Abstract: An edge exposure unit includes a projector, a projector holding unit, a substrate rotating unit, an outer edge detecting unit and a surface inspection processing unit. Each component of the projector holding unit operates to move the projector in an X direction and a Y direction. The projector irradiates a peripheral portion of a substrate with light transmitted from a light source for exposure through a light guide. Edge sampling processing is performed based on distribution of an amount of light received in a CCD line sensor of the outer edge detecting unit. Surface inspection processing is performed based on distribution of an amount of light received in a CCD line sensor of the surface inspection processing unit.

Abstract: An edge exposure unit includes a projector, a projector holding unit, a substrate rotating unit, an outer edge detecting unit and a surface inspection processing unit. Each component of the projector holding unit operates to move the projector in an X direction and a Y direction. The projector irradiates a peripheral portion of a substrate with light transmitted from a light source for exposure through a light guide. Edge sampling processing is performed based on distribution of an amount of light received in a CCD line sensor of the outer edge detecting unit. Surface inspection processing is performed based on distribution of an amount of light received in a CCD line sensor of the surface inspection processing unit.

Abstract: A controller is connected to a substrate processing apparatus and an exposure apparatus. A pilot substrate subjected to a series of processing as preprocessing is transported to an inspection unit. An inspection result determination part compares inspection results received from the inspection unit with substrate condition data so that a condition change instruction part changes the processing condition of each processing unit when no requirement is satisfied. This operation is so repeated that a processing control part executes actual processing according to recipe data when the inspection results satisfy the requirement. Thus, the efficiency a step of changing the processing condition of each processing part in response to the inspection results in the inspection part is improved in preprocessing executed in the substrate processing apparatus.

Abstract: A controller is connected to a substrate processing apparatus and an exposure apparatus. A pilot substrate subjected to a series of processing as preprocessing is transported to an inspection unit. An inspection result determination part compares inspection results received from the inspection unit with substrate condition data so that a condition change instruction part changes the processing condition of each processing unit when no requirement is satisfied. This operation is so repeated that a processing control part executes actual processing according to recipe data when the inspection results satisfy the requirement. Thus, the efficiency a step of changing the processing condition of each processing part in response to the inspection results in the inspection part is improved in preprocessing executed in the substrate processing apparatus.

Abstract: An atmosphere concentration monitoring system includes multiple measurement ports for collecting atmospheric gas, a port selector for switching the multiple measurement ports, a concentration measurement unit for sampling the atmospheric gas through the selected measurement port and measuring the concentration of a specific substance contained in the sampled atmospheric gas. A different set of measurement conditions are established for each of the measurement ports. The port selector and the concentration measurement unit are controlled according to the different sets of measurement conditions. A life determination device includes a flow rate determination unit for measuring a flow rate of the atmospheric gas passing through the atmosphere processing unit. A throughput of the atmosphere processing unit is determined by integrating, with respect to time, a product of the flow rate and a difference between the upstream and downstream concentrations.

Abstract: A robot (12) takes a wafer (3f) out of an indexer (1) and then transports the same to a heat processing part (41). A wafer (3e), which has already introduced in the heat processing part (41) is took out thereof by the robot (5). The wafer (3f) is introduced in the heat processing part (41) after a waiting time (18a) so that an excess heat processing in the heat processing part (41) can be avoided. The wafer (3e) is transported to a processing part (43) and introduced therein by the robot (5). After the robot (5) repeats the similar processings in processing parts (13, 42, 44), it returns to the wafer transferring robot (12) to receive a next wafer. At that time, the robot (5) waits for a predetermined time thereby a cycle time is adjusted. After the waiting, the robot (5) takes out the wafer (3f), which has been introduced in the heat processing part (41), out thereof. Since the cycle time is set in common for different lots, the waiting times (18a, 18b) are set individually for each lot.