Patents by Inventor Tomoshi Inoue

Tomoshi Inoue 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: 11548113
    Abstract: A polishing method is used for polishing a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer to a flat mirror finish. A method of polishing a substrate by a polishing apparatus includes a polishing table (100) having a polishing surface, a top ring (1) for holding a substrate and pressing the substrate against the polishing surface, and a vertically movable mechanism (24) for moving the top ring (1) in a vertical direction. The top ring (1) is moved to a first height before the substrate is pressed against the polishing surface, and then the top ring (1) is moved to a second height after the substrate is pressed against the polishing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makoto Fukushima, Tetsuji Togawa, Shingo Togashi, Tomoshi Inoue
  • Publication number: 20190240801
    Abstract: A polishing method is used for polishing a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer to a flat mirror finish. A method of polishing a substrate by a polishing apparatus includes a polishing table (100) having a polishing surface, a top ring (1) for holding a substrate and pressing the substrate against the polishing surface, and a vertically movable mechanism (24) for moving the top ring (1) in a vertical direction. The top ring (1) is moved to a first height before the substrate is pressed against the polishing surface, and then the top ring (1) is moved to a second height after the substrate is pressed against the polishing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Makoto FUKUSHIMA, Tetsuji TOGAWA, Shingo TOGASHI, Tomoshi INOUE
  • Patent number: 10307882
    Abstract: A polishing method is used for polishing a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer to a flat mirror finish. A method of polishing a substrate by a polishing apparatus includes a polishing table (100) having a polishing surface, a top ring (1) for holding a substrate and pressing the substrate against the polishing surface, and a vertically movable mechanism (24) for moving the top ring (1) in a vertical direction. The top ring (1) is moved to a first height before the substrate is pressed against the polishing surface, and then the top ring (1) is moved to a second height after the substrate is pressed against the polishing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makoto Fukushima, Tetsuji Togawa, Shingo Togashi, Tomoshi Inoue
  • Publication number: 20160176011
    Abstract: A polishing method is used for polishing a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer to a flat mirror finish. A method of polishing a substrate by a polishing apparatus includes a polishing table (100) having a polishing surface, a top ring (1) for holding a substrate and pressing the substrate against the polishing surface, and a vertically movable mechanism (24) for moving the top ring (1) in a vertical direction. The top ring (1) is moved to a first height before the substrate is pressed against the polishing surface, and then the top ring (1) is moved to a second height after the substrate is pressed against the polishing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Makoto FUKUSHIMA, Tetsuji TOGAWA, Shingo TOGASHI, Tomoshi INOUE
  • Patent number: 9308621
    Abstract: A polishing method is used for polishing a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer to a flat mirror finish. A method of polishing a substrate by a polishing apparatus includes a polishing table (100) having a polishing surface, a top ring (1) for holding a substrate and pressing the substrate against the polishing surface, and a vertically movable mechanism (24) for moving the top ring (1) in a vertical direction. The top ring (1) is moved to a first height before the substrate is pressed against the polishing surface, and then the top ring (1) is moved to a second height after the substrate is pressed against the polishing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makoto Fukushima, Tetsuji Togawa, Shingo Saito, Tomoshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 8485866
    Abstract: A substrate holding apparatus prevents a substrate from slipping out and allows the substrate to be polished stably. The substrate holding apparatus has a top ring body for holding and pressing a substrate against a polishing surface, and a retainer ring for pressing the polishing surface, the retainer ring being disposed on an outer circumferential portion of the top ring body. The retainer ring includes a first member made of a magnetic material and a second member having a magnet disposed on a surface thereof which is held in abutment against the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Hozumi Yasuda, Tetsuji Togawa, Osamu Nabeya, Kenichiro Saito, Makoto Fukushima, Tomoshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 8357029
    Abstract: A polishing apparatus is used for polishing a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer to a flat mirror finish. The polishing apparatus includes a polishing table (100) having a polishing surface (101a), a top ring body (2) configured to hold and press a substrate against the polishing surface (101a), and a retainer ring (3) provided at an outer peripheral portion of the top ring body (2) and configured to press the polishing surface (101a). A fulcrum for receiving a lateral force applied from the substrate to the retainer ring (3) during polishing of the substrate is located above a central portion of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Fukushima, Tetsuji Togawa, Hozumi Yasuda, Koji Saito, Osamu Nabeya, Tomoshi Inoue
  • Publication number: 20120309277
    Abstract: A substrate holding apparatus prevents a substrate from slipping out and allows the substrate to be polished stably. The substrate holding apparatus has a top ring body for holding and pressing a substrate against a polishing surface, and a retainer ring for pressing the polishing surface, the retainer ring being disposed on an outer circumferential portion of the top ring body. The retainer ring includes a first member made of a magnetic material and a second member having a magnet disposed on a surface thereof which is held in abutment against the first member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Hozumi YASUDA, Tetsuji Togawa, Osamu Nabeya, Kenichiro Saito, Makoto Fukushima, Tomoshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 8267746
    Abstract: A substrate holding apparatus prevents a substrate from slipping out and allows the substrate to be polished stably. The substrate holding apparatus has a top ring body for holding and pressing a substrate against a polishing surface, and a retainer ring for pressing the polishing surface, the retainer ring being disposed on an outer circumferential portion of the top ring body. The retainer ring includes a first member made of a magnetic material and a second member having a magnet disposed on a surface thereof which is held in abutment against the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Hozumi Yasuda, Tetsuji Togawa, Osamu Nabeya, Kenichiro Saito, Makoto Fukushima, Tomoshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 8100739
    Abstract: A substrate holding apparatus prevents a substrate from slipping out and allows the substrate to be polished stably. The substrate holding apparatus has a top ring body for holding and pressing a substrate against a polishing surface, and a retainer ring for pressing the polishing surface, the retainer ring being disposed on an outer circumferential portion of the top ring body. The retainer ring includes a first member made of a magnetic material and a second member having a magnet disposed on a surface thereof which is held in abutment against the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Hozumi Yasuda, Tetsuji Togawa, Osamu Nabeya, Kenichiro Saito, Makoto Fukushima, Tomoshi Inoue
  • Publication number: 20110159783
    Abstract: A polishing method is used for polishing a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer to a flat mirror finish. A method of polishing a substrate by a polishing apparatus includes a polishing table (100) having a polishing surface, a top ring (1) for holding a substrate and pressing the substrate against the polishing surface, and a vertically movable mechanism (24) for moving the top ring (1) in a vertical direction. The top ring (1) is moved to a first height before the substrate is pressed against the polishing surface, and then the top ring (1) is moved to a second height after the substrate is pressed against the polishing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventors: Makoto Fukushima, Tetsuji Togawa, Shingo Saito, Tomoshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 7967665
    Abstract: A substrate holding apparatus prevents a substrate from slipping out and allows the substrate to be polished stably. The substrate holding apparatus has a top ring body for holding and pressing a substrate against a polishing surface, and a retainer ring for pressing the polishing surface, the retainer ring being disposed on an outer circumferential portion of the top ring body. The retainer ring includes a first member made of a magnetic material and a second member having a magnet disposed on a surface thereof which is held in abutment against the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Hozumi Yasuda, Tetsuji Togawa, Osamu Nabeya, Kenichiro Saito, Makoto Fukushima, Tomoshi Inoue
  • Publication number: 20100273405
    Abstract: A polishing apparatus is used for polishing a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer to a flat mirror finish. The polishing apparatus includes a polishing table (100) having a polishing surface (101a), a top ring body (2) configured to hold and press a substrate against the polishing surface (101a), and a retainer ring (3) provided at an outer peripheral portion of the top ring body (2) and configured to press the polishing surface (101a). A fulcrum for receiving a lateral force applied from the substrate to the retainer ring (3) during polishing of the substrate is located above a central portion of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventors: Makoto Fukushima, Tetsuji Togawa, Hozumi Yasuda, Koji Saito, Osamu Nabeya, Tomoshi Inoue
  • Publication number: 20080318499
    Abstract: A substrate holding apparatus prevents a substrate from slipping out and allows the substrate to be polished stably. The substrate holding apparatus has a top ring body for holding and pressing a substrate against a polishing surface, and a retainer ring for pressing the polishing surface, the retainer ring being disposed on an outer circumferential portion of the top ring body. The retainer ring includes a first member made of a magnetic material and a second member having a magnet disposed on a surface thereof which is held in abutment against the first member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Hozumi Yasuda, Tetsuji Togawa, Osamu Nabeya, Kenichiro Saito, Makoto Fukushima, Tomoshi Inoue
  • Publication number: 20080318492
    Abstract: A substrate holding apparatus prevents a substrate from slipping out and allows the substrate to be polished stably. The substrate holding apparatus has a top ring body for holding and pressing a substrate against a polishing surface, and a retainer ring for pressing the polishing surface, the retainer ring being disposed on an outer circumferential portion of the top ring body. The retainer ring includes a first member made of a magnetic material and a second member having a magnet disposed on a surface thereof which is held in abutment against the first member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Hozumi Yasuda, Tetsuji Togawa, Osamu Nabeya, Kenichiro Saito, Makoto Fukushima, Tomoshi Inoue
  • Publication number: 20070232193
    Abstract: A substrate holding apparatus prevents a substrate from slipping out and allows the substrate to be polished stably. The substrate holding apparatus has a top ring body for holding and pressing a substrate against a polishing surface, and a retainer ring for pressing the polishing surface, the retainer ring being disposed on an outer circumferential portion of the top ring body. The retainer ring comprises a first member made of a magnetic material and a second member having a magnet disposed on a surface thereof which is held in abutment against the first member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Inventors: Hozumi Yasuda, Tetsuji Togawa, Osamu Nabeya, Kenichiro Saito, Makoto Fukushima, Tomoshi Inoue
  • Patent number: D634719
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Hozumi Yasuda, Keisuke Namiki, Makoto Fukushima, Osamu Nabeya, Koji Saito, Satoru Yamaki, Tomoshi Inoue, Shingo Togashi, Tetsuji Togawa