Patents by Inventor Maju TOMURA

Maju TOMURA 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: 20230135998
    Abstract: A plasma processing method performed in a plasma processing apparatus having a chamber is provided. This method comprises: (a) providing a substrate having a film stack including a silicon oxide film and a silicon nitride film onto a substrate support in the chamber; and (b) forming a plasma from a processing gas containing HF gas and at least one of CxFy gas (where x and y are integers equal to or greater than 1) and phosphorus-containing gas to etch the film stack, wherein, in (b), the substrate support is controlled to a temperature of 0° C. or more and 70° C. or less, and a bias RF signal of 10 kW or more or a bias DC signal of 4 kV or more is supplied to the substrate support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Satoshi OHUCHIDA, Koki MUKAIYAMA, Noboru SAITO, Yoshihide KIHARA, Maju TOMURA
  • Publication number: 20230127467
    Abstract: A plasma processing method includes: (a) providing a substrate having an etching target film including a silicon oxide film and a silicon nitride film, and a mask film defining an opening over the etching target film, on a substrate support in a chamber of a plasma processing apparatus; (b) generating a first plasma from a first processing gas including HF gas, CxFy gas (x and y are integers of 1 or more) or CsHtFu gas (s, t, and u are integers of 1 or more), and an oxygen-containing gas to etch the silicon nitride film; and (c) generating a second plasma from a second processing gas including HF gas, CvFw gas (v and w are integers of 1 or more), and an oxygen-containing gas to etch the silicon oxide film. In (b) and (c), a temperature of the substrate support is set to 0° C. or lower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Kae TAKAHASHI, Maju TOMURA, Yoshihide KIHARA
  • Patent number: 11637003
    Abstract: A method for etching a film includes: supplying a precursor gas to the substrate, thereby forming a precursor layer on a substrate; and etching the film with a chemical species from plasma formed from a processing gas so as to increase a depth of the opening, and form a protective region from the precursor layer with the chemical species or another chemical species from the plasma. A plurality of cycles each including the supplying the precursor gas and the etching the film is executed. A temperature of the substrate during execution of the etching the film included in at least one cycle of the plurality of cycles and a temperature of the substrate during execution of the etching the film included in at least one other cycle of the plurality of cycles are set to be different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Tomohiko Niizeki, Takayuki Katsunuma, Yoshihide Kihara, Maju Tomura
  • Patent number: 11615964
    Abstract: An etching method in accordance with the present disclosure includes providing a substrate, which includes a silicon-containing film, in a chamber; and etching the silicon-containing film with a chemical species in plasma generated from a process gas supplied in the chamber. The process gas includes a phosphorus gas component and a fluorine gas component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Takahiro Yokoyama, Maju Tomura, Yoshihide Kihara, Ryutaro Suda, Takatoshi Orui
  • Patent number: 11600501
    Abstract: An etching method enables plasma etching of a silicon-containing film with reduced lateral etching. The etching method includes providing a substrate in a chamber included in a plasma processing apparatus. The substrate includes a silicon-containing film. The etching method further includes setting a flow rate proportion of a phosphorus-containing gas with respect to a total flow rate of the process gas so as to establish a predetermined ratio of an etching rate of an alternate stack of a silicon oxide film and a silicon nitride film to an etching rate of the silicon oxide film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Takahiro Yokoyama, Maju Tomura, Yoshihide Kihara, Ryutaro Suda, Takatoshi Orui
  • Patent number: 11551937
    Abstract: An etching method in accordance with the present disclosure includes providing a substrate, which includes a silicon-containing film, in a chamber; and etching the silicon-containing film with a chemical species in plasma generated from a process gas supplied in the chamber. The process gas includes a phosphorus gas component and a fluorine gas component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Takahiro Yokoyama, Maju Tomura, Yoshihide Kihara, Ryutaro Suda, Takatoshi Orui
  • Publication number: 20220399212
    Abstract: A substrate processing method includes (a) forming a recess on a workpiece by partially etching the workpiece; and (b) forming a film having a thickness that differs along a depth direction of the recess, on a side wall of the recess. Step (b) includes (b-1) supplying a first reactant, and causing the first reactant to be adsorbed to the side wall of the recess; and (b-2) supplying a second reactant, and causing the second reactant to react with the first reactant thereby forming a film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2022
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Sho KUMAKURA, Hironari SASAGAWA, Maju TOMURA, Yoshihide KIHARA
  • Publication number: 20220389584
    Abstract: A shower head for plasma processing includes a body part having a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a plurality of inner side surfaces. The plurality of inner side surfaces is configured to define a plurality of gas holes penetrating through the body part from the first surface to the second surface. The second surface is made of a first corrosion-resistant material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Ryutaro SUDA, Maju Tomura, Susumu Nogami, Hideaki Yakushiji, Takahiro Murakami, Yusuke Wako
  • Publication number: 20220367202
    Abstract: A substrate processing method includes: providing a substrate including a silicon-containing film in a chamber; supplying a processing gas including HF gas into the chamber; etching the silicon-containing film with plasma generated from the processing gas, thereby forming a recess in the silicon-containing film; and controlling a partial pressure of the HF gas to decrease the partial pressure of the HF gas with an increase of an aspect ratio of the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Ryutaro SUDA, Maju TOMURA
  • Publication number: 20220356584
    Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, a substrate processing apparatus is provided. The substrate processing apparatus comprises: a chamber; a substrate support disposed in the chamber; a gas supply disposed in the chamber and connected to a supply source of reaction gas containing HF gas and CxHyFz gas (where x and z are integers equal to or greater than 1 and y is an integer equal to or greater than 0); and a plasma-generator configured to form a plasma from the reaction gas supplied to the chamber from the gas supply, wherein at least a portion of the chamber exposed to the plasma is made of a conductive silicon-containing material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventor: Maju TOMURA
  • Publication number: 20220359167
    Abstract: A substrate processing method comprising: providing a substrate having a silicon-containing dielectric film in the substrate support; and generating plasma from a processing gas including a hydrogen- and fluorine-containing gas to etch the silicon-containing dielectric film, wherein the etching step comprises supplying the processing gas into the chamber, supplying a first radio-frequency signal for generating the plasma to the substrate support or the upper electrode, and supplying a first electrical bias to the upper electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Takatoshi ORUI, Ryutaro SUDA, Yoshihide KIHARA, Maju TOMURA, Kae KUMAGAI
  • Patent number: 11495468
    Abstract: An etching method includes: preparing a compound in a processing space in which an etching target is accommodated; and etching the etching target with a mask film formed thereon, under an environment where the compound exists. The etching of the etching target includes etching the etching target under an environment where hydrogen (H) and fluorine (F) exist when the etching target contains silicon nitride (SiN), and etching the etching target under an environment where nitrogen (N), hydrogen (H), and fluorine (F) exist when the etching target contains silicon (Si). The compound includes at least one halogen element selected from a group consisting of carbon (C), chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), and iodine (I).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Takahiro Yokoyama, Maju Tomura, Yoshihide Kihara, Masanobu Honda
  • Patent number: 11482425
    Abstract: An etching method includes: providing, on a stage, a substrate including an etching film containing a silicon oxide film, and a mask formed on the etching film; setting a temperature of the stage to be 0° C. or less; and generating plasma from a gas containing fluorine, nitrogen, and carbon, and having a ratio of the number of fluorine to the number of nitrogen (F/N) in a range of 0.5 to 10, thereby etching the silicon oxide film through the mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Ryutaro Suda, Maju Tomura
  • Publication number: 20220328323
    Abstract: A technique protects a mask in plasma etching of a silicon-containing film. An etching method includes providing a substrate in a chamber included in a plasma processing apparatus. The substrate includes a silicon-containing film and a mask. The mask contains carbon. The etching method further includes etching the silicon-containing film with a chemical species in plasma generated from a process gas in the chamber. The process gas contains a halogen and phosphorus. The etching includes forming a carbon-phosphorus bond on a surface of the mask.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Takahiro YOKOYAMA, Maju TOMURA, Yoshihide KIHARA, Satoshi OHUCHIDA
  • Patent number: 11456180
    Abstract: An etching method of an exemplary embodiment involves providing a substrate in a chamber of a plasma treatment system. The substrate includes a silicon-containing film. The method further involves etching the silicon-containing film by a chemical species in plasma generated from a process gas in the chamber. The process gas contains a halogen gas component and phosphorous gas component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Takahiro Yokoyama, Maju Tomura, Yoshihide Kihara, Ryutaro Suda, Takatoshi Orui
  • Publication number: 20220301881
    Abstract: A technique improves pattern features formed by etching and the uniformity of the features across the surface of a substrate. An etching method includes steps a), b), c), d), and e). Step a) includes placing, on a support, a substrate including a target film. Step b) includes partially etching the target film and forming a recess. Step c) includes setting the temperature of the support at a first temperature, and forming, on a sidewall of the recess, a first film having a first film thickness distribution. Step d) includes partially further etching the target film having the first film formed on the target film. Step e) includes setting the temperature of the support at a second temperature different from the first temperature, and forming, on the sidewall of the recess, a second film having a second film thickness distribution different from the first film thickness distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Maju TOMURA, Sho KUMAKURA, Hironari SASAGAWA, Yoshihide KIHARA
  • Patent number: 11450537
    Abstract: A substrate processing method includes (a) forming a recess on a workpiece by partially etching the workpiece; and (b) forming a film having a thickness that differs along a depth direction of the recess, on a side wall of the recess. Step (b) includes (b-1) supplying a first reactant, and causing the first reactant to be adsorbed to the side wall of the recess; and (b-2) supplying a second reactant, and causing the second reactant to react with the first reactant thereby forming a film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Sho Kumakura, Hironari Sasagawa, Maju Tomura, Yoshihide Kihara
  • Publication number: 20220285169
    Abstract: A technique improves selectivity in etching of a silicon-containing film over etching of a mask in plasma etching. A substrate processing method includes placing a substrate in a chamber in a plasma processing apparatus. The substrate includes a silicon-containing film and a mask on the silicon-containing film. The substrate processing method further includes generating plasma from a first process gas containing a hydrogen fluoride gas in the chamber. The generating plasma includes etching the silicon-containing film with a chemical species contained in the plasma. A flow rate of the hydrogen fluoride gas is at least 25 vol % of a total flow rate of the non-inert components of the first process gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Ryutaro SUDA, Maju TOMURA
  • Publication number: 20220262645
    Abstract: A system, apparatus and method enable etching of a layer of a substrate with reduced etching on the surface of a side wall of the layer. The etching method includes forming a protective layer on a surface of the side wall defining a recess in the layer. The protective layer contains phosphorus. The etching method further includes etching the layer in one or more additional cycles so as to increase a depth of the recess after the forming the protective layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Shinya ISHIKAWA, Kenta ONO, Maju TOMURA, Masanobu HONDA
  • Publication number: 20220262646
    Abstract: A plasma etching method for plasma-etching an object including an etching target film and a patterned mask. The plasma etching method includes a first step of plasma-etching the etching target film using the mask, and a second step of depositing a silicon-containing film using plasma of a silicon-containing gas on at least a part of a side wall of the etching target film etched by the first step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Keiji KITAGAITO, Fumiya KOBAYASHI, Maju TOMURA