Patents by Inventor Shiro Tsukamoto

Shiro Tsukamoto 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: 20210381082
    Abstract: In the present invention, a high-purity metallic tin suitable for use in an EUV exposure device is provided through use of an oxidation-resistant metallic tin, the oxidation-resistant metallic tin containing 99.995 mass % or more of tin, and unavoidable impurities, and the thickness of an oxide film being 2.0 nm or less when the surface of a cut face of the oxidation-resistant metallic tin is measured by AES.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Takahiro UCHIDA, Toru IMORI, Koichi TAKEMOTO, Shiro TSUKAMOTO
  • Patent number: 10781024
    Abstract: Provided is a high-purity tin product that does not contain undesirable carbonaceous impurities as a result of the following: a vacuum-packed high-purity metal article (vacuum-packed high-purity tin article) is obtained by vacuum packaging a high-purity metal (high-purity tin), at least a portion of a surface of a high-purity metal being covered with a fluorocarbon resin sheet; and the vacuum-packed high-purity metal article(vacuum-packed high-purity tin article) is obtained by vacuum packaging, with a vacuum packaging film, the high-purity metal in which at least a portion of a surface is covered with the fluorocarbon resin sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Imori, Koichi Takemoto, Hideaki Fukuyo, Shiro Tsukamoto, Takahiro Uchida, Masatomi Murakami
  • Publication number: 20200180840
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a high-purity tin product not containing undesirable carbon impurities by producing a high-purity metal vacuum-packaged product (high-purity tin vacuum-packaged product) by means of vacuum-packaging of a high-purity metal (high-purity tin), wherein at least a portion of the surface of the high-purity metal is covered with dust-free paper, and the high-purity metal, at least a portion of the surface thereof being covered with the dust-free paper, is vacuum-packaged using a vacuum-packaging film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
    Inventors: Shiro TSUKAMOTO, Koichi TAKEMOTO
  • Patent number: 10431438
    Abstract: A high-purity titanium target for sputtering having a purity of 5N5 (99.9995%) or higher, wherein the high-purity titanium target has no macro pattern on the target surface. An object of this invention is to provide a high-quality titanium target for sputtering, in which impurities causing particles and abnormal discharge phenomena are reduced, and which is free from fractures and cracks even during high-rate sputtering, and capable of stabilizing the sputtering characteristics, effectively inhibiting the generation of particles during deposition, and improving the uniformity of deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
    Inventor: Shiro Tsukamoto
  • Publication number: 20190055077
    Abstract: Provided is a high-purity tin product that does not contain undesirable carbonaceous impurities as a result of the following: a vacuum-packed high-purity metal article (vacuum-packed high-purity tin article) is obtained by vacuum packaging a high-purity metal (high-purity tin), at least a portion of a surface of a high-purity metal being covered with a fluorocarbon resin sheet; and the vacuum-packed high-purity metal article(vacuum-packed high-purity tin article) is obtained by vacuum packaging, with a vacuum packaging film, the high-purity metal in which at least a portion of a surface is covered with the fluorocarbon resin sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: Toru IMORI, Koichi TAKEMOTO, Hideaki FUKUYO, Shiro TSUKAMOTO, Takahiro UCHIDA, Masatomi MURAKAMI
  • Patent number: 10167547
    Abstract: An assembly of a gadolinium target and a titanium backing plate, wherein the gadolinium target-titanium backing plate assembly has a solid-phase diffusion-bonded interface at a bonding interface between the gadolinium target and the titanium backing plate. An object of the present invention is to discover a backing plate that is suitable for the gadolinium sputtering target, explore the optimal bonding conditions, improve the deposition rate, stabilize the sputtering process, and prevent the occurrence of warpage and separation of the target material and the backing plate by increasing the bonding strength between the target material and the backing plate, as well as inhibit the generation of particles during sputtering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
    Inventor: Shiro Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 10006117
    Abstract: Provided is a sputtering target-backing plate assembly wherein a Cu—Cr alloy backing plate is bonded to a Ti target via a layer of a strain absorbing material placed at an interface between the Ti target and the Cu—Cr alloy backing plate. In particular, the present invention relates to a sputtering target-backing plate assembly and a production method thereof, the assembly being capable of absorbing strain at the interface between the target and the backing plate in order to prevent deformation (displacement) during sputtering. An object of the present invention is to solve a problem inherent to Titanium (Ti) and a problem in selecting a backing plate compatible with it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
    Inventors: Shiro Tsukamoto, Kazumasa Ohashi
  • Patent number: 9711336
    Abstract: Provided is a backing plate-integrated metal sputtering target comprising a flange part that is formed integrally with a target of which periphery becomes a backing plate, wherein the flange part comprises a structure obtained by repeating partial forging. By increasing the mechanical strength of only the flange part of the target in a backing plate-integrated sputtering target as described above, it is possible to inhibit the deformation of the target during sputtering and a change in the conventional sputtering properties; thereby the formation of thin films having superior uniformity can be realized, and the yield and reliability of semiconductor products, which are being subject to further miniaturization and higher integration, can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
    Inventor: Shiro Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 9666418
    Abstract: A high-purity titanium target for sputtering containing 0.5 to 5 mass ppm of S as an additive component, wherein the purity of the target excluding additive components and gas components is 99.995 mass percent or higher. An object of this invention is to provide a high-quality titanium target for sputtering which is free from fractures and cracks during high-power sputtering (high-rate sputtering) and is capable of stabilizing the sputtering characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
    Inventors: Shiro Tsukamoto, Nobuhito Makino, Atsushi Fukushima, Kazuto Yagi, Eiji Hino
  • Patent number: 9536715
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for recycling a tantalum coil for sputtering that is disposed between a substrate and a sputtering target. The method for recycling a tantalum coil for sputtering is characterized in that the whole or partial surface of a spent tantalum coil is subject to cutting (cutting is performed until a re-deposited film and knurling traces are eliminated) so as to eliminate the re-deposited film that was formed during sputtering, and knurling is newly performed to the cut portion. While sputtered grains are accumulated (re-deposited) on the surface of the tantalum coil disposed between the substrate and the sputtering target during sputtering, by eliminating the sputtered grains accumulated on the spent coil by way of cutting after the sputtering is complete, the tantalum coil can be efficiently recycled. Thus, provided is technology capable of lean manufacturing of new coils, improving productivity, and stably providing such coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
    Inventor: Shiro Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 9530628
    Abstract: A high-purity titanium target for sputtering, which contains, as additive components, one or more elements selected from Al, Si, S, Cl, Cr, Fe, Ni, As, Zr, Sn, Sb, B, and La in a total amount of 3 to 100 mass ppm, and of which the purity excluding additive components and gas components is 99.99 mass % or higher. An object of this invention is to provide a high-quality titanium target for sputtering, which is free from fractures and cracks during high-power sputtering (high-rate sputtering) and capable of stabilizing the sputtering characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhito Makino, Takeo Okabe, Shiro Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 9382612
    Abstract: Provided are a lanthanum target for sputtering which has a recrystallized structure with an average crystal grain size of 100 ?m or less and has no spotty macro patterns on the surface; and a method of producing a lanthanum target for sputtering, wherein lanthanum is melted and cast to produce an ingot, the ingot is subject to knead forging at a temperature of 300 to 500° C. and subsequently subject to hot upset forging to form the shape into a rough target shape, and this is additionally subject to machining to obtain a target. This invention aims to offer technology for efficiently and stably providing a lanthanum target for sputtering which has no spotty macro patterns on the surface, and a method of producing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
    Inventors: Shiro Tsukamoto, Tomio Otsuki
  • Patent number: 9371578
    Abstract: Provided is a tantalum coil for sputtering disposed between a substrate and a sputtering target, wherein the tantalum coil has irregularities so that the surface roughness Rz of the tantalum coil is 150 ?m or more and the number of threads is 15 to 30 TPI (Threads per inch) in a transverse direction and 10 to 30 TPI in a vertical direction. An object of the present invention is to take measures to prevent the sputtered grains accumulated on the surface of a tantalum coil from flaking so as to prevent the generation of particles and arcing that is caused by the flaking of the sputtered grains accumulated on the surface of the coil disposed between a substrate and a sputtering target, and the adhesion of the scattered flakes onto the substrate surface; and thereby to provide a technology of improving the quality and productivity of electronic components and stably providing semiconductor elements and devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
    Inventor: Shiro Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 9347130
    Abstract: Provided are a lanthanum target for sputtering which has a Vickers hardness of 60 or more and no spotty macro patterns on the surface, and a method of producing a lanthanum target for sputtering, wherein lanthanum is melted and cast to produce an ingot, the ingot is subject to knead forging at a temperature of 300 to 500° C. and subsequently subject to upset forging at 300 to 500° C. to form the shape into a rough target shape, and this is additionally subject to machining to obtain a target. This invention aims to offer technology for efficiently and stably providing a lanthanum target for sputtering that has no spotty macro patterns on the surface, and a method of producing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
    Inventors: Shiro Tsukamoto, Tomio Otsuki
  • Patent number: 9328411
    Abstract: Provided is a method of producing an ytterbium sputtering target, wherein an ytterbium target material having Vickers hardness (Hv) of the material surface of 15 or more and 40 or less is prepared in advance, and a surface of the ytterbium target material having the foregoing surface hardness is subject to final finish processing by way of machining. With the ytterbium sputtering target, present invention aims to remarkably reduce the irregularities (gouges) on the target surface after the final finish processing of the target material, and to inhibit the generation of particles during sputtering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
    Inventor: Shiro Tsukamoto
  • Publication number: 20160071705
    Abstract: Provided is a backing plate-integrated metal sputtering target comprising a flange part that is formed integrally with a target of which periphery becomes a backing plate, wherein the flange part comprises a structure obtained by repeating partial forging. By increasing the mechanical strength of only the flange part of the target in a backing plate-integrated sputtering target as described above, it is possible to inhibit the deformation of the target during sputtering and a change in the conventional sputtering properties; thereby the formation of thin films having superior uniformity can be realized, and the yield and reliability of semiconductor products, which are being subject to further miniaturization and higher integration, can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventor: Shiro Tsukamoto
  • Publication number: 20160005576
    Abstract: A high-purity titanium target for sputtering having a purity of 5N5 (99.9995%) or higher, wherein the high-purity titanium target has no macro pattern on the target surface. An object of this invention is to provide a high-quality titanium target for sputtering, in which impurities causing particles and abnormal discharge phenomena are reduced, and which is free from fractures and cracks even during high-rate sputtering, and capable of stabilizing the sputtering characteristics, effectively inhibiting the generation of particles during deposition, and improving the uniformity of deposition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventor: Shiro Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 9068258
    Abstract: Provided is a titanium target for sputtering having a Shore hardness Hs of 20 or more and a basal plane orientation ratio of 70% or less. In the titanium target for sputtering, the purity of titanium is 99.995 mass % or more, excluding gas components. It is an object of the present invention to provide a high-quality titanium target for sputtering, in which impurities are reduced, and which can prevent occurrence of cracking or breaking in high-power sputtering (high-rate sputtering), stabilize sputtering characteristics, and effectively suppress occurrence of particles during formation of a film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
    Inventors: Shiro Tsukamoto, Nobuhito Makino, Hideaki Fukuyo
  • Publication number: 20140251802
    Abstract: A high-purity titanium target for sputtering containing 0.5 to 5 mass ppm of S as an additive component, wherein the purity of the target excluding additive components and gas components is 99.995 mass percent or higher. An object of this invention is to provide a high-quality titanium target for sputtering which is free from fractures and cracks during high-power sputtering (high-rate sputtering) and is capable of stabilizing the sputtering characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: JX NIPPON MINING & METALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shiro Tsukamoto, Nobuhito Makino, Atsushi Fukushima, Kazuto Yagi, Eiji Hino
  • Publication number: 20140174917
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for recycling a tantalum coil for sputtering that is disposed between a substrate and a sputtering target. The method for recycling a tantalum coil for sputtering is characterized in that the whole or partial surface of a spent tantalum coil is subject to cutting (cutting is performed until a re-deposited film and knurling traces are eliminated) so as to eliminate the re-deposited film that was formed during sputtering, and knurling is newly performed to the cut portion. While sputtered grains are accumulated (re-deposited) on the surface of the tantalum coil disposed between the substrate and the sputtering target during sputtering, by eliminating the sputtered grains accumulated on the spent coil by way of cutting after the sputtering is complete, the tantalum coil can be efficiently recycled. Thus, provided is technology capable of lean manufacturing of new coils, improving productivity, and stably providing such coils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: JX NIPPON MINING & METALS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shiro Tsukamoto