Patents by Inventor Nobuhiko Yamamoto

Nobuhiko Yamamoto 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: 11969857
    Abstract: A method of producing a glass article includes holding a carrier having a circular shape, in which a glass substrate having a circular shape is retained, with an upper surface plate and a lower surface plate; and polishing the glass substrate by rotating the carrier with respect to the upper surface plate and the lower surface plate, to obtain the glass article. The glass substrate is disposed in the carrier such that, in a top plan view, a center of the carrier is included in a region of the glass substrate, and a center of the glass substrate is shifted from the center of the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: AGC INC.
    Inventors: Toru Momose, Osamu Sato, Hirofumi Yamamoto, Nobuhiko Takeshita
  • Patent number: 11967485
    Abstract: There is provided a plasma processing apparatus including: a chamber having a processing space in which a plasma processing is performed on a substrate and a synthetic space in which electromagnetic waves are synthesized; a dielectric window configured to partition the processing space and the synthetic space; an antenna unit including a plurality of antennas configured to radiate the electromagnetic waves to the synthetic space; an electromagnetic wave output part configured to output the electromagnetic waves to the antenna unit; and a controller configured to control the antenna unit to function as the phased array antenna, wherein the plurality of antennas are helical antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Eiki Kamata, Taro Ikeda, Mikio Sato, Nobuhiko Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11476088
    Abstract: An array antenna radiates an electromagnetic wave into a chamber of a plasma processing apparatus. The array antenna includes antennas and coupling prevention elements arranged at intervals between the antennas. Each of the coupling prevention elements includes a first member connected to a ceiling wall which is a ground surface in the chamber and a second member connected to a tip end of the first member or a vicinity of the tip end of the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Eiki Kamata, Taro Ikeda, Mikio Sato, Nobuhiko Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20220199369
    Abstract: There is provided a plasma processing method in a plasma processing apparatus including a chamber, a stage on which a substrate is placed in the chamber, a plurality of radiating devices configured to radiate a plurality of electromagnetic waves, and a dielectric window disposed between the plurality of radiating devices and the stage. The method comprises: preparing the substrate on the stage; controlling a phase of at least one of the plurality of electromagnetic waves radiated from the plurality of radiating devices; radiating the plurality of electromagnetic waves into the chamber from the plurality of radiating devices; and processing the substrate using localized plasma generated from a gas supplied between the dielectric window and the stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Eiki KAMATA, Mikio SATO, Taro IKEDA, Nobuhiko YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20210225612
    Abstract: An array antenna radiates an electromagnetic wave into a chamber of a plasma processing apparatus. The array antenna includes antennas and coupling prevention elements arranged at intervals between the antennas. Each of the coupling prevention elements includes a first member connected to a ceiling wall which is a ground surface in the chamber and a second member connected to a tip end of the first member or a vicinity of the tip end of the first member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Eiki KAMATA, Taro IKEDA, Mikio SATO, Nobuhiko YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20210134560
    Abstract: There is provided a plasma processing apparatus including: a chamber having a processing space in which a plasma processing is performed on a substrate and a synthetic space in which electromagnetic waves are synthesized; a dielectric window configured to partition the processing space and the synthetic space; an antenna unit including a plurality of antennas configured to radiate the electromagnetic waves to the synthetic space; an electromagnetic wave output part configured to output the electromagnetic waves to the antenna unit; and a controller configured to control the antenna unit to function as the phased array antenna, wherein the plurality of antennas are helical antennas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Eiki KAMATA, Taro IKEDA, Mikio SATO, Nobuhiko YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20210082727
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes: a processing container; a substrate holder disposed within the processing container and configured to hold a substrate thereon; a dielectric window disposed below the substrate holder; and a plurality of phased array antennas disposed below the dielectric window and configured to irradiate a plurality of electromagnetic waves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Taro IKEDA, Atsushi KUBO, Eiki KAMATA, Nobuhiko YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20200411340
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating a heating target object includes: a heating member for supporting the heating target object; an electromagnetic wave irradiation part for irradiating an electromagnetic wave to an irradiation surface of the heating member, which is opposite to a surface supporting the heating target object; and a controller. The electromagnetic wave irradiation part includes: an electromagnetic wave output part for outputting the electromagnetic wave; and an antenna unit. The antenna unit includes antenna modules each having an antenna for radiating radiate the electromagnetic wave and a phase shifter for adjusting phase of the electromagnetic wave radiated from the antenna. The controller controls the phase shifters of the antenna modules so that phases of electromagnetic waves radiated from a plurality of the antenna are condensed on an arbitrary portion of the heating member by interference, and a condensed portion of the electromagnetic waves is scanned on the irradiation surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Taro IKEDA, Naoki WATANABE, Tatsuo HATANO, Nobuhiko YAMAMOTO, Eiki KAMATA
  • Patent number: 10319567
    Abstract: A microwave plasma source for forming a surface wave plasma by radiating a microwave into a chamber of a plasma processing apparatus, which includes: a microwave output part for outputting the microwave; a microwave transmission part for transmitting the microwave; and a microwave radiation member for radiating the microwave into the chamber. The microwave transmission part includes a plurality of microwave introduction mechanisms circumferentially arranged in a peripheral portion of the microwave radiation member and configured to introduce the microwave into the microwave radiation member. The microwave radiation member includes a metal main body, a plurality of dielectric slow-wave members arranged in an overall annular shape in the vicinity of an arrangement surface of the main body, an annular dielectric microwave transmission member arranged in a microwave radiation surface of the main body, and a slot antenna part installed between the slow-wave members and the microwave transmission member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Taro Ikeda, Akira Tanihara, Shigeru Kasai, Nobuhiko Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9702913
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus (1) includes a processing container (2) and a microwave introduction device (5) having a plurality of microwave introduction modules (61). A microwave is introduced for each of the plurality of microwave introduction modules (61), and S-parameters for each of combinations of the plurality of microwave introduction modules (61) are obtained based on the introduced microwave and a reflected microwave reflected from the processing container (2) into the plurality of microwave introduction modules (61).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Taro Ikeda, Yutaka Fujino, Hikaru Adachi, Hiroyuki Miyashita, Yuki Osada, Nobuhiko Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20160284516
    Abstract: A microwave plasma source for forming a surface wave plasma by radiating a microwave into a chamber of a plasma processing apparatus, which includes: a microwave output part for outputting the microwave; a microwave transmission part for transmitting the microwave; and a microwave radiation member for radiating the microwave into the chamber. The microwave transmission part includes a plurality of microwave introduction mechanisms circumferentially arranged in a peripheral portion of the microwave radiation member and configured to introduce the microwave into the microwave radiation member. The microwave radiation member includes a metal main body, a plurality of dielectric slow-wave members arranged in an overall annular shape in the vicinity of an arrangement surface of the main body, an annular dielectric microwave transmission member arranged in a microwave radiation surface of the main body, and a slot antenna part installed between the slow-wave members and the microwave transmission member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: Taro IKEDA, Akira TANIHARA, Shigeru KASAI, Nobuhiko YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20150212127
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus (1) includes a processing container (2) and a microwave introduction device (5) having a plurality of microwave introduction modules (61). A microwave is introduced for each of the plurality of microwave introduction modules (61), and S-parameters for each of combinations of the plurality of microwave introduction modules (61) are obtained based on the introduced microwave and a reflected microwave reflected from the processing container (2) into the plurality of microwave introduction modules (61).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventors: Taro Ikeda, Yutaka Fujino, Hikaru Adachi, Hiroyuki Miyashita, Yuki Osada, Nobuhiko Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20140291318
    Abstract: A microwave heating apparatus is provided to perform heat treatment on a substrate to be processed by irradiating a microwave to the substrate in a processing chamber. The microwave heating apparatus includes a supporting table configured to support the substrate in the processing chamber, a microwave introducing unit configured to introduce the microwave into the processing chamber, a coolant channel formed in the supporting table, and a coolant supply source configured to supply a coolant to the coolant channel. At least a surface of the supporting table which supports the substrate is made of a material in which a product of a relative dielectric constant and a dielectric loss angle is smaller than 0.005, and the coolant supplied from the coolant supply source is liquid having no electrical polarity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Kouji SHIMOMURA, Junichi KITAGAWA, Nobuhiko YAMAMOTO, Hiroyuki HAYASHI, Sumi TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20140117009
    Abstract: A microwave heating apparatus includes, a processing chamber, a microwave introducing unit, a support member and a heat assist member. The processing chamber is configured to accommodate an object to be processed, the processing chamber having a top wall, a bottom wall and a sidewall. The microwave introducing unit is configured to generate a microwave for heating the object and introduce the microwave into the processing chamber. The support member is configured to support the object by contact with the object in the processing chamber. The heating assist member is configured to generate heat by absorbing the microwave and assist heating of the object by radiant heat, the heating assist member disposed to be separated from the object by the support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Nobuhiko YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20140034636
    Abstract: A microwave irradiation apparatus, for performing a predetermined process by irradiating a microwave to a target substrate, includes a processing chamber configured to accommodate the target substrate, a support member configured to support the target substrate in the processing chamber, and a microwave introduction mechanism configured to generate microwaves and introduce the microwaves into the processing chamber. The microwave irradiation apparatus further includes microwave introduction ports through which the microwave generated by the microwave introducing mechanism is introduced into the processing chamber, electric field sensors configured to measure an electric field formed by the microwave introduced into the processing chamber, and a control unit configured to control powers of the microwaves introduced into the processing chamber through the microwave introduction ports from the microwave introduction mechanism based on the electric field measured by the electric field sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Nobuhiko YAMAMOTO, Junichi Kitagawa, Sumi Tanaka, Yuki Osada
  • Patent number: 8267040
    Abstract: In a plasma processing apparatus that processes a wafer in a process vessel by plasma generated by the supply of a microwave, a transmissive window has, in a center area of its lower surface, a hanging portion made of the same material as a material of the transmissive window. Between an outer peripheral surface of the hanging portion and a sidewall inner surface continuing from a support part, a gap is formed, the gap having a gap length of 0.5 to 10 mm, more preferably 0.5 to 5 mm. The generation of a strong electric field and plasma at a contact point is inhibited and an amount of sputtered particles, radicals, or the like reaching the wafer is also reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Kiyotaka Ishibashi, Junichi Kitagawa, Singo Furui, Cai Zhong Tian, Jun Yamashita, Nobuhiko Yamamoto, Tetsuya Nishizuka, Toshihisa Nozawa, Shinya Nishimoto, Tamaki Yuasa
  • Patent number: 7910495
    Abstract: A plasma oxidizing method includes a step of placing an object to be processed and having a surface containing silicon on a susceptor disposed in a processing vessel of a plasma processing apparatus, a step of producing a plasma from a processing gas containing oxygen in the processing vessel, a step of supplying high-frequency electric power to the susceptor and applying a high-frequency bias to the object to be processed when the plasma is produced, and a step of forming a silicon oxide film by oxidizing silicon in the surface of the object to be processed by the plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Toshihiko Shiozawa, Yoshiro Kabe, Takashi Kobayashi, Hikaru Adachi, Junichi Kitagawa, Nobuhiko Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20100015815
    Abstract: A plasma oxidizing method includes a step of placing an object to be processed and having a surface containing silicon on a susceptor disposed in a processing vessel of a plasma processing apparatus, a step of producing a plasma from a processing gas containing oxygen in the processing vessel, a step of supplying high-frequency electric power to the susceptor and applying a high-frequency bias to the object to be processed when the plasma is produced, and a step of forming a silicon oxide film by oxidizing silicon in the surface of the object to be processed by the plasma.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Toshihiko Shiozawa, Yoshiro Kabe, Takashi Kobayashi, Hikaru Adachi, Junichi Kitagawa, Nobuhiko Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20080190560
    Abstract: The present invention is a microwave plasma processing apparatus comprising: a chamber in which an object to be processed is housed; a process gas supply unit that supplies a process gas into the chamber; a microwave generating source that generates a microwave for forming a plasma due to the process gas in the chamber; a waveguide unit that guides the microwave generated by the microwave generating source toward the chamber; a planar antenna made of a conductive material provided with a plurality of microwave radiating holes for radiating the microwave guided by the waveguide unit toward the chamber; a microwave transmitting plate made of a dielectric material, the microwave transmitting plate serving as a top wall of the chamber and transmitting the microwave that has passed through the microwave radiating holes of the planar antenna; and a slow-wave plate disposed on an opposite side of the planar antenna relative to the microwave transmitting plate, the slow-wave plate having a function of shortening a wa
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventors: Caizhong Tian, Kiyotaka Ishibashi, Toshihisa Nozawa, Nobuhiko Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20070264441
    Abstract: To improve processing quality by inhibiting the generation of a strong electric field and high-density plasma, near a contact point between a support part supporting a transmissive window and the transmissive window in a plasma processing apparatus utilizing a microwave. In a plasma processing apparatus that processes a wafer W in a process vessel 2 by plasma generated by the supply of a microwave, a transmissive window 20 has, in a center area of its lower surface, a hanging portion 21 made of the same material as a material of the transmissive window 20. Between an outer peripheral surface 21a of the hanging portion 21 and a sidewall inner surface 5a continuing from a support part 6, a gap d is formed, the gap d having a gap length of 0.5 to 10 mm, more preferably 0.5 to 5 mm. The generation of a strong electric field and plasma at the contact point C is inhibited and an amount of sputtered particles, radicals, or the like reaching the wafer W is also reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Kiyotaka Ishibashi, Junichi Kitagawa, Singo Furui, Cai Tian, Jun Yamashita, Nobuhiko Yamamoto, Tetsuya Nishizuka, Toshihisa Nozawa, Shinya Nishimoto, Tamaki Yuasa