G03F7/7075

SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING TOOL AND METHODS OF OPERATION

Some implementations described herein include operating components in a lithography system at variable speeds to reduce, minimize, and/or prevent particle generation due to rubbing of or collision between contact parts of the components. In some implementations, a component in a path of transfer of a semiconductor substrate in the lithography system is operated at a relatively high movement speed through a first portion of an actuation operation, and is operated at a reduced movement speed (e.g., a movement speed that is less than the high movement speed) through a second portion of the actuation operation in which contact parts of the component are to interact. The reduced movement speed reduces the likelihood of particle generation and/or release from the contact parts when the contact parts interact, while the high movement speed provides a high semiconductor substrate throughput in the lithography system.

Substrate treatment apparatus
11534859 · 2022-12-27 · ·

A substrate treatment apparatus includes a transport part to transport a transparent rectangular substrate, a substrate support part to support the substrate, light generators to irradiate two different lights onto the moving substrate, and sense the irradiated lights, and a controller to determine a posture of the substrate with reference to the sensed lights and control the transport part such that the substrate is seated on the substrate support part in a default posture that is preset. The controller determines the posture of the transparent rectangular substrate with respect to the default posture using a time difference between a time point at which a first light of the two different lights is not transmitted through an edge of the transparent rectangular substrate and a time point at which a second light of the two different lights is not transmitted through the edge of the transparent rectangular substrate.

Carrier system, exposure apparatus, carrier method, exposure method, device manufacturing method, and suction device
11511438 · 2022-11-29 · ·

A carrier system and method carries an object to an object mounting member provided with an object mounting section. The system includes: a measurement device which obtains information related to a flatness of the object; a carrier member that carries the object; and a controller which controls a driving speed of the carrier member using the information related to the flatness of the object obtained by the measurement device.

WAFER PROCESSING APPARATUS AND WAFER TRANSFER METHOD
20230057774 · 2023-02-23 ·

The present disclosure relates to a wafer processing apparatus and a wafer transfer method. The wafer processing apparatus includes: a first machine; a second machine, including a manipulator, the manipulator transfers a wafer to the machine through a connection port; the connection port is provided between the first machine and the second machine; door panels, provided on the first machine and used to close the connection port; a detector, for detecting a current position of the door panel; a driver, connected to the door panel, for driving the door panel to move to open or close the connection port; and a controller, connected to the detector, the driver and the manipulator, for controlling the door panel to move according to the current position of the door panel to open or close the connection port, and control the manipulator to transfer the wafer.

TEMPERATURE CONTROL DEVICE AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL METHOD
20230100048 · 2023-03-30 ·

A temperature control device and a temperature control method are provided. The temperature control device is located at an interface between a photoresist coating and developing machine and a lithography machine and includes: a temperature detection device, a gas flow generator and a controller. The temperature detection device and the gas flow generator are respectively connected to the controller. The temperature detection device is configured to detect an actual temperature at the interface in real time. The gas flow generator is at least configured to generate a gas flow sealing knife around the interface. The controller is configured to control the gas flow generator to generate the gas flow sealing knife responsive to that the actual temperature detected by the temperature detection device is not equal to the target temperature, to control the actual temperature at the interface to reach the target temperature through the gas flow sealing knife.

A LITHOGRAPHIC APPARATUS

A lithographic apparatus comprising: a clamping surface for supporting a substrate, wherein a property of the clamping surface is defined by at least one clamping surface parameter, and wherein the property of the clamping surface has been selected to exhibit low wear; a clamping apparatus for actuating a clamping operation between the clamping surface and the substrate, wherein the clamping operation is defined at least in part by at least one interface characteristic between the clamping surface and the substrate; and a processing station, operable to apply an adjustment to a first property of the substrate to optimize at least one interface characteristic of a particular clamping operation in dependence on the clamping surface parameter and at least one substrate surface parameter which defines a second property of the substrate.

Substrate treating apparatus and substrate treating method
11626309 · 2023-04-11 · ·

A substrate treating method includes measuring an alignment state of a substrate placed on a hand of a transfer unit that transfers the substrate, transferring the substrate to a substrate alignment unit by the transfer unit when the alignment state of the substrate is faulty, aligning a location of the substrate by the substrate alignment unit, and temporarily correcting the location of the substrate before the substrate is loaded on the substrate alignment unit when it is measured in the measuring of the alignment state that the alignment state of the substrate exceeds a sensor reading range.

METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SEMICONDUCTOR SAMPLE WORKFLOW
20170363549 · 2017-12-21 · ·

Apparatus and methods are described for the automated transfer and storage of transmission electron microscope (TEM) and scanning/transmission electron microscope (STEM) lamella samples throughout a semiconductor manufacturing facility using existing automation infrastructure such as a Front Opening Unified Pod (FOUP). Also provided are wafer facsimiles corresponding to outer dimensions of semiconductor, data storage or solar cell wafers, wherein the facsimiles adapted to store, carry and/or provide a testing platform for testing of samples taken from semiconductor, data storage or solar cell wafers.

LITHOGRAPHY SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF

A lithography system includes a table body, a wafer stage, a first sliding member, a second sliding member, a first cable, a first bracket, a rail guide, and a first protective film. The first sliding member is coupled to the wafer stage. The second sliding member is coupled to an edge of the table body, in which the first sliding member is coupled to a track of the second sliding member. The first bracket fixes the first cable, the first bracket being coupled to a roller structure, in which the roller structure includes a body and a wheel coupled to the body. The rail guide confines a movement of the wheel of the roller structure. The first protective film is adhered to a surface of the rail guide, in which the roller structure is moveable along the first protective film on the surface of the rail guide.

BUFFER UNIT AND SUBSTRATE TREATING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME

Disclosed are a buffer unit, in which a plurality of support plates is stacked in a vertical direction and a connection block is provided between the plurality of support plates to prevent vibration generated at the lower end of the support plate from being transmitted from the upper support plate, and a substrate treating apparatus. According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the vibration generated in the buffer unit, so that there is an effect of improving the efficiency of the substrate treating process.