Sequential Timing Of Plural Operations Patents (Class 118/702)
  • Patent number: 9573155
    Abstract: An adhesive application device for applying, includes a nozzle unit having a number of nozzles for applying an adhesive to a material which is moved along a direction of transport, said nozzles being displaceable transversely to the direction of transport along a first guide spindle; and plural individual gluing heads, each being arranged separately from each other on respective second separate guide spindles, so as to be displaceable transversely to the direction of transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: WINKLER + DÜNNEBIER GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Daum, Daniel Bäth
  • Publication number: 20150147873
    Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method includes: carrying a substrate, which has a Ge-containing film on at least a portion of a surface thereof, into a process chamber; heating an inside of the process chamber, into which the substrate is carried, to a first process temperature; and terminating a surface of the Ge-containing film, which is exposed at a portion of the surface of the substrate, by Si by supplying at least a Si-containing gas to the inside of the process chamber heated to the first process temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC
    Inventors: Atsushi MORIYA, Kensuke HAGA, Kazuhiro YUASA, Kaichiro MINAMI
  • Publication number: 20150110956
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for dispersing particles within a reaction field, the method comprising confining the particles to the reaction field using a standing wave. The invention also provides a system for coating particles, the system comprising a reaction zone; a means for producing fluidized particles within the reaction zone; a fluid to produce a standing wave within the reaction zone; and a means for introducing coating moieties to the reaction zone. The invention also provides a method for coating particles, the method comprising fluidizing the particles, subjecting the particles to a standing wave; and contacting the subjected particles with a coating moiety.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Jie Li, Yung Liu
  • Publication number: 20150064908
    Abstract: Provided is a substrate processing apparatus, including: a first gas supply system to supply raw material gas of a film being deposited in at least a portion of the surface of the substrate, and first etching gas which removes the deposited film, from a first gas supply nozzle to the processing chamber; a second gas supply system to supply second etching gas, which removes the deposited film, from a second gas supply nozzle to the processing chamber; and a control device to control the first and second gas supply systems such that the raw material gas is supplied from the first gas supply nozzle and the second etching gas is supplied from the second gas supply nozzle while the substrate is in the processing chamber, and the first etching gas is supplied from the first gas supply nozzle while the substrate is not in the processing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
    Inventors: Atsushi Moriya, Kiyohisa Ishibashi
  • Publication number: 20150027368
    Abstract: A drug coating apparatus (100) for coating an implant (206) with a drug is described. The drug coating apparatus (100) includes a holding unit (102) having a top collet (202-1) for holding the implant (206) from a top end of the implant (206), and a bottom collet (202-2) to hold the implant (206) from a bottom end of the implant (206). The drug coating apparatus (100) includes at least one rotary drive (115) coupled to the holding unit (102) for rotating the top collet (202-1), the bottom collet (202-2) and the implant (206), and includes a spraying unit (104) to spray-coat the drug on the implant (206).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Rahul Mahendrakumar Gaywala, Vallabh Mohan Narola
  • Patent number: 8904955
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a control unit executing a first recipe for substrate processing. After the substrate processing is completed through the execution of the first recipe, if a predetermined time is elapsed in a state that a next substrate to be processed is not carried into the process chamber, a second recipe is executed for maintaining a process chamber where the substrate is processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric, Inc.
    Inventors: Makoto Nomura, Yukio Ozaki, Reizo Nunozawa, Satoru Takahata
  • Publication number: 20140220711
    Abstract: A nitride film manufacturing apparatus forms a nitride film on a substrate provided in a chamber by a plasma CVD technique. Specifically, the nitride film manufacturing apparatus includes a controller for calculating a first period for applying first high-frequency power having a relatively high frequency and a second period for applying second high-frequency power having a relatively low frequency in order to obtain desired compressive stress or tensile stress of the nitride film, based on distribution of a refractive index of the nitride film and/or distribution of a deposition rate of the nitride film, the distribution falling within a predetermined numerical range and being obtained using the first high-frequency power and/or the second high-frequency power applied independently for forming the nitride film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: SPP Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoichi Murakami, Masayasu Hatashita
  • Publication number: 20140124788
    Abstract: Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) systems for forming layers on a substrate are disclosed. Embodiments of the system comprise at least two processing chambers that may be linked in a cluster tool. A first processing chamber provides a chamber having a controlled environmental temperature and pressure and containing a first environment for performing CVD on a substrate, and a second environment for contacting the substrate with a plasma; a substrate transport system capable of positioning a substrate for sequential processing in each environment, and a gas control system capable of maintaining isolation. A second processing chamber provides a CVD system. Methods of forming layers on a substrate comprise forming one or more layers in each processing chamber. The systems and methods are suitable for preparing Group III-V, Group II-VI or Group IV thin film devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: INTERMOLECULAR, INC.
    Inventors: Philip Kraus, Boris Borisov, Thai Cheng Chua, Sandeep Nijhawan
  • Patent number: 8459203
    Abstract: A coating powder feed method, coating powder feeding device, electrostatic powder spraycoating apparatus containing such a coating powder feeding device. The invention includes a dense phase powder pump fitted with at least one feed chamber. A control signal to create a partial vacuum in the feed chamber is generated no earlier than simultaneously with, preferably by a predetermined delay time after, a control signal opening a powder intake valve of the feed chamber, as a result of which the beginning of partial vacuum buildup in the feed chamber shall take place no earlier than simultaneously with the initial opening of the powder intake valve or by a defined time delay after the opening of the powder intake valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Inventors: Felix Mauchle, Christian Marxer, Hanspeter Vieli
  • Patent number: 8448600
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus is disclosed equipped with a transfer mechanism that transfers a substrate processed at a processing block to a carrier so that the increase of the number of transfer process is suppressed, improving the processing efficiency. The substrate processing apparatus is configured in such a way that, when a second-transfer module houses at least one substrate and a carrier that can house the at least one substrate is not placed in a carrier-placement unit, the at least one substrate is transferred to a buffer module. When the second transfer module houses at least one substrate and the carrier that can house the at least one substrate is placed in the carrier-placement unit, the at least one substrate is transferred to the carrier, regardless of whether or not a substrate is being transferred from the buffer module to the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Kenichirou Matsuyama, Tomohiro Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20120263887
    Abstract: An apparatus for depositing a coating may comprise a first processing chamber configured to deposit a first reactant as a reactant layer on a substrate during a first time period. A second processing chamber may be configured to direct ions incident on the substrate at a second time and configured to deposit a second reactant on the substrate during a second time period, wherein the second reactant is configured to react with the reactant layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventors: George D. Papasouliotis, Ludovic Godet
  • Publication number: 20120247953
    Abstract: The invention relates to a film coating system. The system includes serially arranged working zones including a rough vacuum feeding section, a high vacuum feeding section, an optical layer coating zone, a pretreatment zone, a transparent conductive layer coating zone and a pressure balanced exhausting zone. The system further includes a conveyor device for carrying a substrate which has been provided on its periphery with an ink frame layer and for delivering the substrate to the respective working zones, and a controlling device that controls the times for the substrate to be retained in the respective working zones based upon a time interval between the entry of two successive conveyor devices into the rough vacuum feeding section. The invention ensures a smooth operation of the production line, and the transparent conductive film coated thereby does not easily exfoliate and exhibits the advantageous properties of high optical performance and low surface resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: CHIEN-MIN WENG, Shih-Liang Chou, Tzu-Wen Chu, Fu-Jen Wang, Feng-Shiang Yao
  • Publication number: 20120141669
    Abstract: Hydrating an object bearing a latent fingerprint and then selectively drying the object leaving the fingerprint hydrated. The hydrated fingerprint is then coated with cyanoacrylate ester, preferably in a heat accelerated cyanoacrylate ester vacuum chamber. Hydrating is preferably accomplished by chilling the object below a dew point and then exposing the object to humidified air to condense a thin uniform layer of water over the object and latent fingerprint. Drying is preferably done with a vacuum. After drying reaches the preferred state, the CE is heated and coats the condensation-hydrated latent fingerprint. Preferably, the method is implemented in an automated system using one computer-controlled chamber for chilling, condensing, vacuum drying, and CE coating the latent fingerprint. The operator simply puts the object in the chamber, initiates the process by computer, and is prompted by the computer to remove the recovered latent print. Prints unrecoverable by prior art means are recovered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventor: William Bryon Stones
  • Publication number: 20120052693
    Abstract: When alternately performing a film deposition step where a silicon-containing gas and O3 gas are alternately supplied to a substrate on a susceptor by rotating the susceptor thereby to forma thin film of the reaction product, and an alteration step where the reaction product is altered by irradiating plasma to the substrate, plasma intensity of the plasma is changed during film deposition. Specifically, the plasma intensity is lower when a thickness of the thin film is small (or at an initial stage of the film deposition—alteration step), and is increased as the thin film becomes thicker (or as the number of the film deposition steps is increased). Alternatively, the plasma intensity is higher when the thin film is relatively thin and then reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Shigenori OZAKI, Hitoshi Kato, Takeshi Kumagai
  • Publication number: 20110275166
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and system for depositing a thin film onto a substrate. One aspect of the invention is depositing a thin film metal oxide layer using atomic layer deposition (ALD).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: Eric J. Shero, Petri I. Raisanen, Sung-Hoon Jung, Chang-Gong Wang
  • Publication number: 20110225815
    Abstract: The invention aims at reducing unevenness at the intersections of mutually crossing electrodes with a method of and an apparatus for forming electrodes on a substrate. After forming a number of finger electrodes on a substrate, wide bus electrodes intersecting them are formed by application of an application liquid. Upon applying the application liquid which contains an electrode material and a photo-curing resin to the substrate, the application liquid is irradiated with UV light after a predetermined time and the application liquid is thus made to harden. A time difference since applying until light irradiation is set based on the result of measurement on changes of the height of the application liquid experimentally applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventor: Masakazu SANADA
  • Publication number: 20110203523
    Abstract: A high pressure processing system including a chamber configured to house a substrate. A fluid introduction system includes at least one composition supply system configured to supply a first composition and a second composition, and at least one fluid supply system configured to supply a fluid. The fluid supply system is configured to alternately and discontinuously introduce the first composition and the second composition to the chamber within the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: ERIC J. STRANG
  • Publication number: 20110183519
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device and a substrate processing apparatus capable of providing a TiN film that is higher in quality than a TiN film formed by a conventional CVD method at a higher film-forming rate, that is, with a higher productivity than a TiN film formed by an ALD method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
    Inventors: Yukinao KAGA, Tatsuyuki SAITO, Masanori SAKAI, Takashi YOKOGAWA
  • Patent number: 7954451
    Abstract: An apparatus and method use closed loop control processes to automatically adjust a command signal used to change an operating state of a fluid dispensing gun. Proportional, integral and/or derivative control processes are used to determine an operating parameter comprising on time compensation, off time compensation and/or a fluid pressure compensation. An adjustment is made to the operating parameter if a number of consecutive measurements of an adhesive bead characteristic are outside of a predetermined tolerance range. A sensor for producing a feedback signal is used to communicate a measurable difference between an actual and a desired bead characteristic. The feedback signal applied in real time is used when determining the operating parameter, reducing substrate waste and increasing efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventor: Richard G. Klein
  • Patent number: 7819080
    Abstract: A substrate transfer system to reduce total processing time by transferring a substrate at a first delivery stage to a process block where processing can be carried out earliest. The substrate processing apparatus includes a first transfer device delivering a wafer with respect to a substrate carrier, and a second transfer device delivering a wafer between a plurality of process blocks and the first transfer device via a first delivery stage, to transfer the wafer with respect to the process blocks. The process block where there is no wafer or where processing of the last wafer within the relevant process block will be completed earliest is determined based on processing information of the wafers from the process blocks, and the wafer of the first delivery stage is transferred by the second transfer device to the relevant process block. This ensures smooth transfer of the wafer to the process block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Nobuaki Matsuoka, Yoshio Kimura, Akira Miyata
  • Patent number: 7722778
    Abstract: Universal plasma unconfinement detection systems configured to detect the plasma unconfinement condition in the plasma processing chamber and methods therefor. The detection systems and methods are designed to reliably and accurately detect the existence of the plasma unconfinement condition in a process-independent and recipe-independent manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Andreas Fischer, David Pirkle
  • Publication number: 20100012028
    Abstract: A light irradiation device (151) includes a UV lamp (153), first and second optical filters (164, 165) which transmit and block wavelengths within different specific ranges, and a filter switching mechanism (162) which selectively interposes the first and second optical filters (164, 165) between the UV lamp (153) and an optical lens. The blocking wavelength of the first optical filter (164) is relatively longer than that of the second optical filter (165). The first optical filter (164) is interposed between the UV lamp (153) and the optical lens since the start of curing a coating solution until a lapse of a predetermined period of time. When the predetermined period of time has elapsed, the second optical filter (165) is interposed between the UV lamp (153) and the optical lens to replace the first optical filter (164).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: HOYA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Jinbo, Hiroshi Ota, Takeshi Imizu
  • Patent number: 7628824
    Abstract: An indexer robot includes two transport arms. The indexer robot simultaneously transports two unprocessed substrates from a cassette to a substrate transfer part in such a manner that each of the two transport arms holds a single unprocessed substrate. Also, the indexer robot simultaneously receives two processed substrates from the substrate transfer part and simultaneously transports the two processed substrate to a cassette in such a manner that each of the two transport arms holds a single processed substrate. The provision of three sending substrate rest parts and three returning substrate rest parts in the substrate transfer part enables the indexer robot to smoothly accomplish the simultaneous two-substrate transport, thereby reducing the time required for the transport of substrates in an entire substrate processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eisaku Machida
  • Patent number: 7591906
    Abstract: Described is a method for manufacturing a display including a substrate on which a structure, such as, for instance, a matrix structure in relief, is provided, which structure bounds a number of areas, wherein, with the aid of an inkjet printhead, substantially in each area an amount of liquid is deposited, wherein with the aid of at least one sensor a measurement is performed on the substrate to determine the position of a respective area, and on the basis of the thus determined position the printhead is controlled to deliver an amount of liquid at the correct place. Also described is an apparatus for carrying out the method, a substrate for use in the method and a display obtained with the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: PixDro Ltd.
    Inventors: Franciscus C. Dings, Marinus F. J. Evers, Peter Briër
  • Publication number: 20090205568
    Abstract: A substrate processing method by which a desired thin film is formed on a substrate by alternately supplying and discharging a plurality of processing gases to and from a process chamber having a space for processing the substrate. In the substrate processing method, a quantity of a chemical species, which exists in the thin film and the film stress of the thin film depends on, is controlled by controlling a supply time of one processing gas among the processing gases, and thus the film stress of the thin film is controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventors: Norikazu MIZUNO, Taketoshi Sato, Masanori Sakai, Kazuyuki Okuda
  • Publication number: 20090053906
    Abstract: Disclosed is a producing method of a semiconductor device including: loading at least one substrate into a processing chamber; forming a metal oxide film or a silicon oxide film on a surface of the substrate by repeatedly supplying a metal compound or a silicon compound, each of which is a first material, an oxide material which is a second material including an oxygen atom, and a hydride material which is a third material, into the processing chamber predetermined times; and unloading the substrate from the processing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Hironobu Miya, Kazuhiro Hirahara, Yoshitaka Hamada, Atsuhiko Suda
  • Publication number: 20090047420
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ink discharging apparatus capable of forming a high-quality film. An ink discharging apparatus (1) includes: an ink discharge section (2) which is movable relative to a substrate in order to discharge ink onto plural defective pixels scattering on the substrate; and a discharge time interval calculating section (4) which calculates a discharge time interval from the previous ink discharge to the ink discharge of this time, in accordance with the order of ink discharge onto plural defective pixels. The ink discharge section (2) controls an amount of discharged droplets of ink or the number of discharged droplets, in accordance with the discharge time interval calculated by the discharge time interval calculating section (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Chiyoshi Yoshioka, Hidetsugu Kawai
  • Patent number: 7485188
    Abstract: A coating process method in which a coating liquid is discharged onto the surface of a target substrate to be processed while rotating the target substrate so as to expand the coating liquid radially outward on the target substrate and, thus, to form a coated film comprises the step of detecting that the actual discharging of a coating liquid from a coating liquid discharging nozzle is started, and the step of controlling based on a signal of the detection at least one of the driving timing of a pump for allowing the coating liquid to be discharged from the coating liquid discharging nozzle, the operation timing of a valve mounted to a pipe for supplying the coating liquid into the coating liquid discharging nozzle, and the rotation starting or stopping timing of the target substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Takashi Takekuma, Yasuyuki Kometani, Yoshiteru Fukuda, Junya Minamida
  • Patent number: 7361227
    Abstract: A coating apparatus includes a container and a perforated plate separating a plenum from a coating chamber. A gas supply system delivers a gas to the plenum in a sufficient amount for passage of the gas through the plate and suspension of a powder in a fluidized condition in the chamber. The gas supply system preferably includes a primary portion for continuously delivered gas and a controllable pulsing portion for supplementing the gas from the primary portion. In a first mode of operation, the gas from the pulsing portion is cycled to provide variation in the fluidized volume. In a second mode, the pulsing portion delivers relatively long pulses of gas to mix the fluidized powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Arkema, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph L. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 7353379
    Abstract: A method for configuring a plasma cluster tool is disclosed. The method includes generating a key file from option specifications, the key file encapsulating configuration restrictions specifically imposed on the plasma cluster tool. The method also includes generating at least one system-wide configuration file and at least one component-level configuration file using the key file. The method additionally includes generating run-time executable objects from a database of option definition files, the at least one system-wide configuration file and the at least one component-level configuration file. Furthermore, the method includes employing the run-time executable objects to configure the plasma cluster tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Chung-Ho Huang, Shih-Jeun Fan, Chin-Chuan Chang
  • Publication number: 20080075858
    Abstract: ALD apparatuses and methods of depositing multiple layers employ a plurality of reaction spaces. The reaction chamber includes inlets configured to introduce reactant gases sufficient to achieve a first ALD process into a first set of the reaction spaces for a first period of time such that the reactant gases are not mixed one another. The ALD apparatus further includes a driver configured to move the substrates through all of the of reaction spaces in a plurality of cycles during the first period such that a first thin film is deposited by space-divided ALD on each of the substrates. Other inlets introduce reactant gases sufficient to achieve a second ALD process into a second set of the reaction spaces for a second period of time, while purge gas is fed to the first set of reaction spaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Applicant: ASM Genitech Korea Ltd.
    Inventor: Wonyong Koh
  • Patent number: 7270712
    Abstract: A microdeposition system (20) and method deposits precise amounts of fluid material onto a substrate. A microdeposition head (50) includes a plurality of spaced nozzles. A positioning device controls a position of the microdeposition head relative to the substrate. A controller (22) includes a positioning module that communicates with the positioning device and that generates position control signals for the positioning device. A nozzle firing module communicates with the microdeposition head (50) and selectively generates nozzle firing commands to define features of at least one layer of an electrical device, such as resistors, traces and capacitors on a printed circuit board, polymer light emitting diodes, and light panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Litrex Corporation
    Inventors: Charles O. Edwards, David Albertalli, Howard Walter Bielich, James Middleton, Scott R. Bruner
  • Patent number: 7244310
    Abstract: A microdeposition system (20) and method deposits precise amounts of fluid material onto a substrate. A microdeposition head (50) includes a plurality of spaced nozzles that fire droplets having a deposited width when deposited on the substrate. A positioning device moves the microdeposition head (50) relative to the substrate at a head speed. A controller (22) generates over-clocking signals at a rate that is substantially greater than the head speed divided by the droplet width to improve resolution. The controller (22) includes a positioning module that generates position control signals for the positioning device. The controller (22) includes a nozzle firing module (114) that generates nozzle firing commands based on the over-clocking rate to fire the nozzles to form droplets that define features on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Litrex Corporation
    Inventors: Charles O. Edwards, David Albertalli, Howard Walter Bielich, James Middleton
  • Patent number: 7144601
    Abstract: The purging of photoresist from a supply device of semiconductor coating equipment is automatically executed in a controlled manner. The equipment employs a plurality of photoresist bottles for storing the same kind of photoresist. A plurality of supply pipes are respectively connected to the photoresist bottles, respectively. A valve system selectively opens and closes the supply pipes in response to control signals generated by a main controller. A dispense pump forces the photoresist in the open supply pipe through a nozzle. A purge start button issues a purge start command signal to the controller when the button is pressed. The controller then controls the valve system and the dispense pump so as to automatically purge the photoresist according to a sequence effected using a timer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwang-Ho Lee, Jung-Hong Kim, Jong-Hwa Lee
  • Patent number: 7094440
    Abstract: The present invention is a substrate treatment method in which a treatment by supplying a treatment solution from a nozzle to a substrate is successively performed for a plurality of substrates, which comprises the step of, during the performance of the successive treatments, performing between the treatments a plurality of pre-dispenses for different purposes of the treatment solution, wherein at least a recipe of the treatment solution to be pre-dispensed or a start condition of the pre-dispense is determined for each of the pre-dispenses. According to the present invention, the pre-dispense can be performed at a necessary and sufficient frequency to shorten the suspension time due to the pre-dispenses in the substrate treatment. This improves the throughput and reduces the number of pre-dispenses, resulting in reduced consumption of the treatment solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Akira Miyata
  • Patent number: 7014715
    Abstract: A photoresist supply apparatus of semiconductor coating equipment fills a supply pipe with new photoresist when a used photoresist bottle is replaced. The photoresist supply apparatus includes first and second photoresist bottles, first and second gas supply pipes connected to the bottles, first and second solenoid valves disposed along the gas supply pipes, first and second purge start buttons, first and second photoresist supply pipes, first and second trap tanks to which the supply pipes are connected, a third photoresist supply pipe connected to the trap tanks, a nozzle connected to the third photoresist supply pipe, first and second level sensors disposed at an upper level of the trap tanks, third and fourth level sensors disposed at a lower level of the trap tank, first and second discharge pipes connected to the trap tanks, third and fourth solenoid valves disposed along the discharge pipes, first and second drain sensors associated with the discharge pipes, and a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong-Kyung Kim
  • Patent number: 6896736
    Abstract: The purging of photoresist from a supply device of semiconductor coating equipment is automatically executed in a controlled manner. The equipment employs a plurality of photoresist bottles for storing the same kind of photoresist. A plurality of supply pipes are respectively connected to the photoresist bottles, respectively. A valve system selectively opens and closes the supply pipes in response to control signals generated by a main controller. A dispense pump forces the photoresist in the open supply pipe through a nozzle. A purge start button issues a purge start command signal to the controller when the button is pressed. The controller then controls the valve system and the dispense pump so as to automatically purge the photoresist according to a sequence effected using a timer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwang-Ho Lee, Jung-Hong Kim, Jong-Hwa Lee
  • Patent number: 6849130
    Abstract: An apparatus for operating a fluid dispensing gun to dispense a fluid onto a substrate moving relative to the dispensing gun. The apparatus has a sensor that produces a sensor feedback signal in response to the fluid dispensing gun changing operating states. A control is connected to the sensor and provides first signals causing the fluid dispensing gun to change operating states. The control has a detector producing a compensation signal representing a difference between the occurrences of one of said first signals and the sensor feedback signal. The control then adjusts a subsequent first signal in response to the compensation signal. Thus, the control automatically compensates the operation of the fluid dispensing gun in real time for changes in the switching time of the fluid dispensing gun required to change its operating states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventor: Peter W. Estelle
  • Patent number: 6845731
    Abstract: A polyimide processing tool for coating polyimide on a semiconductor wafer is provided with a pause time monitoring means for monitoring the duration of the polyimide processing tool's wafer-transfer robot's pause time. The wafer-transfer robot transfers wafers from polyimide apply tool to polyimide cure bake oven and monitoring the duration of the pause helps prevent undesirably long pauses between polyimide apply of the uncured polyimide and the curing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Chung-Chuan Huang
  • Patent number: 6827779
    Abstract: A mass transfer system offers the simultaneous transfer and time-saving efficiencies transfer techniques, while also offering the flexibility of prior-art free techniques. A mass transfer mechanism and an associated software control mechanism are equipped with the ability to retract a plurality of lifting arms (6), in a manner so select which of the processing stages (2) the lifting arms (6) will address for each transfer step, while omitting those steps for which transfer is not yet required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Interlab Inc.
    Inventor: Liviu Marian
  • Patent number: 6790284
    Abstract: A coated film forming method is capable of readily forming a coated film of a thermoplastic material on a coated region of an inner peripheral surface of a cylinder. A nozzle, through which a molten paste of a thermoplastic material kept molten is discharged, is disposed toward an inner peripheral surface of a cylinder. The nozzle is moved along a rotational central line of the cylinder while rotating the cylinder and discharging the molten paste from the nozzle. Centrifugal force acting on the cylinder being rotated leads to spreading of the molten paste applied to the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder. Viscosity of the molten paste, a rotational speed of the cylinder and a speed of movement of the nozzle are set so as to keep the molten paste discharged from the nozzle from being scattered to a region other than the coated region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Yasuji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6770142
    Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring an operation of a fluid dispensing gun dispensing a pattern of fluid onto a substrate moving with respect to the dispensing gun. The dispensing gun changes operating states in response to transition signals. A sensor is disposed adjacent the substrate and provides feedback signals in response to detecting edges of the fluid dispensed onto the substrate. A diagnostic monitor is responsive to the transition and feedback signals and automatically measures delays between occurrences of the transition signals and detecting corresponding edges of the fluid deposited onto the substrate resulting from the transition signals. The delays are measured by correlating the feedback signals to the transition signals. A method for measuring the delays is also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventor: Peter W. Estelle
  • Patent number: 6758908
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for more efficient application of photoresist to a wafer surface. One aspect of the method comprises applying solvent to the wafer and spinning it to coat the entire wafer surface prior to the application of photoresist. This reduces surface tension on the wafer and reduces the amount of resist required to achieve a high quality film. The apparatus comprises adding a third solenoid and nozzle to the coating unit to accommodate the application of solvent to the center of the wafer surface. The method also describes incorporating a new solvent comprising diacetone alcohol, which is a low-pressure solvent, providing extended process latitudes and reduced material expenditures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: John Whitman
  • Patent number: 6706118
    Abstract: A coating apparatus for applying a coating liquid to a printing substrate. The apparatus includes a rotatable first roll, and a rotatable second roll positioned adjacent to the first roll and defining with the first roll a first nip through which the printing substrate passes. The apparatus also has a metering device for applying a layer of coating liquid onto the second roll, which in turn transfers the coating liquid to the printing substrate. The apparatus further has a controller that communicates with at least the second roll, wherein the controller performs the steps of determining whether the idle time of the second roll is longer than a predetermined threshold, setting a pre-spin flag if the idle time of the second roll is longer than a predetermined threshold, and directing the second roll to perform a pre-spin upon the presence of the pre-spin flag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Jerome Heink, Royden Thomas Kern, David Starling MacMillan, Johnny Ray Sears, Ronald Todd Sellers
  • Patent number: 6656282
    Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus for and a process of atomic layer deposition using remote plasma. A thin film is deposited to a desired thickness on a wafer by use of the apparatus, which comprises a plurality of transfer pipes for individually transferring the first and the second reactive gas and the carrier gas to the vacuum chamber; an energy supplier, provided inside the transfer pipe for transferring the first and the second reactive gas, for supplying excitation energy to generate excited plasma to ionize the first reactive gas; and a valve controller, established in the transfer pipes, for alternately feeding into the vacuum chamber the second reactive gas and the first reactive gas ionized by the plasma excited in the energy supplier, at predetermined time intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Moohan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong-Il Kim, Won-Hyung Lee, Byung-Ha Cho
  • Patent number: 6572705
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for growing a thin film onto a substrate, in which method a substrate placed in a reaction space (21) is subjected to alternately repeated surface reactions of at least two vapor-phase reactants for the purpose of forming a thin film. According to the method, said reactants are fed in the form of vapor-phase pulses repeatedly and alternately, each reactant separately from its own source, into said reaction space (21), and said vapor-phase reactants are brought to react with the surface of the substrate for the purpose of forming a solid-state thin film compound on said substrate. According to the invention, the gas volume of said reaction space is evacuated by means of a vacuum pump essentially totally between two successive vapor-phase reactant pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: ASM America, Inc.
    Inventors: Tuomo Suntola, Sven Lindfors
  • Patent number: 6471837
    Abstract: A vacuum coating installation has at least a central distribution station which can be evacuated and has a transport arrangement driven in a controlled manner essentially along a plane, for the material to be treated. One operating station for the distribution station as well as at least two processing stations for the material to be treated are provided. The three or more stations communicate by way of operating openings with the distribution station, through which openings the material to be treated can be transported from one station into the other by the transport arrangement for the material to be treated. The material to be treated is formed by individual workpiece holders of the installation, each having a plurality of workpiece supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Unaxis Trading AG
    Inventors: Michael Hans, Martin Zaech
  • Patent number: 6051070
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying a material to a substrate. A material application station includes a shutter assembly having at least one horizontally extending blade which is rapidly displaceable from a closed configuration in which an outlet path of the shutter assembly is obstructed to an open configuration in which the outlet path is open. While the blade of the shutter assembly is in the closed configuration, a coating material is applied to a first predetermined area on an upper surface of the shutter assembly. A substrate is located beneath the shutter assembly in the outlet path. The blade of the shutter assembly is rapidly opened so that the coating material falls onto the substrate over a second predetermined area on an upper surface of the substrate. The second predetermined area is substantially equal to the first predetermined area. The resulting deposit is of a controlled diameter. A rapid opening of the blade allows the deposit to fall a short distance onto a substrate such as a pizza base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Ishida Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Adrian M. Sunter
  • Patent number: 6048401
    Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for plating a plurality of kinds of works, an unattended route-free vehicle transports the works to a number of processing tanks to immerse the works in the processing tanks. A controller calculates a processing time of the processing tanks and a transporting time needed for the vehicle to transport the works to the processing tanks and renders the vehicle to transport one kind of the works during the immersion-processing of another kind of the works, thereby performing the plating process of a plurality of kinds of works one after another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Hideaki Hayashi, Norio Kikukawa, Shinichi Kojima
  • Patent number: 5938871
    Abstract: An application method of adhesive for applying an adhesive by an application nozzle on an application object. Each application object is positioned in a direction intersecting the conveying direction by the move of each tables and the individual application heads corresponding to the tables are individually moved and positioned in the conveying direction, and the adhesive is applied simultaneously to necessary positions of the application objects by the application heads, so that the production efficiency of electronic circuit boards is enhanced in various aspects without increasing the size of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Nakahira, Hiroyuki Miyake, Osamu Ikeda, Takashi Sasaki, Yuzuru Inaba, Toshiyuki Kinou