Patent ID: 9136150
Filing Date: 2015-09-15
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A substrate processing apparatus for processing a substrate while transferring the substrate between modules, comprising: a substrate transport mechanism including a substrate holder for holding a substrate and which is movable laterally for transfer of the substrate between modules; a plurality of modules from which the substrate holder receives a substrate; a sensor section for detecting a displacement of the holding position of a substrate, held by the substrate holder, from a reference position preset in the substrate holder; a storage section for storing the displacement, detected when the substrate holder receives a substrate from each of the modules, in a chronological manner for each module; an estimation section for estimating a failure of one of the modules or the substrate transport mechanism based on the chronological data on the displacement for each module, stored in the storage section, and a control means which, based on the results of estimation in the estimation section, outputs a control signal to control the operation of the substrate transport mechanism, wherein the plurality of modules includes an adjustment module and when a failure of the substrate transport mechanism is estimated in the estimation section, the control means outputs a control signal to cause the substrate transport mechanism to transfer a substrate to the adjustment module, and then receive the substrate from the adjustment module, and wherein the control means, based on the difference between the displacement detected before transfer of the substrate to the adjustment module and the displacement detected after receipt of the substrate from the adjustment module, changes the position of the substrate holder on receipt of a substrate from each module from a preset first position to a second position.