second material between the first material and the second material to form a protection layer on a surface of the second material. Here, the etching agent is a liquid which contains fluorine atoms and an organic solvent and substantially does not contain water, and the protection layer protects the second material from etching with the etching agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Koukichi Hiroshiro, Tetsuya Sakazaki, Koji Kagawa, Kenji Sekiguchi, Kazuyoshi Mizumoto
  • Patent number: 11306249
    Abstract: A substrate processing method includes holding a substrate; and supplying an etching liquid to the substrate held in the holding of the substrate. The etching liquid contains an etching agent configured to etch a metal-based first material and a silicon-based second material exposed on the substrate and a protection agent configured to react with the second material between the first material and the second material to form a protection layer on a surface of the second material. Here, the etching agent is a liquid which contains fluorine atoms and an organic solvent and substantially does not contain water, and the protection layer protects the second material from etching with the etching agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Koukichi Hiroshiro, Tetsuya Sakazaki, Koji Kagawa, Kenji Sekiguchi, Kazuyoshi Mizumoto
  • Publication number: 20210391539
    Abstract: A method of processing a substrate includes loading the substrate to which a processing liquid is adhered, inside a processing container, removing the processing liquid adhering to the substrate by supplying a first organic solvent to the loaded substrate, causing the substrate to be water-repellent by supplying a water repellent to the substrate from which the processing liquid has been removed, supplying a second organic solvent to the water-repellent substrate, and drying the substrate by volatilizing the second organic solvent adhering to the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Koukichi HIROSHIRO, Jun NONAKA, Kazuya KOYAMA, Mitsunori NAKAMORI
  • Patent number: 11049723
    Abstract: A substrate processing method includes: maintaining an atmosphere in contact with at least a surface of a substrate on which a first material that is a metal and a second material that is a material other than the first material are exposed, as a deoxidized atmosphere; supplying a film forming material, which selectively forms a film on the first material among the first material and the second material, to the surface of the substrate in a state where the deoxidized atmosphere is maintained by the maintaining; performing a surface treatment of the second material in a state where the film is formed on a surface of the first material supplied in the supplying the film forming material; and removing the film from the surface of the first material after the performing the surface treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Koukichi Hiroshiro, Rintaro Higuchi, Koji Kagawa, Kenji Sekiguchi
  • Publication number: 20210032537
    Abstract: A substrate processing method includes holding a substrate; and supplying an etching liquid to the substrate held in the holding of the substrate. The etching liquid contains an etching agent configured to etch a metal-based first material and a silicon-based second material exposed on the substrate and a protection agent configured to react with the second material between the first material and the second material to form a protection layer on a surface of the second material. Here, the etching agent is a liquid which contains fluorine atoms and an organic solvent and substantially does not contain water, and the protection layer protects the second material from etching with the etching agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Koukichi Hiroshiro, Tetsuya Sakazaki, Koji Kagawa, Kenji Sekiguchi, Kazuyoshi Mizumoto
  • Publication number: 20200219730
    Abstract: A substrate processing method includes: maintaining an atmosphere in contact with at least a surface of a substrate on which a first material that is a metal and a second material that is a material other than the first material are exposed, as a deoxidized atmosphere; supplying a film forming material, which selectively forms a film on the first material among the first material and the second material, to the surface of the substrate in a state where the deoxidized atmosphere is maintained by the maintaining; performing a surface treatment of the second material in a state where the film is formed on a surface of the first material supplied in the supplying the film forming material; and removing the film from the surface of the first material after the performing the surface treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Koukichi Hiroshiro, Rintaro Higuchi, Koji Kagawa, Kenji Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 9415356
    Abstract: The present invention provides a chemical-liquid mixing method and a chemical-liquid mixing apparatus capable of sufficiently generating a peroxomonosulfuric acid that is effective in removing a resist from a substrate, when a sulfuric acid and a hydrogen peroxide solution are mixed with each other. At first, an inner tank 10 is filled up with a sulfuric acid and the sulfuric acid overflowing from the inner tank 10 is allowed to flow into an outer tank 12. Then, a hydrogen peroxide solution is supplied into the inner tank 10 and the hydrogen peroxide solution is allowed to flow into the outer tank 12 whereby the two kinds of liquids of the hydrogen peroxide solution and the sulfuric acid are stored in the outer tank 12. Simultaneously when the hydrogen peroxide solution flows into the outer tank 12, a return pump 16 is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tanaka, Koukichi Hiroshiro, Fumihiro Kamimura
  • Publication number: 20160228832
    Abstract: The present invention provides a chemical-liquid mixing method and a chemical-liquid mixing apparatus capable of sufficiently generating a peroxomonosulfuric acid that is effective in removing a resist from a substrate, when a sulfuric acid and a hydrogen peroxide solution are mixed with each other. At first, an inner tank 10 is filled up with a sulfuric acid and the sulfuric acid overflowing from the inner tank 10 is allowed to flow into an outer tank 12. Then, a hydrogen peroxide solution is supplied Into the inner tank 10 and the hydrogen peroxide solution is allowed to flow into the outer tank 12 whereby the two kinds of liquids of the hydrogen peroxide solution and the sulfuric acid are stored in the outer tank 12. Simultaneously when the hydrogen peroxide solution flows into the outer tank 12, a return pump 16 is activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroshi TANAKA, Koukichi HIROSHIRO, Fumihiro KAMIMURA
  • Patent number: 9339775
    Abstract: The present invention provides a chemical-liquid mixing method and a chemical-liquid mixing apparatus capable of sufficiently generating a peroxornonosulfuric acid that is effective in removing a resist from a substrate, when a sulfuric acid and a hydrogen peroxide solution are mixed with each other. At first, an inner tank 10 is filled up with a sulfuric acid and the sulfuric acid overflowing from the inner tank 10 is allowed to flow into an outer tank 12. Then, a hydrogen peroxide solution is supplied into the inner tank 10 and the hydrogen peroxide solution is allowed to flow into the outer tank 12 whereby the two kinds of liquids of the hydrogen peroxide solution and the sulfuric acid are stored in the outer tank 12. Simultaneously when the hydrogen peroxide solution flows into the outer tank 12, a return pump 16 is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tanaka, Koukichi Hiroshiro, Fumihiro Kamimura
  • Publication number: 20150290599
    Abstract: The present invention provides a chemical-liquid mixing method and a chemical-liquid mixing apparatus capable of sufficiently generating a peroxornonosulfuric acid that is effective in removing a resist from a substrate, when a sulfuric acid and a hydrogen peroxide solution are mixed with each other. At first, an inner tank 10 is filled up with a sulfuric acid and the sulfuric acid overflowing from the inner tank 10 is allowed to flow into an outer tank 12. Then, a hydrogen peroxide solution is supplied into the inner tank 10 and the hydrogen peroxide solution is allowed to flow into the outer tank 12 whereby the two kinds of liquids of the hydrogen peroxide solution and the sulfuric acid are stored in the outer tank 12. Simultaneously when the hydrogen peroxide solution flows into the outer tank 12, a return pump 16 is activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroshi TANAKA, Koukichi HIROSHIRO, Fumihiro KAMIMURA
  • Patent number: 9099502
    Abstract: The present invention provides a chemical-liquid mixing method and a chemical-liquid mixing apparatus capable of sufficiently generating a peroxomonosulfuric acid that is effective in removing a resist from a substrate, when a sulfuric acid and a hydrogen peroxide solution are mixed with each other. At first, an inner tank 10 is filled up with a sulfuric acid and the sulfuric acid overflowing from the inner tank 10 is allowed to flow into an outer tank 12. Then, a hydrogen peroxide solution is supplied into the inner tank 10 and the hydrogen peroxide solution is allowed to flow into the outer tank 12 whereby the two kinds of liquids of the hydrogen peroxide solution and the sulfuric acid are stored in the outer tank 12. Simultaneously when the hydrogen peroxide solution flows into the outer tank 12, a return pump 16 is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tanaka, Koukichi Hiroshiro, Fumihiro Kamimura
  • Patent number: 8701308
    Abstract: A fluid heater includes a duct pipe through which a fluid to be heated flows, and a heating part configured to heat the duct pipe. One or more fillers is provided inside the duct pipe. A substrate processing apparatus includes: a supply source configured to supply a liquid of a volatile organic solvent; the aforementioned fluid heater configured to heat the liquid of the organic solvent supplied by the supply source so as to generate a steam of the organic solvent; and a chamber configured to accommodate a substrate W and to dry the substrate W accommodated therein, to which the steam of the organic solvent generated by the fluid heater is supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Koukichi Hiroshiro, Takayuki Toshima
  • Patent number: 8522712
    Abstract: In a template treatment of forming a film of a release agent on a treatment surface of a template, the treatment surface of the template is first cleaned. Thereafter, in a coating unit, the release agent is applied to the treatment surface of the template. The release agent on the template is then dried. Then, alcohol is applied to the release agent on the template to make the release agent adhere to the treatment surface of the template and to remove an unreacted portion of the release agent. Thereafter, the alcohol on the template is dried and removed. In this manner, a film of the release agent is formed in a predetermined film thickness on the treatment surface of the template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Koukichi Hiroshiro, Takanori Nishi, Takahiro Kitano, Shoichi Terada
  • Patent number: 8468943
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for applying an application liquid between a template and a substrate, and transferring the transfer pattern onto the application liquid. The template is inclinedly arranged with respect to the substrate in a manner that a first distance between a first end portion of the template and the substrate is a distance that causes a capillary action of the application liquid to occur, and a second distance between a second end portion of the template that opposes the first end portion and the substrate is a distance that does not cause the capillary action of the application liquid to occur. Thereafter, the application liquid is supplied from an outer side of the first end portion to the first end portion. Thereafter, the second end portion and the substrate are relatively moved so that the second distance becomes equal to the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Koukichi Hiroshiro, Takanori Nishi, Shoichi Terada, Takahiro Kitano
  • Patent number: 8303724
    Abstract: Disclosed is a substrate processing apparatus for cleaning and drying a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer. This substrate processing apparatus includes a liquid processing unit for processing a substrate by immersing the substrate in stored purified water, a drying unit arranged above the liquid processing unit and configured to dry the substrate, a substrate transfer apparatus for transferring the substrate between the liquid processing unit and drying unit, a fluid supply mechanism for supplying a fluid mixture containing vapor or mist of purified water and vapor or mist of a volatile organic solvent to the drying unit, and a controller for controlling the supply of the fluid mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Koukichi Hiroshiro, Yuji Kamikawa, Takayuki Toshima, Naoki Shindo
  • Publication number: 20120152136
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for applying an application liquid between a template and a substrate, and transferring the transfer pattern onto the application liquid. The template is inclinedly arranged with respect to the substrate in a manner that a first distance between a first end portion of the template and the substrate is a distance that causes a capillary action of the application liquid to occur, and a second distance between a second end portion of the template that opposes the first end portion and the substrate is a distance that does not cause the capillary action of the application liquid to occur. Thereafter, the application liquid is supplied from an outer side of the first end portion to the first end portion. Thereafter, the second end portion and the substrate are relatively moved so that the second distance becomes equal to the first distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Koukichi Hiroshiro, Takanori Nishi, Shoichi Terada, Takahiro Kitano
  • Patent number: 8152928
    Abstract: A substrate cleaning method can uniformly removing particles from substrates at a high removing efficiency. The substrate cleaning method includes the steps of immersing substrates W in a cleaning liquid in a cleaning tank 12, and generating ultrasonic waves in the cleaning liquid contained in the cleaning tank. A region in the cleaning tank toward which the cleaning liquid is supplied is varied with respect to a vertical level in the step of generating ultrasonic waves in the cleaning liquid while the cleaning liquid is being supplied into the cleaning tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Tsukasa Watanabe, Naoki Shindo, Koukichi Hiroshiro, Yuji Kamikawa