Patent ID: 6592932
Filing Date: 2003-07-15
Classification: G03F,H01L

Abstract:
A method for applying a developer with a multiple tip nozzle onto a photoresist material layer disposed on a substrate to provide a uniformly thick layer of developer material, the developer material being spincoated onto the substrate by a rotating chuck coupled to a motor to provide the layer of developer material, the method comprising the steps of:spinning the photoresist material layer at a predetermined speed; moving the nozzle to a first position offset from a central region of the photoresist material layer and applying a first position predetermined volume of developer material; moving the nozzle to a second position offset from a central region of the photoresist material layer on an opposite side of the central region with respect to the first position and applying a second position predetermined volume of developer material; spin coating the substrate until the developer material forms a layer on the photoresist material layer; stopping the spinning of the substrate until the developer material develops the photoresist material; measuring the thickness of the developed photoresist material layer at a variety of areas on the photoresist material layer and generating data based on the measurements; determining the thickness uniformity of the developed photoresist material layer based on the data; and adjusting one of the first position, second position, the first position predetermined volume and the second position predetermined volume.