Patents by Inventor Yoji Mizutani
Yoji Mizutani 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).
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Publication number: 20070197046Abstract: An object of the present invention is to form an interlayer insulating film on a substrate and cure the interlayer insulating film in a time shorter than that in the prior art. The present invention is a substrate processing method in which the interlayer insulating film formed on the substrate is irradiated with electron beams in a processing chamber, whereby the interlayer insulating film is cured.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2007Publication date: August 23, 2007Applicant: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Yoji Mizutani, Masao Yamaguchi
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Patent number: 7205024Abstract: Prior to transfer of an wafer W, a mixed gas is being generated and exhausted, thereby fluctuation of concentration and temperature of a solvent component at the beginning of gas introduction into a chamber 3 is suppressed. A step of gelling after the wafer W is carried into an aging unit is divided into several steps. Until a temperature of the wafer W reaches a predetermined treatment temperature, an average concentration of the solvent component in a mixed gas is gradually raised relative to the temperature of the wafer W. Thereby, immediately after the wafer W is transferred into a sealed chamber, the gas of the solvent component is prevented from condensing.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2004Date of Patent: April 17, 2007Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Kazuhiro Takeshita, Shinji Nagashima, Makoto Muramatsu, Yoji Mizutani, Kazutoshi Yano, Kyoshige Katayama
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Publication number: 20060292298Abstract: Prior to transfer of an wafer W, a mixed gas is being generated and exhausted, thereby fluctuation of concentration and temperature of a solvent component at the beginning of gas introduction into a chamber 3 is suppressed. A step of gelling after the wafer W is carried into an aging unit is divided into several steps. Until a temperature of the wafer W reaches a predetermined treatment temperature, an average concentration of the solvent component in a mixed gas is gradually raised relative to the temperature of the wafer W. Thereby, immediately after the wafer W is transferred into a sealed chamber, the gas of the solvent component is prevented from condensing.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2006Publication date: December 28, 2006Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Kazuhiro Takeshita, Shinji Nagashima, Makoto Muramatsu, Yoji Mizutani, Kazutoshi Yano, Kyoshige Katayama
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Patent number: 6979474Abstract: When a substrate coated with a coating solution which oxidizes at high temperatures is heat-treated, an oxygen concentration of a treatment atmosphere is lowered when the temperature is low. Next, the substrate is heat-treated in the treatment atmosphere of which the oxygen concentration is lowered. Sequentially, the treatment atmosphere is returned to that with the original oxygen concentration after the passage of a predetermined time after completing the heat treatment. Thereby, the substrate can be heat-treated, with the oxidization of the coating solution being controlled.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2001Date of Patent: December 27, 2005Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Yuji Matsuyama, Yoji Mizutani, Shinji Nagashima, Akira Yonemizu
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Patent number: 6808567Abstract: A gas flow regulating surface portion 37a is the farthest from the front surface of a wafer W in the middle between a peripheral portion of the wafer W and a center portion of a sealing vessel. The gas flow regulating portion 37a protrudes to the front surface of the wafer W in the vicinity of a center portion that surrounds an exhausting opening 35a. In other words, a convex portion 37c is formed in a peripheral area of the gas flow regulating surface portion 37a that surrounds the exhausting opening 35a. Since treatment gas flows along the front surface of the gas flow regulating portion 37a, treatment gas equally contacts the wafer W in the radius direction of the wafer W. Thus, a film with equal thickness is formed.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2003Date of Patent: October 26, 2004Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Kazuhiro Takeshita, Shinji Nagashima, Yoji Mizutani, Kyoshige Katayama
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Publication number: 20040156996Abstract: Prior to transfer of an wafer W, a mixed gas is being generated and exhausted, thereby fluctuation of concentration and temperature of a solvent component at the beginning of gas introduction into a chamber 3 is suppressed. A step of gelling after the wafer W is carried into an aging unit is divided into several steps. Until a temperature of the wafer W reaches a predetermined treatment temperature, an average concentration of the solvent component in a mixed gas is gradually raised relative to the temperature of the wafer W. Thereby, immediately after the wafer W is transferred into a sealed chamber, the gas of the solvent component is prevented from condensing.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2004Publication date: August 12, 2004Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Kazuhiro Takeshita, Shinji Nagashima, Makoto Muramatsu, Yoji Mizutani, Kazutoshi Yano, Kyoshige Katayama
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Patent number: 6726775Abstract: Prior to transfer of an wafer W, a mixed gas is being generated and exhausted, thereby fluctuation of concentration and temperature of a solvent component at the beginning of gas introduction into a chamber 3 is suppressed. A step of gelling after the wafer W is carried into an aging unit is divided into several steps. Until a temperature of the wafer W reaches a predetermined treatment temperature, an average concentration of the solvent component in a mixed gas is gradually raised relative to the temperature of the wafer W. Thereby, immediately after the wafer W is transferred into a sealed chamber, the gas of the solvent component is prevented from condensing.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2003Date of Patent: April 27, 2004Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Kazuhiro Takeshita, Shinji Nagashima, Makoto Muramatsu, Yoji Mizutani, Kazutoshi Yano, Kyoshige Katayama
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Publication number: 20040045184Abstract: A gas flow regulating surface portion 37a is the farthest from the front surface of a wafer W in the middle between a peripheral portion of the wafer W and a center portion of a sealing vessel. The gas flow regulating portion 37a protrudes to the front surface of the wafer W in the vicinity of a center portion that surrounds an exhausting opening 35a. In other words, a convex portion 37c is formed in a peripheral area of the gas flow regulating surface portion 37a that surrounds the exhausting opening 35a. Since treatment gas flows along the front surface of the gas flow regulating portion 37a, treatment gas equally contacts the wafer W in the radius direction of the wafer W. Thus, a film with equal thickness is formed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2003Publication date: March 11, 2004Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Kazuhiro Takeshita, Shinji Nagashima, Yoji Mizutani, Kyoshige Katayama
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Publication number: 20040013817Abstract: An object of the present invention is to form an interlayer insulating film on a substrate and cure the interlayer insulating film in a time shorter than that in the prior art. The present invention is a substrate processing method in which the interlayer insulating film formed on the substrate is irradiated with electron beams in a processing chamber, whereby the interlayer insulating film is cured.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2003Publication date: January 22, 2004Inventors: Yoji Mizutani, Masao Yamaguchi
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Patent number: 6660096Abstract: A gas flow regulating surface portion 37a is the farthest from the front surface of a wafer W in the middle between a peripheral portion of the wafer W and a center portion of a sealing vessel. The gas flow regulating portion 37a protrudes to the front surface of the wafer W in the vicinity of a center portion that surrounds an exhausting opening 35a. In other words, a convex portion 37c is formed in a peripheral area of the gas flow regulating surface portion 37a that surrounds the exhausting opening 35a. Since treatment gas flows along the front surface of the gas flow regulating portion 37a, treatment gas equally contacts the wafer W in the radius direction of the wafer W. Thus, a film with equal thickness is formed.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2000Date of Patent: December 9, 2003Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Kazuhiro Takeshita, Shinji Nagashima, Yoji Mizutani, Kyoshige Katayama
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Patent number: 6656273Abstract: In an organic insulating film coating apparatus, an organic insulating film is applied onto a wafer by a spin coating. Thereafter, the wafer is subjected to heat processing and an inorganic insulating film is applied onto the wafer by a spin coating in an inorganic insulating film coating apparatus. After the coating of the inorganic insulating film, the wafer is subjected to aging processing and exchange-chemical coating processing. Thereafter, a solvent in the coating film is removed in a low-temperature heat processing apparatus and a low-oxygen and high-temperature heat processing apparatus, and thermal processing is performed for the wafer in a low-oxygen curing and cooling processing apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2000Date of Patent: December 2, 2003Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Takayuki Toshima, Nobuo Konishi, Yoji Mizutani
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Publication number: 20030196595Abstract: Prior to transfer of an wafer W, a mixed gas is being generated and exhausted, thereby fluctuation of concentration and temperature of a solvent component at the beginning of gas introduction into a chamber 3 is suppressed. A step of gelling after the wafer W is carried into an aging unit is divided into several steps. Until a temperature of the wafer W reaches a predetermined treatment temperature, an average concentration of the solvent component in a mixed gas is gradually raised relative to the temperature of the wafer W. Thereby, immediately after the wafer W is transferred into a sealed chamber, the gas of the solvent component is prevented from condensing.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2003Publication date: October 23, 2003Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Kazuhiro Takeshita, Shinji Nagashima, Makoto Muramatsu, Yoji Mizutani, Kazutoshi Yano, Kyoshige Katayama
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Patent number: 6589339Abstract: Prior to transfer of an wafer W, a mixed gas is being generated and exhausted, thereby fluctuation of concentration and temperature of a solvent component at the beginning of gas introduction into a chamber 3 is suppressed. A step of gelling after the wafer W is carried into an aging unit is divided into several steps. Until a temperature of the wafer W reaches a predetermined treatment temperature, an average concentration of the solvent component in a mixed gas is gradually raised relative to the temperature of the wafer W. Thereby, immediately after the wafer W is transferred into a sealed chamber, the gas of the solvent component is prevented from condensing.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2001Date of Patent: July 8, 2003Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Kazuhiro Takeshita, Shinji Nagashima, Makoto Muramatsu, Yoji Mizutani, Kazutoshi Yano, Kyoshige Katayama
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Publication number: 20010029890Abstract: When a substrate coated with a coating solution which oxidizes at high temperatures is heat-treated, an oxygen concentration of a treatment atmosphere is lowered when the temperature is low. Next, the substrate is heat-treated in the treatment atmosphere of which the oxygen concentration is lowered. Sequentially, the treatment atmosphere is returned to that with the original oxygen concentration after the passage of a predetermined time after completing the heat treatment. Thereby, the substrate can be heat-treated, with the oxidization of the coating solution being controlled.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2001Publication date: October 18, 2001Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Yuji Matsuyama, Yoji Mizutani, Shinji Nagashima, Akira Yonemizu
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Publication number: 20010017103Abstract: Prior to transfer of an wafer W, a mixed gas is being generated and exhausted, thereby fluctuation of concentration and temperature of a solvent component at the beginning of gas introduction into a chamber 3 is suppressed. A step of gelling after the wafer W is carried into an aging unit is divided into several steps. Until a temperature of the wafer W reaches a predetermined treatment temperature, an average concentration of the solvent component in a mixed gas is gradually raised relative to the temperature of the wafer W. Thereby, immediately after the wafer W is transferred into a sealed chamber, the gas of the solvent component is prevented from condensing.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2001Publication date: August 30, 2001Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Kazuhiro Takeshita, Shinji Nagashima, Makoto Muramatsu, Yoji Mizutani, Kazutoshi Yano, Kyoshige Katayama
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Patent number: 6261365Abstract: When a substrate coated with a coating solution which oxidizes at high temperatures is heat-treated, an oxygen concentration of a treatment atmosphere is lowered when the temperature is low. Next, the substrate is heat-treated in the treatment atmosphere of which the oxygen concentration is lowered. Sequentially, the treatment atmosphere is returned to that with the original oxygen concentration after the passage of a predetermined time after completing the heat treatment. Thereby, the substrate can be heat-treated, with the oxidization of the coating solution being controlled.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 1999Date of Patent: July 17, 2001Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Yuji Matsuyama, Yoji Mizutani, Shinji Nagashima, Akira Yonemizu
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Patent number: 6248168Abstract: Prior to transfer of an wafer W, a mixed gas is being generated and exhausted, thereby fluctuation of concentration and temperature of a solvent component at the beginning of gas introduction into a chamber 3 is suppressed. A step of gelling after the wafer W is carried into an aging unit is divided into several steps. Until a temperature of the wafer W reaches a predetermined treatment temperature, an average concentration of the solvent component in a mixed gas is gradually raised relative to the temperature of the wafer W. Thereby, immediately after the wafer W is transferred into a sealed chamber, the gas of the solvent component is prevented from condensing.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 1998Date of Patent: June 19, 2001Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Kazuhiro Takeshita, Shinji Nagashima, Makoto Muramatsu, Yoji Mizutani, Kazutoshi Yano, Kyoshige Katayama
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Publication number: 20010000198Abstract: A gas flow regulating surface portion 37a is the farthest from the front surface of a wafer W in the middle between a peripheral portion of the wafer W and a center portion of a sealing vessel. The gas flow regulating portion 37a protrudes to the front surface of the wafer W in the vicinity of a center portion that surrounds an exhausting opening 35a. In other words, a convex portion 37c is formed in a peripheral area of the gas flow regulating surface portion 37a that surrounds the exhausting opening 35a. Since treatment gas flows along the front surface of the gas flow regulating portion 37a, treatment gas equally contacts the wafer W in the radius direction of the wafer W. Thus, a film with equal thickness is formed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2000Publication date: April 12, 2001Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Kazuhiro Takeshita, Shinji Nagashima, Yoji Mizutani, Kyoshige Katayama
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Patent number: 6197385Abstract: A coating unit, an aging unit, and a solvent substituting unit are adjacently disposed. The waiting time period after a wafer is loaded to the coating unit until the coating process of the coating process is started, is adjusted so that the staying time period of the wafer in the coating unit becomes longer than the staying time period of the wafer in the aging unit and the staying time period of the wafer in the solvent substituting unit (whichever longer). The staying time period of the wafer in the coating unit is designated as a rate determiner. Thus, after the coating solution is coated to the wafer, the wafer is quickly conveyed to the next process. Consequently, since the solvent can be suppressed from evaporating, an excellent thin film can be obtained.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 1999Date of Patent: March 6, 2001Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Kazuhiro Takeshita, Shinji Nagashima, Yoji Mizutani
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Patent number: 6190459Abstract: A gas flow regulating surface portion 37a is the farthest from the front surface of a wafer W in the middle between a peripheral portion of the wafer W and a center portion of a sealing vessel. The gas flow regulating portion 37a protrudes to the front surface of the wafer W in the vicinity of a center portion that surrounds an exhausting opening 35a. In other words, a convex portion 37c is formed in a peripheral area of the gas flow regulating surface portion 37a that surrounds the exhausting opening 35a. Since treatment gas flows along the front surface of the gas flow regulating portion 37a, treatment gas equally contacts the wafer W in the radius direction of the wafer W. Thus, a film with equal thickness is formed.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 1998Date of Patent: February 20, 2001Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Kazuhiro Takeshita, Shinji Nagashima, Yoji Mizutani, Kyoshige Katayama