Patents by Inventor Suguru Enokida

Suguru Enokida 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: 20240079256
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes; a carrier block; a first processing block including first lower and upper processing blocks to deliver a substrate to and from the carrier block; a second processing block including second lower and upper processing blocks provided adjacent to the first lower and upper processing blocks; a relay block including a lifting and transferring mechanism that delivers the substrate between the second lower and upper processing blocks; a controller that controls an operation of each main transfer mechanism such that one of upper and lower processing blocks forms an outward path through which the substrate is transferred from the carrier block to the relay block and the other forms a return path through which the substrate is transferred from the relay block to the carrier block; and a bypass transfer mechanism provided for each of the first and second processing blocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi WATANABE, Masashi TSUCHIYAMA, Suguru ENOKIDA, Taro YAMAMOTO
  • Patent number: 11869789
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a carrier block, a first processing block including first lower and upper processing blocks to deliver a substrate to and from the carrier block, a second processing block including second lower and upper processing blocks provided adjacent to the first lower and upper processing blocks, a relay block including a lifting and transferring mechanism that delivers the substrate between the second lower and upper processing blocks, a controller that controls an operation of each main transfer mechanism such that one of upper and lower processing blocks forms an outward path through which the substrate is transferred from the carrier block to the relay block and the other forms a return path through which the substrate is transferred from the relay block to the carrier block, and a bypass transfer mechanism provided for each of the first and second processing blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Watanabe, Masashi Tsuchiyama, Suguru Enokida, Taro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11664254
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a carrier block on which a carrier configured to store a substrate is placed, first processing block including a plurality of first processing modules, and a first transport mechanism shared by the plurality of first processing modules to transport the substrate, second processing block overlapping the first processing block, including a plurality of second processing modules, and a second transport mechanism shared by the plurality of second processing modules to transport the substrate, and configured to transport the substrate to the carrier block. The substrate processing apparatus includes a lifting and transferring mechanism including a shaft extending in a horizontal direction and a support part configured to face and support the substrate, and a rotation mechanism configured to rotate the support part around the shaft such that an orientation of the support part is changed between a first orientation and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Watanabe, Masashi Tsuchiyama, Suguru Enokida, Taro Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20230106927
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes: a carrier block including carrier placement parts and configured to load/unload a substrate into/from a carrier; a processing block provided on one side of the carrier block to process the substrate; first and second carrier placement parts of the carrier placement parts and provided side by side in a front-rear direction in a plan view; substrate placement parts provided to be arranged step by step vertically on one side of a substrate transfer region formed between the first and second carrier placement parts; a first substrate transfer mechanism provided in the substrate transfer region to deliver the substrate between the carrier of the first carrier placement part and a first substrate placement part of the substrate placement parts; and a second substrate transfer mechanism for moving upward and downward so as to deliver the substrate between first and second substrate placement parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi WATANABE, Masashi TSUCHIYAMA, Naruaki IIDA, Suguru ENOKIDA, Kousei IDE
  • Publication number: 20230017389
    Abstract: A substrate transfer device includes a substrate holder and a base to which the substrate holder is movably attached. The substrate holder includes first and second suction holes provided to be open in a placing surface, first and second protrusions disposed respectively in the first and second suction holes, and first and second supports provided respectively in the vicinity of the first and second suction holes so as to protrude upward from the placing surface. The first protrusion is pressed by a first elastic member toward an upward direction to protrude from the first suction hole such that the first protrusion blocks the first suction hole, and the second protrusion is pressed by a second elastic member toward an upward direction to protrude from the second suction hole such that the second protrusion blocks the second suction hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko TSUJIHASHI, Suguru ENOKIDA, Kazuki MATSUSHITA
  • Patent number: 11476136
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes plural heating modules each including a table on which a substrate is placed to be heated, the substrate having plural heated zones. The table has plural heaters each assigned to heat respective ones of the heated zones. Heat generation of the heaters is controlled independently. A control unit controls the heaters such that integrated quantities of heat of the respective heated zones given by the corresponding heaters from first to second time point are substantially identical to each other in each of the heating modules, and are substantially identical to each other among the heating modules. The first time point is set when a temperature transition profile of the substrate is rising toward a process temperature after placing the substrate on the table under a condition where heat generation of the heaters is stable. The second time point is set after the temperature transition profile reaches the process temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Kenichi Shigetomi, Takeshi Saikusa, Eiichi Sekimoto, Takayuki Fukudome, Kousuke Yoshihara, Suguru Enokida, Kazuhiro Takeshita, Kazuto Umeki
  • Publication number: 20220319876
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes multiple first substrate processing devices, one or more second substrate processing devices and a transfer unit. Each of the multiple first substrate processing devices is configured to process a substrate one by one. The one or more second substrate processing devices are configured to simultaneously process multiple substrates, which are processed in the multiple first substrate processing devices. The transfer unit is configured to simultaneously carry the multiple substrates, which are processed in the multiple first substrate processing devices, into a same second substrate processing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Shinichi Hayashi, Hiroaki Inadomi, Shota Umezaki, Suguru Enokida, Kouji Kimoto
  • Publication number: 20220165596
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a carrier block on which a carrier configured to store a substrate is placed, first processing block including a plurality of first processing modules, and a first transport mechanism shared by the plurality of first processing modules to transport the substrate, second processing block overlapping the first processing block, including a plurality of second processing modules, and a second transport mechanism shared by the plurality of second processing modules to transport the substrate, and configured to transport the substrate to the carrier block. The substrate processing apparatus includes a lifting and transferring mechanism including a shaft extending in a horizontal direction and a support part configured to face and support the substrate, and a rotation mechanism configured to rotate the support part around the shaft such that an orientation of the support part is changed between a first orientation and the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi WATANABE, Masashi TSUCHIYAMA, Suguru ENOKIDA, Taro YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20220165597
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes; a carrier block; a first processing block including first lower and upper processing blocks to deliver a substrate to and from the carrier block; a second processing block including second lower and upper processing blocks provided adjacent to the first lower and upper processing blocks; a relay block including a lifting and transferring mechanism that delivers the substrate between the second lower and upper processing blocks; a controller that controls an operation of each main transfer mechanism such that one of upper and lower processing blocks forms an outward path through which the substrate is transferred from the carrier block to the relay block and the other forms a return path through which the substrate is transferred from the relay block to the carrier block; and a bypass transfer mechanism provided for each of the first and second processing blocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi WATANABE, Masashi TSUCHIYAMA, Suguru ENOKIDA, Taro YAMAMOTO
  • Patent number: 11211278
    Abstract: There is provided a substrate processing apparatus for processing a substrate, including: a storage part provided on an uppermost portion of the substrate processing apparatus and on which a substrate accommodation container for accommodating the substrate is placed; and a first transfer device configured to directly or indirectly deliver the substrate accommodation container between the storage part and a loading/unloading part, wherein the loading/unloading part is configured to place the substrate accommodation container thereon in the substrate processing apparatus and to load and unload the substrate into and from a processing part of the substrate processing apparatus, and the first transfer device is configured to deliver the substrate accommodation container with respect to an overhead hoist transport that moves above the substrate processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Akihiro Teramoto, Suguru Enokida, Masashi Tsuchiyama, Keisuke Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20210296119
    Abstract: A substrate processing system configured to process a substrate includes a first modifying apparatus configured to form, in a combined substrate in which a front surface of a first substrate and a front surface of a second substrate are bonded to each other, an internal modification layer elongated within the first substrate in a plane direction from a center of the first substrate toward at least an edge portion of the first substrate as a removing target; a second modifying apparatus configured to form, within the first substrate, an edge modification layer elongated in a thickness direction of the first substrate along a boundary between the edge portion and a central portion of the first substrate; and a separating apparatus configured to separate a portion of the first substrate at a rear surface side, starting from the internal modification layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Hayato TANOUE, Takashi UNO, Satoshi OOKAWA, Suguru ENOKIDA
  • Patent number: 11099480
    Abstract: A treatment solution supply apparatus supplies a treatment solution to a solution treatment apparatus which applies the treatment solution to a substrate to perform a predetermined treatment. Plural solution treatment apparatuses are supply destinations of the treatment solution. The treatment solution supply apparatus includes: a sending unit common among the solution treatment apparatuses, the sending unit sends the treatment solution stored in a treatment solution supply source to each of the solution treatment apparatuses; and a control unit that controls the sending unit. The sending unit includes pumps that suck the treatment solution and load the treatment solution thereinto and send the loaded treatment solution. The control unit controls suction timing of each of the pumps so that one (or more) of the pumps becomes in a state capable of sending the treatment solution to the solution treatment apparatuses at all times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Takahiro Ookubo, Suguru Enokida, Toshinobu Furusho
  • Publication number: 20200126823
    Abstract: There is provided a substrate processing apparatus for processing a substrate, including: a storage part provided on an uppermost portion of the substrate processing apparatus and on which a substrate accommodation container for accommodating the substrate is placed; and a first transfer device configured to directly or indirectly deliver the substrate accommodation container between the storage part and a loading/unloading part, wherein the loading/unloading part is configured to place the substrate accommodation container thereon in the substrate processing apparatus and to load and unload the substrate into and from a processing part of the substrate processing apparatus, and the first transfer device is configured to deliver the substrate accommodation container with respect to an overhead hoist transport that moves above the substrate processing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Akihiro TERAMOTO, Suguru ENOKIDA, Masashi TSUCHIYAMA, Keisuke SASAKI
  • Publication number: 20200066559
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes plural heating modules each including a table on which a substrate is placed to be heated, the substrate having plural heated zones. The table has plural heaters each assigned to heat respective ones of the heated zones. Heat generation of the heaters is controlled independently. A control unit controls the heaters such that integrated quantities of heat of the respective heated zones given by the corresponding heaters from first to second time point are substantially identical to each other in each of the heating modules, and are substantially identical to each other among the heating modules. The first time point is set when a temperature transition profile of the substrate is rising toward a process temperature after placing the substrate on the table under a condition where heat generation of the heaters is stable. The second time point is set after the temperature transition profile reaches the process temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Kenichi Shigetomi, Takeshi Saikusa, Eiichi Sekimoto, Takayuki Fukudome, Kousuke Yoshihara, Suguru Enokida, Kazuhiro Takeshita, Kazuto Umeki
  • Patent number: 10504757
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes plural heating modules each including a table on which a substrate is placed to be heated, the substrate having plural heated zones. The table has plural heaters each assigned to heat respective ones of the heated zones. Heat generation of the heaters is controlled independently. A control unit controls the heaters such that integrated quantities of heat of the respective heated zones given by the corresponding heaters from first to second time point are substantially identical to each other in each of the heating modules, and are substantially identical to each other among the heating modules. The first time point is set when a temperature transition profile of the substrate is rising toward a process temperature after placing the substrate on the table under a condition where heat generation of the heaters is stable. The second time point is set after the temperature transition profile reaches the process temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Kenichi Shigetomi, Takeshi Saikusa, Eiichi Sekimoto, Takayuki Fukudome, Kousuke Yoshihara, Suguru Enokida, Kazuhiro Takeshita, Kazuto Umeki
  • Publication number: 20190332014
    Abstract: A treatment solution supply apparatus for supplying a treatment solution to a solution treatment apparatus which applies the treatment solution to a substrate to perform a predetermined treatment, there being a plurality of solution treatment apparatuses which are supply destinations of the treatment solution, the treatment solution supply apparatus includes: a sending unit common among the plurality of solution treatment apparatuses, the sending unit being configured to send the treatment solution stored in a treatment solution supply source to each of the plurality of solution treatment apparatuses; and a control unit configured to control the sending unit, wherein the sending unit includes a plurality of pumps configured to suck the treatment solution and load the treatment solution thereinto and to send the loaded treatment solution, and wherein the control unit is configured to control suction timing of each of the plurality of pumps so that at least one of the plurality of pumps becomes a state capable
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Takahiro OOKUBO, Suguru ENOKIDA, Toshinobu FURUSHO
  • Patent number: 9984905
    Abstract: An interface station of a coating and developing treatment system has: a cleaning unit cleaning at least a rear surface of a wafer before the wafer is transferred into an exposure apparatus; an inspection unit inspecting the rear surface of the cleaned wafer whether the wafer is exposable, before it is transferred into the exposure apparatus; wafer transfer mechanisms including arms transferring the wafer between the units and a wafer transfer control part controlling operations of the wafer transfer mechanisms. When it is determined that a state of the wafer becomes an exposable state by re-cleaning in the cleaning unit as a result of the inspection, the wafer transfer control part controls the wafer transfer mechanisms to transfer the wafer again to the cleaning unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Masahiro Nakaharada, Yoji Sakata, Akira Miyata, Shinichi Hayashi, Suguru Enokida, Tsunenaga Nakashima
  • Patent number: 9984904
    Abstract: An interface station of a coating and developing treatment system has: a cleaning unit cleaning at least a rear surface of a wafer before the wafer is transferred into an exposure apparatus; an inspection unit inspecting the rear surface of the cleaned wafer whether the wafer is exposable, before it is transferred into the exposure apparatus; wafer transfer mechanisms including arms transferring the wafer between the units and a wafer transfer control part controlling operations of the wafer transfer mechanisms. When it is determined that a state of the wafer becomes an exposable state by re-cleaning in the cleaning unit as a result of the inspection, the wafer transfer control part controls the wafer transfer mechanisms to transfer the wafer again to the cleaning unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Masahiro Nakaharada, Yoji Sakata, Akira Miyata, Shinichi Hayashi, Suguru Enokida, Tsunenaga Nakashima
  • Patent number: D1011550
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Tsujihashi, Suguru Enokida, Kazuki Matsushita
  • Patent number: D1012311
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Tsujihashi, Suguru Enokida, Kazuki Matsushita