Patents by Inventor Tomoko OWADA

Tomoko OWADA 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: 11958163
    Abstract: A substrate holding apparatus which can adjust polishing profile precisely is disclosed. The substrate holding apparatus includes an elastic membrane that forms a plurality of pressure chambers for pressing a substrate, and a head body to which the elastic membrane is coupled. The elastic membrane includes a contact portion to be brought into contact with the substrate for pressing the substrate against a polishing pad, an edge circumferential wall extending upwardly from a peripheral edge of the contact portion, and a plurality of inner circumferential walls arranged radially inwardly of the edge circumferential wall and extending upwardly from the contact portion. At least two adjacent inner circumferential walls of the plurality of inner circumferential walls include slope circumferential walls inclined radially inwardly. The slope circumferential walls are inclined radially inwardly in their entirety from their lower ends to upper ends, and extend upwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu Nabeya, Makoto Fukushima, Keisuke Namiki, Shingo Togashi, Satoru Yamaki, Masahiko Kishimoto, Tomoko Owada
  • Patent number: 11745306
    Abstract: A polishing apparatus includes a rotatable head body having a pressing surface, a retainer ring configured to press a polishing surface while rotating together with the head body, a stationary ring, local load applying devices configured to apply a local load to the stationary ring, and a controller. The local load applying devices include a first pressing member and a second pressing member connected to the stationary ring. The first pressing member is disposed in the upstream side of the retainer ring in the traveling direction of the polishing surface, and the second pressing member is disposed in the downstream side. The controller calculates the inclination angle of the stationary ring based on a measured value of the height of at least one of the first pressing member and the second pressing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoko Owada, Makoto Fukushima, Keisuke Namiki, Osamu Nabeya, Shingo Togashi, Satoru Yamaki, Yoshikazu Kato
  • Patent number: 11731235
    Abstract: The polishing apparatus includes: a polishing table configured to support a polishing pad having a polishing surface; a rotatable head body having a pressing surface; a retainer ring configured to press the polishing surface and rotatable together with the head body; a rotary ring; a stationary ring; and local-load exerting devices each configured to apply a local load to the stationary ring. The local-load exerting devices include a first pressing member and a second pressing member coupled to the stationary ring. The first pressing member is arranged at an upstream side of the retainer ring in a moving direction of the polishing surface, and the second pressing member is arranged at a downstream side of the retainer ring in the moving direction of the polishing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shingo Togashi, Makoto Fukushima, Keisuke Namiki, Osamu Nabeya, Satoru Yamaki, Tomoko Owada, Yoshikazu Kato
  • Patent number: 11654524
    Abstract: A method of detecting abnormality of a roller which transmits a local load to a retainer ring is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoko Owada, Osamu Nabeya, Yuta Suzuki, Shingo Togashi
  • Publication number: 20220048157
    Abstract: A substrate holding apparatus which can adjust polishing profile precisely is disclosed. The substrate holding apparatus includes an elastic membrane that forms a plurality of pressure chambers for pressing a substrate, and a head body to which the elastic membrane is coupled. The elastic membrane includes a contact portion to be brought into contact with the substrate for pressing the substrate against a polishing pad, an edge circumferential wall extending upwardly from a peripheral edge of the contact portion, and a plurality of inner circumferential walls arranged radially inwardly of the edge circumferential wall and extending upwardly from the contact portion. At least two adjacent inner circumferential walls of the plurality of inner circumferential walls include slope circumferential walls inclined radially inwardly. The slope circumferential walls are inclined radially inwardly in their entirety from their lower ends to upper ends, and extend upwardly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventors: Osamu Nabeya, Makoto Fukushima, Keisuke Namiki, Shingo Togashi, Satoru Yamaki, Masahiko Kishimoto, Tomoko Owada
  • Patent number: 11179823
    Abstract: A substrate holding apparatus which can adjust polishing profile precisely is disclosed. The substrate holding apparatus includes an elastic membrane that forms a plurality of pressure chambers for pressing a substrate, and a head body to which the elastic membrane is coupled. The elastic membrane includes a contact portion to be brought into contact with the substrate for pressing the substrate against a polishing pad, an edge circumferential wall extending upwardly from a peripheral edge of the contact portion, and a plurality of inner circumferential walls arranged radially inwardly of the edge circumferential wall and extending upwardly from the contact portion. At least two adjacent inner circumferential walls of the plurality of inner circumferential walls include slope circumferential walls inclined radially inwardly. The slope circumferential walls are inclined radially inwardly in their entirety from their lower ends to upper ends, and extend upwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu Nabeya, Makoto Fukushima, Keisuke Namiki, Shingo Togashi, Satoru Yamaki, Masahiko Kishimoto, Tomoko Owada
  • Publication number: 20210335650
    Abstract: An elastic membrane to be used for a polishing head includes a contact portion configured to come into contact with a wafer, an annular side wall provided to stand on an outer peripheral end of the contact portion, a first partition wall linearly extending inward in a radial direction in sectional view from the side wall, and a second partition wall linearly extending inward and upward in the radial direction in sectional view from an outer peripheral end portion of the contact portion, wherein the first partition wall, the second partition wall, and the side wall constitute an edge pressure chamber for pressing an edge of the wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Satoru Yamaki, Makoto Fukushima, Keisuke Namiki, Osamu Nabeya, Shingo Togashi, Tomoko Owada, Yoshikazu Kato
  • Patent number: 11088011
    Abstract: An elastic membrane to be used for a polishing head includes a contact portion configured to come into contact with a wafer, an annular side wall provided to stand on an outer peripheral end of the contact portion, a first partition wall linearly extending inward in a radial direction in sectional view from the side wall, and a second partition wall linearly extending inward and upward in the radial direction in sectional view from an outer peripheral end portion of the contact portion, wherein the first partition wall, the second partition wall, and the side wall constitute an edge pressure chamber for pressing an edge of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoru Yamaki, Makoto Fukushima, Keisuke Namiki, Osamu Nabeya, Shingo Togashi, Tomoko Owada, Yoshikazu Kato
  • Publication number: 20210060723
    Abstract: A method of detecting abnormality of a roller which transmits a local load to a retainer ring is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Tomoko Owada, Osamu Nabeya, Yuta Suzuki, Shingo Togashi
  • Publication number: 20200206868
    Abstract: A polishing apparatus includes a rotatable head body having a pressing surface, a retainer ring configured to press a polishing surface while rotating together with the head body, a stationary ring, local load applying devices configured to apply a local load to the stationary ring, and a controller. The local load applying devices include a first pressing member and a second pressing member connected to the stationary ring. The first pressing member is disposed in the upstream side of the retainer ring in the traveling direction of the polishing surface, and the second pressing member is disposed in the downstream side. The controller calculates the inclination angle of the stationary ring based on a measured value of the height of at least one of the first pressing member and the second pressing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Tomoko Owada, Makoto Fukushima, Keisuke Namiki, Osamu Nabeya, Shingo Togashi, Satoru Yamaki, Yoshikazu Kato
  • Publication number: 20200206867
    Abstract: The polishing apparatus includes: a polishing table configured to support a polishing pad having a polishing surface; a rotatable head body having a pressing surface; a retainer ring configured to press the polishing surface and rotatable together with the head body; a rotary ring; a stationary ring; and local-load exerting devices each configured to apply a local load to the stationary ring. The local-load exerting devices include a first pressing member and a second pressing member coupled to the stationary ring. The first pressing member is arranged at an upstream side of the retainer ring in a moving direction of the polishing surface, and the second pressing member is arranged at a downstream side of the retainer ring in the moving direction of the polishing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Shingo Togashi, Makoto Fukushima, Keisuke Namiki, Osamu Nabeya, Satoru Yamaki, Tomoko Owada, Yoshikazu Kato
  • Publication number: 20180301367
    Abstract: An elastic membrane to be used for a polishing head includes a contact portion configured to come into contact with a wafer, an annular side wall provided to stand on an outer peripheral end of the contact portion, a first partition wall linearly extending inward in a radial direction in sectional view from the side wall, and a second partition wall linearly extending inward and upward in the radial direction in sectional view from an outer peripheral end portion of the contact portion, wherein the first partition wall, the second partition wall, and the side wall constitute an edge pressure chamber for pressing an edge of the wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Satoru YAMAKI, Makoto FUKUSHIMA, Keisuke NAMIKI, Osamu NABEYA, Shingo TOGASHI, Tomoko OWADA, Yoshikazu KATO
  • Publication number: 20180117730
    Abstract: A substrate holding apparatus which can adjust polishing profile precisely is disclosed. The substrate holding apparatus includes an elastic membrane that forms a plurality of pressure chambers for pressing a substrate, and a head body to which the elastic membrane is coupled. The elastic membrane includes a contact portion to be brought into contact with the substrate for pressing the substrate against a polishing pad, an edge circumferential wall extending upwardly from a peripheral edge of the contact portion, and a plurality of inner circumferential walls arranged radially inwardly of the edge circumferential wall and extending upwardly from the contact portion. At least two adjacent inner circumferential walls of the plurality of inner circumferential walls include slope circumferential walls inclined radially inwardly. The slope circumferential walls are inclined radially inwardly in their entirety from their lower ends to upper ends, and extend upwardly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Osamu NABEYA, Makoto FUKUSHIMA, Keisuke NAMIKI, Shingo TOGASHI, Satoru YAMAKI, Masahiko KISHIMOTO, Tomoko OWADA
  • Patent number: D839224
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoru Yamaki, Makoto Fukushima, Keisuke Namiki, Osamu Nabeya, Shingo Togashi, Tomoko Owada, Masahiko Kishimoto
  • Patent number: D859332
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoru Yamaki, Makoto Fukushima, Keisuke Namiki, Osamu Nabeya, Shingo Togashi, Tomoko Owada
  • Patent number: D913977
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoru Yamaki, Makoto Fukushima, Keisuke Namiki, Osamu Nabeya, Shingo Togashi, Tomoko Owada, Masahiko Kishimoto
  • Patent number: D918161
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shingo Togashi, Makoto Fukushima, Keisuke Namiki, Osamu Nabeya, Satoru Yamaki, Tomoko Owada, Yoshikazu Kato
  • Patent number: D981969
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Akazawa, Tomoko Owada, Osamu Nabeya, Makoto Fukushima, Yuichi Kato
  • Patent number: D989012
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Akazawa, Osamu Nabeya, Shingo Togashi, Satoru Yamaki, Tomoko Owada, Cheng Cheng, Yuichi Kato
  • Patent number: D1021832
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Akazawa, Osamu Nabeya, Shingo Togashi, Satoru Yamaki, Tomoko Owada, Cheng Cheng, Yuichi Kato