KR20080040408A - Apparatus and method for sensing alignment state of substrate, and semiconductor manufacturing facility with the apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for detecting alignment of a substrate is provided to prevent a substrate from being damaged and broken by effectively detecting the position of a substrate during a fabricating process. A plurality of detecting sensors(112,114) emit an optical signal toward a transfer path(a) of a substrate(W). A control part(120) receives the data detected by each detecting sensor and judges the data. The control part calculates a difference between a point of time of the optical signal interfered by a substrate transferring along the transfer path and a point of time of the optical signal not interfered by the substrate to detect whether the substrate gets out of a predetermined position. The detection sensors can be disposed in a direction vertical to the transfer path of the substrate, installed at both sides of the substrate transferring along the transfer path. The control part determines whether the difference value detected by the detecting sensors gets out of the predetermined value.

Description

Substrate alignment sensing apparatus and method, and semiconductor manufacturing equipment having the same {APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SENSING ALIGNMENT STATE OF SUBSTRATE, AND SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING FACILITY WITH THE APPARATUS}

1 is a configuration diagram of a semiconductor manufacturing facility according to the present invention.

2 is an essential part perspective view of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention.

3 is a flow chart illustrating a method of detecting alignment of a substrate according to the present invention.

4A and 4B are diagrams for describing a process of measuring a first time of a substrate alignment sensing apparatus according to the present invention.

5A and 5B are diagrams for describing a process of measuring a second time of the substrate alignment sensing apparatus according to the present invention.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of detecting alignment of a substrate according to another embodiment of the present invention.

* Description of symbols on the main parts of the drawings *

1: semiconductor manufacturing equipment 100: substrate alignment detection device

10: load port 110: detection unit

22: fmp 120: control unit

24: load lock chamber

26: transfer chamber

30: process room

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for sensing an alignment state of a substrate, and a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus including the apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to detecting whether a position of a substrate deviates from a predetermined position during transfer of the semiconductor substrate. An apparatus and method, and a semiconductor manufacturing facility provided with the said apparatus are provided.

The semiconductor manufacturing process is a process for producing integrated circuit chips by performing various semiconductor processes such as deposition, etching, ion implantation, exposure, development, and cleaning on a wafer. As the semiconductor manufacturing process proceeds, a substrate transfer device, such as a robot arm, transfers wafers between processing devices that perform the above-described semiconductor processes, and each of the processing devices receives the wafer and transfers the wafer to a predetermined state on the wafer. Perform the semiconductor process.

At this time, the semiconductor manufacturing equipment should detect whether the wafer is aligned at a predetermined position before performing the process. If the wafer is not normally seated on the substrate transfer device and is not moved in the process of transferring the wafer, the wafer may be separated from the substrate transfer device and broken when the wafer is transferred. In particular, when the wafer leaves the predetermined position in the process of transferring the wafer to a process chamber such as a semiconductor processing process chamber, the wafer may collide with the surrounding equipment and be damaged, or the process yield may be increased due to a defect in wafer alignment during semiconductor processing. Degrades.

To prevent this, various sensing means are used in the semiconductor manufacturing facility to detect whether the substrate is out of position. The general sensing means detects the alignment of the wafer seated at a predetermined position by using a light emitting and a light receiving sensor or a light emitting sensor and a reflector. However, these sensing means were difficult to effectively detect the alignment of the wafer. In particular, it is difficult for the general sensing means to accurately determine whether the wafer is normally seated and moved to the substrate transfer apparatus while the substrate transfer apparatus fixedly positioned at the predetermined position transfers the wafer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a substrate alignment sensing apparatus and method for effectively detecting whether or not a substrate is located at a predetermined position, and a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus including the apparatus. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a substrate alignment sensing apparatus and method for sensing whether a substrate is normally seated and moved in a substrate transfer apparatus, and a semiconductor manufacturing equipment having the apparatus.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a substrate alignment sensing device and method for preventing breakage and damage of the substrate during transfer of the substrate, and a semiconductor manufacturing facility having the device.

Substrate alignment sensing device according to the present invention for achieving the above object is to receive a plurality of sensing sensors for emitting an optical signal toward the movement path of the substrate and the data sensed by each of the sensing sensors to determine the data And a controller, wherein the controller detects whether the substrate is out of a preset position by calculating a difference value between a time at which the optical signal is interfered by a substrate moving the movement path and a time at which the interference of the optical signal is released. do.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the detection sensors are disposed in a direction perpendicular to the movement path of the substrate, and are installed on the left and right with respect to the center of the substrate moving the movement path, and the controller detects the detection sensors. It is determined whether one difference value is out of a predetermined difference value.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the detection sensors are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the movement path of the substrate, and are installed symmetrically with respect to the center of the substrate moving the movement path, and the control unit is the detection sensors It is determined whether the difference values sensed by the left and right symmetric sensors are different from each other.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the substrate alignment sensing apparatus further includes a sensing sensor positioned at the center of the sensing sensors and emitting an optical signal toward the center of the substrate.

A method for detecting the alignment of a substrate according to the present invention for achieving the above object uses a plurality of sensing sensors for emitting an optical signal on the movement path of the substrate, when the substrate moves the movement path, Whether or not the position of the substrate is out of the predetermined position is determined by determining whether the difference value between the time at which the optical signal emitted by the sensors is interfered by the substrate and the time at which the interference is released is outside a predetermined difference value. Detect.

A method for detecting the alignment of the substrate according to the present invention for achieving the above object is to emit an optical signal on the movement path of the substrate and to center the center of the substrate moving the movement path in a direction perpendicular to the movement path. Using a plurality of sensing sensors arranged symmetrically with respect to the reference to detect whether the position of the substrate is out of the predetermined position, the detection of whether the position of the substrate is out of the predetermined position to determine the movement path of the substrate Computing a difference value between the time when the optical signal emitted by each of the detection sensors when the movement is interfered by the substrate and the time when the interference is released, the difference value of the left and right symmetry of the detection sensors This is done by determining whether it is different.

A semiconductor manufacturing facility for achieving the above object is a process chamber for performing a substrate processing process, a substrate transfer device for transferring and conveying a substrate to / from the process chamber, and a transfer and transfer to / from the process chamber by the substrate transfer apparatus. And a substrate alignment sensing device configured to detect whether the substrate is moved while satisfying a predetermined movement path of the substrate, wherein the substrate alignment detection device includes a plurality of detection sensors and an optical sensor that emit an optical signal toward the movement path. And a controller configured to detect whether the substrate is out of a predetermined position by calculating a difference value between a time when the optical signal is interfered by the substrate moving along a path and a time when the interference of the optical signal is released.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the sensing sensors are installed on the left and right with respect to the center of the substrate moving the movement path in a direction perpendicular to the movement path of the substrate, and the controller detects the difference detected by the detection sensors. It is determined whether the values deviate from the preset difference value.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the detection sensors are installed in the direction perpendicular to the movement path of the substrate, symmetrically with respect to the center of the substrate moving the movement path, and the control unit is mutually It is determined whether the difference values sensed by the left and right symmetrical sensors are different from each other.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, if it is detected whether the substrate is out of a predetermined position, the controller stops the substrate transfer of the substrate transfer apparatus.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein and may be embodied in other forms. Rather, the embodiments introduced herein are provided to ensure that the disclosed subject matter is thorough and complete, and that the spirit of the present invention to those skilled in the art will fully convey. Portions denoted by like reference numerals denote like elements throughout the specification.

(Example)

1 is a configuration diagram of a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a main perspective view of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention.

1 and 2, a semiconductor manufacturing facility 1 according to the present invention may include a load port 10, a substrate transfer member 20, and a process chamber. process room). The load port 10 is a table on which a cassette (C: Cassette) containing a plurality of semiconductor substrates (W: Wafer) is loaded and unloaded. At least one load port 10 is provided, and each load port 10 is disposed adjacent to the substrate transfer part 20.

The substrate transfer unit 20 transfers the substrate W between the cassette C mounted on the load port 10 and the process chamber 30. The substrate transfer unit 20 includes an equipment front end module (EFEM) 22, a load-lock chamber 24, and a transfer chamber 26. ). The YMP 22 transfers the substrate W between the cassette C and the load lock chamber 24. The YMP 22 has at least one robot arm 22a. The robot arm 22a transfers the substrate W in the cassette C seated at each load port 22 to the load lock chamber 24 in the ELF 22.

The load lock chamber 24 transfers the substrate W between the ELF 22 and the transfer chamber 26. The load lock chamber 24 includes a first chamber 24a and a second chamber 24b. The first chamber 24a transfers the substrate W from the ELF 22 to the transfer chamber 26, and the second chamber 24b transfers the substrate W from the transfer chamber 26 to the ELF 22. To return. The transfer chamber 26 transfers the substrate W between the load lock chamber 24 and the process chamber 30. The transfer chamber 26 has at least one substrate transfer device 26a. The substrate transfer device 26a transfers the substrate W from the first chamber 24a of the load lock chamber 24 to the process chamber 32 of each of the process chambers 30, or from each process chamber 32. The board | substrate w is conveyed to the 2nd chamber 24b. The substrate transfer device 26a has a blade 26a 'on which the substrate W is seated. The blade 26a 'is a means for seating and supporting the substrate W during the transfer of the substrate W. Here, the substrate transfer device 26a transfers the substrate W at a constant speed between the transfer chamber 26 and the process chamber 30. This is because the substrate alignment sensing apparatus 100 to be described later detects the position of the substrate W by measuring the time to detect the substrate (W), if the speed of the substrate (W) is not constant, the precise position of the substrate (W) This can't be detected.

The process chamber 30 performs a semiconductor process on the substrate W transferred from the substrate transfer unit 20. The process chamber 30 has at least one process chamber 32. Each process chamber 32 is disposed along the circumference of the transfer chamber 26. Between each process chamber 32 and the transfer chamber 26 is provided a substrate entrance 32a through which the substrate W enters and exits. The substrate W is transferred from the substrate transfer device 26a of the transfer chamber 26.

The substrate for sensing substrate 100 determines whether the substrate W is normally seated and moved on the blade 26a 'when the substrate transfer device 26a transfers the substrate W during the process. Detect. The substrate sensing apparatus 100 includes a sensing member 110 and a control member 120. The sensing unit 110 includes first and second sensing sensors 112 and 114. The first and second detection sensors 112 and 114 are disposed to be symmetrical with respect to the center axis X1 of the movement path a of the substrate W. Referring to FIG. In the process, the center of the substrate W is moved along the central axis X1. Each of the first and second detection sensors 112 and 114 emits an optical signal on the movement path a of the substrate W. That is, the first detection sensor 112 emits an optical signal to the first area a1 of the movement path a of the substrate W, and the second detection sensor 114 moves the movement path of the substrate W ( The optical signal is emitted to the second region a2 of a). At this time, the optical signal is preferably emitted in a vertical direction vertically. Each of the first and second detection sensors 112 and 114 is turned on when the emitted optical signal is interfered by the substrate W, and is turned off when the interference of the optical signal is released.

The controller 120 receives the data sensed by the detector 110 and controls the substrate transfer device 26a. That is, the controller 120 may determine the substrate according to the difference between the time when the first and second detection sensors 112 and 114 of the detector 110 are turned on and the time when the sensor 110 is turned off. After determining whether W) is normally moved along the transfer path a, the substrate transfer device 26a is controlled. A process of determining whether the controller 120 is out of position of the substrate W and a control process of the substrate transfer device 26a will be described later.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the sensing unit 110 includes first and second sensing sensors 112 and 114 that are symmetrical with respect to the central axis X1 to sense the substrate W. The arrangement, number, and installation of the sensors can be changed and modified in various ways. For example, the first and second detection sensors 112 and 114 may be arranged at different intervals based on the center line X1. This is because the first and second detection sensors 112 and 114 can normally detect the position of the substrate W even if they are not symmetrical with each other. In addition, the sensing unit 110 may include a greater number of sensing sensors. For example, the sensing unit 110 may install a plurality of sensing sensors in a direction of a vertical line X2 perpendicular to the center line X1.

In addition, in the present exemplary embodiment, the sensing unit 110 having at least two or more sensing sensors has been described as an example, but only one sensing sensor may sense the position of the substrate W. FIG. However, since the sensing unit 110 having one sensing sensor may be inferior in the accuracy of sensing the substrate W, it may be preferable to use at least two or more sensing sensors.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the substrate alignment sensing apparatus 100 may transfer and transport the substrate W between the substrate transfer unit 20 and the process chamber 30 by the substrate transfer device 26a of the transfer chamber 26. When the position of the substrate W is sensed as an example, the substrate sensing apparatus 100 may sense the position of the substrate W moved to various places by various kinds of substrate transfer means. For example, the substrate detecting apparatus 100 may be provided at one side of the EGP 22 to detect a position of the substrate W moved between the cassette C and the load lock chamber 24 by the robot arm 22a. Can be.

Hereinafter, a process of sensing the substrate W by the substrate alignment sensing apparatus 100 having the above-described configuration will be described in detail. Here, the same reference numerals for the same components as the above-described components are the same, and detailed description of the components is omitted.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a substrate sensing method according to the present invention. 4A and 4B are diagrams for describing a process of measuring a first time of a substrate sensing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams of measuring a second time of the substrate sensing apparatus according to the present invention. Figures for explaining the process.

Referring to FIG. 3, when the substrate processing process according to the present invention is started, the cassette C is seated in the load port 10. When the cassette C is seated in the load port 10, the robot arm 22a of the RFB 22 moves the substrate W from the cassette C to the first chamber 24a of the load lock chamber 24. Transfer. Then, the substrate transfer device 26a of the transfer chamber 26 transfers the substrate W from the first chamber 24a to the process chamber 30 (S110). In this case, the substrate sensing apparatus 100 may determine whether the position of the substrate W is normally seated and moved to the blade 26a ′ of the substrate transfer device 26a before the substrate W is loaded into the process chamber 32. The process of sensing the substrate W by the substrate sensing apparatus 100 is as follows.

The controller 120 of the substrate alignment sensing apparatus 100 may include a time when the first detection sensor 112 is turned on and a time when the second detection sensor 114 is turned on (hereinafter, referred to as “first”. Time) is measured (S120). That is, referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, in the process of bringing the substrate W into the process chamber 32 through the substrate entrance 32a, the substrate W may be the first and second detection sensors 112 and 114. When approaching the optical signal emitting region, the optical signal emitted by the first and second detection sensors 112 and 114 is blocked by the substrate (W). In this case, each of the first detection sensor 112 and the second detection sensor 114 is turned on, and the control unit 120 has the first and second detection sensors 112 and 114 turned on. Measure the time taken.

In addition, the controller 120 measures a time (hereinafter, referred to as a “second time”) at which the first and second detection sensors 112 and 114 are turned off (S130). That is, referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, when the transfer of the substrate W proceeds to move out of the optical signal emitting regions of the first and second detection sensors 112 and 114, the first and second detection sensors Interference of the optical signal emitted by 112 and 114 is canceled. In this case, the first and second detection sensors 112 and 114 are turned off, and the controller 120 sets a second time at which each of the first and second detection sensors 112 and 114 is turned off. Measure

The controller 120 calculates a difference between the first time and the second time to determine whether the difference deviates from a preset difference (S140). That is, the controller 120 calculates the difference between the first time and the second time of the first detection sensor 112 and the difference between the first time and the second time of the second detection sensor 114, and It is determined whether the difference value of each of the first and second detection sensors 112 and 114 is out of the preset difference value.

If at least one of the calculated difference values of the first and second detection sensors 112 and 114 is out of a predetermined difference value, the substrate W may be determined to move out of the movement path a. Can be. Accordingly, the controller 120 determines that the position of the substrate W is out of the predetermined position and stops the transfer of the substrate W of the substrate transfer apparatus 26a. In addition, the controller 120 generates an alarm so that an operator can recognize this.

In the above-described embodiment, the control unit 120 determines whether the difference value of each of the first and second detection sensors 112 and 114 is out of a predetermined difference value so that the substrate W of the substrate transfer device 26a is determined. Although the control of the transfer has been described as an example, various methods may be applied to the control unit 120 to determine whether the position of the substrate W deviates from a preset position. For example, referring to FIG. 6, in the method of detecting a substrate according to another embodiment of the present invention, the controller 120 determines whether the difference between the first detection sensor 112 and the difference between the second detection sensor 114 are the same. It is determined whether the position of the substrate W deviates from the preset position by determining whether it is. That is, the first detection sensor 112 and the second detection sensor 114 are symmetrical to each other based on the central axis X1. Therefore, when the center of the substrate (W) is moved along the central axis (X1), the difference between the first time and the second time of the first sensor 112 and the first time of the second sensor 114 and The difference values of the second time become equal to each other. Therefore, the controller 120 determines whether the difference value calculated by the first detection sensor 112 and the difference value calculated by the second detection sensor 114 are different from each other to determine the position of the substrate W. The substrate transfer device 26a can be controlled.

As described above, the substrate alignment sensing apparatus 100 and the method according to the present invention, and the semiconductor manufacturing equipment 1 including the apparatus 100, may determine whether the position of the substrate W is out of the predetermined position during the process. You can effectively detect whether or not. In particular, the present invention determines whether or not the substrate (W) is out of the predetermined position of the substrate transfer means in the process of transferring the substrate (W) to a specific place by a substrate transfer means such as a robot arm Prevents damage and breakage of the substrate.

The foregoing detailed description illustrates the present invention. In addition, the foregoing description merely shows and describes preferred embodiments of the present invention, and the present invention can be used in various other combinations, modifications, and environments. That is, changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the concept of the invention disclosed in this specification, the scope equivalent to the disclosed contents, and / or the skill or knowledge in the art. The above-described embodiments are for explaining the best state in carrying out the present invention, the use of other inventions such as the present invention in other state known in the art, and the specific fields of application and uses of the present invention. Various changes are also possible. Accordingly, the detailed description of the invention is not intended to limit the invention to the disclosed embodiments. Also, the appended claims should be construed to include other embodiments.

As described above, the substrate alignment sensing apparatus and method according to the present invention, and the semiconductor manufacturing equipment including the apparatus can effectively detect the position of the substrate during the process to prevent damage and breakage of the substrate. In particular, the substrate alignment sensing apparatus and method according to the present invention, and the semiconductor manufacturing equipment including the apparatus effectively detects whether the substrate is normally seated in the substrate transfer apparatus, thereby preventing breakage and damage of the substrate during transfer of the substrate. do.

Claims (10)

In the apparatus for detecting the alignment of the substrate, A plurality of sensing sensors emitting optical signals toward a moving path of the substrate, It includes a control unit for receiving the data sensed by each of the detection sensors to determine the data, The control unit, Detecting whether the substrate is out of a predetermined position by calculating a difference between a time at which the optical signal is interfered by the substrate moving along the movement path and a time at which the interference of the optical signal is released. Device. The method of claim 1, The detection sensors, It is disposed in a direction perpendicular to the movement path of the substrate, is installed on the left and right with respect to the center of the substrate moving the movement path, The control unit, And determining whether the difference values detected by the detection sensors deviate from a predetermined difference value. The method of claim 1, The detection sensors, It is disposed in a direction perpendicular to the movement path of the substrate, is installed symmetrically with respect to the center of the substrate moving the movement path, The control unit, Substrate alignment sensing device, characterized in that for determining whether the difference value detected by the left and right symmetrical detection sensors of the detection sensors are different from each other. The method of claim 2 or 3, The substrate alignment detection device, And a sensing sensor positioned at the center of the sensing sensors and emitting an optical signal toward the center of the substrate. In the method for detecting the alignment of the substrate, By using a plurality of sensing sensors that emit an optical signal on the movement path of the substrate, when the substrate moves the movement path, the time and interference that the optical signal emitted by each of the sensing sensors interfere with the substrate are interfered with. And detecting whether the position of the substrate deviates from the predetermined position by determining whether the difference with the time released is out of the predetermined difference value. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of detecting alignment of a substrate based on a center of a substrate that emits an optical signal on a movement path of the substrate and moves the movement path in a direction perpendicular to the movement path. Using a plurality of sensing sensors arranged symmetrically to detect whether the position of the substrate is out of the predetermined position, Detecting whether the position of the substrate is out of a predetermined position, The optical signal emitted by each of the sensing sensors when the movement path of the substrate is moved is calculated by calculating a difference value between the time when the interference is caused by the substrate and the time when the interference is released, and thus the left and right symmetry of the detection sensors And determining whether the difference values of the detection sensors are different. In a semiconductor manufacturing facility, A process chamber performing a substrate processing process, A substrate transfer device for transferring and conveying substrates to / from the process chamber; And a substrate alignment sensing device configured to detect whether or not the substrate, which is transferred and conveyed to / from the process chamber by the substrate transfer apparatus, is satisfied while satisfying a movement path of a predetermined substrate. The substrate alignment detection device, A plurality of sensing sensors emitting optical signals toward the movement paths; And a controller configured to detect whether the substrate is out of a predetermined position by calculating a difference between a time at which the optical signal is interfered by the substrate moving along the movement path and a time at which the interference of the optical signal is released. Semiconductor manufacturing equipment. The method of claim 7, wherein The detection sensors, In the direction perpendicular to the movement path of the substrate, the left and right are installed on the basis of the center of the substrate moving the movement path, The control unit, And determining whether the difference values detected by the detection sensors deviate from a preset difference value. The method of claim 8, The detection sensors, In a direction perpendicular to the movement path of the substrate, the left and right symmetry is installed with respect to the center of the substrate moving the movement path, The control unit, And determining whether the difference values sensed by the left and right symmetrical sensing sensors are different from each other. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 9, The control unit, And if it is detected whether the substrate is out of a predetermined position, stopping the substrate transfer of the substrate transfer apparatus.

Images