Patents by Inventor Norifumi Kohama

Norifumi Kohama 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: 20240105497
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a holder configured to hold a substrate by attracting the substrate on an attraction surface. The attraction surface includes an outer attraction portion configured to attract an outer peripheral portion of the substrate and an inner attraction portion configured to attract a portion of the substrate at an inner side than the outer peripheral portion. The holder includes a transforming unit configured to transform the outer attraction portion relative to the inner attraction portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Yosuke Omori, Norifumi Kohama
  • Patent number: 11721596
    Abstract: A parameter adjustment method includes an acquisition process and a parameter changing process. The acquisition process acquires, from an inspection apparatus configured to inspect a combined substrate in which the first substrate and the second substrate are bonded by the bonding apparatus, an inspection result indicating a direction and a degree of distortion occurring in the combined substrate. The parameter changing process changes at least one of multiple parameters including at least one of the gap, an attraction pressure of the first substrate by the first holder, an attraction pressure of the second substrate by the second holder or a pressing force on the first substrate by the striker, based on trend information indicating a tendency of a change in the direction and the degree of the distortion when each of the multiple parameters is changed and the inspection result acquired in the acquiring of the inspection result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Norifumi Kohama
  • Patent number: 11574808
    Abstract: A plasma processing method that is executed by a plasma processing apparatus including a processing container containing a target substrate, a plurality of plasma sources, and a gas supply apparatus for supplying gas includes: supplying the gas from the gas supply apparatus into the processing container; individually controlling intensity of power introduced from each of the plurality of plasma sources into the processing container; and generating plasma of the gas by the intensity of the power introduced from each of the plurality of plasma sources and depositing a desired film on a second surface of the target substrate that is an opposite surface of a first surface of the target substrate so as to apply desired film stress to a film on the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Satoshi Itoh, Norifumi Kohama, Soudai Emori, Nathan Ip
  • Publication number: 20230014665
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a holder having thereon an attraction surface configured to attract a substrate and including an outer attracting member configured to attract a peripheral portion of the substrate and an inner attracting member configured to attract a portion of the substrate inside the peripheral portion of the substrate attracted by the outer attracting member in a diametrical direction of the attraction surface; a moving device configured to move the outer attracting member with respect to the inner attracting member; and a controller configured to control a distortion, which is caused at the substrate attracted to the attraction surface, by controlling a movement of the outer attracting member with respect to the inner attracting member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Kimio Motoda, Norifumi Kohama, Norio Wada, Yosuke Omori, Kenji Sugakawa
  • Patent number: 11482431
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a holder having thereon an attraction surface configured to attract a substrate and including an outer attracting member configured to attract a peripheral portion of the substrate and an inner attracting member configured to attract a portion of the substrate inside the peripheral portion of the substrate attracted by the outer attracting member in a diametrical direction of the attraction surface; a moving device configured to move the outer attracting member with respect to the inner attracting member; and a controller configured to control a distortion, which is caused at the substrate attracted to the attraction surface, by controlling a movement of the outer attracting member with respect to the inner attracting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Kimio Motoda, Norifumi Kohama, Norio Wada, Yosuke Omori, Kenji Sugakawa
  • Publication number: 20220262631
    Abstract: A plasma processing method that is executed by a plasma processing apparatus including a processing container containing a target substrate, a plurality of plasma sources, and a gas supply apparatus for supplying gas includes: supplying the gas from the gas supply apparatus into the processing container; individually controlling intensity of power introduced from each of the plurality of plasma sources into the processing container; and generating plasma of the gas by the intensity of the power introduced from each of the plurality of plasma sources and depositing a desired film on a second surface of the target substrate that is an opposite surface of a first surface of the target substrate so as to apply desired film stress to a film on the first surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Satoshi ITOH, Norifumi KOHAMA, Soudai EMORI, Nathan IP
  • Publication number: 20210327773
    Abstract: A parameter adjustment method includes an acquisition process and a parameter changing process. The acquisition process acquires, from an inspection apparatus configured to inspect a combined substrate in which the first substrate and the second substrate are bonded by the bonding apparatus, an inspection result indicating a direction and a degree of distortion occurring in the combined substrate. The parameter changing process changes at least one of multiple parameters including at least one of the gap, an attraction pressure of the first substrate by the first holder, an attraction pressure of the second substrate by the second holder or a pressing force on the first substrate by the striker, based on trend information indicating a tendency of a change in the direction and the degree of the distortion when each of the multiple parameters is changed and the inspection result acquired in the acquiring of the inspection result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventor: Norifumi Kohama
  • Publication number: 20210242027
    Abstract: A substrate processing method of processing a substrate includes: forming a modification layer at least on a surface layer of a rear surface of the substrate or within the substrate by radiating a laser beam; and processing a front surface of the substrate in a state that the rear surface of the substrate is held. A modification device includes a laser irradiation unit configured to form a modification layer at least on a surface layer of the rear surface of the substrate or within the substrate by radiating a laser beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Norifumi Kohama, Takayuki Ishii
  • Patent number: 10964563
    Abstract: A local deformation which is generated on bonded substrates can be reduced. A bonding apparatus includes a first holding unit configured to attract and hold a first substrate from above; a second holding unit configured to attract and hold a second substrate from below; a striker configured to bring the first substrate into contact with the second substrate by pressing a central portion of the first substrate from above; a moving unit configured to move the second holding unit between a non-facing position where the second holding unit does not face the first holding unit and a facing position where the second holding unit faces the first holding unit; and a temperature control unit disposed to face the second holding unit placed at the non-facing position and configured to locally adjust a temperature of the second substrate attracted to and held by the second holding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Norio Wada, Norifumi Kohama, Kimio Motoda
  • Publication number: 20210035827
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a holder having thereon an attraction surface configured to attract a substrate and including an outer attracting member configured to attract a peripheral portion of the substrate and an inner attracting member configured to attract a portion of the substrate inside the peripheral portion of the substrate attracted by the outer attracting member in a diametrical direction of the attraction surface; a moving device configured to move the outer attracting member with respect to the inner attracting member; and a controller configured to control a distortion, which is caused at the substrate attracted to the attraction surface, by controlling a movement of the outer attracting member with respect to the inner attracting member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Kimio Motoda, Norifumi Kohama, Norio Wada, Yosuke Omori, Kenji Sugakawa
  • Publication number: 20180323089
    Abstract: A local deformation which is generated on bonded substrates can be reduced. A bonding apparatus includes a first holding unit configured to attract and hold a first substrate from above; a second holding unit configured to attract and hold a second substrate from below; a striker configured to bring the first substrate into contact with the second substrate by pressing a central portion of the first substrate from above; a moving unit configured to move the second holding unit between a non-facing position where the second holding unit does not face the first holding unit and a facing position where the second holding unit faces the first holding unit; and a temperature control unit disposed to face the second holding unit placed at the non-facing position and configured to locally adjust a temperature of the second substrate attracted to and held by the second holding unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Norio Wada, Norifumi Kohama, Kimio Motoda