Abstract: A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus includes a processing apparatus main body which executes a process related to manufacturing a semiconductor device, an internal apparatus controller which supplies a start signal to start a process and a stop signal to stop the process of the semiconductor device within the processing apparatus main body, and a process controller which calculates a physical characteristic of the semiconductor device currently being processed and sends the stop signal to the apparatus controller when a calculated value reaches a predetermined value.

Abstract: A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus which continuously executes oxidation and CVD in a multiprocess apparatus includes an internal apparatus controller which selects the type of process and supplies a start signal and stop signal for the process to the multiprocess apparatus, and a process controller which calculates the process state for each process on the basis of the internal information of the apparatus. Upon receiving the stop signal from the controller, the controller sends the stop signal to the multiprocess apparatus to stop the current process by the multiprocess apparatus and switches to the next process.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer has a bevel contour formed along the periphery thereof, products formed on the wafer, and an ID mark formed on the bevel contour. The ID mark shows at least the properties, manufacturing conditions, and test results of the products.

Abstract: A manufacturing apparatus which includes a rotary machine, includes: a plurality of accelerometers configured to measure diagnosis time series data attached to the rotary machine at locations where variations of the rotary machine are different; a frequency analysis device configured to perform a frequency analysis on the diagnosis time series data measured by the plurality of accelerometers; a time series data recording module configured to generate diagnosis data based on variations in characteristics of vibration corresponding to an analysis target frequency and to record the diagnosis data; and a life prediction unit configured to analyze the diagnosis data to determine a life span of the rotary machine.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer has a bevel contour formed along the periphery thereof, products formed on the wafer, and an ID mark formed on the bevel contour. The ID mark shows at least the properties, manufacturing conditions, and test results of the products.

Abstract: A method for determining a failure of a manufacturing condition, includes creating waveforms implemented by respective first data strings of first characteristic variables corresponding to operation parameter data of manufacturing apparatuses which execute manufacturing processes of products under respective manufacturing conditions for the products; classifying the first data strings that are analogous to each other into groups based on a correlation of the waveforms; creating a first visualized data table visualizing magnitude correlations between the first characteristic variables for each of the groups; adding second data strings of second characteristic variables to the groups, the second characteristic variables corresponding to workmanship data representing measurement and inspection results of the products; and creating a second visualized data table visualizing magnitude correlations between the second characteristic variables for each of the groups.

Abstract: A process-state management system encompasses: a plurality of production machines; a control server configured to collectively control at least part of the production machines; a management server including a data-linking module configured to link operation-management data of the production machines with corresponding management information transmitted from the control server, respectively, the management server analyze the operation-management data linked with the management information with a common analysis application; and a management database configured to store the operation-management data linked with the management information.

Abstract: A processing system of the present invention includes: a reaction container in which a substrate to be processed is placed, a process-gas supplying mechanism that supplies a process gas into the reaction container at a process to the substrate, a cleaning-gas supplying mechanism that supplies a corrosive cleaning gas into the reaction container at a cleaning process, a gas-discharging-way member connected to the reaction chamber, a heating unit that heats a specific portion of the reaction container and the gas-discharging-way member, a temperature detecting unit that detects a temperature of the specific portion, a temperature controlling unit that controls the heating unit based on a detection value detected by the temperature detecting unit in such a manner that the specific portion becomes to a predetermined target temperature, and a temperature changing unit that changes the target temperature between at the process to the substrate and at the cleaning process.

Abstract: A vacuum pumping system includes: an evacuation conduit, having a sequence of monitoring zones serially assigned in an exhaust direction; sensors respectively provided to the monitoring zones and independently detecting the conditions of the monitoring zones; heaters respectively provided to the monitoring zones and being paired with the sensors; and a control unit receiving data signals from the sensors, comparing the data signals with a threshold value, and when the data signals from a specific sensor exceed the threshold value, selectively supplying heating power to a heater of the monitoring zone where the specific sensor is provided.

Abstract: A control system for a manufacturing process includes an inspection tool inspecting a dislocation image in semiconductor substrate processed by manufacturing processes; an inspection information input module configured to acquire the inspected dislocation image; a process condition input module acquiring process conditions of the manufacturing processes; a structure information input module acquiring structure of the semiconductor substrate processed by target manufacturing process; a stress analysis module calculating stresses at nodes provided in the structure, based on target process condition and the structure; an origin setting module providing origins at positions where stress concentration having stress value not less than reference value is predicted; a dislocation dynamics analysis module calculating dislocation pattern in stress field for each position of the origins; and a dislocation pattern comparison module comparing the dislocation pattern with the inspected dislocation image so as to determine

Abstract: In a semiconductor device having a semiconductor element having a plurality of SOI-Si layers, the height of element isolation regions from the surface of the semiconductor substrate are substantially equal to each other. Alternatively, the element isolation regions are formed at the equal height on the semiconductor substrate and then a plurality of SOI-Si layers appropriately different in thickness are formed. In this manner, it is possible to obtain element isolation regions having substantially the same height from the semiconductor substrate and desired element regions having SOI-Si layers different in height. The thickness of a single crystalline silicon film (SOI-Si layer) may be appropriately changed by another method which includes depositing an amorphous silicon film and applying a heat processing to form an epi layer, and removing an unnecessary portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for predicting life expectancy of a rotary machine includes: a load recipe input module acquiring loading conditions of a rotary machine; a characterizing feature input module obtaining characterizing feature data of a rotary machine; and a life expectancy prediction module calculating life expectancy of the rotary machine in conformity with the loading conditions and the characterizing feature data.

Abstract: A control system for a manufacturing apparatus includes manufacturing information input unit acquiring time series data of apparatus parameters controlling manufacturing apparatuses; failure pattern classification module classifying in-plane distributions of failures of each of the wafers into failure patterns; an index calculation unit configured to statistically process the time series data by algorithms to calculate indices corresponding to the respective algorithms; an index analysis unit providing first and second frequency distributions of the indices categorized with and without the target failure pattern, to implement significance test between the first and second frequency distributions; and an abnormal parameter extraction unit extracting failure cause index of failure pattern by comparing value of the significance test with test reference value.

Abstract: A method for avoiding irregular shutoff of production equipment, includes: measuring regularly time-series data of characteristics of a rotary machine used in the production equipment running for the production; obtaining first failure diagnosis data subjecting the time-series data to a first real-time analysis; obtaining second failure diagnosis data subjecting the first failure diagnosis data to a second real-time analysis; predicting a status of the production equipment several minutes later using the second failure diagnosis data; and shutting off during a production process if the result of the prediction determines that the production equipment will shut off irregularly, and switching to a purge sequence for conducting a gas purge of the production equipment.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device having a semiconductor element having a plurality of SOI-Si layers, the height of element isolation regions from the surface of the semiconductor substrate are substantially equal to each other. Alternatively, the element isolation regions are formed at the equal height on the semiconductor substrate and then a plurality of SOI-Si layers appropriately different in thickness are formed. In this manner, it is possible to obtain element isolation regions having substantially the same height from the semiconductor substrate and desired element regions having SOI-Si layers different in height. The thickness of a single crystalline silicon film (SOI-Si layer) may be appropriately changed by another method which includes depositing an amorphous silicon film and applying a heat processing to form an epi layer, and removing an unnecessary portion.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing failure of a manufacturing apparatus, includes: measuring time series data of characteristics of a reference apparatus which conducts same processes as the manufacturing apparatus, and recording the time series data of the characteristics in a system information storage unit as a system information database; reading out a recipe listed in a process control information database recorded in a process control information storage unit; driving and controlling the manufacturing apparatus, measuring time series data of the characteristics as test data, and outputting the test data in real time, in accordance with the recipe; performing calculations on the test data, and creating failure diagnosis data; and diagnosing the failure of the manufacturing apparatus using the failure diagnosis data and the system information database.

Abstract: A system for predicting life of a rotary machine, includes a vibration gauge configured to measure time series data of a peak acceleration of the rotary machine; a band pass filter configured to filter an analog signal of the time series data of the peak acceleration measured by the vibration gauge in a frequency band including a first analysis frequency expressed as a product of an equation including a number of rotor blades of the rotary machine and a normal frequency unique to the rotary machine; and a data processing unit configured to predict a life span of the rotary machine by characteristics of the filtered analog data of the time series data of the peak acceleration with the first analysis frequency.

Abstract: A method for predicting life of a rotary machine used in a manufacturing apparatus, includes: determining a starting time of an abnormal condition just before a failure of a monitor rotary machine used in a monitor manufacturing process, from monitor time-series data for characteristics of the monitor rotary machine, statistically analyzing the monitor time-series data, and finding a value for the characteristics at the starting time of the abnormal condition as a threshold of the abnormal condition; measuring diagnosis time-series data for the characteristic of a motor current of a diagnosis rotary machine during a manufacturing process; preparing diagnosis data from the diagnosis time-series data; and determining a time for the diagnosis data exceeding the threshold as the life of the diagnosis rotary machine.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solution for interleaving data frames, in a semiconductor device manufacturing system in which the processing apparatus for conducting a process on any one of a semiconductor substrate and a thin film on a surface thereof; a self-diagnostic system for diagnosing a state of the processing apparatus; and a parameter fitting apparatus for maintaining a parameter of the self-diagnostic system when an inspection result of the semiconductor substrate having undergone the process has been determined to be correct, and for changing the parameter of the self-diagnostic system when the inspection result has been determined to be incorrect.

Abstract: A method of searching for clustering faults is employed for semiconductor device manufacturing. The method enters data on faults present in a search target, calculates a frequency distribution of the faults in unit cells divided from the search target, approximates the frequency distribution by overlaying at least two discrete distribution functions, and searches for clustering faults according to weights of the discrete distribution functions on the frequency distribution.