Abstract:
An information processing apparatus which is used for an exposure system has a generation unit which generates format information required to inform a user with respect to a control parameter used in the exposure system, based on the control parameter, and an output unit which outputs the parameter information and the format information out of the apparatus.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to an information processing technique used for an exposure system.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Conventionally, a job parameter file for use in controlling an exposure apparatus has only parameters exclusively used to control the exposure apparatus. For example, to see the layout pattern of exposure shots or sample shots which are appropriately selected for various measurements, a job parameter file is loaded from a predetermined memory into the exposure apparatus, and then an application designed specifically for the apparatus is utilized.  
           [0003]    [0003]FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing an outline of the process flow of a job parameter file  701 . A console unit  330  shown in FIG. 7 corresponds to the console unit  330  in FIG. 3. The console unit  330  can write the job parameter file  701  from an exposure system  601 . The console unit  330  can also cause the exposure system  601  to read the job parameter file  701  stored in a memory  332  (see FIG. 3) of the console unit. An application designed specifically to cause an output unit  102  such as a display to display an image of, e.g., the layout pattern of exposure shots in accordance with the job parameter file  701  is stored in the memory  332  of the console unit  330 . Programming of this dedicated application through Motif of the X-Window System using a programming language such as C language requires at least several thousand steps and thus a large number of working hours.  
           [0004]    Recently, demands for handling jobs with a processing apparatus (e.g., a personal computer) other than an exposure apparatus to confirm the layout pattern of exposure shots or demands for editing a job parameter file using a processing apparatus other than an exposure apparatus have been increasing.  
           [0005]    To see the layout pattern and the like by a processing apparatus other than an exposure apparatus, however, they must be displayed. This needs to create an application dedicated to each processing apparatus and install the application in each personal computer. As described above, a large amount of work is required to display the layout pattern and the like for confirmation of the contents of a job parameter file by the user with a processing apparatus other than an exposure apparatus. Therefore, the above-mentioned demands cannot be satisfied.  
           [0006]    In addition, to edit a job parameter file with a processing apparatus other than an exposure apparatus, the above-mentioned dedicated application must be adapted to the processing apparatus, and a program including more steps must be created. For this reason, it is difficult to increase working efficiency covering the control parameter used in the exposure apparatus.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has as its object to increase working efficiency covering a control parameter used in an exposure system.  
           [0008]    According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus which processes information of a control parameter used in an exposure system, comprising an acquisition unit which acquires, from the exposure system, the parameter information and format information required to inform a user with respect to the control, based on the parameter information, and a generation unit which generates information to be informed to a user with respect to the control based on the parameter information and the format information.  
           [0009]    According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the generation unit preferably includes a converting unit which converts the parameter information into information compliant with the format information.  
           [0010]    According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the generation unit preferably generates the information to be informed based on the information obtained by the converting unit and the format information.  
           [0011]    According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the generation unit preferably includes a condition setting unit which sets image display condition.  
           [0012]    According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the acquisition unit preferably acquires software for editing at least one of the parameter information and the format information together with the parameter information and the format information.  
           [0013]    According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the software preferably includes a program.  
           [0014]    According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the software is preferably described in one of a markup language and a script language.  
           [0015]    According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the information to be informed preferably includes information about at least one of a shot layout and a sample shot.  
           [0016]    According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing method of processing information of a control parameter used in an exposure system comprising steps of acquiring, from the exposure system, the parameter information and format information required to inform a user with respect to the control based on the parameter information, and generating information to be informed to a user with respect to the control based on the parameter information and the format information.  
           [0017]    According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus used for an exposure system, the apparatus comprising a generation unit which generates format information required to inform a user with respect to a control parameter used in the exposure system, based on the control parameter, and an output unit which outputs the parameter information and the format information out of the apparatus.  
           [0018]    According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the output unit preferably outputs software for editing at least one of the parameter information and the format information together with the parameter information and the format information.  
           [0019]    According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the software preferably includes a program.  
           [0020]    According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the software is preferably described in one of a markup language and a script language.  
           [0021]    According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus further comprising a reception unit which receives the control parameter from the exposure system.  
           [0022]    According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the output unit preferably transmits the parameter information and the format information to another information processing apparatus.  
           [0023]    According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus further comprising a transmitting unit which transmits a control parameter edited using the software to the exposure system.  
           [0024]    According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, information to be informed preferably based on the format information includes information about at least one of a shot layout and a sample shot.  
           [0025]    According to a forth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method adapted to an information processing apparatus used for an exposure system, the method comprising steps of generating format information required to inform a user with respect to a control parameter used in the exposure system, based on the control parameter, and outputting the parameter information and the format information out of the apparatus.  
           [0026]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0027]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of a semiconductor exposure apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 2 is a view showing the internal structure of the apparatus of FIG. 1;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical circuit arrangement of the apparatus of FIG. 1;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a composite parameter file according to the first embodiment;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the composite parameter file according to the first embodiment;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an outline of the process of the composite parameter file according to the first embodiment;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an outline of the process of a conventional parameter file;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the write operation of the composite parameter file according to the first embodiment;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the read operation of the composite parameter file according to the first embodiment;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIGS. 10A and 10B are views showing examples of image display information according to the first embodiment;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 11 is a simplified view of the image display information of FIGS. 10A and 10B;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 12 is a view showing an image displayed on an image display tool using the image display information of FIGS. 10A and 10B, FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a composite parameter file according to the second embodiment;  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a composite parameter file according to the second embodiment;  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an outline of the process of the composite parameter file according to the second embodiment;  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing the write operation of the composite parameter file according to the second embodiment;  
         [0043]    [0043]FIGS. 17A and 17B show examples of image display information according to the second embodiment;  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 18 is a simplified view of the image display information (SVG text) of FIGS. 17A and 17B;  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an outline of the process of a composite parameter file according to the third embodiment; and  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 20 is a flow chart showing the flow of the whole manufacturing process of a semiconductor device. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0047]    Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail in accordance with the accompanying drawings.  
         [0048]    [First Embodiment] 
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of a semiconductor exposure apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the semiconductor exposure apparatus comprises a temperature-controlled chamber  101  which control the environmental temperature of the apparatus main body, an EWS main body  106  arranged inside the chamber  101  and having a main body CPU  321  (see FIG. 3) which controls the apparatus main body, and a console unit  330  including an EWS display unit  102  which displays predetermined information of the apparatus, a monitor TV  105  which displays image information obtained through an image sensing means in the apparatus main body, an operation panel  103  for inputting predetermined data to the apparatus, an EWS keyboard  104 , and the like. Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral  107  denotes an ON/OFF switch;  108 , an emergency stop switch;  109 , various switches, a mouse, and the like;  110 , an LAN communication cable;  111 , an exhaust duct for removing heat from the console unit  330 ; and  112 , an exhaust unit of the chamber. The semiconductor exposure apparatus main body is arranged inside the temperature-controlled chamber  101 .  
         [0050]    The EWS display unit  102  is a thin flat type one which uses EL, plasma, liquid crystal, or the like. The EWS display unit  102  is set on the front surface of the temperature-controlled chamber  101  and is connected to the EWS main body  106  through the LAN communication cable  110 . The operation panel  103 , keyboard  104 , monitor TV  105 , and the like are also arranged on the front surface of the temperature-controlled chamber  101  such that the same console operation as in the prior art can be performed on the front surface of the temperature-controlled chamber  101 .  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 2 is a view showing the internal structure of the semiconductor exposure apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 shows a stepper as a semiconductor exposure apparatus. As shown in FIG. 2, when a reticle  202  is illuminated with a light beam from a light source unit  204  through an illumination optical system  205 , the pattern on the reticle  202  is transferred onto the photosensitive layer on a wafer  203  through a projection lens  206 . The reticle  202  is supported by a reticle stage  207  for holding and moving the reticle  202 . The wafer  203  is exposed while being vacuum-chucked by a wafer chuck  291 . The wafer chuck  291  can be moved in each axial direction by a wafer stage  209 . A reticle optical system  281  for detecting the misalignment amount of the reticle  202  is arranged above the reticle  202 . An off-axis microscope  282  is arranged above the wafer stage  209  to be adjacent to the projection lens  206 . The off-axis microscope  282  mainly detects the relative positions between internal reference marks and alignment marks on the wafer  203 . A reticle library  220  and a wafer carrier elevator  230  as peripheral units are arranged adjacent to the stepper main body. The reticle  202  and wafer  203  are transported into the stepper main body by a reticle transport unit  221  and wafer transport unit  231 , respectively, as needed.  
         [0052]    The temperature-controlled chamber  101  comprises an air conditioning machine room  210  which mainly adjusts the temperature of air, a filter box  213  which filters fine foreign substances and forms a uniform flow of clean air, and a booth  214  which shields the apparatus environment from the outside. In the temperature-controlled chamber  101 , air whose temperature is adjusted by a cooler  215  and re-heater  216  in the air conditioning machine room  210  is supplied into the booth  214  by a fan  217  through an air filter g. The air supplied to the booth  214  returns from a return port ra into the air conditioning machine room  210 . Hence, the air circulates in the temperature-controlled chamber  101 . Normally, the temperature-controlled chamber  101  does not build a perfect circulation system. To always keep a positive pressure in the booth  214 , air outside the booth  214  is introduced from an outside air introduction port oa formed in the air conditioning machine room  210  through the fan in an amount corresponding to about  10 % the circulating air amount. In this manner, the temperature adjustment chamber  101  can maintain a predetermined environmental temperature of the apparatus main body and can keep the air clean. The light source unit  204  has a suction port sa and exhaust port ea to cool the ultrahigh-pressure mercury lamp or remove any toxic gas due to abnormality of the laser. Hence, the air in the booth  214  is partially forcibly exhausted to the factory facility via the light source unit  204  through a dedicated exhaust fan of the air conditioning machine room  210 . A chemical adsorption filter cf for removing chemical substances in the air is attached to the outside air introduction port oa and return port ra of the air conditioning machine room  210 .  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical circuit arrangement of the semiconductor exposure apparatus of FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 3, the main body CPU  321  comprises a central arithmetic unit such as a microcomputer or minicomputer. The main body CPU  321  is incorporated in the EWS main body  106  to control the entire apparatus. More specifically, the main body CPU  321  controls a wafer stage driving unit  322 , alignment detection system  323  such as the off-axis microscope  282 , reticle stage driving unit  324 , illumination system  325  such as the light source unit  204 , shutter driving unit  326 , focus detection system  327 , and Z-driving unit  328 . A transport system  329  can be exemplified by the reticle transport unit  221  or wafer transport unit  231 .  
         [0054]    The console unit  330  comprises the display  102  and keyboard  104  and supplies to the main body CPU  321  various commands or parameters associated with the operation of the semiconductor exposure apparatus. That is, the console unit  330  is used to exchange information with the operator. A console CPU  331  controls the components of the console unit  330 . A memory  332  is a storage storing, e.g., a parameter file which has various job parameters. The memory  332  may be arranged in the console unit  330  or may be arranged as an external memory outside the console unit  330 . Job parameters include pieces of parameter information such as an alignment method, a focus amount in exposure, an exposure amount, layout data, sample shots for various measurements, and the like.  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of a composite parameter file according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, a parameter file  401  comprises a parameter information portion  402  which has parameter information for controlling the exposure apparatus and an image display information portion  403  which has image display information for displaying an image in a format adapted to a predetermined image display means on the basis of the parameter information. The parameter information portion  402  has the same contents as those of parameter information in a conventional parameter file. The image display information portion  403  has image display information for displaying an image on a standard viewer such as SVG Viewer, a Web browser which incorporates predetermined plug-ins, or the like. In this embodiment, the parameter file  401  will be referred to as a composite parameter file. Although a case has been exemplified wherein the composite parameter file  401  has the parameter information portion  402  and image display information portion  403 , the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the composite parameter file  401  may not include the parameter information portion  402 .  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another example of the structure of a composite parameter file  501  according to the present invention. FIG. 5 shows a case wherein parameter information portions  502  are incorporated in an image display information portion  503 . The following description of this embodiment will exemplify the use of the composite parameter file  501  shown in FIG. 5. As in the case of FIG. 4, the image display information portion  503  has image display information for displaying an image on a standard viewer such as SVG viewer, a Web browser which incorporates predetermined plug-ins, or the like. Each parameter information portion  502  has the same contents as those of parameter information in a conventional parameter file. The parameter information portions  502  are dispersely arranged in the image display information portion  503 , as needed.  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 6 is a conceptual view showing an outline of the process flow of the composite parameter file  501 . An exposure system  601  includes a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, an apparatus system such as a job server which manages the job parameter file  701  (see FIG. 7) having job parameters, a system which manages, e.g., job parameters by a Web server, or the like. The console unit  330  can write the composite parameter file  501  using the job parameter file  701  obtained from the exposure system  601  via, e.g., the main body CPU  321 . The processing sequence for this is shown in the flow chart of FIG. 8. The console unit  330  can also cause the exposure system  601  to read the composite parameter file  501 . The processing sequence is shown in the flow chart of FIG. 9.  
         [0058]    Each image display means  602  is an information processing apparatus (e.g., a personal computer) having communication means used for communicating with transmitting/receiving the composite parameter file  501  to/from the exposure system  601 , the console unit  330 , and/or the like, reads image display information compliant with a prescribed description method and displays an image corresponding to the image display information (the composite parameter file  501 ). In the image display means  602  compliant with the prescribed description method, e.g., Internet Explorer available from Microsoft Corporation which incorporates SVG viewer available from Adobe Systems Incorporated as a plug-in can be employed. The image display means  602  reads the composite parameter file  501  and displays an image (information to be informed to a user with respect to a control parameter used in the exposure system  601 ). In this case, the image is created on the basis of the information in the image display information portion  503  of the composite parameter file  501 . Since the information in the parameter information portion  502  is incorporated as comments, descriptions, attributes of the image, and the like, it is not directly displayed as an image.  
         [0059]    A case wherein the console unit  330  writes the composite parameter file  501  from the exposure system  601  will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 8. The image display information portion  503  is written in the SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) format as an XML document, and a portion bounded by a pair of tags (e.g., &lt;g&gt; and &lt;/g&gt;) is normally considered as one text. However, a text in this embodiment adopts a unit different from that of a normal XML document. Statements written at a time, which correspond to one line in FIGS. 10A and 10B (to be described later), or a statement of one line will be referred to as a text segment. In the following description, image display information includes a text segment which is used for parameter information and whose image is not displayed. Contents and their orders of the image display information portion  503  substantially depend on the values of parameters. To intelligibly explain a process of adding the parameter information portion  502  to the image display information portion  503 , job parameters stored in the memory  332  shown in FIG. 3 are read into the memory of the console CPU  331 , and a template image display information set serving as a template for creating an image is prepared as follows.  
         [0060]    The parameter information portion  502  is added to the template image display information set by a process shown in the flow chart of FIG. 8. For this purpose, a condition setter  610  (see FIG. 6) of the console unit  330  sets conditions for displaying an image in a format adapted to the image display means  602  on the basis of parameter information from the exposure system  601 . An image display information generator  611  of the console unit  330  generates the image display information portion  503  for displaying an image in the above-mentioned format on the basis of the parameter information so as to satisfy the conditions set by the condition setter  610 . More specifically, the condition setter  610  increases/decreases number of lines of the text in the image display information portion  503  or makes it possible to write, at a subsequent time, actual numerical values and character strings in variable portions of the text in the image display information portion  503 , on the basis of, e.g., the values of parameters (e.g., number of shots, shot size, and position of a shot) in the parameter information. Then, the image display information generator  611  creates the template image display information set as the template for creating an image before the process shown in the flow chart of FIG. 8 and keeps it in the memory of the console CPU  331 .  
         [0061]    A process of writing the composite parameter file  501  from the exposure system  601  will be described below along the steps of the flow chart of FIG. 8. This process is executed by the console CPU  331  shown in FIG. 3, and the resultant composite parameter file  501  is stored in the memory  332 .  
         [0062]    First, in step S 801 , a text segment including a part of the image display information portion  503  is loaded from the template image display information set stored in the memory  332  into the memory of the console CPU  331 . In step S 802 , it is checked whether the text segment including the part of the image display information portion  503  has a piece of parameter information. In examples of FIGS. 10A, 10B and  11  (to be described later), pieces of parameter information which are not directly related to an image are written in a portion  1103  bounded by tags &lt;desc&gt; and &lt;/desc&gt;. A text block  1110  is used to create an image of a shot layout whose id is S 1  and which includes an array of exposure shots. Text blocks  1112  and  1113  are used to create images of sample shots for various measurements whose ids are GTILT 1  and TPOC 1 , respectively. If the text segment including the part of the image display information portion  503  has a piece of parameter information, the flow advances to step S 803 ; otherwise, the flow advances to step S 805 . In step S 803 , a converter  612  of the console unit  330  converts the piece of parameter information, which is loaded from the text segment into the memory of the console CPU  331 , into a format adapted to the image display means  602  on the basis of the job parameters for controlling the exposure apparatus stored in the memory  332 . An adder  613  of the console unit  330  adds the parameter information portion  502  obtained by the conversion into the above-mentioned format to the part of the image display information portion  503 . The parameter information portion  502  obtained by the conversion may have a tag (e.g., &lt;desc&gt;) indicative of parameter information like the portion  1103  or may have character strings which have a plurality of pairs of a parameter ID and its value such as “PID:data” (neither is shown in the example of FIG. 10A nor  10 B) or an attribute (e.g., row=“1” and clm=“3”) such as “1110”, “1112”, or “1113”. The parameter information portion  502  is not limited to a specified format, and any format can be adopted as far as the format complies with the display format of the image display information portion  503  as a source. In step S 804 , it is checked whether the part of the image display information portion  503  has more pieces of parameter information to be added. If one or more pieces of parameter information remain to be added, the flow returns to step S 803 ; otherwise, the flow advances to step S 805 . In step S 805 , the part of the image display information portion  503  is written from the memory  332  into the composite parameter file  501 . The part of the image display information portion  503  is prepared in the memory of the console CPU  331 , and at this time, it may or may not have parameter statements. When the write operation of the part of the image display information portion  503  ends, the flow advances to step S 806 . In step S 806 , it is checked whether the image display information of interest has the final part of the image display information set. In the example of FIG. 11, &lt;/svg&gt; in a portion  1102  indicates end of text. If NO in step S 806 , the flow starts again from the step S 801 ; otherwise, the process ends.  
         [0063]    In the above-mentioned manner, the composite parameter file  501  is so created as to include as many parameter information portions  502  as needed for the exposure system  601  and be capable of displaying an image by the image display means  602 .  
         [0064]    A case wherein the console unit  330  causes the exposure system  601  to read the composite parameter file  501  will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 9. The image display information portion  503  is written in the SVG format as an XML document, and a portion bounded by a pair of tags (e.g., &lt;g&gt; and &lt;/g&gt;) is normally considered as one text. However, a text in this embodiment adopts a unit different from that of a normal XML document. Statements written at a time, which correspond to one line in FIGS. 10A and 10B (to be described later), or a statement of one line will be referred to as a text segment. In the following description, image display information has a text segment which is used for parameter information and whose image is not displayed.  
         [0065]    A process of causing the exposure system  601  to read the composite parameter file  501  will be described below along the steps. This process is executed by the console CPU  331 , and a resultant parameter file is stored in the memory  332 .  
         [0066]    First, in step S 901 , a part of the image display information portion  503  is read from the composite parameter file  501 . In step S 902 , it is checked whether the text segment in the read part of the image display information portion  503  has a piece of parameter information. As described with reference to FIG. 8, a text segment having one or more pieces of parameter information may have a tag (e.g., &lt;desc&gt;) indicative of parameter information like the portion  1103  or may have character strings which have a plurality of pairs of a parameter ID and its value (neither is shown in the example of FIG. 10A nor  10 B) or an attribute (e.g., row=“1” and clm=“3”) such as “1110”, “1112”, or “1113”. The text segment is not limited to a specified format, and any format can be adopted as far as the format complies with the display format of source image display information and is known in advance.  
         [0067]    If the text segment in the part of the image display information portion  503  has a piece of parameter information, the flow advances to step S 903 ; otherwise, the flow advances to step S 905 . In step S 903 , an ID or the like for specifying a parameter and the value of the parameter are extracted from the text segment having the piece of parameter information, and the value is stored at a corresponding address for setting the value of a parameter in the memory of the console CPU  331 . Sending the value to the exposure system  601  changes the operation of the exposure system  601 . When the value of the parameter is set at the above-mentioned address, the flow advances to step S 904 . In step S 904 , it is checked whether the text segment in the read part of the image display information portion  503  has more pieces of parameter information. If one or more pieces of parameter information remain, the flow starts again from step S 903 ; otherwise, the flow advances to step S 905 . In step S 905 , it is checked whether the read text segment has the final part of the image display information portion  503 . If YES in step S 905 , the process ends.  
         [0068]    In the above-mentioned manner, entire parameter information in the composite parameter file  501  can be loaded into the exposure system  601 . If the text segment does not have the final part, the flow starts again from step S 901 .  
         [0069]    [0069]FIGS. 10A and 10B show examples of the image display information portion  503  (SVG text) to be processed in this embodiment. FIG. 11 is a simplified view of the example of FIGS. 10A and 10B. A brief description will be given with reference to FIG. 11. The description exemplifies a case wherein Internet Explorer which incorporates SVG viewer as a plug-in is employed as the image display means  602 . FIG. 12 shows an image which the image display means  602  displays using the SVG text. Referring to FIG. 11, an entire portion  1101  of the SVG text has an XML declaration and a document type declaration. The portion  1102  bounded by tags &lt;svg&gt; and &lt;/svg&gt; describes the main body of the image display information portion  503 . To distinguish between a name for a parameter and a name for SVG, character strings “job” are defined in the name space of a parameter name. If parameter names and SVG names do not share the same names, name spaces are unnecessary. The portion  1103  bounded by tags &lt;desc&gt; and &lt;/desc&gt; is used to explain an SVG file. In this embodiment, a portion bounded by tags &lt;param&gt; and &lt;/param&gt; has a general parameter which is not directly related to an image. The parameter ID designated by id and the value of each parameter are included in a portion bounded by tags &lt;param&gt; and &lt;/param&gt;. In this example, the first parameter whose parameter id is P 1 _ 12345  has a value of 123.45. Although only three parameters are shown here, this portion can actually describe more parameters. A portion  1104  including a tag &lt;path/&gt; is used to create an image of a circular wafer. A portion  1105  is used to display the value of the diameter of the wafer. A portion  1106  is used for a shot layout to be drawn on the wafer and sample shots. A portion  1107  has definitions to be used later. A portion  1108  has a definition used to draw the shot layout;  1109 , a definition used to draw the sample shots. The portion  1110  is used to draw the shot layout. A tag &lt;use/&gt; for drawing each shot has, e.g., the values of job parameters such as a row number, a column number, X- and Y-coordinates, a focus value, and an exposure amount as attributes. A portion  1111  is used to draw “Column”, “Row”, and their numbers. The portion  1112  is used to draw a sample shot whose id is GTILT. This sample shot is displayed only for one second upon pressing a button GTILT drawn using a portion  1114 . The portion  1113  is used to draw a sample shot whose id is TPOC. This sample shot is also displayed only for one second upon pressing a button TPOC drawn using a portion  1115 . A tag &lt;use/&gt; used to draw each shot of the portions  1112  and  1113  has the values of the job parameters for a row number and column number as attributes.  
         [0070]    The exposure system, which serves as the information processing apparatus of this embodiment, is not limited to have the arrangement of this embodiment. The exposure system may also be applied to a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, a job server which manages jobs, a Web server which is accessible from, e.g., the Internet, an intranet, or the like. The exposure system can be applied to any apparatus as far as the apparatus manages parameters for controlling an exposure apparatus. In addition, the exposure system may include a console unit. Although in this embodiment, a composite parameter file is stored in a storage of a console unit connected to an exposure system, the present invention is not limited to this. The composite parameter file may be stored in, e.g., an external connectable storage or a removable storage medium. The composite parameter file may be an abstract file formed by collecting related data and may not be stored in a medium. For example, the composite parameter file may be a collection of data to be communicated or may indicate the location of parameters. Although in this embodiment, one SVG file has the entire text, the present invention may use a plurality of files. For example, an HTML file may have the addresses of an SVG file, XML file, and the like. In this embodiment, the process for a composite parameter file has been written as handling a file of character strings. The process may handle DOM  
         [0071]    (Document Object Model).  
         [0072]    With this arrangement, the layout of a job parameter file or an image of a sample shot can easily be viewed with a common standard tool even in a processing apparatus other than an exposure apparatus. This facilitates the handling of a job parameter file.  
         [0073]    [Second Embodiment] 
         [0074]    The first embodiment enables a processing apparatus other than an exposure apparatus to display the contents of a parameter file as an image. In addition to this, the second embodiment can edit parameters in the parameter file. A method of implementing this will be described as the second embodiment. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in write operation of a composite parameter file and is identical to the first embodiment in read operation of the composite parameter file. Since a processing method for the read operation is similar to that shown in the flow chart of FIG. 9, a file write process will be described.  
         [0075]    [0075]FIG. 13 is diagram showing an example of the structure of a composite parameter file according to the present invention. A composite parameter file  1301  includes a script portion  1302  in addition to the contents of the composite parameter file  401  of FIG. 4. A parameter information portion  402  has the same contents as those of parameter information in a conventional parameter file. An image display information portion  403  has image display information for displaying an image on a standard viewer such as SVG Viewer, a Web browser which incorporates predetermined plug-ins, or the like. The script portion  1302  has a program for editing the parameter information portion  402  or image display information portion  403 . In FIG. 13, a case is exemplified wherein the composite parameter file  1301  is divided into the parameter information portion  402 , image display information portion  403 , and script portion  1302 .  
         [0076]    [0076]FIG. 14 is a diagram showing another example of the structure of a composite parameter file  1401  according to the present invention. FIG. 14 shows a case wherein parameter information portions  502  and script portions  1402  are incorporated in an image display information portion  503 . The following description of this embodiment will exemplify the use of the composite parameter file  1401  shown in FIG. 14. The image display information portion  503  has image display information for creating an image on a standard viewer such as SVG viewer or the like. Each parameter information portion  502  has the same contents as those of parameter information in a conventional parameter file. The script portion  1402  has a program for editing the parameter information portions  502  and image display information portion  503 . The parameter information portions  502 , each of which has the same contents as those of parameter information in a conventional parameter file, are dispersely arranged in the image display information portion  503 , as needed. The composite parameter file  1401  is arranged in the image display information portion  503  so as to include the parameter information portions  502  and script portions  1402 .  
         [0077]    [0077]FIG. 15 is a conceptual view showing an outline of the process flow of the composite parameter file  1401 . An exposure system  601  includes a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, an apparatus system such as a job server which manages the composite parameter file  1401  including job parameters, a system which manages, e.g., job parameters by a Web server, or the like. A console unit  330  can write the composite parameter file  1401  from the exposure system  601 . The processing sequence for this is shown in the flow chart of FIG. 16. The console unit  330  can also cause the exposure system  601  to read the composite parameter file  1401 , and its processing sequence is shown in the flow chart of FIG. 9. Image display means  602  each reads the image display information portion  503  compliant with a prescribed description method and displays an image corresponding to a text in the image display information. The image display means  602  can execute a program in the script portion  1402  to implement functions of a parameter editor. That is, the image display means  602  can modify the composite parameter file  1401  or image display information portion  503  through the operator&#39;s operation or the like. As for a simple parameter which is not directly related to an image, such as one arranged in a portion  1803  (to be described later), the parameter name and value are displayed, and the value can be changed. This change requires basically the same arrangement as that required to edit parameters to de displayed as an image (to be described later), and a description thereof will be omitted. As the image display means  602 , e.g., Internet Explorer available from Microsoft which incorporates SVG viewer available from Adobe as a plug-in can be employed. The image display means  602  reads the composite parameter file  1401  and displays an image. In this case, the image is created on the basis of the information in the image display information portion  503  of the composite parameter file  1401 . Since the information in the parameter information portion  502  or script portion  1402  is incorporated as comments, descriptions, attributes of the image, and the like, it is not directly displayed as an image.  
         [0078]    A case wherein the console unit  330  writes the composite parameter file  1401  from the exposure system  601  will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 16. The image display information portion  503  is written in the SVG format as an XML document, and a portion bounded by a pair of tags (e.g., &lt;g&gt; and &lt;/g&gt;) is normally considered as one text. However, a text in this embodiment adopts a unit different from that of a normal XML document. Statements written at a time, which correspond to one line in FIGS. 17A and 17B (to be described later), or a statement of one line will be referred to as a text segment. In the following description, image display information has a text segment which is used for parameter information and whose image is not displayed. Contents and their orders of the image display information substantially depend on the values of parameters. To intelligibly explain a process of adding the parameter information portion  502  or script portion  1402  to the image display information portion  503 , job parameters stored in a memory  332  are read into the memory of a console CPU  331 , and a template image display information set serving as a template for creating an image is prepared as follows. The parameter information portion  502  or script portion  1402  is added to the template image display information set by a process shown in the flow chart of FIG. 16. For this purpose, a condition setter  610  of the console unit  330  sets conditions for displaying an image in a format adapted to the image display means  602  on the basis of parameter information from the exposure system  601 . An image display information generator  611  of the console unit  330  generates the image display information portion  503  for displaying an image in the above-mentioned format on the basis of the parameter information so as to satisfy the conditions set by the condition setter  610 . More specifically, in the image display information portion  503  for displaying an image, the condition setter  610  increases/decreases the number of lines of a text or makes it possible to write, at a subsequent time, actual numerical values and character strings in variable portions of the text, on the basis of, e.g., the values of parameters (e.g., number of shots, shot size, and position of a shot) in the parameter information. Then, the image display information generator  611  creates the image display information set as the template for creating an image before the process shown in the flow chart of FIG. 16 and keeps it in the memory of the console CPU  331 . The script portion  1402  to be added to the image display information portion  503  is prepared in the memory of the console CPU  331  in accordance with the parameters like the above-mentioned template. A process of writing the composite parameter file  1401  from the exposure system  601  will be described below along the steps of the flow chart of FIG. 16. This process is executed by the console CPU  331 , and a resultant parameter file is stored in the memory  332 .  
         [0079]    The write operation of a composite parameter file having a parameter editing function will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 16. The first half steps S 1601  to S 1604  are the same as the steps S 801  to S 804  in FIG. 9.  
         [0080]    First, in step S 1601 , a part of the image display information portion  503  is loaded from the template image display information set stored in the memory  332  into the memory of the console CPU  331 . In step S 1602 , it is checked whether the text segment in the part of the image display information portion  503  has a piece of parameter information. In examples of FIGS. 17A, 17B and  18  (to be described later), parameters which are not directly related to an image are written in the portion  1803  bounded by tags &lt;desc&gt; and &lt;/desc&gt;. A text block  1809  is used to create an image of a shot layout whose id is S 1  and which includes an array of exposure shots. If the text segment in the part has a piece of parameter information, the flow advances to step S 1603 ; otherwise, the flow advances to step S 1605 . In step S 1603 , a converter  612  of the console unit  330  converts the piece of parameter information, which is loaded from the text segment into the memory of the console CPU  331 , into a format adapted to the image display means  602  on the basis of the job parameters for controlling the exposure apparatus stored in the memory  332 . An adder  613  of the console unit  330  adds the parameter information portion  502  obtained by the conversion into the above-mentioned format to the part of the image display information portion  503 . The parameter information portion  502  obtained by the conversion may have a tag indicative of parameter information like the portion  1803  or may have character strings which have a plurality of pairs of a parameter ID and its value such as “PID:data” (neither is shown in the example of FIG. 17A nor  17 B) or an attribute (e.g., row=“2” and clm=“1”) such as “1809”. The parameter information portion  502  is not limited to a specified format, and any format can be adopted as far as the format complies with the display format of source image display information. In step S 1604 , it is checked whether the part of the image display information portion  503  has more pieces of parameter information to be added. If one or more pieces of parameter information remain to be added, the flow returns to step S 1603 ; otherwise, the flow advances to step S 1605 . In step S 1605 , the part of the image display information portion  503  is written. The part of the image display information portion  503  is prepared in the memory of the console CPU  331 , and at this time, it may or may not have parameter statements. When the write operation of the part of the image display information portion  503  ends, the flow advances to step S 1606 . In step S 1606 , it is checked whether the part of the image display information portion  503  written in step S 1606  has a tag &lt;script&gt; indicative of a script area. If the part does not have a &lt;script&gt; tag, the flow advances to step S 1609 ; otherwise, the flow advances to step S 1607 . In step S 1607 , predetermined scripts prepared in the memory of the console CPU  331  is written. Then in step S 1608 , a tag &lt;/script&gt; which indicates the end of scripts is written. The flow advances to step S 1609 . In step S 1609 , it is checked whether the image display information of interest has the final part of the image display information set. In the example of FIG. 18, &lt;/svg&gt; in a portion  1802  indicates end of text. If YES in step S 1609 , the process ends; otherwise, the flow starts again from the step S 1601 . In this manner, the composite parameter file  1401  is so created as to include as many pieces of parameter information as needed for the exposure system  601  and be capable of displaying an image by the image display means  602 .  
         [0081]    [0081]FIGS. 17A and 17B show examples of image display information (SVG text) to be processed in this embodiment. FIG. 18 is a simplified view of the examples of FIGS. 17A and 17B. A brief description will be given with reference to FIG. 18. The description exemplifies a case wherein Internet Explorer which incorporates SVG viewer as a plug-in is employed as the image display means  602 . An image which the image display means  602  displays using the SVG text corresponds to an image obtained by removing the buttons GTILT and TPOC from the image in FIG. 12. An entire portion  1801  of the SVG text includes an XML declaration and a document type declaration. A portion “&lt;?AdobeSVGViewer save=” snapshot“?&gt;” makes it possible to save the image display information portion  503 , whose contents are changed by an editor function of this embodiment, at the time of execution of a command “Save SVG As . . . ” which is displayed by right-clicking on the displayed image.  
         [0082]    The portion  1802  bounded by tags &lt;svg&gt; and &lt;/svg&gt; describes the main body of the image display information portion  503 . To distinguish between a name for a parameter and a name for SVG, character strings “job” are defined in the name space of a parameter name. If parameter names and SVG names do not share the same names, name spaces are unnecessary. The portion  1803  bounded by tags &lt;desc&gt; and &lt;/desc&gt; is used to explain an SVG file. In this embodiment, a portion bounded by tags &lt;param&gt; and &lt;/param&gt; has a general parameter which is not directly related to an image. The parameter ID designated by id and the value of each parameter are included in a portion bounded by tags &lt;param&gt; and &lt;/param&gt;. In this example, the first parameter whose parameter id is P 1 _ 12345  has a value of 123.45. Although only three parameters are shown here, this portion actually describes more parameters. A portion  1804  including a tag &lt;path/&gt; is used to create an image of a circular wafer. A portion  1805  is used to display the value of the diameter of the wafer. A portion  1806  is used for a shot layout to be drawn on the wafer. A portion  1807  has definitions to be used later; a portion  1808 , a definition used to draw the shot layout. A portion  1809  is used to draw the shot layout. A tag &lt;use/&gt; for drawing each shot has, e.g., the values of job parameters such as a row number, a column number, X- and Y-coordinates, a focus value, and an exposure amount as attributes. A portion  1810  is used to draw “Column”, “Row”, and their numbers. A portion  1811  describes scripts including a portion bounded by tags &lt;script&gt; and &lt;/script&gt;. A portion  1812  describes a script for adding a shot at a clicked portion of an image of the circular wafer. A portion  1813  describes a script for removing a rectangle shot upon clicking the shot.  
         [0083]    The exposure system, which serves as the information processing apparatus of this embodiment, is not limited to have the arrangement of this embodiment, as described in the preceding paragraph. The exposure system may also be applied to a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, a job server which manages jobs, a Web server which is accessible from, e.g., the Internet, an intranet, or the like. The exposure system can be applied to any apparatus as far as the apparatus manages parameters for controlling an exposure apparatus. If the information processing apparatus according to this embodiment is applied to a Web server, it can save a composite parameter file to the Web server and read it from the Web server through a network (e.g., by specifying the address of the Web server, such as “http://semi.sample.org/job/sample.svg”). The save operation of the parameter file involves sending and saving it to the Web server. This differs from the examples of FIGS. 17A and 17B. To send the parameter file to the Web server, an image of a button Save is created, and the following script is written as an event process which is executed upon pressing the button:  
         [0084]    var text =printNode( svgDocument );  
         [0085]    postURL( “http://semi.sample.org/job/svgsave.cgi? sample.svg”, text, cb);  
         [0086]    where cb represents a callback routine for receiving a status as a result of sending a composite parameter file to the Web server. The Web server may receive the sent composite parameter file using a CGI program (e.g., svgsave.cgi) and execute the save operation. In addition, the exposure system may include a console unit.  
         [0087]    Although in this embodiment, a composite parameter file is stored in a storage of a console unit connected to an apparatus or system, the present invention is not limited to this. The composite parameter file may be stored in, e.g., an external connectable storage or a removable storage medium. The composite parameter file may be an abstract file formed by collecting related data and may not be stored in a medium. For example, the composite parameter file may be a collection of data to be communicated or may indicate the location of parameters. Although in this embodiment, one SVG file includes the entire text, the present invention may use a plurality of files. For example, an HTML file may have the addresses of an SVG file, XML file, and the like. A script included in a program for editing the parameter information portion  402  or image display information portion  403  can be written using Java Script (registered trademark) (ECMA Script) or the like. The present invention, however, is not limited to this. For example, a program language such as Java (registered trademark), C#, or the like may be employed in accordance with the image display means  602 . Scripts or programs is not limited to comprise character strings easily understandable to the users. For example, scripts or programs may be encoded, compiled, converted into an intermediate language, or compressed.  
         [0088]    With this arrangement, the layout of a job parameter file or an image of a sample shot can easily be viewed with a common standard tool in a piece of equipment other than an apparatus. Parameters can be modified regardless whether they are related to an image. This facilitates the handling of job parameters.  
         [0089]    [Third Embodiment] 
         [0090]    The second embodiment makes it possible to edit parameters in a parameter file. The editing operation may also be performed by voice. A method of implementing this will be described as the third embodiment. The third embodiment is identical to the first embodiment in read operation of a composite parameter file, and a processing method for the read operation is similar to that shown in the flow chart of FIG. 9. The third embodiment is different from the second embodiment in write operation of a composite parameter file, and its flow is slightly different from that shown in the flow chart of FIG. 16. The flow of the third embodiment is obtained by replacing a part of the description of step S 1601  “a part of image display information is loaded from the template image display information set into the memory of the console CPU  331 ” with “a part of image display information is loaded from the template image display information set which has a text segment written in a voice-capable description language into the memory of the console CPU  331  by voice response operation of a parameter editing function”. Similarly to the second embodiment, the number of lines of a text for displaying an image which has a text segment written in a voice-capable description language is increased/decreased on the basis of the values of parameters (e.g., the number of shots) or the text is arranged to write, at a subsequent time, actual numerical values and character strings in its variable portions on the basis of the values of parameters (e.g., shot size and position of a shot). With this operation, the template image display information set is prepared in advance so as to serve as a template for creating an image operable by voice and have a text segment written in a voice-capable description language (e.g., Voice XML).  
         [0091]    [0091]FIG. 19 is a conceptual view showing an outline of the process flow of a composite parameter file  1901 . An exposure system  601  includes a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, an apparatus system such as a job server which manages the composite parameter file  1901  having job parameters, a system which manages, e.g., job parameters by a Web server, or the like. A console unit  330  can write the composite parameter file  1901  from the exposure system  601 . The processing sequence for this is obtained by slightly modifying the flow chart of FIG. 16. The console unit  330  can also cause the exposure system  601  to read the composite parameter file  1901 , and its processing sequence is shown in the flow chart of FIG. 9 (partial modification is necessary). Image display means  602  each reads an image display information portion  503  compliant with a prescribed description method and displays an image corresponding to the image display information portion  503 . The image display means  602  can execute a program in the script portion  1402  to implement functions of a parameter editor. That is, the image display means  602  can modify the parameter information portion  502  or image display information portion  503  through mouse operation, touch panel operation, keyboard operation, voice operation in accordance with a voice response description portion  1902 , or the like of the operator. As the image display means  602 , e.g., Internet Explorer available from Microsoft which incorporates SVG viewer available from Adobe as a plug-in can be employed. The image display means  602  reads the composite parameter file  1901  and displays an image. In this case, the image is created on the basis of the information in the image display information portion  503  of the composite parameter file  1901 . Since the information in the parameter information portion  502  is incorporated as comments, descriptions, attributes of the image, and the like, it is not directly displayed as an image. Also, the information in the script portion  1402  or voice response description portion  1902  is not directly displayed as an image. A process of writing the composite parameter file  1901  from the exposure system  601  is the same as that shown in the flow chart of FIG. 16, and a description of the steps will be omitted.  
         [0092]    The image display means  602  may be operated only by voice. The image display means  1903  also allows normal operation using a mouse, touch panel, keyboard, or the like. That is, the image display means  1903  allows multimodal operation.  
         [0093]    With this arrangement, the layout of job parameters or an image of a sample shot can easily be viewed with a common image display means even in a processing apparatus other than an exposure apparatus, and parameters can be modified by voice instructions regardless whether they are related to an image. This facilitates the handling of job parameters. The layout of a job parameter file or an image of a sample shot can easily be viewed with a common standard tool in a piece of equipment other than an exposure apparatus. For example, the details of processes performed by jobs can easily be known before loading a job parameter file into an exposure apparatus. This facilitates the handling of a job parameter file.  
         [0094]    In addition, the layout of job parameters or an image of a sample shot can easily be viewed with a common standard tool in a piece of equipment other than an exposure apparatus, and parameters can be modified regardless whether they are related to an image. This facilitates the handling of job parameters.  
         [0095]    Moreover, the layout of job parameters or an image of a sample shot can easily be viewed with a common standard tool in a piece of equipment other than an exposure apparatus, and parameters can be modified by voice instructions regardless whether they are related to an image. This facilitates the handling of job parameters.  
         [0096]    The manufacturing process of a semiconductor device as an example of a device such as a microdevice using the above-mentioned exposure system or apparatus will be described next. FIG. 20 shows the flow of the whole manufacturing process of the semiconductor device. In step  1  (circuit design), a semiconductor device circuit is designed. In step  2  (mask formation), a mask having the designed circuit pattern is formed.  
         [0097]    In step  3  (wafer manufacture), a wafer (substrate) is manufactured by using a material such as silicon. In step  4  (wafer process) called a preprocess, an actual circuit is formed on the wafer by lithography using the prepared mask and wafer. Step  5  (assembly) called a post-process is the step of forming a semiconductor chip by using the wafer formed in step  4 , and includes an assembly process (dicing and bonding) and packaging process (chip encapsulation). In step  6  (inspection), the semiconductor device manufactured in step  5  undergoes inspections such as an operation confirmation test and durability test of the semiconductor device manufactured in step  5 . After these steps, the semiconductor device is completed and shipped (step  7 ).  
         [0098]    The wafer process in step  4  comprises the following steps. More specifically, the wafer process includes an oxidation step of oxidizing the wafer surface, a CVD step of forming an insulating film on the wafer surface, an electrode formation step of forming an electrode on the wafer by vapor deposition, an ion implantation step of implanting ions in the wafer, a resist processing step of applying a photosensitive agent to the wafer, an exposure step of transferring the circuit pattern onto the wafer having undergone the resist processing step using the above-mentioned exposure apparatuses, a development step of developing the wafer exposed in the exposure step, an etching step of etching the resist except for the resist image developed in the development step, and a resist removal step of removing an unnecessary resist after etching. These steps are repeated to form multiple circuit patterns on the wafer.  
         [0099]    According to the present invention, the working efficiency can be increased in exposure processing.  
         [0100]    As many apparently widely different embodiments of the present invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments thereof except as defined in the claims.