Patents by Inventor Tsutomu Yamahata

Tsutomu Yamahata 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: 8636915
    Abstract: To provide a liquid processing apparatus capable of processing substrates with a high throughput with the lesser number of nozzles for chemical-liquid, when the substrates that are horizontally held in cup bodies are liquid-processed by supplying a chemical liquid to the substrates. Taking a developing process as an example of a liquid process, two-types of developing nozzles are prepared for two types of developing methods. The developing nozzle, which is used in the method in which the nozzle is engaged with the process for a longer period of time, is individually disposed on each of a first processing module 1 and a second processing module 2. On the other hand, the developing nozzle, which is used in the method in which the nozzle is engaged with the process for a shorter period of time, is used in common in the first liquid processing module 1 and the second liquid processing module 2. The common developing nozzle is configured to wait on an intermediate position between the modules 1 and 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Yasushi Takiguchi, Taro Yamamoto, Tsutomu Yamahata, Akihiro Fujimoto, Kouji Fujimura
  • Publication number: 20130118533
    Abstract: To provide a liquid processing apparatus capable of processing substrates with a high throughput with the lesser number of nozzles for chemical-liquid, when the substrates that are horizontally held in cup bodies are liquid-processed by supplying a chemical liquid to the substrates. Taking a developing process as an example of a liquid process, two-types of developing nozzles are prepared for two types of developing methods. The developing nozzle, which is used in the method in which the nozzle is engaged with the process for a longer period of time, is individually disposed on each of a first processing module 1 and a second processing module 2. On the other hand, the developing nozzle, which is used in the method in which the nozzle is engaged with the process for a shorter period of time, is used in common in the first liquid processing module 1 and the second liquid processing module 2. The common developing nozzle is configured to wait on an intermediate position between the modules 1 and 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yasushi Takiguchi, Taro Yamamoto, Tsutomu Yamahata, Akihiro Fujimoto, Kouji Fujimura