Patents by Inventor Tomihiro Amano

Tomihiro Amano 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: 11948778
    Abstract: A conventional substrate processing apparatus for generating plasma cannot generate plasma with high density and thus throughput of substrate processing is low. In order to solve this problem, provided is a substrate processing apparatus including a reaction vessel having a tubular shape and provided with a coil installed at an outer circumference thereof; a cover installed at a first end of the reaction vessel; a gas introduction port installed at the cover; a first plate installed between the gas introduction port and an upper end of the coil; a second plate installed between the first plate and the upper end of the coil; a substrate processing chamber installed at a second end of the reaction vessel; and a gas exhaust part connected to the substrate processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidehiro Yanai, Shin Hiyama, Toru Kakuda, Toshiya Shimada, Tomihiro Amano
  • Patent number: 11942333
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the technique, there is provided a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, including: (a) heating a substrate to a first temperature while supporting the substrate on a substrate support, and supplying a process gas into a process vessel accommodating the substrate support; (b) lowering a temperature of a low temperature structure provided in the process vessel to a second temperature lower than the first temperature by supplying an inert gas or air to a coolant flow path provided in the process vessel after (a) for a predetermined time, wherein defects occur when a cleaning gas is supplied to the low temperature structure at the first temperature; and (c) cleaning the low temperature structure by supplying the cleaning gas into the process vessel after (b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Kokusai Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Tomihiro Amano
  • Publication number: 20240087937
    Abstract: According to the present disclosure, there is provided a technique capable of suppressing an erroneous detection of a presence or absence of a substrate caused by a light receiver receiving a specularly reflected light. There is provided a technique that includes: a holding structure provided with a placing surface capable of accommodating a substrate thereon; a light detector including: a light emitter arranged to irradiate an irradiation light toward a back surface of the substrate placed on the placing surface; and a light receiver arranged to be capable of receiving a diffusely reflected light of the irradiation light irradiated from the light emitter without receiving a specularly reflected light of the irradiation light; and a controller configured to be capable of determining a presence or absence of the substrate based on a light receiving state of the light receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: Kokusai Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Hara, Tomihiro Amano, Shin Hiyama
  • Publication number: 20240047233
    Abstract: According to the present disclosure, there is provided a technique capable of improving a throughput and suppressing an oxidation of a surface of a substrate and an adhesion of particles to the surface of the substrate. According to one aspect thereof, there is provided a substrate processing apparatus including: a plurality of process chambers; a transfer chamber provided adjacent to the plurality of process chambers and maintained in a decompressed state; a waiting chamber capable of communicating with the transfer chamber in the decompressed state, provided with a plurality of supports capable of supporting a plurality of substrates after a process set for a first process chamber among the plurality of process chambers is completed, and configured such that an inert gas is supplied for every predetermined number of substrates among the plurality of substrates respectively supported by the plurality of supports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Applicant: Kokusai Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Naofumi OHASHI, Tomihiro Amano, Tomoyuki Miyada
  • Publication number: 20230142890
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the technique, there is provided a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, including: (a) heating a substrate to a first temperature while supporting the substrate on a substrate support, and supplying a process gas into a process vessel accommodating the substrate support; (b) lowering a temperature of a low temperature structure provided in the process vessel to a second temperature lower than the first temperature by supplying an inert gas or air to a coolant flow path provided in the process vessel after (a) for a predetermined time, wherein defects occur when a cleaning gas is supplied to the low temperature structure at the first temperature; and (c) cleaning the low temperature structure by supplying the cleaning gas into the process vessel after (b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2023
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventor: Tomihiro AMANO
  • Publication number: 20230060301
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the technique, there is provided a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, including: (a) heating a substrate to a first temperature while supporting the substrate on a substrate support, and supplying a process gas into a process vessel accommodating the substrate support; (b) lowering a temperature of a low temperature structure provided in the process vessel to a second temperature lower than the first temperature by supplying an inert gas or air to a coolant flow path provided in the process vessel after (a) for a predetermined time, wherein defects occur when a cleaning gas is supplied to the low temperature structure at the first temperature; and (c) cleaning the low temperature structure by supplying the cleaning gas into the process vessel after (b)
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventor: Tomihiro AMANO
  • Patent number: 11574815
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the technique, there is provided a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, including: (a) heating a substrate to a first temperature while supporting the substrate on a substrate support, and supplying a process gas into a process vessel accommodating the substrate support; (b) lowering a temperature of a low temperature structure provided in the process vessel to a second temperature lower than the first temperature by supplying an inert gas or air to a coolant flow path provided in the process vessel after (a) for a predetermined time, wherein defects occur when a cleaning gas is supplied to the low temperature structure at the first temperature; and (c) cleaning the low temperature structure by supplying the cleaning gas into the process vessel after (b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Kokusai Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Tomihiro Amano
  • Publication number: 20220090259
    Abstract: A substrate processing technique includes a substrate mounting table including a substrate mounting surface for a substrate; a process container for accommodating the substrate mounting table and forming a process chamber for processing the substrate mounted on the substrate mounting surface; at least one gas supplier for suppling a processing gas to the process chamber; a first wall arranged on an outer peripheral side of the at least one substrate mounting table; a second wall arranged at an outer side of the first wall on the outer peripheral side of the substrate mounting table; at least one exhaust flow path formed between the first wall and the second wall and configured to discharge a gas in the process chamber; and a shield plate arranged below the substrate mounting table and extending at least to a lower side of a lower end of the second wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Applicant: KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naofumi OHASHI, Tomihiro AMANO, Satoshi TAKANO
  • Publication number: 20210343507
    Abstract: A conventional substrate processing apparatus for generating plasma cannot generate plasma with high density and thus throughput of substrate processing is low. In order to solve this problem, provided is a substrate processing apparatus including a reaction vessel having a tubular shape and provided with a coil installed at an outer circumference thereof; a cover installed at a first end of the reaction vessel; a gas introduction port installed at the cover; a first plate installed between the gas introduction port and an upper end of the coil; a second plate installed between the first plate and the upper end of the coil; a substrate processing chamber installed at a second end of the reaction vessel; and a gas exhaust part connected to the substrate processing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidehiro YANAI, Shin HIYAMA, Toru KAKUDA, Toshiya SHIMADA, Tomihiro AMANO
  • Patent number: 11101111
    Abstract: A conventional substrate processing apparatus for generating plasma cannot generate plasma with high density and thus throughput of substrate processing is low. In order to solve this problem, provided is a substrate processing apparatus including a reaction vessel having a tubular shape and provided with a coil installed at an outer circumference thereof; a cover installed at a first end of the reaction vessel; a gas introduction port installed at the cover; a first plate installed between the gas introduction port and an upper end of the coil; a second plate installed between the first plate and the upper end of the coil; a substrate processing chamber installed at a second end of the reaction vessel; and a gas exhaust part connected to the substrate processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidehiro Yanai, Shin Hiyama, Toru Kakuda, Toshiya Shimada, Tomihiro Amano
  • Publication number: 20200381221
    Abstract: A conventional substrate processing apparatus for generating plasma cannot generate plasma with high density and thus throughput of substrate processing is low. In order to solve this problem, provided is a substrate processing apparatus including a reaction vessel having a tubular shape and provided with a coil installed at an outer circumference thereof; a cover installed at a first end of the reaction vessel; a gas introduction port installed at the cover; a first plate installed between the gas introduction port and an upper end of the coil; a second plate installed between the first plate and the upper end of the coil; a substrate processing chamber installed at a second end of the reaction vessel; and a gas exhaust part connected to the substrate processing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidehiro YANAI, Shin HIYAMA, Toru KAKUDA, Toshiya SHIMADA, Tomihiro AMANO
  • Patent number: 10763084
    Abstract: A conventional substrate processing apparatus for generating plasma cannot generate plasma with high density and thus throughput of substrate processing is low. In order to solve this problem, provided is a substrate processing apparatus including a reaction vessel having a tubular shape and provided with a coil installed at an outer circumference thereof; a cover installed at a first end of the reaction vessel; a gas introduction port installed at the cover; a first plate installed between the gas introduction port and an upper end of the coil; a second plate installed between the first plate and the upper end of the coil; a substrate processing chamber installed at a second end of the reaction vessel; and a gas exhaust part connected to the substrate processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidehiro Yanai, Shin Hiyama, Toru Kakuda, Toshiya Shimada, Tomihiro Amano
  • Publication number: 20180144908
    Abstract: A conventional substrate processing apparatus for generating plasma cannot generate plasma with high density and thus throughput of substrate processing is low.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Applicant: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC
    Inventors: Hidehiro YANAI, Shin HIYAMA, Toru KAKUDA, Toshiya SHIMADA, Tomihiro AMANO
  • Patent number: 9911580
    Abstract: A conventional substrate processing apparatus for generating plasma cannot generate plasma with high density and thus throughput of substrate processing is low. In order to solve this problem, provided is a substrate processing apparatus including a reaction vessel having a tubular shape and provided with a coil installed at an outer circumference thereof; a cover installed at a first end of the reaction vessel; a gas introduction port installed at the cover; a first plate installed between the gas introduction port and an upper end of the coil; a second plate installed between the first plate and the upper end of the coil; a substrate processing chamber installed at a second end of the reaction vessel; and a gas exhaust part connected to the substrate processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
    Inventors: Hidehiro Yanai, Shin Hiyama, Toru Kakuda, Toshiya Shimada, Tomihiro Amano
  • Patent number: 9082797
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus capable of increasing the life span of a lamp for heating a substrate is provided. The substrate processing apparatus includes: a light receiving chamber for processing a substrate; a substrate support unit inside the light receiving chamber; a lamp including an electrical wire, and a seal accommodating the electrical wire to hermetically seal the lamp with a gas therein, the lamp irradiating the substrate with a light; a lamp receiving unit outside the light receiving chamber to accommodate the lamp therein, the lamp receiving unit including a lamp connector connected to the lamp to supply an electric current through the electrical wire, a heat absorption member including a material having a thermal conductivity higher than that of the seal, and a base member fixing the heat absorption member; and an external electrical wire connected to the lamp connector to supply current to the lamp connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric, Inc.
    Inventors: Yukinori Aburatani, Toshiya Shimada, Kenji Shinozaki, Tomihiro Amano, Hiroshi Ashihara, Hidehiro Yanai, Masahiro Miyake, Shin Hiyama
  • Publication number: 20140235068
    Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method includes (a) loading a substrate having a silicon-containing film formed thereon into a process chamber; (b) supplying a gas into the process chamber from a gas supply unit until an inner pressure of the process chamber is equal to or greater than atmospheric pressure; and (c) supplying a process liquid from a process liquid supply unit to the substrate to oxidize the silicon-containing film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi ASHIHARA, Tomihiro AMANO, Shin HIYAMA, Harunobu SAKUMA, Yuichi WADA, Hideto TATENO
  • Publication number: 20130012035
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus capable of increasing the life span of a lamp for heating a substrate is provided. The substrate processing apparatus includes: a light receiving chamber for processing a substrate; a substrate support unit inside the light receiving chamber; a lamp including an electrical wire, and a seal accommodating the electrical wire to hermetically seal the lamp with a gas therein, the lamp irradiating the substrate with a light; a lamp receiving unit outside the light receiving chamber to accommodate the lamp therein, the lamp receiving unit including a lamp connector connected to the lamp to supply an electric current through the electrical wire, a heat absorption member including a material having a thermal conductivity higher than that of the seal, and a base member fixing the heat absorption member; and an external electrical wire connected to the lamp connector to supply current to the lamp connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
    Inventors: Yukinori Aburatani, Toshiya Shimada, Kenji Shinozaki, Tomihiro Amano, Hiroshi Ashihara, Hidehiro Yanai, Masahiro Miyake, Shin Hiyama
  • Publication number: 20120329290
    Abstract: Provided is a substrate placement stage or substrate processing apparatus which can suppress thermal deformation of the substrate placement stage when the substrate placement stage on which a substrate is placed is heated in a process chamber. The substrate placement stage includes: a heating element; a first member surrounding the heating element; and a second member covering a surface of the first member and including a placing surface for placing a substrate thereon, wherein the first member is made of a first material containing ceramics and aluminum, and the second member is made of a second material containing ceramics and aluminum, a content of the ceramics in the second material being lower than that of the first material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
    Inventors: Toshiya Shimada, Kazuhiro Shimeno, Masakazu Sakata, Hidehiro Yanai, Tomihiro Amano, Yuichi Wada
  • Publication number: 20120132228
    Abstract: A conventional substrate processing apparatus for generating plasma cannot generate plasma with high density and thus throughput of substrate processing is low. In order to solve this problem, provided is a substrate processing apparatus including a reaction vessel having a tubular shape and provided with a coil installed at an outer circumference thereof; a cover installed at a first end of the reaction vessel; a gas introduction port installed at the cover; a first plate installed between the gas introduction port and an upper end of the coil; a second plate installed between the first plate and the upper end of the coil; a substrate processing chamber installed at a second end of the reaction vessel; and a gas exhaust part connected to the substrate processing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
    Inventors: Hidehiro Yanai, Shin Hiyama, Toru Kakuda, Toshiya Shimada, Tomihiro Amano