Patents by Inventor Yoshimitsu Kon

Yoshimitsu Kon 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: 20230326718
    Abstract: A plasma processing method includes: a) providing a substrate on a substrate support; b) supplying a process gas; c) periodically supplying a pulse voltage to the substrate support; and d) periodically supplying RF power and generating plasma from the process gas to etch a silicon-containing film included in the substrate. The pulse voltage is negative. A first period in which a first pulse voltage is supplied and a second period in which the pulse voltage is not supplied or a second pulse voltage whose absolute value is less than that of the first pulse voltage is supplied are repeated in c). A third period in which first RF power is supplied and a fourth period in which the RF power is not supplied or second RF power less than the first RF power is supplied are repeated in d). The first period starts before a start of the third period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: Hikoichiro SASAKI, Shirong GUO, Takenobu IKEDA, Yoshimitsu KON
  • Publication number: 20230268190
    Abstract: A plasma processing method executed by a plasma processing apparatus with a chamber is provided. The method includes (a) providing in the chamber a substrate that includes an etching film and a mask film, the substrate including a first region where the etching film is exposed and a second region where the mask film is exposed, (b) supplying into the chamber a processing gas including a carbon-containing gas to generate plasma from the processing gas to etch the etching film and to form a protective film on the mask film, and (c) supplying the processing gas into the chamber to generate plasma from the processing gas to further etch the etching film and to remove at least part of the protective film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Atsuki HASHIMOTO, Sho SAITOH, Yoshimitsu KON
  • Patent number: 11264248
    Abstract: A method of etching a substrate including an etching film and a mask formed on the etching film is provided. The mask includes a first pattern of a first recess having a first opening and a second pattern of a second recess having a second opening. The method includes etching the etching film to a predetermined depth; depositing a protective film on the mask after the etching; and etching the etching film after the depositing. The first opening is smaller than the second opening. As a result of the depositing, the first opening of the first pattern is clogged and the second opening of the second pattern is not clogged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Kon, Atsushi Uto, Lifu Li, Tomonori Miwa
  • Patent number: 11121001
    Abstract: In a disclosed method, etching a film by using plasma of a first processing gas and etching the film by using plasma of a second processing gas are alternately repeated. The first processing gas and the second processing gas each include a fluorocarbon gas. In etching the film by using the plasma of the first processing gas and etching the film by using the plasma of the second processing gas, radio frequency power is used to attract ions to the substrate. The first processing gas further includes an additive gas that is a source for nitrogen or sulfur and fluorine. In the first processing gas, the flow rate of the additive gas is smaller than the flow rate of the fluorocarbon gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Satoshi Yamada, Koki Chino, Yoshimitsu Kon
  • Publication number: 20210082712
    Abstract: A disclosed method etches a silicon oxide film of a substrate on which a mask is provided. The method includes performing first plasma processing on a substrate by using a first plasma formed from a first processing gas including a fluorocarbon gas, a fluorine-free carbon-containing gas, and an oxygen-containing gas. The method further includes performing second plasma processing on the substrate by using a second plasma formed from a second processing gas including a fluorocarbon gas. A temperature of the substrate during the first plasma processing is lower than the temperature of the substrate during the second plasma processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Koki CHINO, Satoshi YAMADA, Yoshimitsu KON
  • Publication number: 20210057228
    Abstract: In a disclosed method, etching a film by using plasma of a first processing gas and etching the film by using plasma of a second processing gas are alternately repeated. The first processing gas and the second processing gas each include a fluorocarbon gas. In etching the film by using the plasma of the first processing gas and etching the film by using the plasma of the second processing gas, radio frequency power is used to attract ions to the substrate. The first processing gas further includes an additive gas that is a source for nitrogen or sulfur and fluorine. In the first processing gas, the flow rate of the additive gas is smaller than the flow rate of the fluorocarbon gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Satoshi YAMADA, Koki CHINO, Yoshimitsu KON
  • Publication number: 20200273712
    Abstract: A deposition processing method includes a step of depositing deposits onto a substrate using a first plasma generated in a processing condition of depositing the deposits onto the substrate, which is basically a first processing condition, and a preceding step performed before the step of depositing the deposits onto the substrate, wherein, within the step of depositing the deposits transited from the preceding step, the processing condition is controlled so as to deposit less deposits than that in the first processing condition until a state of the first plasma is stabilized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Atsushi UTO, Yoshimitsu KON, Lifu LI, Yuji NAGAI
  • Publication number: 20200185229
    Abstract: A method of etching a substrate including an etching film and a mask formed on the etching film is provided. The mask includes a first pattern of a first recess having a first opening and a second pattern of a second recess having a second opening. The method includes etching the etching film to a predetermined depth; depositing a protective film on the mask after the etching; and etching the etching film after the depositing. The first opening is smaller than the second opening. As a result of the depositing, the first opening of the first pattern is clogged and the second opening of the second pattern is not clogged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu KON, Atsushi UTO, Lifu LI, Tomonori MIWA
  • Publication number: 20190198336
    Abstract: In an etching method, plasma of a first processing gas and plasma of a second processing gas are alternately generated. Each of the first processing gas and the second processing gas includes a first gas containing first fluorocarbon, a second gas containing second fluorocarbon, an oxygen-containing gas and a fluorine-containing gas. A ratio of a number of fluorine atoms to a number of carbon atoms in a molecule of the second fluorocarbon is larger than that in a molecule of the first fluorocarbon. When a flow rate of the first gas is increased, a flow rate of the second gas is decreased. When a flow rate of the second gas is increased, a flow rate of the first gas and a flow rate of the fluorine-containing gas are decreased and a flow rate of the oxygen-containing gas is increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Kon, Yoshihiro Asayama, Suguru Atsumi
  • Patent number: 8216485
    Abstract: A plasma etching method etches an organic film formed on a target substrate by using a plasma of a processing gas via a silicon-containing mask. The processing gas is a gaseous mixture of an oxygen-containing gas, a rare gas and a carbon fluoride gas. A computer-executable control program controls a plasma etching apparatus to perform the plasma etching method. A computer-readable storage medium stores therein a computer-executable control program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Kon, Yoshinobu Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 8128831
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a first and a second electrode disposed to face each other in a processing chamber, the second electrode supporting a substrate; a first RF power supply for applying a first RF power of a higher frequency to the second electrode; a second RF power supply for applying a second RF power of a lower frequency to the second electrode; and a DC power source for applying a DC voltage to the first electrode. In a plasma etching method for etching a substrate by using the plasma processing apparatus, the first and the second radio frequency power are applied to the second electrode to convert a processing gas containing no CF-based gas into a plasma and a DC voltage is applied to the first electrode, to thereby etch an organic film or an amorphous carbon film on the substrate by using a silicon-containing mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Manabu Sato, Yoshiki Igarashi, Yoshimitsu Kon, Masanobu Honda
  • Publication number: 20080185364
    Abstract: A plasma etching method etches an organic film formed on a target substrate by using a plasma of a processing gas via a silicon-containing mask. The processing gas is a gaseous mixture of an oxygen-containing gas, a rare gas and a carbon fluoride gas. A computer-executable control program controls a plasma etching apparatus to perform the plasma etching method. A computer-readable storage medium stores therein a computer-executable control program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Kon, Yoshinobu Hayakawa
  • Publication number: 20070284043
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a mounting table for mounting thereon an object to be processed, an electrode connected to a high frequency power supply, an electrical state setting unit for setting an electrical state of the mounting table to a conducting state or a floating state, and a controller for controlling the high frequency power supply to apply a high frequency power to the electrode and controlling the electrical state setting unit to set an electrical state of the mounting table to a floating state. Further, a radical produced from a cleaning gas by the applied high frequency power is made to have a contact with the mounting table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Hideaki TANAKA, Yoshimitsu Kon
  • Publication number: 20070165355
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a first and a second electrode disposed to face each other in a processing chamber, the second electrode supporting a substrate; a first RF power supply for applying a first RF power of a higher frequency to the second electrode; a second RF power supply for applying a second RF power of a lower frequency to the second electrode; and a DC power source for applying a DC voltage to the first electrode. In a plasma etching method for etching a substrate by using the plasma processing apparatus, the first and the second radio frequency power are applied to the second electrode to convert a processing gas containing no CF-based gas into a plasma and a DC voltage is applied to the first electrode, to thereby etch an organic film or an amorphous film on the substrate by using a silicon-containing mask.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTON LIMITED
    Inventors: Manabu Sato, Yoshiki Igarashi, Yoshimitsu Kon, Masanobu Honda
  • Publication number: 20060000552
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a mounting table for mounting thereon an object to be processed, an electrode connected to a high frequency power supply, an electrical state setting unit for setting an electrical state of the mounting table to a conducting state or a floating state, and a controller for controlling the high frequency power supply to apply a high frequency power to the electrode and controlling the electrical state setting unit to set an electrical state of the mounting table to a floating state. Further, a radical produced from a cleaning gas by the applied high frequency power is made to have a contact with the mounting table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Publication date: January 5, 2006
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Hideaki Tanaka, Yoshimitsu Kon