Patents by Inventor Yu NAGATOMO

Yu NAGATOMO 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: 11049730
    Abstract: A method of processing a workpiece includes: forming a ruthenium film on the workpiece and disposing a mask on the ruthenium film; etching the ruthenium film through a plasma processing; forming a protective film on the workpiece through an atomic layer deposition method, the protective film including a first region extending along a side wall surface of the mask and a second region extending over the ruthenium film; and etching the protective film so as to remove the second region while leaving the first region. The etching the ruthenium film includes a first step of etching the ruthenium film through a plasma processing using an oxygen-containing gas, and a second step of etching the ruthenium film through a plasma processing using a chlorine-containing gas. The first step and the second step are alternately performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yu Nagatomo, Takahiko Kato
  • Patent number: 10685848
    Abstract: In a method of an embodiment, a tungsten film is formed on a workpiece. The workpiece includes an underlying film and a mask provided on the underlying film. The tungsten film has a first region extending along the side wall surface of the mask that defines an opening, and a second region extending on the underlying film. Subsequently, the tungsten film is plasma-etched while leaving the first region. In forming the tungsten film, a precursor gas containing tungsten is supplied to the workpiece. Then, plasma of hydrogen gas is generated in order to supply hydrogen active species to the precursor on the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yu Nagatomo, Yoshihide Kihara
  • Patent number: 10566209
    Abstract: An etching method can protect a mask with a material having higher etching resistance to a silicon-containing film. The etching method is performed in a state that a processing target object is placed within a chamber main body. The etching method includes forming a tungsten film on the processing target object and etching the silicon-containing film of the processing target object. The forming of the tungsten film includes supplying a gaseous tungsten-containing precursor onto the processing target object; and generating plasma of a hydrogen gas to supply active species of hydrogen to the precursor on the processing target object. In the etching of the silicon-containing film, plasma of a processing gas containing fluorine, hydrogen and carbon is generated within the chamber main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yu Nagatomo, Yoshihide Kihara
  • Publication number: 20190311915
    Abstract: A method of processing a workpiece includes: forming a ruthenium film on the workpiece and disposing a mask on the ruthenium film; etching the ruthenium film through a plasma processing; forming a protective film on the workpiece through an atomic layer deposition method, the protective film including a first region extending along a side wall surface of the mask and a second region extending over the ruthenium film; and etching the protective film so as to remove the second region while leaving the first region. The etching the ruthenium film includes a first step of etching the ruthenium film through a plasma processing using an oxygen-containing gas, and a second step of etching the ruthenium film through a plasma processing using a chlorine-containing gas. The first step and the second step are alternately performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Yu Nagatomo, Takahiko Kato
  • Publication number: 20190080929
    Abstract: In a method of an embodiment, a tungsten film is formed on a workpiece. The workpiece includes an underlying film and a mask provided on the underlying film. The tungsten film has a first region extending along the side wall surface of the mask that defines an opening, and a second region extending on the underlying film. Subsequently, the tungsten film is plasma-etched while leaving the first region. In forming the tungsten film, a precursor gas containing tungsten is supplied to the workpiece. Then, plasma of hydrogen gas is generated in order to supply hydrogen active species to the precursor on the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yu NAGATOMO, Yoshihide KIHARA
  • Publication number: 20190074191
    Abstract: An etching method can protect a mask with a material having higher etching resistance to a silicon-containing film. The etching method is performed in a state that a processing target object is placed within a chamber main body. The etching method includes forming a tungsten film on the processing target object and etching the silicon-containing film of the processing target object. The forming of the tungsten film includes supplying a gaseous tungsten-containing precursor onto the processing target object; and generating plasma of a hydrogen gas to supply active species of hydrogen to the precursor on the processing target object. In the etching of the silicon-containing film, plasma of a processing gas containing fluorine, hydrogen and carbon is generated within the chamber main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Yu Nagatomo, Yoshihide Kihara
  • Patent number: 9786512
    Abstract: Provided is an etching method for simultaneously etching first and second regions of a workpiece. The first region has a multilayered film configured by alternately laminating a silicon oxide film and a silicon nitride film and a second region has a silicon oxide film having a film thickness that is larger than that of the silicon oxide film in the first region. A mask is provided on the workpiece to at least partially expose each of the first and second regions. In the etching method, plasma of a first processing gas containing fluorocarbon gas, hydrofluorocarbon gas, and oxygen gas is generated within a processing container of a plasma processing apparatus. Subsequently, plasma of a second processing gas containing fluorocarbon gas, hydrofluorocarbon gas, oxygen gas, and a halogen-containing gas is generated within the processing container. Subsequently, plasma of a third processing gas containing oxygen gas is generated within the processing container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yu Nagatomo, Ryuuu Ishita, Daisuke Tamura, Kousuke Koiwa
  • Patent number: 9779961
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for etching a first region including a multi-layer film formed by providing silicon oxide films and silicon nitride films alternately, and a second region having a single silicon oxide film. The etching method includes: providing a processing target object including a mask provided on the first region and the second region within a processing container of a plasma processing apparatus; generating plasma of a first processing gas including a hydrofluorocarbon gas within the processing container that accommodates the processing target object; and generating plasma of a second processing gas including a fluorocarbon gas within the processing container that accommodates the processing target object. The step of generating the plasma of the first processing gas and the step of generating the plasma of the second processing gas are alternately repeated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yusuke Saitoh, Yu Nagatomo, Hayato Hishinuma, Wataru Takayama, Sho Tominaga, Yuki Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20160293440
    Abstract: Provided is an etching method for simultaneously etching first and second regions of a workpiece. The first region has a multilayered film configured by alternately laminating a silicon oxide film and a silicon nitride film and a second region has a silicon oxide film having a film thickness that is larger than that of the silicon oxide film in the first region. A mask is provided on the workpiece to at least partially expose each of the first and second regions. In the etching method, plasma of a first processing gas containing fluorocarbon gas, hydrofluorocarbon gas, and oxygen gas is generated within a processing container of a plasma processing apparatus. Subsequently, plasma of a second processing gas containing fluorocarbon gas, hydrofluorocarbon gas, oxygen gas, and a halogen-containing gas is generated within the processing container. Subsequently, plasma of a third processing gas containing oxygen gas is generated within the processing container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yu NAGATOMO, Ryuuu ISHITA, Daisuke TAMURA, Kousuke KOIWA
  • Publication number: 20160064245
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for etching a first region including a multi-layer film formed by providing silicon oxide films and silicon nitride films alternately, and a second region having a single silicon oxide film. The etching method includes: providing a processing target object including a mask provided on the first region and the second region within a processing container of a plasma processing apparatus; generating plasma of a first processing gas including a hydrofluorocarbon gas within the processing container that accommodates the processing target object; and generating plasma of a second processing gas including a fluorocarbon gas within the processing container that accommodates the processing target object. The step of generating the plasma of the first processing gas and the step of generating the plasma of the second processing gas are alternately repeated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yusuke SAITOH, Yu NAGATOMO, Hayato HISHINUMA, Wataru TAKAYAMA, Sho TOMINAGA, Yuki KANEKO