Patents by Inventor Takao Higuchi

Takao Higuchi 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).

  • Patent number: 8293326
    Abstract: A spin-coating method according to the present invention includes a uniforming step of rotating a substrate at a predetermined main rotation speed for a predetermined main rotation time so as to primarily make a resist film thickness uniform, and a subsequent drying step of rotating the substrate at a predetermined drying rotation speed for a predetermined drying rotation time so as to primarily dry the uniform resist film. In the present invention, a contour map, for example, of film thickness uniformity within an effective region (critical area) shown in FIG. 3A is determined (generated), and resist-coating is performed by selecting a condition within the optimum region in this contour map in which the film thickness uniformity (within an effective region) can be the maximum, or within the region in which the film thickness uniformity (within an effective region) can be high enough for a desirably specified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Kobayashi, Takao Higuchi
  • Patent number: 7674561
    Abstract: A method of producing a mask blank has a resist film forming (resist coating) process of dispensing a resist solution containing a resist material and a solvent onto a square-like substrate, and rotating the substrate to spread the dispensed resist solution over the substrate and to dry the resist solution on the substrate, thereby forming a resist film on the substrate. While the substrate is rotated in the resist film forming (resist coating) process, an exhausting member performs an exhausting operation to cause an airflow along an upper surface of the substrate from the center of the substrate towards an outer peripheral portion of the substrate so that a puddle of the resist solution formed at a peripheral end portion of the substrate is prevented from being moved towards the center of the substrate by the rotation of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Kobayashi, Takao Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20070148344
    Abstract: A spin-coating method according to the present invention includes a uniforming step of rotating a substrate at a predetermined main rotation speed for a predetermined main rotation time so as to primarily make a resist film thickness uniform, and a subsequent drying step of rotating the substrate at a predetermined drying rotation speed for a predetermined drying rotation time so as to primarily dry the uniform resist film. In the present invention, a contour map, for example, of film thickness uniformity within an effective region (critical area) shown in FIG. 3A is determined (generated), and resist-coating is performed by selecting a condition within the optimum region in this contour map in which the film thickness uniformity (within an effective region) can be the maximum, or within the region in which the film thickness uniformity (within an effective region) can be high enough for a desirably specified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Inventors: Hideo KOBAYASHI, Takao Higuchi
  • Patent number: 7195845
    Abstract: A spin-coating method according to the present invention includes a uniforming step of rotating a substrate at a predetermined main rotation speed for a predetermined main rotation time so as to primarily make a resist film thickness uniform, and a subsequent drying step of rotating the substrate at a predetermined drying rotation speed for a predetermined drying rotation time so as to primarily dry the uniform resist film. In the present invention, a contour map, for example, of film thickness uniformity within an effective region (critical area) shown in FIG. 3A is determined (generated), and resist-coating is performed by selecting a condition within the optimum region in this contour map in which the film thickness uniformity (within an effective region) can be the maximum, or within the region in which the film thickness uniformity (within an effective region) can be high enough for a desirably specified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Kobayashi, Takao Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20050069787
    Abstract: A method of producing a mask blank has a resist film forming (resist coating) process of dispensing a resist solution containing a resist material and a solvent onto a square-like substrate, and rotating the substrate to spread the dispensed resist solution over the substrate and to dry the resist solution on the substrate, thereby forming a resist film on the substrate. While the substrate is rotated in the resist film forming (resist coating) process, an exhausting member performs an exhausting operation to cause an airflow along an upper surface of the substrate from the center of the substrate towards an outer peripheral portion of the substrate so that a puddle of the resist solution formed at a peripheral end portion of the substrate is prevented from being moved towards the center of the substrate by the rotation of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Inventors: Hideo Kobayashi, Takao Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20040009295
    Abstract: A spin-coating method according to the present invention includes a uniforming step of rotating a substrate at a predetermined main rotation speed for a predetermined main rotation time so as to primarily make a resist film thickness uniform, and a subsequent drying step of rotating the substrate at a predetermined drying rotation speed for a predetermined drying rotation time so as to primarily dry the uniform resist film. In the present invention, a contour map, for example, of film thickness uniformity within an effective region (critical area) shown in FIG. 3A is determined (generated), and resist-coating is performed by selecting a condition within the optimum region in this contour map in which the film thickness uniformity (within an effective region) can be the maximum, or within the region in which the film thickness uniformity (within an effective region) can be high enough for a desirably specified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Applicant: HOYA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideo Kobayashi, Takao Higuchi
  • Patent number: 5878016
    Abstract: A disk changer includes a plurality of carriages having a disk on each carriage, a tray accommodating the plurality of carriages, the tray being reciprocated between a disk take-out position and a disk accommodating position, a recording and reproducing unit for driving a disk at a disk driving position for recording data thereon and reproducing data therefrom, a disk setting mechanism for displacing the disk when the disk is at a driving position from a disk loading level to a disk non-loading level and vice versa, a carriage lifting mechanism for vertically moving the carriage, which is at the disk accommodating position, between the lowermost level thereof and a level above the lowermost level, and for vertically moving the carriage between the non-loading level and a level above the non-loading level, and a carriage moving mechanism for moving the carriage to a space formed at one of the disk accommodating position and the disk driving position in association with an operation of the carriage lifting mech
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Tokyo Pigeon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kubokawa, Takao Higuchi, Ichiro Sakuma
  • Patent number: 5452160
    Abstract: A mode switching transmitting mechanism for a tape player according to the present invention, in which a play mode and a fast forward/fast rewinding mode is switched by sliding a transmitting gear engaged with a driving gear in a direction of an axial line, makes it possible to construct a small and thin switching mechanism. According to the present invention a first gear having a greater diameter on the driving side and a first gear having a smaller diameter have a common shaft. A second gear having a greater diameter on the driven side and a second gear having a smaller diameter are supported slidably on a shaft on a pivoting arm side and held, energized towards one direction of an axial line by a spring. In order to realize the play mode, a lever is pushed. Then an operating lever is forwarded and a wedge portion thereof is engaged with a conical plateau portion formed in a wedge portion of the gear having a greater diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Assignee: Tokyo Pigeon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ichiro Sakuma, Chang-Jong Oh, Ken Yakame, Takao Higuchi