Patents by Inventor Masaki Hirayama

Masaki Hirayama 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: 20240099155
    Abstract: A memory includes: a magnet including a first and second portions adjacent in a first direction. The first portion has a first dimension in a second direction at a first position at which a dimension of the magnet in the second direction is maximum, the second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the second portion has a second dimension in the second direction at a second position at which a dimension of the magnet in the second direction is minimum, the second dimension smaller than the first dimension, the first portion is continuous to the second portion via a third position between the first and second positions, a curve corresponding to an outer of the magnet extends between the first and third positions, and the curve passes through a side closer to the central axis of the magnet than a straight line connecting the first and second positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: Kioxia Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro KOIKE, Michael Arnaud QUINSAT, Nobuyuki UMETSU, Tsutomu NAKANISHI, Agung SETIADI, Megumi YAKABE, Shigeyuki HIRAYAMA, Masaki KADO, Yasuaki OOTERA, Shiho NAKAMURA, Susumu HASHIMOTO, Tsuyoshi KONDO
  • Publication number: 20240087849
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes: a chamber providing a processing space; a substrate support provided inside the processing space; a first electrode provided above the processing space; a second electrode provided above the processing space and below the first electrode, the second electrode providing a plasma generation space between the first electrode and the second electrode and providing a plurality of through-holes to guide active species generated in the plasma generation space into the processing space; an introducer made of a dielectric material and configured to introduce electromagnetic waves into the plasma generation space; and a resonator including a waveguide for propagation of the electromagnetic waves to the introducer, wherein the waveguide has a length longer than ½ of a wavelength of the electromagnetic waves in the waveguide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventor: Masaki HIRAYAMA
  • Patent number: 11929234
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus capable of improving the in-plane uniformity of plasma and a lower stage used for the plasma processing apparatus are anticipated. In an exemplary embodiment, the lower stage is for a lower stage that generates plasma with an upper electrode. The lower stage includes: a lower dielectric body formed of ceramic, a lower electrode embedded in the lower dielectric body, and a heating element embedded in the lower dielectric body. The separation distance between the top surface of the lower dielectric body at the outer edge position thereof and the lower electrode is smaller than the separation distance between the top surface of the lower dielectric body in the central region thereof and the lower electrode. The lower electrode has an inclination region inclined with respect to the top surface between the outer edge position and the central region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignees: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED, TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Taro Ikeda, Sumi Tanaka, Satoru Kawakami, Masaki Hirayama
  • Patent number: 11923170
    Abstract: The plasma processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment includes a processing container, a stage, an upper electrode, a dielectric plate, and a waveguide. The stage is provided in the processing container. The dielectric plate is provided above the stage with a space in the processing container interposed therebetween. The upper electrode is provided above the dielectric plate. The waveguide has an end and guides high frequency waves in a VHF band or a UHF band. The end is arranged to face the space to radiate high frequency waves to the space. The dielectric plate includes a conductive film. The conductive film is provided on an upper surface of the dielectric plate. The upper surface faces the upper electrode. The conductive film is electrically connected to the upper electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Satoru Kawakami, Hiroyuki Yamamoto, Taro Ikeda, Masaki Hirayama
  • Publication number: 20240071730
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a chamber having a sidewall and providing a processing space; a substrate support provided in the processing space; a first electrode provided above the processing space; a second electrode provided above the processing space and below the first electrode, wherein the second electrode is configured to provide a plasma generation space between the first electrode and the second electrode and provides a plurality of through holes that guide active species into the processing space; an inlet portion configured to introduce electromagnetic waves into the plasma generation space; and a choke configured to suppress emission of electromagnetic waves to the processing space via the plurality of through holes. The choke includes a dielectric member in contact with a bottom surface of a peripheral edge portion of the second electrode. The dielectric member protrudes inside the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventor: Masaki HIRAYAMA
  • Patent number: 11854772
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment includes a processing container, a stage, a dielectric plate, an upper electrode, an introduction part, a driving shaft, and an actuator. The stage is provided in the processing container. The dielectric plate is provided above the stage via a space in the processing container. The upper electrode has flexibility, is provided above the dielectric plate, and provides a gap between the dielectric plate and the upper electrode. The introduction part is an introduction part of radio frequency waves that are VHF waves or UHF waves, is provided at a horizontal end portion of the space. The driving shaft is coupled to the upper electrode on a central axial line of the processing container. The actuator is configured to move the driving shaft in a vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignees: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED, TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Masaki Hirayama
  • Publication number: 20230290620
    Abstract: Provided is an electrostatic chuck device including: an electrostatic chuck plate which has a dielectric substrate having a placement surface on which a wafer is placed and electrodes positioned in the dielectric substrate; a focus ring which is installed on an outer peripheral portion of the electrostatic chuck plate and surrounding the placement surface; and a power connection portion which connects the electrode and a power supply. The electrostatic chuck plate has a first electrode positioned in a region overlapping the placement surface in plan view and a second electrode positioned in a region overlapping the focus ring in plan view. The power connection portion includes a power wire electrically connecting the first electrode and the second electrode via a current regulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: SUMITOMO OSAKA CEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki HIRAYAMA, Tetsuro ITAGAKI
  • Publication number: 20230223244
    Abstract: A wafer support device includes a dielectric substrate and an RF electrode provided in the dielectric substrate. The RF electrode is divided into a plurality of zone electrodes arranged in a planar direction of the dielectric substrate. The wafer support device has: a short-circuit member interconnecting the plurality of zone electrodes; and a main power supply rod connected to the short-circuit member from a back side of the dielectric substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: SUMITOMO OSAKA CEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki HIRAYAMA, Tetsuro ITAGAKI
  • Publication number: 20230215704
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck device includes: an electrostatic chuck plate having a dielectric substrate having a placement surface on which a wafer is placed and an adsorption electrode positioned in the dielectric substrate; a metal base supporting the electrostatic chuck plate from a back surface side opposite to the placement surface; and a focus ring installed on an outer peripheral portion of the electrostatic chuck plate and surrounding the placement surface. The electrostatic chuck plate has a ring adsorption region which is adsorbed to the focus ring and is located on a surface positioned on the same side as the placement surface and has a base adsorption region which is adsorbed to the metal base and located on a back surface opposite to the placement surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Applicant: SUMITOMO OSAKA CEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki HIRAYAMA, Tetsuro ITAGAKI
  • Patent number: 11687643
    Abstract: Provided is an information linkage system, comprising: a processor; and a storage device coupled to the processor, the storage device holds identification information of a user and information on the user, which are added by a first organization, in association with each other, the processor: transmits to a second organization an information linkage application regarding information on any one item included in the information on the user; acquires, when the information linkage application is received, identification information of the user and information on the user of the item specified by the information linkage application, which are added by the second organization; and stores the acquired information in the storage device in association with the identification information of the user and the information on the user regarding the same user as a user identified by the acquired identification information, which are added by the first organization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Konoura, Masafumi Kinoshita, Hirofumi Inomata, Masaki Hirayama, Ryouichi Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20230019369
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes: a chamber; an introducer installed such that electromagnetic waves are introduced into the chamber from the introducer; and a choke structure installed on a wall of the chamber and configured to suppress propagation of the electromagnetic waves downstream along an inner wall surface of the chamber from a location at which the choke structure is installed. The choke structure includes: a first portion having a slit shape and connected to a space within the chamber; and a second portion extending from the first portion in the wall of the chamber. A length of the second portion along a direction of an electric field of the electromagnetic waves in the second portion is longer than a length of the first portion along a direction of an electric field of the electromagnetic waves in the first portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Masaki HIRAYAMA, Toshifumi KITAHARA
  • Publication number: 20230010178
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a chamber providing a substrate processing space, a conductive upper shower head providing a plurality of gas holes and provided above the substrate processing space, a conductive lower shower plate providing through holes connected to the substrate processing space and provided under the upper shower head and above the substrate processing space, an electromagnetic wave introduction part formed of a dielectric material, a waveguide extending in the circumferential direction to surround the upper shower head and the electromagnetic wave introduction part and connected to the electromagnetic wave introduction part, and a coaxial line including a central conductor and an outer conductor and provided to supply electromagnetic waves to the waveguide. The coaxial line extends away from the central axis. The central conductor is connected to a wall surface that defines the waveguide at a position away from the central axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventor: Masaki HIRAYAMA
  • Patent number: 11443927
    Abstract: A plasma treatment device includes: a chamber body including a chamber defined therein; a gas supply part that supplies a processing gas into the chamber; a stage disposed within the chamber; an upper electrode having a circular surface that faces the stage; a conductor connected to the upper electrode; a high-frequency power supply that generates a first high-frequency wave; a bias power supply that applies a second high-frequency wave or a direct current bias voltage to the upper electrode; an annular insulating ring extending along an outer edge of the circular surface; a waveguide through which electromagnetic waves generated around the conductor based on the first high-frequency wave propagate, the waveguide being connected to the annular insulating ring outside the upper electrode; and a controller that controls the second high-frequency wave or the direct current bias voltage to be applied to the upper electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Masaki Hirayama
  • Publication number: 20220165538
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment includes a processing container, a stage, an upper electrode, a shower plate, and a waveguide, wherein the stage is provided inside the processing container, the shower plate is provided above the stage with a space in the processing container interposed between the shower plate and the stage, the upper electrode is provided above the shower plate, the waveguide includes an end portion and guides radio-frequency waves in a VHF band or a UHF band therethrough, the end portion is disposed to face the space, and emits the radio-frequency waves to the space, the shower plate includes a plurality of pillars and is made of a dielectric material, gaps are provided inside the shower plate, and the plurality of pillars are disposed in the gaps, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventor: Masaki HIRAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20220068603
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus capable of improving the in-plane uniformity of plasma and a lower stage used for the plasma processing apparatus are anticipated. In an exemplary embodiment, the lower stage is for a lower stage that generates plasma with an upper electrode. The lower stage includes: a lower dielectric body formed of ceramic, a lower electrode embedded in the lower dielectric body, and a heating element embedded in the lower dielectric body. The separation distance between the top surface of the lower dielectric body at the outer edge position thereof and the lower electrode is smaller than the separation distance between the top surface of the lower dielectric body in the central region thereof and the lower electrode. The lower electrode has an inclination region inclined with respect to the top surface between the outer edge position and the central region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Taro IKEDA, Sumi TANAKA, Satoru KAWAKAMI, Masaki HIRAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20220037117
    Abstract: In a shower plate, a plasma processing apparatus, and a plasma processing method, improvement of in-plane uniformity of plasma on a stage is required. The shower plate according to an exemplary embodiment includes an upper dielectric disposed to face a stage and an upper electrode embedded in the upper dielectric. A distance between a bottom surface of the upper dielectric and the upper electrode is shorter in a peripheral portion than in a central portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Taro IKEDA, Satoru KAWAKAMI, Masaki HIRAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20220037118
    Abstract: The plasma processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment includes a processing container, a stage, an upper electrode, a dielectric plate, and a waveguide. The stage is provided in the processing container. The dielectric plate is provided above the stage with a space in the processing container interposed therebetween. The upper electrode is provided above the dielectric plate. The waveguide has an end and guides high frequency waves in a VHF band or a UHF band. The end is arranged to face the space to radiate high frequency waves to the space. The dielectric plate includes a conductive film. The conductive film is provided on an upper surface of the dielectric plate. The upper surface faces the upper electrode. The conductive film is electrically connected to the upper electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Satoru KAWAKAMI, Hiroyuki YAMAMOTO, Taro IKEDA, Masaki HIRAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20220028666
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment includes a processing container, a stage, a dielectric plate, an upper electrode, an introduction part, a driving shaft, and an actuator. The stage is provided in the processing container. The dielectric plate is provided above the stage via a space in the processing container. The upper electrode has flexibility, is provided above the dielectric plate, and provides a gap between the dielectric plate and the upper electrode. The introduction part is an introduction part of radio frequency waves that are VHF waves or UHF waves, is provided at a horizontal end portion of the space. The driving shaft is coupled to the upper electrode on a central axial line of the processing container. The actuator is configured to move the driving shaft in a vertical direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventor: Masaki HIRAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20220020569
    Abstract: In an example of an embodiment, a plasma processing apparatus includes a processing container, a stage, an upper electrode, an inlet, and a waveguide device. The stage is provided within the processing container. The upper electrode is provided above the stage, to interpose a space within the processing container. The inlet is configured to introduce high-frequency waves. The high-frequency waves are VHF waves or UHF waves. The inlet is provided at an end of the space in the lateral direction, and extends in a circumferential direction around a central axis of the processing container. The waveguide device is configured to supply high-frequency waves to the inlet. The waveguide device includes a resonator that provides a waveguide. The waveguide of the resonator extends in the circumferential direction around the central axis and extends in the direction in which the central axis extends to be connected to the inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventor: Masaki HIRAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20220020574
    Abstract: There is provided a technique capable of improving plasma uniformity in a parallel plate-type plasma processing apparatus having a plasma excitation frequency of a VHF band or an UHF band. A plasma processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment includes a process container, a stage provided in the process container, a dielectric plate provided above the upper surface of the stage via a space in the process container, and an upper electrode provided above the dielectric plate. An gap is provided between the upper electrode and the dielectric plate, and the width of the gap is non-uniform in a direction in which the dielectric plate extends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventor: Masaki HIRAYAMA