IP Library Granted Patent US 12708933
Granted Patent B2
US 12708933 · App. 18/598,317 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Foreign substance removing method, film forming method, article manufacturing method, and foreign substance removing apparatus

Inventor: Ken Katsuta (Saitama, JP)
Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
B08B7/0014
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12708933
App. No.
18/598,317
Granted
Aug 18, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for removing a foreign substance includes forming a first trapping film between a plate and a first region where a foreign substance should be removed and separating the plate from the first region together with the first trapping film, forming a second trapping film between the plate holding the first trapping film and a second region where a foreign substance should be removed, and separating the plate from the second region together with the first trapping film and the second trapping film. The second region is larger than the first region. A value obtained by dividing a volume of the second trapping film by an area of the second region is larger than a value obtained by dividing a volume of the first trapping film by an area of the first region.

Claims (36)

1 . A foreign substance removing method for removing a foreign substance, comprising:

forming a first foreign substance trapping film between a plate and a first region where a foreign substance should be removed and separating the plate from the first region together with the first foreign substance trapping film; and

after the forming the first foreign substance trapping film, forming a second foreign substance trapping film between the plate that holds the first foreign substance trapping film and a second region where a foreign substance should be removed, and separating the plate from the second region together with the first foreign substance trapping film and the second foreign substance trapping film,

wherein the second region is larger than the first region, and a value obtained by dividing a volume of the second foreign substance trapping film by an area of the second region is larger than a value obtained by dividing a volume of the first foreign substance trapping film by an area of the first region, and

wherein the volume of the second foreign substance trapping film is determined based on the volume of the first foreign substance trapping film, so as to compensate for a surface shape formed by the plate and the first foreign substance trapping film.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein

in the forming the first foreign substance trapping film, after a first liquid film is formed between the plate and the first region, the first liquid film is cured, thereby forming the first foreign substance trapping film, and

in the forming the second foreign substance trapping film, after a second liquid film is formed between the plate and the second region, the second liquid film is cured, thereby forming the second foreign substance trapping film.

3 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein

in the forming the first foreign substance trapping film, after the first liquid film is formed between the plate and the first region to trap a first foreign substance on the first region, the first liquid film is cured, thereby forming the first foreign substance trapping film, and

in the forming the second foreign substance trapping film, after the second liquid film is formed between the plate and the second region to trap a second foreign substance on the second region, the second liquid film is cured, thereby forming the second foreign substance trapping film.

4 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein

in the forming the first foreign substance trapping film, a plurality of first droplets are arranged on the first region, and the plurality of first droplets and the plate are brought into contact with each other, thereby forming the first liquid film, and

in the forming the second foreign substance trapping film, a plurality of second droplets are arranged on the second region, and the plurality of second droplets and the plate that holds the first foreign substance trapping film are brought into contact with each other, thereby forming the second liquid film.

5 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein

an arrangement of the plurality of second droplets is decided in accordance with droplet control information that controls an arrangement of the plurality of first droplets.

6 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein

an arrangement of the plurality of second droplets is decided in accordance with a surface shape of the first foreign substance trapping film.

7 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein

an arrangement of the plurality of second droplets is decided in accordance with a position of the first foreign substance trapping film on the plate and a surface shape of the first foreign substance trapping film.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein

the first region is a region on a surface of a substrate, and the second region is a region on the surface of the substrate.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising, before the forming the second foreign substance trapping film, forming a third foreign substance trapping film between the plate and a third region where a foreign substance should be removed, and separating the plate from the third region together with the third foreign substance trapping film, wherein the second region is larger than the third region.

10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein

the third region is a region different from the first region.

11 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein

the first region is a region on a surface of a substrate, and the second region is a region on a surface of a substrate different from the substrate.

12 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein

an outermost surface of the second foreign substance trapping film has a planarity higher than an outermost surface formed by a surface of the plate and a surface of the first foreign substance trapping film.

13 . A film forming method comprising:

removing a foreign substance on a substrate in accordance with a foreign substance removing method defined in claim 1 ; and

forming a film on the substrate that has undergone the removing the foreign substance.

14 . An article manufacturing method comprising:

removing a foreign substance on a substrate in accordance with a foreign substance removing method defined in claim 1 ;

forming a film on the substrate that has undergone the removing the foreign substance; and

processing the substrate that has undergone the forming the film, thereby obtaining an article.