Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a substrate processing part 3 and a washing unit 40. The washing unit 40 includes a main body 43 having a liquid supplying port 41 and a liquid jetting port 42, a flow channel 44 formed between the liquid supplying port 41 and the liquid jetting port 42, and a valve 45 provided in the flow channel 44. In the washing unit 40, when the valve 45 is opened, the flow channel 44 is opened, thereby causing the liquid jetting port 42 to jet liquid, and when the valve 45 is closed, the flow channel 44 is closed, thereby causing the liquid jetting port 42 to stop jetting liquid. The flow channel 44 is provided with a water-hammer reducing mechanism 48 that operates to reduce damage to the flow channel 44 caused by a water hammer phenomenon when the valve 45 is closed.

Abstract: A workpiece transport device for transporting a workpiece having a substrate layer and a layer to be processed on a portion of the substrate layer is provided. This workpiece transport device has a workpiece holding mechanism arranged to operate so as to hold and release the workpiece. The workpiece holding mechanism has at least one tapered workpiece holding surface on which the substrate layer of the workpiece is held in a state where the layer to be processed is positioned below the substrate layer. The tapered workpiece holding surface is formed so that a clearance equal to or larger than a predetermined distance R exists between the workpiece holding surface and the layer to be processed of the workpiece when the workpiece is held by the workpiece holding mechanism.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus includes: a rotatable polishing table for supporting a polishing pad having a polishing surface; a top ring head having a top ring; a top ring head cover surrounding the top ring head; a dresser head having a dresser configured to dress the polishing surface; a dresser head cover surrounding the dresser head; a spray nozzle configured to spray a cleaning liquid onto an upper surface of the top ring and an outer surface of the top ring head cover when the top ring is in the substrate transfer position; and a spray nozzle configured to spray a cleaning liquid onto an outer surface of the dresser head cover when the dresser is in the retreated position.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus which can continue stable operation of the apparatus without generating torsional vibration in a rotary joint and without generating an abnormal sound at an engagement part between a cooling water pipe and a polishing table is disclosed. The polishing apparatus includes a rotary joint fixed to a rotating part of the polishing table or a rotating part of the top ring to supply a fluid into the polishing table or the top ring and discharge the fluid from the polishing table or the top ring, and a rotation-prevention mechanism which connects the rotary joint with an apparatus frame to prevent the rotary joint from being rotated. The rotation-prevention mechanism includes a link mechanism having at least one spherical plain bearing.

Abstract: A gas-liquid separator separates gas-liquid two-phase flow into a gas and a liquid. The gas-liquid separator includes: a container having a bottom and a side portion, the bottom having a liquid discharge outlet and the side portion having a gas discharge outlet; a gas-liquid introduction pipe for introducing a gas-liquid two-phase flow into the container, the gas-liquid introduction pipe extending downward from above the container and having a lower end located in an interior of the container, the gas discharge outlet of the container being located above the lower end of the gas-liquid introduction pipe; and a guide device disposed in the gas-liquid introduction pipe and configured so as to impart a swirling motion to the gas-liquid two-phase flow in the gas-liquid introduction pipe.

Abstract: A substrate polishing apparatus includes a polishing table 30 having a polishing surface 10 in the upper surface, a substrate holding portion 31 that holds a substrate W having a surface to be polished in the lower surface, and a holding portion cover 36 that covers the outer side of the substrate holding portion 31. Between the lower portion of the holding portion cover 36 and the upper surface of the polishing table 30, a gap portion for intake 37 is provided, and in the upper portion of the holding portion cover 36, a pipe for exhaust 39 connected to an exhaust mechanism 38 is provided. By operating the exhaust mechanism 38, a rising air current from the gap portion 37 toward the pipe 39 is formed between the outer surface of the substrate holding portion 31 and the inner surface of the holding portion cover 36.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus is used for polishing a substrate such as a semiconductor. The polishing apparatus includes a polishing table configured to hold a polishing tool having a polishing surface, a polishing head having a top ring configured to press a substrate against the polishing surface, and a polishing head cover configured to cover the polishing head. The polishing apparatus further includes a first cleaning liquid supply mechanism configured to supply a cleaning liquid to an outer surface of the polishing head cover, and a second cleaning liquid supply mechanism configured to supply a cleaning liquid to an inner surface of the polishing head cover.

Abstract: The invention suppresses generation of noises attributable to rotation of a rotary joint. A rotary joint 160 includes a rotating body 1600 that rotates on a rotating axis A, a housing 1620 disposed so as to surround the rotating body 1600, and at least one bearing 1630 disposed between the rotating body 1600 and the housing 1620 and adapted to support rotation of the rotating body 1600. The rotary joint 160 supplies fluids through fluid connection ports formed in the housing 1620 and fluid passages formed inside the rotating body 1600 to a polishing table having attached thereto a polishing pad for polishing a substrate or a holding portion that is adapted to hold the substrate while pressing the substrate against the polishing pad. At least one elastic member 1640 is interposed at least either between the rotating body 1600 and the at least one bearing 1630 or between the housing 1620 and the at least one bearing 1630.

Abstract: To provide a substrate polishing apparatus capable of effectively trapping a harmful substance suspended in a polishing chamber. The substrate polishing apparatus includes a polishing portion (303) that polishes a substrate in a polishing chamber (300), a gas supply port (301) that supplies gas into the polishing chamber (300), a gas discharge port (304) that discharges the gas from inside the polishing chamber (300), and a spray nozzle (302) that is provided on an inner wall surface of the polishing chamber (300) and sprays a cleaning liquid in a mist into the polishing chamber (300). The gas supply port (301) is arranged to generate a swirl flow.

Abstract: [Problem] An object of the present invention is to facilitate height level adjustment of a substrate processing apparatus regardless of size thereof. [Means for Solving] A lifting device 630b includes: a lifting mechanism 640 that is provided between at least one of a plurality of units of a substrate processing apparatus and an installation surface of the unit, and that adjusts height of the at least one unit with respect to the installation surface; and an adjustment member 660 that is provided with an extended section 664 extended from the lifting mechanism 640, and that is capable of operating the lifting mechanism 640 through the extended section 664.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus which can remove slurry which has entered into a gap between an elastic membrane for pressing a substrate such as a wafer and a retaining ring is disclosed. The polishing apparatus includes a top ring which has an elastic membrane configured to form a pressure chamber for pressing the substrate against a polishing pad, and a retaining ring disposed around the elastic membrane and configured to press the polishing pad, a top ring rotating device configured to rotate the top ring about an axis of the top ring, and a cleaning brush configured to be brought into contact with a peripheral portion of a lower surface and an outer circumferential surface of the elastic membrane.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory card includes a nonvolatile semiconductor memory which includes a first memory area that is not accessed by specifying an address thereof by a host device and a second memory area that is accessed by specifying an address thereof by the host device and stores read codes set to output preset data stored in the first memory area to the host device when the host device issues a plurality of commands to specified addresses in the second memory area in a specified order.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus is used for polishing a substrate such as a semiconductor. The polishing apparatus includes a polishing table configured to hold a polishing tool having a polishing surface, a polishing head having a top ring configured to press a substrate against the polishing surface, and a polishing head cover configured to cover the polishing head. The polishing apparatus further includes a first cleaning liquid supply mechanism configured to supply a cleaning liquid to an outer surface of the polishing head cover, and a second cleaning liquid supply mechanism configured to supply a cleaning liquid to an inner surface of the polishing head cover.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus includes: a rotatable polishing table for supporting a polishing pad having a polishing surface; a top ring head having a top ring; a top ring head cover surrounding the top ring head; a dresser head having a dresser configured to dress the polishing surface; a dresser head cover surrounding the dresser head; a spray nozzle configured to spray a cleaning liquid onto an upper surface of the top ring and an outer surface of the top ring head cover when the top ring is in the substrate transfer position; and a spray nozzle configured to spray a cleaning liquid onto an outer surface of the dresser head cover when the dresser is in the retreated position.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus is used for polishing and planarizing a surface of a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer. The polishing apparatus includes a polishing table having a polishing surface, and a top ring configured to hold a substrate and press the substrate against the polishing surface. The top ring has an extendable and contractable connection sheet configured to cover a gap between a retainer ring guide fixed to a top ring body and a retainer ring guided by the retainer ring guide to move vertically. The polishing apparatus has a nozzle configured to eject a cleaning liquid in a horizontal direction toward the connection sheet and apply a flow of the cleaning liquid directly onto the connection sheet for cleaning the connection sheet.

Abstract: A workpiece transport device for transporting a workpiece having a substrate layer and a layer to be processed on a portion of the substrate layer is provided. This workpiece transport device has a workpiece holding mechanism arranged to operate so as to hold and release the workpiece. The workpiece holding mechanism has at least one tapered workpiece holding surface on which the substrate layer of the workpiece is held in a state where the layer to be processed is positioned below the substrate layer. The tapered workpiece holding surface is formed so that a clearance equal to or larger than a predetermined distance R exists between the workpiece holding surface and the layer to be processed of the workpiece when the workpiece is held by the workpiece holding mechanism.

Abstract: A memory system includes code data generating section which generates code data based on write data. A nonvolatile semiconductor memory stores the write data and the code data for the write data and outputs read data and the code data for the read data. An error correcting section is configured to correct an error bit included in the read data using the read data and the code data for the read data, and outputs the read data which includes the error bit in accordance with a setting. An interface section receives the write data from outside of the memory system, and outputs the read data to outside of the memory system.

Abstract: A gas-liquid separator separates gas-liquid two-phase flow into a gas and a liquid. The gas-liquid separator includes: a container having a bottom and a side portion, the bottom having a liquid discharge outlet and the side portion having a gas discharge outlet; a gas-liquid introduction pipe for introducing a gas-liquid two-phase flow into the container, the gas-liquid introduction pipe extending downward from above the container and having a lower end located in an interior of the container, the gas discharge outlet of the container being located above the lower end of the gas-liquid introduction pipe; and a guide device disposed in the gas-liquid introduction pipe and configured so as to impart a swirling motion to the gas-liquid two-phase flow in the gas-liquid introduction pipe.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory device includes a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, and control section. The nonvolatile semiconductor memory includes a first memory area, and second memory area other than the first memory area. The control section receives a first command from a host, and permits use of the second memory area on the basis of the first command. The control section receives a second command from the host, and transmits a parameter indicating the capacity of the first memory area to the host on the basis of the second command. The control section further receives a third command from the host, and accesses the first memory area on the basis of the third command. When use of the second memory area is permitted, the control section receives the third command from the host, and accesses the second memory area on the basis of the third command.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an inorganic board lighter in weight and excellent in strength and rigidity, and a method of producing the inorganic board. An inorganic board described in claim 1 for accomplishing the object comprises a hydraulic inorganic material, an inorganic lightweight material, a woody reinforcing material and a calcium silicate hydrate, wherein a ratio of the calcium silicate hydrate to the hydraulic inorganic material is 3-54 parts by mass: 100 parts by mass. Thus, by making an inorganic board, made of a hydraulic inorganic material, an inorganic lightweight material and a woody reinforcing material as main components, further contain a calcium silicate hydrate, an inorganic board which is lightweight and excellent in strength and rigidity can be obtained.