Imprint apparatus and method of manufacturing article

The present invention provides an imprint apparatus which forms a pattern in an imprint material on a shot region of a substrate by using a mold, the apparatus comprising a stage that can move while holding the substrate, and a control unit configured to control relative positions of the mold and the shot region so as to reduce a shift in the relative positions caused by tilting the stage when bringing the mold and the imprint material into contact with each other, based on a contacting force of bringing the mold and the imprint material into contact with each other, and a distance from a reference position of the substrate to the shot region.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an imprint apparatus and a method of manufacturing an article.

Description of the Related Art

An imprint apparatus which forms a pattern in an imprint material supplied onto a substrate by using a mold has received attention as one of lithography apparatuses for mass-producing semiconductor devices, magnetic storage media, and the like. The imprint apparatus controls alignment between the mold and the substrate in a state in which the mold and the imprint material are in contact with each other in order to overlay a pattern region of the mold and a shot region of the substrate (refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-522412). The alignment can be controlled, based on, for example, detection results of marks provided in the pattern region and the shot region, respectively, such that the relative positions of the mold and the substrate fall within the allowable range of target relative positions.

The imprint apparatus cures the imprint material in the state in which the mold and the imprint material are in contact with each other after completion of alignment between the mold and the substrate. Then, the pattern is formed in the imprint material on the substrate by separating the mold from the cured imprint material.

When the imprint apparatus brings the mold and the imprint material on the shot region into contact with each other, a stage which holds the substrate may tilt by a force of bringing the mold and the imprint material into contact with each other, and the relative positions of the mold and the shot region may shift. In this case, it may take a considerable time to restore the shifted relative positions of the mold and the shot region because the relative positions of the mold and the shot region fluctuate slowly due to the viscosity of the imprint material even if the tilt of the stage is restored.

Additionally, when the imprint apparatus separates the mold from the cured imprint material, the stage may tilt by a force (separating force) of separating the mold from the imprint material and the relative positions of the mold and the substrate may shift. In this case, a pattern of the mold and the pattern formed in the imprint material may be damaged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides, for example, an imprint apparatus advantageous in reducing a shift in the relative positions of a mold and a substrate caused by the tilt of a stage which holds the substrate.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an imprint apparatus which forms a pattern in an imprint material on a shot region of a substrate by using a mold, the apparatus comprising: a stage that can move while holding the substrate; and a control unit configured to control relative positions of the mold and the shot region so as to reduce a shift in the relative positions caused by tilting the stage when bringing the mold and the imprint material into contact with each other, based on a contacting force of bringing the mold and the imprint material into contact with each other, and a distance from a reference position of the substrate to the shot region.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the same reference numerals denote the same members throughout the drawings, and a repetitive description thereof will not be given.

First Embodiment

An imprint apparatus100according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. The imprint apparatus100is used to manufacture a semiconductor device or the like and performs an imprint process of forming a pattern in an imprint material11on a shot region of a substrate3by using a mold6. For example, the imprint apparatus100cures the imprint material11(resin) in a state in which the mold6and the imprint material11on the shot region are in contact with each other. Then, the imprint apparatus100can form the pattern made of the imprint material11on the shot region by widening the spacing between the mold6and the substrate3, and separating (releasing) the mold6from the cured imprint material11. A method of curing the imprint material11includes a heat cycle method using heat and a photo-curing method using light. In the first embodiment, an example of adopting the photo-curing method will be described. The photo-curing method is a method of curing the imprint material11by supplying an uncured ultraviolet-curing resin as the imprint material11onto the shot region, and irradiating the imprint material11with ultraviolet rays in the state in which the mold6and the imprint material11are in contact with each other.

FIG. 1is a schematic view showing the imprint apparatus100according to the first embodiment. The imprint apparatus100can include an imprint head7, a substrate stage4, a curing unit8, a supply unit5, a measurement unit9, and a control unit10. A structure1supports the imprint head7, the curing unit8, the supply unit5, and the measurement unit9. The substrate stage4is configured to be movable on a surface plate2. The control unit10includes, for example, a CPU and a memory, and controls the imprint process (controls the respective units of the imprint apparatus100).

The mold6is generally made of a material such as quartz capable of transmitting ultraviolet rays. A three-dimensional pattern for molding the imprint material11on the substrate is formed in a partial region (pattern region6a) on a substrate-side surface. The substrate3is, for example, a single-crystal silicon substrate or a glass substrate. The supply unit5supplies the imprint material11onto the upper surface (surface to be processed) of the substrate3.

In the imprint process, the curing unit8irradiates the imprint material11on the shot region with light (ultraviolet rays) which cures the imprint material11through the mold6and cures the imprint material11. The curing unit8can include, for example, a light source which emits light to cure the imprint material11and an optical element for adjusting light emitted from the light source to light suitable for the imprint process. The light source which emits the ultraviolet rays is provided in the curing unit8because the photo-curing method is adopted in the first embodiment. However, when adopting, for example, the heat cycle method, a heat source for setting a thermosetting resin serving as the imprint material11can be provided instead of the light source.

The measurement unit9detects the positional shift between an alignment mark provided for the pattern region6aof the mold6and an alignment mark provided for the shot region of the substrate3, and measures the relative positions of the pattern region6aand the shot region. The supply unit5supplies (applies) the imprint material11(uncured resin) onto the shot region of the substrate3. In the imprint apparatus100according to the first embodiment, the supply unit5supplies, as the imprint material11, an ultraviolet-curing resin having the property of curing by ultraviolet irradiation onto the shot region.

The imprint head7can include, for example, a mold holding unit7awhich holds the mold6by a vacuum suction force, an electrostatic force, or the like and a mold driving unit7bwhich drives the mold holding unit7ain a Z direction. Each of the mold holding unit7aand the mold driving unit7bhas an opening region in its central portion (interior), and is configured so that light from the curing unit8passes through the opening region and irradiates the imprint material11on the substrate through the mold6. The imprint head7may have not only a function of driving the mold6in the Z direction but also an adjustment function of adjusting the position of the mold6in X and Y directions and a θ direction (a rotation direction about a Z-axis), a tilt function of correcting the tilt of the mold6, and the like.

The substrate stage4includes, for example, a substrate chuck4awhich holds the substrate3by the vacuum suction force, the electrostatic force, or the like and a substrate driving unit4bconfigured to be movable on the surface plate2while mechanically holding the substrate chuck4a, and positions the substrate3in the X and Y directions. The substrate stage4may have not only a function of driving the substrate3in the X and Y directions but also an adjustment function of adjusting the position of the substrate3in the Z direction and the θ direction, a tilt function of correcting the tilt of the substrate3, and the like. In the imprint apparatus100according to the first embodiment, the substrate stage4performs an operation of changing the relative positions of the mold6and the substrate3in the X and Y directions. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The imprint head7may perform that operation or both of the substrate stage4and the imprint head7may relatively perform that operation. Furthermore, in the imprint apparatus100according to the first embodiment, the imprint head7performs an operation of changing the distance (Z direction) between the mold6and the substrate3. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The substrate stage4may perform that operation or both of the imprint head7and the substrate stage4may relatively perform that operation. That is, at least one of the mold driving unit7band the substrate driving unit4bmay be used as a driving unit which drives at least one of the mold6and the substrate3so as to bring the mold6and the imprint material11into contact with each other.

An example of the arrangement of the substrate stage4will now be described with reference toFIGS. 2A and 2B. Each ofFIGS. 2A and 2Bis a view showing the example of the arrangement of the substrate stage4.FIG. 2Ais the view showing the substrate stage4when viewed from the Z direction.FIG. 2Bis the sectional view taken along A-A′ inFIG. 2A. The substrate driving unit4bof the substrate stage4can include, for example, an X stage4b1(first stage) and a Y stage4b2(second stage). The X stage4b1is configured to be movable on the surface plate2in the first direction (for example, the X direction). On the other hand, the Y stage4b2supports the substrate chuck4aand configured, by a static pressure guide (not shown), to be movable on the X stage4b1in the second direction (for example, the Y direction) different from the first direction. The thus configured substrate driving unit4bcan move the Y stage4b2and the substrate chuck4a(substrate3) in the X direction by driving the X stage4b1in the X direction. The substrate driving unit4bcan also move the substrate chuck4a(substrate3) in the Y direction by driving the Y stage4b2in the Y direction. That is, the substrate driving unit4bcan move the substrate3in the X and Y directions by driving the X stage4b1in the X direction and driving the Y stage4b2in the Y direction.

The X stage4b1is positioned by the static pressure guide so as to generate a gap by a predetermined amount with respect to the surface plate2and is driven by a first driving unit4b3on the surface plate2in the X direction. The first driving unit4b3can include, for example, a linear motor which includes a movable element4b31including a permanent magnet and a stator4b32including a plurality of coils arrayed in the X direction. The first driving unit4b3can drive the X stage4b1in the X direction by controlling current to be supplied to the plurality of coils in the stator4b32to move the movable element4b31along the stator4b32. A first detection unit4b4constituted by, for example, an encoder or an interferometer can detect the position of the X stage4b1in the X direction. In the example shown inFIGS. 2A and 2B, an encoder including a scale4b41and a head4b42which obtains the position of the X stage4b1in the X direction by light from the scale4b41is provided as the first detection unit4b4.

On the other hand, the Y stage4b2is positioned by the static pressure guide so as to generate a gap by a predetermined amount with respect to the X stage4b1and is driven by a second driving unit4b5on the X stage4b1in the Y direction. As shown inFIG. 2B, the second driving unit4b5can include, for example, a linear motor which includes a movable element4b51including a permanent magnet and a stator4b52including a plurality of coils arrayed in the Y direction. The second driving unit4b5can drive the Y stage4b2in the Y direction by controlling current to be supplied to the plurality of coils in the stator4b52to move the movable element4b51along the stator4b52. A second detection unit4b6constituted by, for example, an encoder or an interferometer can detect the position of the Y stage4b2in the Y direction. In the example shown inFIGS. 2A and 2B, an encoder including a scale4b61and a head4b62which obtains the position of the Y stage4b2in the Y direction by light from the scale4b61is provided as the second detection unit4b6.

[Imprint Process for Each Shot Region]

An operation sequence of performing the imprint process on each of the plurality of shot regions on the substrate3will now be described with reference toFIG. 3.FIG. 3is a flowchart showing the operation sequence of performing the imprint process on each of the plurality of shot regions.

In step S101, the control unit10controls the substrate stage4to arrange the shot region targeted for performing the imprint process (to be referred to as a target shot region3ahereinafter) under the supply unit5and controls the supply unit5to supply the imprint material11to the target shot region3a. The supply unit5may supply the imprint material11to the target shot region3awithout changing the positional relationship between the target shot region3aand the supply unit5or while relatively scanning the target shot region3aand the supply unit5. In step S102, the control unit10controls the substrate stage4to arrange the target shot region3abelow the pattern region6aof the mold6. In step S103, the control unit10controls the imprint head7to narrow the spacing between the mold6and the substrate3, thereby bringing the mold6and the imprint material11on the target shot region3ainto contact with each other. Then, the control unit10generates a force (contacting force) of bringing the mold6and the imprint material11into contact with each other in the mold driving unit7bof the imprint head7so as to fill in every corner of the pattern of the mold6with the imprint material11. The force of bringing the mold6and the imprint material11into contact with each other is, for example, a force of pressing the mold6against the imprint material11and will be referred to as a pressing force hereinafter. The control unit10releases the pressing force in the mold driving unit7bafter a lapse of a predetermined time in a state in which the pressing force is generated in the mold driving unit7b. The pressing force at this time may not completely be zero but may remain slightly.

In step S104, the control unit10performs alignment between the mold6and the substrate3based on a measurement result by the measurement unit9. For example, the control unit10causes the measurement unit9to detect the positional shift between the alignment marks that have been formed in the pattern region6aand the target shot region3a, respectively. The control unit10causes the measurement unit9to measure the relative positions of the pattern region6aand the target shot region3abased on detection results of the respective alignment marks. Then, the control unit10performs, based on the measurement result by the measurement unit9, feedback control of the relative positions of the mold6and the substrate3such that the deviation between target relative positions and the relative positions measured by the measurement unit9falls within an allowable range. In step S105, the control unit10controls the curing unit8to irradiate the imprint material11in contact with the mold6with light (ultraviolet rays), thereby curing the imprint material11. In step S106, the control unit10controls the imprint head7to widen the spacing between the mold6and the substrate3, thereby separating (releasing) the mold6from the cured imprint material11. In step S107, the control unit10determines whether there is the shot region (next shot region) to which the pattern of the mold6is to be transferred onto the substrate continuously. If there is the next shot region, the process advances to step S101. If there is not the next shot region, the process ends.

[Shift in Relative Positions of Mold and Target Shot Region]

In the imprint apparatus, the relative positions (X and Y directions) of the mold6and the target shot region3amay shift when the substrate stage4(Y stage4b2) tilts by the pressing force in a step (step S103) of bringing the mold6and the imprint material11into contact with each other. The behavior of the substrate stage4when bringing the mold6and the imprint material11into contact with each other will now be described with reference toFIGS. 4A and 4B, andFIG. 5. Each ofFIGS. 4A and 4Bis a conceptual view of the substrate stage4for explaining the behavior of the substrate stage4in the step of bringing the mold6and the imprint material11into contact with each other. In the conceptual view of the substrate stage4shown in each ofFIGS. 4A and 4B, each static pressure guide is represented by a spring symbol for the sake of simplicity, and the X stage4b1and the Y stage4b2which are arranged horizontally via a static pressure guide41represented by the spring symbol are shown. Each static pressure guide42on the surface plate2is represented by the spring symbol and wheels, has a spring characteristic only in the Z direction, and can move freely in the X and Y directions.FIG. 5is a sectional view (a sectional view taken along A-A′ inFIG. 2A) of the substrate stage4in the step of bringing the mold6and the imprint material11into contact with each other.

For example, the target shot region3ais arranged away from the reference position (for example, the center) of the substrate3by a distance L in a +X direction, as shown inFIG. 4A. InFIG. 4A, assume that there is no initial positional shift between a mark3bof the target shot region3aand a mark6bof the mold6in the x direction, for the sake of clarity. In this case, if a pressing force Fz (a force which brings the mold6and the imprint material11into contact with each other) is applied from a state shown inFIG. 4A, the Y stage4b2tilts in a θY direction by the pressing force Fz, as shown inFIG. 4BandFIG. 5. As a result, the mark3bof the target shot region3aand the mark6bof the mold6can relatively shift in the X direction even if feedback control of the position of the X stage4b1in the X direction is performed based on the result of the detection by the first detection unit4b4. That is, the relative positions of the mold6and the target shot region3ain the X direction may shift. The imprint material11before being cured in this state has a viscoelasticity characteristic with both characteristics of a spring characteristic and a viscosity, and a shearing force can be generated there. For this reason, a force (the reaction force of the shearing force) in a −X direction from the imprint material11acts on the target shot region3a(substrate3) due to the spring characteristic of the imprint material11. That is, a force of shifting the relative positions of the mold6and the substrate3acts on them. However, the static pressure guide41is being stretched because the position of the X stage4b1is controlled by the detection result of the first detection unit4b4, as described above. Therefore, even if the pressing force Fz is released to restore the tilt of the Y stage4b2, the shearing force may change due to the viscosity of the imprint material11, and the relative positions of the mold6and the target shot region3amay fluctuate slowly. Therefore, it may take a considerable time to settle the relative positions of the mold6and the target shot region3a.

To cope with this, the imprint apparatus100according to the first embodiment controls the relative positions of the mold6and the target shot region3aso as to reduce a shift in the relative positions (X and Y directions) of the mold6and the target shot region3awhen bringing the mold6and the imprint material11into contact with each other. The relative positions of the mold6and the target shot region3acan be controlled based on the pressing force Fz and the distance L from the reference position of the substrate3to the target shot region3a. Furthermore, the relative positions may be controlled while the mold6and the imprint material11are in contact with each other by applying the pressing force Fz to the mold driving unit, that is, while the pattern of the mold6is filled with the imprint material11. The imprint apparatus100can bring the mold6and the imprint material11into contact with each other so as to increase a contact area gradually or to fill the pattern concave portion of the mold6with the imprint material11gradually. The reference position can be a position on the substrate where the tilt of the substrate stage4becomes smallest when bringing the mold6into contact with the imprint material11. The reference position can be set, for example, in the barycenter of the substrate3. The reference position may also be set in the center of the substrate3.

[Control of Relative Positions of Mold and Target Shot Region]

Control of the relative positions of the mold6and the target shot region3ain the X direction in the imprint apparatus100according to the first embodiment will now be described with reference toFIG. 6.FIG. 6is a block diagram for explaining control of the relative positions of the mold6and the target shot region3ain the imprint apparatus100according to the first embodiment. The control unit10includes a subtracter10a, a compensator10b, a corrector10c, and a main controller10dinFIG. 6.

In step S103, the subtracter10aobtains the deviation between the position of the X stage4b1detected by the first detection unit4b4and the target position of the X stage4b1supplied from the main controller10d. The compensator10bdetermines a command value for driving the X stage4b1and supplies the determined command value to the first driving unit4b3such that the deviation supplied from the subtracter10afalls within an allowable range. The first driving unit4b3includes, for example, a current driver which supplies the current to the coils included in the stator4b32, supplies the current to the coils of the stator4b32in accordance with the command value supplied from the compensator10b, and generates a thrust for driving the X stage4b1in the X direction. The control unit10thus performs feedback control of the position of the substrate stage4(X stage4b1) in the X direction. That is, the control unit10performs feedback control for keeping the deviation between the target relative positions and the relative positions of the mold6and the substrate3within the allowable range. That is, the imprint apparatus100can reduce a relative positional shift (positional shift) in a direction (for example, a horizontal direction) intersecting a direction in which the pressing force is applied by moving the pattern of the mold6and the target shot region formed on the substrate3relatively within the X-Y plane.

Also in step S103described above, the main controller10dsupplies a signal (for example a current) for bringing the mold6and the imprint material11into contact with each other to the mold driving unit7b(imprint head7), thereby bringing the mold6and the imprint material11into contact with each other. Then, the main controller10dsupplies a signal for generating the pressing force Fz in the imprint head7to the mold driving unit7bwhile gradually bringing the mold6and the imprint material11into contact with each other.

The control unit10corrects, by the corrector10c, the relative positional shift caused by tilting the substrate stage4. The corrector10cobtains the relative positional shift caused by tilting the substrate stage4(Y stage4b2) when bringing the mold6and the imprint material11into contact with each other, and supplies a correction value for correcting the relative positional shift to the subtracter10a. More specifically, the X stage4b1is moved in the −X direction for correction. With this movement, the shift in the relative positions of the mold6and the substrate3in the X direction (horizontal direction) is reduced though the tilt of the Y stage4b2is unchanged. This makes it possible to reduce the shearing force which acts on the imprint material11.

The relative positional shift is in proportional to, for example, the pressing force Fz and the distance L from the reference position of the substrate3to the target shot region3a. Therefore, the corrector10cmay obtain, based on information (a formula or a table) indicating the relationship of the shift in the relative positions (horizontal direction) with respect to the pressing force Fz and the distance L, the pressing force Fz and the shift in the relative positions (correction value) from the distance L. The information can be acquired in advance by a simulation, an experiment, or the like. The subtracter10aadds the thus obtained correction value to the deviation between the target position and the current position of the X stage4b1. The compensator10bdetermines, based on value obtained by adding the correction value to the deviation, the command value for driving the X stage4b1. That is, in step S103, feed-forward control for correcting the relative positional shift caused by tilting the substrate stage4is sequentially performed in parallel with feedback control based on the result of the detection by the first detection unit4b4.

The pressing force Fz can be obtained by, for example, multiplying a signal value to be supplied to the mold driving unit7bby a constant (thrust constant) indicating a force generated by the mold driving unit7bwhen supplying the signal value of a unit quantity. Also, a sensor (for example, a force sensor, a load cell, or a strain gauge) which detects the force generated by the mold driving unit7bmay be provided to obtain the pressing force Fz based on a result of a detection by the sensor. In the imprint apparatus100according to the first embodiment, the relative positional shift is corrected by moving the substrate stage4(X stage4b1) in the horizontal direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The relative positional shift may be corrected by, for example, moving the imprint head7in the horizontal direction.

As described above, the imprint apparatus100according to the first embodiment controls the relative positions of the mold6and the target shot region3abased on the pressing force Fz and the distance L in the step of bringing the mold6and the imprint material11into contact with each other. This makes it possible to reduce the shearing force generated when bringing the mold6and the imprint material11into contact with each other. That is, it is possible to reduce the shift in the relative positions of the mold6and the target shot region3acaused by tilting the substrate stage4when bringing the mold6and the imprint material11into contact with each other. That is, since fluctuations in the relative positions of the mold6and the target shot region3athat occur when releasing the pressing force Fz can be reduced, it is possible to shorten a time required to settle the relative positions of the mold and the shot region, and to increase throughput.

Second Embodiment

In a step (step S106) of separating (releasing) a mold6from a cured imprint material11, an imprint apparatus100causes a mold driving unit7bof an imprint head7to generate a force (separating force) of separating the mold6from the cured imprint material11. Therefore, also in step S106, a substrate stage4(Y stage4b2) may tilt by the separating force. At this time, a force of shifting the relative positions of the mold6and a substrate3can act on them. Note that the separating force is an opposite force from a pressing force for separating the mold6from the cured imprint material11and is also referred to as a releasing force.

Each ofFIGS. 7A and 7Bis a conceptual view of the substrate stage4for explaining the behavior of the substrate stage4in the step of separating the mold6from the cured imprint material11.FIG. 7Ashows a state immediately after the imprint material11is cured.FIG. 7Bshows a state immediately before a separating force Fz′ acts to start separating the mold6from the cured imprint material11. Since the imprint material11is cured inFIG. 7B, a mark3bof a target shot region3aand a mark6bof the mold6shift in an X direction much less than inFIG. 4Beven if the substrate stage4(Y stage4b2) tilts by the separating force Fz′. However, a static pressure guide41is being compressed because of a shearing force that acts on the imprint material11, and a force of shifting the relative positions of the mold6and the substrate3may act on them. If the relative positions of the mold6and the substrate3shift as a result of this, the pattern of the mold6and a pattern formed in the imprint material11may be damaged.

To prevent this, the imprint apparatus according to the second embodiment controls the relative positions of the mold6and the target shot region3a(substrate3) so as to reduce the shift in the relative positions (X and Y directions) of them when separating the mold6from the cured imprint material11. The relative positions of the mold6and the target shot region3acan be controlled based on the separating force Fz′ and a distance L from the reference position of the substrate3to the target shot region3a.

In the second embodiment, a control unit10also corrects, by a corrector10c, the relative positional shift caused by tilting the substrate stage4in step S106as in step S103. At this time, the corrector10cmay obtain a correction value based on information indicating the relationship of the shift in the relative positions (horizontal direction) with respect to the pressing force Fz′ and the distance L instead of information indicating the relationship of the shift in the relative positions (horizontal direction) with respect to a pressing force Fz and the distance L. Alternatively, the correction value that has been obtained based on the information indicating the relationship of the shift in the relative positions with respect to the pressing force Fz and the distance L may be changed by, for example, multiplying a coefficient according to the difference between the pressing force Fz and the separating force Fz′ with it. The separating force Fz′ can be obtained by, for example, multiplying a signal value to be supplied to the mold driving unit7bby a constant (thrust constant) indicating a force generated by the mold driving unit7bwhen supplying the signal value of a unit quantity. Also, a sensor (for example, a force sensor, a load cell, or a strain gauge) which detects the force generated by the mold driving unit7bmay be provided to obtain the separating force Fz′ based on a result of a detection by the sensor.

As described above, the imprint apparatus according to the second embodiment controls the relative positions of the mold6and the target shot region3abased on the separating force Fz′ and the distance L in the step of separating the mold6from the cured imprint material11. This makes it possible to reduce the shearing force generated when separating the mold6from the cured imprint material11. That is, it is possible to reduce the shift in the relative positions of the mold6and the target shot region3acaused by tilting the substrate stage4when separating the mold6from the cured imprint material11.

<Embodiment of Method of Manufacturing Article>

A method of manufacturing an article according to an embodiment of the present invention is suitable for manufacturing the article, for example, a microdevice such as a semiconductor device or an element having a microstructure. The method of manufacturing the article according to this embodiment includes a step of forming a pattern in an imprint material supplied to a substrate using the above-described imprint apparatus (a step of performing an imprint process on the substrate) and a step of processing the substrate, on which the pattern has been formed, in the preceding step. This manufacturing method further includes other known steps (oxidation, deposition, vapor deposition, doping, planarization, etching, resist removal, dicing, bonding, packaging, and the like). The method of manufacturing the article according to this embodiment is advantageous in at least one of the performance, quality, productivity, and production cost of the article, as compared to a conventional method.

Other Embodiments

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-025619 filed on Feb. 12, 2015, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-183245 filed on Sep. 16, 2015, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.