Patents by Inventor Tomihiro Yonenaga

Tomihiro Yonenaga 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: 9750087
    Abstract: A heat treatment apparatus configured to perform a heat treatment on a plurality of substrates, including: a processing vessel configured to accommodate the plurality of substrates on which the heat treatment is performed; an electromagnetic induction source configured to generate an oscillating magnetic field having a high frequency within the processing vessel; and a substrate holding element having a plurality of heating elements arranged in a vertical direction and spacers interposed between the adjacent heating elements, the heating element being made of a conductive material and allowing an induced current caused by the oscillating magnetic field to flow therein to generate heat, the substrate holding element supporting the substrates in a state where the substrates are mounted on the heating elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Tomihiro Yonenaga, Yumiko Kawano
  • Publication number: 20150201468
    Abstract: A heat treatment apparatus configured to perform a heat treatment on a plurality of substrates, including: a processing vessel configured to accommodate the plurality of substrates on which the heat treatment is performed; an electromagnetic induction source configured to generate an oscillating magnetic field having a high frequency within the processing vessel; and a substrate holding element having a plurality of heating elements arranged in a vertical direction and spacers interposed between the adjacent heating elements, the heating element being made of a conductive material and allowing an induced current caused by the oscillating magnetic field to flow therein to generate heat, the substrate holding element supporting the substrates in a state where the substrates are mounted on the heating elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Inventors: Tomihiro YONENAGA, Yumiko KAWANO
  • Publication number: 20150093518
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus of performing a heat treatment with respect to a substrate mounted within a processing vessel, including: a substrate mounting stand including an inner portion configured to transfer heat to a central portion of the substrate and a heat generation regulating portion configured to generate heat through an induction heating; a magnetic field forming mechanism configured to form magnetic fields with alternating current power and to inductively heat the heat generation regulating portion; a power supply unit configured to supply the alternating current power to the magnetic field forming mechanism; a temperature measuring unit configured to measure a temperature of the heat generation regulating portion; a control unit configured to control the alternating current power; and a gas supply unit configured to supply a treatment gas to the substrate mounted on the mounting stand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Tomihiro YONENAGA, Cheoljung KIM, Yumiko KAWANO
  • Patent number: 8674273
    Abstract: Provided is a heat treatment apparatus which, when simultaneously heating substrates placed on susceptors, is capable of controlling the uniformity of temperature within each substrate. The heat treatment apparatus includes: a reaction tube which performs predetermined treatment to wafers; a plurality of susceptors each of which has a mounting surface for mounting the wafer and is made of a conductive material; a rotatable quartz boat wherein the susceptors spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the mounting surfaces are arranged and supported in the reaction tube; a magnetic field generating unit which is arranged on a sidewall of the processing chamber and includes a pair of electromagnets which generate an AC magnetic field in a direction parallel to the mounting surfaces of the susceptors and inductively heat the susceptors; and a control unit which controls the AC magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Tomihiro Yonenaga, Yumiko Kawano
  • Patent number: 8658951
    Abstract: In-plane temperature of each substrate is uniformly controlled at the time of heating substrates placed on a plurality of susceptors, respectively. A heat treatment apparatus is provided with susceptors, i.e., conductive members for placing wafers thereon, having an induction heating body electrically divided into a center portion thereof and a peripheral portion thereof; a quartz boat supporting the susceptors arranged in a row; an induction coil, which is arranged inside a processing chamber to surround the circumference of each of the susceptors and configured such that the temperature of the induction coil can be freely adjusted; and a control unit which performs temperature control by changing the ratio between heat value at the center portion of the induction heating body and that at the peripheral portion, by controlling two high frequency currents of different frequencies to be applied to the induction coil from a high frequency current circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Tomihiro Yonenaga, Yumiko Kawano
  • Publication number: 20110248024
    Abstract: In-plane temperature of each substrate is uniformly controlled at the time of heating substrates placed on a plurality of susceptors, respectively. A heat treatment apparatus is provided with susceptors, i.e., conductive members for placing wafers thereon, having an induction heating body electrically divided into a center portion thereof and a peripheral portion thereof; a quartz boat supporting the susceptors arranged in a row; an induction coil, which is arranged inside a processing chamber to surround the circumference of each of the susceptors and configured such that the temperature of the induction coil can be freely adjusted; and a control unit which performs temperature control by changing the ratio between heat value at the center portion of the induction heating body and that at the peripheral portion, by controlling two high frequency currents of different frequencies to be applied to the induction coil from a high frequency current circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Tomihiro YONENAGA, Yumiko Kawano
  • Publication number: 20110210117
    Abstract: Provided is a heat treatment apparatus which, when simultaneously heating substrates placed on susceptors, is capable of controlling the uniformity of temperature within each substrate. The heat treatment apparatus includes: a reaction tube which performs predetermined treatment to wafers; a plurality of susceptors each of which has a mounting surface for mounting the wafer and is made of a conductive material; a rotatable quartz boat wherein the susceptors spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the mounting surfaces are arranged and supported in the reaction tube; a magnetic field generating unit which is arranged on a sidewall of the processing chamber and includes a pair of electromagnets which generate an AC magnetic field in a direction parallel to the mounting surfaces of the susceptors and inductively heat the susceptors; and a control unit which controls the AC magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Tomihiro Yonenaga, Yumiko Kawano
  • Patent number: 7648610
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gas process apparatus that realizes uniform exhaust without depending on process conditions, a gas process chamber that constitutes the gas process apparatus, a baffle plate mounted on the gas process chamber, a method of producing the baffle plate, and an apparatus for producing the baffle plate. The baffle plate of the present invention serves as a partition between a process space in which a chemical process is carried out with a supplied gas, and a duct that is adjacent to the process space and functions to discharge exhaust gas generated as a result of the chemical process. In accordance with the difference between the pressures on both sides of the baffle plate, which difference varies depending on the location on the baffle plate, the baffle holes are disposed on a plurality of locations on the baffle plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Taro Komiya, Hatsuo Osada, Shigetoshi Hosaka, Tomihiro Yonenaga, Masayuki Tomoyasu
  • Publication number: 20030094135
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gas process apparatus that realizes uniform exhaust without depending on process conditions, a gas process chamber that constitutes the gas process apparatus, a baffle plate mounted on the gas process chamber, a method of producing the baffle plate, and an apparatus for producing the baffle plate. The baffle plate of the present invention serves as a partition between a process space in which a chemical process is carried out with a supplied gas, and a duct that is adjacent to the process space and functions to discharge exhaust gas generated as a result of the chemical process. In accordance with the difference between the pressures on both sides of the baffle plate, which difference varies depending on the location on the baffle plate, the baffle holes are disposed on a plurality of locations on the baffle plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Inventors: Taro Komiya, Hatsuo Osada, Shigetoshi Hosaka, Tomihiro Yonenaga, Masayuki Tomoyasu
  • Patent number: 6436193
    Abstract: A gas processing apparatus is disclosed, that comprises a processing chamber that is airtightly structured, a gas delivery pipe connected to the processing chamber, a gas supply source for supplying gas to the processing chamber through the gas delivery pipe, a holding table for holding a workpiece loaded to the processing chamber, a shower member disposed at a gas outlet of the gas delivery pipe connected to the processing chamber, a spray plate structured as a partition wall of the shower member that faces the holding plate, the spray plate having a plurality of spray holes, and a baffle member disposed between the spray plate in the shower member and the gas outlet and having a plurality of through-holes formed perpendicular to the surface of the baffle member, wherein each of the through-holes of the baffle member has a first opening portion and a second opening portion facing the gas outlet, the second opening portion facing the spray plate, the opening area of the second opening portion being larger tha
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Shigeru Kasai, Teruo Iwata, Taro Komiya, Tomihiro Yonenaga
  • Patent number: 5972114
    Abstract: An anti-adhesion film, which is difficult for the deposited film to adhere thereto, is formed on the inner surface of a process chamber. A process gas is supplied from a gas supply unit to that position in the process chamber which is opposed to a table, whereupon a metal film or metallic compound film is deposited on the surface of the object. In the film deposition process, the anti-adhesion film serves considerably to reduce the build-up of the metal film deposited on the inner surface of the process chamber, especially that surface of the gas supply unit which is opposed to the table. Although at least a maintenance operation such as wet cleaning is necessary, therefore, the frequency of such operation can be lowered substantially, so that the operating efficiency of the apparatus can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Tomihiro Yonenaga, Mitsuhiro Tachibana, Sumi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5711815
    Abstract: A film forming apparatus includes: a chamber for housing a semiconductor wafer having a surface on which a film is to be formed, and performing a film formation process with respect to the semiconductor wafer; a process gas supply system for supplying a process gas for forming the film onto the surface of the semiconductor wafer on which the film is to be formed; a heater for heating the semiconductor wafer to decompose a film forming gas, thereby forming the film on the wafer; a purge gas supply system for supplying a purge gas from a lower surface side of the surface of the semiconductor wafer on which the film is to be formed toward a peripheral edge portion of the semiconductor wafer; and a ring member positioned at a position to cover a peripheral edge portion of the surface on which the film is to be formed when film formation is to be performed with respect to the semiconductor wafer, the ring member having an outer edge projecting from an outer edge of the target object in the film formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Hideki Lee, Tomihiro Yonenaga
  • Patent number: 5525160
    Abstract: A processing chamber having a heating device for heating the interior thereof to a required temperature, and a holding device with at least three separate holding elements is disclosed. A processing gas feed port and processing gas passages are provided in a cap which is connected to a processing chamber and closes an opening in the upper surface of the processing chamber, and the processing gas feed port and the processing gas passages are connected by a connection pipe. The processing chamber is connected to processing gas sources and has processing gas introduction passages formed in a side wall thereof and communicated with the processing gas passages. Seal members are provided around open ends of either of the processing gas passages or the processing gas introduction passages in the surfaces of the processing chamber and the cap opposed to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sumi Tanaka, Yuichiro Fujikawa, Tomihiro Yonenaga, Hideki Lee
  • Patent number: 5332442
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a surface processing apparatus which performs heating processing of an object of heating which is mounted on a mounting device provided inside a process container, and which includes a plural number of lamps provided so as to oppose a rear surface of a processing surface of an object of processing, a rotating unit which has the plural number of lamps mounted to it in a ring shape, and a drive unit which drives the rotating unit. Also, the present invention relates to a processing apparatus for leading a process gas from a gas supply tube to a gas chamber partitioned inside a process container, and which blows process gas from an outlet of the gas chamber and onto an object of processing which is mounted on a mounting device provided inside the process container, and which includes a plural number of partition plates each provided with a plural number of through holes, being provided at required intervals in a direction of gas flow and inside the gas chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masao Kubodera, Masaki Narushima, Masahito Ozawa, Hiromi Kumagai, Tomihiro Yonenaga, Sumi Tanaka