US Patent No: 7,819,079

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

Cartesian cluster tool configuration for lithography type processes

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ALSO PUBLISHED AS: 20070144439
ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)
 

Importance

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Abstract

The present invention generally provides an apparatus and method for processing substrates using a multi-chamber processing system (e.g., a cluster tool) that is easily configurable, has an increased system throughput, increased system reliability, improved device yield performance, a more repeatable wafer processing history (or wafer history), and a reduced 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, and then certain portions of the photosensitive material are removed in a developing process completed in the cluster tool.

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First Claim

Related Publications

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddressTotal Patents
APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.SANTA CLARA, CA6777

International Classification(s)

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Armer, Helen R Cupertino, CA 30 125
Carlson, Charles Cedar Park, TX 37 172
Englhardt, Eric A Palo Alto, CA 82 478
Hongkham, Steve San Ramon, CA 2 3
Hudgens, Jeffrey C San Francisco, CA 117 674
Pinson, Jay D San Jose, CA 26 153
Rice, Michael R Pleasanton, CA 98 776
Salek, Mohsen Saratoga, CA 10 110
Weaver, William T Austin, TX 21 14

Cited Art

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED (272)
4,855,775 Developing apparatus 15 1988
4,982,694 Automatic coating system 26 1989
4,899,686 Coating device 29 1989
5,002,008 Coating apparatus and method for applying a liquid to a semiconductor wafer, including selecting a nozzle in a stand-by state 56 1989
5,061,144 Resist process apparatus 123 1989
5,070,813 Coating apparatus 23 1990
5,127,362 Liquid coating device 82 1990
5,151,871 Method for heat-processing semiconductor device and apparatus for the same 35 1990
5,035,200 Processing liquid supply unit 32 1990
5,089,305 Coating apparatus and method for applying a liquid to a semiconductor wafer including selecting a nozzle on a stand by state 36 1990
5,250,114 Coating apparatus with nozzle moving means 32 1991
5,254,367 Coating method and apparatus 22 1992
5,240,556 Surface-heating apparatus and surface-treating method 38 1992
5,275,658 Liquid supply apparatus 25 1992
5,339,128 Resist processing method 45 1993
5,416,047 Method for applying process solution to substrates 20 1993
5,401,316 Method and apparatus for hydrophobic treatment 77 1993
5,580,607 Coating apparatus and method 51 1994
5,505,781 Hydrophobic processing apparatus including a liquid delivery system 29 1994
5,658,615 Method of forming coating film and apparatus therefor 109 1994
5,536,918 Heat treatment apparatus utilizing flat heating elements for treating semiconductor wafers 66 1994
5,633,040 Method and apparatus for treating film coated on substrate 15 1994
5,514,852 Heat treatment device 16 1994
5,608,943 Apparatus for removing process liquid 112 1994
5,501,870 Method and apparatus for hydrophobic treatment 21 1995
5,626,913 Resist processing method and apparatus 47 1995
5,803,932 Resist processing apparatus having an interface section including two stacked substrate waiting tables 30 1995
5,695,817 Method of forming a coating film 51 1995
5,689,749 Apparatus for developing a resist-coated substrate 32 1995
5,665,200 Substrate processing method and substrate processing apparatus 23 1995
5,762,708 Coating apparatus therefor 68 1995
5,762,745 Substrate processing apparatus 37 1995
5,672,205 Coating apparatus 25 1995
5,625,433 Apparatus and method for developing resist coated on a substrate 41 1995
5,620,560 Method and apparatus for heat-treating substrate 36 1995
5,817,156 Substrate heat treatment table apparatus 25 1995
6,033,475 Resist processing apparatus 30 1995
5,941,083 Cooling device and cooling method 28 1996
5,681,614 Hydrophobic treatment method involving delivery of a liquid process agent to a process space 18 1996
5,711,809 Coating apparatus and method of controlling the same 21 1996
5,834,737 Heat treating apparatus 27 1996
5,688,322 Apparatus for coating resist on substrate 45 1996
5,942,035 Solvent and resist spin coating apparatus 62 1996
5,772,764 Coating apparatus 45 1996
5,989,346 Semiconductor processing apparatus 61 1996
5,779,796 Resist processing method and apparatus 60 1996
6,228,561 Film forming method and film forming apparatus 17 1997
5,932,380 Method of processing resist utilizing alkaline component monitoring 19 1997
5,906,860 Apparatus for treating a substrate with resist and resist-treating method 22 1997
5,854,953 Method for developing treatment 34 1997
5,939,130 Coating film forming method and coating film forming apparatus 43 1997
5,826,130 Apparatus and method for developing resist coated on substrate 17 1997
5,853,812 Method and apparatus for processing substrates 15 1997
5,845,170 Developing method 18 1997
6,010,570 Apparatus for forming coating film for semiconductor processing 21 1997
5,912,054 Coating method and apparatus 16 1997
5,938,847 Method and apparatus for coating a film on an object being processed 26 1997
5,919,520 Coating method and apparatus for semiconductor process 56 1997
5,974,682 Cooling process system 49 1997
5,972,110 Resist processing system 31 1997
5,866,307 Resist processing method and resist processing system 14 1997
5,942,013 Substrate processing system 24 1997
5,871,584 Processing apparatus and processing method 53 1997
5,965,200 Processing apparatus and processing method 30 1997
5,908,657 Coating apparatus and method of controlling the same 16 1997
5,923,915 Method and apparatus for processing resist 20 1997
5,976,256 Film coating apparatus 25 1997
5,960,225 Substrate treatment apparatus 27 1997
6,015,066 Liquid supplying device 11 1997
5,945,161 Apparatus and method for supplying process solution to surface of substrate to be processed 38 1997
6,190,063 Developing method and apparatus 23 1998
6,002,108 Baking apparatus and baking method 34 1998
5,968,691 Method and apparatus for coating resist and developing the coated resist 63 1998
6,126,725 Deaerating apparatus and treatment apparatus with gas permeable films 16 1998
5,943,880 Cooling apparatus, cooling method, and processing apparatus 21 1998
5,993,518 Deaerating apparatus, deaerating method, and treatment apparatus 21 1998
6,056,998 Coating apparatus and coating method 35 1998
6,004,047 Method of and apparatus for processing photoresist, method of evaluating photoresist film, and processing apparatus using the evaluation method 78 1998
6,062,240 Treatment device 23 1998
5,970,717 Cooling method, cooling apparatus and treatment apparatus 27 1998
6,013,317 Coating apparatus and method therefor 17 1998
6,117,486 Photoresist coating method and apparatus 27 1998
6,062,288 Processing apparatus 26 1998
6,227,786 Substrate treating apparatus 13 1998
6,207,231 Coating film forming method and coating apparatus 18 1998
6,143,478 Resist processing method 11 1998
6,063,439 Processing apparatus and method using solution 21 1998
6,053,977 Coating apparatus 14 1998
6,284,043 Solution treatment apparatus 23 1998
6,104,002 Heat treating apparatus 20 1998
6,113,695 Coating unit 20 1998
6,012,858 Apparatus and method for forming liquid film 32 1998
6,147,329 Resist processing system and resist processing method 16 1998
6,306,455 Substrate processing method 27 1998
6,203,969 Resist processing apparatus which measures temperature of heat-sensing substrate and measuring method therein 14 1998
6,217,657 Resist processing system having process solution deaeration mechanism 10 1998
6,159,541 Spin coating process 19 1998
6,168,665 Substrate processing apparatus 11 1998
6,300,043 Method of forming resist film 11 1998
6,222,161 Heat treatment apparatus 25 1999
6,087,632 Heat processing device with hot plate and associated reflector 32 1999
6,391,111 Coating apparatus 20 1999
6,156,125 Adhesion apparatus 12 1999
6,228,171 Heat processing apparatus 21 1999
6,229,116 Heat treatment apparatus 24 1999
6,257,778 Method for developing front surface of substrate with improved developing function of developing solution and apparatus thereof 9 1999
6,291,800 Heat treatment apparatus and substrate processing system 30 1999
6,169,274 Heat treatment apparatus and method, detecting temperatures at plural positions each different in depth in holding plate, and estimating temperature of surface of plate corresponding to detected result 26 1999
6,419,408 Developing process and developing unit 19 1999
6,202,653 Processing solution supplying apparatus, processing apparatus and processing method 11 1999
6,368,776 Treatment apparatus and treatment method 17 1999
6,749,688 Coating method and apparatus for semiconductor process 20 1999
6,261,365 Heat treatment method, heat treatment apparatus and treatment system 14 1999
6,017,663 Method of processing resist utilizing alkaline component monitoring 10 1999
6,063,190 Method of forming coating film and apparatus therefor 49 1999
6,221,787 Apparatus and method of forming resist film 24 1999
6,268,013 Coating a resist film, with pretesting for particle contamination 16 1999
6,183,147 Process solution supply system, substrate processing apparatus employing the system, and intermediate storage mechanism employed in the system 12 1999
6,241,403 Developing method and developing apparatus 16 1999
6,281,145 Apparatus and method for applying process solution 18 1999
6,318,948 Substrate transfer apparatus and substrate processing apparatus 16 1999
6,210,481 Apparatus and method of cleaning nozzle and apparatus of processing substrate 20 1999
6,635,113 Coating apparatus and coating method 14 1999
6,191,394 Heat treating apparatus 22 1999
6,266,125 Resist processing method and apparatus 24 1999
6,193,783 Apparatus and method for supplying a process solution 23 1999
6,416,583 Film forming apparatus and film forming method 58 1999
6,258,167 Process liquid film forming apparatus 16 1999
6,129,546 Heat process apparatus and heat process method 28 1999
6,444,029 Multistage spin type substrate processing system 18 1999
6,246,030 Heat processing method and apparatus 22 1999
6,216,475 Cooling device and cooling method 13 1999
6,261,007 Substrate process method and substrate process apparatus 25 1999
6,361,600 Film forming apparatus and film forming method 13 1999
6,451,515 Substrate treating method 17 1999
6,292,250 Substrate process apparatus 16 1999
6,261,744 Baking apparatus and baking method 13 1999
6,097,005 Substrate processing apparatus and substrate processing method 46 1999
6,238,107 Developing apparatus 16 1999
6,051,349 Apparatus for coating resist and developing the coated resist 33 1999
6,402,844 Substrate processing method and substrate processing unit 14 1999
6,185,370 Heating apparatus for heating an object to be processed 17 1999
6,299,938 Apparatus and method of applying resist 10 1999
6,313,903 Resist coating and developing unit 34 2000
6,410,194 Resist film forming method and resist coating apparatus 11 2000
6,654,668 Processing apparatus, processing system, distinguishing method, and detecting method 11 2000
6,398,429 Developing method and developing apparatus 10 2000
6,238,848 Developing method and developing apparatus 10 2000
6,371,667 Film forming method and film forming apparatus 30 2000
6,319,317 Coating film forming method and coating apparatus 24 2000
6,432,199 Apparatus and method for processing a substrate 16 2000
6,267,516 Developing apparatus and developing nozzle 21 2000
6,382,849 Developing method and developing apparatus 15 2000
6,464,789 Substrate processing apparatus 22 2000
6,656,281 Substrate processing apparatus and substrate processing method 10 2000
6,293,713 Substrate processing apparatus 17 2000
6,238,109 Processing solution supply apparatus 16 2000
6,475,279 Substrate processing apparatus and substrate processing method 12 2000
6,241,402 Developing apparatus and method thereof 11 2000
6,332,723 Substrate processing apparatus and method 20 2000
6,450,805 Hot plate cooling method and heat processing apparatus 15 2000
6,533,864 Solution processing apparatus and method 24 2000
6,485,893 Resist pattern forming method and film forming method 10 2000
6,458,208 Film forming apparatus 14 2000
6,536,964 Substrate processing system and substrate processing method 11 2000
6,402,509 Substrate processing apparatus and substrate processing method 26 2000
6,379,056 Substrate processing apparatus 15 2000
6,514,073 Resist processing method and resist processing apparatus 17 2000
6,514,343 Coating apparatus 11 2000
6,447,608 Spin coating apparatus 15 2000
6,534,750 Heat treatment unit and heat treatment method 13 2000
6,402,400 Substrate processing apparatus 23 2000
6,514,570 Solution processing apparatus and method 33 2000
6,527,860 Substrate processing apparatus 20 2000
6,364,547 Solution processing apparatus 18 2000
6,431,769 Substrate processing system and substrate processing method 12 2000
6,602,382 Solution processing apparatus 16 2000
6,851,872 Substrate processing apparatus and substrate processing method 15 2000
6,537,373 Method of forming film and apparatus thereof 15 2000
6,599,366 Substrate processing unit and processing method 16 2000
6,461,438 Heat treatment unit, cooling unit and cooling treatment method 13 2000
6,709,523 Silylation treatment unit and method 17 2000
6,692,219 Reduced edge contact wafer handling system and method of retrofitting and using same 12 2000
6,402,508 Heat and cooling treatment apparatus and substrate processing system 14 2000
6,383,948 Coating film forming apparatus and coating film forming method 18 2000
6,676,757 Coating film forming apparatus and coating unit 21 2000
6,695,922 Film forming unit 13 2000
6,514,344 Film forming unit 9 2000
6,605,153 Coating film forming apparatus 13 2000
6,616,760 Film forming unit 13 2000
6,384,894 Developing method and developing unit 19 2001
6,287,390 Apparatus and method of cleaning nozzle and apparatus of processing substrate 11 2001
6,450,803 Heat treatment apparatus 12 2001
6,340,643 Treatment solution supply method 20 2001
6,620,251 Substrate processing method and substrate processing apparatus 12 2001
6,551,448 Heat processing apparatus of substrate 10 2001
6,634,806 Substrate processing method and substrate processing apparatus 17 2001
6,503,003 Film forming method and film forming apparatus 10 2001
6,551,400 Coating apparatus 12 2001
6,578,772 Treatment solution supply apparatus and treatment solution supply method 14 2001
6,633,022 Substrate processing apparatus and substrate processing method 13 2001
6,617,095 Evaluating method of hydrophobic process, forming method of resist pattern, and forming system of resist pattern 14 2001
6,541,376 Film forming method and film forming apparatus 12 2001
6,491,452 Developing method and developing apparatus 10 2001
6,474,986 Hot plate cooling method and heat processing apparatus 32 2001
6,402,399 Developing method and developing apparatus 9 2001
6,496,245 Developing method and developing apparatus 13 2001
6,589,339 Method of coating film, coating unit, aging unit, solvent replacement unit, and apparatus for coating film 11 2001
6,471,421 Developing unit and developing method 11 2001
6,518,199 Method and system for coating and developing 12 2001
6,579,370 Apparatus and method for coating treatment 10 2001
6,526,329 Substrate processing system and substrate processing method 26 2001
6,706,321 Developing treatment method and developing treatment unit 9 2001
6,443,641 Substrate process method and substrate process apparatus 17 2001
6,507,770 Substrate processing system and substrate processing method 21 2001
6,541,170 Resist processing method controlled through reflectivity data 14 2001
6,620,245 Liquid coating apparatus with temperature controlling manifold 9 2001
6,821,550 Apparatus and method for applying process solution 10 2001
6,527,861 Developing apparatus with a porous film nozzle 13 2001
6,568,847 Judging method and processing apparatus 14 2001
6,380,518 Heat treatment apparatus and substrate processing system 19 2001
6,837,631 Substrate processing method and substrate processing apparatus 11 2001
6,726,771 Treatment solution supply method and treatment solution supply unit 14 2001
6,616,762 Treatment solution supply apparatus and treatment solution supply method 18 2001
6,752,872 Coating unit and coating method 12 2001
6,485,782 Coating film forming method and coating apparatus 15 2001
6,715,943 Solution treatment method and solution treatment unit 20 2001
6,501,191 Heat treatment apparatus and method 12 2001
6,814,809 Coating and developing apparatus and pattern forming method 11 2001
6,834,210 Substrate processing system and substrate processing method 13 2001
6,573,031 Apparatus and method of thermal processing and method of pattern formation 11 2001
6,744,020 Heat processing apparatus 10 2001
6,644,965 Substrate processing apparatus and substrate processing method 20 2002
6,659,661 Substrate processing apparatus 14 2002
6,716,478 Coating film forming apparatus and coating film forming method 10 2002
6,860,945 Substrate coating unit and substrate coating method 9 2002
6,713,239 Developing method and developing apparatus 11 2002
6,843,259 Solution treatment unit 10 2002
6,824,616 Substrate processing method and substrate processing system 12 2002
6,471,422 Substrate processing apparatus and substrate processing method 25 2002
6,773,510 Substrate processing unit 10 2002
6,884,294 Coating film forming method and apparatus 11 2002
6,620,244 Resist film forming method and resist coating apparatus 10 2002
6,852,194 Processing apparatus, transferring apparatus and transferring method 28 2002
6,627,263 Film forming apparatus and film forming method 45 2002
6,753,508 Heating apparatus and heating method 19 2002
6,869,640 Coating film forming method and coating film forming apparatus 10 2002
6,683,006 Film forming method and film forming apparatus 11 2002
6,713,120 Substrate processing system and substrate processing method 10 2002
6,841,342 Substrate processing apparatus and substrate processing method 13 2002
6,808,566 Reduced-pressure drying unit and coating film forming method 12 2002
6,811,962 Method for developing processing and apparatus for supplying developing solution 14 2002
6,878,216 Substrate processing method and substrate processing system 9 2002
6,686,571 Heat treatment unit, cooling unit and cooling treatment method 9 2002
6,761,125 Coating film forming system 9 2002
6,672,779 Substrate processing apparatus and substrate processing method 13 2002
6,878,401 Substrate processing method 10 2002
6,809,036 Dry silylation plasma etch process 9 2002
6,709,174 Apparatus and method for development 13 2002
6,790,283 Coating apparatus 9 2002
6,811,613 Coating film forming apparatus 9 2002
6,736,556 Substrate processing apparatus 15 2002
6,730,599 Film forming method and film forming apparatus 12 2003
6,673,151 Substrate processing apparatus 12 2003
6,815,647 Heat treatment unit and heat treatment method 11 2003
7,279,067 Port structure in semiconductor processing system 10 2003
6,796,054 Low-pressure dryer and low-pressure drying method 16 2003
6,780,795 Heat treatment apparatus for preventing an initial temperature drop when consecutively processing a plurality of objects 9 2003
6,848,625 Process liquid supply mechanism and process liquid supply method 13 2003
6,872,256 Film forming unit 11 2003
6,817,790 Substrate processing method and substrate processing apparatus 14 2003
6,830,774 Coating method 9 2004
 
DAINIPPON SCREEN MFG. CO., LTD. (157)
4,634,655 Method of forming corrosion resistant film on the surface of substrate composed of copper or copper alloy 10 1985
4,750,505 Apparatus for processing wafers and the like 71 1986
4,830,888 Surface treatment method and apparatus thereof 14 1986
4,756,047 Apparatus for removing organic substance from substrate 24 1986
4,803,734 Method of and apparatus for detecting pattern defects 30 1986
4,755,257 Method of processing thin metal sheets by photoetching 20 1987
4,871,417 Method and apparatus for surface treating of substrates 105 1987
4,788,994 Wafer holding mechanism 112 1987
4,838,979 Apparatus for processing substrate surface 54 1987
4,774,552 Apparatus for and method of positioning and holding photosensitive material 12 1987
4,846,623 Wafer transferring device 24 1987
4,856,641 Apparatus and a method for carrying wafers 23 1987
4,922,278 Developing apparatus 10 1988
4,870,923 Apparatus for treating the surfaces of wafers 82 1988
4,857,949 Device for venting fumes given off by automatic developing equipment 11 1988
4,985,720 Method of controlling temperature for drying photosensitive material 13 1988
4,892,761 Surface treatment method and apparatus therefor 15 1988
4,895,604 Method and apparatus for rinsing materials or articles 12 1988
4,923,054 Wafer transfer apparatus having an improved wafer transfer portion 56 1988
4,924,800 Apparatus for applying photo-resist to substrate 28 1989
4,924,073 Method of controlling heat treatment apparatus for substrate 55 1989
4,919,073 Surface treatment method and apparatus thereof 13 1989
5,032,217 System for treating a surface of a rotating wafer 82 1989
4,966,094 Surface treatment method and apparatus therefor 16 1989
4,987,687 Rotary wafer drier 25 1989
4,998,021 Method of detecting an end point of surface treatment 50 1989
5,174,855 Surface treating apparatus and method using vapor 36 1990
5,078,832 Method of treating wafer surface 64 1990
5,180,431 Apparatus for applying liquid agent on surface of rotating substrate 50 1990
5,020,200 Apparatus for treating a wafer surface 62 1990
5,065,178 Photosensitive material detecting apparatus 11 1990
5,234,499 Spin coating apparatus 37 1991
5,201,653 Substrate heat-treating apparatus 15 1991
5,307,109 Method and apparatus for processing photosensitive material 17 1991
5,349,412 Method and apparatus for processing photosensitive material 19 1991
5,209,180 Spin coating apparatus with an upper spin plate cleaning nozzle 54 1992
5,322,079 Substrate holding apparatus of a simple structure for holding a rotating substrate, and a substrate processing apparatus including the substrate holding apparatus 24 1992
5,331,987 Apparatus and method for rinsing and drying substrate 44 1992
5,359,785 Substrate transport apparatus 17 1992
5,438,209 Apparatus for detecting position of a notch in a semiconductor wafer 32 1993
5,436,848 Method of and device for transporting semiconductor substrate in semiconductor processing system 75 1993
5,308,210 Interface apparatus for transporting substrates between substrate processing apparatus 16 1993
5,430,271 Method of heat treating a substrate with standby and treatment time periods 43 1993
5,411,076 Substrate cooling device and substrate heat-treating apparatus 56 1994
5,485,644 Substrate treating apparatus 63 1994
5,376,216 Device for holding and rotating a substrate 24 1994
5,514,215 Treating liquid supplying apparatus for a substrate spin treating apparatus 13 1994
5,520,744 Device for rinsing and drying substrate 132 1994
5,674,410 Chemical agent producing device and method thereof 36 1994
5,599,394 Apparatus for delivering a silica film forming solution 35 1994
5,522,215 Substrate cooling apparatus 21 1994
5,601,645 Substrate holder for a substrate spin treating apparatus 36 1994
5,555,234 Developing method and apparatus 26 1995
5,618,348 Air elimination system 10 1995
5,668,733 Substrate processing apparatus and method 27 1995
5,687,085 Substrate processing apparatus and method 17 1995
5,611,685 Substrate heat treatment apparatus 12 1995
5,639,301 Processing apparatus having parts for thermal and non-thermal treatment of substrates 31 1995
5,688,324 Apparatus for coating substrate 12 1995
5,571,325 Subtrate processing apparatus and device for and method of exchanging substrate in substrate processing apparatus 108 1995
5,715,173 Concentration controlling method and a substate treating apparatus utilizing same 31 1995
5,688,326 Apparatus for coating elongated material with photoresist 10 1995
5,638,687 Substrate cooling method and apparatus 15 1995
5,704,493 Substrate holder 24 1995
5,919,529 Apparatus for and method of processing substrate 23 1996
5,823,736 Substrate processing device and method for substrate from the substrate processing device 35 1996
5,853,483 Substrate spin treating method and apparatus 11 1996
5,763,892 Ultraviolet irradiator for substrate, substrate treatment system, and method of irradiating substrate with ultraviolet light 21 1996
5,841,515 Substrate container cassette, interface mechanism, and substrate processing 15 1996
5,677,000 Substrate spin treating method and apparatus 31 1996
5,788,868 Substrate transfer method and interface apparatus 28 1996
5,904,169 Apparatus for and method of treating substrate 10 1996
5,701,627 Substrate processing apparatus 30 1996
5,730,574 Transfer apparatus for and method of transferring substrate 24 1996
6,000,862 Substrate developing method and apparatus 15 1996
5,788,773 Substrate spin treating method and apparatus 21 1996
5,898,588 Method and apparatus for controlling substrate processing apparatus 19 1996
5,906,469 Apparatus and method for detecting and conveying substrates in cassette 40 1996
5,792,259 Substrate processing apparatus and air supply method in substrate processing apparatus 10 1996
5,867,389 Substrate processing management system with recipe copying functions 58 1996
5,762,684 Treating liquid supplying method and apparatus 50 1996
6,021,790 Substrate treating apparatus and method for treating substrate 15 1996
5,788,742 Method and apparatus for degassing processing solution for substrates 22 1996
5,888,344 Method of and an apparatus for processing a substrate 12 1996
6,007,629 Substrate processing apparatus 11 1996
5,989,342 Apparatus for substrate holding 76 1997
5,765,072 Treating solution supplying method and substrate treating apparatus 15 1997
6,120,834 Apparatus for forming film and method for forming film 18 1997
5,846,327 Substrate spin treating apparatus 12 1997
5,927,077 Processing system hot plate construction substrate 34 1997
5,881,750 Substrate treating apparatus 13 1997
5,875,804 Substrate treating apparatus 15 1997
5,915,396 Substrate processing apparatus 18 1997
6,048,400 Substrate processing apparatus 13 1997
6,053,058 Atmosphere concentration monitoring for substrate processing apparatus and life determination for atmosphere processing unit of substrate processing apparatus 11 1997
5,916,366 Substrate spin treating apparatus 64 1997
5,943,726 Substrate processing apparatus 19 1997
6,067,727 Apparatus and method for drying substrates 28 1997
6,077,321 Wet/dry substrate processing apparatus 42 1997
6,099,643 Apparatus for processing a substrate providing an efficient arrangement and atmospheric isolation of chemical treatment section 24 1997
5,927,303 Substrate processing apparatus 30 1997
5,963,753 Substrate processing apparatus 43 1998
5,985,357 Treating solution supplying method and apparatus 37 1998
6,040,120 Thermal processing apparatus 16 1998
6,060,697 Substrate processing apparatus having regulated power consumption and method therefor 12 1998
6,051,101 Substrate processing apparatus, substrate transport apparatus and substrate transfer apparatus 59 1998
6,074,515 Apparatus for processing substrates 20 1998
6,012,192 Substrate processing apparatus 39 1998
6,062,852 Substrate heat-treating apparatus 23 1998
6,089,762 Developing apparatus, developing method and substrate processing apparatus 16 1998
6,446,646 Substrate processing apparatus 13 1998
6,076,979 Method of and apparatus for supplying developing solution onto substrate 21 1998
6,159,291 Substrate treating apparatus 17 1998
6,371,713 Substrate processing apparatus 19 1998
5,962,070 Substrate treating method and apparatus 35 1998
6,155,275 Substrate processing unit and substrate processing apparatus using the same 23 1998
6,253,118 Substrate transport method and apparatus 28 1998
6,174,371 Substrate treating method and apparatus 17 1998
6,571,147 System for and method of managing jobs 17 1998
6,149,727 Substrate processing apparatus 19 1998
6,260,562 Substrate cleaning apparatus and method 36 1998
6,199,568 Treating tank, and substrate treating apparatus having the treating tank 12 1998
6,138,695 Substrate processing apparatus 13 1998
6,352,083 Substrate treating apparatus and substrate treating method 10 1998
6,354,311 Substrate drying apparatus and substrate processing apparatus 13 2000
6,401,353 Substrate dryer 12 2001
6,790,287 Substrate processing apparatus, substrate inspection method and substrate processing system 17 2001
6,790,291 Method of and apparatus for processing substrate 15 2001
6,805,769 Substrate processing apparatus 12 2001
6,550,988 Substrate processing apparatus 32 2001
6,790,286 Substrate processing apparatus 14 2002
6,511,315 Substrate processing apparatus 17 2002
6,692,165 Substrate processing apparatus 14 2002
6,896,466 Substrate processing apparatus 11 2002
6,669,808 Substrate processing apparatus and substrate processing method 14 2002
6,712,579 Substrate transfer apparatus and substrate transfer method 13 2002
6,558,053 Substrate processing apparatus 18 2002
6,889,105 Scheduling method and program for a substrate processing apparatus 15 2002
6,775,456 Conductor connecting apparatus 13 2002
6,826,214 Device supporting apparatus 10 2002
6,598,805 Substrate cleaning apparatus 16 2002
6,841,031 Substrate processing apparatus equipping with high-pressure processing unit 11 2002
6,807,452 Scheduling method and program for a substrate processing apparatus 13 2002
6,893,805 Substrate processing apparatus and substrate processing method 11 2002
6,656,277 Apparatus for and method of processing substrate 11 2002
6,793,769 Substrate processing apparatus 15 2002
6,749,351 Apparatus for developing substrate 9 2002
6,878,303 Substrate processing apparatus and substrate processing method 12 2003
6,827,782 Chemical treating apparatus 13 2003
6,691,430 High-pressure drying apparatus, high-pressure drying method and substrate processing apparatus 13 2003
6,868,888 Thin film forming apparatus, film supplier, film cassette, transport mechanism and transport method 13 2003
6,814,507 Substrate treating apparatus 19 2003
6,893,171 Substrate treating apparatus 34 2003
6,752,543 Substrate processing apparatus 12 2003
6,832,863 Substrate treating apparatus and method 13 2003
6,807,455 System for and method of processing substrate 12 2003
6,837,632 Substrate treating apparatus 13 2003
 
APPLIED MATERIALS, INC. (31)
5,636,964 Wafer tray and ceramic blade for semiconductor processing apparatus 45 1995
6,176,667 Multideck wafer processing system 46 1996
6,248,398 Coater having a controllable pressurized process chamber for semiconductor processing 37 1996
5,788,453 Piezoelectric wafer gripping system for robot blades 26 1996
5,838,121 Dual blade robot 53 1996
5,961,269 Three chamber load lock apparatus 33 1996
5,921,257 Device for treating substrates in a fluid container 18 1996
6,018,616 Thermal cycling module and process using radiant heat 67 1998
6,132,165 Single drive, dual plane robot 16 1998
6,359,264 Thermal cycling module 17 1998
5,992,431 Device for treating substrates in a fluid container 20 1998
6,336,204 Method and apparatus for handling deadlocks in multiple chamber cluster tools 34 1998
6,539,956 Method and device for drying substrates 17 1998
6,302,960 Photoresist coater 13 1998
6,454,332 Apparatus and methods for handling a substrate 19 1998
6,128,829 Method for drying substrates 17 1999
6,283,701 Pneumatically actuated flexure gripper for wafer handling robots 24 1999
6,108,932 Method and apparatus for thermocapillary drying 46 1999
6,318,951 Robots for microelectronic workpiece handling 65 1999
6,322,119 Robots for microelectronic workpiece handling 21 1999
6,278,089 Heater for use in substrate processing 40 1999
6,313,441 Control system and method for providing variable ramp rate operation of a thermal cycling system 16 1999
6,575,177 Semiconductor substrate cleaning system 23 2000
2002/0098,072 Dual bladed robot apparatus and associated method 10 2001
7,053,386 Method and apparatus for implanting semiconductor wafer substrates 8 2001
6,752,585 Method and apparatus for transferring a semiconductor substrate 22 2001
6,579,730 Monitoring process for oxide removal 11 2001
6,685,422 Pneumatically actuated flexure gripper for wafer handling robots 11 2001
6,991,710 Apparatus for manually and automatically processing microelectronic workpieces 11 2002
2004/0020,601 Process and an integrated tool for low k dielectric deposition including a pecvd capping module 47 2003
2006/0182,536 Cartesian robot cluster tool architecture 14 2005
 
FSI INTERNATIONAL, INC. (14)
4,197,000 Positive developing method and apparatus 68 1978
4,609,575 Method of apparatus for applying chemicals to substrates in an acid processing system 28 1984
4,682,614 Wafer processing machine 29 1985
4,664,133 Wafer processing machine 40 1986
5,169,408 Apparatus for wafer processing with in situ rinse 134 1990
5,418,382 Substrate location and detection apparatus 33 1993
5,431,700 Vertical multi-process bake/chill apparatus 46 1994
6,124,211 Cleaning method 46 1995
6,165,273 Equipment for UV wafer heating and photochemistry 21 1997
6,158,446 Ultra-low particle semiconductor cleaner 76 1998
6,235,641 Method and system to control the concentration of dissolved gas in a liquid 22 1998
6,251,195 Method for transferring a microelectronic device to and from a processing chamber 13 1999
6,694,224 Control of robotic systems 14 2002
6,822,413 Systems and methods incorporating an end effector with a rotatable and/or pivotable body and/or an optical sensor having a light path that extends along a length of the end effector 14 2003
 
ASML HOLDING N.V. (13)
5,670,210 Method of uniformly coating a substrate 51 1995
6,177,133 Method and apparatus for adaptive process control of critical dimensions during spin coating process 18 1997
6,254,936 Environment exchange control for material on a wafer surface 20 1998
6,533,531 Device for handling wafers in microelectronic manufacturing 13 1998
6,418,356 Method and apparatus for resolving conflicts in a substrate processing system 22 1999
6,238,735 Method of uniformly coating a substrate 20 1999
6,678,572 Recipe cascading in a wafer processing system 20 2000
6,468,586 Environment exchange control for material on a wafer surface 12 2000
6,780,461 Environment exchange control for material on a wafer surface 11 2001
6,662,466 Method for two dimensional adaptive process control of critical dimensions during spin coating process 13 2001
6,689,215 Method and apparatus for mitigating cross-contamination between liquid dispensing jets in close proximity to a surface 10 2002
6,770,424 Wafer track apparatus and methods for dispensing fluids with rotatable dispense arms 18 2002
6,768,930 Method and apparatus for resolving conflicts in a substrate processing system 16 2003
 
SOKUDO CO., LTD. (12)
5,766,671 Method of an apparatus for forming film on substrate by sensing atmospheric pressure 29 1996
5,843,527 Coating solution applying method and apparatus 37 1996
5,762,709 Substrate spin coating apparatus 30 1996
5,989,632 Coating solution applying method and apparatus 26 1997
5,976,620 Coating solution applying method and apparatus 16 1997
5,984,540 Developing apparatus and developing method 18 1997
6,440,218 Coating solution applying method and apparatus 15 1999
6,403,924 Apparatus for and method of heat treatment and substrate processing apparatus 20 2000
6,752,544 Developing apparatus and developing method 9 2002
6,645,880 Treating solution applying method 12 2002
6,869,234 Developing apparatus and developing method 11 2003
2006/0134,330 Cluster tool architecture for processing a substrate 14 2005
 
BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC. (6)
6,116,848 Apparatus and method for high-speed transfer and centering of wafer substrates 45 1997
6,256,555 Robot arm with specimen edge gripping end effector 63 1998
6,275,748 Robot arm with specimen sensing and edge gripping end effector 42 1999
6,438,460 Method of using a specimen sensing end effector to determine the thickness of a specimen 24 2001
6,453,214 Method of using a specimen sensing end effector to align a robot arm with a specimen stored on or in a container 42 2001
6,618,645 Method of using a specimen sensing end effector to determine angular orientation of a specimen 26 2002
 
SEMICONDUCTOR SYSTEMS, INC. (6)
5,427,820 Thermal control line for delivering liquid to a point of use in a photolithography system 17 1993
5,443,348 Cassette input/output unit for semiconductor processing system 24 1993
5,553,994 Thermal process module for substrate coat/develop system 13 1994
5,651,823 Clustered photolithography system 72 1995
5,766,824 Method and apparatus for curing photoresist 22 1995
5,935,768 Method of processing a substrate in a photolithography system utilizing a thermal process module 22 1997
 
KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA (5)
5,520,501 Wafer holding apparatus 29 1995
6,059,880 Coating apparatus 27 1997
5,968,268 Coating apparatus and coating method 28 1998
6,200,633 Coating apparatus and coating method 18 1999
2001/0024,691 Semiconductor substrate processing apparatus and method 26 2001
 
CFMT, INC. (4)
4,917,123 Apparatus for treating wafers with process fluids 145 1988
4,984,597 Apparatus for rinsing and drying surfaces 142 1989
6,143,087 Methods for treating objects 32 1999
6,348,101 Methods for treating objects 20 2000
 
ASML US, INC. (3)
5,733,024 Modular system 46 1995
6,616,394 Apparatus for processing wafers 14 1998
6,327,793 Method for two dimensional adaptive process control of critical dimensions during spin coating process 20 2000
 
HITACHI, LTD. (3)
4,715,637 Grip device for sheet-like objects 37 1986
5,197,846 Six-degree-of-freedom articulated robot mechanism and assembling and working apparatus using same 32 1990
6,273,104 Method of and apparatus for processing substrate 45 1996
 
KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (KOBE STEEL, LTD.) (3)
6,874,513 High pressure processing apparatus 20 2002
6,823,880 High pressure processing apparatus and high pressure processing method 13 2002
6,703,316 Method and system for processing substrate 12 2002
 
TOKYO ELECTRON KYUSHU LIMITED (3)
5,252,137 System and method for applying a liquid 56 1991
5,312,487 Coating apparatus 39 1992
5,374,312 Liquid coating system 64 1993
 
MITSUBISHI PAPER MILLS LIMITED (2)
5,839,011 Apparatus for processing photosensitive material 12 1997
5,887,214 Apparatus for processing photosensitive material 11 1997
 
SILICON VALLEY GROUP, INC. (2)
5,700,046 Wafer gripper 71 1995
6,694,218 Method and apparatus for resolving conflicts in a substrate processing system 13 2002
 
ADE OPTICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION (1)
5,988,971 Wafer transfer robot 30 1997
 
ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES, INC. (1)
6,458,607 Using UV/VIS spectrophotometry to regulate developer solution during a development process 9 2001
 
AMERICAN TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY (1)
4,900,214 Method and apparatus for transporting semiconductor wafers 35 1988
 
ASYST TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (1)
5,125,790 Wafer transfer apparatus 11 1991
 
AVIZA TECHNOLOGY, INC. (1)
6,846,149 Semiconductor wafer processing system with vertically-stacked process chambers and single-axis dual-wafer transfer system 25 2001
 
BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM (1)
6,556,893 Robotic system control 12 2002
 
CFM TECHNOLOGIES RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, 501 GORDON DR., LIONVILLE, PA A PA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP (1)
4,911,761 Process and apparatus for drying surfaces 117 1988
 
CROSSING AUTOMATION, INC. (1)
6,729,462 Edge grip aligner with buffering capabilities 12 2003
 
CUTEK RESEARCH, INC. (1)
6,179,982 Introducing and reclaiming liquid in a wafer processing chamber 23 1998
 
EATON CORPORATION (1)
5,415,890 Modular apparatus and method for surface treatment of parts with liquid baths 54 1994
 
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (1)
4,639,028 High temperature and acid resistant wafer pick up device 55 1984
 
FRAZIER INDUSTRIAL COMPANY (1)
4,319,689 Storage rack 11 1979
 
FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC. (1)
6,284,616 Circuit and method for reducing parasitic bipolar effects during electrostatic discharges 12 2000
 
GENMARK AUTOMATION, INC. (1)
6,142,722 Automated opening and closing of ultra clean storage containers 47 1998
 
GLOBAL ADVANCED METALS, USA, INC. (1)
6,893,513 High purity tantalum, products containing the same, and methods of making the same 20 2001
 
GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC. (1)
6,579,733 Using scatterometry to measure resist thickness and control implant 12 2002
 
KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA (1)
6,438,449 Substrate transport apparatus and transport teaching system 17 2000
 
KENKMAN, DONALD L. (1)
4,303,433 Centrifuge apparatus and method for producing hollow microspheres 105 1980
 
MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. (1)
6,267,022 Articulated robot 19 1999
 
MATTSON TECHNOLOGY, INC. (1)
2004/0091,349 Methods for transporting wafers for vacuum processing 18 2003
 
MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA (1)
5,054,332 Articulated robot 20 1989
 
NANOMETRICS INCORPORATED (1)
6,885,467 Method and apparatus for thickness decomposition of complicated layer structures 27 2002
 
NEWPORT CORPORATION (1)
5,765,444 Dual end effector, multiple link robot arm system with corner reacharound and extended reach capabilities 78 1995
 
OMRON CORPORATION (1)
6,465,765 Fluid heating apparatus 23 2001
 
SANKYO SEIKI MFG. CO., LTD. (1)
6,491,491 Articulated robot 17 1998
 
SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC. (1)
6,312,177 Line printer 9 1999
 
SEZ NORTH AMERICA, INC. (1)
6,109,677 Apparatus for handling and transporting plate like substrates 46 1998
 
SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD. (1)
6,878,501 Polymer, chemically amplified resist composition and patterning process 16 2001
 
SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT (1)
5,031,474 Industrial robot 12 1989
 
SONY CORPORATION (1)
5,634,377 Articulated robot 19 1995
 
STAEUBLI AG (1)
6,092,971 Wafer gripping device adapted to swivel wafers taken from a horizontal position in a storage container 14 1997
 
SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD. (1)
5,702,228 Robotic arm supporting an object by interactive mechanism 61 1996
 
SVG LITHOGRAPHY, INC., A CORP OF DE (1)
4,778,332 Wafer flip apparatus 28 1987
 
TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD. (1)
6,678,581 Method of calibrating a wafer edge gripping end effector 11 2002
 
TAZMO CO., LTD. (1)
6,614,201 Substrate transfer system 10 2000
 
TECHNIC, INC. (1)
2003/0010,449 Automatic wafer processing and plating system 39 2001
 
TEL NEXX, INC. (1)
7,100,954 Ultra-thin wafer handling system 11 2003
 
TET TECHNO INVESTMENT TRUST SETTLEMENT, A CORP. OF PRINCEIPALITY OF LIECHTENSTEIN (1)
5,133,635 Method and apparatus for holding and conveying platelike substrates 71 1990
 
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED (1)
6,076,652 Assembly line system and apparatus controlling transfer of a workpiece 45 1994
 
TOKYO ELECTRON KYUCHU LIMITED (1)
5,803,970 Method of forming a coating film and coating apparatus 37 1996
 
TOKYO ELECTRON KYUSHU LIMITED 50% (1)
5,405,443 Substrates processing device 36 1993
 
UNOVA IP CORP. (1)
4,348,044 Article gripping apparatus 32 1980
 
W.C. HERAEUS GMBH (1)
4,844,746 Method of producing a tantalum stock material of high ductility 25 1988
 
WD MEDIA, INC. (1)
5,938,902 Disc-handling apparatus 20 1996
 
WHITE, DELMAR L. (1)
6,167,322 Intelligent wafer handling system and method 32 1999
 
YUTAKA ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY CO., LTD. (1)
7,125,059 Hand device for working robot 9 2004
 
ZEUS SCIENTIFIC, INC. (1)
D341428 Multi channel pipette work station 4 1991
 
OTHER [CHECK PATENT PROFILE FOR ASSIGNMENT INFORMATION] (4)
4,410,209 Wafer-handling tool 38 1982
6,669,782 Method and apparatus to control the formation of layers useful in integrated circuits 24 2000
2003/0052,498 Edge grip with fixed forward posts 6 2001
2003/0151,268 Intelligent integrated circuit wafer handling system with fail safe system 6 2003

Patent Citation Ranking

Forward Cites

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
APPLIED MATERIALS, INC. (1)
8,309,374 Advanced platform for processing crystalline silicon solar cells 0 2009

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