Patents by Inventor Masaya Seki

Masaya Seki 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: 11906299
    Abstract: Provided is a technique that allows measuring a film thickness of a substrate in a plating process. A plating apparatus 1000 includes a plating tank 10, a substrate holder 20, a rotation mechanism 30, a plurality of contact members 50, a coil 60, a current sensor 65, and a film thickness measuring device 70. The plurality of contact members 50 are disposed in a substrate holder and arranged in a circumferential direction of the substrate holder. The plurality of contact members 50 contact an outer peripheral edge of a lower surface of a substrate to supply electricity to the substrate in the plating process. The coil 60 generates a current by an electromagnetic induction due to a magnetic field generated by a current flowing into the contact member, the contact member being rotate together with the substrate holder in the plating process. The current sensor 65 detects the current generated in the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaya Seki, Masaki Tomita, Shao Hua Chang
  • Publication number: 20240050992
    Abstract: A preprocess is efficiently performed on a substrate. A pre-wet module 200 includes a deaeration tank 210, a processing device 258, a substrate holder 220, and a drive mechanism 230. The deaeration tank 210 is configured to house a deaerated liquid. The processing device 258 includes a nozzle 268 configured to supply a cleaning liquid to a surface to be processed of a substrate having the surface to be processed facing upward. The substrate holder 220 is disposed between the deaeration tank 210 and the processing device 258. The substrate holder 220 includes a first holding member 222 configured to hold a first substrate and a second holding member 224 configured to hold a second substrate. The drive mechanism 230 is configured to rotate and move up and down the substrate holder 220. The drive mechanism 230 includes a rotation mechanism 240 and an elevating mechanism 248.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Masaya SEKI, Mitsutoshi YAHAGI, Nobuya YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20240047235
    Abstract: Efficiency of a cleaning process and a degassing process for a surface to be processed of a substrate is improved. A pre-wet module 200 includes a stage 220, a rotation mechanism 224, a pre-wet chamber 260, an elevating mechanism 230, a degassing liquid supply member 204, a nozzle 268, and a cleaning liquid supply member 202. The stage 220 is configured to hold a back surface of a substrate WF with a surface to be processed WF-a facing upward. The rotation mechanism 224 is configured to rotate the stage 220. The pre-wet chamber 260 includes a lid member 262 and a tubular member 264. The lid member 262 has an opposed surface 262a opposed to the surface to be processed WF-a of the substrate WF. The tubular member 264 is installed on an outer edge portion of the opposed surface 262a of the lid member 262. The elevating mechanism 230 is configured to move up and down the pre-wet chamber 260.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2021
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventor: Masaya SEKI
  • Patent number: 11846035
    Abstract: Provided is a technique that allows suppressing a liquid splash of a plating solution. A plating apparatus includes a plating tank 10 including an inner tank 11, a substrate holder, and a paddle 50 configured to agitate the plating solution accumulated in the inner tank 11 by reciprocating in a horizontal direction. The paddle 50 is arranged to be inserted through a hole provided in an outer peripheral wall of the inner tank and to build a bridge between an inside of the inner tank and an outside of the inner tank, and the paddle 50 includes a first portion 51 configured to agitate the plating solution accumulated in the inner tank, a second portion 53 arranged outside the inner tank and disposed above the first portion, and a connecting portion 52 arranged outside the inner tank to connect the first portion to the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaya Seki, Shao Hua Chang
  • Patent number: 11833551
    Abstract: A preprocess is efficiently performed on a substrate. A pre-wet module 200 includes a deaeration tank 210, a processing device 258, a substrate holder 220, and a drive mechanism 230. The deaeration tank 210 is configured to house a deaerated liquid. The processing device 258 includes a nozzle 268 configured to supply a cleaning liquid to a surface to be processed of a substrate having the surface to be processed facing upward. The substrate holder 220 is disposed between the deaeration tank 210 and the processing device 258. The substrate holder 220 includes a first holding member 222 configured to hold a first substrate and a second holding member 224 configured to hold a second substrate. The drive mechanism 230 is configured to rotate and move up and down the substrate holder 220. The drive mechanism 230 includes a rotation mechanism 240 and an elevating mechanism 248.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaya Seki, Mitsutoshi Yahagi, Nobuya Yamada
  • Publication number: 20230340687
    Abstract: A plating apparatus 1000 includes a plating tank, a substrate holder 20, a rotation mechanism, an elevating mechanism, a contact member 40, and a cleaning device 50 configured to clean the contact member 40. The cleaning device 50 includes a pivot shaft 51, a first arm 53, a second arm 54, and a nozzle 55 that includes at least one discharge port. Applying a cleaning fluid discharged from the discharge port to the contact member 40 cleans the contact member 40.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Masaya SEKI, Masaki TOMITA, Shao Hua CHANG
  • Publication number: 20230167572
    Abstract: Provided is a wetting method for substrate that allows reducing an amount of air bubbles attached to a surface to be plated with a simple structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Shao Hua CHANG, Masaya SEKI
  • Publication number: 20230151507
    Abstract: Provided is a technique that ensures suppressed invasion of particles generated at a bearing of a rotation mechanism into a plating tank. A plating apparatus 1000 includes a labyrinth seal member 50.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Masaya Seki, Masaki Tomita, Shao Hua Chang
  • Publication number: 20230152077
    Abstract: Provided is a technique that allows measuring a film thickness of a substrate in a plating process. A plating apparatus 1000 includes a plating tank 10, a substrate holder 20, a rotation mechanism 30, a plurality of contact members 50, a coil 60, a current sensor 65, and a film thickness measuring device 70. The plurality of contact members 50 are disposed in a substrate holder and arranged in a circumferential direction of the substrate holder. The plurality of contact members 50 contact an outer peripheral edge of a lower surface of a substrate to supply electricity to the substrate in the plating process. The coil 60 generates a current by an electromagnetic induction due to a magnetic field generated by a current flowing into the contact member, the contact member being rotate together with the substrate holder in the plating process. The current sensor 65 detects the current generated in the coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Masaya Seki, Masaki Tomita, Shao Hua Chang
  • Patent number: 11535949
    Abstract: There is provided the substrate holder for holding a substrate comprising a first holding member, a second holding member, a sealing member, a pin, a ring, and a moving mechanism. The sealing member forms a sealed space inside the substrate holder. The pin is fixed to one of the first holding member and the second holding member. The ring is disposed on another of the first holding member and the second holding member. The ring engages with the pin. The moving mechanism circumferentially moves the ring. The pin and the ring are engaged with one another to fix the first holding member and the second holding member to one another. The pin and the ring are disposed inside the sealed space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaya Seki, Hideki Takayanagi, Kiyoshi Suzuki, Masayuki Satake, Jumpei Fujikata
  • Publication number: 20220396897
    Abstract: Provided is a technique that allows ensuring a downsized plating apparatus. A plating apparatus includes a discharge module 50. The discharge module includes a module main body 51 including a plurality of nozzles 52 configured to discharge a process liquid upward, and a moving mechanism 60 including a rotation shaft 61 disposed at a side of a plating tank and connected to the module main body. The moving mechanism 60 moves the module main body by rotation of the rotation shaft. The moving mechanism moves the module main body between the first position and the second position. The plurality of nozzles are arranged such that the process liquid discharged from the plurality of nozzles is brought in contact with a lower surface of a substrate from a center portion to an outer peripheral edge portion when the module main body moves to the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Inventors: Shao Hua Chang, Masaya Seki
  • Publication number: 20220396896
    Abstract: Provided is a plating apparatus and a plating solution agitating method that can agitate a plating solution without using a paddle. A plating apparatus 1000 includes a holder cover 50 disposed in a substrate holder 30 and configured to rotate with the substrate holder when the substrate holder rotates. The holder cover is configured to have a lower surface immersed in the plating solution with the lower surface positioned below a surface to be plated of a substrate. The lower surface of the holder cover is provided with at least one cover groove extending in a direction intersecting with a rotation direction of the holder cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Inventors: Shao Hua Chang, Masaya Seki
  • Publication number: 20220379352
    Abstract: A preprocess is efficiently performed on a substrate. A pre-wet module 200 includes a deaeration tank 210, a processing device 258, a substrate holder 220, and a drive mechanism 230. The deaeration tank 210 is configured to house a deaerated liquid. The processing device 258 includes a nozzle 268 configured to supply a cleaning liquid to a surface to be processed of a substrate having the surface to be processed facing upward. The substrate holder 220 is disposed between the deaeration tank 210 and the processing device 258. The substrate holder 220 includes a first holding member 222 configured to hold a first substrate and a second holding member 224 configured to hold a second substrate. The drive mechanism 230 is configured to rotate and move up and down the substrate holder 220. The drive mechanism 230 includes a rotation mechanism 240 and an elevating mechanism 248.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Masaya SEKI, Mitsutoshi YAHAGI, Nobuya YAMADA
  • Patent number: 11511386
    Abstract: A polishing apparatus capable of forming a step-shaped recess having a right-angled cross section in an edge portion of a substrate, such as a wafer, is disclosed. The polishing apparatus includes: a substrate rotating device configured to rotate the substrate about a rotation axis; a first roller having a first circumferential surface configured to press a polishing tape against the edge portion of the substrate; and a second roller having a second circumferential surface in contact with the first circumferential surface. The second roller has a tape stopper surface that restricts movement of the polishing tape in a direction away from the rotation axis. The tape stopper surface is located radially outward of the first circumferential surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaya Seki, Masayuki Nakanishi, Makoto Kashiwagi
  • Publication number: 20220372647
    Abstract: Provided is a substrate holder for plating on a surface of a substrate, provided with an electrical contact that is easy to replace. A substrate holder 1 includes: a first holding member 2; a second holding member 3 that has an opening portion 3a for exposing the surface of a substrate W and holds the substrate W in a sandwiched manner with the first holding member 2; a plurality of engaging shaft portions 36 each having a head portion 36b in an expanded head shape at a tip end portion, provided in a circumferential direction of the second holding member 3; and an electrical contact 32 having a contact portion 32a to be in contact with an edge portion of the substrate W, and having an engagement reception portion 32b in a notch shape to be engaged with the adjacent engaging shaft portion 36 for arrangement along a circumference of the opening portion 3a of the second holding member 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Masaya SEKI, Kiyoshi SUZUKI, Masayuki SATAKE
  • Publication number: 20220364255
    Abstract: A plating module includes: a plating tank, a substrate holder, and an elevating mechanism. The plating tank is for housing a plating solution. The substrate holder is for holding a substrate with a surface to be plated facing downward. The elevating mechanism is for moving up and down the substrate holder. The substrate holder includes: a supporting mechanism, a floating plate, a floating mechanism, and a pushing mechanism. The supporting mechanism is for supporting an outer peripheral portion of the surface of the substrate. The floating plate is arranged on a back surface side of the substrate. The floating mechanism is for biasing the floating plate to a direction away from a back surface of the substrate. The pushing mechanism is for pressing the floating plate to the back surface of the substrate against a biasing force to the substrate by the floating mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Masaki Tomita, Masaya Seki
  • Publication number: 20220356595
    Abstract: A plating apparatus 1000 includes a plating tank 10 and a substrate holder 30. The plating tank includes an anode 11 arranged in an anode chamber 13. The substrate holder is arranged above the anode chamber and configured to hold a substrate Wf as a cathode. The anode has a cylindrical shape extending in a vertical direction. The plating apparatus further includes a gas accumulation portion 60 and a discharge mechanism 70. The gas accumulation portion is disposed in the anode chamber so as to have a space between the anode and the gas accumulation portion. The gas accumulation portion covers an upper end, an outer peripheral surface, and an inner peripheral surface of the anode to accumulate a process gas generated from the anode. The discharge mechanism is configured to discharge the process gas accumulated in the gas accumulation portion to outside of the plating tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Shao Hua Chang, Yasuyuki Masuda, Masaya Seki
  • Publication number: 20220325430
    Abstract: Provided is a substrate holder and a substrate treatment apparatus capable of positioning a substrate even in a case in which the substrate receives a frictional force and the like from a support surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Masaya SEKI, Kiyoshi SUZUKI, Masayuki SATAKE
  • Publication number: 20220267921
    Abstract: Provided is a technique that allows suppressing a liquid splash of a plating solution. A plating apparatus includes a plating tank 10 including an inner tank 11, a substrate holder, and a paddle 50 configured to agitate the plating solution accumulated in the inner tank 11 by reciprocating in a horizontal direction. The paddle 50 is arranged to be inserted through a hole provided in an outer peripheral wall of the inner tank and to build a bridge between an inside of the inner tank and an outside of the inner tank, and the paddle 50 includes a first portion 51 configured to agitate the plating solution accumulated in the inner tank, a second portion 53 arranged outside the inner tank and disposed above the first portion, and a connecting portion 52 arranged outside the inner tank to connect the first portion to the second portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Masaya Seki, Shao Hua Chang
  • Publication number: 20220178046
    Abstract: A plating apparatus that allows shielding a specific portion of a substrate at a desired timing is achieved. The plating apparatus includes a plating tank 410 for housing a plating solution, an anode 430 arranged in the plating tank 410, a substrate holder 440 for holding a substrate Wf with a surface to be plated facing downward, a rotation mechanism 447 for rotating the substrate holder 440, and a shielding mechanism 460 moving a shielding member 482 between the anode 430 and the substrate Wf depending on a rotation angle of the substrate holder 440.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Masaki Tomita, Masaya Seki, Masashi Shimoyama, Shao Hua Chang