Abstract: A mining apparatus 10 to mine coal from a seam 11. The apparatus 10 includes a continuous miner 12 to form a mine road 13. Extending along the road 13 is a conveyor 15 having a forward end 20 to which the mined material from the continuous miner 12 is delivered. The apparatus 10 further includes an auger mining machine that advances an auger drill string 28 into the coal seam 11 in a direction generally normal to the road 13, with the mined material also being delivered to the conveyor 15.

Abstract: A low-k dielectric film is formed on an entire surface of a substrate having a pad region and a circuit region. A resist pattern is formed on the low-k dielectric film, and an opening is formed in the low-k dielectric film of the pad region using the resist pattern as a mask. A silicon oxide film having strength higher than the low-k dielectric film is formed in the opening by liquid-phase deposition. Wirings are formed in the silicon oxide film of the pad region and in the low-k dielectric film of the circuit region using the damascene method.

Abstract: After applying a film-forming composition containing a polysiloxane, a pore-forming agent, an onium salt, and a solvent onto a semiconductor substrate, the solvent is evaporated from the film-forming compositions in a first heat treatment. Then, a second heat treatment is carried out in an inert-gas atmosphere to promote the polymerization of the polysiloxane and thus form a polysiloxane resin film. Thereafter, a third heat treatment is carried out in an oxidizing-gas ambient to form pores in the polysiloxane resin film.

Abstract: A substrate having a film to be etched is held on a rotating stage. While rotating the substrate, a chemical solution containing an etchant is supplied onto the substrate from a nozzle. A lamp house with a drive unit is positioned so that the distance between the substrate and a glass window of the lamp house becomes 2 to 5 mm, the lamp house accommodating a lamp generating ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet light irradiates the film through the chemical solution. The ultraviolet light has a higher energy than the binding energy of constituent molecules of the film.

Abstract: A substrate supporting film to be etched is held on a rotating stage. Ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 200 nm or shorter radiated from first lamps irradiates the film in air, thereby removing organic coatings from the film and making the surface of the film hydrophilic. A chemical solution applied to the hydrophilic film while rotating the substrate. Ultraviolet light having a wavelength longer than 200 nm is radiated from second lamps and onto the film through the chemical solution.

Abstract: A resist composition comprises: at least one type of a first compound having two or more intramolecular adamantyl structures represented by the chemical formula 1 below; a base resin; and a second compound which generates an acid by active beam irradiation. wherein X is —(OCO)m—(CH2)n—(COO)m—, where m=0 or 1 and n=0, 1, 2 or 3 provided when n=0, m=0; and Y and Z are H, OH, F, Cl, Br, R or COOR, where Y may be Z, or Y and Z may be introduced in a single adamantyl structure and R represents a straight or branched alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Each of patterns on two types of photomasks, including identical central pattern portions, each having a line pattern on the center of a substrate, and peripheral pattern portions around the central pattern portions, and having distances between the central pattern portion and the peripheral pattern portion different from each other, is transferred onto a wafer. Thereafter, each line width of the transferred patterns corresponding to the line pattern of each photomask is measured. The difference between each of line widths is obtained, from which the flare rate is calculated.

Abstract: An insulating film is formed on a semiconductor base material, the insulating film being predominantly composed of organic siloxane and containing an organic component which has no chemical bond to the organic siloxane. Plasma treatment is applied to the insulating film to remove the organic component and form a modifying layer on a surface of the insulating film.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first insulating film on a substrate, forming a second insulating film on the first insulating film, and forming a gate electrode on the second insulating film. Forming the second insulating film includes supplying film-forming materials and adsorbing the film-forming materials on the first insulating film, purging the film-forming materials that have not been adsorbed, supplying oxidants to oxidize the adsorbed film-forming materials, and purging the oxidants that have not contributed to oxidization. Forming the second insulating film is repeated in cycles, continuously, and the purging time of the oxidants in an initial number of the cycles is longer than the purging time of the oxidants in cycles following the initial number of cycles.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first insulating film on a silicon substrate and a second insulating film on the first insulating film. The first insulating film is a silicon oxide film having a thickness of 1 nm or less and a suboxide content of 30% or less. The second insulating film is a high dielectric constant insulating film.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises an inorganic film on a semiconductor substrate, an intermediate film on the inorganic film and containing silicon, and an organic film on the intermediate film and containing fluorine. The organic film is made of a fluorinated arylene film.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an improved desalination process to produce potable water. The process represents an improvement of hybrid of membrane and desalination technologies. The improvement of the invention comprises the operation of an ion selective membrane at a variable pressure as a function of the cost of electricity to form a softened salt water that is blended in variable proportions, to increase the top operating temperature of the desalination system and increase recovery of potable water, with untreated salt water.

Abstract: In a halftone phase shifting photomask 108, having a pattern of halftone phase shifting film 102 containing at least chromium and fluorine, the halftone phase shifting film is heat-treated at a temperature between 250° C. and 500° C. so that a change of the optical property of the film produced by the application of excimer laser for exposure to the film is decreased.

Abstract: A porous MSQ is formed on a silicon substrate, and an SiC mask is formed thereon. Plasma etching using the SiC mask as a mask is performed to form a trench in the porous MSQ. A fluorinated polyxylilene film is formed on the entire surface of the substrate 1 including the side surfaces of the trench, and the unnecessary fluorinated polyxylilene film formed on the area other than the side surfaces of the trench is removed. A barrier-metal film and a seed Cu layer are formed in the trench and a Cu is deposited.

Abstract: A wafer heat-treatment system for processing a wafer by a high-temperature heat-treatment process and cooling the heat-treated wafer, comprises walls surrounding a closed space placing the wafer and having a hollow sealing a gas therein, and a pressure-regulating unit connecting to the hollow for regulating pressure in the hollow. Hence, the wafer heat-treatment system reduces power consumption by heating lamps by carrying out an evacuating process before the high-temperature heat-treatment process, and shortens the time necessary for the cool down process by a pressurizing process that is carried out after the completion of the high-temperature heat-treatment process.

Abstract: A carrier shape measurement device includes: a stage which supports a carrier which is to be a subject of measurement; and a measurement section which measures a shape of the carrier, and the stage comprises kinematic coupling pins to support the carrier by a kinematic coupling.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit for boring a hole through a solid body is disclosed. The drill bit comprises a collar and a penetrating member. At a proximal end, the collar is attachable to a drill shaft. At a distal end, the collar is attachable to the penetrating member. The penetrating member has a connecting end for attachment to the collar and a cutting end for engaging the solid body. A pilot drill is fixedly attached to the cutting end for initiating contact with the solid body.

Abstract: In the present invention, a substrate with exposure light from an exposure light source is irradiated before a projection exposure beforehand. A reflectance of this exposure light from the substrate is measured. An appropriate intensity of exposure light for the substrate is determined by referring to the reflectance. Then, a mask pattern is projected onto the substrate by irradiating with exposure light of the determined intensity.

Abstract: A focus ring is disposed along a circumference of a semiconductor substrate on a lower electrode. A sensor measures a position of an upper surface of the focus ring, and a drive mechanism 6 drives the focus ring vertically. A controller adjusts the position of the upper surface of the focus ring to a desired position by driving the drive mechanism on the basis of a result of measurement by the sensor.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a thin film battery in a chamber, a target comprising LiCoO2 is provided on a magnetron cathode in the chamber, and a substrate is placed facing the target. A process gas is introduced into the chamber and the process gas is energized to form a plasma to sputter the target to deposit LiCoO2 on the substrate. An ion flux of from about 0.1 to about 5 mA/cm2 is delivered from the plasma to the substrate to enhance the crystallinity of the deposited LiCoO2 material on the substrate. The process gas is exhausted from the chamber. The target can also be made of other materials.