Patents by Inventor Nobuhiro Ogata

Nobuhiro Ogata 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: 20240124984
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus that supplies a processing liquid to a front surface of a substrate which is rotating, includes: a substrate holder configured to hold the substrate, wherein the substrate holder includes: a gripper configured to come into contact with a periphery of the substrate to grip the substrate; and a base to which the gripper is attached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Yusuke HASHIMOTO, Daisuke GOTO, Nobuhiro OGATA, Jiro HIGASHIJIMA, Tomoaki OBARU, Kanta MORI
  • Patent number: 11880213
    Abstract: A substrate liquid processing apparatus includes: at least one liquid pipe through which a processing liquid flows; a discharge nozzle configured to discharge the processing liquid supplied via the at least one liquid pipe; a valve mechanism configured to regulate a flow of the processing liquid in the at least one liquid pipe; and a liquid detection sensor configured to detect presence or absence of the processing liquid in the at least one liquid pipe, wherein in a state in which the valve mechanism is operating so that the processing liquid in the at least one liquid pipe is located at an upstream of a first pipe measurement site of the at least one liquid pipe, the liquid detection sensor detects the presence or absence of the processing liquid at the first pipe measurement site located at a first measurement point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Mikio Nakashima, Akinori Tanaka, Nobuhiro Ogata, Isamu Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20240021445
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a substrate holding unit, a fluid supplying unit, a processing-liquid supplying unit, a nozzle, a fluid amount adjusting unit, and a controller. The substrate holding unit holds a substrate to be rotatable. The fluid supplying unit supplies fluid including pressurized vapor or mist of deionized water. The processing-liquid supplying unit supplies processing liquid including at least a sulfuric acid. The nozzle is connected to the fluid supplying unit and the processing-liquid supplying unit to discharge mixed fluid of the fluid and the processing liquid toward the substrate. The fluid amount adjusting unit adjusts a flow volume of the fluid that is flowing through the fluid supplying unit. The controller controls the fluid amount adjusting unit to adjust a ratio of the fluid to the processing liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Hiroki SAKURAI, Yenrui HSU, Shoki MIZUGUCHI, Nobuhiro OGATA, Shinichi UMENO, Kazuya GODA, Minsung KIM, Hiroyuki HIGASHI
  • Patent number: 11712710
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes: a processing chamber in which a substrate is processed with a processing liquid; a nozzle having a discharge port from which the processing liquid is discharged, the discharge port being formed in a distal end portion of the nozzle; a nozzle bath including an accommodation chamber formed therein, wherein the distal end portion of the nozzle is accommodated in the accommodation chamber at a standby time at which the processing liquid is not supplied to the substrate; a circulation line configured to return the processing liquid, which is discharged from the nozzle to the nozzle bath, to the nozzle; and a first restraint part configured to restrain a gas from flowing between an outside of the nozzle bath and the processing liquid present inside the nozzle bath when the processing liquid discharged from the nozzle to the nozzle bath is circulated to the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Fumihiro Kamimura, Takahisa Otsuka, Hiroshi Komiya, Nobuhiro Ogata
  • Publication number: 20230185199
    Abstract: A nozzle that mixes fluid containing steam or mist of pressurized pure water and processing liquid containing at least sulfuric acid and ejects mixed fluid of the fluid and the processing liquid, the nozzle comprising: at least one first ejection port ejecting the fluid; at least one second ejection port ejecting the processing liquid; and at least one lead-out path being in fluid communication with the at least one first ejection port and the at least one second ejection port and leading out the mixed fluid of the fluid ejected from the at least one first ejection port and the processing liquid ejected from the at least one second ejection port, wherein the at least one first ejection port or the at least one second ejection port is arranged to be directed to position deviated from central axis of the at least one lead-out path in a plan view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Hiroki SAKURAI, Nobuhiro OGATA, Daisuke GOTO, Kanta MORI, Kenji YADA, Yusuke HASHIMOTO, Shoki MIZUGUCHI, Yenrui HSU
  • Patent number: 11574827
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes: a processing unit including a holder that holds a substrate and rotates the substrate, a nozzle that ejects a processing liquid, and a conductive piping unit that supplies the processing liquid to the nozzle; a controller that causes the processing unit to execute a liquid processing in which the substrate is processed by supplying the processing liquid from the nozzle to the substrate that is held and rotated by the holder, and a measuring unit that measures a flowing current generated by the processing liquid flowing through the piping unit. The controller monitors the liquid processing based on a measurement result by the measuring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Tadashi Iino, Yoshihiro Kai, Yoichi Tokunaga, Nobuhiro Ogata, Jiro Higashijima
  • Publication number: 20230001458
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a holder configured to hold a substrate; a driving unit configured to rotate the holder; an inner cup body provided in the holder to surround the substrate held by the holder; a mist guard, surrounding the holder and the inner cup body, configured to be moved up and down; a cleaning liquid supply configured to supply a cleaning liquid; and a controller. The controller is configured to perform: supplying a processing liquid to the substrate from a processing liquid supply, in a state that the substrate is held by the holder and the mist guard is raised; and dispersing, after the supplying of the processing liquid, the cleaning liquid supplied from the cleaning liquid supply to an entire inner peripheral surface of the mist guard, in a state that the substrate is carried out from the holder and the mist guard is raised.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Yusuke Hashimoto, Daisuke Goto, Kanta Mori, Jiro Higashijima, Nobuhiro Ogata
  • Publication number: 20220115249
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a fluid supply unit that supplies a fluid that includes a pressurized vapor or mist of a purified water, a processing liquid supply unit that supplies a processing liquid that includes at least sulfuric acid, and a nozzle that includes a first discharge port that discharges a fluid that is supplied from the fluid supply unit, a second discharge port that discharges a processing liquid that is supplied from the processing liquid supply unit, and a guiding route that is communicated with the first discharge port and the second discharge port and guides a mixed fluid of a fluid that is discharged from the first discharge port and a processing liquid that is discharged from the second discharge port, where a cross-sectional area of the guiding route is greater than a cross-sectional area of the first discharge port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Nobuhiro OGATA, Hiroki SAKURAI, Daisuke GOTO, Takahiro KOGA, Kanta MORI, Yusuke HASHIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20220112603
    Abstract: A substrate processing method includes discharging a processing liquid to a substrate, and discharging a mixed fluid that is produced by mixing a processing liquid and a purified water in a vapor state or a mist state thereof to a substrate where a processing liquid is discharged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Hiroki SAKURAI, Daisuke GOTO, Nobuhiro OGATA, Yusuke HASHIMOTO, Shoki MIZUGUCHI, Yenrui HSU
  • Publication number: 20210365054
    Abstract: A substrate liquid processing apparatus includes: at least one liquid pipe through which a processing liquid flows; a discharge nozzle configured to discharge the processing liquid supplied via the at least one liquid pipe; a valve mechanism configured to regulate a flow of the processing liquid in the at least one liquid pipe; and a liquid detection sensor configured to detect presence or absence of the processing liquid in the at least one liquid pipe, wherein in a state in which the valve mechanism is operating so that the processing liquid in the at least one liquid pipe is located at an upstream of a first pipe measurement site of the at least one liquid pipe, the liquid detection sensor detects the presence or absence of the processing liquid at the first pipe measurement site located at a first measurement point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Mikio NAKASHIMA, Akinori TANAKA, Nobuhiro OGATA, Isamu MIYAMOTO
  • Patent number: 11158525
    Abstract: A recovery route returns, to a retaining tank, mixed solution supplied to a substrate processing unit. A discarding route discards the supplied mixed solution to a place other than the retaining tank. A switching controller causes the supplied mixed solution to flow into the discarding route during a time interval until a first time interval has elapsed from a time point when the substrate processing unit starts to supply the mixed solution; causes the supplied mixed solution to flow into the recovery route during a time interval until a second time interval, which is decided based on a predetermined recovery rate, has elapsed after the first time interval elapses; and causes the supplied mixed solution to flow into the discarding route during a time interval until supply of the mixed solution has been ended from a time point when the second time interval elapses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Takaki, Shinichi Umeno, Takashi Nagai, Hisashi Morita, Nobuhiro Ogata, Yusuke Takamatsu, Jiro Higashijima
  • Patent number: 11056335
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a processing liquid supply mechanism 70 configured to supply a SPM liquid to a substrate; a temperature adjusting unit (heater) 303 configured to adjust a temperature of the SPM liquid at a time when the SPM liquid is supplied to the substrate from the processing liquid supply mechanism 70; an acquisition unit (temperature sensor) 80 configured to acquire temperature information of the SPM liquid on a surface of the substrate; and a control unit 18 configured to set an adjustment amount of the temperature adjusting unit (heater) 303 based on the temperature information of the SPM liquid acquired by the acquisition unit (temperature sensor) 80. The temperature adjusting unit (heater) 303 adjusts, based on the adjustment amount set by the control unit 18, the temperature of the SPM liquid at the time when the SPM liquid is supplied to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Jiro Higashijima, Nobuhiro Ogata, Yusuke Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 11024518
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a stationary cup body 51 provided to surround a substrate holding unit 31 and configured to receive a processing liquid or mist of the processing liquid discharged onto a substrate, the stationary cup body not being moved relatively with respect to a processing vessel; a mist guard 80; and a guard elevating mechanism 84 configured to elevate the mist guard. Here, the mist guard is provided at an outside of the stationary cup body to surround the stationary cup body and configured to block a liquid scattered outwards beyond a space above the stationary cup body. Further, the mist guard includes a cylindrical portion 81 of a cylindrical shape and a protruding portion 82 protruded from an upper portion of the cylindrical portion toward an inside of the cylindrical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Norihiro Ito, Jiro Higashijima, Nobuhiro Ogata, Takahisa Otsuka, Yuichi Douki, Yusuke Hashimoto, Kazuhiro Aiura, Daisuke Goto
  • Publication number: 20200357667
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes: a processing unit including a holder that holds a substrate and rotates the substrate, a nozzle that ejects a processing liquid, and a conductive piping unit that supplies the processing liquid to the nozzle; a controller that causes the processing unit to execute a liquid processing in which the substrate is processed by supplying the processing liquid from the nozzle to the substrate that is held and rotated by the holder, and a measuring unit that measures a flowing current generated by the processing liquid flowing through the piping unit. The controller monitors the liquid processing based on a measurement result by the measuring unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: Tadashi IINO, Yoshihiro Kai, Yoichi Tokunaga, Nobuhiro Ogata, Jiro Higashijima
  • Publication number: 20200152443
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a processing liquid supply mechanism 70 configured to supply a SPM liquid to a substrate; a temperature adjusting unit (heater) 303 configured to adjust a temperature of the SPM liquid at a time when the SPM liquid is supplied to the substrate from the processing liquid supply mechanism 70; an acquisition unit (temperature sensor) 80 configured to acquire temperature information of the SPM liquid on a surface of the substrate; and a control unit 18 configured to set an adjustment amount of the temperature adjusting unit (heater) 303 based on the temperature information of the SPM liquid acquired by the acquisition unit (temperature sensor) 80. The temperature adjusting unit (heater) 303 adjusts, based on the adjustment amount set by the control unit 18, the temperature of the SPM liquid at the time when the SPM liquid is supplied to the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Jiro Higashijima, Nobuhiro Ogata, Yusuke Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20200070196
    Abstract: There is provided a substrate processing apparatus including: a nozzle configured to eject a processing liquid onto a substrate; a standby section having an opening, wherein the nozzle is inserted into the opening to stand by in the standby section; a supply path through which the processing liquid is supplied to the nozzle; a discharge path through which the processing liquid is discharged from the standby section; a circulation path formed by connecting the nozzle, the standby section, the supply path, and the discharge path; and an atmospheric-blocking mechanism provided in the circulation path to block an inside of the circulation path and a surrounding of the substrate from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Fumihiro KAMIMURA, Hiroshi KOMIYA, Nobuhiro OGATA, Takahisa OTSUKA
  • Publication number: 20200038897
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes: a processing chamber in which a substrate is processed with a processing liquid; a nozzle having a discharge port from which the processing liquid is discharged, the discharge port being formed in a distal end portion of the nozzle; a nozzle bath including an accommodation chamber formed therein, wherein the distal end portion of the nozzle is accommodated in the accommodation chamber at a standby time at which the processing liquid is not supplied to the substrate; a circulation line configured to return the processing liquid, which is discharged from the nozzle to the nozzle bath, to the nozzle; and a first restraint part configured to restrain a gas from flowing between an outside of the nozzle bath and the processing liquid present inside the nozzle bath when the processing liquid discharged from the nozzle to the nozzle bath is circulated to the nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Fumihiro KAMIMURA, Takahisa OTSUKA, Hiroshi KOMIYA, Nobuhiro OGATA
  • Patent number: 10486208
    Abstract: According to the present disclosure, both first and second cup bodies are brought into a state of being close to each other by lifting one of the first and second cup bodies. A first gap between a gap forming portion formed on the lower surface of a first protruding portion and the upper surface of a second protruding portion is narrower than a second gap between a portion of the first protruding portion where the gap forming portion is absent, and the upper surface of the second protruding portion. In this state, a cleaning liquid is supplied to the second gap. Since movement of the cleaning liquid that tends to flow radially outward is restricted by the first narrow gap, the entire area between the first and second protruding portions may be filled with the cleaning liquid so that the surface to be cleaned may be evenly cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Ogata, Norihiro Ito, Jiro Higashijima, Yusuke Hashimoto, Kazuhiro Aiura
  • Patent number: 10475671
    Abstract: Disclosed is a substrate processing apparatus including: a holding unit configured to hold a substrate; a processing liquid supply unit configured to supply a first processing liquid and a second processing liquid to the substrate; a first cup configured to recover the first processing liquid; a second cup disposed adjacent to the first cup and configured to recover the second processing liquid; a recovery portion defined by a peripheral wall portion that is erected on a bottom portion of the first cup; and a cleaning liquid supply unit configured to supply a cleaning liquid to the recovery portion. The peripheral wall portion is cleaned by causing the cleaning liquid supplied by the cleaning liquid supply unit to overflow from the peripheral wall portion to the second cup side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Jiro Higashijima, Nobuhiro Ogata, Yusuke Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20190067048
    Abstract: A recovery route returns, to a retaining tank, mixed solution supplied to a substrate processing unit. A discarding route discards the supplied mixed solution to a place other than the retaining tank. A switching controller causes the supplied mixed solution to flow into the discarding route during a time interval until a first time interval has elapsed from a time point when the substrate processing unit starts to supply the mixed solution; causes the supplied mixed solution to flow into the recovery route during a time interval until a second time interval, which is decided based on a predetermined recovery rate, has elapsed after the first time interval elapses; and causes the supplied mixed solution to flow into the discarding route during a time interval until supply of the mixed solution has been ended from a time point when the second time interval elapses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Takaki, Shinichi Umeno, Takashi Nagai, Hisashi Morita, Nobuhiro Ogata, Yusuke Takamatsu, Jiro Higashijima