Abstract: A method of performing a temperature set point change for a bake plate of a track lithography tool includes positioning a cooling surface of an actively chilled transfer shuttle adjacent a process surface of the bake plate. The actively chilled transfer shuttle includes the cooling surface and a transfer surface opposing the cooling surface. The method also includes monitoring a temperature of the bake plate, initiating a flow of a cooling fluid through one or more orifices provided on the cooling surface of the actively chilled transfer shuttle, and determining that the temperature of the bake plate has decreased by a predetermined temperature. The method further includes terminating the flow of the cooling fluid and moving the actively chilled transfer shuttle to a robot transfer position.

Abstract: A monitor device includes a substrate and a plurality of temperature sensors disposed in the substrate. The monitor device also includes a processor coupled to the substrate and adapted to receive one or more signals from the plurality of temperature sensors. The processor is further adapted to convert the one or more received signals into one or more converted signals. The monitor device further includes a transceiver coupled to the substrate and adapted to receive the one or more converted signals. The transceiver is further adapted to transmit one or more output signals to an external receiver.

Abstract: The invention provides a method capable of eliminating occurrence of concentration difference in developer depending on position on a substrate surface when a developer on the substrate is replaced with a rinse; preventing occurrence of stain-like defects on a resist film surface; and reducing amount used of the developer. While a substrate is being rotated about a vertical axis by a rotation motor with held in a horizontal posture by a spin chuck, after the developer has been fed onto the resist film on the substrate surface from a developer discharge nozzle to conduct processing, the substrate continues to be rotated and thus the developer on the resist film is dispersed by a centrifugal force to be removed, and thereafter a rinse is fed onto the resist film from a rinse discharge nozzle to conduct rinsing.

Abstract: A method of eliminating an occurrence of concentration differences in a developer depending on position on a substrate surface when a developer on the substrate is replaced with a rinse, preventing occurrence of stain-like defects on a resist film surface, and reducing amount of the developer used is disclosed. While a substrate is being rotated about a vertical axis by a rotation motor while held in a horizontal posture by a spin chuck, after the developer has been fed onto the resist film on the substrate surface from a developer discharge nozzle to conduct processing, the substrate continues to be rotated and thus the developer on the resist film is dispersed and removed by a centrifugal force, and when an interference fringe seen on the substrate surface is reduced in level or not present, a rinse is fed onto the resist film from a rinse discharge nozzle to conduct rinsing.

Abstract: A cluster tool for processing a substrate includes a cassette and a processing module including a first processing chamber that is configured to perform a chill process on a substrate, a second processing chamber that is configured to perform a bake process on the substrate, and an input chamber. The first processing chamber, the second processing chamber, and the input chamber are substantially adjacent to each other. The processing module also includes a robot that is configured to receive the substrate in the input chamber and transfer and position the substrate in the first processing chamber and second processing chamber. The robot includes a robot blade, an actuator, and a heat exchanging device. The heat exchanging device includes a chilled transfer arm assembly. The cluster tool also includes a 6-axis articulated robot configured to transfer the substrate between the cassette and the input chamber.

Abstract: A buffer vessel and a vapor tube in a track tool are configured as a diffusion vaporizer to deliver a flow of photolithography chemical vapor to a chamber for coating a wafer. Pressure in the buffer vessel is equalized to eliminate negative pressure in the buffer vessel. The size of the buffer vessel is selected such that a volume of photolithography chemical vapor that is sufficient to coat an entire lot of wafers is provided to the chamber when there is no longer any photolithography chemical in a source bottle.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An integrated thermal unit comprising a bake plate configured to heat a substrate supported on a surface of the bake plate; a chill plate configured to cool a substrate supported on a surface of the chill plate; and a substrate transfer shuttle configured to transfer substrates from the bake plate to the cool plate, wherein the substrate transfer shuttle has a temperature controlled substrate holding surface that is capable of cooling a substrate heated by the bake plate.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring a position of a semiconductor process fluid interface in a dispense nozzle includes an extended optical source adapted to provide an optical beam propagating along an optical path. The optical beam is characterized by a path width measured in a first direction aligned with a dispense direction. The apparatus also includes an optical detector coupled to the optical path and adapted to detect at least a portion of the optical beam and a dispense nozzle disposed along the optical path at a location between the extended optical source and the optical detector. The apparatus further includes a nozzle positioning member coupled to the dispense nozzle and adapted to translate the dispense nozzle in the first direction.

Abstract: A method of controlling wafer critical dimension (CD) uniformity on a track lithography tool includes obtaining a CD map for a wafer. The CD map includes a plurality of CD data points correlated with a multi-zone heater geometry map. The multi-zone heater includes a plurality of heater zones. The method also includes determining a CD value for a first heater zone of the plurality of heater zones based on one or more of the CD data points and computing a difference between the determined CD value for the first heater zone and a target CD value for the first heater zone. The method further includes determining a temperature variation for the first heater zone based, in part, on the computed difference and a temperature sensitivity of a photoresist deposited on the wafer and modifying a temperature of the first heater zone based, in part, on the temperature variation.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing one or more backside particles from a semiconductor substrate. The apparatus includes a substrate support member adapted to support the semiconductor substrate. The substrate has a substrate diameter, a substrate frontside, and a substrate backside. The apparatus also includes a curing ring having an annular shape and a curing ring support member adapted to position the curing ring at a predetermined distance from the backside of the semiconductor substrate, thereby defining a removal region. The apparatus further includes a phase change material dispense system adapted to provide a phase change material to the removal region and an ultraviolet source adapted to irradiate the phase change material.

Abstract: An integrated thermal unit comprising a bake plate configured to heat a substrate supported on a surface of the bake plate; a chill plate configured to cool a substrate supported on a surface of the chill plate; and a substrate transfer shuttle configured to transfer substrates from the bake plate to the cool plate, wherein the substrate transfer shuttle has a temperature controlled substrate holding surface that is capable of cooling a substrate heated by the bake plate.

Abstract: A bake station comprising a bake plate adapted to heat a substrate supported on an upper surface of the bake plate, the bake plate vertically moveable between an upper baking position and a lower cooling position; and a plurality of heat sinks adapted to be engageably coupled to a lower surface of the bake plate when the bake plate is in the lower cooling position.

Abstract: An integrated thermal unit comprises a bake station comprising a bake plate configured to hold and heat a substrate; a chill station comprising a chill plate configured to hold and cool a substrate; and a substrate transfer shuttle configured to transfer substrates from the bake plate to the chill plate along a horizontally linear path within the thermal unit and raise and lower substrates along a vertical path within the integrated thermal unit.

Abstract: An integrated thermal unit comprising a bake plate having a substrate holding surface configured to hold and heat a substrate in a baking position and a chill plate having a substrate holding surface configured to hold and cool a substrate in a cooling position where the substrate holding surface of the bake plate is positioned in a first substantially horizontal plane when the bake plate is in the baking position and the substrate holding surface of the chill plate is positioned in a second substantially horizontal plane that is below the first plane when the chill plate is in a cooling position.

Abstract: An integrated thermal unit comprising a bake plate configured to heat a substrate supported on a surface of the bake plate; a chill plate configured to cool a substrate supported on a surface of the chill plate; and a substrate transfer shuttle configured to transfer substrates from the bake plate to the cool plate, wherein the substrate transfer shuttle has a temperature controlled substrate holding surface that is capable of cooling a substrate heated by the bake plate.

Abstract: A bake station comprising a bake plate adapted to heat a substrate supported on an upper surface of the bake plate, the bake plate vertically moveable between an upper baking position and a lower cooling position; and a plurality of heat sinks adapted to be engageably coupled to a lower surface of the bake plate when the bake plate is in the lower cooling position.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing fluid during semiconductor substrate processing operations. The apparatus includes a first processing chamber, a second processing chamber, and a dispense arm assembly. The apparatus further includes a dispense arm access shutter positioned between the first and second processing chambers and moveable between an open and a closed position. The dispense arm assembly can travel from the first processing chamber to the second processing chamber when the dispense arm assembly is in the open position.