Patents by Inventor Masayuki Sawataishi

Masayuki Sawataishi 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: 11688650
    Abstract: A method of etching a substrate, on which a multilayered film is formed, is provided. The multilayered film includes a silicon-containing insulating layer, an undercoat layer provided under the silicon-containing insulating layer, and a mask layer provided above the silicon-containing insulating layer. When the substrate is loaded into a process chamber, a process gas containing a fluorocarbon gas and a noble gas is supplied into the process chamber, and the multilayered film is etched by the plasma formed from the process gas. The noble gas contains a first gas having higher ionization energy than Ar gas, and momentum of an ionized particle of the first gas is less than momentum of an ionized particle of Ar gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Gaku Shimoda, Masayuki Sawataishi, Takanori Eto
  • Publication number: 20220262601
    Abstract: An etching method includes (a) disposing a substrate having a silicon oxide film on a substrate support in a chamber. The substrate includes a plurality of etching stop layers arranged inside the silicon oxide film. The plurality of etching stop layers are arranged at different positions in a thickness direction of the silicon oxide film. Each of the plurality of etching stop layers is formed of at least one of tungsten and molybdenum. The etching method (b) supplying a processing gas into the chamber, the processing gas including a gas containing at least one of tungsten and molybdenum, a gas containing carbon and fluoride, and an oxygen-containing gas; and (c) generating plasma from the processing gas to etch the silicon oxide film, thereby forming a plurality of recesses that reach the plurality of etching stop layers, respectively, in the silicon oxide film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Seiichi WATANABE, Manabu SATO, Masayuki SAWATAISHI, Hiroki YAMADA, Shinji ORIMO
  • Patent number: 11062881
    Abstract: A plasma etching method according to an exemplary embodiment comprises arranging a substrate on an electrostatic chuck in a region surrounded by a focus ring. The substrate, in a state of being held by the electrostatic chuck, is etched by means of ions from a plasma. The electrostatic chuck includes a plurality of electrodes including a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode extends under a central region of the substrate. The second electrode extends under an edge region of the substrate. A plurality of voltages are respectively applied to the plurality of electrodes, wherein the plurality of voltages are determined such that, in the state in which the substrate is held by the electrostatic chuck, the ions from the plasma are incident on both the central region and the edge region substantially vertically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Masayuki Sawataishi, Jun Hirose
  • Publication number: 20210005519
    Abstract: A method of etching a substrate, on which a multilayered film is formed, is provided. The multilayered film includes a silicon-containing insulating layer, an undercoat layer provided under the silicon-containing insulating layer, and a mask layer provided above the silicon-containing insulating layer. When the substrate is loaded into a process chamber, a process gas containing a fluorocarbon gas and a noble gas is supplied into the process chamber, and the multilayered film is etched by the plasma formed from the process gas. The noble gas contains a first gas having higher ionization energy than Ar gas, and momentum of an ionized particle of the first gas is less than momentum of an ionized particle of Ar gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Gaku SHIMODA, Masayuki SAWATAISHI, Takanori ETO
  • Publication number: 20210005427
    Abstract: A plasma etching method according to an exemplary embodiment comprises arranging a substrate on an electrostatic chuck in a region surrounded by a focus ring. The substrate, in a state of being held by the electrostatic chuck, is etched by means of ions from a plasma. The electrostatic chuck includes a plurality of electrodes including a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode extends under a central region of the substrate. The second electrode extends under an edge region of the substrate. A plurality of voltages are respectively applied to the plurality of electrodes, wherein the plurality of voltages are determined such that, in the state in which the substrate is held by the electrostatic chuck, the ions from the plasma are incident on both the central region and the edge region substantially vertically.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Masayuki SAWATAISHI, Jun HIROSE
  • Publication number: 20190051500
    Abstract: Both a conductive layer selectivity and a mask selectivity can be achieved. A plasma processing method includes supplying a processing gas containing at least a fluorocarbon-based gas or a hydrofluorocarbon-based gas and CO into a processing vessel in which a multilayered film having at least an oxide layer, a conductive layer provided under the oxide layer and a mask layer provided on a top surface of the oxide layer is disposed; and etching the multilayered film by generating plasma within the processing vessel into which the processing gas is supplied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: Takanori Eto, Masayuki Sawataishi
  • Patent number: 9735021
    Abstract: An etching method of etching a first region including a multilayered film, in which silicon oxide films and silicon nitride films are alternately stacked, and a second region including a single-layered silicon oxide film is provided. The etching method includes a first plasma process of generating plasma of a first processing gas containing a fluorocarbon gas and an oxygen gas within a processing vessel of a plasma processing apparatus; and a second plasma process of generating plasma of a second processing gas containing a hydrogen gas, nitrogen trifluoride gas, a hydrogen bromide gas and a carbon-containing gas within the processing vessel. A temperature of an electrostatic chuck is set to a first temperature in the first plasma process, and the temperature of the electrostatic chuck is set to a second temperature lower than the first temperature in the second plasma process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Masayuki Sawataishi, Tomonori Miwa
  • Patent number: 9735025
    Abstract: A method of etching a first region including a multilayered film, in which first dielectric films and second dielectric films serving as silicon nitride films are alternately stacked, and a second region including a single-layered silicon oxide film is provided. The etching method includes a first plasma process of generating plasma of a first processing gas containing a fluorocarbon gas and an oxygen gas within a processing vessel of a plasma processing apparatus; and a second plasma process of generating plasma of a second processing gas containing a hydrogen gas, nitrogen trifluoride gas and a carbon-containing gas within the processing vessel. A temperature of an electrostatic chuck is set to a first temperature in the first plasma process, and the temperature of the electrostatic chuck is set to a second temperature lower than the first temperature in the second plasma process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Masayuki Sawataishi, Tomonori Miwa, Yuki Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20170186591
    Abstract: A deposit deposited on an upper electrode of a plasma processing apparatus having an electromagnet, which is provided on an upper portion of a processing chamber and includes concentrically arranged annular coils, can be removed by performing a cleaning method of the plasma processing apparatus. The cleaning method of the plasma processing apparatus includes introducing a preset cleaning gas into the processing chamber and generating plasma of the preset cleaning gas by applying a high frequency power between the upper electrode and a lower electrode; and generating a magnetic field by supplying electric currents to the coils, and adjusting an amount of the electric current supplied to each of the coils individually depending on a distribution of a thickness of the deposit deposited on the upper electrode in a radial direction thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Kyosuke Hayashi, Masayuki Sawataishi
  • Publication number: 20160351407
    Abstract: An etching method of etching a first region including a multilayered film, in which silicon oxide films and silicon nitride films are alternately stacked, and a second region including a single-layered silicon oxide film is provided. The etching method includes a first plasma process of generating plasma of a first processing gas containing a fluorocarbon gas and an oxygen gas within a processing vessel of a plasma processing apparatus; and a second plasma process of generating plasma of a second processing gas containing a hydrogen gas, nitrogen trifluoride gas, a hydrogen bromide gas and a carbon-containing gas within the processing vessel. A temperature of an electrostatic chuck is set to a first temperature in the first plasma process, and the temperature of the electrostatic chuck is set to a second temperature lower than the first temperature in the second plasma process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Masayuki Sawataishi, Tomonori Miwa
  • Publication number: 20160351406
    Abstract: A method of etching a first region including a multilayered film, in which first dielectric films and second dielectric films serving as silicon nitride films are alternately stacked, and a second region including a single-layered silicon oxide film is provided. The etching method includes a first plasma process of generating plasma of a first processing gas containing a fluorocarbon gas and an oxygen gas within a processing vessel of a plasma processing apparatus; and a second plasma process of generating plasma of a second processing gas containing a hydrogen gas, nitrogen trifluoride gas and a carbon-containing gas within the processing vessel. A temperature of an electrostatic chuck is set to a first temperature in the first plasma process, and the temperature of the electrostatic chuck is set to a second temperature lower than the first temperature in the second plasma process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Masayuki Sawataishi, Tomonori Miwa, Yuki Kaneko
  • Patent number: 9428838
    Abstract: Disclosed are a plasma processing method and a plasma processing apparatus which collectively perform etching under the same etching conditions while suppressing a shape abnormality. The multilayer film material has a polysilicon layer, a first metal layer formed on the polysilicon layer, and a hard mask layer which contains a tungsten layer formed on the first metal layer. In the method, plasma is generated by a mixed gas of a chloride-containing gas which contains a compound containing chlorine and silicon, a compound containing chlorine and boron, or a compound containing chlorine and hydrogen, a chlorine-containing gas which contains chlorine, and a processing gas which contains carbon and fluorine, and the hard mask layer is used as an etching mask so as to perform the etching from a top surface of the first metal layer to a bottom surface of the polysilicon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Masayuki Sawataishi
  • Publication number: 20140299571
    Abstract: Disclosed are a plasma processing method and a plasma processing apparatus which collectively perform etching under the same etching conditions while suppressing a shape abnormality. The multilayer film material has a polysilicon layer, a first metal layer formed on the polysilicon layer, and a hard mask layer which contains a tungsten layer formed on the first metal layer. In the method, plasma is generated by a mixed gas of a chloride-containing gas which contains a compound containing chlorine and silicon, a compound containing chlorine and boron, or a compound containing chlorine and hydrogen, a chlorine-containing gas which contains chlorine, and a processing gas which contains carbon and fluorine, and the hard mask layer is used as an etching mask so as to perform the etching from a top surface of the first metal layer to a bottom surface of the polysilicon layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Masayuki SAWATAISHI
  • Patent number: 8282844
    Abstract: A method and system of etching a metal nitride, such as titanium nitride, is described. The etching process comprises introducing a process composition having a halogen containing gas, such as Cl2, HBr, or BCl3, and a hydrocarbon gas having the chemical formula CxHy, where x and y are equal to unity or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Akiteru Ko, Hiroyuki Takahashi, Masayuki Sawataishi
  • Publication number: 20100206841
    Abstract: A method and system of etching a metal nitride, such as titanium nitride is described. The etching process comprises introducing a process composition having a halogen containing gas, such as Cl2, HBr, or BCl3, and a hydrocarbon gas having the chemical formula CxHy, where x and y are equal to unity or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Akiteru KO, Hiroyuki TAKAHASHI, Masayuki SAWATAISHI
  • Publication number: 20090032495
    Abstract: A method and system of etching a metal nitride, such as titanium nitride, is described. The etching process comprises introducing a process composition having a halogen containing gas, such as Cl2, HBr, or BCl3, and a hydrocarbon gas having the chemical formula CxHy, where x and y are equal to unity or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Akiteru KO, Masayuki SAWATAISHI, Hiroyuki TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20070211402
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus carrying out processing on a substrate, which enables attachment of particles to a surface of a substrate to be prevented. A substrate processing apparatus comprises a housing chamber in which the substrate is housed, and a stage that is disposed in the housing chamber and on which the substrate is mounted. The stage having in an upper portion thereof an electrostatic chuck comprising an insulating member having an electrode plate therein, and the electrode plate having a DC power source connected thereto. The DC power source applies a negative voltage to the electrode plate when the substrate is to be attracted by the electrostatic chuck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Masayuki Sawataishi, Akitaka Shimuzu, Eiichi Nishimura
  • Patent number: 7256135
    Abstract: An etching method of the present invention includes a first and a second process. In the first process, pattern widths of a pre-patterned mask layer are increased by depositing plasma reaction products on sidewalls of the mask layer. In the second process, a layer to be etched is etched by using the mask layer as a mask having increased the pattern widths. Therefore, mask layers having different pattern densities exist in the same wafer and pattern widths of mask layers patterned through a photolithography process are uneven according to pattern densities, each pattern width of the mask layers can be made uniform. Accordingly, the pattern widths of the layer can be made uniform over an entire wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Masato Kushibiki, Masayuki Sawataishi, Akitaka Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20050070111
    Abstract: An etching method of the present invention includes a first and a second process. In the first process, pattern widths of a pre-patterned mask layer are increased by depositing plasma reaction products on sidewalls of the mask layer. In the second process, a layer to be etched is etched by using the mask layer as a mask having increased the pattern widths. Therefore, mask layers having different pattern densities exist in the same wafer and pattern widths of mask layers patterned through a photolithography process are uneven according to pattern densities, each pattern width of the mask layers can be made uniform. Accordingly, the pattern widths of the layer can be made uniform over an entire wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Masato Kushibiki, Masayuki Sawataishi, Akitaka Shimizu