Patents by Inventor Naoki Yasui

Naoki Yasui 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).

  • Publication number: 20230058692
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a processing chamber in which a sample is subjected to plasma processing, a first radio frequency power supply that supplies radio frequency power for generating plasma, a sample stage on which the sample is mounted, and a second radio frequency power supply that supplies radio frequency power to the sample stage, the plasma processing apparatus further includes a DC power supply that applies a DC voltage, that is changed according to a periodically repeated waveform, to the sample stage, and the waveform of one cycle has a period in which amplitude changes by a predetermined amount or more during a predetermined time. Accordingly, charged particles on a wafer surface are removed, a trench shape with high verticality can be obtained, and damage to a film that is not to be etched inside a trench can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Isao Mori, Masaru Izawa, Naoki Yasui, Norihiko Ikeda, Kazuya Yamada
  • Patent number: 11424105
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a processing chamber in which a sample is subjected to plasma processing, a first radio frequency power supply that supplies radio frequency power for generating plasma, a sample stage on which the sample is mounted, and a second radio frequency power supply that supplies radio frequency power to the sample stage, the plasma processing apparatus further includes a DC power supply that applies a DC voltage, that is changed according to a periodically repeated waveform, to the sample stage, and the waveform of one cycle has a period in which amplitude changes by a predetermined amount or more during a predetermined time. Accordingly, charged particles on a wafer surface are removed, a trench shape with high verticality can be obtained, and damage to a film that is not to be etched inside a trench can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Isao Mori, Masaru Izawa, Naoki Yasui, Norihiko Ikeda, Kazuya Yamada
  • Patent number: 11417501
    Abstract: The plasma processing apparatus has a plasma processing chamber where plasma processing of the sample is performed, and plasma power supply that supplies radio frequency electric power for generating plasma. The radio frequency electric power is time modulated by a pulse wave having a first period and a second period that are repeated periodically. The pulse wave of the first period has first amplitude and the pulse wave of the second period has second amplitude which is a limited value smaller than the first amplitude. The extinction of the plasma, which is generated during the first period having the first amplitude, is maintained during the second period having the second amplitude with a predetermined dissociation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayuki Shiina, Naoki Yasui, Tetsuo Ono
  • Patent number: 11355315
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a processing chamber, a first radio frequency power source, and a second radio frequency power source. The first radio frequency power source supplies radio frequency power to generate the plasma. The second radio frequency power source applies a first radio frequency voltage to a sample stage. The plasma processing apparatus further includes a third radio frequency power source and a controller. The third radio frequency power source applies, to the sample stage, a second radio frequency voltage having a frequency which is N times a frequency of the first radio frequency voltage in a case where N is a natural number of 2 or more. The controller controls a phase difference such that the phase difference between a phase of the first radio frequency voltage and a phase of the second radio frequency voltage reaches a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norihiko Ikeda, Naoki Yasui
  • Publication number: 20210398777
    Abstract: The plasma processing apparatus has a plasma processing chamber where plasma processing of the sample is performed, and plasma power supply that supplies radio frequency electric power for generating plasma. The radio frequency electric power is time modulated by a pulse wave having a first period and a second period that are repeated periodically. The pulse wave of the first period has first amplitude and the pulse wave of the second period has second amplitude which is a limited value smaller than the first amplitude. The extinction of the plasma, which is generated during the first period having the first amplitude, is maintained during the second period having the second amplitude with a predetermined dissociation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Masayuki SHIINA, Naoki YASUI, Tetsuo ONO
  • Patent number: 11152192
    Abstract: To improve processing uniformity by improving a working characteristic in an edge exclusion region. Provided is a plasma processing apparatus for processing a sample by generating plasma in a vacuum vessel to which a processing gas is supplied and that is exhausted to a predetermined pressure and by applying a radio frequency bias to a sample placed in the vacuum vessel, wherein a conductive radio frequency ring to which a radio frequency bias power is applied is arranged in a stepped part formed outside a convex part of the sample stage on which the wafer is mounted, and a dielectric cover ring is provided in the stepped part, covering the radio frequency ring, the cover ring substantially blocks penetration of the radio frequency power to the plasma from the radio frequency ring, and the radio frequency ring top surface is set higher than a wafer top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Yasui, Norihiko Ikeda, Tooru Aramaki, Yasuhiro Nishimori
  • Patent number: 11094512
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a plasma processing apparatus includes a processing chamber, a sample stage that is disposed inside the processing chamber and electrically divided into a plurality of regions on which a sample is placed, an electromagnetic wave introduction unit that introduces electromagnetic waves into the processing chamber, and a bias power applying unit that applies bias power to the sample stage, in which the bias power applying unit is configured to include a first radio frequency power applying unit that applies first radio frequency power to a first region out of the plurality of electrically divided regions of the sample stage, a second radio frequency power applying unit that applies second radio frequency power to a second region out of the plurality of electrically divided regions of the sample stage, and a phase adjuster that controls the first radio frequency power applying unit and the second radio frequency power applying unit to shift the phases of the first radio frequency powe
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuya Yamada, Koichi Yamamoto, Naoki Yasui, Norihiko Ikeda, Isao Mori
  • Patent number: 11081320
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a processing chamber 101 where a wafer 114 is processed using plasma 111, a radio frequency power supply 106 configured to supply a radio frequency power for generating the plasma 111, a mechanism configured to form a magnetic field for forming ECR and to control a magnetic flux density thereof, and a sample stage 113 on which the wafer 114 is placed. The plasma processing apparatus further includes a control unit 107 configured to, based on image data of the plasma 111, monitor a height of ECR which is electron cyclotron resonance generated by an interaction between the radio frequency power and the magnetic field, and to control a frequency of the radio frequency power such that the monitored ECR height becomes a predetermined height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norihiko Ikeda, Naoki Yasui, Kazuya Yamada
  • Patent number: 11004658
    Abstract: In a plasma processing apparatus including a first radio-frequency power supply which supplies first radio-frequency power for generating plasma in a vacuum chamber, a second radio-frequency power supply which supplies second radio-frequency power to a sample stage on which a sample is mounted, and a matching box for the second radio-frequency power supply, the matching box samples information for performing matching during a sampling effective period which is from a point of time after elapse of a prescribed time from a beginning of on-state of the time-modulated second radio-frequency power until an end of the on-state and maintains a matching state attained during the sampling effective period from after the end of the on-state until a next sampling effective period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michikazu Morimoto, Naoki Yasui, Yasuo Ohgoshi
  • Publication number: 20210043424
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a processing chamber in which a sample is subjected to plasma processing, a first radio frequency power supply that supplies radio frequency power for generating plasma, a sample stage on which the sample is mounted, and a second radio frequency power supply that supplies radio frequency power to the sample stage, the plasma processing apparatus further includes a DC power supply that applies a DC voltage, that is changed according to a periodically repeated waveform, to the sample stage, and the waveform of one cycle has a period in which amplitude changes by a predetermined amount or more during a predetermined time. Accordingly, charged particles on a wafer surface are removed, a trench shape with high verticality can be obtained, and damage to a film that is not to be etched inside a trench can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Isao Mori, Masaru Izawa, Naoki Yasui, Norihiko Ikeda, Kazuya Yamada
  • Publication number: 20200286715
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a processing chamber 101 where a wafer 114 is processed using plasma 111, a radio frequency power supply 106 configured to supply a radio frequency power for generating the plasma 111, a mechanism configured to form a magnetic field for forming ECR and to control a magnetic flux density thereof, and a sample stage 113 on which the wafer 114 is placed. The plasma processing apparatus further includes a control unit 107 configured to, based on image data of the plasma 111, monitor a height of ECR which is electron cyclotron resonance generated by an interaction between the radio frequency power and the magnetic field, and to control a frequency of the radio frequency power such that the monitored ECR height becomes a predetermined height.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventors: Norihiko IKEDA, Naoki YASUI, Kazuya YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20200279719
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a plasma processing apparatus includes a processing chamber, a sample stage that is disposed inside the processing chamber and electrically divided into a plurality of regions on which a sample is placed, an electromagnetic wave introduction unit that introduces electromagnetic waves into the processing chamber, and a bias power applying unit that applies bias power to the sample stage, in which the bias power applying unit is configured to include a first radio frequency power applying unit that applies first radio frequency power to a first region out of the plurality of electrically divided regions of the sample stage, a second radio frequency power applying unit that applies second radio frequency power to a second region out of the plurality of electrically divided regions of the sample stage, and a phase adjuster that controls the first radio frequency power applying unit and the second radio frequency power applying unit to shift the phases of the first radio frequency powe
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: Kazuya YAMADA, Koichi YAMAMOTO, Naoki YASUI, Norihiko IKEDA, Isao MORI
  • Patent number: 10755897
    Abstract: In a plasma processing apparatus, a placement electrode includes an inner peripheral electrode for electrostatically adsorbing a wafer and an outer peripheral electrode disposed outside the inner peripheral electrode for electrostatically adsorbing the wafer, and a DC power supply unit on which the wafer is placed supplies a first radio frequency power to the inner peripheral electrode via an inner peripheral transmission path. A DC power supply unit supplies a second radio frequency power having the same frequency as the frequency of the first radio frequency power to the outer peripheral electrode via an outer peripheral transmission path. An electromagnetic wave generating power supply supplies a third radio frequency power for generating plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norihiko Ikeda, Kazuya Yamada, Naoki Yasui
  • Patent number: 10699884
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a plasma processing apparatus includes a processing chamber, a sample stage that is disposed inside the processing chamber and electrically divided into a plurality of regions on which a sample is placed, an electromagnetic wave introduction unit that introduces electromagnetic waves into the processing chamber, and a bias power applying unit that applies bias power to the sample stage, in which the bias power applying unit is configured to include a first radio frequency power applying unit that applies first radio frequency power to a first region out of the plurality of electrically divided regions of the sample stage, a second radio frequency power applying unit that applies second radio frequency power to a second region out of the plurality of electrically divided regions of the sample stage, and a phase adjuster that controls the first radio frequency power applying unit and the second radio frequency power applying unit to shift the phases of the first radio frequency powe
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuya Yamada, Koichi Yamamoto, Naoki Yasui, Norihiko Ikeda, Isao Mori
  • Patent number: 10665516
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an etching method including a reaction layer forming step of forming a reaction layer by adsorption of a gas on a surface of an etching target material, a desorption step of desorbing the reaction layer after the reaction layer forming step, and a removal step of removing the reaction layer or a deposited film, characterized in that the surface of the etching target material is etched by the reaction layer forming step and the desorption step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Miyako Matsui, Kenichi Kuwahara, Naoki Yasui, Masaru Izawa, Tatehito Usui, Takeshi Ohmori
  • Patent number: 10622269
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an etching method including a reaction layer forming step of forming a reaction layer by adsorption of a gas on a surface of an etching target material, a desorption step of desorbing the reaction layer after the reaction layer forming step, and a removal step of removing the reaction layer or a deposited film, characterized in that the surface of the etching target material is etched by the reaction layer forming step and the desorption step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Miyako Matsui, Kenichi Kuwahara, Naoki Yasui, Masaru Izawa, Tatehito Usui, Takeshi Ohmori
  • Patent number: 10460913
    Abstract: In order to provide a plasma processing apparatus or method with improved processing uniformity, a plasma processing apparatus includes: a processing chamber which is disposed inside a vacuum container; a sample stage which is disposed inside the processing chamber and has a top surface for placing a wafer corresponding to a processing target thereon; an electric field forming part which forms an electric field supplied into the processing chamber; a coil which forms a magnetic field for forming plasma inside the processing chamber by an interaction with the electric field; and a controller which increases or decreases intensity of the plasma inside the processing chamber by repeatedly increasing or decreasing intensity of the magnetic field formed by the coil at a predetermined interval, wherein the wafer is processed while the plasma is repeatedly formed and diffused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nanako Tamari, Hitoshi Tamura, Naoki Yasui
  • Publication number: 20190237300
    Abstract: In a plasma processing apparatus, a placement electrode includes an inner peripheral electrode for electrostatically adsorbing a wafer and an outer peripheral electrode disposed outside the inner peripheral electrode for electrostatically adsorbing the wafer, and a DC power supply unit on which the wafer is placed supplies a first radio frequency power to the inner peripheral electrode via an inner peripheral transmission path. A DC power supply unit supplies a second radio frequency power having the same frequency as the frequency of the first radio frequency power to the outer peripheral electrode via an outer peripheral transmission path. An electromagnetic wave generating power supply supplies a third radio frequency power for generating plasma.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Norihiko Ikeda, Kazuya Yamada, Naoki Yasui
  • Publication number: 20190115193
    Abstract: To improve processing uniformity by improving a working characteristic in an edge exclusion region. Provided is a plasma processing apparatus for processing a sample by generating plasma in a vacuum vessel to which a processing gas is supplied and that is exhausted to a predetermined pressure and by applying a radio frequency bias to a sample placed in the vacuum vessel, wherein a conductive radio frequency ring to which a radio frequency bias power is applied is arranged in a stepped part formed outside a convex part of the sample stage on which the wafer is mounted, and a dielectric cover ring is provided in the stepped part, covering the radio frequency ring, the cover ring substantially blocks penetration of the radio frequency power to the plasma from the radio frequency ring, and the radio frequency ring top surface is set higher than a wafer top surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Applicant: HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Yasui, Norihiko Ikeda, Tooru Aramaki, Yasuhiro Nishimori
  • Publication number: 20190088453
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a processing chamber, a radio frequency power source, and a magnetic-field generation unit. In the processing chamber, a sample is subjected to plasma processing. The radio frequency power source supplies radio frequency power for a microwave. The magnetic-field generation unit forms a magnetic field for generating plasma by an interaction with the microwave. The magnetic-field generation unit includes a first power source and a second power source. The first power source causes a current to flow in a first magnetic-field forming coil configured to forma magnetic field in the processing chamber. The second power source causes a current to flow in a second magnetic-field forming coil configured to form a magnetic field in the processing chamber. Sensitivity for magnetic-field changing by the first magnetic-field forming coil is higher than sensitivity for magnetic-field changing by the second magnetic-field forming coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Yasushi SONODA, Naoki YASUI, Motohiro TANAKA, Koichi YAMAMOTO