Manufacturing method for electronic devices

A manufacturing method for electronic devices including applying photosensitive or non-photosensitive resin onto a substrate by a slit-type dropping nozzle method. A slit-type dropping nozzle for performing resin application is scanned to apply resin while maintaining a scanning direction of the nozzle in an inclined condition relative to the substrate at a specified angle in substantially a same direction as a rotating direction of the substrate after resin has been applied thereto. With the above method, even in a case in which clogging of a part of the nozzle due to foreign matter and dropping defects have occurred, the uniformity in film thickness typically will not be affected unless the defect has occurred in the center of the substrate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a manufacturing method for electronic 
devices with which uniform application of photosensitive or 
non-photosensitive resin such as resist onto a substrate is enabled during 
manufacturing processes of electronic devices such as liquid crystal 
display devices employing semiconductor devices. 
2. Discussion of the Background 
An explanation will be given based on a case in which patterns for liquid 
crystal display elements employing TFT (thin film transistor) are formed 
by utilizing a stepper exposure device. A photo-resist having 
photosensitive characteristics is uniformly applied onto a glass substrate 
on which there is formed a metal thin film or dielectric thin film. Onto 
this substrate, patterns formed as masks are subsequently treated by 
projecting and exposing by a stepper, and patterns for display elements 
are exposed and transferred onto the photo-resist. The exposed and 
transferred patterns further undergo developing, etching and resist 
exfoliating. By repeating the same processes several times, a wiring 
pattern, an insulating film pattern, and a semiconductor layer pattern are 
laminated to form display elements. Such a conventional art is also 
disclosed in the column of "Prior Art" of Japanese Unexamined Patent 
Publication No. 305651/1992. The resist application process is also 
disclosed in "The Sixth Fine Process Technologer/Japan '96 Seminar Resume: 
Manufacturing Device Course (R6) Latest Tendencies in Photo-processing 
Technology", Pages 3 to 21. FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrams showing a series of 
processes of film forming, resist applying, exposing, developing, etching 
and resist exfoliating. In the drawings, 100 denotes a substrate, 101 a 
thin film such as metal film or insulating film formed on the substrate, 
102 photosensitive resin such as resist, 103 a mask, and 104 a pattern 
portion of the mask 103, respectively. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing 
application processes through central dropping and rotation 
(uniformization) of resin which is one method for the resin application 
process. In the drawings, 110 denotes a substrate, 111 a nozzle for 
dropping resin, and 112 photosensitive or non-photosensitive resin such as 
resist, respectively. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing application processes, 
i.e. slit nozzle dropping, completion of dropping, and rotation 
(uniformization) of resin which is another method for the resist 
application process. In the drawings, 120 denotes a substrate, 121 a 
slit-type nozzle for dropping resin, and 122 photosensitive or 
non-photosensitive resin such as resist, respectively. 
The prior art process will now be explained. As shown in FIG. 7, the thin 
film 101 such as metal film or insulating film is formed onto the 
substrate 100 by using a CVD device or spattering device (FIG. 7(b)). 
Then, the photosensitive resin 102 such as positive resist is applied onto 
the substrate 100 by rotational application (FIG. 7(c)). Exposing of the 
substrate 100 applied with resist is performed by employing, for example, 
a stepper. At this time, the shutter of the stepper is released for 
several seconds until an appropriate light exposure for the resist is 
reached for the exposure, the resist is exposed, and the pattern is 
transferred onto the substrate 100 as a resist photosensitive image (FIG. 
7(d)). After completion of exposing, the substrate 100 is treated with a 
developer for developing and the photosensitive image of the transferred 
mask pattern is formed on the substrate 100 as a resist image, as shown in 
FIG. 8(a). Then, etching of the formed thin film 101 is performed (FIG. 
8(b)), and the resist 102 is exfoliated thereafter (FIG. 8(c)). By 
repeating these processes several times, a wiring pattern, an insulating 
film pattern and a semiconductor layer pattern are laminated to form 
display elements. 
A prior art resist application method will now be explained. The central 
dropping method which is a general resist application method will be 
explained. As shown in FIG. 9, photosensitive or non-photosensitive resin 
112 such as resist is dropped by a specified amount through the nozzle 111 
from centrally above the substrate 110, and after the resin has naturally 
spread after a specified time has elapsed, the substrate is rotated to 
make the resin spread uniformly over the whole substrate in order to 
perform application. Another resist application method, i.e. the slit 
dropping method will be explained. As shown in FIG. 10, photosensitive or 
non-photosensitive resin 122 such as resist is dropped and applied 
uniformly and over the whole substrate by making the slit nozzle 121 scan 
along the substrate 120 in a parallel manner, and the substrate is rotated 
thereafter to further improve the uniformity of the applied film 
thickness. If the targeted uniformity of film thickness can be obtained by 
the slit application alone, the following rotating process might be 
omitted. 
According to prior art manufacturing methods, in the case where resin is 
applied by employing the central dropping method, resin needs to be 
dropped onto the substrate in an amount that is sufficient for 
self-spreading and spreading over the whole substrate by the following 
rotating process, and the ratio of the amount of resin finally applied 
onto the substrate to that of initially dropped resin will reach 
approximately 1:97 to 99, thereby presenting a drawback that the 
efficiency of effective usage is low. On the other hand, in the case where 
resin is to be applied by the slit dropping method, the amount of resin to 
be dropped onto the substrate will be approximately 1/10 to 1/3 of that of 
the central dropping method. However, when the amount of droppings is 
decreased or clogging due to foreign matters or hardened resin in the slit 
nozzle has occurred, there might be generated broken portions 133 
(irregular (shortage) regions of droppings) of the resin 132 in the 
scanning direction as shown in FIGS. 11(a) and (b) in applying 
photosensitive or non-photosensitive resin 132 such as resist by scanning 
the slit-like nozzle 131 over the substrate 130. Especially in cases in 
which such broken portions are generated at a central portion (center of 
rotation) of the substrate, extending substantially in a radial manner 
from the center of the substrate in directions of the centrifugal force, 
inertial force and frictional force (between substrate and resin), it 
became difficult to ensure uniformity of applied film thickness by the 
following rotation of the substrate, depending on the amount (degree) of 
shortage of the droppings. 
When photosensitive resin is employed and the applied film thickness 
becomes irregular, excess/shortage of appropriate exposing energy occurs 
between the irregular portions and peripheral normal portions, which might 
lead to pattern defects. In case non-photosensitive resin is employed, 
irregularities in required characteristics such as irregularities in 
capacitance formed by the film thickness or irregularities in 
transmittance, which are objects of the film itself have occurred, and 
thus caused inconveniences to result in deficiencies. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a manufacturing method 
for electron devices with which a desired film thickness of favorable 
uniformity can be secured, generation of pattern defects be decreased, and 
stable quality be obtained. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The manufacturing method for electron devices according to a first aspect 
of the present invention is a manufacturing method for electron devices 
including an application process of applying photosensitive or 
non-photosensitive resin onto a substrate by a slit dropping method, 
characterized in that a slit-type dropping nozzle for performing resin 
dropping is scanned to apply resin while maintaining a scanning direction 
of the nozzle in an inclined condition relative to the substrate at a 
specified angle in a direction identical with a rotating direction of the 
substrate after resin has been dropped and applied. 
The manufacturing method for electron devices according to a second aspect 
of the present invention is a manufacturing method for electron devices 
including an application process of applying photosensitive or 
non-photosensitive resin onto a substrate by a slit dropping method, 
characterized in that a scanning direction of a slit-type dropping nozzle 
for performing resin dropping is set by making the substrate oscillate and 
rotate around a certain position at a specified period and oscillating 
angle so that the nozzle is relatively meandered and scanned with respect 
to the substrate to apply resin. 
The manufacturing method for electron devices according to a third aspect 
of the present invention is a manufacturing method for electron devices 
including an application process of applying photosensitive or 
non-photosensitive resin onto a substrate by a slit dropping method, 
characterized in that at the time of scanning a slit-type dropping nozzle 
for performing resin dropping, the nozzle intermittently drops resin in a 
scanning direction except onto a central portion of the substrate to apply 
resin. 
The manufacturing method for electron devices according to a fourth aspect 
of the present invention is a manufacturing method for electron devices 
recited in the preceding first or second aspect of the present invention, 
characterized in that at the time of scanning the slit-type dropping 
nozzle, the method includes a process wherein the nozzle intermittently 
drops resin in a scanning direction to apply resin. 
The slit-type dropping nozzle according to a fifth aspect of the present 
invention is characterized in that comb teeth-like outlets are formed at a 
slit-type dropping nozzle for performing resin dropping employed in an 
application process of applying photosensitive or non-photosensitive resin 
onto a substrate by a slit-type dropping method so that resin can be 
intermittently dropped in a width direction of the nozzle. 
The manufacturing method for electron devices according to a sixth aspect 
of the present invention is a manufacturing method for electron devices 
recited in the preceding first, second or third aspect of the present 
invention, characterized in that the slit-type dropping nozzle according 
to the fifth aspect of the present invention is employed for 
intermittently dropping resin with respect to a scanning width and a 
scanning direction except onto a central portion of the substrate to apply 
resin. 
The manufacturing method for electron devices according to a seventh aspect 
of the present invention is a manufacturing method including an 
application process of applying photosensitive or non-photosensitive resin 
onto a substrate by slit dropping method or central dropping method, 
characterized in that the substrate is either rotated after dropping, or 
maintained as it is and oscillated after performing application to improve 
uniformity of applied film thickness. 
The manufacturing method for electron devices according to an eighth aspect 
of the present invention is the manufacturing method for electron devices 
recited in the preceding first, second or third aspect of the present 
invention, including an application process of applying photosensitive or 
non-photosensitive resin onto a substrate by slit dropping method or 
central dropping method, characterized in that the substrate is either 
rotated after dropping, or maintained as it is and oscillated after 
performing application to improve uniformity and flatness of applied film 
thickness. 
The manufacturing method for electron devices according to a ninth aspect 
of the present invention is a manufacturing method for electron devices 
including an application process of applying photosensitive or 
non-photosensitive resin onto a substrate by slit dropping method, 
characterized in that resin is applied such that a plurality times of 
scanning of a slit-type dropping nozzle for performing resin dropping is 
performed in accordance with a desired film thickness. 
The manufacturing method for electron devices according to a tenth aspect 
of the present invention is a manufacturing method for electron devices 
recited in the preceding first, second, third or seventh aspects of the 
present invention including an application process of applying 
photosensitive or non-photosensitive resin onto a substrate by slit 
dropping method, characterized in that resin is applied such that a 
plurality times of scanning of a slit-type dropping nozzle for performing 
resin dropping is performed in accordance with a desired film thickness. 
According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, in 
employing the slit dropping method, even when irregular portions in 
applied film thickness are generated on the substrate in which resin has 
been dropped onto the substrate so that shortage of resin has occurred at 
a part of a width direction of the droppings, occurrence of degradations 
in pattern characteristics can be decreased by devising a relative 
scanning direction of the slit-type dropping nozzle with respect to the 
substrate in the following rotation of the substrate such that uniformity 
of film thickness can be secured. 
According to the third, fourth, fifth and sixth aspects of the present 
invention, by making the dropping of resin from the slit-type dropping 
nozzle to be intermittent, the amount of droppings can be further 
decreased, and uniformity of applied film thickness can be secured. 
According to the seventh and eighth aspects of the present invention, by 
applying oscillation of specified period and amplitude to the substrate 
after slit dropping or rotating the substrate, the uniformity and flatness 
of film thickness can be further improved. 
According to the ninth and tenth aspects of the present invention, in case 
of providing an applied thin film of which thickness exceeds a film 
thickness limit of resin, in addition to the above manufacturing methods 
of the preceding first, third and seventh aspect of the present invention, 
the method is further repeated for several times to make the desired film 
thickness be uniform and the efficiency of utilization of resin to be 
high.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate 
identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and more 
particularly to FIGS. 1 to 6 thereof, there are illustrated embodiments of 
the present invention as will be further described. 
Embodiment 1 
A manufacturing method of electron devices according to an embodiment of 
the present invention will now be explained. FIG. 1 is a diagram for 
explaining application of resin according to an embodiment of the present 
invention, wherein FIG. 1(a) is a diagram showing a condition in which a 
slit-type dropping nozzle is performing scanning while dropping resin, and 
FIG. 1(b) is a diagram showing a condition after the slit-type dropping 
nozzle has completed dropping resin. In the drawings, 1 denotes a 
substrate, 2 a slit-type dropping nozzle (hereinafter simply referred to 
as "nozzle"), and 3 a photosensitive positive-resist (hereinafter simply 
referred to as "resist") applied onto the substrate 1. 
As shown in FIG. 1(a), the nozzle 2 is scanned while resist 3 is being 
dropped by the nozzle 2 onto the substrate 1. At this time, the scanning 
direction of the nozzle 2 which performs resin dropping is not set to be 
parallel relative to the substrate 1 but to maintain a specified angle 
.theta. in a direction identical with a rotating direction S of the 
substrate after dropping. The substrate 1 is then fixed at this inclined 
condition, e.g. at a position at which the substrate 1 is rotated 
approximately 1 to 15 degrees and the nozzle 2 is scanned to apply resin. 
By setting the direction of inclination to be identical with the rotating 
direction of the substrate after completion of resin dropping, the effect 
of improving the uniformity of applied film thickness can be made large. 
It should be noted that since the nozzle 2 is scanned in an oblique 
direction relative to the substrate 1, it is preferable that discharge 
outlets for resin dropping provided at both end portions of the nozzle 2 
are provided with dropping adjusting means for regulating excessive amount 
of droppings along an edge of the substrate 1. 
According to this embodiment, the scanning direction of the nozzle 2 for 
performing resin dropping is not set to be parallel relative to the 
substrate 1 but is maintained in a fixed condition at a position rotated 
in a direction identical with the rotating direction of the substrate 
after dropping, e.g. it is rotated by approximately 1 to 15 degrees to 
perform scanning and application of resin. With this arrangement, even in 
a case in which clogging of a part of the nozzle 2 has occurred due to a 
foreign matter and dropping defect has occurred, the uniformity in film 
thickness will not be remarkably damaged unless the defect has occurred in 
the center of the substrate. Further, since the probability that such a 
defect in application occurs in the center of the substrate is very small, 
generation of defects in pattern, display and characteristics owing to 
defects in uniformity of applied film thickness can be reduced than 
compared to conventional methods without the necessity of increasing the 
amount of droppings of resist used at the time of application. 
Embodiment 2 
A manufacturing method of electron devices according to a second embodiment 
of the present invention will now be explained. FIG. 2 is a diagram for 
explaining application of resin according to another embodiment of the 
present invention, wherein FIG. 2(a) is a diagram showing a condition in 
which a nozzle 2 is performing scanning while dropping resin, and FIG. 
2(b) is a diagram showing a condition after the nozzle 2 has completed 
dropping resin. In the drawings, 1 denotes a substrate, 2 a nozzle, and 3 
resist applied onto the substrate 1. 
As shown in FIG. 2(a), the nozzle 2 is scanned while resist 3 is being 
dropped by the nozzle 2 onto the substrate 1. At this time, the scanning 
direction of the nozzle 2 is made to be meander relative to the substrate 
1. Scanning is performed by making a substrate stage (not shown) to 
oscillate and rotate, e.g. such that the substrate 1 is inclined at a 
specified period and oscillating angle around a relatively parallel 
position. Such period and oscillating angle of the oscillating rotation 
might be set to 0.5 to 5.0 seconds and approximately .+-.1 to 5 degrees, 
respectively. 
According to this embodiment, by making the substrate 1 rotate in an 
oscillating manner with respect to the scanning direction of the nozzle 2, 
resin is made to drop while the scanning direction of the nozzle 2 is made 
to meander relative to the substrate 1. With this arrangement, even in a 
case in which clogging of a part of the nozzle 2 has occurred due to a 
foreign matter and dropping defect has occurred, the uniformity in film 
thickness will not be remarkably damaged unless the defect has occurred in 
the center of the substrate. Further, since the probability that such a 
defect in application occurs in the center of the substrate is very small, 
generation of defects in pattern, display and characteristics owing to 
defects in uniformity of applied film thickness can be further reduced 
than compared to conventional methods without the necessity of increasing 
the amount of droppings of resist used at the time of application. 
Embodiment 3 
A manufacturing method of electron devices according to a third embodiment 
of the present invention will now be explained. FIG. 3 is a diagram for 
explaining application of resin according to still another embodiment of 
the present invention, wherein FIG. 3(a) is a diagram showing a condition 
in which a nozzle 2 is performing scanning while dropping resin, and FIG. 
3(b) is a diagram showing a condition after the nozzle 2 has completed 
dropping resin. In the drawings, 1 denotes a substrate, 2 a nozzle, and 3 
resist applied onto the substrate 1. 
As shown in FIG. 3(a), the nozzle 2 is scanned while resist 3 is being 
dropped by the nozzle 2 onto the substrate 1. At this time, scanning is 
performed such that the scanning direction of the nozzle 2 is made to be 
oblique relative to the substrate 1, e.g. scanning is performed by fixing 
the substrate 1 at a position rotated by approximately 1 to 15 degrees. At 
the time of scanning, resin supply is controlled in a longitudinal 
direction of the substrate 1 so that resin is intermittently dropped. Care 
should be taken that dropping shall not be performed without dropping onto 
the center of the substrate. If the direction of inclination is identical 
with the rotating direction of the substrate after completion of dropping 
resin, the effect of improving the uniformity of applied film thickness 
can be made large. 
According to the present embodiment, scanning is performed with the 
substrate 1 being rotated in a direction identical with the rotating 
direction of the substrate 1, e.g. with the substrate 1 being rotated by 
approximately 1 to 15 degrees in the scanning direction of the nozzle 2, 
and simultaneously, by controlling the resin supply at the time of 
scanning so that resin is intermittently dropped. With this arrangement, 
even in a case in which clogging of a part of the nozzle 2 has occurred 
due to a foreign matter and dropping defect has occurred, the uniformity 
in film thickness will not be remarkably damaged unless the defect has 
occurred in the center of the substrate. Further, since the probability 
that such a defect in application occurs in the center of the substrate is 
very small, generation of defects in pattern, display and characteristics 
owing to defects in uniformity of applied film thickness can be reduced 
than compared to conventional methods while the amount of droppings of 
resist used at the time of application can be further decreased by 
approximately 5% than compared to conventional methods. 
Embodiment 4 
A manufacturing method of electron devices according to a fourth embodiment 
of the present invention will now be explained. FIG. 4 is a diagram for 
explaining application of resin according to still another embodiment of 
the present invention, wherein FIG. 4(a) is a diagram showing a condition 
in which a nozzle 4 is performing scanning while dropping resin, and FIG. 
4(b) is a diagram showing a condition after the nozzle 4 has completed 
dropping resin. In the drawings, 1 denotes a substrate, 4 a nozzle having 
comb teeth-like outlets for enabling intermittent dropping in a width 
direction of the substrate, and 3 resist applied onto the substrate 1. 
As shown in FIG. 4(a), scanning is performed while the resist 3 is dropped 
onto the substrate 1 through the comb teeth-like nozzle 4 for 
intermittently dropping the resist 3 in a width direction thereof. At this 
time, scanning is performed such that the scanning direction of the nozzle 
2 is made to be oblique relative to the substrate 1, e.g. scanning is 
performed by fixing the substrate 1 at a position rotated by approximately 
1 to 15 degrees. At the time of scanning, resin supply is controlled in a 
longitudinal direction of the substrate 1 so that resin is intermittently 
dropped. Care should be taken that dropping shall not be performed without 
dropping onto the center of the substrate. If the direction of inclination 
is identical with the rotating direction of the substrate after completion 
of dropping resin, the effect of improving the uniformity of applied film 
thickness can be made large. 
According to the present embodiment, scanning is performed with the 
substrate 1 being rotated by approximately 1 to 15 degrees with respect to 
the scanning direction of the nozzle, and simultaneously, by controlling 
the resin supply at the time of scanning in terms of the width direction 
and longitudinal direction of the substrate 1 to perform intermittent 
dropping. With this arrangement, even in a case in which clogging of a 
part of the nozzle 2 has occurred due to a foreign matter and dropping 
defect has occurred, the uniformity in film thickness will not be 
remarkably damaged unless the defect has occurred in the center of the 
substrate. Further, since the probability that such a defect in 
application occurs in the center of the substrate is very small, 
generation of defects in pattern, display and characteristics owing to 
defects in uniformity of applied film thickness can be reduced than 
compared to conventional methods while the amount of droppings of resist 
used at the time of application can be further decreased by approximately 
10% than compared to conventional methods. 
It should be noted that the nozzle according to the present embodiment can 
be applied to the preceding Embodiments 1 to 3. 
Embodiment 5 
A manufacturing method of electron devices according to a fifth embodiment 
of the present invention will now be explained. FIG. 5 is a diagram for 
explaining application of resin according to yet another embodiment of the 
present invention, wherein FIGS. 5(b) to (e) show processes, i.e. slit 
dropping by the nozzle 2 or central dropping, completion of dropping by 
the dropping nozzle 5, rotation and oscillation. In the drawings, 1 
denotes a substrate, 2 a slit-type dropping nozzle, 5 a dropping nozzle, 
and 3 resist applied onto the substrate 1. 
The resist 3 is dropped onto the substrate 1 by the nozzle 2 or dropping 
nozzle 5 (FIGS. 5(b) and (c)). Then, resist is uniformly applied over the 
whole substrate by rotating the substrate (FIG. 5(d)). It should be noted 
that the rotation of the substrate can be omitted in case sufficient 
uniformity has been obtained after dropping of the resin. Next, the 
substrate is oscillated by applying to the substrate stage an oscillating 
force of approximately 5 to 500 Hz in order to improve the uniformity of 
the applied resist and the flatness of concave/convex portions in 
underlying structure (FIG. 5(f). 
According to the present embodiment, by applying oscillating force to the 
substrate after application of resist, the flatness which is affected by 
irregular portions generated through the application or by unevenness in 
underlying surface can be improved, whereby an effect of decreasing resin 
required for the slit-type dropping method can be further increased. 
It should be noted that applying oscillating force to the substrate as in 
the present embodiment might also be applied to the preceding Embodiments 
1 to 4. 
Embodiment 6 
A manufacturing method of electron devices according to a sixth embodiment 
of the present invention will now be explained. FIG. 6 is a diagram for 
explaining application of resin according to yet another embodiment of the 
present invention, wherein FIGS. 6(b) to (e) respectively indicate 
conditions of processes for resin dropping, completion of dropping, 
rotation (uniformization) and light-baking. In the drawings, 1 denotes a 
substrate, 2 a nozzle, 6 photosensitive or non-photosensitive resin such 
as resist. 
As shown in FIG. 6, by scanning the nozzle 2 in a parallel manner with 
respect to the substrate 1, the photosensitive or non-photosensitive 6 
resin such as resist can be dropped and applied uniformly and also over 
the whole substrate (FIG. 6(b) and (c)), and thereafter, the substrate 1 
is rotated to improve the uniformity of the applied film thickness (FIG. 
6(d)). This rotating process might be omitted in case the targeted 
uniformity of film thickness can be obtained by the slit dropping alone. 
Then, baking is lightly performed at approximately 95.degree. C. for 
approximately 30 seconds, and again, the nozzle 2 in scanned in a parallel 
manner with respect to the substrate 1, such that the photosensitive or 
non-photosensitive resin 6 such as resist is dropped and applied uniformly 
and also over the whole substrate (FIG. 6(b) and (c)), and thereafter, the 
substrate 1 is rotated to improve the uniformity of the applied film 
thickness (FIG. 6(d)). Similarly to the first time, this rotating process 
might be omitted in case the targeted uniformity of film thickness can be 
obtained by the slit dropping alone. 
According to this embodiment, application of resin onto the substrate 1 is 
performed, e.g. twice and light baking is performed between these 
processes for the purpose of lightly removing solvents included in the 
resin. With this arrangement, the amount of used resin can be decreased in 
case a desired film thickness exceeds a range thereof that can be obtained 
by performing rotation of the substrate or controlling the resin dropping 
when application of resin is performed only once, and simultaneously, a 
desired film thickness can be obtained while ensuring uniformity. 
Performing a plurality times of scanning as in the present embodiment might 
also be applied to the preceding Embodiments 1 to 5. 
Embodiment 7 
While the preceding embodiments 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 have been explained by 
taking cases in which positive-type resist is employed, these can also be 
applied to resin having photosensitive characteristics, to non-photo 
sensitive resin, or to inorganic film to be dropped and applied. Further, 
the substrate has been made to oscillate and rotate with respect to the 
nozzle in order to perform scanning by making the nozzle meander relative 
to the substrate in Embodiments 1, 2, 3 and 4, the same effects can be 
obtained in the present invention by making the nozzle meander and move 
with respect to the substrate. While the nozzle has been meandered 
relative to the substrate in Embodiment 2, the same effects can be 
obtained by making the nozzle move in a not-straight manner, e.g. in a 
zigzag pattern. Further, while light-baking has been performed at 
95.degree. C. and for 30 seconds in Embodiment 6, the baking conditions 
are not limited to this in the present invention and might be varied 
depending on the type of resin employed. While slit dropping has been 
performed in Embodiment 1 with the substrate being in a rotated condition 
by approximately 1 to 15 degrees with respect to the scanning direction of 
the nozzle and in a direction identical with the rotating direction of the 
substrate, scanning might also be performed in the reverse direction with 
respect to the rotating direction of the substrate although the effects 
become smaller. According to Embodiment 5, the substrate has been made to 
oscillate by applying oscillating force of approximately 5 to 500 Hz to 
the substrate stage, oscillation of even higher periods might also be 
applied, depending on the viscosity of the material to be dispersed. 
It should be noted that the manufacturing method of the present invention 
might also be applied, besides to semiconductor devices, to manufacturing 
methods of display devices such as PDP (plasma display devices), or 
electron devices such as color filters or printed boards. 
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the nozzle for 
performing resin dropping is scanned to apply resin while maintaining a 
scanning direction of the nozzle in an inclined condition at a specified 
angle relative to the substrate in a direction identical with the rotating 
direction of the substrate after application of the resin. With this 
arrangement, even in a case in which clogging of a part of the nozzle has 
occurred due to a foreign matter and dropping defect has occurred, the 
uniformity in film thickness will not be remarkably damaged unless the 
defect has occurred in the center of the substrate. Further, since the 
probability that such a defect in application occurs in the center of the 
substrate is very small, generation of defects in pattern, display and 
characteristics owing to defects in uniformity of applied film thickness 
can be reduced than compared to conventional methods without the necessity 
of increasing the amount of droppings of resist used at the time of 
application. 
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the scanning 
direction of the slit-type dropping nozzle for performing resin dropping 
is set by making the substrate oscillate and rotate around a certain 
position at a specified period and oscillating angle so that the nozzle is 
relatively meandered and scanned with respect to the substrate to apply 
resin. With this arrangement, even in a case in which clogging of a part 
of the nozzle has occurred due to a foreign matter and dropping defect has 
occurred, the uniformity in film thickness will not be remarkably damaged 
unless the defect has occurred in the center of the substrate. Further, 
since the probability that such a defect in application occurs in the 
center of the substrate is much smaller than compared to the first aspect 
of the invention, generation of defects in pattern, display and 
characteristics owing to defects in uniformity of applied film thickness 
can be reduced than compared to conventional methods without the necessity 
of increasing the amount of droppings of resist used at the time of 
application. 
According to the third aspect of the present invention, at the time of 
scanning the slit-type dropping nozzle for performing resin dropping, the 
nozzle intermittently drops resin in a scanning direction except onto a 
central portion of the substrate to apply resin. With this arrangement, 
even in a case in which clogging of a part of the nozzle has occurred due 
to a foreign matter and dropping defect has occurred, the uniformity in 
film thickness will not be remarkably damaged unless the defect has 
occurred in the center of the substrate. Further, since the probability 
that such a defect in application occurs in the center of the substrate is 
very small, generation of defects in pattern, display and characteristics 
owing to defects in uniformity of applied film thickness can be reduced 
than compared to conventional methods without the necessity of increasing 
the amount of droppings of resist used at the time of application. 
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, at the time of 
scanning the slit-type dropping nozzle, it is included a process wherein 
the nozzle intermittently drops resin in a scanning direction to apply 
resin. With this arrangement, even in a case in which clogging of a part 
of the nozzle has occurred due to a foreign matter and dropping defect has 
occurred, the uniformity in film thickness will not be remarkably damaged 
unless the defect has occurred in the center of the substrate. Further, 
since the probability that such a defect in application occurs in the 
center of the substrate is very small, generation of defects in pattern, 
display and characteristics owing to defects in uniformity of applied film 
thickness can be reduced than compared to conventional methods while the 
amount of droppings of resist used at the time of application can be 
further decreased by approximately 5% than compared to conventional 
methods. 
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, comb teeth-like 
outlets are formed at the slit-type dropping nozzle for performing resin 
dropping employed for application processes in which photosensitive or 
non-photosensitive resin is applied onto the substrate by the slit 
dropping method so that resin can be intermittently dropped in a width 
direction thereof, whereby the amount of used resin can be decreased. 
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the slit-type 
dropping nozzle is employed for intermittently dropping resin with respect 
to a scanning width and a scanning direction except onto a central portion 
of the substrate to apply resin. With this arrangement even in a case in 
which clogging of a part of the nozzle has occurred due to a foreign 
matter and dropping defect has occurred, the uniformity in film thickness 
will not be remarkably damaged unless the defect has occurred in the 
center of the substrate. Further, since the probability that such a defect 
in application occurs in the center of the substrate is very small, 
generation of defects in pattern, display and characteristics owing to 
defects in uniformity of applied film thickness can be reduced than 
compared to conventional methods while the amount of droppings of resist 
used at the time of application can be further decreased by approximately 
10% than compared to conventional methods. 
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the substrate is 
either rotated after dropping, or maintained as it is and oscillated after 
performing application to improve uniformity of applied film thickness. 
With this arrangement, the flatness which is affected by irregular 
portions generated through the application or by unevenness in underlying 
surface can be improved, whereby an effect of decreasing resin required 
for the slit-type dropping method can be further increased. 
According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, it is included, in 
the manufacturing methods according to the first, second or third aspect 
of the present invention, a process wherein the substrate is either 
rotated after dropping, or maintained as it is and oscillated after 
performing application to improve uniformity and flatness of applied film 
thickness. With this arrangement, the flatness which is affected by 
irregular portions generated through the application or by unevenness in 
underlying surface can be improved, whereby an effect of decreasing resin 
required for the slit-type dropping method can be further increased. 
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, resin is applied 
such that a plurality times of scanning of a slit-type dropping nozzle for 
performing resin dropping is performed in accordance with a desired film 
thickness. With this arrangement, the amount of used resin can be 
decreased in case a desired film thickness exceeds a range thereof which 
can be obtained by performing rotation of the substrate or controlling the 
resin dropping when application of resin is performed only once, and 
simultaneously, a desired film thickness can be obtained while ensuring 
uniformity. 
According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, it is included, in 
the manufacturing method according to the first, second, third or seventh 
aspect of the present invention, a process wherein resin is applied such 
that a plurality of times of scanning of a slit-type dropping nozzle for 
performing resin dropping is performed in accordance with a desired film 
thickness. With this arrangement, the amount of used resin can be 
decreased in case a desired film thickness exceeds a range thereof which 
can be obtained by performing rotation of the substrate or controlling the 
resin dropping when application of resin is performed only once, and 
simultaneously, a desired film thickness can be obtained while ensuring 
uniformity. 
Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention 
are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be 
understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may 
be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.