Patent · US Active

Monitoring apparatus and method particularly useful in photolithographically processing substrates

US9291911B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
58References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 10, 2014
Grant dateMar 22, 2016
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 10, 2034

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N2021/8867
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Apparatus for processing substrates according to a predetermined photolithography process includes a loading station in which the substrates are loaded, a coating station in which the substrates are coated with a photoresist material, an exposing station in which the photoresist coating is exposed to light through a mask having a predetermined pattern to produce a latent image of the mask on the photoresist coating, a developing station in which the latent image is developed, an unloading station in which the substrates are unloaded and a monitoring station for monitoring the substrates with respect to predetermined parameters of said photolithography process before reaching the unloading station.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.