Patent ID: 7445689
Filing Date: 2008-11-04
Classification: H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A substrate processing system comprising: a plurality of first processing units that number N, each adapted to process a substrate by a first treatment with a first processing fluid, where N is a natural number not less than 3; at least one second processing unit adapted to process the substrates; and a supply device adapted to generate the first processing fluid to be supplied to the first processing units, the supply device having a capacity of supplying the first processing fluid to only N−n of the first processing units simultaneously at respective supply rates, each supply rate complying with a demand for appropriately performing the first process in each of the N−n first processing units, where n is a natural number and N−n is not less than 2; and a substrate conveyer adapted to convey the substrates and to load and unload the substrates into and from the first and second processing units; and a controller that controls a timing of loading of the substrates into the first processing units by the substrate conveyer so as to avoid a case where more than N−n of the first processing units are simultaneously carrying out the first treatment with each using the first processing fluid, wherein the supply device is configured to generate the first processing fluid by converting at least one source fluid supplied to the supply device, wherein the controller is configured to control the substrate conveyer so that the conveyer loads the substrates into the first processing units by turns at T/(N−n) intervals according to a predetermined loading schedule, where T is a time period necessary for carrying out the first treatment in each of the first processing units by using the first processing fluid, wherein the controller is configured so that if any error or abnormality in the first treatment occurs in one of the first processing units, the controller changes the loading schedule such that the substrate conveyer loads the substrates into the first processing units other than said one of the first processing units after the error or abnormality, and the timing at which the substrate conveyer loads substrates into the first processing units is delayed after the error or abnormality occurs and wherein the controller is configured to change the loading schedule by setting a lengthened interval only between successive loadings of substrates into two of the first processing units, while intervals between loadings of substrates into any two of the first processing units other than said two of the first processing units are kept unchanged.