Patents by Inventor Toshihiko Iwao

Toshihiko Iwao 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: 20150013912
    Abstract: A microwave plasma processing apparatus includes an inner slow-wave plate installed above a first slot in an inner waveguide which transmits microwaves to the first slot by transmitting the microwaves in a center side space, which is positioned closer to the center than the convex portion in the space between the slot plate and the intermediate metal body, through the space between the inner conductor and the intermediate conductor. An outer slow-wave plate is installed above a second slot in an outer waveguide which transmits microwaves to the second slot by transmitting the microwaves in an outer periphery side space, which is positioned closer to an outer periphery than the convex portion in the space between the slot antenna plate and the intermediate metal body, sequentially through the space between the intermediate conductor and the outer conductor, and the space between the intermediate metal body and cooling plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Toru FUJII, Toshihiko IWAO
  • Publication number: 20150013913
    Abstract: A microwave plasma processing apparatus including a processing space; a dielectric window having a facing surface facing the processing space; and an antenna plate installed on a surface of the dielectric window opposite to the facing surface, and formed with a plurality of slots configured to radiate microwaves for plasma excitation to the processing space through the dielectric window. The plurality of slots includes a first slot group configured to transmit microwaves guided to a center side of the dielectric window, and a second slot group configured to transmit microwaves guided to a peripheral edge side of the dielectric window. The dielectric window includes a first concave portion in a region corresponding to the first slot group of the antenna plate on the facing surface, and a second concave portion in a region corresponding to the second slot group of the antenna plate on the facing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Toshihiko IWAO, Jun YOSHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20150015139
    Abstract: A microwave plasma processing apparatus includes a processing space; a microwave generator which generates microwaves for generating a plasma; a distributor which distributes the microwaves to a plurality of waveguides; an antenna installed in a processing container to seal the processing space and to radiate microwaves distributed by the distributor, to the processing space; and a monitor unit configured to monitor a voltage of each of the plurality of waveguides. A control unit acquires a control value of a distribution ratio of the distributor, which corresponds to a difference between a voltage monitor value of the monitor unit and a predetermined voltage reference value, from a storage unit that stores the difference and the control value corresponding to each other. The control unit is also configured to control the distribution ratio of the distributor, based on the acquired control value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Kazushi KANEKO, Toshihiko IWAO, Satoru KAWAKAMI
  • Publication number: 20150013911
    Abstract: Disclosed is a microwave plasma processing apparatus. The microwave plasma processing apparatus includes a coaxial waveguide installed in a through hole which is formed in the center side portion in the intermediate metal body to extend continuously through the cooling plate and the intermediate metal plate. The coaxial waveguide includes an inner conductor, an intermediate conductor and an outer conductor. Each of a space between the inner conductor installed in a hollow portion of the intermediate conductor and the intermediate conductor and a space between the intermediate conductor installed in a hollow portion of the outer conductor and the outer conductor transmits microwaves. A difference between an inner diameter of the outer conductor and an outer diameter of the intermediate conductor is larger than a difference between an outer diameter of the inner conductor and an inner diameter of the intermediate conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Toshihiko IWAO, Kazushi KANEKO
  • Publication number: 20150007774
    Abstract: A processing chamber accommodating a mounting table includes a first region and a second region. As the mounting table rotates, a substrate mounting region of the mounting table moves in a circumferential direction around the axis to pass through the first region and the second region. A first gas supply unit supplies a precursor gas to the first region from an injection unit disposed to face the mounting table. An exhaust outlet exhausts an exhaust port formed to extend along a closed path surrounding the exhaust outlet. A second gas supply unit supplies purge gas from an injection port formed to extend along a closed path surrounding the exhaust port. A plasma generation unit generates plasma from a reaction gas in the second region. An angular range of the second region is larger than an angular range of the first region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Masahide Iwasaki, Satoshi Yonekura, Toshihiko Iwao
  • Publication number: 20140262042
    Abstract: A processing system is disclosed, having a power transmission element with an interior cavity that propagates electromagnetic energy proximate to a continuous slit in the interior cavity. The continuous slit forms an opening between the interior cavity and a substrate processing chamber. The electromagnetic energy may generate an alternating charge in the continuous slit that enables the generation of an electric field that may propagate into the processing chamber. The electric field may interact with process gas in the processing chamber to generate plasma for treating the substrate. The interior cavity may be isolated from the process chamber by a dielectric component that covers the continuous slit. The power transmission element may be used to control plasma density within the process chamber, either by itself or in combination with other plasma sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Merritt Funk, Jianping Zhao, Lee Chen, Toshihiko Iwao, Toshihisa Nozawa, Zhiying Chen, Peter Ventzek
  • Publication number: 20140262041
    Abstract: A processing system is disclosed, having a power transmission element with an interior cavity that propagates electromagnetic energy proximate to a continuous slit in the interior cavity. The continuous slit forms an opening between the interior cavity and a substrate processing chamber. The electromagnetic energy may generate an alternating charge in the continuous slit that enables the generation of an electric field that may propagate into the processing chamber. The electric field may interact with process gas in the processing chamber to generate plasma for treating the substrate. The interior cavity may be isolated from the process chamber by a dielectric component that covers the continuous slit. The power transmission element may be used to control plasma density within the process chamber, either by itself or in combination with other plasma sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Merritt Funk, Jianping Zhao, Lee Chen, Toshihiko Iwao, Toshihisa Nozawa, Zhiying Chen, Peter Ventzek
  • Publication number: 20140251541
    Abstract: Disclosed is a plasma processing apparatus including: a processing container having a cylindrical columnar shape centering around a predetermined axis and defining a processing space therein; a plurality of columnar dielectric bodies installed at a top side of the processing space; a microwave generator configured to generate microwaves; a waveguide unit configured to connect the microwave generator and the plurality of columnar dielectric bodies; and a stage installed within the processing container to intersect with the predetermined axis. The plurality of columnar dielectric bodies are arranged at predetermined intervals along a circumferential direction around the predetermined axis within the processing space. The waveguide unit branches microwaves input from the microwave generator and supplies the branched microwaves to the plurality of columnar dielectric bodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Toshihiko IWAO, Toshihisa NOZAWA
  • Patent number: 8808496
    Abstract: The invention provides a plurality of plasma tuning rod subsystems. The plasma tuning rod subsystems can comprise one or more microwave cavities configured to couple electromagnetic (EM) energy in a desired EM wave mode to a plasma by generating resonant microwave energy in one or more plasma tuning rods within and/or adjacent to the plasma. One or more microwave cavity assemblies can be coupled to a process chamber, and can comprise one or more tuning spaces/cavities. Each tuning space/cavity can have one or more plasma tuning rods coupled thereto. Some of the plasma tuning rods can be configured to couple the EM energy from one or more of the resonant cavities to the process space within the process chamber and thereby create uniform plasma within the process space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Jianping Zhao, Lee Chen, Merritt Funk, Toshihiko Iwao, Peter L. G. Ventzek
  • Publication number: 20130081762
    Abstract: The invention provides a plurality of plasma tuning rod subsystems. The plasma tuning rod subsystems can comprise one or more microwave cavities configured to couple electromagnetic (EM) energy in a desired EM wave mode to a plasma by generating resonant microwave energy in one or more plasma tuning rods within and/or adjacent to the plasma. One or more microwave cavity assemblies can be coupled to a process chamber, and can comprise one or more tuning spaces/cavities. Each tuning space/cavity can have one or more plasma tuning rods coupled thereto. Some of the plasma tuning rods can be configured to couple the EM energy from one or more of the resonant cavities to the process space within the process chamber and thereby create uniform plasma within the process space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Jianping Zhao, Lee Chen, Merritt Funk, Toshihiko Iwao, Peter L.G. Ventzek
  • Publication number: 20130082030
    Abstract: The invention provides a plurality of resonator subsystems. The resonator subsystems can comprise one or more resonant cavities configured to couple electromagnetic (EM) energy in a desired EM wave mode to plasma by generating resonant microwave energy in a resonant cavity adjacent the plasma. The resonator subsystem can be coupled to a process chamber using one or more interface subsystems and can comprise one or more resonant cavities, and each resonant cavity can have a plurality of plasma tuning rods coupled thereto. Some of the plasma tuning rods can be configured to couple the EM-energy from one or more of the resonant cavities to the process space within the process chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Inventors: Jianping Zhao, Lee Chen, Merritt Funk, Toshihiko Iwao, Peter L.G. Ventzek
  • Publication number: 20130084706
    Abstract: The invention provides a plurality of Surface Wave Antenna (SWA) plasma sources. The SWA plasma sources can comprise one or more non-circular slot antennas, each having a plurality of plasma-tuning rods extending therethrough. Some of the plasma tuning rods can be configured to couple the electromagnetic (EM) energy from one or more of the non-circular slot antennas to the process space within the process chamber. The invention also provides SWA plasma sources that can comprise a plurality of resonant cavities, each having one or more plasma-tuning rods extending therefrom. Some of the plasma tuning rods can be configured to couple the EM energy from one or more of the resonant cavities to the process space within the process chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Jianping Zhao, Lee Chen, Merritt Funk, Toshihiko Iwao, Peter L.G. Ventzek