Patents by Inventor Satoshi BIWA

Satoshi BIWA 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: 20230187233
    Abstract: There is provided a substrate processing apparatus comprising a liquid amount detecting part configured to detect a liquid amount of a liquid film formed on a substrate; and a coating state detecting part configured to detect a coating state of the substrate with the liquid film formed thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2023
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Masataka GOSHO, Yuichi DOUKI, Satoshi BIWA, Satoshi OKAMURA, Katsuhiro OOKAWA, Yuichiro KUNUGIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20230022814
    Abstract: A substrate processing method of drying a substrate by using a processing fluid in a supercritical state is performed by a substrate processing apparatus. The substrate processing apparatus includes a fluid discharge unit, a supply line, a fluid drain unit, a drain line and a flow control device. The substrate processing method includes: flowing the processing fluid from the fluid discharge unit to the fluid drain unit such that the processing fluid flows along a surface of the substrate. The flowing of the processing fluid includes flowing the processing fluid in a first flow mode and flowing the processing fluid in a second flow mode. Between the first flow mode and the second flow mode, a flow direction distribution of the processing fluid is different, and a switchover between the first flow mode and the second flow mode is performed by the flow control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Saya Inoue, Satoru Tanaka, Shinichiro Shimomura, Toru Ihara, Satoshi Biwa
  • Patent number: 11557492
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes: a processing container including a processing space capable of accommodating a substrate in a state where a surface of the substrate is wet by a liquid; a processing fluid supply that supplies a processing fluid in a supercritical state to the processing space toward the liquid; a first exhaust line connected to a first exhaust source; a second exhaust line connected to a second exhaust source and connected to the first exhaust line between the first exhaust source and the processing space; and a controller controlling the second exhaust pressure. The processing fluid in the supercritical state contacts the liquid to dry the substrate, and the controller makes the second exhaust pressure to be higher than the first exhaust pressure during a period in which the processing fluid supply stops supplying the processing fluid to the processing space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Satoshi Biwa, Satoshi Okamura, Gentaro Goshi
  • Patent number: 11295965
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus of a substrate processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment includes a nozzle and a scanner. The nozzle ejects a gas toward in an inner wall surface of a processing chamber in which a substrate is processed. The scanner causes the nozzle to scan along the inner wall surface of the processing chamber in the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Kohei Yamada, Hiroaki Inadomi, Satoshi Biwa
  • Publication number: 20200388512
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes: a processing container including a processing space capable of accommodating a substrate in a state where a surface of the substrate is wet by a liquid; a processing fluid supply that supplies a processing fluid in a supercritical state to the processing space toward the liquid; a first exhaust line connected to a first exhaust source; a second exhaust line connected to a second exhaust source and connected to the first exhaust line between the first exhaust source and the processing space; and a controller controlling the second exhaust pressure. The processing fluid in the supercritical state contacts the liquid to dry the substrate, and the controller makes the second exhaust pressure to be higher than the first exhaust pressure during a period in which the processing fluid supply stops supplying the processing fluid to the processing space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Satoshi BIWA, Satoshi OKAMURA, Gentaro GOSHI
  • Patent number: 10679845
    Abstract: Disclosed is a substrate processing apparatus. The substrate processing apparatus includes a container body, and a holding member that conveys the substrate from an outside of the container body into the container body and holds the substrate inside the container body during the processing. A substrate support pin supporting a wafer and a cooling plate cooling the holding member are provided outside the container body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroaki Inadomi, Satoshi Okamura, Satoshi Biwa
  • Publication number: 20200168482
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus configured to perform a drying processing of drying substrates by using a processing fluid in a supercritical state includes a processing vessel and multiple holders. In the processing vessel, the drying processing is performed. The multiple holders are respectively configured to hold the substrates within the processing vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Hiroaki Inadomi, Satoshi Biwa, Satoshi Okamura
  • Patent number: 10619922
    Abstract: Provided is a substrate processing apparatus including a processing container configured to receive a substrate on which a dry preventing liquid is filled and perform a supercritical processing on the substrate; a fluid supply line connected to the processing container and configured to supply a processing fluid to the processing container; a fluid discharge line connected to the processing container and configured to discharge the processing fluid in the processing container; and a first circulation line connected to an upstream side and a downstream side of the processing container, and provided independently from the fluid supply line and the fluid discharge line to circulate the processing fluid in the processing container. The first circulation line is provided with a first reservoir tank that receives the processing fluid from the processing container and has a capacity larger than that of the processing container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Gentaro Goshi, Hiromi Kiyose, Satoshi Biwa
  • Patent number: 10593571
    Abstract: Provided is a substrate processing apparatus including a liquid processing unit that performs a liquid processing on a substrate; a drying processing unit that performs a drying processing on the substrate in a wet state; a first conveyance unit that conveys the substrate to the liquid processing unit; a second conveyance unit that conveys the substrate in the wet state from the liquid processing unit to the drying processing unit; and a third conveyance unit that conveys the substrate before the liquid processing in the liquid processing unit and to convey the substrate after the drying processing from the drying processing unit. The first and second conveyance units and the drying processing unit are disposed on a side that faces the third conveyance unit, and the liquid processing unit is disposed on a side that faces the first and second conveyance units and is opposite to the third conveyance unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Hiroaki Inadomi, Tooru Nakamura, Kouji Kimoto, Yasuo Kiyohara, Satoshi Okamura, Satoshi Biwa, Nobuya Yamamoto, Katsuhiro Ookawa, Keiichi Yahata, Tetsuro Nakahara
  • Patent number: 10381246
    Abstract: Disclosed is a substrate processing apparatus including: a container body configured to accommodate a substrate and perform a processing on the substrate using a high-pressure processing fluid; a conveyance port configured to carry the substrate into and out of the container body; an opening formed in the container body at a position different from the conveyance port; and a cover member configured to close the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Satoshi Okamura, Satoshi Biwa
  • Publication number: 20190206702
    Abstract: There is provided a substrate processing apparatus comprising a liquid amount detecting part configured to detect a liquid amount of a liquid film formed on a substrate; and a coating state detecting part configured to detect a coating state of the substrate with the liquid film formed thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Masataka GOSHO, Yuichi DOUKI, Satoshi BIWA, Satoshi OKAMURA, Katsuhiro OOKAWA, Yuichiro KUNUGIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20190148182
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus of a substrate processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment includes a nozzle and a scanner. The nozzle ejects a gas toward in an inner wall surface of a processing chamber in which a substrate is processed. The scanner causes the nozzle to scan along the inner wall surface of the processing chamber in the processing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Kohei YAMADA, Hiroaki INADOMI, Satoshi BIWA
  • Patent number: 10276425
    Abstract: A substrate processing system includes: a holding plate provided to be rotatable around a vertical axis; a substrate holding member provided on the holding plate to hold a substrate; a rotary drive unit that rotates the substrate in a predetermined direction; and a processing fluid supply unit that supplies a processing liquid to the substrate. The substrate holding member includes a first side portion provided at a position facing the substrate and a second side portion and a third side portion that are adjacent to the first side portion. The first side portion includes a gripping portion configured to grip an end surface of the substrate. The second side portion forms a pointed end portion with the first side portion, and includes a liquid flow guide portion that guides the processing liquid to a lower side of the substrate after the processing liquid is supplied to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Terufumi Wakiyama, Norihiro Ito, Jiro Higashijima, Satoshi Biwa
  • Publication number: 20180138060
    Abstract: Disclosed is a substrate processing apparatus including: a container body configured to accommodate a substrate and perform a processing on the substrate using a high-pressure processing fluid; a conveyance port configured to carry the substrate into and out of the container body; an opening formed in the container body at a position different from the conveyance port; and a cover member configured to close the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Satoshi Okamura, Satoshi Biwa
  • Publication number: 20170287742
    Abstract: Provided is a substrate processing apparatus including a liquid processing unit that performs a liquid processing on a substrate; a drying processing unit that performs a drying processing on the substrate in a wet state; a first conveyance unit that conveys the substrate to the liquid processing unit; a second conveyance unit that conveys the substrate in the wet state from the liquid processing unit to the drying processing unit; and a third conveyance unit that conveys the substrate before the liquid processing in the liquid processing unit and to convey the substrate after the drying processing from the drying processing unit. The first and second conveyance units and the drying processing unit are disposed on a side that faces the third conveyance unit, and the liquid processing unit is disposed on a side that faces the first and second conveyance units and is opposite to the third conveyance unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Hiroaki Inadomi, Tooru Nakamura, Kouji Kimoto, Yasuo Kiyohara, Satoshi Okamura, Satoshi Biwa, Nobuya Yamamoto, Katsuhiro Ookawa, Keiichi Yahata, Tetsuro Nakahara
  • Publication number: 20170256398
    Abstract: Disclosed is a substrate processing apparatus. The substrate processing apparatus includes a container body, and a holding member that conveys the substrate from an outside of the container body into the container body and holds the substrate inside the container body during the processing. A substrate support pin supporting a wafer and a cooling plate cooling the holding member are provided outside the container body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Hiroaki Inadomi, Satoshi Okamura, Satoshi Biwa
  • Publication number: 20170254589
    Abstract: Provided is a substrate processing apparatus including a processing container configured to receive a substrate on which a dry preventing liquid is filled and perform a supercritical processing on the substrate; a fluid supply line connected to the processing container and configured to supply a processing fluid to the processing container; a fluid discharge line connected to the processing container and configured to discharge the processing fluid in the processing container; and a first circulation line connected to an upstream side and a downstream side of the processing container, and provided independently from the fluid supply line and the fluid discharge line to circulate the processing fluid in the processing container. The first circulation line is provided with a first reservoir tank that receives the processing fluid from the processing container and has a capacity larger than that of the processing container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Gentaro Goshi, Hiromi Kiyose, Satoshi Biwa
  • Publication number: 20160148827
    Abstract: A substrate processing system includes: a holding plate provided to be rotatable around a vertical axis; a substrate holding member provided on the holding plate to hold a substrate; a rotary drive unit that rotates the substrate in a predetermined direction; and a processing fluid supply unit that supplies a processing liquid to the substrate. The substrate holding member includes a first side portion provided at a position facing the substrate and a second side portion and a third side portion that are adjacent to the first side portion. The first side portion includes a gripping portion configured to grip an end surface of the substrate. The second side portion forms a pointed end portion with the first side portion, and includes a liquid flow guide portion that guides the processing liquid to a lower side of the substrate after the processing liquid is supplied to the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Terufumi Wakiyama, Norihiro Ito, Jiro Higashijima, Satoshi Biwa
  • Patent number: 8671875
    Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid processing apparatus capable of increasing the number of arranged substrate retainers without increasing the total exhaust amount of the liquid processing apparatus. A N-number (N is an integer identical to or greater than three) of cup bodies are inhaled and exhausted in total exhaust amount E through a plurality of separate exhaustion passage each having a first damper, and through a common exhaustion passage connected in common downstream of the separate exhaustion passages. The first dampers are configured such that an external air is received from the cup body in a first intake amount of external air E1 for one of the cup bodies where a chemical liquid nozzle is placed at a setting location facing a wafer, and an external air is received from each of the other cup bodies in a second intake amount of external air E2 less than the first amount E1 and the intake amount of external air from both each of the other cup bodies and each of branched passages equals (E?E1)/(n?1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Shuichi Nagamine, Naofumi Kishita, Satoshi Biwa, Kouji Fujimura
  • Publication number: 20100040779
    Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid processing apparatus capable of increasing the number of arranged substrate retainers without increasing the total exhaust amount of the liquid processing apparatus. A N-number (N is an integer identical to or greater than three) of cup bodies are inhaled and exhausted in total exhaust amount E through a plurality of separate exhaustion passage each having a first damper, and through a common exhaustion passage connected in common downstream of the separate exhaustion passages. The first dampers are configured such that an external air is received from the cup body in a first intake amount of external air E1 for one of the cup bodies where a chemical liquid nozzle is placed at a setting location facing a wafer, and an external air is received from each of the other cup bodies in a second intake amount of external air E2 less than the first amount E1 and the intake amount of external air from both each of the other cup bodies and each of branched passages equals (E?E1)/(n?1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Shuichi NAGAMINE, Naofumi KISHITA, Satoshi BIWA, Kouji FUJIMURA