Wet processing system, wet processing method and storage medium
First Claim
1. A wet processing system for pouring a process solution supplied by a process solution supply unit through a process solution pouring nozzle onto a surface of a substrate held substantially horizontally by a substrate holding device surrounded by a cup to process the surface by a wet process, said wet processing system comprising:
- a nozzle bath for holding process solution pouring nozzles thereon at a home position;
a nozzle carrying mechanism for carrying the process solution pouring nozzles between the home position on the nozzle bath and a position above the substrate held by the substrate holding device;
an image pickup means for taking a picture of tips of the process solution pouring nozzles while the process solution pouring nozzles are being carried by the nozzle carrying mechanism;
a decision means for deciding whether or not a globule of the process solution is in a drippy state, in which the globule of the process solution protrudes down from a tip of a process solution pouring nozzle prior to being discharged, and whether or not the globule of the process solution is in a dripping state, in which the process solution has dripped off a tip of a process solution pouring nozzle, on the basis of image data provided by the image pickup means; and
a control means for making the process solution supply unit and/or the nozzle carrying mechanism execute a drip preventing operation to cope with a drippy state where a globule of the process solution is drippy or a dripping state where a globule of the process solution is dripping when the decision means decides that the globule of the process solution is in the drippy or the dripping state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wet processing system detects a globule of a process solution in a drippy or dripping state from the tip of any one of process solution pouring nozzles being moved to a pouring position for pouring the process solution onto a substrate by obtaining image data on the process solution pouring nozzle, and takes proper measures to prevent the process solution from dripping. A wet processing system 1 pours a process solution, such as a resist solution, through one of process solution pouring nozzles 10 onto a surface of a substrate, such as a wafer W, held substantially horizontally by a substrate holding device 41 surrounded by a cup 5 to process the surface by a wet process. A nozzle carrying mechanism 10a carries the process solution pouring nozzles 10 between a home position on a nozzle bath 14 and a pouring position above the substrate held by the substrate holding device 41. An optical image of the tips of the process solution pouring nozzles 10 is obtained by an image pickup means, such as a camera 17. Predetermined measures are taken according to the level of a drippy or dripping state of a globule of the process solution.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A wet processing system for pouring a process solution supplied by a process solution supply unit through a process solution pouring nozzle onto a surface of a substrate held substantially horizontally by a substrate holding device surrounded by a cup to process the surface by a wet process, said wet processing system comprising:
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a nozzle bath for holding process solution pouring nozzles thereon at a home position; a nozzle carrying mechanism for carrying the process solution pouring nozzles between the home position on the nozzle bath and a position above the substrate held by the substrate holding device; an image pickup means for taking a picture of tips of the process solution pouring nozzles while the process solution pouring nozzles are being carried by the nozzle carrying mechanism; a decision means for deciding whether or not a globule of the process solution is in a drippy state, in which the globule of the process solution protrudes down from a tip of a process solution pouring nozzle prior to being discharged, and whether or not the globule of the process solution is in a dripping state, in which the process solution has dripped off a tip of a process solution pouring nozzle, on the basis of image data provided by the image pickup means; and a control means for making the process solution supply unit and/or the nozzle carrying mechanism execute a drip preventing operation to cope with a drippy state where a globule of the process solution is drippy or a dripping state where a globule of the process solution is dripping when the decision means decides that the globule of the process solution is in the drippy or the dripping state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification