Patents by Inventor Tokyo Electron Limited

Tokyo Electron Limited 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: 20130126939
    Abstract: A sealing film forming method is capable of forming a sealing film having high moisture permeability resistance in a shorter time and at lower cost. The sealing film forming method for forming a sealing film 13 that seals an EL device 12 includes forming a first inorganic layer 13a on a surface of the EL device 12; forming a hydrocarbon layer 13c on the first inorganic layer 13a; flattening the hydrocarbon layer 13c by softening or melting the hydrocarbon layer 13c; curing the hydrocarbon layer 13c; and forming a second inorganic layer 13e thicker than the first inorganic layer 13a on the hydrocarbon layer 13c after curing the hydrocarbon layer 13c.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Tokyo Electron Limited
  • Publication number: 20130126001
    Abstract: A processing method performs a predetermined process to an object by supplying a process gas at a prescribed flow rate into a process container to which a gas supply unit and an exhaust system are connected. The processing method includes a first process of setting the gas supply unit to supply a process gas at a flow rate greater than the prescribed flow rate of a predetermined process for a predetermined short time from a gas channel while exhausting an atmosphere in the process container through the exhaust system; and a second process of setting the gas supply unit to supply the process gas at the prescribed flow rate from the gas channel after the first process is completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
  • Publication number: 20130125931
    Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid processing apparatus capable of performing a liquid processing and a drying processing in a position each having a different height. The liquid processing apparatus includes: a substrate holding unit configured to hold a substrate; a rotation driving unit configured to rotate the substrate holding unit; a substrate holding unit elevating member configured to lift and lower the substrate holding unit; a processing liquid supply unit configured to supply a processing liquid to the substrate; a liquid receiving cup configured to surround the substrate when the processing liquid is being supplied to the substrate; a drying cup located above the substrate and the liquid receiving cup when the processing liquid is being supplied to the substrate. The drying cup surrounds the substrate and located above the liquid receiving cup when the substrate is being dried.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
  • Publication number: 20130119854
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) power coupling system is provided. The system has an RF electrode configured to couple RF power to plasma in a plasma processing system, multiple power coupling elements configured to electrically couple RF power at multiple power coupling locations on the RF electrode, and an RF power system coupled to the multiple power coupling elements, and configured to couple an RF power signal to each of the multiple power coupling elements. The multiple power coupling elements include a center element located at the center of the RF electrode and peripheral elements located off-center from the center of the RF electrode. A first peripheral RF power signal differs from a second peripheral RF power signal in phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Inventor: Tokyo Electron Limited
  • Publication number: 20130119863
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a high frequency power supply configured to generate a high frequency power; a plasma generation electrode configured to generate the plasma by the high frequency power supplied from the high frequency power supply; a single matching unit provided between the high frequency power supply and the plasma generation electrode, and configured to match an impedance of a transmission path and an impedance of a load; and an impedance adjusting circuit provided between the matching unit and the plasma generation electrode, and configured to adjust an impedance therebetween. The matching unit performs impedance matching by setting the plasma and the impedance adjusting circuit as a single load, and an output impedance of the matching unit is adjusted to a value higher than an impedance of the plasma by adjusting the impedance by the impedance adjusting circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
  • Publication number: 20130122714
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a first radio frequency (RF) power supply unit for applying a first RF power for generating a plasma from a processing gas to at least one of a first and a second electrode which are disposed facing each other in an evacuable processing chamber. The first RF power supply unit is controlled by a control unit so that a first phase at which the first RF power has a first amplitude for generating a plasma and a second phase at which the first RF power has a second amplitude for generating substantially no plasma are alternately repeated at predetermined intervals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
  • Publication number: 20130118530
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a cleaning apparatus that includes a wafer holding unit configured to hold and rotate a target wafer W, and a cleaning jig with a supplying surface that covers a joint surface of the target wafer W. The cleaning jig is provided with a gas-liquid supplying unit configured to supply a solvent of an adhesive, a rinse liquid of the solvent and an inert gas into a gap between the joint surface and the supplying surface. The cleaning jig is also provided with a suction unit configured to suck the solvent or rinse liquid (mixed liquid) which is supplied to the gap between the joint surface and the supplying surface, and a gas supplying unit configured to supply gas to a step portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
  • Publication number: 20130122718
    Abstract: A disclosed film deposition apparatus includes a turntable including a substrate receiving area; a first reaction gas supplier for supplying a first reaction gas to a surface of the turntable having the substrate receiving area; a second reaction gas supplier, arranged away from the first reaction gas supplier along a circumferential direction of the turntable, for supplying a second reaction gas to the surface; a separation area located along the circumferential direction between a first process area of the first reaction gas and a second process area of the second reaction gas; a separation gas supplier for supplying a first separation gas to both sides of the separation area; a first heating unit for heating the first separation gas to the separation gas supplier; an evacuation opening for evacuating the gases supplied to the turntable; and a driver for rotating the turntable in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Tokyo Electron Limited
  • Publication number: 20130122429
    Abstract: A disclosed manufacturing method of a semiconductor device includes laminating a substrate, an etched film, an anti-reflective coating film, and a resist film; forming a pattern made of the resist film using a photolithographic technique; forming the third mask pattern array by a mask pattern forming method; and a seventh step of forming a fourth mask pattern array by processing the etched film using the third mask pattern array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
  • Publication number: 20130118688
    Abstract: When a substrate is etched by using a processing gas including a first gas containing halogen and carbon and having a carbon number of two or less per molecule, while supplying the processing gas toward the substrate independently from a central and a peripheral portion of a gas supply unit, which face the central and the periphery part of the substrate respectively, the processing gas is supplied such that a gas flow rate is greater in the central portion than in the peripheral portion. When the substrate is etched by using a processing gas including a second gas containing halogen and carbon and having a carbon number of three or more per molecule, the processing gas is supplied such that a gas flow rate is greater in the peripheral portion than in the central portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
  • Publication number: 20130112224
    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: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Tokyo Electron Limited
  • Publication number: 20130112628
    Abstract: A treatment solution supply method of the present invention is for supplying a treatment solution from a treatment solution supply source to a treatment solution supply unit supplying the treatment solution to a substrate, wherein a supply pipe connected to the treatment solution supply unit is provided with a filter collecting foreign matter in the treatment solution and not allowing the foreign matter to be released therefrom, and the treatment solution flowing in the supply pipe is caused to pass through the filter in a reciprocation manner at least one time and then supplied to the treatment solution supply unit, so that the foreign matter in the treatment solution can be sufficiently removed and the collected foreign matter never mixes again into the treatment solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Tokyo Electron Limited
  • Publication number: 20130112352
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes: a processing chamber produced from a metal; a susceptor configured to mount a substrate; an electromagnetic wave source that supplies an electromagnetic wave; one or more dielectric member provided at an inner wall of the processing chamber, and configured to transmit the electromagnetic wave into an inside of the processing chamber; one or more metal electrode, wherein each metal electrode is installed on a bottom surface of each dielectric member such that a part of the each dielectric member is exposed to the inside of the processing chamber; and a surface wave propagating section which is a metal surface facing the susceptor, the surface wave propagating section being installed adjacent to the dielectric member and being exposed to the inside of the processing chamber. The surface wave propagating section and a bottom surface of the metal electrode are positioned on the same plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicants: TOHOKU UNIVERSITY, TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Tokyo Electron Limited, Tohoku University
  • Publication number: 20130112666
    Abstract: In the plasma processing apparatus of the present invention, a first electrode (21) for connecting a high frequency electric power source (40) in a chamber is arranged to be opposed to a second electrode (5). A substrate (W) to be processed is placed between the electrodes. There is provided a harmonic absorbing member (51) for being able to absorb harmonics of the high frequency electric power source (40) so as to come in contact with a peripheral portion or circumference of a face of the first electrode 21, which is opposite the second electrode (5). The harmonic absorbing member absorbs the reflected harmonic before the harmonic returns to the high frequency electric power source. By absorbing the harmonic in this manner, the standing wave due to the harmonic will be effectively prevented from being generated, and the density of plasma is made even.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
  • Publication number: 20130112223
    Abstract: In a coating and developing treatment system including a treatment station and an interface station, the interface station has: a cleaning unit cleaning a rear surface of a wafer before the wafer is transferred into an exposure apparatus; an inspection unit inspecting whether the cleaned wafer is in an exposable state; and a wafer transfer mechanism including an arm transferring the wafer between the cleaning unit and the inspection unit. Each of the cleaning unit and the inspection unit is provided at multiple tiers in an up and down direction on the front side in the interface station, and the wafer transfer mechanism is provided in a region adjacent to the cleaning units and the inspection units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Tokyo Electron Limited
  • Publication number: 20130115781
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a flow splitter for dividing a common gas into two common gas streams of common gas branch lines. A central introduction portion connected to one of the common gas branch lines supplies a common gas to a central portion of a substrate to be processed. A peripheral introducing portion connected to the other one of the common gas branch lines supplies the common gas to a peripheral portion of the substrate. The peripheral introducing portion has peripheral inlets arranged about a circumferential region above the substrate. An additive gas line is connected to an additive gas source to add an additive gas to at least one of the common gas branch lines. In addition, an electron temperature of a plasma in a region where the peripheral inlets are disposed is lower than that in a region where the introduction portion is disposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
  • Publication number: 20130115367
    Abstract: A method for forming a ruthenium oxide film includes: providing a substrate in a processing chamber; supplying a ruthenium compound having a structure of the following formula (1) in which two ?-diketons and two groups selected among olefin, amine, nitril, and carbonyl are coordinate-bonded to Ru in a vapor state onto the substrate; supplying oxygen gas onto the substrate; and forming a ruthenium oxide film on the substrate by reaction between the ruthenium compound gas and the oxygen gas. where R1 and R2 indicate alkyl groups having a total carbon number of about 2 to 5, and R3 indicates a group selected among an olefin group, an amine group, a nitril group and a carbonyl group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Tokyo Electron Limited
  • Publication number: 20130112337
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a shower plate includes inserting a green body, a degreasing body, a temporary sintered body or a sintered body of a ceramic member, which has a plurality of gas discharge holes or gas flow holes, into a longitudinal hole of a green body, a degreasing body or a temporary sintered body of the shower plate, which has been formed by power ingredients; and sintering them simultaneously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicants: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION TOHOKU UNIVERSITY, TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Tokyo Electron Limited, National University Corporation Tohoku University
  • Publication number: 20130105309
    Abstract: A magnetron sputtering apparatus where a target is disposed to face a substrate installed in a vacuum chamber and magnets are disposed on a rear surface of the target, including a power supply unit configured to apply a voltage to the target; and a magnet array body including a magnet group arranged on a base body provided at the rear surface of the target. In the magnet array body, rod-shaped magnets each having different polarities at opposite ends thereof are disposed in a mesh shape on a surface of the base body facing the target; the mesh has a 2n polygonal shape (n being an integer greater than or equal to 2); permeable core members are disposed at intersection points of the mesh surrounded by the ends of the rod-shaped magnets; and end portions of the rod-shaped magnets which surround each of the core members have a same polarity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
  • Publication number: 20130109195
    Abstract: Provided is a method of operating a film forming apparatus capable of suppressing generation of particles by improving an adhesion of a carbon film to surfaces of members which are formed of a quartz material and contact a processing space in a processing container. The method includes forming a carbon film on each of surfaces of a plurality of objects held by a holding unit in a processing container formed of a quartz material, wherein the method further includes forming an adhesion film to improve the adhesion of the carbon film, on surfaces of members which are formed of a quartz material and contact a processing space in the processing container. Accordingly, the adhesion of the carbon film to the surface of the member formed of a quartz material contacting the processing space in the processing container is improved, thereby suppressing generation of particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED