Patents by Inventor Munetoshi Nagasaka

Munetoshi Nagasaka 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: 9759762
    Abstract: A probe device includes an electrode plate arranged above a mounting table for mounting thereon a semiconductor wafer and electrically connected to a tester, a contact probe arranged at a side of the mounting table and electrically connected to a mounting table electrode of the mounting table. The contact probe includes a contact portion, having a top surface formed uneven, to be in contact with the electrode plate, and a cable connection portion formed as one unit with the contact portion. The contact portion and the cable connection portion are vertically movable by a biasing member provided below the cable connection portion. When the probes are made contact with electrodes of a semiconductor device of the semiconductor wafer by moving up the mounting table, the contact portion and the electrode plate are made contact with each other and the backside electrode and the tester are electrically connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Eiichi Shinohara, Munetoshi Nagasaka, Ken Taoka, Yoshiyasu Kato
  • Patent number: 9638719
    Abstract: A probe device includes an electrode plate arranged above a mounting table for mounting thereon a semiconductor wafer and electrically connected to a tester, a connection conductor arranged at a side of the mounting table and electrically connected to a mounting table electrode formed on a mounting surface of the mounting table, and a cleaning mechanism including a polishing unit for polishing a contact portion of the connection conductor, a brush cleaning unit for performing a brush-cleaning of the contact portion, and a contact resistance measuring unit for measuring a contact resistance of the contact portion. The mounting table electrode is in contact with a backside electrode of a semiconductor device of the semiconductor wafer. When the connection conductor is connected to the electrode plate, a backside electrode formed on a backside of the semiconductor device and the tester are electrically connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Eiichi Shinohara, Munetoshi Nagasaka, Yoshiyasu Kato
  • Patent number: 9523711
    Abstract: A probe apparatus includes a card clamp unit detachably supporting a probe card; and a wafer mounting table adsorbing the semiconductor wafer and bringing electrodes on the semiconductor wafer into contact with the probes. In order to mount the semiconductor wafer including an annular portion protruding from a rear surface of an outer peripheral portion and a thin portion having a thickness smaller than the annular portion, the wafer mounting table includes a planar portion on which the thin portion is mounted; and a step-shaped portion which is formed at an edge of the planar portion and mounts the annular portion thereon. Multiple circular vacuum chuck grooves are concentrically formed in the planar portion, and at least some of the vacuum chuck grooves are connected to multiple vacuum paths through which vacuum evacuation is performed at multiple positions separated from each other by 90° or more along a circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Kazuya Yano, Eiji Hayashi, Munetoshi Nagasaka
  • Publication number: 20160061882
    Abstract: A probe device includes an electrode plate arranged above a mounting table for mounting thereon a semiconductor wafer and electrically connected to a tester, a contact probe arranged at a side of the mounting table and electrically connected to a mounting table electrode of the mounting table. The contact probe includes a contact portion, having a top surface formed uneven, to be in contact with the electrode plate, and a cable connection portion formed as one unit with the contact portion. The contact portion and the cable connection portion are vertically movable by a biasing member provided below the cable connection portion. When the probes are made contact with electrodes of a semiconductor device of the semiconductor wafer by moving up the mounting table, the contact portion and the electrode plate are made contact with each other and the backside electrode and the tester are electrically connected to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Eiichi SHINOHARA, Munetoshi NAGASAKA, Ken TAOKA, Yoshiyasu KATO
  • Publication number: 20160054357
    Abstract: A probe device includes an electrode plate arranged above a mounting table for mounting thereon a semiconductor wafer and electrically connected to a tester, a connection conductor arranged at a side of the mounting table and electrically connected to a mounting table electrode formed on a mounting surface of the mounting table, and a cleaning mechanism including a polishing unit for polishing a contact portion of the connection conductor, a brush cleaning unit for performing a brush-cleaning of the contact portion, and a contact resistance measuring unit for measuring a contact resistance of the contact portion. The mounting table electrode is in contact with a backside electrode of a semiconductor device of the semiconductor wafer. When the connection conductor is connected to the electrode plate, a backside electrode formed on a backside of the semiconductor device and the tester are electrically connected to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Eiichi SHINOHARA, Munetoshi NAGASAKA, Yoshiyasu KATO
  • Patent number: 9261553
    Abstract: A probe apparatus of inspecting electrical characteristics of a power device having electrodes on both sides of a substrate at wafer level can reduce and uniformize a contact resistance between the electrode on a rear surface of the substrate and a mounting surface conductor of a chuck top. In the probe apparatus, an attracting device supports a semiconductor wafer W on the chuck top 12, and has many vertical fine holes in a pattern (diameter ? and pitch p) that satisfies the condition of ?<p?2?. For example, the diameter ? is about 0.25 mm, and the pitch p is about 0.5 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Eiichi Shinohara, Munetoshi Nagasaka, Isamu Inomata, Kazuya Yano, Yoshiyasu Kato
  • Publication number: 20150145547
    Abstract: A probe apparatus includes a card clamp unit detachably supporting a probe card; and a wafer mounting table adsorbing the semiconductor wafer and bringing electrodes on the semiconductor wafer into contact with the probes. In order to mount the semiconductor wafer including an annular portion protruding from a rear surface of an outer peripheral portion and a thin portion having a thickness smaller than the annular portion, the wafer mounting table includes a planar portion on which the thin portion is mounted; and a step-shaped portion which is formed at an edge of the planar portion and mounts the annular portion thereon. Multiple circular vacuum chuck grooves are concentrically formed in the planar portion, and at least some of the vacuum chuck grooves are connected to multiple vacuum paths through which vacuum evacuation is performed at multiple positions separated from each other by 90° or more along a circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Kazuya Yano, Eiji Hayashi, Munetoshi Nagasaka
  • Publication number: 20150028907
    Abstract: A probe apparatus of inspecting electrical characteristics of a power device having electrodes on both sides of a substrate at wafer level can reduce and uniformize a contact resistance between the electrode on a rear surface of the substrate and a mounting surface conductor of a chuck top. In the probe apparatus, an attracting device supports a semiconductor wafer W on the chuck top 12, and has many vertical fine holes in a pattern (diameter ? and pitch p) that satisfies the condition of ?<p?2?. For example, the diameter ? is about 0.25 mm, and the pitch p is about 0.5 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Eiichi Shinohara, Munetoshi Nagasaka, Isamu Inomata, Kazuya Yano, Yoshiyasu Kato
  • Patent number: 8196983
    Abstract: A substrate attracting device includes an attracting body for attracting and holding a substrate to transfer the substrate. The attracting body includes a first attracting unit for attracting and holding a top surface of the substrate according to Bernoulli principle and a second attracting unit for vacuum-attracting and holding a bottom surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Munetoshi Nagasaka, Ikuo Ogasawara
  • Patent number: 8082977
    Abstract: A mounting apparatus includes a surface plate; a temperature control unit integrated with the surface plate; and a bottom plate integrated with the temperature control unit via a heat insulation ring, wherein a temperature of a target object held on the surface plate is capable of being controlled and the surface plate is formed of ceramic. The surface plate and the temperature control unit are coupled to each other by a first coupling member at each portion thereof except for each peripheral portion thereof such that the peripheral portion of the surface plate being not coupled thereto. The peripheral portion of the temperature control unit is coupled to the heat insulation ring by a second coupling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Yutaka Akaike, Munetoshi Nagasaka
  • Patent number: 7541801
    Abstract: A probe card transfer assist apparatus for assisting an operation of transferring a probe card used in an electrical inspection apparatus includes a holder for holding the probe card; a support for supporting the holder in a freely-rotate manner about a point; and an elevation unit for moving the support up and down. Further, an inspection equipment includes an electrical inspection apparatus; and a probe card transfer assist apparatus for assisting an operation of transferring a probe card used in the electrical inspection apparatus, the assist apparatus including a holder for holding the probe card; a support for supporting the holder in a freely-rotating manner about a point; and an elevation unit for moving the support up and down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Munetoshi Nagasaka, Chiaki Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 7528620
    Abstract: A probe card transfer assist apparatus for assisting an operation of transferring a probe card employed in an electrical inspection apparatus includes a holding unit for holding a pair of grips of the probe card wherein the grips are supported by being placed onto or suspended by the holding unit; a supporting unit for movably supporting the holding unit; and an elevation mechanism for moving the supporting unit up and down. Further, an inspecting equipment is provided with the probe card transfer assist apparatus having a holding unit for holding a pair of grips of the probe card wherein the grips are supported by being placed onto or suspended by the holding unit; a supporting unit for movably supporting the holding unit; and an elevation mechanism for moving the supporting unit up and down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Chiaki Mochizuki, Munetoshi Nagasaka
  • Publication number: 20080267741
    Abstract: A substrate attracting device includes an attracting body for attracting and holding a substrate to transfer the substrate. The attracting body includes a first attracting unit for attracting and holding a top surface of the substrate according to Bernoulli principle and a second attracting unit for vacuum-attracting and holding a bottom surface of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Munetoshi NAGASAKA, Ikuo OGASAWARA
  • Publication number: 20070221363
    Abstract: A mounting apparatus includes a surface plate; a temperature control unit integrated with the surface plate; and a bottom plate integrated with the temperature control unit via a heat insulation ring, wherein a temperature of a target object held on the surface plate is capable of being controlled and the surface plate is formed of ceramic. The surface plate and the temperature control unit are coupled to each other by a first coupling member at each portion thereof except for each peripheral portion thereof such that the peripheral portion of the surface plate being not coupled thereto. The peripheral portion of the temperature control unit is coupled to the heat insulation ring by a second coupling member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yutaka AKAIKE, Munetoshi Nagasaka
  • Publication number: 20070126441
    Abstract: A probe card transfer assist apparatus for assisting an operation of transferring a probe card employed in an electrical inspection apparatus includes a holding unit for holding a pair of grips of the probe card wherein the grips are supported by being placed onto or suspended by the holding unit; a supporting unit for movably supporting the holding unit; and an elevation mechanism for moving the supporting unit up and down. Further, an inspecting equipment is provided with the probe card transfer assist apparatus having a holding unit for holding a pair of grips of the probe card wherein the grips are supported by being placed onto or suspended by the holding unit; a supporting unit for movably supporting the holding unit; and an elevation mechanism for moving the supporting unit up and down.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Chiaki Mochizuki, Munetoshi Nagasaka
  • Publication number: 20070063720
    Abstract: A probe card transfer assist apparatus for assisting an operation of transferring a probe card used in an electrical inspection apparatus includes a holder for holding the probe card; a support for supporting the holder in a freely-rotate manner about a point; and an elevation unit for moving the support up and down. Further, an inspection equipment includes an electrical inspection apparatus; and a probe card transfer assist apparatus for assisting an operation of transferring a probe card used in the electrical inspection apparatus, the assist apparatus including a holder for holding the probe card; a support for supporting the holder in a freely-rotating manner about a point; and an elevation unit for moving the support up and down.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Munetoshi Nagasaka, Chiaki Mochizuki
  • Patent number: D589474
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Ikuo Ogasawara, Munetoshi Nagasaka
  • Patent number: D589912
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Ikuo Ogasawara, Munetoshi Nagasaka
  • Patent number: D609652
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Munetoshi Nagasaka, Ikuo Ogasawara, Eiichi Shinohara
  • Patent number: D612879
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Munetoshi Nagasaka