Patents by Inventor Masao Mizuno

Masao Mizuno 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: 20180123065
    Abstract: An organic electronic device provided with an organic electronic element on one surface of a substrate, wherein the substrate has a metal layer and an insulating layer overlaid on at least one face side of the metal layer, and the one face of the substrate does not have an irregularity peak having a K value of equal to or lower than ?0.07 as calculated by expression (1). In the expression (1), x represents an irregularity peak position when a line roughness analysis is conducted on a 10 ?m square on the one face of the substrate with an interval of 2.45 nm, f(x) represents a surface irregularity height (nm) at x, and dx represents an infinitesimal change in x. K=[f(x+dx)?2f(x)+f(x?dx)]/dx2 . . .
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Yoko SHIDA, Masao MIZUNO, Yasuo HIRANO, Tatsuhiko IWA, Takeshi WATASE
  • Patent number: 8162538
    Abstract: The surface density of projections formed on a thin metal film of a temperature-measuring member having the metal film having been subjected to a temperature profile is calculated with a number-calculating section according to image data fed into an arithmetic processing unit through an optical microscope, CCD camera, and I/O board. The maximum temperature of the object is determined with the temperature-calculating unit according to the surface density and data on the maximum temperature and surface density previously stored in memory. Furthermore, a temperature-measuring member constituted by a thin aluminum film arranged on a substrate is used. A reduction in the reflectivity of the film due to projections formed on the film surface according to a temperature profile to which the member has been subjected is measured. The maximum temperature in the temperature profile is estimated according to the reduction in reflectivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventors: Masao Mizuno, Takayuki Hirano, Katsufumi Tomihisa
  • Patent number: 8054611
    Abstract: A porous metal thin film formed from aluminum has a film structure in which domains having an average diameter of 200 nm or more, and 500 nm or less and being formed through aggregation of a plurality of grains having an average grain diameter of 50 nm or more, and 160 nm or less are distributed discretely at an average distance of 5 nm or more, and 40 nm or less, wherein the area occupied by the above-described domains is 60% or more, and 90% or less in a cross-section in any direction of the porous metal thin film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masao Mizuno
  • Patent number: 7989053
    Abstract: An electroconductive diffuse reflective film is made of an electroconductive metal, wherein the electroconductive diffuse reflective film has a porous structure in which crystal grains having an average grain diameter of 50 nm or more and 1,000 nm or less are separately arranged at intervals of 10 nm or more and 800 nm or less on average.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masao Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20110147753
    Abstract: Disclosed is a Cu alloy film for a display device that has high adhesion to a glass substrate while maintaining a low electric resistance characteristic of Cu-based materials. The Cu alloy film is wiring in direct contact with a glass substrate on a board and contains 0.1 to 10.0 atomic % in total of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Ti, Al, and Mg. Also disclosed is a display device comprising a thin-film transistor that comprises the Cu alloy film. In a preferred embodiment of the display device, the thin-film transistor has a bottom gate-type structure, and a gate electrode and scanning lines in the thin-film transistor comprise the Cu alloy film and are in direct contact with the glass substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Takashi Onishi, Aya Miki, Hiroshi Goto, Masao Mizuno, Hirotaka Ito, Katsufumi Tomihisa
  • Publication number: 20110121459
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor interconnection wherein a barrier layer different from a TiO2 layer is formed on an interface between an insulating film and a Cu interconnection without increasing electrical resistivity of the Cu interconnection. In the semiconductor interconnection, a Cu interconnection containing Ti is embedded in a trench arranged on an insulating film on the semiconductor substrate, and a TiC layer is formed between the insulating film and the Cu interconnection. The insulating film is preferably composed of SiCO or SiCN. The thickness of the TiC layer is preferably 3-30 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Takashi Onishi, Masao Mizuno, Hirotaka Ito, Kazuyuki Kohama, Kazuhiro Ito, Susumu Tsukimoto, Masanori Murakami
  • Patent number: 7928573
    Abstract: A metal thin film used in fabricating a damascene interconnection of a semiconductor device which exhibits excellent high temperature fluidity during high pressure annealing, and which can fabricate an interconnection for a semiconductor device which has a low electric resistance and stable high quality is provided. Also provided is an interconnection for a semiconductor device. More specifically, a metal thin film for use as an interconnection of a semiconductor device comprising a Cu alloy containing N at a content of not less than 0.4 at % to not more than 2.0 at %; and an interconnection for a semiconductor device fabricated by forming the metal thin film on an insulator film which is formed on a semiconductor substrate and which has grooves formed therein, and filling the metal thin film in the interior of the grooves by a high pressure annealing process are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Onishi, Masao Mizuno, Mikako Takeda
  • Patent number: 7781339
    Abstract: A method of fabricating semiconductor interconnections is provided which can form a Ti-rich layer as a barrier layer and which can embed pure Cu material as interconnection material into every corner of grooves provided in an insulating film even when the grooves have a narrow minimum width and are deep. The method may include the steps of forming one or more grooves in an insulating film on a semiconductor substrate, the recess having a minimum width of 0.15 ?m or less and a ratio of a depth of the groove to the minimum width thereof (depth/minimum width) of 1 or more, forming a Cu alloy thin film containing 0.5 to 10 atomic % of Ti in the groove of the insulated film along a shape of the groove in a thickness of 10 to 50 nm, forming a pure Cu thin film in the groove with the Cu alloy thin film attached thereto, and annealing the substrate with the films at 350° C. or more to allow the Ti to be precipitated between the insulating film and the Cu alloy thin film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Onishi, Mikako Takeda, Masao Mizuno, Susumu Tsukimoto, Tatsuya Kabe, Toshifumi Morita, Miki Moriyama, Kazuhiro Ito, Masanori Murakami
  • Publication number: 20100052171
    Abstract: A Cu wire in a semiconductor device according to the present invention is a Cu wire embedded into wiring gutters or interlayer connective channels formed in an insulating film on a semiconductor substrate and the Cu wire comprises: a barrier layer comprising TaN formed on the wiring gutter side or the interlayer connective channel side; and a wire main body comprising Cu comprising one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Pt, In, Ti, Nb, B, Fe, V, Zr, Hf, Ga, Tl, Ru, Re, and Os in a total content of 0.05 to 3.0 atomic percent. The Cu wire in a semiconductor device according to the present invention is excellent in adhesiveness between the wire main body and the barrier layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (KOBE STEEL, Ltd)
    Inventors: Hirotaka Ito, Takashi Onishi, Mikako Takeda, Masao Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20090174987
    Abstract: A porous metal thin film formed from aluminum has a film structure in which domains having an average diameter of 200 nm or more, and 500 nm or less and being formed through aggregation of a plurality of grains having an average grain diameter of 50 nm or more, and 160 nm or less are distributed discretely at an average distance of 5 nm or more, and 40 nm or less, wherein the area occupied by the above-described domains is 60% or more, and 90% or less in a cross-section in any direction of the porous metal thin film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventor: Masao MIZUNO
  • Publication number: 20090176121
    Abstract: An electroconductive diffuse reflective film is made of an electroconductive metal, wherein the electroconductive diffuse reflective film has a porous structure in which crystal grains having an average grain diameter of 50 nm or more and 1,000 nm or less are separately arranged at intervals of 10 nm or more and 800 nm or less on average.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventor: Masao Mizuno
  • Patent number: 7538027
    Abstract: There is provided a fabrication method for interconnections, capable of embedding a Cu-alloy in recesses in an insulating film, and forming a barrier layer on an interface between the an insulating film and Cu-interconnections, without causing a rise in electric resistivity of the interconnections when fabricating semiconductor interconnections of the Cu-alloy embedded in the recesses provided in the insulating film on a semiconductor substrate. The fabrication method for the interconnections may comprise the steps of forming the respective recesses having a minimum width not more than 0.15 ?m, and a ratio of a depth thereof to the minimum width (a depth/minimum width ratio) not less than 1, forming a Cu-alloy film containing Ti in a range of 0.5 to 3 at %, and N in a range of 0.4 to 2.0 at % over the respective recesses, and subsequently, annealing the Cu-alloy film to not lower than 200° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Onishi, Masao Mizuno, Mikako Takeda, Susumu Tsukimoto, Tatsuya Kabe, Toshifumi Morita, Miki Moriyama, Kazuhiro Ito, Masanori Murakami
  • Publication number: 20090016407
    Abstract: The surface density of projections formed on a thin metal film of a temperature-measuring member having the metal film having been subjected to a temperature profile is calculated with a number-calculating section according to image data fed into an arithmetic processing unit through an optical microscope, CCD camera, and I/O board. The maximum temperature of the object is determined with the temperature-calculating unit according to the surface density and data on the maximum temperature and surface density previously stored in memory. Furthermore, a temperature-measuring member constituted by a thin aluminum film arranged on a substrate is used. A reduction in the reflectivity of the film due to projections formed on the film surface according to a temperature profile to which the member has been subjected is measured. The maximum temperature in the temperature profile is estimated according to the reduction in reflectivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Masao Mizuno, Takayuki Hirano, Katsufumi Tomihisa
  • Patent number: 7385293
    Abstract: A Cu alloy for semiconductor interconnections contains at least one selected from the group consisting of 0.10 to 10 atomic percent of Sb, 0.010 to 1.0 atomic percent of Bi, and 0.01 to 3 atomic percent of Dy, with the balance being Cu and inevitable impurities. The Cu alloy can be reliably embedded in narrow trenches and/or via holes for interconnections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Mizuno, Takashi Onishi
  • Publication number: 20080014743
    Abstract: A method of fabricating semiconductor interconnections is provided which can form a Ti-rich layer as a barrier layer and which can embed pure Cu material as interconnection material into every corner of grooves provided in an insulating film even when the grooves have a narrow minimum width and are deep. The method may include the steps of forming one or more grooves in an insulating film on a semiconductor substrate, the recess having a minimum width of 0.15 ?m or less and a ratio of a depth of the groove to the minimum width thereof (depth/minimum width) of 1 or more, forming a Cu alloy thin film containing 0.5 to 10 atomic % of Ti in the groove of the insulated film along a shape of the groove in a thickness of 10 to 50 nm, forming a pure Cu thin film in the groove with the Cu alloy thin film attached thereto, and annealing the substrate with the films at 350° C. or more to allow the Ti to be precipitated between the insulating film and the Cu alloy thin film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Takashi Onishi, Mikako Takeda, Masao Mizuno, Susumu Tsukimoto, Tatsuya Kabe, Toshifumi Morita, Miki Moriyama, Kazuhiro Ito, Masanori Murakami
  • Publication number: 20070218690
    Abstract: There is provided a fabrication method for interconnections, capable of embedding a Cu-alloy in recesses in an insulating film, and forming a barrier layer on an interface between the an insulating film and Cu-interconnections, without causing a rise in electric resistivity of the interconnections when fabricating semiconductor interconnections of the Cu-alloy embedded in the recesses provided in the insulating film on a semiconductor substrate. The fabrication method for the interconnections may comprise the steps of forming the respective recesses having a minimum width not more than 0.15 ?m, and a ratio of a depth thereof to the minimum width (a depth/minimum width ratio) not less than 1, forming a Cu-alloy film containing Ti in a range of 0.5 to 3 at %, and N in a range of 0.4 to 2.0 at % over the respective recesses, and subsequently, annealing the Cu-alloy film to not lower than 200° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Takashi Onishi, Masao Mizuno, Mikako Takeda, Susumu Tsukimoto, Tatsuya Kabe, Toshifumi Morita, Miki Moriyama, Kazuhiro Ito, Masanori Murakami
  • Publication number: 20070145586
    Abstract: A metal thin film used in fabricating a damascene interconnection of a semiconductor device which exhibits excellent high temperature fluidity during high pressure annealing, and which can fabricate an interconnection for a semiconductor device which has a low electric resistance and stable high quality is provided. Also provided is an interconnection for a semiconductor device. More specifically, a metal thin film for use as an interconnection of a semiconductor device comprising a Cu alloy containing N at a content of not less than 0.4 at % to not more than 2.0 at %; and an interconnection for a semiconductor device fabricated by forming the metal thin film on an insulator film which is formed on a semiconductor substrate and which has grooves formed therein, and filling the metal thin film in the interior of the grooves by a high pressure annealing process are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO(Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Takashi Onishi, Masao Mizuno, Mikako Takeda
  • Publication number: 20060068587
    Abstract: A Cu alloy for semiconductor interconnections contains at least one selected from the group consisting of 0.10 to 10 atomic percent of Sb, 0.010 to 1.0 atomic percent of Bi, and 0.01 to 3 atomic percent of Dy, with the balance being Cu and inevitable impurities. The Cu alloy can be reliably embedded in narrow trenches and/or via holes for interconnections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd)
    Inventors: Masao Mizuno, Takashi Onishi
  • Patent number: 6734021
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for measuring the organic carbon content (TOC) in a test liquid by irradiating the test liquid, such as ultrapure water, with ultraviolet radiation and measuring the conductivity of the test liquid that changes due to the produced organic acids and carbon dioxide. After the test liquid is irradiated for a fixed time interval with ultraviolet light in an oxidization process vessel, the irradiation is stopped. The flow rate of the test liquid is such that a portion of test liquid is present that has received the complete irradiation from the commencement to the extinguishing of the lighting of the ultraviolet light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: DKK-TOA Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Saito, Masao Mizuno, Setsuko Kamada
  • Patent number: 6414852
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit comprising a functional block 500 which includes macrocells 510 to 513. A macrocell 510 is connected to four input-output terminals 530 to 533 on four sides of an outline of the functional block 500 via a multi-layer wiring 580. Another functional block to be connected to this macrocell 510 is placed in any position upward, downward, left, or right of the functional block 500, whereas one input terminal located closest to the other functional block is selected as an effective terminal among four input-output terminals 530 to 533. Two of the functional blocks are connected only via this effective terminal. The other input-output terminals remain as dummy terminals. It is possible to reduce detouring routing among functional blocks by providing the semiconductor integrated circuit with the functional block 500 having such a configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masao Mizuno