Patents by Inventor Teruomi Minami

Teruomi Minami 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: 8371318
    Abstract: A liquid processing apparatus 1 comprises a casing 5, a substrate holding mechanism 20 that holds a wafer (substrate to be processed) W, a process-liquid supplying mechanism 30 that supplies a process liquid, a draining cup 12 that receives a process liquid, and a draining pipe 13 that discharges a process liquid outside. The process-liquid supplying mechanism 30 includes a first chemical-liquid supply mechanism that supplies a hydrofluoric process liquid, and a drying-liquid supplying mechanism that supplies an organic solvent for drying a wafer W. A control part 50 causes the first chemical-liquid supplying mechanism to supply a hydrofluoric process liquid, and then causes the drying-liquid supplying mechanism to supply an organic solvent. In addition, before the control part 50 causes the drying-liquid supplying mechanism to supply an organic solvent, the control part causes a cleaning mechanism 10 to remove an alkaline component in a casing 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Teruomi Minami, Norihiro Ito, Yuji Kamikawa
  • Publication number: 20120312332
    Abstract: A liquid processing apparatus 1 comprises a casing 5, a substrate holding mechanism 20 that holds a wafer (substrate to be processed) W, a process-liquid supplying mechanism 30 that supplies a process liquid, a draining cup 12 that receives a process liquid, and a draining pipe 13 that discharges a process liquid outside. The process-liquid supplying mechanism 30 includes a first chemical-liquid supply mechanism that supplies a hydrofluoric process liquid, and a drying-liquid supplying mechanism that supplies an organic solvent for drying a wafer W. A control part 50 causes the first chemical-liquid supplying mechanism to supply a hydrofluoric process liquid, and then causes the drying-liquid supplying mechanism to supply an organic solvent. In addition, before the control part 50 causes the drying-liquid supplying mechanism to supply an organic solvent, the control part causes a cleaning mechanism 10 to remove an alkaline component in a casing 5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Teruomi MINAMI, Norihiro ITO, Yuji KAMIKAWA
  • Patent number: 8308870
    Abstract: Disclosed are a cleaning apparatus and a cleaning method, which can collect a chemical liquid without reducing the throughput after a substrate is subjected to a cleaning treatment and dried by using a drying solvent, such as IPA. The disclosed cleaning apparatus carries out a chemical liquid cleaning treatment, a rinsing treatment, and a drying treatment with IPA, in order, on a wafer W while rotating wafer W, and includes a cleaning liquid supply device for supplying a cleaning liquid for cleaning the drain cup and the drain tube to the drain cup in a state where the cleaning liquid is not supplied to the wafer. Also, the apparatus further includes a control unit for controlling respective components of the cleaning apparatus. The control unit, after the cleaning treatment and then the rinsing treatment of wafer W, at the time when the drying treatment is performed by IPA, controls the cleaning liquid to be supplied to the drain cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Teruomi Minami, Takashi Yabuta, Satoru Tanaka, Hirotaka Maruyama, Kouichi Eguchi
  • Patent number: 8303723
    Abstract: In a liquid processing apparatus configured to remove, from a substrate including a first film and a second film formed above the first film, the first film and the second film, a first chemical-liquid supply part supplies, to a substrate W, a first liquid for dissolving the first film, a second chemical-liquid supply part supplies a second chemical liquid for weakening the second film, and a fluid supply part serving also as an impact giving part gives a physical impact to the second film so as to break the second film and supplies a fluid for washing away debris of the broken second film. A control device controls the respective parts such that, after the second liquid has been supplied and then the fluid has been supplied from the fluid supply part, the first chemical liquid is supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Teruomi Minami, Fumihiro Kamimura, Kazuki Kosai, Takashi Yabuta, Kenji Yokomizo, Shogo Mizota
  • Publication number: 20120164840
    Abstract: A substrate processing method includes a liquid processing process that supplies a processing liquid onto a substrate to process the substrate; a heating process that heats the substrate on which a liquid film of the processing liquid is formed; a supplying process that supplies a volatile processing liquid to the substrate on which the liquid film of the processing liquid is formed; a stopping process that stops the supply of the volatile processing liquid to the substrate; and a drying process that dries the substrate by removing the volatile processing liquid, in which the heating process starts before the supplying process that supplies the volatile processing liquid and the substrate is heated so that the surface temperature of the substrate is higher than a dew point before the surface of the substrate is exposed from the volatile processing liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Satoru Tanaka, Takehiko Orii, Hirotaka Maruyama, Teruomi Minami, Mitsunori Nakamori
  • Publication number: 20110315169
    Abstract: In a substrate processing method according to the present invention, a cleaning liquid nozzle supplies a rinsing liquid to a central portion of a substrate and thereafter moves from a position corresponding to the central portion of the substrate to a position corresponding to a peripheral, edge portion thereof while supplying the rinsing liquid before stopping at the position corresponding to the peripheral edge portion. Next, a drying liquid nozzle moves from the position corresponding to the peripheral edge portion to the position corresponding to the central portion while supplying a drying liquid. Then, the drying liquid nozzle is kept stationary at the position corresponding to the central portion for a predetermined period of time while supplying the drying liquid. Thereafter, a gas nozzle moves from the position corresponding to the central portion to the position corresponding to the peripheral edge portion while supplying an inert gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Teruomi MINAMI, Naoyuki Okamura, Yosuke Kawabuchi
  • Publication number: 20110308549
    Abstract: In a substrate processing method according to the present invention, a substrate is first processed using a chemical liquid. Next, the substrate is rinsed by supplying a rinsing liquid thereto while the substrate is being rotated. Thereafter, the substrate is dried while the substrate is being rotated. The drying of the substrate includes reducing a rotating speed of the substrate to a first rotating speed lower than that of the substrate during the rinsing of the substrate, while supplying the rinsing liquid to a central portion of the substrate; moving, from the central portion of the substrate toward a peripheral edge portion thereof, a rinsing liquid supply position to which the rinsing liquid is supplied, after the rotating speed of the substrate has been reduced to the first rotating speed; and supplying a drying liquid to the substrate, after the rinsing liquid supply position has been moved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Teruomi MINAMI, Naoyuki Okamura, Hirotaka Maruyama, Yosuke Kawabuchi
  • Publication number: 20110089137
    Abstract: Provided are a substrate liquid processing apparatus, a substrate liquid processing method, and a computer readable storage medium having a substrate liquid processing program stored therein that can prevent the occurrence of the electrostatic breakdown caused by the discharge of electric charges in a substrate. The substrate liquid processing apparatus processes a circuit-forming surface of the substrate with a chemical liquid. Furthermore, prior to processing the substrate with the chemical liquid, the substrate liquid processing apparatus performs an anti-static process for an surface opposite to the circuit-forming surface of the substrate by an anti-static liquid, thereby emitting the electric charges on the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroshi TANAKA, Teruomi MINAMI, Yosuke KAWABUCHI, Norihiro ITO, Fumihiro KAMIMURA, Takashi YABUTA, Kazuki KOSAI, Takeshi UNO, Kenji SEKIGUCHI, Yasushi FUJII
  • Publication number: 20100319734
    Abstract: In a liquid processing apparatus configured to remove, from a substrate including a first film and a second film formed above the first film, the first film and the second film, a first chemical-liquid supply part supplies, to a substrate W, a first liquid for dissolving the first film, a second chemical-liquid supply part supplies a second chemical liquid for weakening the second film, and a fluid supply part serving also as an impact giving part gives a physical impact to the second film so as to break the second film and supplies a fluid for washing away debris of the broken second film. A control device controls the respective parts such that, after the second liquid has been supplied and then the fluid has been supplied from the fluid supply part, the first chemical liquid is supplied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Teruomi MINAMI, Fumihiro Kamimura, Kazuki Kosai, Takashi Yabuta, Kenji Yokomizo, Shogo Mizota
  • Publication number: 20100108096
    Abstract: A liquid processing method performs a liquid process after an etching target film formed on a surface of a substrate is etched through a hard mask layer used as an etching mask and having a predetermined pattern formed therein. The liquid process is used for removing the hard mask layer and a polymer deposited due to etching. The method includes a second step of switching from a discard side to a collection side for collecting a chemical liquid used in the liquid process and recycling the chemical liquid in the liquid process, when the hard mask layer is removed by a first step to a residual quantity at which the chemical liquid used in the liquid process becomes collectable for reuse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Teruomi Minami, Takashi Yabuta, Kazuki Kosai
  • Publication number: 20100108103
    Abstract: Disclosed are a cleaning apparatus and a cleaning method, which can collect a chemical liquid without reducing the throughput after a substrate is subjected to a cleaning treatment and dried by using a drying solvent, such as IPA. The disclosed cleaning apparatus carries out a chemical liquid cleaning treatment, a rinsing treatment, and a drying treatment with IPA, in order, on a wafer W while rotating wafer W, and includes a cleaning liquid supply device for supplying a cleaning liquid for cleaning the drain cup and the drain tube to the drain cup in a state where the cleaning liquid is not supplied to the wafer. Also, the apparatus further includes a control unit for controlling respective components of the cleaning apparatus. The control unit, after the cleaning treatment and then the rinsing treatment of wafer W, at the time when the drying treatment is performed by IPA, controls the cleaning liquid to be supplied to the drain cup.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Teruomi MINAMI, Takashi YABUTA, Satoru TANAKA, Hirotaka Maruyama, Kouichi Eguchi
  • Patent number: 7669472
    Abstract: A liquid level detector 10 includes a liquid guiding pipe 14 that guides a liquid in a tank to an inside thereof in such a manner that a liquid level of the guided liquid conforms to a liquid level of the liquid in the tank, and a branching liquid guiding pipe 15 for detecting a liquid level, which branches off from the liquid guiding pipe to guide the liquid into an inside thereof in such a manner that a liquid level of the guided liquid conforms to a liquid level of the liquid in the tank. The branching liquid guiding pipe 15 is provided with position sensors 16 (16a, 16b, 16c, 16d) for detecting the liquid level of the liquid in the branching liquid guiding pipe 15. On a part where the liquid guiding pipe 14 and the branching liquid guiding pipe 15 are connected to each other, there is disposed a bubble passage prevention member 17 of a porous plate shape, which prevents bubble generated in the liquid from entering the branching liquid guiding pipe 15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Koji Tanaka, Teruomi Minami
  • Publication number: 20090056764
    Abstract: A liquid processing apparatus 1 comprises a casing 5, a substrate holding mechanism 20 that holds a wafer (substrate to be processed) W, a process-liquid supplying mechanism 30 that supplies a process liquid, a draining cup 12 that receives a process liquid, and a draining pipe 13 that discharges a process liquid outside. The process-liquid supplying mechanism 30 includes a first chemical-liquid supply mechanism that supplies a hydrofluoric process liquid, and a drying-liquid supplying mechanism that supplies an organic solvent for drying a wafer W. A control part 50 causes the first chemical-liquid supplying mechanism to supply a hydrofluoric process liquid, and then causes the drying-liquid supplying mechanism to supply an organic solvent. In addition, before the control part 50 causes the drying-liquid supplying mechanism to supply an organic solvent, the control part causes a cleaning mechanism 10 to remove an alkaline component in a casing 5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Teruomi Minami, Norihiro Ito, Yuji Kamikawa
  • Publication number: 20070125171
    Abstract: A liquid level detector 10 includes a liquid guiding pipe 14 that guides a liquid in a tank to an inside thereof in such a manner that a liquid level of the guided liquid conforms to a liquid level of the liquid in the tank, and a branching liquid guiding pipe 15 for detecting a liquid level, which branches off from the liquid guiding pipe to guide the liquid into an inside thereof in such a manner that a liquid level of the guided liquid conforms to a liquid level of the liquid in the tank. The branching liquid guiding pipe 15 is provided with position sensors 16 (16a, 16b, 16c, 16d) for detecting the liquid level of the liquid in the branching liquid guiding pipe 15. On a part where the liquid guiding pipe 14 and the branching liquid guiding pipe 15 are connected to each other, there is disposed a bubble passage prevention member 17 of a porous plate shape, which prevents bubble generated in the liquid from entering the branching liquid guiding pipe 15.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Inventors: Koji Tanaka, Teruomi Minami
  • Patent number: 6158141
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for drying semiconductor substrates to dry about 50 semiconductor wafers by evaporating an organic solvent and blowing the evaporated organic solvent onto these semiconductor wafers through a nozzle, comprises the evaporate organic solvent being blown onto the semiconductor wafers from a direction aslant by an angle from 20.degree. to 50.degree. from a vertical direction toward the semiconductor wafers. At this time, the initial spray amount of the evaporated organic solvent is not less than 0.8 cc/second and not more than 1.5 cc/second, additionally, the amount of the organic solvent used for drying is not less than 70 cc/batch and not more than 200 cc/batch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Kazumi Asada, Hayato Iwamoto, Teruomi Minami
  • Patent number: 6029371
    Abstract: A drying treatment apparatus for drying cleaned semiconductor wafers comprises drying gas producing means (41) connected to a drying treating unit (30) through a drying gas supplying pipe line (32). A flowrate controlling diaphragm pump (50) is provided in an isopropyl alcohol (IPA) supplying pipe line (32) that connects an IPA tank (48) and the drying gas producing means (41). An N.sub.2 gas supply source (52) is provided for supplying nitrogen gas into the drying gas producing means (41), and a heater (44) is disposed within the drying gas producing means to produce a drying gas. As a result of this, the amount of the IPA supplied to the drying gas producing means (41) by the diaphragm pump (50) is controllable, thus enabling the concentration of the IPA contained in the drying gas to be maintained at a value within a range of from 3% to 80%, inclusive, and enabling the temperature of the drying gas to be maintained at a value within a range of from 80.degree. to 150.degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Yuji Kamikawa, Teruomi Minami, Shigenori Kitahara
  • Patent number: 5671544
    Abstract: A substrate drying apparatus includes a process bath having an object containing region for containing an object to be treated, a treatment liquid containing region for containing a volatile treatment liquid, and heating member for evaporating the treatment liquid, a receiving container, provided below the object containing region, for receiving water removed from the object with use of the evaporated treatment liquid, an exhaust pipe, attached to the container, for exhausting the water from the container to the outside of the process bath, and a cooling device, provided above the object containing region of the process bath, for condensing the evaporated treatment liquid, wherein the exhaust pipe has a valve and a branch pipe branched from the exhaust pipe such that the branch pipe is closer to the container than the valve is.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignees: Tokyo Electron Limited, Tokyo Electron Kyushu Limited
    Inventors: Kenji Yokomizo, Hiroshi Tanaka, Shori Mokuo, Teruomi Minami
  • Patent number: 5575079
    Abstract: A substrate drying apparatus includes a process bath having an object containing region for containing an object to be treated, a treatment liquid containing region for containing a volatile treatment liquid, and heating member for evaporating the treatment liquid, a receiving container, provided below the object containing region, for receiving water removed from the object with use of the evaporated treatment liquid, an exhaust pipe, attached to the container, for exhausting the water from the container to the outside of the process bath, and a cooling device, provided above the object containing region of the process bath, for condensing the evaporated treatment liquid, wherein the exhaust pipe has a valve and a branch pipe branched from the exhaust pipe such that the branch pipe is closer to the container than the valve is.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignees: Tokyo Electron Limited, Tokyo Electron Kyushu Limited
    Inventors: Kenji Yokomizo, Hiroshi Tanaka, Shori Mokuo, Teruomi Minami