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: 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
  • 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: 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
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11417530
    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: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Takahiro Yokoyama, Maju Tomura, Yoshihide Kihara, Ryutaro Suda, Takatoshi Orui
  • Patent number: 11417535
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Takahiro Yokoyama, Maju Tomura, Yoshihide Kihara, Satoshi Ohuchida
  • Publication number: 20220246443
    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 80 vol % of a total flow rate of now-inert components of the first process gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Ryutaro SUDA, Maju TOMURA
  • Publication number: 20220238315
    Abstract: A substrate processing method includes: (a) disposing a substrate on a substrate support provided in a chamber of a substrate processing apparatus; (b) supplying a processing gas including hydrogen fluoride gas into the chamber; (c) controlling a temperature of the substrate support to a first temperature, and a pressure of the hydrogen fluoride gas in the chamber to a first pressure; and (d) controlling the temperature of the substrate support to a second temperature, and the pressure of the hydrogen fluoride gas in the chamber to a second pressure. In a graph with a horizontal axis indicating a temperature and a vertical axis indicating a pressure, the first temperature and the first pressure are positioned in a first region above an adsorption equilibrium pressure curve of hydrogen fluoride, and the second temperature and the second pressure are positioned in a second region below the adsorption equilibrium pressure curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Satoshi OHUCHIDA, Koki MUKAIYAMA, Yusuke WAKO, Maju TOMURA, Yoshihide KIHARA
  • Patent number: 11380555
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Maju Tomura, Sho Kumakura, Hironari Sasagawa, Yoshihide Kihara
  • Publication number: 20220199412
    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: March 11, 2022
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Takahiro YOKOYAMA, Maju TOMURA, Yoshihide KIHARA, Ryutaro SUDA, Takatoshi ORUI
  • Patent number: 11361976
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Ryutaro Suda, Maju Tomura
  • Patent number: 11355352
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Keiji Kitagaito, Fumiya Kobayashi, Maju Tomura
  • Patent number: 11355350
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Shinya Ishikawa, Kenta Ono, Maju Tomura, Masanobu Honda
  • Publication number: 20220165578
    Abstract: A method including providing a substrate in a process chamber of a substrate processing apparatus, the substrate having a first region containing a silicon oxide film and a second region containing a film other than the silicon oxide film; adsorbing hydrogen fluoride on the substrate; and exposing the substrate with the absorbed hydrogen fluoride to plasma generated from an inert gas to selectively etch the first region with respect to the second region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Maju TOMURA, Satoshi OHUCHIDA, Yoshihide KIHARA