Abstract: A method of forming a titanium nitride layer by an atomic layer deposition process using a batch-type vertical reaction furnace is described wherein a first source gas including a titanium precursor is provided onto substrates loaded in a process chamber for a first time period; a first purge gas is introduced into the process chamber for a second time period shorter than the first time period; a second source gas including nitrogen is provided onto the substrates for a third time period substantially identical to the first time period; and, a second purge gas is introduced into the process chamber for a fourth time period substantially identical to the second time period. Titanium nitride layers having uniform thickness and good step coverage may thus be formed while realizing a greatly reduced manufacturing time.

Abstract: A method of forming titanium nitride layers by an atomic layer deposition process using a batch-type vertical reaction furnace is described wherein the titanium nitride layers are formed on one or more substrates in accordance with a reaction between a first source gas including TiCl4 gas and a second source gas including an NH3 gas. After forming the titanium nitride layers, chlorine remaining in the titanium nitride layers is removed using a treatment gas which includes an NH3 gas. The substrates are revolved by a predetermined rotation angle between repeated titanium nitride layer formation cycles. The process of forming the titanium nitride layers and rotating the substrates is alternately repeated resulting in titanium nitride layers having substantially uniform thicknesses and low specific resistance.

Abstract: A method of manufacture includes processing an object in a chamber and subsequently generating an electrical force of attraction to float contaminants off of a region adjacent the processed object before the object is unloaded from the chamber. The object may be processed with the use of plasma. The plasma is produced by introducing a first gas into the chamber and applying a source power to the first gas. The plasma is extinguished after the object is processed with the use of the plasma. Then, a second gas is introduced into the chamber and a source power is applied to the second gas to generate the electrical force of attraction. At this time, the parameters are controlled so that particle contaminants are readily removed without any influence on the object. Also, the same electrode can be used to apply source power to both the first and second gas. Thus, the operation of removing the particle contaminants is relatively simple.

Abstract: A gas delivery system for providing a gas to manufacturing equipment includes a gas supply unit for providing the gas to the manufacturing equipment including devices to regulate the supply of gas from the gas supply unit to the manufacturing equipment. The system includes a main control unit for regulating the supply of the gas to the manufacturing equipment. The gas delivery system includes a supplemental control unit which receives an emergency shutdown signal from the main control unit for closing off the supply of gas in response to a malfunction of the main control unit and generates a signal for maintaining a gas flow to operate the manufacturing equipment until the cause of the malfunction has been determined. With the system, an unnecessary emergency shutdown of gas supply to semiconductor manufacturing equipment in response to a malfunction of a main controller can be prevented.

Abstract: The present invention can provide ion implanter devices including an arc chamber including at least a first inner region and a second inner region, an electron emitting device disposed in the arc chamber adjacent the first inner region and adapted to emit electrons, an electron returning device disposed in the arc chamber adjacent the second inner region and adapted to return at least some of the electrons emitted from the electron emitting device into the second inner region; and an electric field and magnetic field generating device adapted to provide a magnetic field to the arc chamber, wherein at least one inner wall of the arc chamber has a convex surface.

Abstract: Provided are methods and apparatus for exposing multiple substrates within a single exposing apparatus using only a single light source wherein a first substrate is exposed in a series of steps or shots during which light transmitted along a primary optical path is directed onto a primary surface of the substrate with the substrate being repositioned between sequential shots. A second substrate is exposed during the period of time while the first substrate is being repositioned by altering the optical path to divert the light from the light source into a secondary optical path that will expose a region on the second substrate. When the first substrate has been repositioned, the diversion of the light is terminated so that the light will again be transmitted along the primary optical path in order to expose the next sequential shot on the primary surface of the first substrate.

Abstract: A robot arm mechanism includes a housing, upper and lower arms rotatably mounted on the housing, a respective substrate-supporting blade connected to each upper arm, and first, second, third and fourth driving units for rotating the housing, the upper and lower arms and the blade independently of one another. Thus, positions of the blades are readily controlled so that the blades and/or the substrates supported by the blades can be prevented from colliding against the inner wall of the chambers into and from which the substrates are transferred by the robot arm mechanism.

Abstract: A substrate manufacturing apparatus comprises a transfer chamber, at least one process chamber disposed adjacent to a lateral face of the transfer chamber, and a substrate transfer module including at least two transfer robots which transfer a substrate to the process chamber, the substrate transfer module being disposed at the transfer chamber. Each of the at least two transfer robots comprises a blade including at least two supporters for supporting a substrate, an arm part connected to the blade to move the blade, and an arm driving part for driving the blade and the arm part.

Abstract: A vacuum processing apparatus is provided with: a vacuum processing tank; a first gas introduction section that is constructed such that a first processing gas in a radical state is introduced into the vacuum processing tank and is guided to a semiconductor wafer; and a second gas introduction section that is constructed such that a second processing gas that reacts with the first processing gas is introduced into the vacuum processing tank and is guided to the semiconductor wafer. The second gas introduction section has two shower nozzles provided at positions on either side of an introduction pipe provided for the first gas introduction section. According to this vacuum processing apparatus, high speed processing of a number of processing objects can be achieved. Moreover, the in-plane uniformity of the processing objects after processing can be ensured.

Abstract: In this etching method, since an etching gas is introduced before introduction of free radicals into a processing chamber, the etching gas has been adsorbed on the surface of substrates when the free radicals are introduced. Accordingly, the free radicals react with the etching gas adsorbed on the surface of the substrates, and the reaction proceeds uniformly on the surface of the substrate. As a result, nonuniform etching does not occur on the surface of the substrate. Moreover, since the reaction between the etching gas and the free radicals occurs on the surface of the substrate, an intermediate product produced according to the reaction between the etching gas and the free radicals reacts with an etching object promptly. Therefore, the intermediate product is not exhausted from the processing chamber 12 excessively, and hence the etching efficiency is high.

Abstract: A method of exposing a wafer to a light comprises transferring an image onto a plurality of shot areas by irradiating a projection light, each of the plurality of shot areas including at least one die area defined on the wafer on which a photoresist film is formed, and scanning the at least one die area adjacent to an edge portion of the wafer by irradiating a scanning light.

Abstract: A computer-controlled slurry supplying apparatus for providing abrasive slurry to a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) machine in a semiconductor manufacturing process preferably comprises a storage portion for accepting and storing a quantity of undiluted slurry, a mixing portion for accepting undiluted slurry from the storage portion and mixing with a diluting solution to created a diluted slurry, a supply portion for holding the diluted slurry, and at least one point-of-use mixing unit for mixing at least one chemical additive to the diluted slurry at or near a dispensing nozzle at the point of application. Each of the above portions of the slurry supplying apparatus further includes a re-circulation means for keep solutions in a mixed and agitated state. A method for using the slurry supplying apparatus comprises steps of controllably operating various valves, pumps, and sensors to maintain a desired slurry composition and flow rate.

Abstract: In an ion implanting apparatus and an ion implanting method using the same, the ion implanting apparatus includes a disk chamber containing a rotatable disk, a wafer mounted on the rotatable disk, and a charge sensor for monitoring a charged state of the wafer, the charge sensor being fixed to the disk chamber to be adjacent to and facing a surface of the wafer. An output of the charge sensor may be used as feedback to control the charged state of the wafer.

Abstract: An endpoint detector has a window, a first temperature control unit, a second temperature control unit and an analyzing unit. The window transmits light emitted from plasma in a processing chamber, and covers a passage through a sidewall of the processing chamber. The first temperature control unit maintains the window at a first temperature. The second temperature control unit maintains an inner surface of the passage at a second temperature, which is lower than the first temperature. The analyzing unit analyzes the light and determines an endpoint of a process in the processing chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for processing a wafer in manufacturing a semiconductor device and a method and an apparatus for etching a material formed on the wafer, wherein first and second cooling parts adjust an ambient temperature near a plurality of wafers to a first temperature, the wafers are processed by introducing a reaction gas at the first temperature, then, a heating part rapidly raises the temperature of the atmosphere near the wafers from the first temperature to the second temperature to partially separate by-products produced during the processing, the second temperature is maintained to separate most of the by-products from the wafers, and the processing steps are implemented in-situ within the same space. Accordingly, a native oxide layer formed on several wafers can be etched and the reaction by-products can be removed in-situ in the same chamber so productivity is improved.

Abstract: A multi-chamber system includes an index station at which one or more substrate cassettes are placed, a transfer passageway having one end adjacent the index station, at least one process chamber disposed alongside the transfer passageway, and at least one substrate transfer robot disposed in the transfer passageway for receiving a substrate from the index station and by which the substrate is transferred to each process chamber. The multi-chamber system has a minimal footprint. Furthermore, the system can be easily expanded. In addition, the substrate transfer robot(s) may have a blade including two substrate supports so that the time required for moving a substrate through the system is minimized.

Abstract: Provided is a high density plasma chemical vapor deposition (HDP-CVD) apparatus that includes a plurality of nozzles and/or injection pipes arranged for injecting a source gas mixture into a reaction chamber. The nozzles will each include an outlet region that includes a plurality of outlet channels or ports, the outlet channels are, in turn, configured to have a sufficiently small width and a sufficient length to suppress the formation of a plasma within the source gases passing through the respective nozzles. By suppressing the formation of a plasma within the nozzles, the thickness of deposits formed on the nozzles during the deposition processes can be maintained at a level generally no greater than deposits formed on the other chamber surfaces. This control of the deposit thickness allows the nozzles to be cleaned effectively by the same cleaning process applied to the chamber.

Abstract: A wafer transfer apparatus can transfer wafers to and from at least one process chamber quickly and in a small amount of space. The wafer transfer includes an arm unit, and a multi-blade connected to said arm unit so as to be rotatable relative to the arm unit. The multi-blade has at least two wafer supports configured to respectively support wafers as all lying in a horizontal plane. The arm unit includes a first arm mounted for rotation in a horizontal plane, and a second arm carried by the first arm and rotatable relative to the first arm in a horizontal plane. The multi-blade is carried by the second arm.

Abstract: An antenna includes branches having substantially identical shapes. The branches are symmetrically disposed about a central point and extend along at least two concentric patterns whose geometric centers coincide with the central point. The branches each include pattern-forming portions that lie entirely within the concentric patterns, and at least one connecting portion extending between and connecting the pattern-forming portions. Input/output terminals for allowing a voltage to be impressed across the branches are provided at ends of each of the branches.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for processing a wafer in manufacturing a semiconductor device and a method and an apparatus for etching a material formed on the wafer, wherein first and second cooling parts adjust an ambient temperature near a plurality of wafers to a first temperature, the wafers are processed by introducing a reaction gas at the first temperature, then, a heating part rapidly raises the temperature of the atmosphere near the wafers from the first temperature to the second temperature to partially separate by-products produced during the processing, the second temperature is maintained to separate most of the by-products from the wafers, and the processing steps are implemented in-situ within the same space. Accordingly, a native oxide layer formed on several wafers can be etched and the reaction by-products can be removed in-situ in the same chamber so productivity is improved.