Patents by Inventor Shinji Himori

Shinji Himori 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: 20240096608
    Abstract: A plasma monitoring system includes a monitoring device and a control device. The monitoring device is a device to be placed on a stage in the plasma processing apparatus. The monitoring device includes a plate-shaped base substrate, and a plurality of spectroscopes having optical axes facing upward on the base substrate, and being disposed apart from each other to acquire light emission intensities of the plasma. The control device acquires light emission intensity distribution data of the plasma in the plasma processing apparatus based on the light emission intensity acquired by each of the plurality of spectroscopes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Satoru TERUUCHI, Jun HIROSE, Kazuya NAGASEKI, Shinji HIMORI
  • Publication number: 20240068921
    Abstract: A particle monitoring system includes a light emitting device for irradiating an inside of a plasma processing apparatus with light, and a monitoring device to be placed on a stage in the plasma processing apparatus. The monitoring device includes a base substrate, a plurality of imaging devices, and a control device. The base substrate has a plate shape. The plurality of imaging devices have optical axes facing upward on the base substrate, and are disposed apart from each other to capture images including scattered light from the particle irradiated with the light. The control device discriminates the particle in the images captured by the plurality of imaging devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Satoru TERUUCHI, Jun HIROSE, Kazuya NAGASEKI, Shinji HIMORI
  • Publication number: 20240006154
    Abstract: A plasma processing method according to an exemplary embodiment includes applying a first direct-current voltage to a lower electrode of a substrate support provided in a chamber of a plasma processing apparatus, in a first period during generation of plasma in the chamber. The plasma processing method further includes applying a second direct-current voltage to the lower electrode in a second period different from the first period during generation of plasma in the chamber. The second direct-current voltage has a level different from a level of the first direct-current voltage. The second direct-current voltage has a same polarity as a polarity of the first direct-current voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Chishio KOSHIMIZU, Shin HIROTSU, Takenobu IKEDA, Koichi NAGAMI, Shinji HIMORI
  • Patent number: 11764034
    Abstract: A plasma processing method according to an exemplary embodiment includes applying a first direct-current voltage to a lower electrode of a substrate support provided in a chamber of a plasma processing apparatus, in a first period during generation of plasma in the chamber. The plasma processing method further includes applying a second direct-current voltage to the lower electrode in a second period different from the first period during generation of plasma in the chamber. The second direct-current voltage has a level different from a level of the first direct-current voltage. The second direct-current voltage has a same polarity as a polarity of the first direct-current voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Chishio Koshimizu, Shin Hirotsu, Takenobu Ikeda, Koichi Nagami, Shinji Himori
  • Publication number: 20220301825
    Abstract: A disclosed plasma processing method includes generating plasma in a chamber of a plasma processing apparatus by supplying radio frequency power from a radio frequency power source in a first period. The plasma processing method further includes stopping supply of the radio frequency power from the radio frequency power source in a second period following the first period. The plasma processing method further includes applying a negative direct-current voltage from a bias power source to a substrate support in a third period following the second period. In the third period, the radio frequency power is not supplied. In the third period, the negative direct-current voltage is set to generate ions in a chamber by secondary electrons that are emitted by causing ions in the chamber to collide with a substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Shinji KUBOTA, Kazuya NAGASEKI, Shinji HIMORI, Koichi NAGAMI
  • Patent number: 11450515
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a plasma processing container; a workpiece placement table disposed in the plasma processing container; a dielectric member having a facing surface that faces the workpiece placement table; an antenna provided on a surface of the dielectric member opposite to the facing surface and configured to introduce an induced electric field for plasma excitation into the plasma processing container via the dielectric member; an electromagnet group disposed along an outer circumference of the plasma processing container and configured to form a magnetic field in the plasma processing container; and a controller configured to control magnitudes of electric currents flowing through respective electromagnets of the electromagnet group differently from each other, to generate a magnetic gradient along a circumferential direction in the magnetic field that exists only in an outer circumferential space in the plasma processing container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Kazuya Nagaseki, Shinji Himori, Mitsunori Ohata
  • Patent number: 11387077
    Abstract: A disclosed plasma processing method includes generating plasma in a chamber of a plasma processing apparatus by supplying radio frequency power from a radio frequency power source in a first period. The plasma processing method further includes stopping supply of the radio frequency power from the radio frequency power source in a second period following the first period. The plasma processing method further includes applying a negative direct-current voltage from a bias power source to a substrate support in a third period following the second period. In the third period, the radio frequency power is not supplied. In the third period, the negative direct-current voltage is set to generate ions in a chamber by secondary electrons that are emitted by causing ions in the chamber to collide with a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Shinji Kubota, Kazuya Nagaseki, Shinji Himori, Koichi Nagami
  • Publication number: 20220028665
    Abstract: A decrease of an etching rate of a substrate can be suppressed, and energy of ions irradiated to an inner wall of a chamber main body can be reduced. A plasma processing apparatus includes a DC power supply configured to generate a negative DC voltage to be applied to a lower electrode of a stage. In a plasma processing performed by using the plasma processing apparatus, a radio frequency power is supplied to generate plasma by exciting a gas within a chamber. Further, the negative DC voltage from the DC power supply is periodically applied to the lower electrode to attract ions in the plasma onto the substrate placed on the stage. A ratio occupied, within each of cycles, by a period during which the DC voltage is applied to the lower electrode is set to be equal to or less than 40%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Koichi Nagami, Kazunobu Fujiwara, Tatsuro Ohshita, Takashi Dokan, Koji Maruyama, Kazuya Nagaseki, Shinji Himori
  • Patent number: 11170979
    Abstract: A decrease of an etching rate of a substrate can be suppressed, and energy of ions irradiated to an inner wall of a chamber main body can be reduced. A plasma processing apparatus includes a DC power supply configured to generate a negative DC voltage to be applied to a lower electrode of a stage. In a plasma processing performed by using the plasma processing apparatus, a radio frequency power is supplied to generate plasma by exciting a gas within a chamber. Further, the negative DC voltage from the DC power supply is periodically applied to the lower electrode to attract ions in the plasma onto the substrate placed on the stage. A ratio occupied, within each of cycles, by a period during which the DC voltage is applied to the lower electrode is set to be equal to or less than 40%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Koichi Nagami, Kazunobu Fujiwara, Tatsuro Ohshita, Takashi Dokan, Koji Maruyama, Kazuya Nagaseki, Shinji Himori
  • Patent number: 11133157
    Abstract: Provided is a plasma processing apparatus that performs a processing on a processing target substrate by applying plasma of a processing gas on the processing target substrate. The plasma processing apparatus includes: a processing container configured to accommodate the processing target substrate; a lower electrode disposed in the processing container to mount the processing target substrate thereon; an upper electrode disposed in the processing container to face the lower electrode with a processing space being interposed therebetween; a high frequency power source configured to apply a high frequency power between the upper electrode and the lower electrode; a main magnet unit including one or more annular main electromagnetic coils arranged around a central axis; and an auxiliary magnet unit configured to form a magnetic field that perpendicularly or obliquely crosses the central axis in the processing space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Akihiro Yokota, Shinji Himori, Tatsuro Ohshita, Shu Kusano
  • Publication number: 20210159049
    Abstract: A disclosed plasma processing method includes generating plasma in a chamber of a plasma processing apparatus by supplying radio frequency power from a radio frequency power source in a first period. The plasma processing method further includes stopping supply of the radio frequency power from the radio frequency power source in a second period following the first period. The plasma processing method further includes applying a negative direct-current voltage from a bias power source to a substrate support in a third period following the second period. In the third period, the radio frequency power is not supplied. In the third period, the negative direct-current voltage is set to generate ions in a chamber by secondary electrons that are emitted by causing ions in the chamber to collide with a substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Shinji KUBOTA, Kazuya NAGASEKI, Shinji HIMORI, Koichi NAGAMI
  • Patent number: 10943766
    Abstract: A power feed member having high heat insulation and capable of transmitting a power at a low loss is provided. The power feed member configured to supply a power includes a first conductive member; a second conductive member; and a connecting member configured to electrically connect the first conductive member and the second conductive member. At least a part of the connecting member is formed of a porous metal or multiple bulk metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Shunichi Ito, Shinji Himori, Etsuji Ito, Naokazu Furuya, Gen Tamamushi
  • Publication number: 20210013015
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a plasma processing container; a workpiece placement table disposed in the plasma processing container; a dielectric member having a facing surface that faces the workpiece placement table; an antenna provided on a surface of the dielectric member opposite to the facing surface and configured to introduce an induced electric field for plasma excitation into the plasma processing container via the dielectric member; an electromagnet group disposed along an outer circumference of the plasma processing container and configured to form a magnetic field in the plasma processing container; and a controller configured to control magnitudes of electric currents flowing through respective electromagnets of the electromagnet group differently from each other, to generate a magnetic gradient along a circumferential direction in the magnetic field that exists only in an outer circumferential space in the plasma processing container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Kazuya NAGASEKI, Shinji HIMORI, Mitsunori OHATA
  • Publication number: 20200381215
    Abstract: A plasma processing method according to an exemplary embodiment includes applying a first direct-current voltage to a lower electrode of a substrate support provided in a chamber of a plasma processing apparatus, in a first period during generation of plasma in the chamber. The plasma processing method further includes applying a second direct-current voltage to the lower electrode in a second period different from the first period during generation of plasma in the chamber. The second direct-current voltage has a level different from a level of the first direct-current voltage. The second direct-current voltage has a same polarity as a polarity of the first direct-current voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Chishio KOSHIMIZU, Shin HIROTSU, Takenobu IKEDA, Koichi NAGAMI, Shinji HIMORI
  • Patent number: 10825663
    Abstract: Disclosed is a plasma processing apparatus including: a processing container; a placing table provided in the processing container and configured to place a workpiece thereon; a dielectric member having a facing surface that faces the placing table; a planar antenna provided on a surface of the dielectric member opposite to the facing surface and configured to introduce an induced electric field for plasma excitation into the processing container via the dielectric member; and an electromagnet group disposed along an outer circumference of the processing container and configured to form a magnetic field for moving ions in plasma based on the induced electric field along the facing surface of the dielectric member in the processing container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Kazuya Nagaseki, Shinji Himori, Mitsunori Ohata
  • Publication number: 20200312623
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a processing chamber that accommodates a substrate, a gas supply having a gas diffusion chamber and a plurality of gas holes that communicates the gas diffusion chamber with the processing chamber, a gas inlet tube that introduces a gas into the gas diffusion chamber of the gas supply, and a gas source connected to the gas inlet tube and supplies the gas to the gas inlet tube. The gas supply has a volume variable device for changing a volume in the gas diffusion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Kazuki MOYAMA, Kazuya NAGASEKI, Shinji HIMORI, Michishige SAITO, Gen TAMAMUSHI
  • Patent number: 10699935
    Abstract: A semiconductor manufacturing device includes a stage, a plurality of pins, and a driving unit. The stage includes a mounting surface. The mounting surface has a first region for mounting thereon a substrate, and a second region for mounting thereon a focus ring. The second region is provided to surround the first region. A plurality of holes is formed in the stage. The holes extend in a direction that intersects the mounting surface while passing through the boundary between the first region and the second region. The pins are provided in the respective holes. Each of the pins has a first and a second upper end surface. The second upper end surface is provided above the first upper end surface, and is offset towards the first region with respect to the first upper end surface. The driving unit moves the pins up and down in the aforementioned direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: TOKO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Shinji Himori, Yoshiyuki Kobayashi, Takehiro Kato, Etsuji Ito
  • Patent number: 10651012
    Abstract: A substrate processing method performed by a substrate processing apparatus is provided. The substrate processing method comprises: setting a magnetic pole on a processing space side of each electromagnet belonging to one of first, second and third electromagnet groups to be different from a magnetic pole on the processing space side of each electromagnet belonging to the other two electromagnet groups; generating an electric field by applying a high frequency power to a lower electrode; and performing a first process on the substrate with plasma generated by the electric field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Akihiro Yokota, Etsuji Ito, Shinji Himori
  • Publication number: 20200144028
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a chamber and a substrate support provided in the chamber. A power supply unit is connected to a lower electrode of the substrate support. The power supply unit applies a first DC voltage to the lower electrode during generation of plasma from an etching gas in the chamber. The first DC voltage is a positive DC voltage. The power supply unit applies a second DC voltage to the lower electrode during the generation of plasma from the etching gas in the chamber, to etch the substrate placed on the substrate support. The second DC voltage is a negative DC voltage. The DC voltage output by the power supply unit is continuously switched from the first DC voltage to the second DC voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Koichi NAGAMI, Kazuya NAGASEKI, Shinji HIMORI
  • Publication number: 20200126770
    Abstract: A decrease of an etching rate of a substrate can be suppressed, and energy of ions irradiated to an inner wall of a chamber main body can be reduced. A plasma processing apparatus includes a DC power supply configured to generate a negative DC voltage to be applied to a lower electrode of a stage. In a plasma processing performed by using the plasma processing apparatus, a radio frequency power is supplied to generate plasma by exciting a gas within a chamber. Further, the negative DC voltage from the DC power supply is periodically applied to the lower electrode to attract ions in the plasma onto the substrate placed on the stage. A ratio occupied, within each of cycles, by a period during which the DC voltage is applied to the lower electrode is set to be equal to or less than 40%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Koichi Nagami, Kazunobu Fujiwara, Tatsuro Ohshita, Takashi Dokan, Koji Maruyama, Kazuya Nagaseki, Shinji Himori