Abstract: To improve accuracy of learning of a full-close reference position of a throttle valve while suppressing deterioration in startability and mechanical durability and power consumption, an ECU performs position learning processing and learning permission judgment processing as a part of opening and closing control for the throttle valve. In the learning permission judgment processing, the ECU judges whether all of a first learning permission condition, a second learning permission condition, and a third learning permission condition are satisfied. The third learning permission condition is a condition judged by the ECU as being satisfied when intake passage pressure MP exceeds a predetermined value kMP registered in the ECU in advance. The predetermined value kMP is a value for excluding an error due to negative pressure from throttle opening TP detected by a throttle opening sensor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a processing liquid coating apparatus and a processing liquid coating method suitable for use in a lithography process for forming fine circuit patterns on a surface of a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer. The processing liquid coating apparatus according to the present invention includes a substrate holder (1) for holing and rotating a substrate (W), and a processing liquid supply unit (2) disposed apart from the substrate (w) held by the substrate holder (1). The processing liquid supply unit (2) has a plurality of supply ports (5, 6) for supplying a processing liquid to a plurality of portions including a central portion (C) of a surface of the substrate (W). A resist liquid or a developer is used as the processing liquid.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus includes a polishing object holding mechanism for holding an object to be polished, and a table having a polishing surface. The polishing object held by the polishing object holding mechanism is pressed against the polishing surface of the table and polished by relative movement between the polishing object held by the holding mechanism and the polishing surface of the table. An elastic sheet 11 is stretched over the upper surface of the table, and a polishing pad 16 having a polishing surface on the upper side thereof is replaceably stretched over the elastic sheet 11.

Abstract: A reaction probe chip which is prepared by loading a reactive probe on fine pieces of carrier such as particles, tile-like plates and then arraying and immobilizing the reactive probe-loaded carrier on a base material. The carrier fine pieces such as particles, tile-like plates and the like are porous or have a reactive surface, and the base material is preferably a thin inorganic plate or a thin organic plate is disclosed. The inorganic base material is preferably a glass slide or silicon wafer, and the organic base material is preferably a polyester film or polyethylene film. In case the porous carrier pieces are used, the reactivity of the inner surfaces of the porous carrier pores should be maintained during array or immobilization process of the reactive probe-loaded carrier.

Abstract: A reaction probe chip which is prepared by loading a reactive probe on fine pieces of carrier such as particles, tile-like plates and then arraying and immobilizing the reactive probe-loaded carrier on a base material. The carrier fine pieces such as particles, tile-like plates and the like are porous or have a reactive surface, and the base material is preferably a thin inorganic plate or a thin organic plate is disclosed. The inorganic base material is preferably a glass slide or silicon wafer, and the organic base material is preferably a polyester film or polyethylene film. In case the porous carrier pieces are used, the reactivity of the inner surfaces of the porous carrier pores should be maintained during array or immobilization process of the reactive probe-loaded carrier.

Abstract: The present invention discloses affinity reaction probe beads having a structure comprising probe molecules immobilized on porous bead carriers provided with one or more individual identification signals among individual identification signals including optical signals such as digital signals using optical graphics, for example, bar codes or dot matrix bar codes, and color signals based on color information; and radio or electronic signals which issue individual information, such as IC tags, or tuning circuits or oscillation circuits for radio waves or electricity, a method for producing the affinity reaction probe beads, and an analyte detection system using the affinity reaction probe beads. By using the affinity reaction probe beads, the invention provides a reaction detection system which can be utilized for various physiological function diagnoses such as a diagnosis of single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs).

Abstract: There is provided a bonding material and a bonding method which enable lead-free bonding that can replace high-temperature soldering. The bonding material of the present invention comprises a dispersion in an organic solvent of composite metallic nano-particles having such a structure that a metal core of a metal particle having an average particle diameter of not more than 100 nm. The bonding material can be advantageously used in a stepwise bonding process containing at least two bonding steps.

Abstract: A reaction probe chip which is prepared by loading a reactive probe on fine pieces of carrier such as particles, tile-like plates and then arraying and immobilizing the reactive probe-loaded carrier on a base material. The carrier fine pieces such as particles, tile-like plates and the like are porous or have a reactive surface, and the base material is preferably a thin inorganic plate or a thin organic plate is disclosed.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus includes a turntable with an abrasive cloth mounted on an upper surface thereof, and a top ring disposed above the turntable for supporting a workpiece to be polished and pressing the workpiece against the abrasive cloth under a predetermined pressure. The turntable and the top ring are movable relatively to each other to polish a surface of the workpiece supported by the top ring with the abrasive cloth. The abrasive cloth has a projecting region on a surface thereof for more intensive contact with the workpiece than other surface of the abrasive cloth. The projecting region has a smaller dimension in a radial direction of the turntable than a diameter of the workpiece when the projecting region is held in contact with the workpiece. A position of the projecting region is determined on the basis of an area in which the projecting region acts on the workpiece.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus includes a turntable with an abrasive cloth mounted on an upper surface thereof, and a top ring disposed above the turntable for supporting a workpiece to be polished and pressing the workpiece against the abrasive cloth under a predetermined pressure. The turntable and the top ring are movable relatively to each other to polish a surface of the workpiece supported by the top ring with the abrasive cloth. The abrasive cloth has a projecting region on a surface thereof for more intensive contact with the workpiece than other surface regions of the abrasive cloth. The projecting region has a smaller dimension in a radial direction of the turntable than a diameter of the workpiece when the projecting region is held in contact with the workpiece. A position of the projecting region is determined on the basis of an area in which the projecting region acts on the workpiece.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus is employed to polish an object to be polished by urging the surface of the object to be polished against the surface of a polishing cloth and causing a relative movement therebetween, while supplying a polishing liquid into an area between the object to be polished and the polishing cloth. A plurality of nozzles spray respective fluid jets to strike against the surface of the cloth. The plurality of nozzles include more than one type of nozzle which vary flow velocity, flow rate, angle of spray, and cross-sectional configuration of a jet. The plurality of nozzles have axes positioned at a location at different distances from the rotation axis of the polishing cloth.

Abstract: A drum-type polishing apparatus for producing a flat mirror polish on an object such as a semiconductor wafer, is capable of three degrees of freedom of movement of a drum member with respect to the wafer. The relative movements can be made, successively or simultaneously, at right angles to an axis of the drum, parallel to the surface of the wafer, as well as at any desired angular orientations. Combined with a follower device to provide automatic compensation for unevenness in pressing pressure applied to the wafer during polishing, the polishing apparatus offers outstanding uniformity in polishing quality and high productivity, even for large diameter wafers, with a comparatively modest investment in both facility space and equipment cost.

Abstract: A magnetic levitation conveyor apparatus has levitation electromagnets, linear motors, and displacement sensors which are disposed outside of a tunnel, and a carriage of simple structure which is movable in the tunnel. The carriage is of canned structure for preventing gases from being generated. The carriage of canned structure allows the tunnel to have a reduced cross-sectional area and to be filled with a highly purified atmosphere such as of a high vacuum. The tunnel has substantially orthogonal branches at a branched point. In the branched point, the carriage can move, while being lifted out of contact with the tunnel partition, with a directional change from a main conveyor passage into a branched conveyor passage. The magnetic levitation conveyor apparatus is highly practical as it can control the carriage to be lifted and moved as described above.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus is a cluster type of apparatus having a plurality of units which perform various operations. The polishing apparatus includes a universal transfer robot having at least one arm for transferring a workpiece, a plurality of units disposed around the universal transfer robot and including a loading unit for receiving the workpiece to be polished, at least one polishing unit for polishing the workpiece, at least one washing unit for washing the workpiece which has been polished and an unloading unit for receiving the cleaned workpiece. Discrete mechanisms respectively transfer a clean workpiece and a dirty workpiece amongst the units.

Abstract: A workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer is supported on a top ring and polished by an abrasive cloth on a turntable while the top ring is being pressed against the turntable and the turntable and the top ring are being rotated. The top ring is coupled to a top ring drive shaft, coupled to a pressure cylinder for pressing the top ring, and to a motor for rotating the top ring. A spherical bearing is interposed between the top ring and the top ring drive shaft for allowing the top ring to align with the upper surface of the moving turntable. A torque transmitting mechanism is operatively coupled between the top ring and the top ring drive shaft for rotating the top ring in synchronization with the top ring drive shaft.

Abstract: A workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer is positioned between a turntable and a top ring and polished by an abrasive cloth on the turntable while the top ring is being pressed against the turntable. The top ring has a retaining ring for preventing the workpiece from deviating from the lower surface of the top ring, and the retaining ring has an inside diameter larger than an outside diameter of the workpiece. The rotation of the turntable imparts a pressing force in a direction parallel to the upper surface of the turntable to the workpiece so that an outer periphery of the workpiece contacts an inner periphery of the retaining ring, and the rotation of the retaining ring imparts a rotational force to the workpiece so that the workpiece performs a planetary motion relative to the top ring in the retaining ring.

Abstract: A turntable with an abrasive cloth mounted thereon and a top ring positioned above the turntable are independently rotatably provided. The top ring holds a workpiece to be polished and presses the workpiece against the abrasive cloth. The turntable and the top ring are rotated to polish the surface of the workpiece to a flat mirror finish on the abrasive cloth. A rotatable brush pressed against the abrasive cloth is rotated about an axis substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the abrasive cloth, and oscillated substantially radially between radially inner and outer positions over the abrasive cloth. A cleaning solution is sprayed from a nozzle onto the abrasive cloth. The turntable has a bank along an outer circumferential edge thereof for preventing a protective solution, which is supplied to the abrasive cloth to keep the abrasive cloth wet and prevent it, from flowing off the turntable when the turntable is stationary.

Abstract: A workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer is supported on a top ring and polished by an abrasive cloth on a turntable while the top ring is being pressed against the turntable and the turntable and the top ring are being rotated. The top ring is coupled to a top ring drive shaft, coupled to a pressure cylinder for pressing the top ring, and to a motor for rotating the top ring. A spherical bearing is interposed between the top ring and the top ring drive shaft for allowing the top ring to align with the upper surface of the moving turntable. A torque transmitting mechanism is operatively coupled between the top ring and the top ring drive shaft for rotating the top ring in synchronization with the top ring drive shaft.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus includes a turntable with an abrasive cloth mounted on an upper surface thereof, and a top ring disposed above the turntable for supporting a workpiece to be polished and pressing the workpiece against the abrasive cloth under a predetermined pressure. The turntable and the top ring are movable relatively to each other to polish a surface of the workpiece supported by the top ring with the abrasive cloth. The abrasive cloth has a projecting region on a surface thereof for more intensive contact with the workpiece than other surface regions of the abrasive cloth. The projecting region has a smaller dimension in a radial direction of the turntable than a diameter of the workpiece when the projecting region is held in contact with the workpiece. A position of the projection region is determined on the basis of an area in which the projecting region acts on the workpiece.

Abstract: A turntable with an abrasive cloth mounted thereon and a top ring positioned above the turntable are independently rotatably provided. The top ring holds a workpiece to be polished and presses the workpiece against the abrasive cloth. The turntable and the top ring are rotated to polish the surface of the workpiece to a flat mirror finish on the abrasive cloth. A rotatable brush pressed against the abrasive cloth is rotated about an axis substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the abrasive cloth, and oscillated substantially radially between radially inner and outer positions over the abrasive cloth. A cleaning solution is sprayed from a nozzle onto the abrasive cloth. The turntable has a bank along an outer circumferential edge thereto for preventing a protective solution, which is supplied to the abrasive cloth to keep the abrasive cloth wet and prevent it, from flowing off the turntable when the turntable is stationary.