Abstract: An object handling device successively transfers objects such as semiconductor wafers. The object handling device includes first and second collapsible arm units having hands for holding objects, a first drive shaft for selectively extending and contracting the first arm unit, a second drive shaft for selectively extending and contracting the second arm unit, a third drive shaft for turning the first and second arm units while keeping the first and second arm units in a relative positional relationship, the first, second, and third drive shafts being disposed coaxially with each other, and an actuator mechanism for angularly moving the first, second, and third drive shafts about their own axes independently of each other.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus has a chamber which houses therein a plasma processing region and a plasma generating region spaced therefrom. An object such as a semiconductor wafer, which has surface irregularities including lands, is placed in the plasma processing region. When a plasma is generated in the plasma generating region with a processing gas composed mainly of an argon gas being introduced into the chamber, the corner edges of the lands of the object are etched into a taper shape, and the material etched away from the object is deposited between the lands.

Abstract: An object handling device successively transfers objects such as semiconductor wafers. The object handling device includes first and second collapsible arm units having hands for holding objects, a first drive shaft for selectively extending and contracting the first arm unit, a second drive shaft for selectively extending and contracting the second arm unit, a third drive shaft for turning the first and second arm units while keeping the first and second arm units in a relative positional relationship, the first, second, and third drive shafts being disposed coaxially with each other, and an actuator mechanism for angularly moving the first, second, and third drive shafts about their own axes independently of each other.

Abstract: An electrode for use in the treatment of an object such as a semiconductor wafer through plasma reaction has at least a surface layer formed of silicon carbide. The electrode comprises a base, and the surface layer of silicon carbide is formed on a surface of the base by a CVD coating process.

Abstract: An electrode for use in the treatment of an object such as a semiconductor wafer through plasma reaction has at least a surface layer formed of silicon carbide. The electrode comprises a base, and the surface layer of silicon carbide is formed on a surface of the base by CVD coating process.

Abstract: A plasma reactor includes a chamber, a specimen such as a wafer or the like supported in the chamber, a device for generating a plasma in the chamber, and at least one electromagnetic coil disposed coaxially around the chamber. The specimen is supported parallel to a magnetic field generated by the electromagnetic coil. High-density and high-energy charged particles in the plasma collide perpendicularly with the surface of the specimen to treat the specimen by way of etching or the like.

Abstract: A coating solution for forming a silica-based film, having a given viscosity, is coated on a substrate such as a silicon wafer, this coating solution is dried to form a silica-based film, and this silica-based film is exposed to ultraviolet radiation in an atmosphere containing ozone at room temperature or while heating it preferably at a temperature of not more than 300.degree. C., particularly at a temperature of from 50.degree. to 200.degree. C., by means of a heating member such as a hot plate.The film quality of the silica-based film can be improved by exposing it to ultraviolet radiation in the atmosphere containing ozone.

Abstract: A silicone film is formed by drying a solution coated on a substrate at a temperature below 150.degree. C. to form a silicone film on the substrate, treating the silicone film in an oxygen plasma, and heating the silicone film treated in the plasma at a temperature of 150.degree. C. or higher.

Abstract: The adhesiveness of a silicone-based coating film on a substrate to an overcoating layer, e.g., a photoresist layer, can be improved without causing cracks when the silicone-based coating film is subjected to a plasma treatment at a temperature of 120.degree. C. or below in an atmosphere of a gas mainly composed of oxygen. Similar conditions of plasma treatment are applicable when patterning of a silicone-based coating film is desired in a procedure comprising the steps of forming a photoresist layer thereon, patterning of the photoresist layer in a photolithographic method, selectively etching the silicone-based coating film with the patterned resist layer serving as a mask and removing the photoresist layer by the plasma treatment.

Abstract: An equipment (100; 200) for thermal stabilization process of photoresist pattern on semiconductor wafer comprises an ultraviolet lamp (20) by which a photoresist pattern formed on a semiconductor wafer (W) put in a process chamber (S) under vacuum pressure is irradiated with ultraviolet rays of a predetermined strength, and a heater (10) for heating the wafer to a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A plasma etching method employing a parallel-plate type plasma etching device which comprises a reaction chamber, a substantially plate-like ground electrode and a substantially plate-like counter electrode both disposed in parallel with each other within the reaction chamber. The method includes the steps of placing a material to be etched on the ground electrode and carrying out an electric discharge with a spacing between the electrodes being substantially 3 to 10 mm. Etching is performed exactly at a high speed in an anisotropic form without requiring a high degree of vacuum.

Abstract: An automatic plasma processing device having a substantially vertically disposed plasma chamber in which a plurality of semiconductor wafers can be simultaneously processed with plasma. The automatic plasma processing device comprises a container cassette adapted to contain a plurality of wafers therein, a feeding mechanism for taking out the wafers one by one from the cassette and for feeding the same, a holding frame for receiving the wafers one by one from the feeding mechanism and for holding the same therein, a driving mechanism for moving the holding frame up and down into and out of the plasma chamber, a plasma generating mechanism for generating plasma in the plasma chamber, and a control system for controlling the aforesaid mechanisms. The device is simplified in construction and can automatically and successively process a large number of wafers, while at the same time having a compact construction.

Abstract: An automatic plasma processing device having a substantially vertically disposed plasma chamber in which a plurality of semiconductor wafers are processed with plasma simultaneously. The device comprises a container cassette adapted to contain a plurality of wafers therein, a feeding mechanism for feeding the cassette to a predetermined position, a replacing mechanism for taking out the wafers from the cassette placed at the predetermined position, a holding frame operable to receive the wafers from the replacing mechanism and hold the same therein, a driving mechanism for moving the holding frame up and down into and out of the plasma chamber, a plasma generating mechanism for generating plasma in the plasma chamber, and a control system for controlling the aforesaid mechanisms. The automatic plasma processing device has a simplified construction and automatically and successively processes a large number of wafers, while at the same time being compact.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel automatic apparatus for the continuous treatment of wafer materials, e.g. of silicon semiconductor, with gas plasma provided with a plural number of the gas plasma reaction chambers, transfer devices for bringing the wafer materials into and out of each of the reaction chambers and automatic control mechanism for controlling the individual parts of the apparatus in linkage operation. The transfer devices are composed of a main transfer conveyor extending in parallel with the array of the reaction chambers and over whole length of the array, a plural number of branched transfer conveyors each connecting one of the reaction chambers with the main transfer conveyor, a mechanism for transferring the wafer between the main transfer conveyor and one of the branched transfer conveyor and a mechanism for bringing the wafer material from the branched transfer conveyor to the gas plasma reaction chamber or vice versa.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for fine pattern-wise etching of a surface layer on a substrate such as semiconductor silicon wafers in a dry process by use of a gaseous mixture of pentafluorochloroethane and sulfur hexafluoride as the etching gas to support the plasma atmosphere. The inventive method is advantageous in the compatibility of the requirements for a large etching rate and a high precision of the fine patterning in contrast to the generally accepted understanding that these two requirements are not compatible with each other since an etching gas having a high etching rate causes remarkable side etching to decrease the precision of the desired patterning.

Abstract: An apparatus for the treatment of semiconductor wafers by plasma reaction is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a first wafer carrying means for a wafer to be treated, a reaction chamber, a second wafer carrying means for a treated wafer, and a control means for driving respective elements thereof in linkage motion. The first wafer carrying means has a first arm type wafer carrying means, which comprises a pair of guide rails, a pair of sliders mounted on the guide rails, respectively, and a pair of first arms for carrying the wafer to be treated. The reaction chamber is provided with a pair of slits for taking the wafer into and out of the reaction chamber, a pair of open-close type vacuum sealing devices mounted on the slits, respectively. Similarly, the second wafer carrying means has a second arm type wafer carrying means.