Patents by Inventor Yoshinobu Ooya

Yoshinobu Ooya 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: 20210272780
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a pedestal to receive a substrate thereon; a temperature control mechanism provided in the pedestal; a heat transfer gas supply mechanism configured to supply a heat transfer gas to a back surface of the substrate; a first radio frequency power source configured to output first high frequency power having a first frequency; a second radio frequency power source configured to output second high frequency power having a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency; and a temperature measurement unit configured to control a surface temperature of the substrate to have a temperature lower than ?35 degrees C. by using the temperature control mechanism provided in the pedestal and to perform feedback control of stopping the output of the second radio frequency power from the second radio frequency power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Maju TOMURA, Ryohei TAKEDA, Ryuichi TAKASHIMA, Yoshinobu OOYA
  • Patent number: 10410877
    Abstract: An etching method for etching a silicon oxide film is provided that includes generating a plasma from a gas including a hydrogen-containing gas and a fluorine-containing gas using a high frequency power for plasma generation, and etching the silicon oxide film using the generated plasma. The fluorine-containing gas includes a hydrofluorocarbon gas, and the sticking coefficient of radicals generated from the hydrofluorocarbon gas is higher than the sticking coefficient of radicals generated from carbon tetrafluoride (CF4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Ryuichi Takashima, Taku Gohira, Yoshinobu Ooya
  • Patent number: 10381237
    Abstract: An etching method performed by an etching apparatus includes a first process of causing a first high-frequency power supply to output a first high-frequency power with a first frequency and causing a second high-frequency power supply to output a second high-frequency power with a second frequency lower than the first frequency in a cryogenic environment where the temperature of a wafer is ?35° C. or lower, to generate plasma from a hydrogen-containing gas and a fluorine-containing gas and to etch, with the plasma, a multi-layer film of silicon dioxide and silicon nitride and a single-layer film of silicon dioxide that are formed on the wafer; and a second process of stopping the output of the second high-frequency power supply. The first process and the second process are repeated multiple times, and the first process is shorter in time than the second process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Ryohei Takeda, Sho Tominaga, Yoshinobu Ooya
  • Publication number: 20180261465
    Abstract: An etching method performed by an etching apparatus includes a first process of causing a first high-frequency power supply to output a first high-frequency power with a first frequency and causing a second high-frequency power supply to output a second high-frequency power with a second frequency lower than the first frequency in a cryogenic environment where the temperature of a wafer is ?35° C. or lower, to generate plasma from a hydrogen-containing gas and a fluorine-containing gas and to etch, with the plasma, a multi-layer film of silicon dioxide and silicon nitride and a single-layer film of silicon dioxide that are formed on the wafer; and a second process of stopping the output of the second high-frequency power supply. The first process and the second process are repeated multiple times, and the first process is shorter in time than the second process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Ryohei TAKEDA, Sho TOMINAGA, Yoshinobu OOYA
  • Publication number: 20180174805
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a pedestal to receive a substrate thereon; a temperature control mechanism provided in the pedestal; a heat transfer gas supply mechanism configured to supply a heat transfer gas to a back surface of the substrate; a first radio frequency power source configured to output first high frequency power having a first frequency; a second radio frequency power source configured to output second high frequency power having a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency; and a temperature measurement unit configured to control a surface temperature of the substrate to have a temperature lower than ?35 degrees C. by using the temperature control mechanism provided in the pedestal and to perform feedback control of stopping the output of the second radio frequency power from the second radio frequency power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Maju TOMURA, Ryohei TAKEDA, Ryuichi TAKASHIMA, Yoshinobu OOYA
  • Patent number: 9997374
    Abstract: An etching method performed by an etching apparatus includes a first process of causing a first high-frequency power supply to output a first high-frequency power with a first frequency and causing a second high-frequency power supply to output a second high-frequency power with a second frequency lower than the first frequency in a cryogenic environment where the temperature of a wafer is ?35° C. or lower, to generate plasma from a hydrogen-containing gas and a fluorine-containing gas and to etch, with the plasma, a multi-layer film of silicon dioxide and silicon nitride and a single-layer film of silicon dioxide that are formed on the wafer; and a second process of stopping the output of the second high-frequency power supply. The first process and the second process are repeated multiple times, and the first process is shorter in time than the second process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Ryohei Takeda, Sho Tominaga, Yoshinobu Ooya
  • Patent number: 9922806
    Abstract: An etching method is provided. In the etching method, a silicon oxide film is etched by using plasma in a first condition. In the first condition, a surface temperature of a substrate is controlled to have a temperature lower than ?35 degrees C., and the plasma is generated from a hydrogen-containing gas and a fluorine-containing gas by using first radio frequency power output from a first radio frequency power source and second radio frequency power output from a second radio frequency power source. Next, the silicon oxide film is etched by using the plasma in a second condition. In the second condition, the output of the second radio frequency power from the second radio frequency power source is stopped. The silicon oxide film is etched by using the plasma alternately in the first condition and in the second condition multiple times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Maju Tomura, Ryohei Takeda, Ryuichi Takashima, Yoshinobu Ooya
  • Patent number: 9812996
    Abstract: There are provided a method for obtaining a distance between a base portion of an electrostatic chuck and a back surface of a target object and a method for neutralizing the electrostatic chuck based on the obtained distance. The electrostatic chuck has an upper surface including the base portion and a plurality of convex portions projecting from the base portion. The target object is mounted on apexes of the convex portions of the electrostatic chuck such that the back surface is in contact with the apexes. By processing a first wavelength spectrum output from a spectroscope based on reflected light of light emitted from a light source, a distance between the back surface of the target object and the base portion of the electrostatic chuck is calculated. Based on the calculated distance, a voltage is applied to the electrostatic chuck to neutralize the electrostatic chuck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Kenji Nagai, Yoshinobu Ooya
  • Publication number: 20170178922
    Abstract: An etching method for etching a silicon oxide film is provided that includes generating a plasma from a gas including a hydrogen-containing gas and a fluorine-containing gas using a high frequency power for plasma generation, and etching the silicon oxide film using the generated plasma. The fluorine-containing gas includes a hydrofluorocarbon gas, and the sticking coefficient of radicals generated from the hydrofluorocarbon gas is higher than the sticking coefficient of radicals generated from carbon tetrafluoride (CF4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Ryuichi TAKASHIMA, Taku GOHIRA, Yoshinobu OOYA
  • Publication number: 20170178921
    Abstract: An etching method performed by an etching apparatus includes a first process of causing a first high-frequency power supply to output a first high-frequency power with a first frequency and causing a second high-frequency power supply to output a second high-frequency power with a second frequency lower than the first frequency in a cryogenic environment where the temperature of a wafer is ?35° C. or lower, to generate plasma from a hydrogen-containing gas and a fluorine-containing gas and to etch, with the plasma, a multi-layer film of silicon dioxide and silicon nitride and a single-layer film of silicon dioxide that are formed on the wafer; and a second process of stopping the output of the second high-frequency power supply. The first process and the second process are repeated multiple times, and the first process is shorter in time than the second process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Ryohei TAKEDA, Sho TOMINAGA, Yoshinobu OOYA
  • Patent number: 9659789
    Abstract: An etching method is provided. In the etching method, a temperature of a chiller configured to cool a pedestal is controlled so as to become ?20 degrees C. or lower. Plasma is generated from a hydrogen-containing gas and a fluoride-containing gas supplied from a gas supply source by supplying first high frequency power having a first frequency supplied to the pedestal from a first high frequency power source. A silicon oxide film deposited on a substrate placed on the pedestal is etched by the generated plasma. Second high frequency power having a second frequency lower than the first frequency of the first high frequency power is supplied to the pedestal from a second high frequency power source in a static eliminating process after the step of etching the silicon oxide film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Ryohei Takeda, Ryuichi Takashima, Yoshinobu Ooya
  • Publication number: 20160379856
    Abstract: An etching method is provided. In the etching method, a silicon oxide film is etched by using plasma in a first condition. In the first condition, a surface temperature of a substrate is controlled to have a temperature lower than ?35 degrees C., and the plasma is generated from a hydrogen-containing gas and a fluorine-containing gas by using first radio frequency power output from a first radio frequency power source and second radio frequency power output from a second radio frequency power source. Next, the silicon oxide film is etched by using the plasma in a second condition. In the second condition, the output of the second radio frequency power from the second radio frequency power source is stopped. The silicon oxide film is etched by using the plasma alternately in the first condition and in the second condition multiple times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Maju TOMURA, Ryohei TAKEDA, Ryuichi TAKASHIMA, Yoshinobu OOYA
  • Patent number: 9478387
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus capable of optimizing a plasma process is provided. The plasma processing apparatus includes a control unit for controlling a minimum energy and a maximum energy of ions incident onto a substrate independently of each other such that ion energy of the ions are concentrated at a first energy band and a second energy band respectively. In the plasma processing apparatus, the oxide film is etched to form a hole within the oxide film, the first energy band is lower than a first energy value at which the oxide film is etched while the organic film is not etched, and the second energy band is higher than a second energy value at which an etching yield at an inclined surface of the hole is higher than an etching yield of an upper surface of the organic film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Ooya, Akira Tanabe, Yoshinori Yasuta
  • Publication number: 20160189975
    Abstract: An etching method is provided. In the etching method, a temperature of a chiller configured to cool a pedestal is controlled so as to become ?20 degrees C. or lower. Plasma is generated from a hydrogen-containing gas and a fluoride-containing gas supplied from a gas supply source by supplying first high frequency power having a first frequency supplied to the pedestal from a first high frequency power source. A silicon oxide film deposited on a substrate placed on the pedestal is etched by the generated plasma. Second high frequency power having a second frequency lower than the first frequency of the first high frequency power is supplied to the pedestal from a second high frequency power source in a static eliminating process after the step of etching the silicon oxide film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Ryohei TAKEDA, Ryuichi TAKASHIMA, Yoshinobu OOYA
  • Publication number: 20150162233
    Abstract: There are provided a method for obtaining a distance between a base portion of an electrostatic chuck and a back surface of a target object and a method for neutralizing the electrostatic chuck based on the obtained distance. The electrostatic chuck has an upper surface including the base portion and a plurality of convex portions projecting from the base portion. The target object is mounted on apexes of the convex portions of the electrostatic chuck such that the back surface is in contact with the apexes. By processing a first wavelength spectrum output from a spectroscope based on reflected light of light emitted from a light source, a distance between the back surface of the target object and the base portion of the electrostatic chuck is calculated. Based on the calculated distance, a voltage is applied to the electrostatic chuck to neutralize the electrostatic chuck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Kenji NAGAI, Yoshinobu OOYA
  • Patent number: 8906808
    Abstract: A metal mask having an etching pattern having a very high verticality is formed, and an etching shape having a very high verticality is formed by etching a semiconductor with the metal mask as a mask. A resist film patterned with a reversal pattern obtained by reversing an etching pattern is formed on a semiconductor (resist film forming process, S100), a metal paste is filled in the reversal pattern of the resist film (metal paste filling process, S200), a metal mask having the etching pattern is formed by removing the resist film while baking the metal paste by a heating control (metal mask forming process, S300), and plasma etching is performed on the semiconductor by using the metal mask (etching process, S400).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Ryuichi Takashima, Yoshinobu Ooya
  • Patent number: 8790489
    Abstract: The substrate processing apparatus includes a process chamber which accommodates a wafer and performs a plasma etching process on the wafer, an exhaust chamber which communicates with the process chamber, an exhaust plate which divides the process chamber from the exhaust chamber and prevents plasma inside the process chamber from leaking into the exhaust chamber, and an upper electrode plate arranged inside the exhaust chamber, wherein the exhaust plate includes a plurality of through holes, and the upper electrode plate includes a plurality of through holes, is capable of contacting the exhaust plate in parallel, and is capable of being spaced apart from the exhaust plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Masanobu Honda, Kazuhiro Kubota, Yoshinobu Ooya, Masaru Nishino
  • Publication number: 20140102638
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus capable of optimizing a plasma process is provided. The plasma processing apparatus includes a control unit for controlling a minimum energy and a maximum energy of ions incident onto a substrate independently of each other such that ion energy of the ions are concentrated at a first energy band and a second energy band respectively. In the plasma processing apparatus, the oxide film is etched to form a hole within the oxide film, the first energy band is lower than a first energy value at which the oxide film is etched while the organic film is not etched, and the second energy band is higher than a second energy value at which an etching yield at an inclined surface of the hole is higher than an etching yield of an upper surface of the organic film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Ooya, Akira Tanabe, Yoshinori Yasuta
  • Patent number: 8642478
    Abstract: There is provided a plasma processing apparatus capable of optimizing a plasma process in response to various requirements of a micro processing by effectively controlling a RF bias function. In this plasma processing apparatus, a high frequency power RFH suitable for generating plasma of a capacitively coupling type is applied to an upper electrode 48 (or lower electrode 16) from a third high frequency power supply 66, and two high frequency powers RFL1 (0.8 MHz) and RFL2 (13 MHz) suitable for attracting ions are applied to the susceptor 16 from first and second high frequency power supplies 36 and 38, respectively, in order to control energy of ions incident onto a semiconductor wafer W from the plasma. A control unit 88 controls a total power and a power ratio of the first and second high frequency powers RFL1 and RFL2 depending on specifications, conditions or recipes of an etching process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Ooya, Akira Tanabe, Yoshinori Yasuta
  • Patent number: 8641916
    Abstract: A plasma etching method for forming a hole in an etching target film by a plasma processing apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes an RF power supply for applying RF power for plasma generation to at least one of upper and lower electrodes, and a DC power supply for applying minus DC voltage to the upper electrode. A first condition that plasma is generated by turning on the RF power supply and minus DC voltage is applied to the upper electrode and a second condition that the plasma is extinguished by turning off the RF power supply and minus DC voltage is applied to the upper electrode are alternately repeated. Etching is performed by positive ions in the plasma under the first condition and negative ions are supplied into the hole by the DC voltage to neutralize positive ions in the hole under the second condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Koichi Yatsuda, Yoshinobu Ooya, Shin Okamoto, Hiromasa Mochiki