Patents by Inventor Yu WAMURA

Yu WAMURA 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: 20230230817
    Abstract: A deposition apparatus including: a processing chamber; a rotary table provided in the processing chamber; a first processing region provided at a predetermined position in a circumferential direction of the rotary table; a second processing region provided downstream of the first processing region in the circumferential direction of the rotary table; a third processing region provided downstream of the second processing region in the circumferential direction of the rotary table; a first heater provided above the rotary table in the second processing region; and a plasma generator. The plasma generator includes: a protrusion having a longitudinally elongated shape in a planar view extending along a radius of the rotary table in a portion of an upper surface of the processing chamber, and protruding upward from the upper surface; and a coil wound along a side surface of the protrusion and has a longitudinally elongated shape in a planar view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Hitoshi KATO, Yu WAMURA, Yuichiro SASE, Yuji SAWADA, Hiroyuki KIKUCHI
  • Patent number: 10793432
    Abstract: A method includes: storing a first flow rate from an oxygen mass flow controller for supplying an oxygen with an ozone generator turned off and measuring a flow rate of the oxygen supplied to the ozone generator, and a second flow rate from at least one ozone mass flow controller provided in flow paths; supplying the ozone into a processing container via the flow paths to perform multiple times a predetermined ozone-based process; acquiring a third flow rate from the oxygen mass flow controller and a fourth flow rate from the at least one ozone mass flow controller, by supplying the oxygen with the ozone generator turned off during a predetermined period between the ozone-based processes; and determining whether the fourth flow rate is a normal value by comparing the first and second flow rates with the third and fourth flow rates, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Yu Wamura
  • Patent number: 10472719
    Abstract: A nozzle for supplying a fluid includes a tubular part including a tubular passage thereinside and a fluid discharge surface having a plurality of fluid discharge holes formed therein along a lengthwise direction of the tubular passage. A partition plate is provided in the tubular passage and extends along the lengthwise direction so as to partition the tubular passage into a first area including the fluid discharge surface and a second area without the fluid discharge surface. The partition plate has distribution holes whose number is less than a number of the plurality of fluid discharge holes in the lengthwise direction. A fluid introduction passage is in communication with the second area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Yu Wamura, Fumiaki Hayase, Masahiko Kaminishi, Kosuke Takahashi, Hiroko Sasaki, Yu Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20180334385
    Abstract: A method includes: storing a first flow rate from an oxygen mass flow controller for supplying an oxygen with an ozone generator turned off and measuring a flow rate of the oxygen supplied to the ozone generator, and a second flow rate from at least one ozone mass flow controller provided in flow paths; supplying the ozone into a processing container via the flow paths to perform multiple times a predetermined ozone-based process; acquiring a third flow rate from the oxygen mass flow controller and a fourth flow rate from the at least one ozone mass flow controller, by supplying the oxygen with the ozone generator turned off during a predetermined period between the ozone-based processes; and determining whether the fourth flow rate is a normal value by comparing the first and second flow rates with the third and fourth flow rates, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventor: Yu WAMURA
  • Patent number: 10053776
    Abstract: A method of detoxifying an exhaust pipe in a film forming apparatus configured to supply a raw material gas contending a harmful component and a reaction gas capable of generating a harmless reaction product by reaction with the raw material gas into a process chamber to perform a film forming process on a substrate while independently exhausting the raw material gas and the reaction gas from a raw material exhaust pipe and a reaction gas exhaust pipe connected to the process chamber, respectively, is provided. The method includes supplying the reaction gas into the raw material exhaust pipe to detoxify an interior of the raw material exhaust pipe during a predetermined period in which the film forming apparatus is operated and the film forming process is not performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yu Wamura, Fumiaki Hayase, Masahiko Kaminishi, Kosuke Takahashi, Yu Sasaki, Hiroko Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9929008
    Abstract: A substrate processing method is provided. In the method, a plurality of substrates is placed on a plurality of substrate holding areas provided in a surface of a turntable at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction, the turntable being provided in a processing chamber. Next, the turntable on which the plurality of substrates is placed is rotated. Then, a fluid is supplied to the surface of the turntable while rotating the turntable. Here, the fluid is supplied to an area between the plurality of substrate holding areas in response to an operation of changing a flow rate of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Yu Wamura, Fumiaki Hayase, Masahiko Kaminishi, Yu Sasaki, Kosuke Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9748104
    Abstract: A method of depositing a film is provided. In the method, one operation of a unit of film deposition process is performed by carrying a substrate into a processing chamber, by depositing a nitride film on the substrate, and by carrying the substrate out of the processing chamber after finishing depositing the nitride film on the substrate. The one operation is repeated a predetermined plurality of number of times continuously to deposit the nitride film on a plurality of substrates continuously. After that, an inside of the processing chamber is oxidized by supplying an oxidation gas into the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Hiroko Sasaki, Yu Wamura, Masato Koakutsu
  • Patent number: 9435026
    Abstract: In discharging a source gas from a first process gas nozzle, rectifying members including a coolant flow passage provided in a concertinaing manner therein are arranged both sides of the first process gas nozzle. Then, a coolant at a temperature higher than a liquefaction temperature of the source gas and lower than a thermal decomposition temperature of the source gas is flown through the coolant flow passage, by which the first process gas nozzle is cooled through the rectifying member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Yu Wamura, Tomonori Kuwamoto
  • Patent number: 9418837
    Abstract: A semiconductor device manufacturing method that includes: forming a gate insulating film containing a hafnium oxide and a zirconium oxide on a workpiece having a source, a drain and a channel; and subjecting the gate insulating film to a crystallization heat treatment at a temperature of 600 degrees C. or less is provided. The gate insulating film subjected to the crystallization heat treatment has a relative permittivity of 27 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Koji Akiyama, Hirokazu Higashijima, Chihiro Tamura, Shintaro Aoyama, Yu Wamura
  • Publication number: 20160220953
    Abstract: A method of detoxifying an exhaust pipe in a film forming apparatus configured to supply a raw material gas contending a harmful component and a reaction gas capable of generating a harmless reaction product by reaction with the raw material gas into a process chamber to perform a film forming process on a substrate while independently exhausting the raw material gas and the reaction gas from a raw material exhaust pipe and a reaction gas exhaust pipe connected to the process chamber, respectively, is provided. The method includes supplying the reaction gas into the raw material exhaust pipe to detoxify an interior of the raw material exhaust pipe during a predetermined period in which the film forming apparatus is operated and the film forming process is not performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Yu Wamura, Fumiaki Hayase, Masahiko Kaminishi, Kosuke Takahashi, Yu Sasaki, Hiroko Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20160138158
    Abstract: A nozzle for supplying a fluid includes a tubular part including a tubular passage thereinside and a fluid discharge surface having a plurality of fluid discharge holes formed therein along a lengthwise direction of the tubular passage. A partition plate is provided in the tubular passage and extends along the lengthwise direction so as to partition the tubular passage into a first area including the fluid discharge surface and a second area without the fluid discharge surface. The partition plate has distribution holes whose number is less than a number of the plurality of fluid discharge holes in the lengthwise direction. A fluid introduction passage is in communication with the second area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Yu WAMURA, Fumiaki HAYASE, Masahiko KAMINISHI, Kosuke TAKAHASHI, Hiroko SASAKI, Yu SASAKI
  • Publication number: 20160111278
    Abstract: A substrate processing method is provided. In the method, a plurality of substrates is placed on a plurality of substrate holding areas provided in a surface of a turntable at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction, the turntable being provided in a processing chamber. Next, the turntable on which the plurality of substrates is placed is rotated. Then, a fluid is supplied to the surface of the turntable while rotating the turntable. Here, the fluid is supplied to an area between the plurality of substrate holding areas in response to an operation of changing a flow rate of the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: Yu WAMURA, Fumiaki HAYASE, Masahiko KAMINISHI, Yu SASAKI, Kosuke TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 9293543
    Abstract: Provided is a method of forming a gate insulating film for use in a MOSFET for a power device. An AlN film is formed on a SiC substrate of a wafer W and then the formation of an AlO film and the formation of an AlN film on the formed AlO film are repeated, thereby forming an AlON film having a laminated structure in which AlO films and AlN films are alternately laminated. A heat treatment is performed on the AlON film having the laminated structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignees: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED, OSAKA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Shuji Azumo, Yusaku Kashiwagi, Yuichiro Morozumi, Yu Wamura, Katsushige Harada, Kosuke Takahashi, Heiji Watanabe, Takayoshi Shimura, Takuji Hosoi
  • Patent number: 9165780
    Abstract: Provided is a plasma processing apparatus, which includes a table unit installed within a processing vessel and configured to receive a substrate thereon, a gas supply unit configured to supply a process gas into the processing vessel, a plasma generating unit configured to turn the process gas to plasma, a magnetic field forming mechanism installed at a lateral side of the table unit and configured to form magnetic fields in a processing atmosphere in order to move electrons existing in the plasma of the process gas along a surface of the substrate; and an exhaust mechanism configured to exhaust gas from the interior of the processing vessel. The magnetic fields are opened at at-least one point in a peripheral edge portion of the substrate such that a loop of magnetic flux lines surrounding the peripheral edge portion of the substrate is not formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Akira Shimizu, Yu Wamura
  • Patent number: 9103029
    Abstract: A processing apparatus for processing objects, includes: a processing container structure having a bottom opening and including a processing container having a processing space for housing the objects, the container having a nozzle housing area on one side of the processing space and a slit-like exhaust port on the opposite side of the processing space from the nozzle housing area; a lid for closing the bottom opening of the processing container structure; a support structure for supporting the objects and which can be inserted into and withdrawn from the processing container structure; a gas introduction means including a gas nozzle housed in the nozzle housing area; an exhaust means including a plurality of exhaust systems for exhausting the atmosphere in the processing container structure; a heating means for heating the objects; and a control means for controlling the gas introduction means, the exhaust means and the heating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Yu Wamura, Yuichiro Morozumi, Izumi Sato, Shinji Asari
  • Patent number: 9080238
    Abstract: A raw material supplying device includes a raw material supplying pipe including a vertically extending rising pipe. The device further includes a first raw material discharging pipe which is provided to branch from the lower end of the rising pipe. The device further includes a cleaning fluid supplying pipe configured to supply one of purge gas and cleaning solution in order to extrude and discharge liquid raw material in the raw material supplying pipe to the first raw material discharging pipe. The device further includes a first raw material supplying valve and a first raw material discharging valve which are respectively provided in the side of the repository and the first raw material discharging pipe other than a connection portion of the raw material supplying pipe with the first raw material discharging pipe. The device further includes a cleaning fluid supplying valve provided in the cleaning fluid supplying pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yu Wamura, Haruhiko Furuya
  • Patent number: 8992685
    Abstract: In a substrate processing apparatus, a film deposition device and a heat processing device to perform an anneal processing are airtightly connected to a vacuum conveying chamber, and a substrate rotating unit to cause a substrate to rotate around a vertical axis is provided in the vacuum conveying chamber. A control unit is arranged to stop a relative rotation of a plurality of reactive gas supplying units, a separating gas supplying unit and a table by a rotation device in the middle of a film deposition process of the substrate, cause a conveying unit to take out the substrate from a vacuum chamber, and output a control signal that causes a substrate rotating unit to change a direction of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kato, Manabu Honma, Hiroyuki Kikuchi, Yu Wamura, Jun Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20150031204
    Abstract: A method of depositing a film is provided. In the method, one operation of a unit of film deposition process is performed by carrying a substrate into a processing chamber, by depositing a nitride film on the substrate, and by carrying the substrate out of the processing chamber after finishing depositing the nitride film on the substrate. The one operation is repeated a predetermined plurality of number of times continuously to deposit the nitride film on a plurality of substrates continuously. After that, an inside of the processing chamber is oxidized by supplying an oxidation gas into the processing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Hiroko SASAKI, Yu WAMURA, Masato KOAKUTSU
  • Publication number: 20150017813
    Abstract: A semiconductor device manufacturing method that includes: forming a gate insulating film containing a hafnium oxide and a zirconium oxide on a workpiece having a source, a drain and a channel; and subjecting the gate insulating film to a crystallization heat treatment at a temperature of 600 degrees C. or less is provided. The gate insulating film subjected to the crystallization heat treatment has a relative permittivity of 27 or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Koji AKIYAMA, Hirokazu HIGASHIJIMA, Chihiro TAMURA, Shintaro AOYAMA, Yu WAMURA
  • Patent number: 8895456
    Abstract: A method of depositing a film of forming a doped oxide film including a first oxide film containing a first element and doped with a second element on substrates mounted on a turntable including depositing the first oxide film onto the substrates by rotating the turntable predetermined turns while a first reaction gas containing the first element is supplied from a first gas supplying portion, an oxidation gas is supplied from a second gas supplying portion, and a separation gas is supplied from a separation gas supplying portion, and doping the first oxide film with the second element by rotating the turntable predetermined turns while a second reaction gas containing the second element is supplied from one of the first and second gas supplying portions, an inert gas is supplied from another one, and the separation gas is supplied from the separation gas supplying portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Tachibana, Hiroaki Ikegawa, Yu Wamura, Muneyuki Otani, Jun Ogawa, Kosuke Takahashi