A substrate processing system includes a first main surface grinding device configured to grind, while holding a substrate from below with a first main surface of the substrate facing upwards, the first main surface of the substrate; a first inverting device configured to invert the substrate ground by the first main surface grinding device; and a second main surface grinding device configured to grin, while holding the ground first main surface of the substrate from below with a second main surface of the substrate facing upwards, the second main surface of the substrate.

A polishing apparatus is provided. The polishing apparatus includes: a polishing unit configured to polish a substrate by bringing a polishing tool into contact with the substrate and moving the substrate relatively to the polishing tool; a cleaning unit; and a first transfer robot configured to transfer the substrate before polishing to the polishing unit and/or configured to transfer the substrate after polishing from the polishing unit to the cleaning unit. The cleaning unit includes: at least one cleaning module, a buff processing module configured to perform a buff process to the substrate, and a second transfer robot configured to transfer the substrate between the cleaning module and the buff processing module, the second transfer robot being different from the first robot.

When processing of all the wafers accommodated in a first cassette mounted on a first cassette stage is ended, the last wafer is conveyed out from a holding surface of a chuck table, and the holding surface becomes vacant, the wafer accommodated in a second cassette mounted on a second cassette stage is immediately conveyed onto the holding surface, by control by a conveyance control section. When the wafer to be held by the holding surface is changed from the wafer conveyed out from the first cassette to the wafer conveyed out from the second cassette, processing conditions are changed over to the processing conditions corresponding to the second cassette stage, by changeover control by a changeover section.

A substrate processing apparatus includes a pair of first substrate chucks each configured to hold a substrate from below while allowing a first main surface of the substrate to face upwards; a pair of second substrate chucks each configured to hold the substrate from below while allowing a second main surface of the substrate opposite to the first main surface to face upwards; a rotary table which is configured to be rotated about a rotation axis; a first processing unit equipped with a first processing tool configured to process the first main surface of the substrate held by the first substrate chuck; and a second processing unit equipped with a second processing tool configured to process the second main surface of the substrate held by the second substrate chuck.

In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a method that includes forming a dielectric layer over a substrate and patterning the dielectric to form an opening in the dielectric layer. Further, a conductive material is formed within the opening of the dielectric layer. A planarization process is performed to remove portions of the conductive material arranged over the dielectric layer thereby forming a conductive feature within the opening of the dielectric layer. An anti-oxidation layer is formed on upper surfaces of the conductive feature, and then, the anti-oxidation layer is removed.

A cleaning device is described. In one embodiment, the cleaning device includes a cleaning member; a moving portion, a measurement portion, and a controller. The controller performs a reset operation in which the cleaning member is pressed against the reference member before cleaning, a cleaning member is moved in a direction away from the reference member after the measured value of the measurement portion reaches a predetermined reset load, when the measurement values of the measurement portion for each unit movement amount of the cleaning member become equal to each other at least twice consecutively, a position of the cleaning member at the time is set as a reference position of the cleaning member at the time of cleaning, and the measurement value of the measurement portion at the time is set as a pressing reference value at the time of cleaning.

According to one embodiment, there is provided a top ring for holding a substrate. The top ring comprises a substrate supporting surface, a retainer member disposed to surround an outer periphery of the substrate supporting surface, and a retainer guiding device configured to guide the retainer member so as to allow the retainer member to be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the substrate supporting surface, and support the retainer member so as to inhibit the retainer member from being displaced in a direction parallel to and away from the substrate supporting surface. The retainer guiding device is disposed in an inner side of the retainer member surrounding the substrate supporting surface.

A substrate warehouse stores a container housing a substrate, and includes a transfer-in part which allows the container to be mounted thereon when the container is transferred-in from an outside; a transfer-out part which allows the container to be mounted thereon when the container is transferred-out to the outside; and a standby part which allows the container standing by for transfer-out to the outside to be mounted thereon. Also included is a functional part including an inspection that performs processing of inspecting the substrate; a delivery part which allows the container to be mounted thereon when delivering the substrate between the functional part and the container; a container transfer mechanism which transfers the container in the substrate warehouse; and a substrate transfer mechanism which transfers the substrate between the functional part and the container mounted on the delivery part.

A cleaning apparatus capable of effectively removing dirt attached to a bottom surface of a heat exchanger, is disclosed. The cleaning apparatus cleans the heat exchanger for regulating a surface temperature of a polishing pad. This cleaning apparatus includes: a moving mechanism configured to move the heat exchanger between a temperature-regulating position in which the heat exchanger can exchange heat with the polishing pad, and a retreat position in which the heat exchanger is separated from a surface of the polishing pad; and a cleaning mechanism configured to clean a bottom surface of the heat exchanger moved to the retreat position The retreat position is located on a side of the polishing pad. The cleaning mechanism includes at least one cleaning nozzle for ejecting a cleaning liquid to the bottom surface of the heat exchanger, or a cleaning tank in which the bottom surface of the heat exchanger can be immersed.

A substrate polishing apparatus includes a processing station including a plurality of polishing platens having a polishing pad thereon, and a substrate support configured to hold a substrate therein, wherein the substrate support is positionable to simultaneously position a substrate supported therein against polishing pads on at least two of the plurality of polishing platens. The processing station can form a standalone polishing system, or be one of at least two processing statins in a polishing tool, where at least one other polishing station includes a polishing platen to support a polishing pad thereon.