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: 20230251567
    Abstract: An etching method comprises (a) providing a substrate in a chamber, the substrate including a silicon-containing film and a mask on the silicon-containing film; and (b) etching the silicon-containing film, including (b-1) etching the silicon-containing film using plasma generated from a first process gas, the first process gas containing a hydrogen fluoride gas and a reaction control gas to control a reaction between hydrogen fluoride and the silicon-containing film, the first process gas containing, as the reaction control gas, at least one of a reaction accelerator gas to accelerate the reaction or a reaction inhibitor gas to inhibit the reaction, and (b-2) etching the silicon-containing film using plasma generated from a second process gas, the second process gas containing a hydrogen fluoride gas, and containing at least one of a reaction accelerator gas to accelerate the reaction or a reaction inhibitor gas to inhibit the reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Ryutaro SUDA, Maju TOMURA, Yoshihide KIHARA, Taiki MIURA, Jaeyoung PARK, Yusuke FUKUNAGA
  • Publication number: 20230245898
    Abstract: Provided is a plasma processing method performed with a plasma processing apparatus including a chamber. The method includes: (a) providing a substrate in the chamber, the substrate having an organic film and a mask on the organic film, the mask including a silicon-containing film and a carbon-containing film on the silicon-containing film; and (b) forming a plasma from a processing gas in the chamber, the processing gas including an oxygen-containing gas and a gas containing Si or W and a halogen. (b) includes: (b1) forming a protective film on at least the carbon-containing film of the mask; and (b2) etching the organic film through the mask having the protective film formed thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Tomohiko NIIZEKI, Maju TOMURA, Yoshihide KIHARA
  • Publication number: 20230230844
    Abstract: A technique improves etch selectivity. An etching includes (a) providing, in a chamber, a substrate including an underlying film and a silicon-containing film on the underlying film, (b) etching the silicon-containing film to form a recess with first plasma generated from a first process gas containing a hydrogen fluoride gas until before the underlying film is exposed at the recess or until the underlying film is partly exposed at the recess, and (c) further etching the silicon-containing film at the recess under a condition different from a condition of (b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Maju TOMURA, Yoshihide KIHARA, Masanobu HONDA
  • Publication number: 20230223249
    Abstract: A substrate processing method includes providing a substrate with a silicon-containing film in a chamber, supplying a process gas containing an HF gas, a phosphorus halide gas, and at least one gas selected from the group consisting of a C4H2F6 gas, a C4H2F8 gas, a C3H2F4 gas, and a C3H2F6 gas into the chamber to generate plasma, and etching the silicon-containing film in the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Motoi TAKAHASHI, Ryutaro SUDA, Maju TOMURA, Takatoshi ORUI, Yoshihide KIHARA
  • Publication number: 20230215691
    Abstract: A technique increases verticality in etching. An etching method is a method for etching a target film with a plasma processing apparatus including a chamber and a substrate support located in the chamber to support a substrate, the substrate support holding a substrate that includes the target film, the target film including a patterned mask film having at least one opening. The etching method includes supplying a process gas containing an HF gas into the chamber, and etching the target film by: generating plasma from the process gas in the chamber with radio-frequency power having a first frequency, and applying a pulsed voltage periodically to the substrate support at a second frequency lower than the first frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Ryutaro SUDA, Takatoshi ORUI, Kae KUMAGAI, Maju TOMURA, Yoshihide KIHARA
  • Publication number: 20230215707
    Abstract: An etching apparatus includes: a chamber; a substrate support disposed in the chamber; one or more heaters disposed in the substrate support; a gas supply; a plasma generator; a controller configured to perform an etching process comprising a plurality of cycles; and a heater controller. Each cycle includes: controlling the gas supply to supply a precursor into the chamber, thereby forming a precursor layer on a substrate supported by the substrate support, the substrate including a film and a mask; and controlling the gas supply and the plasma generator to supply a process gas into the chamber and generate a plasma from the process gas in the chamber, thereby etching the film through the mask.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2023
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Tomohiko NIIZEKI, Takayuki KATSUNUMA, Yoshihide KIHARA, Maju TOMURA
  • Publication number: 20230215700
    Abstract: A substrate processing method includes placing a substrate with a dielectric film on a substrate support in a chamber, and etching the dielectric film with plasm generated from a reaction gas containing an HF gas and at least one CxHyFz gas selected from the group consisting of a C4H2F6 gas, a C4H2F8 gas, a C3H2F4 gas, and a C3H2F6 gas. The etching includes setting the substrate support at a temperature of 0° C. or lower and setting the HF gas to a flow rate greater than a flow rate of the CxHyFz gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Kae KUMAGAI, Motoi TAKAHASHI, Ryutaro SUDA, Maju TOMURA, Yoshihide KIHARA, Takatoshi ORUI
  • Publication number: 20230207343
    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: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Takahiro YOKOYAMA, Maju TOMURA, Yoshihide KIHARA, Ryutaro SUDA, Takatoshi ORUI
  • Publication number: 20230197458
    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: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2023
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Takahiro YOKOYAMA, Maju TOMURA, Yoshihide KIHARA, Ryutaro SUDA, Takatoshi ORUI
  • Publication number: 20230178343
    Abstract: A plasma processing method performed in a plasma processing apparatus having a chamber is provided. This method comprises: (a) providing a substrate to a substrate support in the chamber, the substrate having a silicon-containing film and a mask film over the silicon-containing film; (b) supplying a processing gas to the chamber, the processing gas including a tungsten-containing gas and a hydrogen fluoride gas, the flow rate of the hydrogen fluoride gas being higher than the flow rate of the tungsten-containing gas; and (c) forming a plasma from the processing gas to etch the silicon-containing film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Maju TOMURA, Kae TAKAHASHI, Yoshihide KIHARA
  • 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: 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