公开(公告)号：US20080014058A1

公开(公告)日：2008-01-17

申请号：US11775355

申请日：2007-07-10

申请人： STEVE HONGKHAM ,  Eric Englhardt ,  Michael Rice ,  Helen Armer ,  Chongyang Wang

发明人： STEVE HONGKHAM ,  Eric Englhardt ,  Michael Rice ,  Helen Armer ,  Chongyang Wang

IPC分类号： B65H1/00

CPC分类号： H01L21/67745 ,  H01L21/67173 ,  H01L21/67178 ,  H01L21/67276

摘要： Methods and apparatus for processing substrates using a multi-chamber processing system (e.g., a cluster tool) that has an increased system throughput and repeatable wafer processing history are provided. In one embodiment a first substrate is transferred from a first position to a second position and then the first substrate is transferred from the second position to a third position using a first robot. A second substrate is transferred from a first position to a second position and then the second substrate is transferred from the second position to a third position using a second robot. The movement of the first and second robots is synchronized so that the movement from the first position to the second position by the first and second robot is performed within a first time interval.

摘要翻译： 提供了使用具有增加的系统吞吐量和可重复的晶片处理历史的多室处理系统（例如，集群工具）处理衬底的方法和装置。 在一个实施例中，第一衬底从第一位置转移到第二位置，然后使用第一机器人将第一衬底从第二位置转移到第三位置。 第二基底从第一位置转移到第二位置，然后使用第二机器人将第二基底从第二位置转移到第三位置。 第一机器人和第二机器人的移动被同步，使得在第一时间间隔内执行由第一和第二机器人从第一位置到第二位置的移动。

公开(公告)号：US20080051929A1

公开(公告)日：2008-02-28

申请号：US11775365

申请日：2007-07-10

申请人： Steve Hongkham ,  Eric Englhardt ,  Michael Rice ,  Helen Armer ,  Chongyang Wang

发明人： Steve Hongkham ,  Eric Englhardt ,  Michael Rice ,  Helen Armer ,  Chongyang Wang

IPC分类号： G06F17/00

CPC分类号： H01L21/67276

摘要： Methods and apparatus for increasing the processing throughput of multiple lots of semiconductor wafers through a cluster tool while maintaining a constant wafer history for each lot are provided. A first lot of wafers containing one through n-th wafers is introduced into a cluster tool containing one or more processing chambers. The first lot of wafers is processed for a first time period. A second lot of wafers containing one through n-th wafers is introduced into the cluster tool prior to completion of the first time period, wherein the second lot is introduced so as to minimize a time gap between the n-th wafer of the first lot of wafers and the first wafer of the second lot of wafers while maintaining a first constant wafer history for each wafer within the first lot and maintaining a second constant wafer history for each wafer in the second lot.

摘要翻译： 提供了通过集群工具增加多批半导体晶片的处理能力的方法和装置，同时保持每批的恒定的晶片历史。 包含一个至第n个晶片的第一批晶片被引入到包含一个或多个处理室的簇工具中。 第一批晶圆首次处理。 在第一时间段完成之前，将包含一个至第n个晶片的第二批晶片引入到该簇工具中，其中引入第二批以最小化第一批第n个晶片之间的时间间隔 的晶片和第二批晶片的第一晶片，同时保持第一批内的每个晶片的第一恒定晶片历史，并为第二批中的每个晶片保持第二恒定的晶片历史。

公开(公告)号：US20060134330A1

公开(公告)日：2006-06-22

申请号：US11112932

申请日：2005-04-22

申请人： Tetsuya Ishikawa ,  Rick Roberts ,  Helen Armer ,  Leon Volfovski ,  Jay Pinson ,  Michael Rice ,  David Quach ,  Mohsen Salek ,  Robert Lowrance ,  William Weaver ,  Charles Carlson ,  Chongyang Wang ,  Jeffrey Hudgens ,  Harald Herchen ,  Brian Lue ,  John Backer

发明人： Tetsuya Ishikawa ,  Rick Roberts ,  Helen Armer ,  Leon Volfovski ,  Jay Pinson ,  Michael Rice ,  David Quach ,  Mohsen Salek ,  Robert Lowrance ,  William Weaver ,  Charles Carlson ,  Chongyang Wang ,  Jeffrey Hudgens ,  Harald Herchen ,  Brian Lue ,  John Backer

IPC分类号： C23C16/00

CPC分类号： H01L21/67225 ,  G03B27/32 ,  G03D13/006 ,  G03F7/40 ,  G05B19/41825 ,  G05B2219/40476 ,  G05B2219/45031 ,  G05B2219/49137 ,  H01L21/67109 ,  H01L21/6715 ,  H01L21/67161 ,  H01L21/67173 ,  H01L21/67178 ,  H01L21/67184 ,  H01L21/6719 ,  H01L21/67196 ,  H01L21/67742 ,  H01L21/67745 ,  H01L21/67748 ,  H01L21/67754 ,  H01L21/6831 ,  H01L21/6838 ,  H01L21/68707 ,  H01L22/26 ,  Y02P90/087 ,  Y10S414/135 ,  Y10S414/136 ,  Y10T29/53187 ,  Y10T29/5323

摘要： Embodiments generally provide an apparatus and method for processing substrates using a multi-chamber processing system (e.g., a cluster tool) that has an increased system throughput, increased system reliability, substrates processed in the cluster tool have a more repeatable wafer history, and also the cluster tool has a smaller system footprint. In one embodiment, the cluster tool is adapted to perform a track lithography process in which a substrate is coated with a photosensitive material, is then transferred to a stepper/scanner, which exposes the photosensitive material to some form of radiation to form a pattern in the photosensitive material, which is then removed in a developing process completed in the cluster tool. In track lithography type cluster tools, since the chamber processing times tend to be rather short, and the number of processing steps required to complete a typical track system process is large, a significant portion of the time it takes to process a substrate is taken up by the processes of transferring the substrates in a cluster tool between the various processing chambers. In one embodiment of the cluster tool, the cost of ownership is reduced by grouping substrates together and transferring and processing the substrates in groups of two or more to improve system throughput, and reduces the number of moves a robot has to make to transfer a batch of substrates between the processing chambers, thus reducing wear on the robot and increasing system reliability. In one aspect of the invention, the substrate processing sequence and cluster tool are designed so that the substrate transferring steps performed during the processing sequence are only made to chambers that will perform the next processing step in the processing sequence. Embodiments also provide for a method and apparatus that are used to improve the coater chamber, the developer chamber, the post exposure bake chamber, the chill chamber, and the bake chamber process results. Embodiments also provide for a method and apparatus that are used to increase the reliability of the substrate transfer process to reduce system down time.

公开(公告)号：US20060286300A1

公开(公告)日：2006-12-21

申请号：US11458667

申请日：2006-07-19

申请人： Tetsuya Ishikawa ,  Rick Roberts ,  Helen Armer ,  Leon Volfovski ,  Jay Pinson ,  Michael Rice ,  David Quach ,  Mohsen Salek ,  Robert Lowrance ,  William Weaver ,  Charles Carlson ,  Chongyang Wang ,  Jeffrey Hudgens ,  Harald Herchen ,  Brian Lue ,  John Backer

发明人： Tetsuya Ishikawa ,  Rick Roberts ,  Helen Armer ,  Leon Volfovski ,  Jay Pinson ,  Michael Rice ,  David Quach ,  Mohsen Salek ,  Robert Lowrance ,  William Weaver ,  Charles Carlson ,  Chongyang Wang ,  Jeffrey Hudgens ,  Harald Herchen ,  Brian Lue ,  John Backer

IPC分类号： B05D1/40 ,  H01L21/677

CPC分类号： H01L21/67225 ,  G03B27/32 ,  G03D13/006 ,  G03F7/40 ,  G05B19/41825 ,  G05B2219/40476 ,  G05B2219/45031 ,  G05B2219/49137 ,  H01L21/67109 ,  H01L21/6715 ,  H01L21/67161 ,  H01L21/67173 ,  H01L21/67178 ,  H01L21/67184 ,  H01L21/6719 ,  H01L21/67196 ,  H01L21/67742 ,  H01L21/67745 ,  H01L21/67748 ,  H01L21/67754 ,  H01L21/6831 ,  H01L21/6838 ,  H01L21/68707 ,  H01L22/26 ,  Y02P90/087 ,  Y10S414/135 ,  Y10S414/136 ,  Y10T29/53187 ,  Y10T29/5323

摘要： Embodiments generally provide an apparatus and method for processing substrates using a multi-chamber processing system (e.g., a cluster tool) that has an increased system throughput, increased system reliability, substrates processed in the cluster tool have a more repeatable wafer history, and also the cluster tool has a smaller system footprint. In one embodiment, the cluster tool is adapted to perform a track lithography process in which a substrate is coated with a photosensitive material, is then transferred to a stepper/scanner, which exposes the photosensitive material to some form of radiation to form a pattern in the photosensitive material, which is then removed in a developing process completed in the cluster tool. In track lithography type cluster tools, since the chamber processing times tend to be rather short, and the number of processing steps required to complete a typical track system process is large, a significant portion of the time it takes to process a substrate is taken up by the processes of transferring the substrates in a cluster tool between the various processing chambers. In one embodiment of the cluster tool, the cost of ownership is reduced by grouping substrates together and transferring and processing the substrates in groups of two or more to improve system throughput, and reduces the number of moves a robot has to make to transfer a batch of substrates between the processing chambers, thus reducing wear on the robot and increasing system reliability. In one aspect of the invention, the substrate processing sequence and cluster tool are designed so that the substrate transferring steps performed during the processing sequence are only made to chambers that will perform the next processing step in the processing sequence. Embodiments also provide for a method and apparatus that are used to improve the coater chamber, the developer chamber, the post exposure bake chamber, the chill chamber, and the bake chamber process results. Embodiments also provide for a method and apparatus that are used to increase the reliability of the substrate transfer process to reduce system down time.

公开(公告)号：US20060278165A1

公开(公告)日：2006-12-14

申请号：US11458664

申请日：2006-07-19

申请人： Tetsuya Ishikawa ,  Rick Roberts ,  Helen Armer ,  Leon Volfovski ,  Jay Pinson ,  Michael Rice ,  David Quach ,  Mohsen Salek ,  Robert Lowrance ,  John Backer ,  William Weaver ,  Charles Carlson ,  Chongyang Wang ,  Jeffrey Hudgens ,  Harald Herchen ,  Brian Lue

发明人： Tetsuya Ishikawa ,  Rick Roberts ,  Helen Armer ,  Leon Volfovski ,  Jay Pinson ,  Michael Rice ,  David Quach ,  Mohsen Salek ,  Robert Lowrance ,  John Backer ,  William Weaver ,  Charles Carlson ,  Chongyang Wang ,  Jeffrey Hudgens ,  Harald Herchen ,  Brian Lue

IPC分类号： C23C16/00

CPC分类号： H01L21/67225 ,  G03B27/32 ,  G03D13/006 ,  G03F7/40 ,  G05B19/41825 ,  G05B2219/40476 ,  G05B2219/45031 ,  G05B2219/49137 ,  H01L21/67109 ,  H01L21/6715 ,  H01L21/67161 ,  H01L21/67173 ,  H01L21/67178 ,  H01L21/67184 ,  H01L21/6719 ,  H01L21/67196 ,  H01L21/67742 ,  H01L21/67745 ,  H01L21/67748 ,  H01L21/67754 ,  H01L21/6831 ,  H01L21/6838 ,  H01L21/68707 ,  H01L22/26 ,  Y02P90/087 ,  Y10S414/135 ,  Y10S414/136 ,  Y10T29/53187 ,  Y10T29/5323

摘要： Embodiments generally provide an apparatus and method for processing substrates using a multi-chamber processing system (e.g., a cluster tool) that has an increased system throughput, increased system reliability, substrates processed in the cluster tool have a more repeatable wafer history, and also the cluster tool has a smaller system footprint. In one embodiment, the cluster tool is adapted to perform a track lithography process in which a substrate is coated with a photosensitive material, is then transferred to a stepper/scanner, which exposes the photosensitive material to some form of radiation to form a pattern in the photosensitive material, which is then removed in a developing process completed in the cluster tool. In track lithography type cluster tools, since the chamber processing times tend to be rather short, and the number of processing steps required to complete a typical track system process is large, a significant portion of the time it takes to process a substrate is taken up by the processes of transferring the substrates in a cluster tool between the various processing chambers. In one embodiment of the cluster tool, the cost of ownership is reduced by grouping substrates together and transferring and processing the substrates in groups of two or more to improve system throughput, and reduces the number of moves a robot has to make to transfer a batch of substrates between the processing chambers, thus reducing wear on the robot and increasing system reliability. In one aspect of the invention, the substrate processing sequence and cluster tool are designed so that the substrate transferring steps performed during the processing sequence are only made to chambers that will perform the next processing step in the processing sequence. Embodiments also provide for a method and apparatus that are used to improve the coater chamber, the developer chamber, the post exposure bake chamber, the chill chamber, and the bake chamber process results. Embodiments also provide for a method and apparatus that are used to increase the reliability of the substrate transfer process to reduce system down time.

公开(公告)号：US20060130750A1

公开(公告)日：2006-06-22

申请号：US11112281

申请日：2005-04-22

申请人： Tetsuya Ishikawa ,  Rick Roberts ,  Helen Armer ,  Leon Volfovski ,  Jay Pinson ,  Mike Rice ,  David Quach ,  Mohsen Salek ,  Robert Lowrance ,  John Backer ,  William Weaver ,  Charles Carlson ,  Chongyang Wang ,  Jeffrey Hudgens ,  Harald Herchen ,  Brian Lue

发明人： Tetsuya Ishikawa ,  Rick Roberts ,  Helen Armer ,  Leon Volfovski ,  Jay Pinson ,  Mike Rice ,  David Quach ,  Mohsen Salek ,  Robert Lowrance ,  John Backer ,  William Weaver ,  Charles Carlson ,  Chongyang Wang ,  Jeffrey Hudgens ,  Harald Herchen ,  Brian Lue

IPC分类号： C23C14/00 ,  B05C5/00 ,  B05C11/00

CPC分类号： H01L21/67225 ,  G03B27/32 ,  G03D13/006 ,  G03F7/40 ,  G05B19/41825 ,  G05B2219/40476 ,  G05B2219/45031 ,  G05B2219/49137 ,  H01L21/67109 ,  H01L21/6715 ,  H01L21/67161 ,  H01L21/67173 ,  H01L21/67178 ,  H01L21/67184 ,  H01L21/6719 ,  H01L21/67196 ,  H01L21/67742 ,  H01L21/67745 ,  H01L21/67748 ,  H01L21/67754 ,  H01L21/6831 ,  H01L21/6838 ,  H01L21/68707 ,  H01L22/26 ,  Y02P90/087 ,  Y10S414/135 ,  Y10S414/136 ,  Y10T29/53187 ,  Y10T29/5323

摘要： Embodiments generally provide an apparatus and method for processing substrates using a multi-chamber processing system (e.g., a cluster tool) that has an increased system throughput, increased system reliability, substrates processed in the cluster tool have a more repeatable wafer history, and also the cluster tool has a smaller system footprint. In one embodiment, the cluster tool is adapted to perform a track lithography process in which a substrate is coated with a photosensitive material, is then transferred to a stepper/scanner, which exposes the photosensitive material to some form of radiation to form a pattern in the photosensitive material, which is then removed in a developing process completed in the cluster tool. In track lithography type cluster tools, since the chamber processing times tend to be rather short, and the number of processing steps required to complete a typical track system process is large, a significant portion of the time it takes to process a substrate is taken up by the processes of transferring the substrates in a cluster tool between the various processing chambers. In one embodiment of the cluster tool, the cost of ownership is reduced by grouping substrates together and transferring and processing the substrates in groups of two or more to improve system throughput, and reduces the number of moves a robot has to make to transfer a batch of substrates between the processing chambers, thus reducing wear on the robot and increasing system reliability. In one aspect of the invention, the substrate processing sequence and cluster tool are designed so that the substrate transferring steps performed during the processing sequence are only made to chambers that will perform the next processing step in the processing sequence. Embodiments also provide for a method and apparatus that are used to improve the coater chamber, the developer chamber, the post exposure bake chamber, the chill chamber, and the bake chamber process results. Embodiments also provide for a method and apparatus that are used to increase the reliability of the substrate transfer process to reduce system down time.

公开(公告)号：US20050239293A1

公开(公告)日：2005-10-27

申请号：US10830203

申请日：2004-04-21

申请人： Zhenjiang Cui ,  Josephine Chang ,  Alexandros Demos ,  Reza Arghavani ,  Derek Witty ,  Helen Armer ,  Girish Dixit ,  Hichem M'Saad

发明人： Zhenjiang Cui ,  Josephine Chang ,  Alexandros Demos ,  Reza Arghavani ,  Derek Witty ,  Helen Armer ,  Girish Dixit ,  Hichem M'Saad

IPC分类号： H01L21/314 ,  H01L21/316 ,  H01L21/4763 ,  H01L21/26 ,  H01L21/31 ,  H01L21/324 ,  H01L21/42 ,  H01L21/469 ,  H01L21/477

CPC分类号： H01L21/31633 ,  H01L21/02126 ,  H01L21/02216 ,  H01L21/02274 ,  H01L21/02348 ,  H01L21/02351

摘要： A method of depositing a low dielectric constant film on a substrate and post-treating the low dielectric constant film is provided. The post-treatment includes rapidly heating the low dielectric constant film to a desired high temperature and then rapidly cooling the low dielectric constant film such that the low dielectric constant film is exposed to the desired high temperature for about five seconds or less. In one aspect, the post-treatment also includes exposing the low dielectric constant film to an electron beam treatment and/or UV radiation.

摘要翻译： 提供了一种在衬底上沉积低介电常数膜并对低介电常数膜进行后处理的方法。 后处理包括将低介电常数膜快速加热到期望的高温，然后快速冷却低介电常数膜，使得低介电常数膜暴露于所需的高温约5秒或更短。 一方面，后处理还包括将低介电常数膜暴露于电子束处理和/或UV辐射。

公开(公告)号：US20080050679A1

公开(公告)日：2008-02-28

申请号：US11678034

申请日：2007-02-22

申请人： Mohsen Salek ,  Tetsuya Ishikawa ,  Christoper Beaudry ,  Steven Verhaverbeke ,  Helen Armer ,  Harald Herchen ,  Leon Volfovsky

发明人： Mohsen Salek ,  Tetsuya Ishikawa ,  Christoper Beaudry ,  Steven Verhaverbeke ,  Helen Armer ,  Harald Herchen ,  Leon Volfovsky

IPC分类号： G03C5/29 ,  G03B27/58

CPC分类号： G03B27/58 ,  G03F7/70341

摘要： A method of processing a substrate includes forming a coating layer over a front surface of the substrate and exposing the coating layer in an immersion scanner. The coating layer may include a photoresist layer. The method also includes performing one or more immersion processes on the substrate after exposure. As an example, the one or more immersion processes include an immersion post-exposure bake process.

摘要翻译： 一种处理衬底的方法包括在衬底的前表面上形成涂层，并在浸没式扫描仪中曝光该涂层。 涂层可以包括光致抗蚀剂层。 该方法还包括在曝光之后在衬底上执行一个或多个浸渍处理。 作为示例，一个或多个浸渍处理包括浸渍曝光后烘烤处理。

公开(公告)号：US20050092935A1

公开(公告)日：2005-05-05

申请号：US10698726

申请日：2003-10-30

申请人： Alexandros Demos ,  Hari Ponnekanti ,  Jun Zhao ,  Helen Armer

发明人： Alexandros Demos ,  Hari Ponnekanti ,  Jun Zhao ,  Helen Armer

IPC分类号： H01J37/077 ,  H01J37/317

CPC分类号： H01J37/317 ,  H01J3/025 ,  H01J37/077

摘要： One embodiment of the present invention is an electron beam treatment apparatus that includes: (a) a chamber; (b) a cathode having a surface of relatively large area that is exposed to an inside of the chamber; (c) an anode having holes therein that is disposed inside the chamber and spaced apart from the cathode by a working distance; (d) a wafer holder disposed inside the chamber facing the anode; (e) a source of negative voltage whose output is applied to the cathode to provide a cathode voltage; (f) a source of voltage whose output is applied to the anode; (g) a gas inlet adapted to admit gas into the chamber at an introduction rate; and (h) a pump adapted to exhaust gas from the chamber at an exhaust rate, the introduction rate and the exhaust rate providing a gas pressure in the chamber; wherein values of cathode voltage, gas pressure, and the working distance are such that there is no arcing between the cathode and anode and the working distance is greater than an electron mean free path.

摘要翻译： 本发明的一个实施例是一种电子束处理装置，包括：（a）室; （b）具有暴露于所述室内部的相对较大面积表面的阴极; （c）其中具有孔的阳极，其设置在室内并与阴极间隔开工作距离; （d）设置在面向阳极的腔室内的晶片保持器; （e）负电压源，其输出被施加到阴极以提供阴极电压; （f）其输出端施加到阳极的电压源; （g）气体入口，其适于以引入速率将气体引入所述腔室; 以及（h）适于以排气速度从所述室排出气体的泵，所述引入速率和排气速率在所述室中提供气体压力; 其中阴极电压，气体压力和工作距离的值使得阴极和阳极之间没有电弧，并且工作距离大于电子平均自由程。

公开(公告)号：US07082345B2

公开(公告)日：2006-07-25

申请号：US10172977

申请日：2002-06-18

申请人： Arulkumar P. Shanmugasundram ,  Helen Armer ,  Alexander T. Schwarm

发明人： Arulkumar P. Shanmugasundram ,  Helen Armer ,  Alexander T. Schwarm

IPC分类号： G06F19/00 ,  G05B13/02

CPC分类号： B24B53/017 ,  B24B37/042 ,  B24B49/03 ,  B24B49/18 ,  G05B19/00 ,  G05B19/19 ,  G05B19/41865 ,  G05B2219/32053 ,  G05B2219/32065 ,  G05B2219/45031 ,  H01L21/31053 ,  H01L21/67253 ,  H01L21/67276 ,  H01L22/20 ,  Y02P90/14 ,  Y02P90/18 ,  Y02P90/20

摘要： The invention relates to a method, system and computer program useful for producing a product, such as a microelectronic device, for example in an assembly line, where the production facility includes parallel production of assembly lines of products on identically configured chambers, tools and/or modules. Control is provided between such chambers. Behaviors of a batch of wafers (or of each wafer) are collected as the first batch (or each wafer) is processed by one of the identically configured chambers in one assembly line to produce the microelectronic device. The information relating to the behavior is shared with a controller of another one (or more) of the identically configured chambers, process tools and/or modules, to provide an adjustment of the process tool and thereby to produce a second batch (or next wafer) which is substantially identical, within tolerance, to the first batch (or wafer).