JP5223778B2 - Substrate processing apparatus, substrate processing method, and storage medium - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a substrate processing apparatus, a substrate processing method, and a storage medium that include a transport unit that transports a substrate from a carrier to a processing block.

  In a manufacturing process of a semiconductor device or an LCD substrate, a resist pattern is formed on the substrate by a technique called photolithography. In this technique, for example, a resist is applied to a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer (hereinafter referred to as a wafer) to form a resist film on the surface of the wafer, the resist film is exposed using a photomask, and then development processing is performed. Thus, a desired pattern is obtained by a series of steps.

  Such processing is generally performed using a system in which an exposure apparatus is connected to a coating / developing apparatus for coating and developing a resist. The coating / developing apparatus includes a carrier block called FOUP storing a plurality of wafers, and a processing block including means for performing coating processing and development processing, respectively. Is provided with a load port provided with a carrier mounting portion for mounting the carrier.

  When the carrier is transferred to the load port, the wafer in the carrier is transferred to a loading module for loading the wafer into the processing block via a transfer means such as a transfer arm provided in the carrier block. Then, the wafer transported to the loading module is transported in the processing block by transport means provided in the processing block. After the resist is applied, the wafer is transported to an exposure apparatus and subjected to an exposure process. Thereafter, the wafer is returned to the processing block, and is transported in the processing block by the transport means provided in the processing block, and undergoes development processing. Thereafter, the wafer is transferred to the unloading module for unloading from the processing block to the carrier block by the transfer means, and returned from the unloading module to the carrier via the transfer arm, for example. Here, the place where the wafer is delivered is described as a module.

  In this way, if the carrier is waiting on the carrier mounting portion of the load port until the wafer is unloaded from the carrier and returned to the carrier, the next carrier cannot be transferred to the carrier mounting portion. Therefore, in the processing block and the exposure apparatus, the wafer does not reach the module in a state where processing can be performed originally, and as a result, the throughput may be reduced.

  For this reason, it is considered to provide a stocker having a retreat area that temporarily retreats the carrier from the load port. In this case, after the wafer is discharged from the first carrier (first carrier) transferred to the carrier mounting portion of the load port, the first carrier is retreated to the retreat area, and the second carrier (second carrier) Is placed on the carrier mounting portion, and the wafer is discharged. Then, after paying out the wafer from the second carrier, the second carrier is retracted to the retracting area and the first carrier is again mounted on the carrier mounting portion. Then, the wafer transferred from the first carrier and processed in the processing block is returned to the first carrier. By transporting the carrier between the carrier mounting portion and the retreat area in this way, the total number of wafers discharged from the carrier to the processing block is increased, the operating rate of the module in the processing block and the exposure apparatus is increased, and the throughput is increased. It is expected to suppress the decline of

  If the wafer discharged from the carrier stays in the loading module to the processing block, the transfer arm cannot transfer the subsequent wafer to the loading module, so the carrier is transferred to the retreat area as described above. In this case, it is considered to provide a loading buffer module for storing and retaining a plurality of wafers before being loaded into the loading module in order to quickly pay out the wafer from the carrier.

  By the way, in the processing block, for example, processing conditions such as wafer processing time and processing temperature in the module may be changed for each lot. Therefore, in the processing block, the wafer is transferred to the subsequent module in the order of loading into the processing block. It will be handed over and will be processed sequentially. That is, in the processing block, the transfer is controlled so that a wafer that is subsequently transferred to the processing block does not pass the wafer that has been transferred to the processing block and is not processed.

  In this way, in order to process the wafers in the processing block in the loading order, all the wafers discharged from the carrier are also transferred to the buffer module in the discharging order by the transfer arm in the carrier block. It can be considered to be transported to an industrial module. However, operating the transfer arm in this way increases the number of operation steps of the transfer arm as compared with the case of directly transferring from the carrier to the loading module. And, when passing through the loading buffer module as compared with the case of directly transporting from the carrier to the loading module, the transportation time from the carrier to the loading module becomes longer, so that the number of transportation steps increases as described above. As a result, the time for completing the wafer delivery from the carrier is delayed, and the throughput may not be sufficiently improved.

  The present invention has been made under such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to suppress an increase in the number of transfer steps of the transfer means in a substrate processing apparatus including transfer means for transferring a substrate from a carrier to a processing block. It is another object of the present invention to provide a substrate processing apparatus capable of improving throughput, a substrate processing method, and a storage medium including a computer program for executing the method.

The substrate processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a carrier block having a carrier mounting portion on which a plurality of lots configured of a plurality of the same type of substrates are stored, and a process for processing the substrates one by one. In a substrate processing apparatus including a processing block including at least one module,
A first delivery module that transports the substrate unloaded from the carrier in a predetermined transport order, and temporarily places the substrate into the processing block;
A second delivery module for temporarily placing the substrate processed in the processing block to return it to the carrier;
A buffer module configured to store a plurality of substrates in order to wait for the substrate before being unloaded from the carrier and loaded into the first delivery module;
A first transport means for transporting a substrate between the carrier placed on the carrier placement unit, the first delivery module, the buffer module, and the second delivery module;
Previously the first substrate carried to the transfer module, such that substrate carried on the first transfer module not overtake later, said first transfer module, said second transfer module, said processing Second transport means for transporting the substrate to and from the processing module provided in the block;
Control means for outputting a control signal to each part of the substrate processing apparatus and controlling its operation,
The transport order is set so that substrates in the same lot are continuously carried into the first delivery module,
When the substrate can be transported to the first delivery module, the substrate is transported from the carrier to the first delivery module without passing through the buffer module in the transport order,
When the substrate cannot be transported from the carrier to the first delivery module, and there is no lot different from the lot of the substrate in the buffer module, the substrate in the lot containing the substrate is in reverse order to the transport order. It sent transportable from the carrier to the buffer module,
After all the substrates set to be transported to the first delivery module preceding the substrate are transported to the first delivery module, the substrates transported to the buffer module are transferred in the order of transportation. A control signal is output so as to be conveyed to the first delivery module.

Another substrate processing apparatus of the present invention includes a carrier block having a carrier mounting portion on which a carrier storing a plurality of substrates is mounted, and one and other processing modules for processing the substrates one by one. A substrate processing apparatus comprising: a processing block comprising:
The substrate unloaded from the carrier is distributed for each lot composed of a plurality of the same type of substrates, and is transported in a predetermined transport order , and the substrate is temporarily placed for loading into the processing block. And other first delivery modules;
One and other second delivery modules, each of which is temporarily placed to return the substrate processed in the processing block to the carrier;
A buffer module configured to store a plurality of substrates in order to wait for the substrates to be unloaded from the carrier and loaded into the one and other first delivery modules;
A first substrate that transports a substrate between the carrier placed on the carrier placement unit, the one and other first delivery modules, the buffer module, and the one and other second delivery modules. Conveying means,
The first transfer module, the first transfer module, and the first transfer module so that a substrate previously transferred to the first transfer module is not overtaken by a substrate transferred to the first transfer module. The substrate was transported between the two delivery modules and the one processing module, and the substrate previously carried into the other first delivery module was later carried into the other first delivery module. Second transport means for transporting the substrate between the other first delivery module, the other second delivery module, and the other processing module so that the substrate does not overtake;
Control means for outputting a control signal to each part of the substrate processing apparatus and controlling its operation,
The order of transport to the first first delivery module is set so that substrates in the same lot are transported continuously,
The carrier stores a plurality of lots set to be transported to one first delivery module,
When the substrate set to be transported from the carrier to the first first delivery module can be transported to the first first delivery module, the substrate is transferred to the first first delivery module without passing through the buffer module. Transport in the transport order,
When the substrate cannot be transported to the one first delivery module, and the buffer module has a lot different from the lot of the substrate and set to be transported to the first first delivery module. , Transport the substrate in the lot containing the substrate from the carrier to the buffer module in the reverse order of the transport order,
After all the substrates set to be transported to the first first delivery module preceding the substrate are transported to the buffer module, the substrate is transported to the first delivery module. A control signal is output so as to be transported to one first delivery module in the transport order.

In the substrate processing apparatus of the present invention, the substrate of one carrier is set to be carried out after the substrate of one carrier,
When the substrate of one carrier is not in the buffer module, the substrate of another carrier may be transferred to the buffer module .

The processing module includes a resist coating module that supplies a resist to a substrate, and a developing module that supplies a developing solution to the substrate exposed by an exposure apparatus after the resist coating and develops the substrate. It may be configured as a coating / developing apparatus, and a carrier retracting area for retracting the carrier from which the substrate has been unloaded from the carrier mounting part, and between the carrier mounting part and the carrier retracting area And carrier transport means for transporting the carrier. In the other substrate processing apparatus, for example, the substrate of the other carrier is set to be carried out after the substrate of the one carrier, and the substrate of the one carrier and the substrate of the other carrier are set to the first first substrate. When the substrate of one carrier is not in the buffer module, the substrate of the other carrier is transported to the buffer module.

The substrate processing method of the present invention includes a step of placing a carrier in which a plurality of lots composed of a plurality of the same type of substrates are stored on a carrier placement unit,
A step of processing the substrates one by one with a processing module provided in the processing block;
In order to carry the carrier placed on the carrier placement unit and the substrate carried from the carrier placed on the carrier placement unit into the processing block, the substrates are conveyed in a preset conveyance order. A first delivery module that is once placed, a second delivery module that is placed once to carry out the substrate processed in the processing block to the carrier, the unloading from the carrier, and the first delivery module. A step of delivering a substrate by a first transfer means to and from a buffer module configured to store a plurality of substrates in order to wait for a substrate before being carried into the delivery module;
Previously the first substrate carried to the transfer module, such that substrate carried on the first transfer module not overtake later, said first transfer module, said second transfer module, said processing A step of transporting the substrate by the second transport means between the processing modules provided in the block;
With
The transport order is set so that substrates in the same lot are continuously carried into the first delivery module,
When the substrate can be transported to the first delivery module, the substrate cannot be transported from the carrier to the first delivery module without passing through the buffer module, and the substrate can not be transported from the carrier to the first delivery module. when more no different lots from its substrate of the lot to the buffer module, the steps of feeding transportable to the buffer module from the carrier in the reverse order for the substrate in the lot that contains the substrate,
After all the substrates set to be transported to the first delivery module preceding the substrate are transported to the first delivery module, the substrates transported to the buffer module are transferred in the order of transportation. Transporting to a first delivery module;
It is characterized by including.

Another substrate processing method of the present invention includes a step of placing a carrier storing a plurality of substrates on a carrier placement portion;
Processing one substrate at a time with one and other processing modules provided in the processing block;
Substrates carried out from the carrier are assigned to one and other first delivery modules for each lot composed of a plurality of the same type of substrates, and preset to each of the one and other first delivery modules. A process of transporting in the transport order, and placing once to carry into the processing block;
The carrier, the first delivery module, the second delivery module that is temporarily mounted to carry the substrate processed by the one processing module to the carrier, and the carrier. And, in order to make the board before carrying into the one and other first delivery modules stand by, it is shared by these one and other first delivery modules and is configured to store a plurality of boards. A step of delivering the substrate by the first transfer means to and from the buffer module;
The carrier, the other first delivery module, another second delivery module that is temporarily placed to carry the substrate processed by the other processing module to the carrier, and the buffer module. Passing the substrate by the first transfer means between,
The first transfer is performed so that a substrate previously transferred to the first transfer module is not overtaken by a second transfer means by a substrate transferred to the first transfer module. The substrate is transported between the module, the one second delivery module, and the one processing module, and the substrate previously carried into the other first delivery module is later transferred to the other first. Transporting the substrate between the other first delivery module, the other second delivery module, and the other processing module so that the substrate carried into the delivery module is not overtaken;
With
The transport order is set so that substrates in the same lot are successively carried into the one and other first delivery modules,
The carrier stores a plurality of lots set to be transported to one first delivery module,
When the substrate can be transported to the first first delivery module, the step of transporting each substrate from the carrier to the first first delivery module without passing through the buffer module in the transport order;
A substrate set to be transported from the carrier to one first delivery module cannot be transported to one first delivery module, and is different from the lot of the substrate to the buffer module and one first delivery Transporting a substrate from the carrier to the buffer module in reverse order for a substrate in the lot containing the substrate when there is no lot set to be transported to the module;
After all the substrates set to be transported to the first first delivery module preceding the substrate are transported to the buffer module, the substrate is transported to the first delivery module. Transporting to a first delivery module in the transport order;
It is characterized by providing. The substrate of another carrier may be set to be carried out after the substrate of one carrier, and when the substrate of one carrier is not in the buffer module, the substrate of the other carrier may be transferred to the buffer module.

In another substrate processing method of the present invention, for example, the substrate of another carrier is set to be carried out after the substrate of one carrier, and the substrate of the one carrier and the substrate of the other carrier are the first first substrate. When the substrate of the one carrier is not in the buffer module, the substrate of the other carrier is transferred to the buffer module.

  The step of processing the substrates one by one includes, for example, a step of supplying a resist to the substrate, and a step of supplying a developing solution to the substrate exposed by an exposure apparatus after the resist supply and developing the substrate. The method may further include a step of transporting the carrier on which the substrate has been unloaded between the carrier retracting region for retracting and the carrier placing unit.

A storage medium according to the present invention is a computer used in a substrate processing apparatus including a processing block including at least one processing module that processes the substrates one by one and a transport unit that transports the substrate from the carrier to the processing block. A storage medium storing a program,
The computer program is for carrying out the substrate processing method described above.

  In the present invention, when the substrate can be transported to the first delivery module for carrying the substrate from the carrier into the processing block, the substrate is transported from the carrier to the first delivery module without passing through the buffer module in the transport order, When the substrate cannot be transferred from the carrier to the first delivery module, the substrate is transferred from the carrier to the buffer module in the reverse order of the transfer order. By carrying out the transfer in this way, it is not necessary to transfer all the substrates to the buffer module, so that an increase in the number of operation steps of the transfer means can be suppressed, and unloading of the substrates in the carrier can be completed quickly. . Then, using the time for transporting the substrate in the buffer module to the first delivery module, the carrier from which the substrate has been discharged is retracted from the carrier placement unit, and the subsequent carrier storing the substrate is transferred to the carrier placement unit. Can be transported. Accordingly, a decrease in throughput can be suppressed.

1 is a plan view of a coating and developing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the coating and developing apparatus. It is a vertical side view of the coating and developing apparatus. It is the front view which looked at the said application | coating and image development apparatus from the carrier conveyance means side. It is a front view which shows a carrier. It is a conveyance path | route figure in the said application | coating and developing apparatus. It is a conveyance path | route figure in the said application | coating and developing apparatus. It is process drawing which showed the conveyance process of the board | substrate in the carrier block of the said application | coating and image development apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which showed the conveyance path | route of the board | substrate in the carrier block of the said application | coating and image development apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which showed the conveyance path | route of the board | substrate in the carrier block of the said application | coating and image development apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which showed the conveyance path | route of the board | substrate in the carrier block of the said application | coating and image development apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which showed the conveyance path | route of the board | substrate in the carrier block of the said application | coating and image development apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which showed the conveyance path | route of the board | substrate in the carrier block of the said application | coating and image development apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which showed the conveyance path | route of the board | substrate in the carrier block of the said application | coating and image development apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which showed the conveyance path | route of the board | substrate in the carrier block of the said application | coating and image development apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which showed the conveyance path | route of the board | substrate in the carrier block of the said application | coating and image development apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which showed the conveyance path | route of the board | substrate in the carrier block of the said application | coating and image development apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which showed the conveyance path | route of the board | substrate in the carrier block of the said application | coating and image development apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which showed the conveyance path | route of the board | substrate in the carrier block of the said application | coating and image development apparatus.

  A coating and developing apparatus 1 that is an example of a substrate processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a resist pattern forming system in which an exposure apparatus C4 is connected to the coating and developing apparatus 1, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the system. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the coating and developing apparatus 1. In the figure, E1 is a carrier block for carrying in and out a carrier C in which a plurality of wafers W are hermetically stored, E2 is a processing block for performing coating and developing processes on the wafer W, and E3 is an interface block. .

  The carrier block E <b> 1 includes a carrier station 10 into which the carrier C is loaded, and a main body 11 that constitutes a transfer area of the wafer W connected to the carrier station 10. In the figure, reference numeral 12 denotes an opening / closing section that opens and closes the cover of the carrier C placed on the carrier placing section 16 provided in the carrier station 10 to connect and partition the inside of the carrier C and the inside of the main body section 11. Have.

  The main body 11 will be described. In the main body 11, a loading buffer module 14 and an unloading buffer module 15 are stacked, for example, and each of the buffer modules 14 and 15 stores six wafers W. be able to. The loading buffer module 14 has a role of waiting for the wafer W to be discharged from the carrier C and transferred to the processing block E2, and quickly ending the discharging of the wafer W from the carrier C. The unloading buffer module 15 has a role of preventing the wafer W from being stopped in the processing block E2 by waiting for the wafer W which has been processed in the processing block E2 and unloaded to the carrier C.

  Further, the carrier block E1 includes a carrier arm 1A which is a first carrier means for delivering the wafer W between the carrier C, the loading buffer modules 14 and 15 and each module provided in a shelf unit U5 described later. Is provided. In order to transfer the wafer W in this way, the transfer arm 1A is movable in the Y direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction (X direction) of the blocks E1 to E3, can be moved up and down, can be rotated around the vertical axis, and can be moved back and forth. It is configured.

  The carrier station 10 includes a load port 21 including, for example, four carrier mounting portions 16 on which the carrier C is mounted to transfer the wafer W to and from the transfer arm 1A, and an upper side of the load port 21. And a stocker 22 including an upper shelf 23 and a lower shelf 24 for temporarily retracting the carrier C. On the shelves 23 and 24, for example, eight retraction placement units 17 that form retraction areas for temporarily retreating the carrier C are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a rail R extending in the Y direction in the drawing is arranged on the upper side of the shelf 23 as shown in FIG. The rail R is provided with an external carrier conveying means 25 for transferring the carrier C between the coating and developing apparatus 1 and another external processing apparatus, and is configured to be movable along the rail R. Yes. The external carrier transport means 25 is provided with a gripping portion 26 that grips the side of the carrier C from the left and right directions. The grip portion 26 is configured to be movable up and down, and can transfer the carrier C to and from the retracting placement portion 17 of the shelf portion 23.

  Furthermore, the carrier block E1 is provided with the carrier conveyance means 3 for delivering the carrier C with respect to each mounting part 16 and 17 of the carrier station 10, as shown in FIGS. The carrier transport means 3 includes a base 32 that can be moved up and down along a lift shaft 31 and a multi-joint transport arm 33 that is connected to the base 32 and is rotatable about a vertical axis with respect to the base 32. . The elevating shaft 31 is configured to be movable along a guide rail 36 provided to extend in the Y direction in FIG. 1, for example, at the ceiling of the carrier block E1.

  Here, the shape of the carrier C will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a plate-like holding plate 42 is provided above the carrier C via a support portion 41. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the arm 33 surrounds the holding plate 42 of the carrier C and supports the carrier C in a suspended state, so that the carrier mounting unit 16 and the retracting mounting unit 17 The carrier C is transferred to each.

  Next, the processing block E2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the processing block E2 is a first block (DEV layer) F1 for performing development processing in this example, and a second block (COT layer) for applying a resist to form a resist film. ) F2 is laminated in order from the bottom.

  Since each layer of the processing block E2 is configured in the same manner as in plan view, the second block (COT layer) F2 will be described as an example. The COT layer F2 includes a resist film forming unit 51. In this example, the resist film forming unit 51 includes resist coating modules COT52A to 52C that supply and apply a resist as a chemical solution to a wafer. The COT layer F2 includes shelf units U1 to U4 constituting a processing module group for performing pre-processing and post-processing of the processing performed in the resist coating module 52, the resist film forming unit 51, and the heating / cooling system. A transfer arm G2 is provided between the processing module group and transfers the wafer W between them.

  The shelf units U1 to U4 are arranged along the transport region R1 in which the transport arm G2 moves, and these shelf units U1 to U4 are configured by stacking modules. The shelf units U1 to U4 include a heating module having a heating plate for heating the wafer W placed thereon. As the heating module, a gas for performing a hydrophobic treatment on the wafer W before resist coating is used. There are hydrophobizing modules ADH 61A and 61B that heat the wafer W while being supplied, and post-application heating modules 62A to 62C that heat the wafer W after resist application.

  For the first block (DEV layer) F1, the development processing sections corresponding to the resist film forming section 51 are provided in two layers in one DEV layer F1. The development processing unit has the same configuration as the resist film forming unit except that the developer is supplied as a chemical solution to the wafer W, and includes development modules DEV64A to 64F. In the DEV layer F1, a transfer arm G1 for transferring the wafer W to the two-stage development processing unit and the heating / cooling processing module is provided. Accordingly, the transport arm G1 is shared by the two-stage development processing unit. Further, the DEV layer F1 includes shelf units U1 to U4 like the COT layer F2, and these shelf units U1 to U4 include heating modules 63A to 63F.

  Each heating module, resist coating modules COT52A to 52C, and development modules DEV64A to 64F in the processing block E2 process the wafers W loaded one by one. Each transfer arm G constituting the second transfer means of the processing block E2 includes two wafer W supports, and the wafer W previously transferred from the predetermined module to the processing block E2 by one support. , And the wafer W, which was later transferred to the processing block E2, is loaded into the module by the other support. Then, for each of the blocks F1 and F2, the transfer arms G sequentially transfer the wafers W placed on the upstream module one by one to the downstream module on the basis of a preset transfer schedule. Go around the road once. As a result, a state is formed in which the wafer W first loaded into the processing block E2 from the carrier C is located in a module on the downstream side of the wafer W loaded into the processing block E2 after the carrier C. The wafer W moves between the modules by rotating around.

  Further, in the processing block E2, a shelf unit U5 is provided on the carrier block E1 side as shown in FIGS. The shelf unit U5 includes delivery modules TRS1 to TRS3, delivery modules CPL1 to CPL4, and a buffer module 50, and these modules are stacked on each other. Further, the shelf unit U5 includes a carry-in unit 55 for delivering the wafer W to a shuttle 54 described later. In the delivery module, TRS and CPL have a stage on which the wafer W is placed, and the CPL further has a function of controlling the temperature of the placed wafer W. The delivery modules TRS1 to TRS3 and CPL1 to CPL2 are provided at positions accessible by the transfer arm 1A, and CPL1 to CPL2 are provided at positions accessible by the transfer arm G1. The delivery modules CPL3 to CPL4 and the buffer module 50 are provided at a position where the transfer arm G2 can access.

  In the vicinity of the shelf unit U5, a delivery arm D1 configured to be movable up and down and back and forth for delivering the wafer W between the modules constituting the shelf unit U5 is provided.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a shelf unit U6 is provided on the interface block E3 side in the processing block E2. The shelf unit U6 includes delivery modules TRS4 to TRS5, and these modules are stacked on each other. Further, the shelf unit U <b> 6 includes a carry-out unit 56 for taking out the wafer W from the shuttle 54. In the upper part of the DEV layer F1, a shuttle 54 for directly transferring the wafer W from the carry-in portion 55 of the shelf unit U5 to the carry-out portion 56 of the shelf unit U6 is provided.

  The interface block E3 includes an interface arm 57 that transfers the wafer W between the module of the shelf unit U6 and the exposure apparatus C4.

  The coating / developing apparatus 1 is provided with a control unit 100 including, for example, a computer. The control unit 100 includes a data processing unit including a program, a memory, and a CPU. The control unit 100 sends a control signal to each unit of the coating / developing apparatus 1 to cause the program to proceed with each processing step described later. Instructions (each step) are incorporated. In addition, for example, the memory includes an area in which processing parameter values such as processing temperature, processing time, supply amount or power value of each chemical solution are written, and when the CPU executes each instruction of the program, these processing parameters are stored in the memory. The read control signal corresponding to the parameter value is sent to each part of the coating and developing apparatus 1.

  This program (including programs related to processing parameter input operations and display) is stored in a storage medium such as a computer storage medium such as a flexible disk, a compact disk, a hard disk, an MO (magneto-optical disk), or a memory card and stored in the control unit 100. Installed. Further, as will be described later, the transfer path of the wafer W and the carrier C varies depending on the mode 1 to mode 4 to be executed, but the user executes it via a selection unit configured by an input screen, a keyboard, or the like provided in the control unit 100. The mode to be performed can be selected.

  In each carrier C, a plurality of wafers W are arranged and stored so as to be stacked one above the other, and are transferred to the processing block E2 in this arrangement order, and are transferred in the processing block E2 in this arrangement order. The program is configured as described above. Each carrier C may include only wafers W of the same lot that are processed under the same processing conditions in the processing block E2, or may include wafers W of a plurality of lots that are processed under different processing conditions. Includes wafers W of different lots, the wafers W of the same lot are successively arranged in the carrier C, and after all the wafers W of one lot are transferred to the processing block E2, the other lots are processed. Wafer W is transferred to the processing block E2 and processed. Further, the control unit 100 sets the numbers in order from the first for the wafers W in one carrier C according to the order of loading into the processing block E2 for each lot, and the transfer is performed as described above. In the block E2, the higher-numbered wafer W does not overtake the lower-numbered wafer W. In the carrier block E1, there is a case where the conveyance is not performed in this number order as will be described later.

  The processing conditions include the temperature and supply time of the chemical solution supplied to the wafer W, the heating temperature and cooling temperature of the wafer W, and the processing time thereof. Further, for example, before each carrier C is carried into the coating / developing apparatus 1, it is transferred from the host computer that controls the carrier transport between the apparatuses including the coating / developing apparatus 1 in the factory to the control unit 100. Information on the number of contained lots and the number of wafers W for each lot is transmitted, and the control unit 100 performs transfer control described later based on the information.

  The carrier C and wafer W conveyance paths in each mode performed by the coating and developing apparatus 1 will be described. First, the outline of each mode will be described. In mode 1, after the wafer W is delivered from the carrier C, the carrier C is transported between the mounting portions 16 and 17 by the carrier transport means 3 until the wafer W returns. All the lots that have been paid out are transported through the same route and processed.

  In mode 2, the carrier C is transferred between the placement units 16 and 17 after the wafer W is discharged, as in the case of the carrier 1. However, the two lots discharged from the carrier C are transferred along different paths. . In mode 3, the wafer W is transferred by the same route as in mode 1, but the carrier C is not transferred until the wafer W returns after the wafer W is discharged. In mode 4, as in mode 2, each lot is transferred through two paths. However, as in mode 3, the carrier C is not transferred until the wafer W returns after the wafer W is paid out.

  When mode 1 is selected, one carrier C (referred to as a starting carrier for convenience of explanation) conveyed by the external carrier conveying means 25 to the retracting placement portion 17 of the shelf 23 is the carrier conveying means. 3, after all the wafers W are discharged from the first carrier C, the first carrier C is placed on the shelf 23 or 24 by the carrier transport means 3. 17 is conveyed. Thereafter, another carrier C (described as a subsequent carrier for convenience of explanation) is transferred from the external carrier transfer means 25 to the carrier mounting unit 16 through the same route as the previous carrier C, and the wafer W is transferred from the subsequent carrier C. Is paid out.

  After the wafer W has been dispensed, the subsequent carrier C is transferred to the retracting placement unit 17 through the same path as the preceding carrier C. Thereafter, the starting carrier C is transported again to the carrier placing unit 16 by the carrier transporting means 3, and the processed wafer W unloaded from the starting carrier C is placed on the carrier placing unit 16. It is carried into C. Thereafter, the starting carrier C is placed on the retracting placement portion 17 of the shelf 23, and is carried out of the coating and developing apparatus 1 by the external carrier conveying means 25. Thereafter, the subsequent carrier C is transported again to the carrier mounting unit 16 in the same manner as the first carrier C, and the processed carrier W unloaded from the subsequent carrier C is mounted on the carrier mounting unit 16. It is carried in. Thereafter, the subsequent carrier C is carried out of the coating / developing apparatus 1 through the same route as the preceding carrier C. Since there are four carrier platforms 16, each carrier is not necessarily returned to the same carrier platform 16 as the carrier platform 16 from which the wafer W was discharged.

  Next, the transfer path of the wafer W when mode 1 is selected will be described with reference to FIG. First, when the carrier C is placed on the carrier placing portion 16 as described above, the lid of the carrier C is removed by the opening / closing portion 12, and the wafer W is directly transferred from the carrier C by the transfer arm 1A, the transfer module TRS1, 2 or 3, or once transported to the loading buffer module 14, where it is retained, and then transported to any of the delivery modules TRS 1 to TRS 3. It will be described later about when it is transported to the loading buffer module 14 and when it is transported directly to the delivery modules TRS1 to TRS3.

  The wafer W is transferred from the transfer modules TRS1 to TRS3 to the transfer module CPL3 or CPL4 by the transfer arm D1, and is transferred from the hydrophobic modules ADH61A or 61B of the shelf units U1 to U4 by the transfer arm G2 of the COT layer F2 to the resist coating modules COT52A to 52C. After being transferred in any order and coated with a resist, it is transferred to the heating modules 62A to 62C of the shelf units U1 to U4 by the transfer arm G2, and subjected to heat treatment to form a resist film.

  Subsequently, after the wafer W is transferred to the buffer module 50 by the transfer arm G <b> 2, it is transferred to the loading unit 55 by the transfer arm D <b> 1, transferred to the shuttle 54, and transferred to the unloading unit 56. Thereafter, the wafer W is transferred to the interface arm 57 and transferred to the exposure apparatus C4 for exposure processing.

  Thereafter, the wafer W is transferred to the delivery module TRS4 or TRS5, transferred to one of the heating modules 63A to 63C of the shelf units U1 to U4 by the transfer arm G1, and subjected to a heating process (PEB process). Thereafter, the wafer W is transferred to the developing module DEV by the transfer arm G1 and subjected to the developing process, and then transferred to any of the heating modules 63D to 63F of the shelf units U1 to U4 and subjected to the heating process. After the heat treatment, the sheet is transferred to the delivery module CPL1 or CPL2 of the shelf unit U5 by the transfer arm G1.

  Thereafter, the wafer W is once loaded into the unloading buffer module 15 by the transfer arm 1A and stays there. Then, when the carrier C from which the wafer W has been discharged by the carrier transfer means 3 is returned to the carrier mounting portion 16, the wafer W is returned to the carrier C by the transfer arm 1A.

  The transfer control of the wafer W paid out from the carrier C1 in the carrier block E1 when the mode 1 is selected will be described. In mode 1, the transfer modules TRS1 to TRS3 are set as transfer modules (first transfer modules) for temporarily placing the wafer W discharged from the carrier C in order to transfer the wafer W to the processing block E2. Further, the delivery modules CPL1 to CPL2 are set as unloading modules (second delivery modules) for temporarily placing the wafers W on the processing block E2 so as to unload the processed wafers W and return them to the carrier C. ing.

  When these transfer modules TRS1 to TRS3 are empty, the wafer W unloaded from the carrier C is not transferred to the transfer buffer module 14 but directly transferred to the transfer modules TRS1 to TRS3. When the wafer W stays in the delivery modules TRS1 to TRS3 and the wafer W cannot be transferred from the carrier C, the wafer W is transferred to the loading buffer module 14 in reverse order from the final wafer W to be paid out. However, the wafer W that can be transferred to the loading buffer module 14 as described above must satisfy both of the two conditions, and one is a wafer W in the same lot as the lot currently being dispensed from the carrier C ( (Condition 1), and the other is that the wafer W is currently in the carrier C that is being dispensed (Condition 2).

  The wafer W transferred to the loading buffer module 14 is in the same lot as the wafer W loaded into the loading buffer module 14 from the carrier C in which the wafer W was stored. When all of W is paid out and the delivery modules TRS1 to TRS3 are vacant, they are transported to the vacant delivery module TRS according to the order of transport to the processing block E2.

  Subsequently, conveyance when mode 2 is selected will be described. When the mode 2 is selected, the carrier C is carried into the coating and developing apparatus 1 as in the mode 1, and after the wafer W is discharged, the carrier C is placed between the carrier mounting unit 16 and the retracting mounting unit 17. Passed by. When the processed wafer W is stored, it is unloaded from the coating and developing apparatus 1 as in the mode 1.

  The transfer path of the wafer W when mode 2 is selected will be described with a focus on differences from mode 1 with reference to FIG. The wafers W of one lot are directly transferred from the carrier C to the delivery module TRS2 or TRS3, or transferred to the transfer buffer module 14 and once stayed there, then transferred to the transfer module TRS2 or TRS3. The After that, after being carried into the delivery modules CPL3 to CPL4 in the same manner as in mode 1, the modules ADH61A to 61C → COT52A to 52C → the heating modules 62A to 62C in the COT layer F2 are conveyed and processed in this order, and received by the buffer module 50 After being transported, it is carried into the delivery module TRS1 and returned to the one carrier C by the delivery arm A1. This conveyance path is called a COT flow 71.

  On the other hand, the wafers W of other lots are directly transferred to the transfer module CPL1 by the transfer arm 1A, or transferred to the transfer buffer module 14 and temporarily stayed there before being transferred to the transfer module CPL1. . After being transported in the order of the heating modules 63A to 63C → DEV 64A to 64F → the heating modules 63D to 63F by the transport arm A1, it is transported to the delivery module CPL2 and returned to the other carrier C2 by the delivery arm A1. This conveyance path is called a DEV flow 72.

  As described above, when the mode 2 is executed, one lot and another lot are transferred to the different delivery modules TRS2 to TRS3 and CPL1 in the processing block E2. The lots transferred to the delivery modules TRS2 to TRS3 and CPL1 are sequentially transported between different modules and returned to the carrier C via the delivery modules TRS1 and CPL2. Therefore, in this mode 2, the delivery modules TRS2, TRS3 and CPL1 are set as modules for carrying in to the processing block E2, and the delivery modules TRS1 and CPL2 are set as modules for carrying out from the processing block E2. Further, the transportation of one lot and the other lot is performed in parallel. In FIG. 7, for convenience of illustration, each lot is drawn so as to be carried out from a separate carrier C, but may be carried out from the same carrier C.

  Next, transfer control of the wafer W paid out from the carrier C in the carrier block E1 when the mode 2 is selected will be described. The wafers W of each lot in the carrier C are directly transferred to the transfer modules TRS2, TRS3, and CPL1 when the transfer modules TRS2, TRS3, and CPL1 of the transfer destinations of the wafers W are empty. If the wafers W are retained in the transfer modules TRS2, TRS3, and CPL1 and the wafers W cannot be transferred from the carrier C, they are transferred to the loading buffer module 14 in the reverse order from the final wafer W to be dispensed as in the mode 1. Be transported.

  However, Condition 1 and Condition 2 are not applied between the wafers W transferred by the COT flow 71 and the DEV flow 72 as described above. Specifically, when the lot being paid out from the carrier C is a lot transported in the COT flow 71, the wafer W of the lot transported in the DEV flow 72 may be transported to the loading buffer module 14, Conversely, when the lot that is being paid out from the carrier C is a lot that is transferred by the DEV flow 72, the wafer W of the lot that is transferred by the COT flow 71 may be transferred to the loading buffer module 14. Also, one lot transported in the COT flow 71 and another lot transported in the DEV flow 72 are stored in different carriers C, and one lot and another lot from each carrier are loaded into the loading buffer module 14. May be transported to. Accordingly, as will be described later in detail, mode 2 differs from mode 1 in that there are cases where wafers W from different carriers are mixed and wafers W of different lots are mixed in buffer module 14. Further, between the wafers W transferred by the same COT flow 71 and the DEV flow 72, Condition 1 and Condition 2 are applied in order to avoid overtaking of the wafer W transferred to the processing block E2.

  In mode 2, the wafer W transferred to the loading buffer module 14 in the same manner as in mode 1 is the same lot as the wafer W loaded into the loading buffer module 14 from the carrier C storing the wafer W. When all of the wafers W are discharged and the delivery modules TRS1 to TRS3 are vacant, they are sequentially transferred to the vacant TRS.

  In this way, when the wafer W is transferred from the carrier C to the processing block E2 side in each mode, the control unit 100 determines the presence / absence of the wafer in each module and the type of lot included in each module and carrier C, The control unit 100 controls the operation of the transfer arm 1A according to the determination result. The determination of the control unit 100 and the transfer of the wafer W from the carrier C to the processing block E2 side by the determination are performed for each cycle in which the transfer arms G1 and G2 of the processing block E2 make one round of the transfer path.

  Next, when the mode 1 is selected, a wafer transfer path that is discharged from the carrier C for each wafer transfer situation will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. In these drawings, each module of the carrier block E1 and each module of the shelf unit U5 are developed and shown on the same plane, and the staying state of the wafer in the loading buffer module 14 is shown.

  In the following description, for the sake of convenience, for each wafer W, alphabets A, B,... Are added in order of the lots transferred to the processing block E2, and the processing block E2 is included in the lot after the alphabet. Numbers are given in the order of conveyance. That is, for example, a wafer W in a lot, and the wafer W transferred to the processing block E2 in the third lot is indicated as a wafer A3. In the subsequent lot transferred to the processing block E2 next to the lot, the wafer W transferred to the processing block E2 fifth in the subsequent lot is indicated as a wafer B5.

  In FIG. 8, the wafers are sequentially delivered from the carrier C storing 25 wafers A, and the wafers A1 and A2 are retained in the delivery modules TRS1 and TRS2, respectively. However, the wafers are delivered to the delivery module TRS3. Not. In this case, the transfer arm 1A does not carry the subsequent wafer A3 from the carrier C into the carry-in buffer module 14, but directly carries it into the transfer module TRS3.

  In FIG. 9, the wafer A3 is transferred to the transfer module TRS3 from the state of FIG. 8, and the wafers A1 to A3 exist in all of the transfer modules TRS1 to TRS3. Further, no wafer is loaded into the loading buffer module 14. In such a state, since the wafer A4 to be transferred next from the carrier C to the processing block E2 cannot be transferred to the delivery modules TRS1 to TRS3, it is in the carrier C that is currently delivering the wafer as described above. Wafers in the same lot as the wafer being paid out are transferred to the loading buffer module 14 in the reverse order of the transfer to the processing block E2. Therefore, in the state of FIG. 9, the wafer A25 is transferred to the loading buffer module.

  FIG. 10 shows a state in which the wafers A25, A24, A23, A22, A21, and A20 are transferred to the loading buffer module 14 in this order from the state of FIG. 9, and the loading buffer module 14 is full. Further, the wafers A1 to A3 remain in the delivery modules TRS1 to TRS3. Since there is no place for delivering the wafer from the carrier C as described above, the wafer is not delivered from the carrier C in this case.

  In FIG. 11, the wafer A1 of the transfer module TRS1 is transferred to the subsequent module from the state of FIG. 10, and the transfer module TRS1 is empty. When the transfer modules TRS1 to TRS3 are thus free, the wafer is directly transferred from the carrier C to the empty transfer module TRS. In this case, the wafer A4 is transferred from the carrier C to the empty transfer module TRS1. The

  In FIG. 12, the wafers A in the carrier C are transferred from the state of FIG. 11 to the processing block E2 through the transfer modules TRS1 to TRS3 in numerical order, and the wafers A19 and A18 stay in the transfer modules TRS2 and TRS3, respectively. Is shown. At this time, the delivery module TRS1 is empty. Here, as described above, the wafer of the loading buffer module 14 is transferred after all the wafers stored in the same lot and the same carrier as the lot loaded in the loading buffer module 14 are completely discharged. Is done. Accordingly, in the case of FIG. 12, the wafer is discharged from the loading buffer module 14, and the wafer A20 having the smallest number contained in the loading buffer module 14 is transferred to the delivery module TRS1. After the wafer A20 is transferred, the wafers A21 to A25 are transferred in numerical order as soon as the delivery modules TRS1 to TRS3 are empty.

  Next, the conveyance example shown in FIG. 13 will be described. In FIG. 13, a carrier C storing five lots of wafers subjected to different processes in a set of five wafers is transferred, and the wafers A1 to A3 of the previous lot A are transferred from the carrier C to the delivery modules TRS1 to TRS3. This shows a state where the wafers A5 and A4 have already been transferred to the buffer module 14 in this order. As described above, conditions 1 and 2 must be satisfied for a wafer transferred from the carrier C to the loading buffer module 14. Therefore, wafers W in a lot different from the wafer W in the loading buffer module 14 cannot be transferred to the loading buffer module 14 even if the payout source is the same carrier C. In this case, the loading buffer module 14 However, the wafers of lot B following lot A are not transferred until all of wafers A1 to A5 of lot A are transferred to transfer modules TRS1 to TRS3, and wait in carrier C.

  Then, when the wafer A of the loading buffer module 14 is transferred to the delivery modules TRS1 to TRS3 from the state of FIG. 13, if the delivery modules TRS1 to TRS3 have a vacancy, the vacant modules are assigned to the vacant modules in order of the numbers from the wafer B1. Be transported. In FIG. 14, the wafer moves from the state shown in FIG. 13, the buffer module 14 is empty, the wafers A <b> 3 to A <b> 5 of the preceding lot stay in the delivery modules TRS <b> 1 to TRS <b> 3, A state is shown in which wafers B1 to B5 of B are waiting. In this case, the wafer B is transferred from the wafer B5 to the loading buffer module 14 in the reverse order. As described above, the condition of the wafer W to be loaded into the loading buffer module 14 needs to be the same lot as the lot that is being paid out. This means that all the preceding lots have been paid out from the carrier, and the reference lot is ready to be paid out. Therefore, as shown in the example of FIG. 14, even if the first wafer of the reference lot is not unloaded from the carrier, the reference lot may be transferred to the buffer module 14 in some cases.

  Next, the example shown in FIG. 15 will be described. In this example, after the wafers A1 to A25 of the lot A are discharged from the carrier C (referred to as the carrier C1 for convenience), the carrier C1 is retracted to the retracting placement unit 17, and subsequently, the wafers A26 to A50 of the lot A are recovered. The carrier C (referred to as carrier C2 for convenience) in which is stored is shown mounted on the carrier mounting portion 16. As shown in FIG. 15, the wafers A21 to A23 stay in the transfer modules TRS1 to TRS3, and the wafers A24 and A25 stay in the loading buffer module 14, respectively.

  In the transfer state of FIG. 15, the carry-in buffer module 14 has a free space, but as described above, the wafer W transferred from the carrier C to the carry-in buffer module 14 satisfies the above-described conditions 1 and 2. There is a need. Accordingly, since the wafers W of the payout source carrier different from the wafers W in the loading buffer module 14 cannot be transported even in the lot subjected to the same processing, the wafers A26 to A50 of the carrier C2 are transferred to the carrier C1. Until all the wafers A are transferred to the transfer modules TRS1 to TRS3.

  Subsequently, when the mode 2 is selected, a wafer transfer path to be paid out from the carrier C for each wafer transfer situation will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. As the transfer status in FIG. 16, the carrier C1 including the wafers A1 to A5 of the lot A transferred by the COT flow 71 and the carrier C2 including the wafers B1 to B4 of the lot B transferred by the DEV flow 72 are loaded on the carrier. The wafers A1 and A2 are respectively transferred from the carrier C1 to the transfer modules TRS1 and TRS2, and the wafer B1 is transferred from the carrier C2 to the transfer module CPL1. At this time, the loading buffer module 14 is empty. Since the wafers A and B of the carriers C1 and C2 are transported in parallel through different paths as described above, the conditions 1 and 2 are not applied to the lot A and the lot B, and the wafer A of the lot A The wafers B in the lot B are transferred to the loading buffer module 14 in the reverse order. Therefore, as shown in the figure, the carrier C1 to the wafer A5 and the carrier C2 to the wafer B4 are loaded into the loading buffer module 14 in this order, for example. The wafers are alternately transferred from the carriers C1 and C2.

  If the wafers A1, A2 and B1 remain in the transfer modules TRS2, TRS3 and CPL1 even after the wafers A5 and B4 are transferred, the wafers A4, B3, the wafer A3 and the wafer A2 are loaded in this order in the loading buffer module 14. It is conveyed to.

  Next, the example of FIG. 17 will be described. In the example of FIG. 17, the wafers are transferred to the respective modules in the same manner as in FIG. 16, but unlike the example of FIG. 16, the wafers C1 to C1 of the five lot C lots to be dispensed after the lot B are transferred to the carrier C2. C5 is included. It is assumed that the lot C is conveyed by the DEV flow 72 in the same manner as the lot B.

  Since the lot C is transported in the same DEV flow 72 as the lot B, the above conditions 1 and 2 are applied between the lot B and the lot C. Accordingly, in this case, similarly to the example of FIG. 16, the wafer A5 which is the last wafer of the lot A and the wafer B4 which is the last wafer of the lot B are loaded into the loading buffer module 14 in reverse order. Then, after all the wafers W in the lot B are transferred to the delivery module CPL1, the wafers in the lot C are transferred from the carrier C2. As described above, the conditions 1 and 2 are applied between the lot B and the lot C having the same conveyance path, thereby preventing the lot C from passing the lot B and entering the processing block E2 first.

  Next, the example of FIG. 18 will be described. FIG. 18 shows a state in which the delivery of the wafer from the carrier C2 is completed from the state of FIG. 17, and then the carrier C3 including the lot D composed of the wafers D1 to D5 is transferred to the carrier mounting unit 16. . Wafers A5 and C5 stay in the loading buffer module 14, and wafer C4 stays in the delivery module CPL1. It is assumed that the lot D is conveyed by the same DEV flow 72 as the lot C. At this time, since the lot C and the lot D are conveyed by the same DEV flow 72, the above conditions 1 and 2 are applied between the lot C and the lot D. Accordingly, the lot D is not transferred from the carrier C3 until the wafer C5 of the loading buffer module 14 is transferred to the delivery module CPL1.

  Next, an example of conveyance when mode 3 is selected will be described with reference to FIG. 19, the carrier C including the wafers A1 to A25 is placed on the carrier placing portion 16, and the wafers A1 to A3 are carried from the carrier C to the delivery modules TRS1 to TRS3. At this time, the carry-in buffer module 14 is empty, but each subsequent wafer A is not transferred to the carry-in buffer module 14, and after the delivery modules TRS1 to TRS3 are empty, the subsequent wafers are transferred to the empty module. A4 is conveyed. Even when the mode 4 is selected as described above, the wafer is not transferred to the buffer module 14, and the wafer W in the carrier C stands by in the carrier C until the transfer destination module becomes empty. As described above, the wafer W is not transferred to the buffer module 14 in the modes 3 and 4 as described above. In these modes, after the wafer W is discharged, the carrier C does not move from the mounting unit 16 until the wafer W returns. This is because it is not necessary to end the dispensing of the wafer W quickly using the buffer module 14.

  In the mode 1 of the above embodiment, when the delivery modules TRS1 to TRS3 are vacant, the wafers W are directly transferred to them according to the arrangement order in the carrier C, and the wafers W stay in these modules and cannot be transferred. In this case, the wafer W is loaded from the carrier C into the loading buffer module 14 in the reverse order to the transfer order to the delivery modules TRS1 to TRS3. By carrying out the transfer in this way, it is not necessary to transfer all the wafers W to the loading buffer module 14, so that the increase in the number of operation steps of the transfer arm A1 is suppressed, and the unloading of the wafers W in the carrier C is completed quickly. Can be made. Then, using the time for transferring the wafer W in the loading buffer module 14 to the delivery modules TRS1 to TRS3, the carrier C that has delivered the wafer W is retracted from the carrier mounting portion 16, and the subsequent wafer W is stored. The carrier C can be transported to the carrier placement unit 16. Accordingly, a decrease in throughput can be suppressed.

  Further, when the mode 1 is executed, the wafer W to be transferred to the loading buffer module 14 is the same lot as the lot that is being dispensed, and the wafer W is in the carrier that is being dispensed. In the module 14, wafers W of different lots and wafers W discharged from different carriers are prevented from being mixed. This is because even if the transfer arm A1 misplaces the wafer W in the loading buffer module 14, normal processing is performed on the wafer W in the processing block E2.

  In mode 2, when the delivery modules TRS2, TRS3, and CPL1 are vacant, the wafers W are directly transferred to the modules in the order of arrangement in the carrier C, and the wafers W stay in these modules and cannot be transferred. In this case, since the wafer W is transferred to the loading buffer module 14 in the reverse order to the transfer order to each delivery module, a decrease in throughput can be prevented as in the case of mode 1 selection. In this mode 2, the wafers W transferred by the COT flow 71 and the DEV flow 72 are loaded into the common loading buffer module 14, so that the number of buffer modules installed can be reduced and space can be saved.

  In the above embodiment, the wafer W is retracted using one loading buffer module 14, but the number of buffer modules used and the number of stored sheets are not limited to the above example. For example, even when the above-described mode 1 is executed and the number of stored wafers W of the carrier C1 previously transferred to the carrier mounting unit 16 is 25, and the loading buffer module 14 can store 25 wafers W, For example, all the wafers W are delivered from the carrier C1 to the loading buffer module 14, and the subsequent carrier C2 is placed on the carrier placement unit 16 while the wafer W is transferred from the loading buffer module 14 to the modules TRS1 to TRS3. Thus, the throughput can be improved as in the above example.

  Further, the transfer path of the wafer W after being transferred to the loading modules (the transfer modules TRS2 to TRS3 and CPL1) in the mode 2 and the mode 4 is not limited to the above-described example, and is transferred to the transfer modules TRS1 to TRS2, for example. The transferred wafer W may be returned to the carrier C without being subjected to the resist coating after being subjected to the hydrophobic treatment. In these modes 2, the wafers W returned to the delivery modules TRS1 and CPL2 may be once transferred to the unloading buffer module 15 and then returned to the carrier C. In addition, a loading module (first delivery module) for loading into the processing block E2 used in each mode, and a loading module (second) for unloading the processed wafer W from the processing block E2. Is not limited to the above example.

W Wafer TRS Delivery Module C Carrier E1 Carrier Block E2 Processing Block 1 Coating and Developing Device 1A Delivery Arm 10 Carrier Station 14 Loading Buffer Module 16 Carrier Placement Unit CPL Delivery Module 21 Load Port 3 Carrier Conveying Unit 51 Resist Film Forming Unit 52 Resist coating module 100 controller

Claims (13)

A process including at least one carrier block including a carrier mounting unit on which a carrier storing a plurality of lots configured of a plurality of the same type of substrates is mounted, and a processing module for processing the substrates one by one. In a substrate processing apparatus comprising a block,
A first delivery module that transports the substrate unloaded from the carrier in a predetermined transport order, and temporarily places the substrate into the processing block;
A second delivery module for temporarily placing the substrate processed in the processing block to return it to the carrier;
A buffer module configured to store a plurality of substrates in order to wait for the substrate before being unloaded from the carrier and loaded into the first delivery module;
A first transport means for transporting a substrate between the carrier placed on the carrier placement unit, the first delivery module, the buffer module, and the second delivery module;
The first delivery module, the second delivery module, and the processing so that the board previously carried into the first delivery module does not pass the board carried into the first delivery module later. Second transport means for transporting the substrate to and from the processing module provided in the block;
Control means for outputting a control signal to each part of the substrate processing apparatus and controlling its operation,
The transport order is set so that substrates in the same lot are continuously carried into the first delivery module,
When the substrate can be transported to the first delivery module, the substrate is transported from the carrier to the first delivery module without passing through the buffer module in the transport order,
When the substrate cannot be transported from the carrier to the first delivery module, and there is no lot different from the lot of the substrate in the buffer module, the substrate in the lot containing the substrate is in reverse order to the transport order. Transport from carrier to buffer module,
After all the substrates set to be transported to the first delivery module preceding the substrate are transported to the first delivery module, the substrates transported to the buffer module are transferred in the order of transportation. A substrate processing apparatus, wherein a control signal is outputted so as to be conveyed to a first delivery module. It is set so that the substrate of the other carrier is unloaded after the substrate of one carrier,
2. The substrate processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when a substrate of one carrier is not in the buffer module, a substrate of another carrier is transferred to the buffer module. A substrate provided with a carrier block provided with a carrier mounting portion on which a carrier storing a plurality of substrates is placed, and a processing block provided with one and other processing modules for processing each of the substrates one by one In the processing device,
The substrate unloaded from the carrier is distributed for each lot composed of a plurality of the same type of substrates, and is transported in a predetermined transport order , and the substrate is temporarily placed for loading into the processing block. And other first delivery modules;
One and other second delivery modules, each of which is temporarily placed to return the substrate processed in the processing block to the carrier;
A buffer module configured to store a plurality of substrates in order to wait for the substrates to be unloaded from the carrier and loaded into the one and other first delivery modules;
A first substrate that transports a substrate between the carrier placed on the carrier placement unit, the one and other first delivery modules, the buffer module, and the one and other second delivery modules. Conveying means,
The first transfer module, the first transfer module, and the first transfer module so that a substrate previously transferred to the first transfer module is not overtaken by a substrate transferred to the first transfer module. The substrate was transported between the two delivery modules and the one processing module, and the substrate previously carried into the other first delivery module was later carried into the other first delivery module. Second transport means for transporting the substrate between the other first delivery module, the other second delivery module, and the other processing module so that the substrate does not overtake;
Control means for outputting a control signal to each part of the substrate processing apparatus and controlling its operation,
The order of transport to the first first delivery module is set so that substrates in the same lot are transported continuously,
The carrier stores a plurality of lots set to be transported to one first delivery module,
When the substrate set to be transported from the carrier to the first first delivery module can be transported to the first first delivery module, the substrate is transferred to the first first delivery module without passing through the buffer module. Transport in the transport order,
When the substrate cannot be transported to the one first delivery module, and the buffer module has a lot different from the lot of the substrate and set to be transported to the first first delivery module. , Transport the substrate in the lot containing the substrate from the carrier to the buffer module in the reverse order of the transport order,
After all the substrates set to be transported to the first first delivery module preceding the substrate are transported to the buffer module, the substrate is transported to the first delivery module. The substrate processing apparatus is characterized in that a control signal is outputted so as to be transferred to one first delivery module in the transfer order. It is set so that the substrate of the other carrier is unloaded after the substrate of one carrier,
The substrate of the one carrier and the substrate of the other carrier are set to be conveyed to the first delivery module;
4. The substrate processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the substrate of the one carrier is not in the buffer module, the substrate of another carrier is transferred to the buffer module. The processing module includes a resist coating module that supplies a resist to a substrate, and a developing module that supplies a developing solution to the substrate exposed by an exposure apparatus after the resist coating and develops the substrate. coating, the substrate processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1, characterized in that it is configured as a developing device 4. A carrier retracting area for retracting the carrier from which the substrate has been unloaded from the carrier placing part, and a carrier transporting means for transporting the carrier between the carrier placing part and the carrier retracting area are provided. the substrate processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the. A step of placing a carrier in which a plurality of lots constituted of a plurality of substrates of the same type are stored on the carrier placement unit;
A step of processing the substrates one by one with a processing module provided in the processing block;
In order to carry the carrier placed on the carrier placement unit and the substrate carried from the carrier placed on the carrier placement unit into the processing block, the substrates are conveyed in a preset conveyance order. A first delivery module that is once placed, a second delivery module that is placed once to carry out the substrate processed in the processing block to the carrier, the unloading from the carrier, and the first delivery module. A step of delivering a substrate by a first transfer means to and from a buffer module configured to store a plurality of substrates in order to wait for a substrate before being carried into the delivery module;
The first delivery module, the second delivery module, and the processing so that the board previously carried into the first delivery module does not pass the board carried into the first delivery module later. A step of transporting the substrate by the second transport means between the processing modules provided in the block;
With
The transport order is set so that substrates in the same lot are continuously carried into the first delivery module,
When the substrate can be transported to the first delivery module, the substrate cannot be transported from the carrier to the first delivery module without passing through the buffer module, and the substrate cannot be transported from the carrier to the first delivery module. In addition, when there is no lot different from the lot of the substrate in the buffer module, a step of transferring the substrate in the lot including the substrate from the carrier to the buffer module in reverse order;
After all the substrates set to be transported to the first delivery module preceding the substrate are transported to the first delivery module, the substrates transported to the buffer module are transferred in the order of transportation. Transporting to a first delivery module;
A substrate processing method comprising: It is set so that the substrate of the other carrier is unloaded after the substrate of one carrier,
The substrate processing method according to claim 7, wherein when a substrate of one carrier is not in the buffer module, a substrate of another carrier is transferred to the buffer module. A step of placing a carrier storing a plurality of substrates on the carrier placement portion;
Processing one substrate at a time with one and other processing modules provided in the processing block;
Substrates carried out from the carrier are assigned to one and other first delivery modules for each lot composed of a plurality of the same type of substrates, and preset to each of the one and other first delivery modules. A process of transporting in the transport order, and placing once to carry into the processing block;
The carrier, the first delivery module, the second delivery module that is temporarily mounted to carry the substrate processed by the one processing module to the carrier, and the carrier. Then, the substrate is received by the first transfer means between the buffer module configured to store a plurality of substrates in order to wait for the substrate before being carried into the one and other first delivery modules. Passing, and
The carrier, the other first delivery module, another second delivery module that is temporarily placed to carry the substrate processed by the other processing module to the carrier, and the buffer module. Passing the substrate by the first transfer means between,
The first transfer is performed so that a substrate previously transferred to the first transfer module is not overtaken by a second transfer means by a substrate transferred to the first transfer module. The substrate is transported between the module, the one second delivery module, and the one processing module, and the substrate previously carried into the other first delivery module is later transferred to the other first. Transporting the substrate between the other first delivery module, the other second delivery module, and the other processing module so that the substrate carried into the delivery module is not overtaken;
With
The order of transport to the first first delivery module is set so that substrates in the same lot are transported continuously,
The carrier stores a plurality of lots set to be transported to one first delivery module,
When the substrate can be transported to the first first delivery module, the step of transporting the substrate from the carrier to the first first delivery module without passing through the buffer module in the transport order;
A substrate set to be transported from the carrier to one first delivery module cannot be transported to one first delivery module, and is different from the lot of the substrate to the buffer module and one first delivery When there is no lot set to be transferred to the module, the step of transferring the substrate in the lot including the substrate from the carrier to the buffer module in reverse order;
After all the substrates set to be transported to the first first delivery module preceding the substrate are transported to the buffer module, the substrate is transported to the first delivery module. Transporting to a first delivery module in the transport order;
A substrate processing method comprising: It is set so that the substrate of the other carrier is unloaded after the substrate of one carrier,
The substrate of the one carrier and the substrate of the other carrier are set to be conveyed to the first delivery module;
10. The substrate processing method according to claim 9, wherein when the substrate of the one carrier is not in the buffer module, the substrate of another carrier is transferred to the buffer module. The step of processing the substrates one by one includes a step of supplying a resist to the substrate, and a step of supplying a developing solution to the substrate exposed by an exposure apparatus after the resist supply and developing the substrate. The substrate processing method according to claim 7 . 12. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising a step of transporting the carrier from which the substrate has been unloaded between a carrier retracting region for retracting and the carrier placing unit. Substrate processing method. A storage medium storing a computer program used in a substrate processing apparatus including a processing block including at least one processing module that processes the substrates one by one and a transport unit that transports the substrate from a carrier to the processing block. Because
A storage medium for performing the substrate processing method according to any one of claims 7 to 12 .

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