Patents by Inventor Masateru Sato

Masateru Sato 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).

  • Patent number: 10030304
    Abstract: An ion implantation apparatus in which a fluorine compound gas is used as a source gas of an ion source, includes a vacuum chamber into which the source gas is introduced; an introduction passage connected to the vacuum chamber and configured to introduce into the vacuum chamber a cleaning gas containing a component that reacts with the fluorine compound deposited inside the vacuum chamber so as to generate a reactant gas; a delivery device configured to forcibly introduce the cleaning gas into the introduction passage; a first adjustment device configured to adjust an amount of gas flow in the introduction passage; an exhausting passage connected to the vacuum chamber and configured to forcibly exhaust the reactant gas along with the cleaning gas; and a second adjustment device configured to adjust an amount of gas flow in the exhausting passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES ION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Nagai, Masateru Sato
  • Patent number: 9659749
    Abstract: A beam extraction slit structure includes a plasma chamber interior surface that is, in operation, in contact with a plasma; a plasma chamber exterior surface that faces an extraction electrode; and a slit surface part that forms a beam extraction slit between the plasma chamber interior surface and the plasma chamber exterior surface in the beam extraction direction. The slit surface part includes a plasma meniscus fixing part formed in an area of relatively higher plasma density in the slit longitudinal direction to fixingly maintain a plasma meniscus of the plasma and a plasma meniscus non-fixing part formed in an area of relatively lower plasma density in the slit longitudinal direction to movably maintain the plasma meniscus of the plasma in the beam extraction direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES ION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masateru Sato
  • Patent number: 9659755
    Abstract: A plasma generator includes: an arc chamber having a plasma generation region in which plasma is generated in the inside thereof; a magnetic field generator configured to apply a magnetic field to the plasma generation region; and a cathode configured to extend in an axial direction along an applying direction of the magnetic field applied to the plasma generation region and provided with a cathode cap that emits thermal electrons at a front end thereof. The cathode cap protrudes toward the inside of the arc chamber in the axial direction and has a shape of which a width in the radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction becomes smaller toward the inside of the arc chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES ION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masateru Sato
  • Publication number: 20160351379
    Abstract: A plasma generator includes: an arc chamber having a plasma generation region in which plasma is generated in the inside thereof; a magnetic field generator configured to apply a magnetic field to the plasma generation region; and a cathode configured to extend in an axial direction along an applying direction of the magnetic field applied to the plasma generation region and provided with a cathode cap that emits thermal electrons at a front end thereof. The cathode cap protrudes toward the inside of the arc chamber in the axial direction and has a shape of which a width in the radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction becomes smaller toward the inside of the arc chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventor: Masateru Sato
  • Patent number: 9502759
    Abstract: An antenna cover that protects a surface of an antenna provided in a plasma chamber and exciting an electric field with a high frequency to an inner portion of the plasma chamber is provided. In the antenna cover, the thickness of the antenna cover in at least one direction among directions orthogonal to the surface of the antenna is different according to a position on the surface, such that space dependency of an electric potential on an external surface of the antenna cover decreases. In the antenna cover, the thickness of at least one direction may be changed along an extension direction of the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ion Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiro Ninomiya, Masateru Sato
  • Patent number: 9425023
    Abstract: An ion generator includes an arc chamber, a cathode that extends outward from the inside of the arc chamber in an axial direction and that emits a thermal electron into the arc chamber, a thermal reflector with a cylindrical shape provided around the cathode in a radial direction and extending in the axial direction, and a narrow structure configured to narrow a width in the radial direction of a gap between the cathode and the thermal reflector at a given position in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ion Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masateru Sato
  • Publication number: 20160111250
    Abstract: A beam extraction slit structure includes a plasma chamber interior surface that is, in operation, in contact with a plasma; a plasma chamber exterior surface that faces an extraction electrode; and a slit surface part that forms a beam extraction slit between the plasma chamber interior surface and the plasma chamber exterior surface in the beam extraction direction. The slit surface part includes a plasma meniscus fixing part formed in an area of relatively higher plasma density in the slit longitudinal direction to fixingly maintain a plasma meniscus of the plasma and a plasma meniscus non-fixing part formed in an area of relatively lower plasma density in the slit longitudinal direction to movably maintain the plasma meniscus of the plasma in the beam extraction direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventor: Masateru Sato
  • Patent number: 9318298
    Abstract: An ion generator is provided with: an arc chamber that is at least partially made up of a material containing carbon; a thermal electron emitter that emits thermal electrons into the arc chamber; and a gas introducer that introduces a source gas and a compound gas into the arc chamber. The source gas to be introduced into the arc chamber contains a halide gas, and the compound gas to be introduced into the arc chamber contains a compound having carbon atoms and hydrogen atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ion Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masateru Sato
  • Patent number: 9281160
    Abstract: An insulation structure provided among a plurality of electrodes for extraction of an ion beam from a plasma generating section is provided. The insulation structure includes an insulation member including a first part connected to a first electrode and a second part connected to a second electrode and configured to support the first electrode to the second electrode, a first cover surrounding at least a part of the first part to protect the first part from contamination particles, and a second cover surrounding at least a part of the second part to protect the second part from contamination particles. At least one of the first part and the second part is made of a machinable ceramic or a porous ceramic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ion Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masateru Sato
  • Patent number: 9208983
    Abstract: An ion generation method uses a direct current discharge ion source provided with an arc chamber formed of a high melting point material, and includes: generating ions by causing molecules of a source gas to collide with thermoelectrons in the arc chamber and producing plasma discharge; and causing radicals generated in generating ions to react with a liner provided to cover an inner wall of the arc chamber at least partially. The liner is formed of a material more reactive to radicals generated as the source gas is dissociated than the material of the arc chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ion Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masateru Sato
  • Publication number: 20150340194
    Abstract: An ion generator includes an arc chamber, a cathode that extends outward from the inside of the arc chamber in an axial direction and that emits a thermal electron into the arc chamber, a thermal reflector with a cylindrical shape provided around the cathode in a radial direction and extending in the axial direction, and a narrow structure configured to narrow a width in the radial direction of a gap between the cathode and the thermal reflector at a given position in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventor: Masateru Sato
  • Patent number: 9153405
    Abstract: An ion source device has a configuration in which a cathode is provided in an arc chamber having a space for plasma formation, and a repeller is disposed to face a thermal electron discharge face of the cathode by interposing the space for plasma formation therebetween. An external magnetic field that is induced by a source magnetic field unit is applied to the space for plasma formation in a direction parallel to an axis that connects the cathode and the repeller. An opening is provided in a place corresponding to a portion in the repeller with the highest density of plasma that is formed in the space for plasma formation, and an ion beam is extracted from the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: SEN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masateru Sato
  • Patent number: 9153406
    Abstract: An ion generator includes: an arc chamber; a repeller that includes a repeller plate provided within the arc chamber and a repeller extension portion inserted through a through hole communicating the inside and the outside of the arc chamber; and a supporting structure that is provided outside the arc chamber and that supports the repeller so that a gap is ensured between the repeller extension portion and an inner wall of the through hole. The supporting structure includes a cover member that forms, outside the arc chamber, a small chamber communicating with the gap, and an insulation member that electrically insulates the arc chamber and the repeller from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: SEN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masateru Sato
  • Patent number: 9117630
    Abstract: An insulation structure of high voltage electrodes includes an insulator having an exposed surface and a conductor portion, which includes a joint region in contact with the insulator, and a heat-resistant portion provided, along at least part of an edge of the joint region, in such a manner as to be adjacent to the exposed surface of the insulator. The heat-resistant portion is formed of an electrically conductive material whose melting point is higher than that of the conductor portion. The heat-resistant portion may be so provided as to have a gap between the insulator and the exposed surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ion Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masateru Sato, Hiroshi Matsushita
  • Publication number: 20150179385
    Abstract: An ion generator includes: an arc chamber; a repeller that includes a repeller plate provided within the arc chamber and a repeller extension portion inserted through a through hole communicating the inside and the outside of the arc chamber; and a supporting structure that is provided outside the arc chamber and that supports the repeller so that a gap is ensured between the repeller extension portion and an inner wall of the through hole. The supporting structure includes a cover member that forms, outside the arc chamber, a small chamber communicating with the gap, and an insulation member that electrically insulates the arc chamber and the repeller from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventor: Masateru Sato
  • Publication number: 20150162657
    Abstract: An antenna cover that protects a surface of an antenna provided in a plasma chamber and exciting an electric field with a high frequency to an inner portion of the plasma chamber is provided. In the antenna cover, the thickness of the antenna cover in at least one direction among directions orthogonal to the surface of the antenna is different according to a position on the surface, such that space dependency of an electric potential on an external surface of the antenna cover decreases. In the antenna cover, the thickness of at least one direction may be changed along an extension direction of the antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Shiro Ninomiya, Masateru Sato
  • Publication number: 20150129775
    Abstract: An ion generator is provided with: an arc chamber that is at least partially made up of a material containing carbon; a thermal electron emitter that emits thermal electrons into the arc chamber; and a gas introducer that introduces a source gas and a compound gas into the arc chamber. The source gas to be introduced into the arc chamber contains a halide gas, and the compound gas to be introduced into the arc chamber contains a compound having carbon atoms and hydrogen atoms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventor: Masateru Sato
  • Publication number: 20140353518
    Abstract: An insulation structure provided among a plurality of electrodes for extraction of an ion beam from a plasma generating section is provided. The insulation structure includes an insulation member including a first part connected to a first electrode and a second part connected to a second electrode and configured to support the first electrode to the second electrode, a first cover surrounding at least a part of the first part to protect the first part from contamination particles, and a second cover surrounding at least a part of the second part to protect the second part from contamination particles. At least one of the first part and the second part is made of a machinable ceramic or a porous ceramic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: SEN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masateru Sato
  • Publication number: 20140291543
    Abstract: An insulation structure of high voltage electrodes includes an insulator having an exposed surface and a conductor portion, which includes a joint region in contact with the insulator, and a heat-resistant portion provided, along at least part of an edge of the joint region, in such a manner as to be adjacent to the exposed surface of the insulator. The heat-resistant portion is formed of an electrically conductive material whose melting point is higher than that of the conductor portion. The heat-resistant portion may be so provided as to have a gap between the insulator and the exposed surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: SEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masateru Sato, Hiroshi Matsushita
  • Publication number: 20140283745
    Abstract: An ion implantation apparatus in which a fluorine compound gas is used as a source gas of an ion source, includes a vacuum chamber into which the source gas is introduced; an introduction passage connected to the vacuum chamber and configured to introduce into the vacuum chamber a cleaning gas containing a component that reacts with the fluorine compound deposited inside the vacuum chamber so as to generate a reactant gas; a delivery device configured to forcibly introduce the cleaning gas into the introduction passage; a first adjustment device configured to adjust an amount of gas flow in the introduction passage; an exhausting passage connected to the vacuum chamber and configured to forcibly exhaust the reactant gas along with the cleaning gas; and a second adjustment device configured to adjust an amount of gas flow in the exhausting passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: SEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki Nagai, Masateru Sato