Sokudo Co., Ltd. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140341681 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS, STORAGE DEVICE, AND METHOD OF TRANSPORTING SUBSTRATE STORING CONTAINER - In a substrate processing apparatus, a storage device, an indexer block, a processing block and an interface block are arranged to line up in this order. The storage device includes a plurality of openers on which a carrier storing a plurality of substrates can be placed. The carrier is carried in the storage device. In the storage device, the carrier is transported among the plurality of openers by a transport device. The transport device includes first and second hands configured to be able to hold the carrier and move in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. The second hand is provided below the first hand. | 11-20-2014 |
20140285790 | SUBSTRATE TREATING APPARATUS - A substrate treating apparatus includes a treating section for treating substrates, and an interface section disposed adjacent the treating section and adjacent an exposing machine provided separately from the apparatus. The interface section has a first treating-section-side transport mechanism, a second treating-section-side transport mechanism, and an exposing-machine-side transport mechanism. Each of the first and second treating-section-side transport mechanisms is arranged to receive the substrates from the treating section, pass the substrates to the exposing-machine-side transport mechanism, receive the substrates from the exposing-machine-side transport mechanism and pass the substrates to the treating section. The exposing-machine-side transport mechanism is arranged to receive the substrates from the first and second treating-section-side transport mechanisms, transport the substrates to the exposing machine, receive the substrates after exposing treatment from the exposing machine, and pass the substrates to the first and second treating-section-side transport mechanisms. | 09-25-2014 |
20140261571 | SUBSTRATE CLEANING AND DRYING METHOD AND SUBSTRATE DEVELOPING METHOD - Provided is a substrate cleaning and drying method, including a cleaning step of cleaning a developed substrate by supplying a cleaning liquid to the substrate; a puddle-forming step of forming a puddle of the cleaning liquid on the substrate; a film-thinning step of thinning a film thickness of the cleaning liquid on the substrate; and a drying step of drying the substrate by spinning the substrate and generating outward airflow and inward airflow between the outward airflow and the substrate, the outward airflow covering a portion above the substrate and the inward airflow causing removal of the cleaning liquid on the substrate. | 09-18-2014 |
20140199638 | NEGATIVE DEVELOPING METHOD AND NEGATIVE DEVELOPING APPARATUS - After a developing step, a substrate is spun at high speeds without supplying a cleaning liquid to a surface of the substrate. This causes a large centrifugal force to act on a developer on a resist film. Consequently, the developer can be removed rapidly from the surface of the substrate. As a result, development can be stopped at an expected timing. Moreover, a circuit pattern having an expected dimension can be obtained. At this time, a dissolved product is also removable with the developer from the substrate. This can avoid failure in development caused by the dissolved product. Consequently, suitably maintained quality of negative development can be achieved with a reduced usage amount of the cleaning liquid. | 07-17-2014 |
20140120477 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS - A method of processing a substrate in a substrate processing apparatus that is arranged adjacent to an exposure device and includes first, second and third processing units, includes forming a photosensitive film on the substrate by said first processing unit before exposure processing by said exposure device and applying washing processing to the substrate by supplying a washing liquid to the substrate in said second processing unit after the formation of said photosensitive film and before the exposure processing. The method also includes applying drying processing to the substrate in said second processing unit after the washing processing by said second processing unit and before the exposure processing and applying development processing to the substrate by said third processing unit after the exposure processing. Applying the drying processing to the substrate includes the step of supplying an inert gas onto the substrate, to which the washing liquid is supplied. | 05-01-2014 |
20140000514 | SUBSTRATE TREATING APPARATUS WITH INTER-UNIT BUFFERS | 01-02-2014 |
20120156380 | SUBSTRATE TREATING APPARATUS - A substrate treating method for treating substrates with a substrate treating apparatus having an indexer section, a treating section and an interface section includes performing resist film forming treatment in parallel on a plurality of stories provided in the treating section and performing developing treatment in parallel on a plurality of stories provided in the treating section. | 06-21-2012 |
20120145074 | SUBSTRATE TREATING APPARATUS - A substrate treating apparatus includes a treating block including a plurality of cells arranged one over another. Each cell has treating units for treating substrates and a single main transport mechanism for transporting the substrates to the treating units. Each cell also has a blowout unit for supplying a clean gas into a transporting space of the main transport mechanism and an exhaust unit for exhausting gas from the transporting space. The blowout unit and the exhaust unit are arranged one over the other in the transporting space to separate the transporting space of each cell from that of another cell. | 06-14-2012 |
20120145073 | SUBSTRATE TREATING APPARATUS - A substrate treating apparatus includes a treating block including a plurality of cells arranged one over another. Each cell has treating units for treating substrates and a single main transport mechanism disposed in a transporting space for transporting the substrates to the treating units. The treating units include solution treating units and heat-treating units. The solution treating units are arranged at one side of the transporting space, the heat-treating units are arranged at the other side of the transporting space, and the main transport mechanism and the treating units are in substantially the same layout in plan view for the respective cells. The solution treating units are in substantially the same layout in side view for the respective cells, the heat-treating units are in substantially the same layout in side view for the respective cells, and treatments of the substrates carried out in the respective cells are the same. | 06-14-2012 |
20120122038 | DEVELOPING APPARATUS - A method for developing a substrate includes spinning the substrate with a spin holder and discharging a developer to the substrate from a plurality of exhaust ports arranged in a row on a developer feeder. The method also includes causing a moving mechanism to move said developer feeder in one direction extending to a center of the substrate in plan view while maintaining a direction of arrangement of said exhaust ports in said one direction, thereby to move said developer feeder between substantially the center and an edge of the substrate. The method further includes causing the developer discharged from said exhaust ports to impinge in separate streams on the substrate, and causing each of the separate streams to impinge spirally on the substrate, thereby to develop the substrate. At least two of loci of positions of impingement of the developer corresponding to said exhaust ports overlap each other. | 05-17-2012 |
20120055916 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THERMAL TREATMENT OF SUBSTRATES - A rapid temperature change (RTC) system includes a bake plate assembly including a heat spreader; a heater substrate coupled to the heat spreader; and a heater layer coupled to the heater substrate. The RTC system also includes a passive chill structure positioned adjacent the bake plate assembly. The passive chill structure is moveable to make physical contact with the heater layer. The passive chill structure includes a chill plate and a thermal pad coupled to the chill plate. The RTC system further includes an active chill structure positioned adjacent the passive chill structure. The passive chill structure is moveable to make physical contact with the active chill structure. | 03-08-2012 |
20120037593 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REMOVAL OF FILMS FROM PERIPHERAL PORTIONS OF A SUBSTRATE - A substrate processing apparatus includes an anti-reflection film processing block, a resist film processing block, and a resist cover film processing block. In the processing blocks, an anti-reflection film, a resist film, and a resist cover film are formed on a substrate, respectively. Additionally, a film formed at a peripheral edge of the substrate is removed. The film formed at the peripheral edge of the substrate is removed by supplying a removal liquid capable of dissolving and removing the film to the peripheral edge of the substrate during rotation. When the peripheral edge of the film is removed, the position of the substrate is corrected such that the center of the substrate coincides with the center of a rotation shaft. | 02-16-2012 |
20110000426 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS WITH HEATER ELEMENT HELD BY VACUUM - A substrate processing apparatus for heating a substrate is provided. The substrate processing apparatus can include a top and bottom planar member. A heater layer can be disposed between the top and the bottom planar member and held in place by evacuating a region between the two planar members. The heater layer can be made of alternating insulating and conducting layers with heater elements formed on the conducting layers in predetermined pattern. | 01-06-2011 |
20100239986 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS - The transporting process from cleaning and drying processing of a substrate in a cleaning/drying processing unit in a cleaning/drying processing group to post-exposure bake (PEB) of the substrate in a thermal processing group for post-exposure bake in a cleaning/drying processing block is described below. First, after the substrate after exposure processing is subjected to the cleaning and drying processing in the cleaning/drying processing group, a sixth central robot takes out the substrate from the cleaning/drying processing group and carries that substrate into the thermal processing group for post-exposure bake in the cleaning/drying processing block. | 09-23-2010 |
20100190116 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND SUBSTRATE PROCESSING METHOD - A substrate processing apparatus comprises an indexer block, an anti-reflection film processing block, a resist film processing block, a development processing block, and an interface block. An exposure device is arranged adjacent to an interface block. The interface block comprises a drying processing group including two drying processing units and an interface transport mechanism. After a substrate is subjected to exposure processing by the exposure device, the substrate is transported to the drying processing units in the drying processing group by the interface transport mechanism, where the substrate is subjected to cleaning and drying processings. | 07-29-2010 |
20100159142 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND SUBSTRATE PROCESSING METHOD - A substrate processing apparatus comprises an indexer block, an anti-reflection film processing block, a resist film processing block, a development processing block, and an interface block. An exposure device is arranged adjacent to the interface block. The interface block comprises washing processing units and an interface transport mechanism. Before a substrate is subjected to exposure processing by the exposure device, the substrate is transported to a washing processing unit by the interface transport mechanism. The substrate is washed and dried by the washing processing unit. | 06-24-2010 |
20100151690 | MULTI-CHANNEL DEVELOPER SYSTEM - An apparatus for dispensing fluid during semiconductor substrate processing operations comprises an enclosure having a first side and a second side. The enclosure comprises a first processing station and a second processing station. The second processing station is positioned adjacent to the first processing station. In addition, the substrate processing apparatus includes a first dispense arm configured to deliver a fluid to the first processing station wherein the first dispense arm is positioned between the first side and the first processing station and a second dispense arm configured to deliver the fluid to the second processing station wherein the second dispense arm is positioned between the second side and the second processing station. The substrate processing apparatus also comprises a first rinse arm configured to deliver a rinsing fluid to the first processing station and a second rinse arm configured to deliver the rinsing fluid to the second processing station. | 06-17-2010 |
20100136492 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND SUBSTRATE PROCESSING METHOD - A method of processing a substrate in a substrate processing apparatus that is arranged adjacent to an exposure device and includes first, second and third processing units, includes the steps of: forming a photosensitive film made of a photosensitive material on the substrate by said first processing unit before exposure processing by said exposure device. The method also includes applying washing processing to the substrate by said second processing unit after the formation of said photosensitive film by said first processing unit and before the exposure processing by said exposure device and transporting the substrate after the washing processing to said exposure device. The method further includes transporting the substrate from said exposure device and applying development processing by said third processing unit to the substrate transported after the exposure processing by said exposure device. | 06-03-2010 |
20100136257 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS - A method of processing a substrate in a substrate processing apparatus that is arranged adjacent to an exposure device and includes first, second and third processing units, includes forming a photosensitive film on the substrate by said first processing unit before exposure processing by said exposure device and applying washing processing to the substrate by supplying a washing liquid to the substrate in said second processing unit after the formation of said photosensitive film and before the exposure processing. The method also includes applying drying processing to the substrate in said second processing unit after the washing processing by said second processing unit and before the exposure processing and applying development processing to the substrate by said third processing unit after the exposure processing. Applying the drying processing to the substrate includes the step of supplying an inert gas onto the substrate, to which the washing liquid is supplied. | 06-03-2010 |
20100129526 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS - A method of processing a substrate in a substrate processing apparatus that is arranged adjacent to an exposure device and includes first, second and third processing units, includes the steps of forming a film made of a photosensitive material on the substrate by said first processing unit before exposure processing by said exposure device. The method also includes applying drying processing to the substrate by said second processing unit after the exposure processing by said exposure device and applying development processing to the substrate by said third processing unit after the drying processing by said second processing unit | 05-27-2010 |
20100126527 | APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF PROCESSING SUBSTRATE SUBJECTED TO EXPOSURE PROCESS - A method of processing a substrate subjected to an exposure process includes the steps of: transporting a substrate subjected to the exposure process to a cleaning processing part and performing a cleaning process in said cleaning processing part on said substrate subjected to the exposure process. The method also includes the steps of transporting said substrate subjected to the cleaning process from said cleaning processing part to a heating processing part and performing a heating process in said heating processing part on said substrate subjected to the cleaning process. A first interprocess time interval between the instant at which the exposure process of a substrate is completed and the instant at which the heating process of the substrate is started is made approximately constant, and a second interprocess time interval between the instant at which the cleaning process of the substrate is completed and the instant at which the heating process of the substrate is started is made approximately constant. | 05-27-2010 |
20100081097 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS - A substrate processing apparatus comprises an indexer block, an anti-reflection film processing block, a resist film processing block, a development processing block, a resist cover film processing block, a resist cover film removal block, a cleaning/drying processing block and an interface block. These blocks are arranged in the substrate processing apparatus in the above order. An exposure device is arranged adjacent to the interface block of the substrate processing apparatus. A hydrophobic processing unit is arranged in the resist cover film processing block and applies hydrophobic processing to the substrate before exposure processing. | 04-01-2010 |
20100075054 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS - A substrate processing apparatus comprises an indexer block, an anti-reflection film processing block, a resist film processing block, a development processing block, a resist cover film processing block, a resist cover film removal block, a cleaning/drying processing block, and an interface block. An exposure device is arranged adjacent to the interface block in the substrate processing apparatus. The exposure device subjects a substrate to exposure processing by means of an immersion method. In the edge cleaning unit in the cleaning/drying processing block, a brush abuts against an end of the rotating substrate, so that the edge of the substrate before the exposure processing is cleaned. At this time, the position where the substrate is cleaned is corrected. | 03-25-2010 |
20090275149 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING CRITICAL DIMENSIONS IN TRACK LITHOGRAPHY TOOLS - A method of controlling wafer critical dimension (CD) uniformity on a track lithography tool includes obtaining a CD map for a wafer. The CD map includes a plurality of CD data points correlated with a multi-zone heater geometry map. The multi-zone heater includes a plurality of heater zones. The method also includes determining a CD value for a first heater zone of the plurality of heater zones based on one or more of the CD data points and computing a difference between the determined CD value for the first heater zone and a target CD value for the first heater zone. The method further includes determining a temperature variation for the first heater zone based, in part, on the computed difference and a temperature sensitivity of a photoresist deposited on the wafer and modifying a temperature of the first heater zone based, in part, on the temperature variation. | 11-05-2009 |
20090269936 | Substrate Processing Apparatus - A thermal processing unit of a thermal processor for anti-reflection films includes: a covering nozzle for covering a substrate from above supported by a thermal processing plate and discharging an adhesion enhancing agent to a periphery of a substrate supported by the thermal processing plate; and a vaporization processor for supplying an adhesion enhancing agent in the vapor phase to the covering nozzle. While a substrate placed over the thermal processing plate is being subjected to thermal process, a control part causes the covering nozzle to discharge an adhesion enhancing agent in the vapor phase onto a periphery of a substrate to realize adhesion enhancement process. Thus, the adhesion between a resist coating film and a substrate surface in the periphery of a substrate is enhanced. Further, parallel implementation of thermal process and adhesion enhancement process exerts no influence on throughput. | 10-29-2009 |
20090253078 | DOUBLE EXPOSURE LITHOGRAPHY USING LOW TEMPERATURE OXIDE AND UV CURE PROCESS - A method of processing a substrate includes forming a first layer having a photosensitive response to incident radiation on the substrate, forming a first pattern in the first layer, and exposing the first pattern to ultra-violet radiation. The exposure of the first pattern to ultra-violet radiation increases the resistance of the first pattern to a developer. The method also includes forming a conformal protective layer over the first pattern and at least a portion of the substrate. The method further includes forming a second layer having a photosensitive response to incident radiation over the conformal protective layer and forming a second pattern in the second layer. | 10-08-2009 |
20090173364 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND SUBSTRATE PROCESSING METHOD USING THE SAME - A fluid supply pipe is inserted through a motor supporting member, a spin motor, a rotating shaft, and a plate supporting member. A first flange is integrally formed in the vicinity of a curved portion of a straight portion, extending in the vertical direction, of the fluid supply pipe. The first flange is fixed to a motor supporting member. Thus, the fluid supply pipe is fixed to the spin motor through the motor supporting member. The fluid supply pipe has a configuration in which a gas supply pipe made of resin and a plurality of cleaning liquid supply pipes made of resin are accommodated inside a guide pipe made of stainless. Inside the guide pipe, the one gas supply pipe is surrounded by the plurality of cleaning liquid supply pipes. | 07-09-2009 |
20090165712 | SUBSTRATE TREATING APPARATUS WITH PARALLEL SUBSTRATE TREATMENT LINES - A substrate treating apparatus for treating substrates includes a plurality of substrate treatment lines arranged vertically for carrying out plural types of treatment on the substrates while transporting the substrates substantially horizontally, and a controller for changing processes of treatment carried out on the substrates for each of the substrate treatment lines. By changing the processes of treatment carried out for the substrates for each substrate treatment line, the processes of treatment carried out for the substrates can be changed for each substrate conveniently. Thus, a plurality of different processes of treatment corresponding to the number of substrate treatment lines can be carried out in parallel for the respective substrates. | 07-02-2009 |
20090165711 | SUBSTRATE TREATING APPARATUS WITH SUBSTRATE REORDERING - A treating section has substrate treatment lines arranged one over the other for treating substrates while transporting the substrates substantially horizontally. An IF section transports the substrates fed from each substrate treatment line to an exposing machine provided separately from this apparatus. The substrates are transported to the exposing machine in the order in which the substrates are loaded into the treating section. The throughput of this apparatus can be improved greatly, without increasing the footprint, since the substrate treatment lines are arranged one over the other. Each substrate can be controlled easily since the order of the substrates transported to the exposing machine is in agreement with the order of the substrates loaded into the treating section. | 07-02-2009 |
20090142162 | SUBSTRATE TREATING APPARATUS WITH INTER-UNIT BUFFERS - The invention provides coating units, heat-treating units, and a first main transport mechanism for transporting substrates to each of these treating units. The substrates are transferred from the first main transport mechanism to a second main transport mechanism through a receiver. When a substrate cannot be placed on the receiver, this substrate is placed on a buffer. Thus, the first main transport mechanism can continue transporting other substrates. The other substrates in the treating units are transported between the treating units without delay, to receive a series of treatments including coating treatment and heat treatment as scheduled. This prevents lowering of the quality of treatment for forming film on the substrates. | 06-04-2009 |
20090139833 | MULTI-LINE SUBSTRATE TREATING APPARATUS - A substrate treating apparatus includes substrate treatment lines arranged one over another, each for treating substrates while transporting the substrates substantially horizontally. The apparatus further includes an interface section for transporting the substrates between the substrate treatment lines and an exposing machine having a plurality of exposing stages, the exposing machine being provided separately from the apparatus, and a controller for controlling transport of the substrates in the interface section to cause all the substrates similarly treated in each of the substrate treatment lines to be exposed on one of the exposing stages. This apparatus can uniform the quality of treatment among a plurality of substrates receiving the same type of treatment in the same substrate treating line. | 06-04-2009 |
20090139450 | MULTI-STORY SUBSTRATE TREATING APPARATUS WITH FLEXIBLE TRANSPORT MECHANISMS - A treating section includes a plurality of treating blocks juxtaposed horizontally. Each treating block is vertically divided into stories. Each story includes treating units and a main transport mechanism. Substrates are transportable between the same stories of the treating blocks. Further, the substrates are transportable between different stories. Thus, the apparatus can transport the substrates flexibly between the treating blocks. | 06-04-2009 |
20090120472 | SUBSTRATE CLEANING AND PROCESSING APPARATUS WITH MAGNETICALLY CONTROLLED SPIN CHUCK HOLDING PINS - When a substrate is subjected to bevel cleaning processing, a first magnet plate is arranged at a lower position, and a second magnet plate is arranged at an upper position. In this case, each of chuck pins enters a closed state in a region outside the first magnet plate, while entering an opened state in a region outside the second magnet plate. That is, a holder in each of the chuck pins is maintained in contact with an outer edge of the substrate when it passes through the region outside the first magnet plate, while being spaced apart from the outer edge of the substrate when it passes through the region outside the second magnet plate. | 05-14-2009 |
20090120362 | TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT IN A SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS - A substrate processing apparatus is configured to provide in series a plurality of processing blocks, each block including a processing unit and a transport robot transporting a substrate. A substrate rest is provided in a connecting portion of adjacent processing blocks. A sensor plate with sensor coils is provided spanning over support pins of the substrate rest. Once a temperature-measurement substrate with temperature-measuring elements, each element formed by connecting a coil to a quartz resonator, is placed on the support pins, a transmitter-receiver transmits transmission waves corresponding to the characteristic frequencies of the quartz resonators to the temperature-measuring elements through the sensor coils. After the stop of the transmission, the transmitter-receiver receives electromagnetic waves from the temperature-measuring elements through the sensor coils, and the temperature computer computes the substrate temperature based on the frequencies of the electromagnetic waves. | 05-14-2009 |
20090110532 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING WAFER CENTERING ON A TRACK LITHOGRAPHY TOOL - An apparatus for centering a substrate in a track lithography tool includes a processing chamber having an opening large enough to admit the substrate. The processing chamber includes a substrate support member. The substrate is characterized by a diameter and comprises a mounting surface, a process surface, and an edge. The apparatus also includes a clamped robot blade including a substrate support surface adapted to support the mounting surface of the substrate, two edge contact regions, and a base contact region. The clamped robot blade also includes a clamping system adapted to move at least one of the two edge contact regions or the base contact region from an unclamped position to a clamped position, thereby making contact between the edge of the substrate and the two edge contact regions and the base contact region in the clamped position. The apparatus further includes a robot arm coupled to the clamped robot blade. | 04-30-2009 |
20090109595 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PERFORMING ELECTROSTATIC CHUCK CLAMPING IN TRACK LITHOGRAPHY TOOLS - A method of clamping/declamping a semiconductor wafer on an electrostatic chuck in ambient air includes disposing the semiconductor wafer at a predetermined distance above a dielectric surface of the electrostatic chuck having one or more electrodes and applying a first voltage greater than a predetermined threshold to the one or more electrodes of the electrostatic chuck for a first time period. The method includes reducing the first voltage to a second voltage substantially equal to a self bias potential of the semiconductor wafer after the first time period. The method includes maintaining the second voltage for a second time period and adjusting the second voltage to a third voltage characterized by a polarity opposite to that of the first voltage and a magnitude smaller than the predetermined threshold. The method includes reducing the third voltage to a fourth voltage substantially equal to the second voltage after a third time period. | 04-30-2009 |
20090107519 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CHEMICALLY ENHANCED LASER TRIMMING OF SUBSTRATE EDGES - An apparatus for processing a peripheral portion of a substrate includes a housing and a spin chuck mounted within the housing and configured to support the substrate in a substantially horizontal orientation. The apparatus also includes a fluid dispense nozzle coupled to the housing and proximate to the peripheral portion of the substrate. The fluid dispense nozzle is in fluid communication with a source of a chemical and configured to direct a flow of the chemical to the peripheral portion of the substrate located at a first radial distance from a center of the substrate. The apparatus further includes a light guide optically coupled to a laser source. The light guide is configured to direct radiation to the peripheral portion of the substrate located at a second radial distance from the center of the substrate greater than the first radial distance. | 04-30-2009 |
20090103960 | DEVELOPING APPARATUS - A developing apparatus disclosed includes a spin chuck for spinnably holding a substrate, a developer nozzle having a plurality of exhaust ports arranged in a row for discharging a developer, the developer nozzle causing the developer discharged from the exhaust ports to impinge in separate streams on the substrate, a horizontal movement mechanism for moving the developer nozzle in one direction extending to the center of the substrate in plan view while maintaining a direction of arrangement of the exhaust ports in the one direction, thereby to move the developer nozzle between substantially the center and an edge of the substrate in plan view, and a controller for controlling the spin chuck and horizontal movement mechanism to cause the separate streams of the developer discharged from the exhaust ports to impinge spirally on the substrate, thereby to develop the substrate. | 04-23-2009 |
20090074402 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND SUBSTRATE PROCESSING METHOD - After a substrate is cleaned, a liquid layer of a rinse liquid is formed so as to cover one surface of the substrate. Then, a liquid supply nozzle moves outward from above the center of the substrate. The liquid supply nozzle is stopped once at the time point where it moves by a predetermined distance from above the center of the substrate. In this time period, the liquid layer is divided within a thin layer region by a centrifugal force, so that a drying core is formed at the center of the liquid layer. Thereafter, the liquid supply nozzle moves outward again, so that a drying region where no rinse liquid exists expands on the substrate with the drying core as its starting point. | 03-19-2009 |
20090073394 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS WITH MULTI-SPEED DRYING - After a substrate is cleaned, a liquid supply nozzle moves outward from above the center of the substrate while discharging a rinse liquid with the substrate rotated. In this case, a drying region where no rinse liquid exists expands on the substrate. When the liquid supply nozzle moves to above a peripheral portion of the substrate, the rotational speed of the substrate is reduced. The movement speed of the liquid supply nozzle is maintained as it is. Thereafter, the discharge of the rinse liquid is stopped while the liquid supply nozzle moves outward from the substrate. Thus, the drying region spreads over the whole substrate so that the substrate is dried. | 03-19-2009 |
20090071940 | MULTI-SPEED SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND SUBSTRATE PROCESSING METHOD - After a development liquid on a substrate is washed away with a rinse liquid, the rotational speed of the substrate is reduced, so that a liquid layer of the rinse liquid is formed over a top surface of the substrate. Thereafter, the rotational speed of the substrate is increased. The increase in the rotational speed of the substrate causes a centrifugal force to be slightly greater than tension, thereby causing the liquid layer to be held on the substrate with the thickness thereof in its peripheral portion increased and the thickness thereof at the center thereof decreased. Then, gas is discharged toward the center of the liquid layer from a gas supply nozzle, so that a hole is formed at the center of the liquid layer. This causes tension that is balanced with a centrifugal force exerted on the peripheral portion of the liquid layer to disappear. Furthermore, the rotational speed of the substrate is further increased while the gas is discharged. Thus, the liquid layer moves outward from the substrate. | 03-19-2009 |
20090070946 | APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF PROCESSING SUBSTRATE - A cleaning processing part including an edge cleaning processing unit for cleaning an edge of a substrate is provided in an indexer block. An indexer robot provided in the indexer block transports an unprocessed substrate taken out of a cassette to the cleaning processing part before transporting the unprocessed substrate to an anti-reflection film processing block serving as a processor. The cleaning processing part cleans an edge and a back surface of a substrate. | 03-19-2009 |
20090060686 | SUBSTRATE TRANSPORT APPARATUS AND HEAT TREATMENT APPARATUS - A chilled arm that transports a substrate to and from a heating plate for performing a heating process on the substrate is formed with a flow passage pipe therein, and cools the entire holding area thereof opposed to the substrate held by the chilled arm to a predetermined reference temperature by supplying circulating cooling water through the flow passage pipe. Six polyimide heaters are affixed to the holding area to control the temperature of at least a portion of the holding area at a temperature different from the reference temperature. These two temperature control mechanisms intentionally provide a temperature distribution to the holding area to thereby provide an intentional temperature distribution to the substrate before and after the heat treatment by the heating plate. This reduces the nonuniformity of a temperature distribution which typically occurs in the heating plate to accomplish a uniform heat treatment throughout the heat treatment process step. | 03-05-2009 |
20090060480 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING BAKE PLATE TEMPERATURE IN A SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING CHAMBER - A method of operating a bake plate disposed in a semiconductor processing chamber having a face plate opposing the bake plate includes providing a temperature control signal to the bake plate and measuring a face plate temperature associated with the face plate. The method also includes determining a difference between the face plate temperature and a predetermined temperature and modifying the temperature control signal provided to the bake plate in response to the determined difference. | 03-05-2009 |
20090055124 | Method and System for Determining Object Height - An apparatus and method for measuring a height of an object above a surface includes a housing with a first portion having an upper surface and a lower surface and an extension portion extending a first distance from the lower surface of the first portion. The extension portion defines a cavity opposing the lower surface of the first portion. The apparatus further includes one or more actuators passing through the lower surface of the first portion of the housing and extending into the cavity. Additionally, the apparatus includes a plate supported by one or more flexible members coupled to the extension portion. The plate has a top surface and a bottom surface that lies in a plane substantially parallel to the surface. Moreover, the apparatus includes a plurality of sensors disposed at predetermined positions of the plate. Each of the plurality of sensors is responsive to a height measured between each of the plurality of sensors and the surface. | 02-26-2009 |
20090032522 | ZONE CONTROL HEATER PLATE FOR TRACK LITHOGRAPHY SYSTEMS - A substrate heater comprising a bake plate having an upper surface, a lower surface and a peripheral side surface extending between the upper and lower surfaces, the bake plate including at least one heating element, at least one temperature sensor and a plurality of wires including at least one wire coupled to the heating element and at least one wire coupled to the temperature sensor; a shield spaced apart from and generally surrounding the lower and peripheral side surfaces of the bake plate, the shield having an interior upper surface facing the lower surface of the bake plate, an interior side surface facing the peripheral side surface of the bake plate and a lower surface opposite the interior upper surface; a patterned signal layer formed on the lower surface of the shield, wherein the plurality of wires are electrically coupled to a corresponding plurality of signal traces formed in the patterned signal layer; and a connector, electrically coupled to the plurality of signal traces in the patterned signal layer, adapted to facilitate electrical connections to the plurality of wires. | 02-05-2009 |
20090027634 | Bevel Inspection Apparatus For Substrate Processing - A substrate processing apparatus includes an indexer block, an anti-reflection film processing block, a resist film processing block, a development processing block, a resist cover film processing block, a resist cover film removal block, and an interface block. The interface block includes a bevel portion inspection unit. The bevel portion inspection unit inspects a bevel portion of a substrate to determine whether or not the bevel portion of the substrate is contaminated. The substrate whose bevel portion is determined to be contaminated and the substrate whose bevel portion is determined that it is not contaminated are respectively subjected to different types of processing. | 01-29-2009 |
20090025155 | Substrate Cleaning Device And Substrate Processing Apparatus Including The Same - A cleaning processing unit includes a spin chuck for horizontally holding a substrate and rotating the substrate around the vertical axis passing through the center of the substrate. A bevel cleaner is disposed outside the spin chuck. The bevel cleaner includes a cleaning brush. The cleaning brush has a shape that is symmetric about its vertical axis, and has an upper bevel cleaning surface, an end surface cleaning surface, and a lower bevel cleaning surface. The end surface cleaning surface is a cylindrical surface having its axis in the vertical direction. The upper bevel cleaning surface extends out from and is inclined upward from the upper end of the end surface cleaning surface, and the lower bevel cleaning surface extends out from and is inclined downward from the lower end of the end surface cleaning surface. | 01-29-2009 |
20090023297 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HMDS TREATMENT OF SUBSTRATE EDGES - A system for dispensing an adhesion promoting chemical includes a support plate configured to support a substrate and a dispense nozzle in fluid communication with a source of the adhesion promoting chemical, for example, HMDS. The dispense nozzle is positioned adjacent a peripheral portion of the substrate and at a first radial distance. The system also includes an exhaust aperture in fluid communication with a system exhaust. The exhaust aperture is positioned adjacent to dispense nozzle and at a second radial distance greater than the first radial distance. | 01-22-2009 |
20090014126 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND SUBSTRATE PROCESSING METHOD - A substrate processing apparatus includes a development part for performing a development process on a substrate after being subjected to exposure and a cleaning part. When the processing time in the development part is shorter than the reference time determined in advance, the development part performs all the process steps for development. On the other hand, when the processing time in the development part is longer than the reference time, the development process is split into a first half process step and a second half process step, and the development part performs a processing including the first half process step and the cleaning part performs a processing including the second half process step. Even if the development process takes a long time, it is possible to prevent deterioration in processing capability of the substrate processing apparatus on the whole by splitting the development process. | 01-15-2009 |
20090001071 | Method and System for Cooling a Bake Plate in a Track Lithography Tool - A bake station includes a bake plate having a thickness defined by a distance between an upper surface and a lower surface of the bake plate. The bake plate is configured to heat a substrate positioned adjacent the upper surface of the bake plate. The bake station also includes a base plate having a first surface positioned below and opposing the lower surface of the bake plate and a side plate extending between the lower surface of the bake plate and the first surface of the base plate. The side plate, the lower surface of the bake plate, and the first surface of the base plate define a space. The bake station further includes a plurality of nozzles coupled to the base plate. Each of the plurality of nozzles has an inlet configured to receive an input flow of fluid and an exit port configured to expel an exit flow of fluid onto the lower surface of the bake plate. Additionally, the bake station includes an exhaust port in fluid communication with the space and configured to exhaust the exit flow of fluid from the space. | 01-01-2009 |
20090000543 | SUBSTRATE TREATING APPARATUS - A substrate treating apparatus includes a plurality of substrate treatment lines arranged vertically. Each substrate treatment line has a plurality of main transport mechanisms arranged horizontally, and a plurality of treating units provided for each main transport mechanism for treating substrates. A series of treatments is carried out for the substrates, with each main transport mechanism transporting the substrates to the treating units associated therewith, and transferring the substrates to the other main transport mechanism horizontally adjacent thereto. The substrate treating apparatus realizes increased processing capabilities by treating the substrates in parallel through the substrate treatment lines. | 01-01-2009 |
20080296316 | COAT/DEVELOP MODULE WITH SHARED DISPENSE - An apparatus for dispensing fluid during semiconductor substrate processing operations. The apparatus includes a central fluid dispense bank comprising a plurality of dispense nozzles coupled to a plurality of fluid sources and a first processing chamber positioned to a first side of the central fluid dispense bank. The apparatus also includes a second processing chamber positioned to a second side of the central fluid dispense bank and a dispense arm adapted to translate between the central fluid dispense bank, the first processing chamber, and the second processing chamber. | 12-04-2008 |
20080279250 | FIRST DETECTING SHEET AND FIRST THERMOMETRIC SYSTEM FOR DETECTING AND MEASURING TEMPERATURE OF AN OBJECT UNDER TEST, SECOND DETECTING SHEET AND SECOND THERMOMETRIC SYSTEM FOR DETECTING AND MEASURING TEMPERATURE OF A DUMMY SUBSTRATE, AND HEAT TREATMENT APPARATUS USING SAME - A first thermometry system for measuring a temperature of an object under test includes a first detecting sheet having crystal oscillators arranged on a first sheet-like object formed of resin, and a first measuring device for measuring the temperature based on frequencies acquired from the crystal oscillators and corresponding to natural frequencies of the crystal oscillators. In this system, the first detecting sheet is placed in contact with the object under test, whereupon the crystal oscillators provide the natural frequencies corresponding to the temperature of the object under test. The first measuring device measures the temperature of the object under test accurately based on the frequencies corresponding to the natural frequencies. | 11-13-2008 |
20080267257 | Method and System for Detecting Substrate Temperature in a Track Lithography Tool - A device for measuring a temperature of a semiconductor wafer comprises a structure adapted to support the semiconductor wafer. The structure has an upper end and a lower end. The upper end contacts the wafer. A photoluminescent material is adapted to emit an emission light energy in response to the temperature of the wafer. A light source is adapted to emit an excitation light energy. The light source is optically coupled to the photoluminescent material. A detector is adapted to measure the emission light energy emitted from the photoluminescent material so as to determine the temperature of the wafer. In specific embodiments, the photoluminescent material may be positioned near the upper end of the structure to measure the temperature of the wafer while the wafer is supported with the structure. The structure may comprise a proximity pin and an optically transparent material. The light source and the detector may be positioned near the lower end of the structure and optically coupled to the photoluminescent material. | 10-30-2008 |
20080236787 | METHOD TO COOL BAKE PLATES IN A TRACK LITHOGRAPHY TOOL - A method of reducing a temperature of a bake plate within a semiconductor processing tool includes (a) providing a substrate and (b) transferring the substrate to a position adjacent the bake plate. The bake plate is characterized by an initial bake plate temperature greater than a set point temperature. The method also includes (c) reducing the temperature of the bake plate by a first predetermined amount and (d) transferring the substrate from the position adjacent the bake plate to a position adjacent a chill plate. The chill plate is characterized by a chill plate temperature less than the set point temperature. The method further includes (e) transferring the substrate from the position adjacent the chill plate to the position adjacent the bake plate, (f) reducing the temperature of the bake plate by a second predetermined amount, (g) monitoring the temperature of the bake plate, and (h) repeating steps (d) through (g) until the bake plate temperature is within a predetermined tolerance of the set point temperature. | 10-02-2008 |
20080226830 | Method and system for removal of films from peripheral portions of a substrate - A substrate processing apparatus includes an anti-reflection film processing block, a resist film processing block, and a resist cover film processing block. In the processing blocks, an anti-reflection film, a resist film, and a resist cover film are formed on a substrate, respectively. Additionally, a film formed at a peripheral edge of the substrate is removed. The film formed at the peripheral edge of the substrate is removed by supplying a removal liquid capable of dissolving and removing the film to the peripheral edge of the substrate during rotation. When the peripheral edge of the film is removed, the position of the substrate is corrected such that the center of the substrate coincides with the center of a rotation shaft. | 09-18-2008 |
20080224817 | INTERLACED RTD SENSOR FOR ZONE/AVERAGE TEMPERATURE SENSING - A device for heating a semiconductor wafer comprises a heating element arranged to conduct heat toward the wafer. The heating element can extend along a heating element path. An RTD sensor loop can extend along an RTD sensor path. The RTD sensor path can be positioned along the heating element path to measure a temperature that corresponds to the heating element. The RTD sensor loop can measure an average temperature along the heating element. Portions of the RTD sensor can be interlaced between portions of the heating element. The heating element path can be arranged with interstices between portions of the heating element path, and portions of the RTD sensor path can be positioned within the interstices to interlace the RTD sensor loop with the heating element. The RTD sensor loop can comprise a soft metal that is resistant to oxidation and extends along the RTD sensor path. | 09-18-2008 |
20080223293 | CLUSTER TOOL ARCHITECTURE FOR PROCESSING A SUBSTRATE - A cluster tool for processing a substrate includes a cassette and a processing module including a first process chamber that is configured to perform a chill process on a substrate, a second processing chamber that is configured to perform a bake process on the substrate, and an input chamber. The first processing chamber, the second processing chamber, and the input chamber are substantially adjacent to each other. The processing modules also includes a robot that is configured to receive the substrate in the input chamber and transfer and position the substrate in the first processing chamber and second processing chamber. The robot includes a robot blade, an actuator, and a heat exchanging device. The heat exchanging device includes a chilled transfer assembly. The cluster tool also includes a 6-axis articulated robot configured to transfer the substrate between the cassette and the input chamber. | 09-18-2008 |
20080212049 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS WITH HIGH THROUGHPUT DEVELOPMENT UNITS - A substrate processing apparatus is arranged adjacent to an exposure device and includes a processing section, a transfer section configured to carry the substrate into and out of the processing section, and an interface configured to receive and transfer the substrate between the processing section and the exposure device. The processing section includes a first processing unit having a photosensitive film formation region, a thermal processing region having a first thermal processing unit, and a first transport region having a first transport unit. The photosensitive film formation region is arranged opposite the thermal processing region with the first transport region interposed therebetween. The processing section also includes a second processing unit having a first development region, a second development region, and a second transport region having a second transport unit. The first development region is arranged opposite to the second development region with the second transport region interposed therebetween. | 09-04-2008 |
20080203058 | SUBSTRATE DEVELOPING METHOD AND DEVELOPING APPARATUS - A method for developing a substrate includes a developing step for supplying a developer to the substrate, and a neutralizing and removing step for supplying a treating solution containing a neutralizing material to the substrate to neutralize the developer, and neutralizing the developer and removing the developer from the substrate. In the neutralizing and removing step, the developer is neutralized by the treating solution. This neutralization reaction forms a product (salt) which easily melts into the treating solution and does not precipitate. Thus, the product is removable from the substrate along with the treating solution. Therefore, the developer is inhibited from remaining on the substrate. As a result, it is possible to prevent post-develop defects due to “residues of the developer” or the developer remaining on the substrate. | 08-28-2008 |
20080198342 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS WITH INTEGRATED TOP AND EDGE CLEANING UNIT - A substrate processing apparatus arranged adjacent to an exposure device includes a processing section that subjects a substrate to processing and an interface provided adjacent to one end of the processing section configured to transfer and receive the substrate between the processing section and the exposure device. The processing section includes a photosensitive film formation unit configured to form a photosensitive film composed of a photosensitive material on the substrate that has not been subjected to exposure processing by the exposure device, a top surface and edge cleaning unit configured to clean a top surface and an edge of the substrate, and a development unit configured to subject the substrate to development processing after the exposure processing by the exposure device. | 08-21-2008 |
20080198341 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS WITH INTEGRATED CLEANING UNIT - In a substrate processing apparatus, an indexer block, a resist film processing block, a cleaning/drying processing block, a development processing block, and an interface block are provided side by side in this order. An exposure device is arranged adjacent to the interface block. The exposure device subjects a substrate to exposure processing by means of a liquid immersion method. Substrate platforms are provided in close proximity one above the other between the cleaning/drying processing block and the development processing block for receiving and transferring the substrate therebetween. Reversing units that reverse one surface and the other surface of the substrate are respectively stacked above and below the substrate platforms. | 08-21-2008 |
20080196658 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS INCLUDING A SUBSTRATE REVERSING REGION - A substrate processing apparatus that is arranged adjacent to an exposure device includes a processing section including a first processing unit and a second processing unit. The first processing unit includes a development region, a first cleaning region, and a first transport region. The development region and the first cleaning region are arranged opposite to each other with the first transport region interposed therebetween. The second processing unit includes a reversing region, a second cleaning region, and a second transport region. The reversing region and the second cleaning region are arranged opposite to each other with the second transport region interposed therebetween. The second processing unit is arranged between the first processing unit and the exposure device. The substrate processing apparatus also includes a transfer section coupled to the processing section and an interface configured to receive and transfer the substrate between the processing section and the exposure device. | 08-21-2008 |