Patents by Inventor Masaya Asai

Masaya Asai 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: 12119242
    Abstract: A nozzle is stored in a nozzle storage hole of a waiting pod. In this state, a cleaning liquid is discharged to an outer peripheral surface of the nozzle from a plurality of discharge ports. Thus, a coating liquid and its solidified matter adhering to the nozzle are dissolved and removed from the nozzle. Subsequently, a metal removal liquid is discharged from a plurality of discharge ports to the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle. Thus, a metallic component remaining on the nozzle is dissolved and removed from the nozzle. Further, pure water is discharged to the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle from the plurality of discharge ports, and the metal removal liquid adhering to the nozzle is cleaned away.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: SCREEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Tanaka, Masaya Asai, Masahiko Harumoto, Koji Kaneyama
  • Publication number: 20240253079
    Abstract: A coating liquid containing metal as a metal-containing coating liquid is supplied to a surface to be processed of a substrate by a coating processing unit, whereby a metal-containing coating film is formed on the surface to be processed. The substrate on which the metal-containing coating film has been formed is transported to a metal removal unit by a transport mechanism. A removal liquid for dissolving the metal is supplied to a peripheral portion of the substrate by the metal removal unit such that the metal-containing coating film remains in a region except for the peripheral portion of the surface to be processed of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2024
    Publication date: August 1, 2024
    Inventors: Yuji TANAKA, Masaya ASAI, Masahiko HARUMOTO, Koji KANEYAMA
  • Patent number: 11986853
    Abstract: A coating liquid containing metal as a metal-containing coating liquid is supplied to a surface to be processed of a substrate by a coating processing unit, whereby a metal-containing coating film is formed on the surface to be processed. The substrate on which the metal-containing coating film has been formed is transported to a metal removal unit by a transport mechanism. A removal liquid for dissolving the metal is supplied to a peripheral portion of the substrate by the metal removal unit such that the metal-containing coating film remains in a region except for the peripheral portion of the surface to be processed of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: SCREEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Tanaka, Masaya Asai, Masahiko Harumoto, Koji Kaneyama
  • Patent number: 11281108
    Abstract: An exposure device has a cylindrical peripheral wall member. The peripheral wall member forms a processing space in which a substrate is storable and has an upper opening and a lower opening. Further, a light emitter is provided in an upper portion of the peripheral wall member to close the upper opening. A lower lid member that is provided to be movable in an up-and-down direction and configured to be capable of closing and opening the lower opening is provided below the peripheral wall member. The atmosphere in the processing space is replaced with an inert gas with the substrate stored in the processing space and the lower opening closed by the lower lid member. In this state, vacuum ultraviolet rays are emitted to the substrate from the light emitter, and the substrate is exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Inventors: You Arisawa, Masaya Asai, Masahiko Harumoto, Yuji Tanaka, Chisayo Mori, Tomohiro Motono, Shuji Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 11243469
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a development processor and a reversal film former, and processes a substrate having one surface on which a resist film made of a photosensitive material is formed. The development processor forms a resist pattern on the one surface of the substrate by performing development processing on a resist film using a development liquid. A reversal film former forms a reversal film having etch resistance higher than that of the resist film on the one surface of the substrate to cover the resist pattern while regulating a temperature of the substrate in a certain range after the development processing is performed by the development processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Inventors: Masahiko Harumoto, Koji Kaneyama, Yuji Tanaka, Masaya Asai
  • Patent number: 11107698
    Abstract: An oxygen concentration is lowered in accordance with a set lowering process, and thereafter a heat treatment is performed. Accordingly, the heat treatment is performed to a substrate W while the oxygen concentration in a heat treating space HS is lowered. Consequently, a treatment atmosphere within the heat treating space is able to be made suitable for a heat treatment process, leading to appropriate film deposition. In addition, the oxygen concentration is lowered in accordance with a concentration level in recipes. This avoids an excessively lowered oxygen concentration, leading to prevention of reduced throughput.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Inventors: Chisayo Nakayama, Yuji Tanaka, Masahiko Harumoto, Masaya Asai, Yasuhiro Fukumoto, Tomohiro Matsuo, Takeharu Ishii
  • Publication number: 20210233784
    Abstract: A nozzle is stored in a nozzle storage hole of a waiting pod. In this state, a cleaning liquid is discharged to an outer peripheral surface of the nozzle from a plurality of discharge ports. Thus, a coating liquid and its solidified matter adhering to the nozzle are dissolved and removed from the nozzle. Subsequently, a metal removal liquid is discharged from a plurality of discharge ports to the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle. Thus, a metallic component remaining on the nozzle is dissolved and removed from the nozzle. Further, pure water is discharged to the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle from the plurality of discharge ports, and the metal removal liquid adhering to the nozzle is cleaned away.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Yuji TANAKA, Masaya ASAI, Masahiko HARUMOTO, Koji KANEYAMA
  • Patent number: 11004702
    Abstract: A nozzle is stored in a nozzle storage hole of a waiting pod. In this state, a cleaning liquid is discharged to an outer peripheral surface of the nozzle from a plurality of discharge ports. Thus, a coating liquid and its solidified matter adhering to the nozzle are dissolved and removed from the nozzle. Subsequently, a metal removal liquid is discharged from a plurality of discharge ports to the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle. Thus, a metallic component remaining on the nozzle is dissolved and removed from the nozzle. Further, pure water is discharged to the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle from the plurality of discharge ports, and the metal removal liquid adhering to the nozzle is cleaned away.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Inventors: Yuji Tanaka, Masaya Asai, Masahiko Harumoto, Koji Kaneyama
  • Publication number: 20210134605
    Abstract: An oxygen concentration is lowered in accordance with a set lowering process, and thereafter a heat treatment is performed. Accordingly, the heat treatment is performed to a substrate W while the oxygen concentration in a heat treating space HS is lowered. Consequently, a treatment atmosphere within the heat treating space is able to be made suitable for a heat treatment process, leading to appropriate film deposition. In addition, the oxygen concentration is lowered in accordance with a concentration level in recipes. This avoids an excessively lowered oxygen concentration, leading to prevention of reduced throughput.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Chisayo NAKAYAMA, Yuji TANAKA, Masahiko HARUMOTO, Masaya ASAI, Yasuhiro FUKUMOTO, Tomohiro MATSUO, Takeharu ISHII
  • Publication number: 20210088911
    Abstract: An exposure device has a cylindrical peripheral wall member. The peripheral wall member forms a processing space in which a substrate is storable and has an upper opening and a lower opening. Further, a light emitter is provided in an upper portion of the peripheral wall member to close the upper opening. A lower lid member that is provided to be movable in an up-and-down direction and configured to be capable of closing and opening the lower opening is provided below the peripheral wall member. The atmosphere in the processing space is replaced with an inert gas with the substrate stored in the processing space and the lower opening closed by the lower lid member. In this state, vacuum ultraviolet rays are emitted to the substrate from the light emitter, and the substrate is exposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: You Arisawa, Masaya Asai, Masahiko Harumoto, Yuji Tanaka, Chisayo Mori, Tomohiro Motono, Shuji Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 10955745
    Abstract: Exhaust of gas in the processing chamber is started by a gas exhaust section, and supply of an inert gas into the processing chamber is started by a gas supply section after a predetermined time length has elapsed since the exhaust of gas is started. Alternatively, the gas in the processing chamber in which a substrate is stored is exhausted by the gas exhaust section, the inert gas is supplied into the processing chamber by the gas supply section, and the pressure in a light emitter that has a light-transmitting plate is allowed to match or be close to the pressure in the processing chamber. The substrate in the processing chamber is irradiated with vacuum ultraviolet rays by the light emitter with an oxygen concentration in the gas in the processing chamber lowered to a predetermined concentration. Thus, the substrate is exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Inventors: Chisayo Nakayama, Yuji Tanaka, Masahiko Harumoto, Masaya Asai, Yasuhiro Fukumoto, Koji Kaneyama
  • Publication number: 20210078036
    Abstract: A coating liquid containing metal as a metal-containing coating liquid is supplied to a surface to be processed of a substrate by a coating processing unit, whereby a metal-containing coating film is formed on the surface to be processed. The substrate on which the metal-containing coating film has been formed is transported to a metal removal unit by a transport mechanism. A removal liquid for dissolving the metal is supplied to a peripheral portion of the substrate by the metal removal unit such that the metal-containing coating film remains in a region except for the peripheral portion of the surface to be processed of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Yuji TANAKA, Masaya ASAI, Masahiko HARUMOTO, Koji KANEYAMA
  • Patent number: 10941492
    Abstract: Disclosed is a substrate treating method for performing a heat treatment of a substrate having a treated film formed thereon in a heat treating space of a heat treating chamber. The method includes an exhaust step of performing exhaust of gas within the heat treating space, an inert gas supply step of supplying inert gas into the heat treating space, and a heat treating step of performing the heat treatment of the substrate in the heat treating space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Inventors: Yuji Tanaka, Chisayo Nakayama, Masahiko Harumoto, Masaya Asai, Yasuhiro Fukumoto, Tomohiro Matsuo, Takeharu Ishii
  • Patent number: 10900126
    Abstract: Disclosed is a substrate treating method for performing a heat treatment of a substrate in a heat treating space. The method includes a loading step of loading the substrate on support pins, an exhaust step of exhausting gas within the heat treating space, an inert gas supply step of supplying inert gas into the heat treating space, an under-substrate space gas discharging step of discharging gas within an under-substrate space between the substrate and the top face of the heat treating plate, and a heat treating step of retracting the support pins into the heat treating plate, and performing the heat treatment of the substrate placed on the top face of the heat treating plate in the heat treating space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Inventors: Yuji Tanaka, Chisayo Nakayama, Masahiko Harumoto, Masaya Asai, Yasuhiro Fukumoto, Tomohiro Matsuo, Takeharu Ishii
  • Patent number: 10854480
    Abstract: A substrate is held and rotated by a spin chuck, and a coating liquid is discharged to the substrate. The coating liquid that is splashed outwardly from the substrate is received by an outer cup. A cleaning liquid that has been discharged from a cup cleaning nozzle is discharged to an inner peripheral surface of the outer cup through a first guide to clean the outer cup. Thus, the coating liquid, its solidified matter and the like adhering to the outer cup are dissolved and removed from the outer cup. Subsequently, a metal removal liquid that has been discharged from the cup cleaning nozzle is discharged to an inner peripheral surface of the outer cup through a second guide. Thus, a metallic component remaining on the outer cup is dissolved and removed from the outer cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Inventors: Yuji Tanaka, Masaya Asai, Masahiko Harumoto, Koji Kaneyama
  • Patent number: 10832925
    Abstract: A heating plate is stored in a chamber. With a solvent containing gas present in the chamber, a substrate on which a DSA film is formed is held at a position further upward than the heating plate. Thus, neutralization of an atmosphere is performed at a temperature at which microphase separation does not occur. Thereafter, with the solvent containing gas present in the chamber, the substrate is held on an upper surface of the heating plate. Thus, thermal processing is performed on the DSA film on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Harumoto, Masaya Asai, Yuji Tanaka, Koji Kaneyama
  • Patent number: 10754251
    Abstract: A substrate having a film of a coating liquid containing metal is held by a spin chuck, the film having been exposed in a predetermined pattern. A slit nozzle supplies a development liquid to a surface to be processed of the substrate supported by the spin chuck. A cleaning liquid for removing or dissolving metal is supplied by a cleaning nozzle to the surface to be processed of the substrate to which the development liquid has been supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Tanaka, Masaya Asai, Masahiko Harumoto, Koji Kaneyama
  • Patent number: 10591820
    Abstract: A resist film including a metallic component and a photosensitive material is formed on a surface of a substrate, and then a peripheral portion of the resist film on the substrate is irradiated with light by an edge exposer. Subsequently, development processing is performed with a development liquid from a nozzle on the exposed portion of the resist film. Thus, the part of the resist film formed on the peripheral portion of the substrate is removed. Thereafter, exposure processing is performed on the substrate in an exposure device, so that an exposure pattern is formed on the resist film. Then, a development liquid is supplied to the exposed substrate in a development processing unit, so that development processing is performed on the resist film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Harumoto, Masaya Asai, Yuji Tanaka, Koji Kaneyama
  • Patent number: 10539877
    Abstract: After a developing step is performed by feeding developer to the substrate, a second nozzle starts dispensation of a surfactant rinse liquid to a position away from the center of a rotating substrate. This operation is performed such that the center of the substrate does not enter into a reaching region of the substrate where the surfactant rinse liquid dispensed from the second nozzle firstly reaches. Accordingly, a point of the reaching region of the surfactant rinse liquid is dispersed, leading to suppression in locally smaller or larger line width of a resist pattern at the center and around the center of the substrate. Consequently, this achieves enhanced uniformity of the line widths of the resist pattern within a surface of the substrate during the rinse process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Harumoto, Koji Kaneyama, Masaya Asai, Yuji Tanaka, Chisayo Nakayama, You Arisawa
  • Patent number: 10444636
    Abstract: Vacuum ultraviolet rays are emitted to a surface to be processed of a substrate to be processed by a light source. During an emission period in which the vacuum ultraviolet rays are emitted from the light source to the substrate, part of the vacuum ultraviolet rays is received by an illuminometer, and illuminance of the received vacuum ultraviolet rays is measured. A light receiving surface of the illuminometer is located at a constant height that is based on the surface to be processed of the substrate during the emission period of the vacuum ultraviolet rays. An exposure amount of the substrate is calculated based on the illuminance measured by the illuminometer. Emission of the vacuum ultraviolet rays from the light source to the substrate is stopped based on the calculated exposure amount of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Matsuo, Yasuhiro Fukumoto, Takafumi Oki, Masaya Asai, Masahiko Harumoto, Yuji Tanaka, Chisayo Nakayama