Patents by Inventor Masaya Ehira

Masaya Ehira 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: 9334559
    Abstract: The present invention provides a Cu—In—Ga—Se powder containing Cu, In, Ga and Se in which cracks do not occur during sintering or processing, and a sintered body and sputtering target, each using the same. The present invention relates to a powder containing Cu, In Ga and Se, which contains a Cu—In—Ga—Se compound and/or a Cu—In—Se compound in an amount of 60 mass % or more in total. The powder of the present invention preferably contains an In—Se compound in an amount of 20 mass % or less and/or a Cu—In compound in an amount of 20 mass % or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignees: KOBELCO RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC., HYOGO PREFECTURE
    Inventors: Masaya Ehira, Akira Nambu, Shigeo Kashiwai, Masafumi Fukuzumi
  • Patent number: 9212418
    Abstract: The invention relates to an Al—Ni—La system Al-based alloy sputtering target where a total area of an Al—Ni system intermetallic compound having an average particle diameter of 0.3 ?m to 3 ?m with respect to a total area of the entire Al—Ni system intermetallic compound is 70% or more in terms of an area fraction, and a total area of an Al—La system intermetallic compound having an average particle diameter of 0.2 ?m to 2 ?m with respect to a total area of the entire Al—La system intermetallic compound is 70% or more in terms of an area fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignees: Kobe Steel, Ltd., KOBELCO RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Masaya Ehira, Katsutoshi Takagi, Toshihiro Kugimiya, Yoichiro Yoneda, Hiroshi Gotou
  • Patent number: 9058914
    Abstract: This oxide sintered compact is obtained by mixing and sintering powders of zinc oxide, tin oxide and indium oxide. As determined by X-ray diffractometry of this oxide sintered compact, the oxide sintered compact has a Zn2SnO4 phase as the main phase and contains an In/In2O3—ZnSnO3 solid solution wherein In and/or In2O3 is solid-solved in ZnSnO3, but a ZnxInyOz phase (wherein x, y and z each represents an arbitrary positive integer) is not detected. Consequently, the present invention was able to provide an oxide sintered compact which is suitable for use in the production of an oxide semiconductor film for display devices and has both high electrical conductivity and high relative density. The oxide sintered compact is capable of forming an oxide semiconductor film that has high carrier mobility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: KOBELCO RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Goto, Yuki Iwasaki, Masaya Ehira, Yoichiro Yoneda
  • Patent number: 8580093
    Abstract: The present invention provides a technique capable of decreasing a generation of splashing upon depositing by using an Al—Ni—La—Cu alloy sputtering target comprising Ni, La, and Cu. The invention relates to an Al—Ni—La—Cu alloy sputtering target comprising Ni, La and Cu, in which (1) a total area of an Al—Ni intermetallic compound mainly comprising Al and Ni and having an average grain size of 0.3 ?m or more and 3 ?m or less is 70% or more by area ratio based on an entire area of the Al—Ni intermetallic compound, and (2) a total area of an Al—La—Cu intermetallic compound mainly comprising Al, La and Cu and having an average grain size of 0.2 ?m or more and 2 ?m or less is 70% or more by area ratio based on an entire area of the Al—La—Cu intermetallic compound, in a case where a portion of the sputtering target is observed within a range of from ¼t (t: thickness) to ¾t along a cross section vertical to a plane of the sputtering target by using a scanning electron microscope at a magnification of 2000.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignees: Kobelco Research Institute Inc., Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Takagi, Masaya Ehira, Yuki Iwasaki, Hiroshi Goto
  • Publication number: 20130234081
    Abstract: This oxide sintered compact is obtained by mixing and sintering powders of zinc oxide, tin oxide and indium oxide. As determined by X-ray diffractometry of this oxide sintered compact, the oxide sintered compact has a Zn2SnO4 phase as the main phase and contains an In/In2O3—ZnSnO3 solid solution wherein In and/or In2O3 is solid-solved in ZnSnO3, but a ZnxInyOz phase (wherein x, y and z each represents an arbitrary positive integer) is not detected. Consequently, the present invention was able to provide an oxide sintered compact which is suitable for use in the production of an oxide semiconductor film for display devices and has both high electrical conductivity and high relative density. The oxide sintered compact is capable of forming an oxide semiconductor film that has high carrier mobility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: KOBELCO RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Goto, Yuki Iwasaki, Masaya Ehira, Yoichiro Yoneda
  • Publication number: 20130098758
    Abstract: The present invention provides a Cu—In—Ga—Se powder containing Cu, In, Ga and Se in which cracks do not occur during sintering or processing, and a sintered body and sputtering target, each using the same. The present invention relates to a powder containing Cu, In Ga and Se, which contains a Cu—In—Ga—Se compound and/or a Cu—In—Se compound in an amount of 60 mass % or more in total. The powder of the present invention preferably contains an In—Se compound in an amount of 20 mass % or less and/or a Cu—In compound in an amount of 20 mass % or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicants: HYOGO PREFECTURE, KOBELCO RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Masaya Ehira, Akira Nambu, Shigeo Kashiwai, Masafumi Fukuzumi
  • Publication number: 20120181172
    Abstract: Disclosed is a metal oxide-metal composite sputtering target which is useful for the formation of a recording layer for an optical information recording medium, said recording layer containing a metal oxide and a metal. Specifically disclosed is a composite sputtering target containing a metal oxide (A) and a metal (B), wherein the maximum value of the circle-equivalent diameter of the metal oxide (A) is controlled to 200 ?m or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: KOBELCO RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Matsuzaki, Katsutoshi Takagi, Norihiro Jiko, Masaya Ehira
  • Patent number: 8163143
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an Al—Ni—La—Si system Al-based alloy sputtering target including Ni, La and Si, in which, when a section from (¼)t to (¾)t (t: thickness) in a cross section vertical to a plane of the sputtering target is observed with a scanning electron microscope at a magnification of 2000 times, (1) a total area of an Al—Ni system intermetallic compound having an average particle diameter of 0.3 ?m to 3 ?m with respect to a total area of the entire Al—Ni system intermetallic compound is 70% or more in terms of an area fraction, the Al—Ni system intermetallic compound being mainly composed of Al and Ni; and (2) a total area of an Al—Ni—La—Si system intermetallic compound having an average particle diameter of 0.2 ?m to 2 ?m with respect to a total area of the entire Al—Ni—La—Si system intermetallic compound is 70% or more in terms of an area fraction, the Al—Ni—La—Si system intermetallic compound being mainly composed of Al, Ni, La, and Si.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignees: Kobe Steel, Ltd., Kobelco Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Takagi, Yuki Iwasaki, Masaya Ehira, Akira Nanbu, Mototaka Ochi, Hiroshi Goto, Nobuyuki Kawakami
  • Publication number: 20120045360
    Abstract: Disclosed is a Cu—Ga alloy sputtering target which enables the formation of a Cu—Ga sputtering film having excellent uniformity in film component composition (film uniformity), enables the reduction of occurrence of arcing during sputtering, has high strength, and rarely undergoes cracking during sputtering. Specifically disclosed is a Cu—Ga alloy sputtering target which comprises a Cu-based alloy containing Ga, has an average crystal particle diameter of 10 ?m or less, and has a porosity of 0.1% or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: KOBELCO RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC
    Inventors: Hiromi Matsumura, Akira Nanbu, Masaya Ehira, Shinya Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20090242394
    Abstract: The present invention provides an Al—(Ni, Co)—(Cu, Ge)—(La, Gd, Nd) alloy sputtering target capable of decreasing a generation of splashing in an initial stage of using the sputtering target, preventing defects caused thereby in interconnection films or the like and improving a yield and operation performance of an FPD, as well as a manufacturing method thereof. The invention relates to an Al-based alloy sputtering target which is an Al—(Ni, Co)—(Cu, Ge)—(La, Gd, Nd) alloy sputtering target comprising at least one member selected from the group A (Ni, Co), at least one member selected from the group B (Cu, Ge), and at least one member selected from the group C (La, Gd, Nd) wherein a Vickers hardness (HV) thereof is 35 or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicants: KOBELCO RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC., Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho(Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Takagi, Yuki Iwasaki, Masaya Ehira, Hiroshi Goto, Aya Miki, Hiroyuki Okuno, Mototaka Ochi, Tomoya Kishi
  • Publication number: 20090242395
    Abstract: The present invention provides a technique capable of decreasing a generation of splashing upon depositing by using an Al—Ni—La—Cu alloy sputtering target comprising Ni, La, and Cu. The invention relates to an Al—Ni—La—Cu alloy sputtering target comprising Ni, La and Cu, in which (1) a total area of an Al—Ni intermetallic compound mainly comprising Al and Ni and having an average grain size of 0.3 ?m or more and 3 ?m or less is 70% or more by area ratio based on an entire area of the Al—Ni intermetallic compound, and (2) a total area of an Al—La—Cu intermetallic compound mainly comprising Al, La and Cu and having an average grain size of 0.2 ?m or more and 2 ?m or less is 70% or more by area ratio based on an entire area of the Al—La—Cu intermetallic compound, in a case where a portion of the sputtering target is observed within a range of from 1/4 t (t: thickness) to 3/4 t along a cross section vertical to a plane of the sputtering target by using a scanning electron microscope at a magnification of 2000.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicants: KOBELCO RESEARCH INSTITUTE INC., Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel Ltd.)
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Takagi, Masaya Ehira, Yuki Iwasaki, Hiroshi Goto
  • Publication number: 20090026072
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an Al—Ni—La—Si system Al-based alloy sputtering target including Ni, La and Si, in which, when a section from (¼)t to (¾)t (t: thickness) in a cross section vertical to a plane of the sputtering target is observed with a scanning electron microscope at a magnification of 2000 times, (1) a total area of an Al—Ni system intermetallic compound having an average particle diameter of 0.3 ?m to 3 ?m with respect to a total area of the entire Al—Ni system intermetallic compound is 70% or more in terms of an area fraction, the Al—Ni system intermetallic compound being mainly composed of Al and Ni; and (2) a total area of an Al—Ni—La—Si system intermetallic compound having an average particle diameter of 0.2 ?m to 2 ?m with respect to a total area of the entire Al—Ni—La—Si system intermetallic compound is 70% or more in terms of an area fraction, the Al—Ni—La—Si system intermetallic compound being mainly composed of Al, Ni, La, and Si.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (kobe Steel Ltd.), KOBELCO RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Takagi, Yuki Iwasaki, Masaya Ehira, Akira Nanbu, Mototaka Ochi, Hiroshi Goto, Nobuyuki Kawakami
  • Publication number: 20080223718
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an Al-based alloy sputtering target, comprising Ni in an amount of 0.05 to 10 atomic percent, wherein the Al-based alloy sputtering target satisfies: (1) that a ratio of a P value to a total area of a sputtering surface is 70% or more, wherein the P value indicates a total of area fractions of <001>±15°, <011>±15°, <111>±15° and <311>±15°; (2) that a ratio of the area fraction of <011>±15° to the P value is 30% or more; and (3) that a ratio of the area fraction of <111>±15° to the P value is 10% or less, when crystallographic orientations <001>, <011>, <111> and <311> in a normal line direction to a sputtering surface of the Al-based alloy sputtering target are observed in accordance with the electron backscatter diffraction pattern method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.), KOBELCO RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Katsutoshi TAKAGI, Masaya Ehira, Toshihiro Kugimiya, Yoichiro Yoneda, Hiroshi Gotou
  • Publication number: 20080121522
    Abstract: The invention relates to an Al—Ni—La system Al-based alloy sputtering target comprising Ni and La, wherein, when a section from (¼)t to (¾)t (t: thickness) in a cross section vertical to a plane of the sputtering target is observed with a scanning electron microscope at a magnification of 2000 times, (1) a total area of an Al—Ni system intermetallic compound having an average particle diameter of 0.3 ?m to 3 ?m with respect to a total area of the entire Al—Ni system intermetallic compound is 70% or more in terms of an area fraction, the Al—Ni system intermetallic compound being mainly composed of Al and Ni; and (2) a total area of an Al—La system intermetallic compound having an average particle diameter of 0.2 ?m to 2 ?m with respect to a total area of the entire Al—La system intermetallic compound is 70% or more in terms of an area fraction, the Al—La system intermetallic compound being mainly composed of Al and La.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (KOBE STEEL, LTD.), KOBELCO RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Masaya EHIRA, Katsutoshi Takagi, Toshihiro Kugimiya, Yoichiro Yoneda, Hiroshi Gotou
  • Patent number: 5462901
    Abstract: A cermet sintered body excellent in wear resistance, oxidation resistance and toughness, which is suitable for cutting tools. The cermet sintered body includes: a hard dispersion phase in an amount of from 70 to 95 wt. %, which contains TiC and/or Ti(C, N) and carbides (excluding TiC) and/or nitrides of one or more kinds selected from a group consisting of elements in IVa, Va, and VIa groups of the periodic system, and a binder phase in an amount of from 5 to 30 wt. %, which contains one kind or two or more kinds of iron family elements. Moreover, the average particle size of a raw powder of TiC and/or Ti(C, N) is in the range of 1.0 .mu.m or less, and TiC and/or Ti(C, N) are directly dissolved in a solid state in the carbides (excluding TiC) and/or nitrides during sintering, to form a hard dispersion phase. The hard dispersion phase thus obtained mainly contains solid-solutions without any structure having a core, and which has a uniform distribution of composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventors: Akira Egami, Masaya Ehira