IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,214,529
Granted Patent B2
US 12,214,529 · App. 17/829,630 · Granted Feb 4, 2025

Conveyance apparatus, planarization apparatus, and article manufacturing method

Inventor: Takashi Hosaka (Tochigi, JP)
Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
B29C43/58B29C43/18B65G43/08B65G47/248G01B11/0675B29C2043/5825B65G2203/0225
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,214,529
App. No.
17/829,630
Granted
Feb 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A conveyance apparatus loads a pressing member to a planarization apparatus that forms a planarized film made of a material on a substrate by bringing a flat surface of the pressing member and the material on the substrate into contact with each other. The pressing member includes a first surface including the flat surface, and a second surface on an opposite side of the first surface. The conveyance apparatus comprises a determiner configured to perform determination as to whether a determination surface of the pressing member is the first surface or the second surface, and a controller configured to control the conveyance of the pressing member based on a result of the determination by the determiner.

Claims (46)

1. A conveyance apparatus that loads a pressing member to a planarization apparatus that forms a planarized film made of a material on a substrate by bringing a flat surface of the pressing member and the material on the substrate into contact with each other, the pressing member including a first surface including the flat surface, and a second surface on an opposite side of the first surface, the conveyance apparatus comprising:

a determiner configured to perform determination as to whether a determination surface of the pressing member is the first surface or the second surface; and

a controller configured to control the conveyance of the pressing member based on a result of the determination by the determiner,

wherein the determiner is configured to perform the determination in a state in which the pressing member is placed on a predetermined placement surface.

2. The conveyance apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising

a reversing device configured to turn over the pressing member,

wherein the controller is configured to control the conveyance of the pressing member to convey the pressing member to the reversing device in accordance with a result of the determination by the determiner.

3. The conveyance apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

the planarization apparatus includes a holder configured to hold the pressing member by chucking the second surface in a state in which the second surface of the pressing member faces upward, and a forming device configured to form the planarized film using the pressing member held by the holder, and

the controller is configured to control the conveyance of the pressing member to:

convey the pressing member to the reversing device in a case that the determiner determines that the determination surface of the pressing member is the first surface, and

convey the pressing member reversed by the reversing device to the forming device, and convey the pressing member to the forming device without reversing the pressing member by the reversing device in a case that the determiner determines that the determination surface of the pressing member is the second surface.

4. The conveyance apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising

an adjuster configured to adjust a prealignment state of the pressing member, and

the planarization apparatus includes a holder configured to hold the pressing member by chucking the second surface in a state in which the second surface of the pressing member faces upward, and a forming device configured to perform a forming process of the planarized film using the pressing member held by the holder, and

the controller is configured to control the conveyance of the pressing member to:

convey the pressing member to the pressing member in a case that the determiner determines that the determination surface of the pressing member is the first surface, convey the pressing member reversed by the reversing device to the adjuster, and convey the pressing member adjusted by the adjuster to the forming device, and

convey the pressing member to the adjuster without reversing the pressing member by the reversing device in a case that the determiner determines that the determination surface of the pressing member is the second surface, and convey the pressing member adjusted by the adjuster to the forming device.

5. The conveyance apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the pressing member is formed with a mark for identifying one of the first surface and the second surface, and

the determiner is configured to perform the determination by detecting the mark.

6. The conveyance apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising

an image capturing device configured to capture the mark,

wherein the determiner is configured to perform the determination by processing an image of the mark extracted from an image obtained by the image capturing device.

7. The conveyance apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

an inclined portion is formed in an outer edge portion of the first surface of the pressing member, and

the determiner is configured to perform the determination by detecting the inclined portion.

8. The conveyance apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising

a measurement device configured to measure a front surface of the pressing member,

wherein the determiner is configured to perform the determination by detecting the inclined portion based on a measurement result of the measurement device upon scanning the pressing member.

9. The conveyance apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

a coating film is formed on the first surface of the pressing member, and

the conveyance apparatus further comprises a measurement device configured to measure an intensity distribution of reflected light obtained when light is emitted toward the determination surface of the pressing member, and

the determiner is configured to perform the determination based on a measurement result of the measurement device.

10. The conveyance apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein

the measurement device includes a spectral interferometer.

11. The conveyance apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein

the measurement device includes a multi-layer film thickness measurement device.

12. An article manufacturing method comprising:

forming a planarized film on a substrate using a pressing member loaded to a planarization apparatus by a conveyance apparatus defined in claim 1 ; and

processing the substrate with the planarized film formed thereon,

wherein an article is manufactured from the processed substrate.

13. A planarization apparatus that forms a planarized film made of a material on a substrate by bringing a flat surface of a pressing member and the material on the substrate into contact with each other, the pressing member including a first surface including the flat surface, and a second surface on an opposite side of the first surface, the apparatus comprising:

a determiner configured to perform determination as to whether a determination surface of the pressing member is the first surface or the second surface, and

a controller configured to control conveyance of the pressing member based on a result of the determination by the determiner,

wherein the determiner is configured to perform the determination in a state in which the pressing member is placed on a predetermined placement surface.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 6, 2022
From: HOSAKA, TAKASHI
To: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 060405/0582 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-109414 · Jun 30, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230001608A1 · Jan 5, 2023
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