Patents by Inventor Mitsuhiro Iwano
Mitsuhiro Iwano 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).
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Publication number: 20250232954Abstract: The purpose of the technique is to improve controllability of plasma formed on a substrate. A plasma processing apparatus includes a chamber; a substrate support that is disposed in the chamber and includes a lower electrode; an upper electrode that is disposed above the substrate support; a first RF power supply configured to supply a first RF signal having a first RF frequency to the upper electrode or the lower electrode; a second RF power supply configured to supply a second RF signal having a second RF frequency to the lower electrode; and a third RF power supply configured to supply a third RF signal having a third RF frequency to the lower electrode. Three RF power supplies supply RF signals having respective power levels in four periods in each cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2025Publication date: July 17, 2025Applicant: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Mitsuhiro IWANO, Motoki NORO
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Publication number: 20250226181Abstract: A technique for improving controllability of plasma generated on a substrate is provided. A plasma processing apparatus includes a chamber, a substrate support disposed inside the chamber and including a lower electrode, an upper electrode disposed above the substrate support, a first RF power supply for supplying a first RF signal having a first RF frequency to the upper electrode or the lower electrode, a second RF power supply for suppling a second RF signal having a second RF frequency to the lower electrode, and a third RF power supply for supplying a third RF signal having a third RF frequency to the lower electrode. The three RF power supplies supply RF signals having respective power levels in three periods in each cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2025Publication date: July 10, 2025Applicant: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Mitsuhiro IWANO, Motoki NORO
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Publication number: 20250201536Abstract: A plasma processing method includes: (a) preparing a substrate having an etching film and a dielectric film; (b) etching the etching film by repeatedly executing, a plurality of times, a cycle including (b-a) supplying a processing gas containing at least a carbon-containing gas into the chamber and forming a protective film at least on the dielectric film, and (b-b) supplying a processing gas containing at least a noble gas into the chamber; and (c) etching the etching film by executing, one or more times, a cycle including (c-a) supplying a processing gas containing at least a carbon-containing gas into the chamber, and (c-b) supplying a processing gas containing at least a noble gas into the chamber and supplying a bias signal to the substrate support.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2025Publication date: June 19, 2025Applicant: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventor: Mitsuhiro IWANO
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Publication number: 20240290625Abstract: In an etching method, plasma from a processing gas containing a fluorocarbon gas is formed within a chamber of a plasma processing apparatus, and a deposit containing fluorocarbon is formed on a substrate. The substrate includes a first region formed of a silicon containing material and a second region formed of a metal containing material. Subsequently, plasma from a rare gas is formed within the chamber, and rare gas ions are supplied to the substrate. As a result, the first region is etched by the fluorocarbon contained in the deposit. When the plasma from the rare gas is formed, a magnetic field distribution in which a horizontal component on an edge side of the substrate is higher than a horizontal component on a center of the substrate is formed by an electromagnet.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2024Publication date: August 29, 2024Inventors: Mitsuhiro Iwano, Masanori Hosoya
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Patent number: 12014930Abstract: In an etching method, plasma from a processing gas containing a fluorocarbon gas is formed within a chamber of a plasma processing apparatus, and a deposit containing fluorocarbon is formed on a substrate. The substrate includes a first region formed of a silicon containing material and a second region formed of a metal containing material. Subsequently, plasma from a rare gas is formed within the chamber, and rare gas ions are supplied to the substrate. As a result, the first region is etched by the fluorocarbon contained in the deposit. When the plasma from the rare gas is formed, a magnetic field distribution in which a horizontal component on an edge side of the substrate is higher than a horizontal component on a center of the substrate is formed by an electromagnet.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2019Date of Patent: June 18, 2024Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Mitsuhiro Iwano, Masanori Hosoya
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Patent number: 11710643Abstract: A method includes etching a first region by plasma etching such that an upper surface of the first region is provided at a deeper position within a substrate than a second region; forming a deposit containing carbon on the substrate by forming plasma of a hydrocarbon gas inside a chamber of a plasma processing apparatus; and further etching the first region by plasma etching. In the forming of the plasma of the hydrocarbon gas, magnetic field distribution in which a horizontal component on an edge side of the substrate is larger than a horizontal component on a center of the substrate is formed by an electromagnet.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2019Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Mitsuhiro Iwano, Masanori Hosoya
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Publication number: 20210366718Abstract: In an etching method, plasma from a processing gas containing a fluorocarbon gas is formed within a chamber of a plasma processing apparatus, and a deposit containing fluorocarbon is formed on a substrate. The substrate includes a first region formed of a silicon containing material and a second region formed of a metal containing material. Subsequently, plasma from a rare gas is formed within the chamber, and rare gas ions are supplied to the substrate. As a result, the first region is etched by the fluorocarbon contained in the deposit. When the plasma from the rare gas is formed, a magnetic field distribution in which a horizontal component on an edge side of the substrate is higher than a horizontal component on a center of the substrate is formed by an electromagnet.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2019Publication date: November 25, 2021Inventors: Mitsuhiro Iwano, Masanori Hosoya
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Publication number: 20210335623Abstract: A method includes etching a first region by plasma etching such that an upper surface of the first region is provided at a deeper position within a substrate than a second region; forming a deposit containing carbon on the substrate by forming plasma of a hydrocarbon gas inside a chamber of a plasma processing apparatus; and further etching the first region by plasma etching. In the forming of the plasma of the hydrocarbon gas, magnetic field distribution in which a horizontal component on an edge side of the substrate is larger than a horizontal component on a center of the substrate is formed by an electromagnet.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2019Publication date: October 28, 2021Inventors: Mitsuhiro Iwano, Masanori Hosoya
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Patent number: 10734205Abstract: In a cleaning method according to an exemplary embodiment, a plasma is formed from a cleaning gas in a chamber of a plasma processing apparatus. A focus ring is mounted on a substrate support in the chamber to extend around a central axis of the chamber. While the plasma is formed, a magnetic field distribution is formed in the chamber by an electromagnet. The magnetic field distribution has a maximum horizontal component in a location on the focus ring or a location outside the focus ring in a radial direction with respect to the central axis.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2019Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Mitsuhiro Iwano, Masanori Hosoya
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Publication number: 20200135436Abstract: In a cleaning method according to an exemplary embodiment, a plasma is formed from a cleaning gas in a chamber of a plasma processing apparatus. A focus ring is mounted on a substrate support in the chamber to extend around a central axis of the chamber. While the plasma is formed, a magnetic field distribution is formed in the chamber by an electromagnet. The magnetic field distribution has a maximum horizontal component in a location on the focus ring or a location outside the focus ring in a radial direction with respect to the central axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2019Publication date: April 30, 2020Applicant: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Mitsuhiro IWANO, Masanori HOSOYA
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Patent number: 10529583Abstract: An etching method is provided. A processing target object includes a first region made of silicon oxide and a second region made of silicon nitride. The second region is extended to provide a recess and has a bottom region extended on a bottom of the recess. The first region is configured to cover the second region. In the etching method, a deposit of fluorocarbon is formed on the processing target object, and the first region is etched by irradiating ions of atoms of a rare gas toward the processing target object. Then, on the bottom region, a modified region is formed by supplying hydrogen ions. Subsequently, the deposit of fluorocarbon is formed on the processing target object, and the modified region is etched by irradiating ions of atoms of the rare gas toward the processing target object.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2018Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Mitsuhiro Iwano, Masanori Hosoya
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Publication number: 20190139780Abstract: An etching method is provided. A processing target object includes a first region made of silicon oxide and a second region made of silicon nitride. The second region is extended to provide a recess and has a bottom region extended on a bottom of the recess. The first region is configured to cover the second region. In the etching method, a deposit of fluorocarbon is formed on the processing target object, and the first region is etched by irradiating ions of atoms of a rare gas toward the processing target object. Then, on the bottom region, a modified region is formed by supplying hydrogen ions. Subsequently, the deposit of fluorocarbon is formed on the processing target object, and the modified region is etched by irradiating ions of atoms of the rare gas toward the processing target object.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2018Publication date: May 9, 2019Inventors: Mitsuhiro Iwano, Masanori Hosoya