Patents by Inventor Takafumi Tsuchiya

Takafumi Tsuchiya 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: 20240120733
    Abstract: A cutoff control apparatus controls a cutoff unit in a vehicle-mounted system which includes: a power storage unit; a power line between the power storage unit and a load; and the cutoff unit that switches between a cutoff state that cuts off supplying of power on the power line from the power storage unit side to the load side and a canceled state where the cutoff state is canceled. In the vehicle-mounted system, the cutoff unit includes a first cutoff unit and a second cutoff unit, and the second cutoff unit enters the cutoff state when a first overcurrent state has occurred on the power line with the first cutoff unit in the canceled state. The cutoff control apparatus includes a control apparatus that instructs the first cutoff unit to switch to the cutoff state when the power line is in a second overcurrent state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Junji TSUCHIYA, Takafumi KAWAKAMI, Seiji TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 11869780
    Abstract: A substrate liquid processing apparatus includes a processing liquid storage unit configured to store a processing liquid therein; a processing liquid drain unit configured to drain the processing liquid from the processing liquid storage unit; and a control unit. The control unit performs a first control in a constant concentration mode in which a concentration of the processing liquid in the processing liquid storage unit is regulated to a predetermined set concentration and a second control in a concentration changing mode in which the concentration of the processing liquid is changed. In the second control, a set concentration after concentration change is compared with a set concentration before the concentration change, and when the set concentration after the concentration change is lower, the control unit controls the processing liquid drain unit to start draining of the processing liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Takahiro Kawazu, Takafumi Tsuchiya, Hideaki Sato, Hidemasa Aratake, Osamu Kuroda, Takashi Nagai, Jiro Harada
  • Publication number: 20230268213
    Abstract: A substrate processing system includes a carry-in/out unit in which a cassette accommodating therein multiple substrates is carried in and out; a batch processing unit configured to process a lot including the multiple substrates at once; a single-wafer processing unit configured to process the substrates one by one; a first interface unit configured to distribute the substrates to the single-wafer processing unit or the batch processing unit; and a second interface unit configured to transfer the substrates between the batch processing unit and the single-wafer processing unit. The first interface unit includes a first placement unit configured to place therein the substrates before and after being processed by the single-wafer processing unit; a second placement unit configured to place therein the substrates before being processed by the batch processing unit; and a transfer device configured to transfer the substrates to the first placement unit and the second placement unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Takafumi Tsuchiya, Hiromi Hara, Wataru Tsukinoki, Shuhei Goto
  • Patent number: 11594430
    Abstract: A substrate liquid processing apparatus A1 includes a processing tub 41 accommodating a processing liquid 43 and a substrate 8; a gas nozzle 70 discharging a gas into a lower portion within the processing tub 41; a gas supply unit 90 supplying the gas; a gas supply line 93 connecting the gas nozzle 70 with the gas supply unit 90; a decompression unit 95 introducing the processing liquid 43 within the processing tub 41 into the gas supply line 93 by decompressing the gas supply line 93; and a control unit 7 performing a first control of controlling the gas supply unit 90 to stop supply of the gas and controlling the decompression unit 95 to introduce the processing liquid 43 into the gas supply line 93 in a part of an idle period during which the substrate 8 is not accommodated in the processing tub 41.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Takafumi Tsuchiya, Yuki Ishii, Hiroyuki Masutomi, Seigo Fujitsu
  • Patent number: 10928732
    Abstract: Disclosed is a substrate liquid processing apparatus including: a processing bath in which a processing liquid is stored; a chemical liquid component supply unit that supplies chemical liquid components; a concentration detecting unit that detects a concentration of the chemical liquid components; and a controller configured to perform a first control as a feedback control that replenishes the processing liquid with the chemical liquid components such that the concentration of the chemical liquid components contained in the processing liquid within the processing bath does not become less than a predetermined allowable lower limit, based on the concentration of the chemical liquid components detected by the concentration detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Hironobu Hyakutake, Takafumi Tsuchiya, Koichiro Kanzaki
  • Patent number: 10458010
    Abstract: Disclosed is a substrate liquid processing apparatus including: a processing bath in which a mixture of sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide is stored, and a substrate is immersed in the stored mixture such that a processing is performed on the substrate; an outer bath configured to receive the mixture flowing out from the processing bath; a circulation line configured to return the mixture in the outer bath to the processing bath; a sulfuric acid supply unit configured to supply sulfuric acid to the mixture; a first hydrogen peroxide supply unit configured to supply hydrogen peroxide to the mixture in the outer bath; and a second hydrogen peroxide supply unit configured to supply hydrogen peroxide to the mixture flowing through a downstream portion of the circulation line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Hironobu Hyakutake, Takafumi Tsuchiya, Koichiro Kanzaki
  • Publication number: 20190080937
    Abstract: A substrate liquid processing apparatus A1 includes a processing tub 41 accommodating a processing liquid 43 and a substrate 8; a gas nozzle 70 discharging a gas into a lower portion within the processing tub 41; a gas supply unit 90 supplying the gas; a gas supply line 93 connecting the gas nozzle 70 with the gas supply unit 90; a decompression unit 95 introducing the processing liquid 43 within the processing tub 41 into the gas supply line 93 by decompressing the gas supply line 93; and a control unit 7 performing a first control of controlling the gas supply unit 90 to stop supply of the gas and controlling the decompression unit 95 to introduce the processing liquid 43 into the gas supply line 93 in a part of an idle period during which the substrate 8 is not accommodated in the processing tub 41.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Takafumi Tsuchiya, Yuki Ishii, Hiroyuki Masutomi, Seigo Fujitsu
  • Publication number: 20190080938
    Abstract: A substrate liquid processing apparatus A1 includes a processing liquid storage unit 38 configured to store a processing liquid therein; a processing liquid drain unit 41 configured to drain the processing liquid from the processing liquid storage unit 38; and a control unit 7. The control unit 7 performs a first control in a constant concentration mode in which a concentration of the processing liquid in the processing liquid storage unit 38 is regulated to a predetermined set concentration and a second control in a concentration changing mode in which the concentration of the processing liquid is changed. In the second control, a set concentration after concentration change is compared with a set concentration before the concentration change, and when the set concentration after the concentration change is lower, the control unit controls the processing liquid drain unit 41 to start draining of the processing liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Takahiro Kawazu, Takafumi Tsuchiya, Hideaki Sato, Hidemasa Aratake, Osamu Kuroda, Takashi Nagai, Jiro Harada
  • Publication number: 20170037499
    Abstract: Disclosed is a substrate liquid processing apparatus including: a processing bath in which a mixture of sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide is stored, and a substrate is immersed in the stored mixture such that a processing is performed on the substrate; an outer bath configured to receive the mixture flowing out from the processing bath; a circulation line configured to return the mixture in the outer bath to the processing bath; a sulfuric acid supply unit configured to supply sulfuric acid to the mixture; a first hydrogen peroxide supply unit configured to supply hydrogen peroxide to the mixture in the outer bath; and a second hydrogen peroxide supply unit configured to supply hydrogen peroxide to the mixture flowing through a downstream portion of the circulation line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Hironobu Hyakutake, Takafumi Tsuchiya, Koichiro Kanzaki
  • Publication number: 20170025268
    Abstract: Disclosed is a substrate liquid processing apparatus including: a processing bath in which a processing liquid is stored; a chemical liquid component supply unit that supplies chemical liquid components; a concentration detecting unit that detects a concentration of the chemical liquid components; and a controller configured to perform a first control as a feedback control that replenishes the processing liquid with the chemical liquid components such that the concentration of the chemical liquid components contained in the processing liquid within the processing bath does not become less than a predetermined allowable lower limit, based on the concentration of the chemical liquid components detected by the concentration detecting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Hironobu Hyakutake, Takafumi Tsuchiya, Koichiro Kanzaki
  • Patent number: 9305818
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus, which utilizes a first transfer apparatus and a second transfer apparatus which are configured to transfer a transfer container containing a plurality of substrates, along a first transfer path and a second transfer path whose lateral positions differ from each other, respectively, including a first load port where the transfer container is loaded and unloaded by the first transfer apparatus, and a second load port that is arranged stepwise with respect to the first load port, with the transfer container being loaded to and unloaded from the second load port by the second transfer apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Yuji Kamikawa, Takafumi Tsuchiya, Koji Egashira
  • Publication number: 20140356106
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus, which utilizes a first transfer apparatus and a second transfer apparatus which are configured to transfer a transfer container containing a plurality of substrates, along a first transfer path and a second transfer path whose lateral positions differ from each other, respectively, including a first load port where the transfer container is loaded and unloaded by the first transfer apparatus, and a second load port that is arranged stepwise with respect to the first load port, with the transfer container being loaded to and unloaded from the second load port by the second transfer apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Yuji KAMIKAWA, Takafumi TSUCHIYA, Koji EGASHIRA
  • Patent number: 8851819
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus, which utilizes a first transfer apparatus and a second transfer apparatus which are configured to transfer a transfer container containing a plurality of substrates, along a first transfer path and a second transfer path whose lateral positions differ from each other, respectively, including a first load port where the transfer container is loaded and unloaded by the first transfer apparatus, and a second load port that is arranged stepwise with respect to the first load port, with the transfer container being loaded to and unloaded from the second load port by the second transfer apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Yuji Kamikawa, Takafumi Tsuchiya, Koji Egashira
  • Patent number: 8790469
    Abstract: Disclosed is a treating apparatus capable of improving the throughput during successive processing of target objects without a bad influence on the target objects. The disclosed treating apparatus includes an extendable liquid treating mechanism, and a common handling unit for handling one target object and another target object in order. The treating apparatus includes a recipe producing unit for producing a recipe having a rinsing liquid treatment and a common handling. When one common handling for handling one target object by the common handling unit and another common handling for handling another target object by the common handling unit are temporally overlapped with each other, the recipe producing unit extends the extendable liquid treatment for another target object, and shifts another common handling to an extent that the extendable liquid treatment is extended, thereby avoiding the temporal overlapping of one common handling with another common handling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Takafumi Tsuchiya, Tohru Iwabae
  • Patent number: 8079797
    Abstract: A substrate processing system includes a control section configured to control a series of transfer operations and preset to control operation of a container transfer apparatus, operation at a substrate access area, and operation of a substrate handling apparatus independently of each other. The control section includes a schedule creating portion configured to create a transfer schedule by individually adjusting operation timing of the container transfer apparatus, operation timing at the substrate access area, and operation timing of the substrate handling apparatus such that, in a state while a first lot of substrates are treated in the processing system, but the container transfer apparatus and the substrate access area are unoccupied, a container with a second lot of unprocessed substrates stored therein is transferred onto the substrate access area, thereby minimizing total transfer time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Osamu Tanaka, Takafumi Tsuchiya, Tohru Iwabae
  • Publication number: 20100215461
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus 1, which utilizes a first transfer apparatus 104A and a second transfer apparatus 104B which are configured to transfer a transfer container 10 containing a plurality of substrates, along a first transfer path 102A and a second transfer path 102B whose lateral positions differ from each other, respectively, comprises a first load port 21 where the transfer container 10 is loaded and unloaded by the first transfer apparatus 104A, and a second load port 22 that is arranged stepwise with respect to the first load port 21, the transfer container 10 being loaded to and unloaded from the second load port 22 by the second transfer apparatus 104B.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Yuji KAMIKAWA, Takafumi Tsuchiya, Koji Egashira
  • Publication number: 20100163077
    Abstract: Disclosed is a treating apparatus capable of improving the throughput during successive processing of target objects without a bad influence on the target objects. The disclosed treating apparatus includes an extendable liquid treating mechanism, and a common handling unit for handling one target object and another target object in order. The treating apparatus includes a recipe producing unit for producing a recipe having a rinsing liquid treatment and a common handling. When one common handling for handling one target object by the common handling unit and another common handling for handling another target object by the common handling unit are temporally overlapped with each other, the recipe producing unit extends the extendable liquid treatment for another target object, and shifts another common handling to an extent that the extendable liquid treatment is extended, thereby avoiding the temporal overlapping of one common handling with another common handling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Takafumi TSUCHIYA, Tohru IWABAE
  • Publication number: 20090097950
    Abstract: A substrate processing system includes a control section configured to control a series of transfer operations and preset to control operation of a container transfer apparatus, operation at a substrate access area, and operation of a substrate handling apparatus independently of each other. The control section includes a schedule creating portion configured to create a transfer schedule by individually adjusting operation timing of the container transfer apparatus, operation timing at the substrate access area, and operation timing of the substrate handling apparatus such that, in a state while a first lot of substrates are treated in the processing system, but the container transfer apparatus and the substrate access area are unoccupied, a container with a second lot of unprocessed substrates stored therein is transferred onto the substrate access area, thereby making total transfer time pertinent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: Osamu Tanaka, Takafumi Tsuchiya, Tohru Iwabae