Patents by Inventor Naoto Yoshitaka

Naoto Yoshitaka 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: 20130269879
    Abstract: A peeling device for peeling off a substrate to be processed and a support substrate from an overlapped substrate, the overlapped substrate being formed by bonding the substrate to be processed and the support substrate by an adhesive, which includes: a first holding unit configured to heat the substrate to be processed and configured to hold the substrate to be processed; a second holding unit configured to heat the support substrate and configured to hold the support substrate; a moving mechanism configured to horizontally move at least one of the first holding unit and the second holding unit relative to each other; and an inert gas supply mechanism configured to supply an inert gas onto a bonding surface of the substrate to be processed or a bonding surface of the support substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Osamu Hirakawa, Naoto Yoshitaka, Masaru Honda
  • Publication number: 20130153116
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes: a joint processing station including a coating unit applying an adhesive to a processing target substrate or a supporting substrate, a first heat processing unit heating the substrates coated with the adhesive, a second heat processing unit heating the substrates to a higher temperature, a reversing unit reversing front and rear surfaces of the substrate, a joint unit joining the processing target substrate and the supporting substrate together by pressing them, and a transfer region for transferring the substrates to the units; and a transfer-in/out station transferring the substrates into/from the joint processing station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Osamu Hirakawa, Naoto Yoshitaka, Masataka Matsunaga, Norihiko Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20130146229
    Abstract: The present invention is used for separating a superposed substrate in which a processing target substrate and a supporting substrate are joined together with an adhesive into the processing target substrate and the supporting substrate, and includes: a separation processing station performing predetermined processing on the processing target substrate, the supporting substrate, and the superposed substrate; a transfer-in/out station transferring the substrates into/from the separation processing station; and a transfer unit transferring the substrates between the separation processing station and the transfer-in/out station, wherein the separation processing station includes: a separation unit separating the superposed substrate into the processing target substrate and the supporting substrate; a first cleaning unit cleaning the processing target substrate separated in the separation unit; and a second cleaning unit cleaning the supporting substrate separated in the separation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Osamu Hirakawa, Naoto Yoshitaka, Masataka Matsunaga, Norihiko Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20130062013
    Abstract: A joint apparatus that joins a processing target substrate and a supporting substrate together, includes: a processing container that is capable of hermetically closing an inside thereof; a joint unit that joins the processing target substrate and the supporting substrate together by pressing the processing target substrate and the supporting substrate via an adhesive; and a superposed substrate temperature regulation unit that temperature-regulates a superposed substrate joined in the joint unit, wherein the joint unit and the superposed substrate temperature regulation unit are arranged in the processing container, A delivery unit for delivering the processing target substrate, the supporting substrate, or the superposed substrate to/from an outside of the processing container is provided in the processing container, and the superposed substrate temperature regulation unit is provided in the delivery unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Shinji OKADA, Masatoshi SHIRAISHI, Masatoshi DEGUCHI, Naoto YOSHITAKA, Shintaro SUGIHARA, Masataka MATSUNAGA
  • Publication number: 20130000684
    Abstract: A cleaning method of cleaning a joint surface of a processing target substrate separated from a superposed substrate, while the processing target substrate is placed inside an annular frame and held by a tape bonded to a surface of the frame and a non-joint surface of the processing target substrate, the cleaning method including: a placement step of placing a cleaning jig to face the processing target substrate such that a supply surface of the cleaning jig for supplying a solvent for the adhesive onto the joint surface of the processing target substrate covers the joint surface and a distance between the supply surface and the joint surface is a predetermined distance; and a cleaning step of then supplying the solvent between the supply surface and the joint surface and diffusing the supplied solvent over the joint surface by a surface tension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yasutaka SOMA, Naoto Yoshitaka, Hiroshi Komeda, Eiji Manabe, Osamu Hirakawa, Masatoshi Deguchi, Takeshi Tamura
  • Publication number: 20120291267
    Abstract: In a joint apparatus, a transfer region and a processing region are formed. In the transfer region, a transfer mechanism transferring a first substrate, a second substrate, or a superposed substrate, a position adjusting mechanism adjusting an orientation in a horizontal direction of the first substrate or the second substrate, and a reversing mechanism reversing front and rear surfaces of the second substrate are provided. In the processing region, a first holding member mounting and holding the first substrate on an upper surface thereof, a second holding member holding the second substrate on a lower surface thereof, and a pressing and moving member bringing one end portion of the first substrate and one end portion of the second substrate into abutment with each other and pressing the one end portions when joining the first substrate and the second substrate together are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Takahiro Nishibayashi, Tatsuya Kitayama, Naoto Yoshitaka
  • Patent number: 8088455
    Abstract: A drain port and an exhaust port arranged at the bottom of a cup surrounding a substrate holding unit. A drainage tray is arranged below the cup so as to cover the moving area of the drain port when the substrate holding unit and the cup move in X-directions and Y-directions. An exhaust unit is arranged at a position corresponding to the position of the exhaust port of the cup when the substrate holding unit is in its spin-drying position. The exhaust unit is connected to the exhaust port to suck the interior of the cup when the spin-drying of the substrate is executed. The use of a flexible tube which is always connected to the exhaust port is no longer necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Norihisa Koga, Shinji Koga, Naoto Yoshitaka, Akira Nishiya
  • Patent number: 7919727
    Abstract: A laser processing apparatus includes: a laser beam radiation part that radiates a laser beam to a target position on a substrate; a liquid supply source; a liquid supply nozzle that is connected to the liquid supply source through a liquid supply channel; a guide member for the ejected liquid; and a movement mechanism that allows a substrate holding part, and the laser beam radiation part, the guide member and the liquid supply nozzle to relatively move in a horizontal direction in a state that a center of a radiation spot of the laser beam is in a projection region on the substrate when the liquid ejection port of the liquid supply nozzle is extended in an ejection direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Akira Nishiya, Norihisa Koga, Naoto Yoshitaka
  • Patent number: 7710582
    Abstract: Before applying a processing laser beam to a surface of a substrate through a film of liquid, distance M2 between a reference point on an axis of a first laser displacement meter and the surface of the substrate is measured to correct distance M1 between a lower end of an optical unit and the surface of the substrate, on the basis of distance M2, the processing laser beam is applied to the surface of the substrate, thereby cutting and removing a part of the surface of the substrate, and a depth to which the surface of the substrate has been cut and removed with the processing laser beam is measured by a second laser displacement meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Norihisa Koga, Shinji Koga, Naoto Yoshitaka, Akira Nishiya
  • Patent number: 7622000
    Abstract: A notch or the like of a wafer is detected via a guide member by means of a CCD camera provided so that an optical axis is coaxial to an optical axis of a laser beam, and alignment of the wafer is carried out. Next, in a state in which liquid ejected from a main nozzle or sub-nozzles is guided by means of the guide member, a laser beam whose optical axis is provided to be coaxial to the optical axis of the CCD camera is irradiated via the guide member. In addition, a predetermined processing operation is carried out with respect to the surface while an irradiation position of the laser beam is moved in a horizontal direction. The wafer is then transported from a chuck to the outside, and then, a purge gas is supplied to a bottom face of the guide member, and the bottom face is dried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Norihisa Koga, Shinji Koga, Naoto Yoshitaka, Akira Nishiya
  • Publication number: 20090202951
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus includes a first substrate-holding portion configured to hold a first area of a back surface of the substrate so that the top surface is kept face up; a second substrate-holding portion configured to hold a second area of the back surface of the substrate, the second area being not overlapped with the first area, and rotate the substrate; a top-surface cleaning nozzle configured to supply a top surface cleaning fluid to a top surface of the substrate; a bevel cleaning nozzle configured to supply a bevel cleaning fluid to a bevel portion of the substrate; a cleaning fluid supplying portion configured to supply a back surface cleaning fluid to the back surface of the substrate held by the first or the second substrate-holding portion; and a cleaning member configured to clean the back surface of the substrate held by the first or the second-substrate holding portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Taro Yamamoto, Naoto Yoshitaka, Shuichi Nishikido, Yoichi Tokunaga
  • Patent number: 7518087
    Abstract: A laser processing apparatus comprises a laser source, a substrate-holding unit, a liquid-supplying unit, a support which has a plurality of mask patterns including a specific mask pattern for imparting a cross-sectional shape to the laser beam, and a support-driving mechanism which moves the support. The liquid-supplying unit supplies the liquid to the substrate, forming a liquid film thereon. The support-driving mechanism moves the support, aligning the specific mask pattern with an axis of the laser beam. The laser beam emitted from the laser unit passes through the specific mask pattern, acquiring a specific cross-sectional shape, and is applied to the substrate through the liquid film, illuminating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Norihisa Koga, Shinji Koga, Naoto Yoshitaka, Akira Nishiya
  • Publication number: 20090041954
    Abstract: A drain port and an exhaust port arranged at the bottom of a cup surrounding a substrate holding unit. A drainage tray is arranged below the cup so as to cover the moving area of the drain port when the substrate holding unit and the cup move in X-directions and Y-directions. An exhaust unit is arranged at a position corresponding to the position of the exhaust port of the cup when the substrate holding unit is in its spin-drying position. The exhaust unit is connected to the exhaust port to suck the interior of the cup when the spin-drying of the substrate is executed. The use of a flexible tube which is always connected to the exhaust port is no longer necessary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Norihisa KOGA, Shinji Koga, Naoto Yoshitaka, Akira Nishiya
  • Patent number: 7473321
    Abstract: A drain port and an exhaust port arranged at the bottom of a cup surrounding a substrate holding unit. A drainage tray is arranged below the cup so as to cover the moving area of the drain port when the substrate holding unit and the cup move in X-directions and Y-directions. An exhaust unit is arranged at a position corresponding to the position of the exhaust port of the cup when the substrate holding unit is in its spin-drying position. The exhaust unit is connected to the exhaust port to suck the interior of the cup when the spin-drying of the substrate is executed. The use of a flexible tube which is always connected to the exhaust port is no longer necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Norihisa Koga, Shinji Koga, Naoto Yoshitaka, Akira Nishiya
  • Publication number: 20080163899
    Abstract: A disclosed substrate cleaning apparatus for cleaning a back surface of a substrate includes a first substrate supporting portion configured to support the substrate at a first area of a back surface of the substrate, the back surface facing down; a second substrate supporting portion configured to support the substrate at a second area of the back surface of the substrate, the second area being separated from the first area; a cleaning liquid supplying portion configured to supply cleaning liquid to the back surface of the substrate; a drying portion configured to dry the second area of the back surface of the substrate; and a cleaning portion configured to clean a third area of the back surface of the substrate when the substrate is supported by the first substrate supporting portion, the third area including the second area, and a fourth area of the back surface of the substrate when the substrate is supported by the second substrate supporting portion, the fourth area excluding the second area of the back
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Yasushi Takiguchi, Taro Yamamoto, Akihiro Fujimoto, Shuuichi Nishikido, Dai Kumagai, Naoto Yoshitaka, Takahiro Kitano, Yoichi Tokunaga
  • Publication number: 20070119837
    Abstract: A laser processing apparatus includes: a laser beam radiation part that radiates a laser beam to a target position on a substrate; a liquid supply source; a liquid supply nozzle that is connected to the liquid supply source through a liquid supply channel; a guide member for the ejected liquid; and a movement mechanism that allows a substrate holding part, and the laser beam radiation part, the guide member and the liquid supply nozzle to relatively move in a horizontal direction in a state that a center of a radiation spot of the laser beam is in a projection region on the substrate when the liquid ejection port of the liquid supply nozzle is extended in an ejection direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Publication date: May 31, 2007
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Akira NISHIYA, Norihisa Koga, Naoto Yoshitaka
  • Publication number: 20060205239
    Abstract: A drain port and an exhaust port arranged at the bottom of a cup surrounding a substrate holding unit. A drainage tray is arranged below the cup so as to cover the moving area of the drain port when the substrate holding unit and the cup move in X-directions and Y-directions. An exhaust unit is arranged at a position corresponding to the position of the exhaust port of the cup when the substrate holding unit is in its spin-drying position. The exhaust unit is connected to the exhaust port to suck the interior of the cup when the spin-drying of the substrate is executed. The use of a flexible tube which is always connected to the exhaust port is no longer necessary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Norihisa Koga, Shinji Koga, Naoto Yoshitaka, Akira Nishiya
  • Publication number: 20060090848
    Abstract: A notch or the like of a wafer is detected via a guide member by means of a CCD camera provided so that an optical axis is coaxial to an optical axis of a laser beam, and alignment of the wafer is carried out. Next, in a state in which liquid ejected from a main nozzle or sub-nozzles is guided by means of the guide member, a laser beam whose optical axis is provided to be coaxial to the optical axis of the CCD camera is irradiated via the guide member. In addition, a predetermined processing operation is carried out with respect to the surface while an irradiation position of the laser beam is moved in a horizontal direction. The wafer is then transported from a chuck to the outside, and then, a purge gas is supplied to a bottom face of the guide member, and the bottom face is dried.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Publication date: May 4, 2006
    Inventors: Norihisa Koga, Shinji Koga, Naoto Yoshitaka, Akira Nishiya
  • Publication number: 20060092990
    Abstract: To process a surface of a substrate by applying a laser beam to the surface, while liquid is being applied to the surface, distance between the surface of the substrate and a reference point on the axis of a laser displacement meter, distance between the surface of the substrate and the lower end an optical unit is adjusted in accordance with distance measured, and a laser beam is then applied to the surface of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Publication date: May 4, 2006
    Inventors: Norihisa Koga, Shinji Koga, Naoto Yoshitaka, Akira Nishiya
  • Publication number: 20060086459
    Abstract: A laser processing apparatus comprises a laser source, a substrate-holding unit, a liquid-supplying unit, a support which has a plurality of mask patterns including a specific mask pattern for imparting a cross-sectional shape to the laser beam, and a support-driving mechanism which moves the support. The liquid-supplying unit supplies the liquid to the substrate, forming a liquid film thereon. The support-driving mechanism moves the support, aligning the specific mask pattern with an axis of the laser beam. The laser beam emitted from the laser unit passes through the specific mask pattern, acquiring a specific cross-sectional shape, and is applied to the substrate through the liquid film, illuminating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Publication date: April 27, 2006
    Inventors: Norihisa Koga, Shinji Koga, Naoto Yoshitaka, Akira Nishiya