IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,735,457
Granted Patent B2
US 11,735,457 · App. 17/126,447 · Granted Aug 22, 2023

Substrate processing apparatus and substrate processing method

Inventors: Nobuyuki Takada (Tokyo, JP); Hozumi Yasuda (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Ebara Corporation
H01L21/681B24B37/20H01L21/30625H01L22/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,735,457
App. No.
17/126,447
Granted
Aug 22, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

To improve uniformity in polishing of a polished surface of a substrate regardless of a tolerance of a diameter of the substrate. A substrate processing apparatus includes a table 100 , a pad holder 226 , a swing mechanism, a supporting member 300 A, 300 B, a measuring instrument 400 , and a driving mechanism 320 . The table 100 supports a substrate WF. The pad holder 226 holds a polishing pad 222 . The polishing pad 222 polishes the substrate WF supported to the table 100 . The swing mechanism swings the pad holder 226 . The supporting member 300 A, 300 B supports the polishing pad 222 swung to outside the table 100 by the swing mechanism. The measuring instrument 400 is configured to measure a diameter of the substrate WF. The driving mechanism 320 adjusts a position of the supporting member 300 A, 300 B with respect to the substrate WF supported to the table 100 according to the diameter of the substrate WF measured by the measuring instrument 400.

Claims (41)

1. A substrate processing apparatus comprising:

a table for supporting a substrate;

a pad holder for holding a polishing pad for polishing the substrate supported to the table;

a swing mechanism configured to swing the pad holder;

a supporting member for supporting the polishing pad swung to outside the table by the swing mechanism;

a measuring instrument configured to measure a diameter of the substrate; and

a driving mechanism for adjusting a position of the supporting member with respect to the substrate supported to the table according to the diameter of the substrate measured by the measuring instrument,

wherein the supporting member includes a first supporting member and a second supporting member, the first supporting member is disposed on a swing path of the polishing pad outside the table, and the second supporting member is disposed on a swing path of the polishing pad on a side opposite to the first supporting member between which the table is interposed,

the first supporting member and the second supporting member each have a support surface, and the support surfaces each have an area larger than an area of a polishing surface of the polishing pad.

2. The substrate processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the measuring instrument includes an imaging member, the imaging member is configured to obtain an image of an outer peripheral portion of the substrate supported to the table, and the measuring instrument is configured to calculate the diameter of the substrate based on the image obtained by the imaging member.

3. The substrate processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the measuring instrument includes at least three centering mechanisms, the at least three centering mechanisms push the substrate supported to the table in a center direction of the table for positioning, and the measuring instrument is configured to calculate the diameter of the substrate based on a positioning result of the substrate with the centering mechanisms.

4. The substrate processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein

the at least three centering mechanisms each include a shaft and a centering member, the shafts are disposed around the table and movable in a direction of approaching the table and a direction of away from the table, and the centering members are mounted to the shafts, and

the measuring instrument is configured to calculate the diameter of the substrate based on movement amounts of the shafts when the substrate is positioned.

5. A substrate processing apparatus comprising:

a table for supporting a substrate;

a pad holder for holding a polishing pad for polishing the substrate supported to the table;

a swing mechanism configured to swing the pad holder;

a supporting member for supporting the polishing pad swung to outside the table by the swing mechanism;

a measuring instrument configured to measure a diameter of the substrate; and

a driving mechanism for adjusting a position of the supporting member with respect to the substrate supported to the table according to the diameter of the substrate measured by the measuring instrument,

wherein the measuring instrument includes at least three centering mechanisms, the at least three centering mechanisms push the substrate supported to the table in a center direction of the table for positioning, and the measuring instrument is configured to calculate the diameter of the substrate based on a positioning result of the substrate with the centering mechanisms,

the at least three centering mechanisms each include a rotation shaft and a centering member, the rotation shafts are disposed around the table, and each of the centering members is a rod-shaped member mounted to the rotation shafts and extends to both sides of the rotation shaft, and

the centering member includes a first contact portions and a second contact portion, the first contact portions contact the substrate when the rotation shafts rotate in a first direction, and the second contact portions contact the substrate when the rotation shafts rotate in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

6. The substrate processing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein

the measuring instrument is configured to calculate the diameter of the substrate based on rotation angles in the first direction of the rotation shafts or rotation angles in the second direction of the rotation shafts when the substrate is positioned.

7. A substrate processing apparatus comprising:

a table for supporting a substrate;

a pad holder for holding a polishing pad for polishing the substrate supported to the table;

a swing mechanism configured to swing the pad holder;

a supporting member for supporting the polishing pad swung to outside the table by the swing mechanism;

a measuring instrument configured to measure a diameter of the substrate; and

a driving mechanism for adjusting a position of the supporting member with respect to the substrate supported to the table according to the diameter of the substrate measured by the measuring instrument,

wherein the measuring instrument includes an imaging member, the imaging member is configured to obtain an image of an outer peripheral portion of the substrate supported to the table, and the measuring instrument is configured to calculate the diameter of the substrate based on the image obtained by the imaging member,

the swing mechanism includes an arm, a swing shaft, and a rotation drive mechanism, the arm holds the pad holder, the swing shaft supports the arm, and the rotation drive mechanism rotatably drives the swing shaft,

the arm includes a first arm, a second arm, a third arm, and a fourth arm, the first arm holds the polishing pad, the second arm holds a cleaning tool, the third arm holds a polishing pad different from the polishing pad in diameter, and the fourth arm holds the imaging member, and

the first, the second, the third, and the fourth arms are each radially arranged around the swing shaft.

8. The substrate processing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein

the second arm further holds atomizers disposed on both sides of the cleaning tool together with the cleaning tool.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2020
From: TAKADA, NOBUYUKI; YASUDA, HOZUMI
To: EBARA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 054691/0651 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2019-230480 · Dec 20, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210193494A1 · Jun 24, 2021
Cited By (1)
US 12,211,733