Patent Publication Number: US-11387127-B2

Title: Substrate treating apparatus and substrate transfer apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     A claim for priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 is made to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0086540 filed on Jul. 17, 2019, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Embodiments of the inventive concept described herein relate to a substrate treating apparatus. 
     In general, in a semiconductor manufacturing process, an arrangement of fine patterns is formed by repeatedly performing various processes such as deposition of an insulating film and a metallic material, etching, photoresist coating, developing, ashing, and the like. Foreign matter not completely removed by the etching or ashing process remains on a substrate. A wet cleaning process using deionized water or chemical is used as a process for removal of the foreign matter. 
     A substrate cleaning apparatus supplies chemical or deionized water to a substrate through a nozzle above the substrate while rotating the substrate by a motor after clamping the substrate to a substrate chuck in a small chamber capable of treating a single substrate. The chemical or the deionized water is spread over the substrate by the rotating force of the substrate, and accordingly the foreign matter adhering to the substrate is removed. 
       FIG. 1  is a view illustrating an arrangement structure of a substrate cleaning apparatus in the related art. The substrate cleaning apparatus includes an index module  12 , a buffer unit  13 , and a process module  14 . 
     In the substrate cleaning apparatus, the process module  14  may include a total of 12 process chambers in a case where a maximum of four towers exist and each of the towers is constituted by three process chambers. 
     Furthermore, the substrate cleaning apparatus requires an index robot responsible for transferring a substrate in the index module  12  and a main transfer robot responsible for transferring the substrate in the process module  14 . A buffer chamber that plays an intermediary role in the transfer of the substrate between the index robot and the main transfer robot is essential. 
     Because the substrate cleaning apparatus requires the two transfer robots and the buffer chamber as described above, spatial loss and a bottleneck phenomenon may occur. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the inventive concept provide a substrate treating apparatus and a substrate transfer apparatus for increasing the number of process chambers that are installed in an existing equipment area. 
     Embodiments of the inventive concept provide a substrate treating apparatus and a substrate transfer apparatus for maximizing throughput of the apparatus. 
     The technical problems to be solved by the inventive concept are not limited to the aforementioned problems, and any other technical problems not mentioned herein will be clearly understood from the following description by those skilled in the art to which the inventive concept pertains. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment, a substrate treating apparatus includes a plurality of load ports on which carriers having substrates received therein are placed, a plurality of process chambers that perform processes on the substrates, and a transfer robot that transfers the substrates between the load ports and the process chambers. The transfer robot is movable along a transfer passage having a lengthwise direction formed along a first direction, the load ports and the process chambers are arranged along the first direction on one side and an opposite side of the transfer passage, and the transfer robot transfers the substrates between the carriers placed on the load ports and the process chambers. 
     A substrate entrance/exit opening of a first process chamber disposed on the one side of the transfer passage among the process chambers and a substrate entrance/exit opening of a second process chamber disposed on the opposite side of the transfer passage may be provided at different heights. 
     An upper end of a first process chamber disposed on the one side of the transfer passage among the process chambers and an upper end of a second process chamber disposed on the opposite side of the transfer passage may be provided at different heights. 
     The transfer robot may include a plurality of hands disposed at different heights, and the plurality of hands may simultaneously transfer the substrates into or out of the first process chamber and the second process chamber. 
     The plurality of hands may be rotatable to face one direction so as to simultaneously transfer the substrates into or out of one process chamber or a carrier placed on one load port. 
     A height difference between the substrate entrance/exit opening of the first process chamber and the substrate entrance/exit opening of the second process chamber or a height difference between the upper end of the first process chamber and the upper end of the second process chamber may correspond to a height difference between adjacent hands among the plurality of hands. 
     The load ports may be disposed to face each other, with the transfer passage therebetween. 
     Each of the load ports may include a vertical frame having a port door that opens or closes a door of a carrier, a mounting table on which the carrier is seated and that is movable to a position in which the door of the carrier is opened or closed by the port door, and a moving member that moves the carrier to the mounting table from a first position in which the carrier is transferred from a carrier transfer device. 
     The moving member may include a moving table capable of rotating and sliding such that the door of the carrier faces toward the port door of the load port. 
     The moving table may be located under a path along which the carrier transfer device moves. 
     A transfer robot for transferring substrates between carriers placed on load ports and process chambers includes a first hand and a second hand disposed at different heights, in which the first hand transfers the substrates into or out of one of a first process chamber and a second process chamber disposed to be opposite to each other with respect to a transfer passage, and the second hand transfers the substrates into or out of the other process chamber at the same time as the first hand. 
     One of the first hand and the second hand may be rotatable such that the first hand and the second hand face one direction to simultaneously transfer the substrates into or out of one of the first process chamber and the second process chamber. 
     A height difference between the first hand and the second hand may correspond to a height difference between a substrate entrance/exit opening of the first process chamber and a substrate entrance/exit opening of the second process chamber. 
     Each of the first hand and the second hand may include a plurality of transfer hands. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The above and other objects and features will become apparent from the following description with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various figures unless otherwise specified, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a view illustrating an arrangement structure of a substrate cleaning apparatus in the related art; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a substrate treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the inventive concept; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view illustrating the substrate treating apparatus according to the embodiment of the inventive concept; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the apparatus of  FIG. 3  when viewed from in direction A-A; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a transfer robot in the apparatus of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the transfer robot illustrated in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a view illustrating load ports in the apparatus of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view illustrating a load port illustrated in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIGS. 9 to 12  are views illustrating steps of a process of loading a carrier onto the load port; and 
         FIG. 13  is a view illustrating another embodiment of the transfer robot. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As the inventive concept allows for various changes and numerous embodiments, exemplary embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the written description. However, this is not intended to limit the inventive concept to particular modes of practice, and it should be appreciated that all changes, equivalents, and substitutes that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the inventive concept are encompassed in the inventive concept. In describing the inventive concept, detailed descriptions related to well-known functions or configurations will be omitted when they may make subject matters of the inventive concept obscure. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of the inventive concept. The terms of a singular form may include plural forms unless otherwise specified. It should be understood that terms such as “comprise”, “include”, and “have”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof. 
     The terms such as first, second, and the like may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. The terms may be used only for distinguishing one component from others. 
     Hereinafter, embodiments according to the inventive concept will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In describing the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, identical or corresponding components are provided with identical reference numerals in the drawings regardless of the reference numerals, and repetitive descriptions thereof will be omitted. 
     In this embodiment, a semiconductor wafer exemplifies a substrate. However, the substrate may be various types of substrates, such as a photomask, a flat display panel, and the like, in addition to the semiconductor wafer. Furthermore, in this embodiment, it will be exemplified that a substrate treating apparatus is an apparatus for performing a substrate cleaning process. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a substrate treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the inventive concept.  FIG. 3  is a plan view illustrating the substrate treating apparatus according to the embodiment of the inventive concept.  FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the apparatus of  FIG. 3  when viewed from in direction A-A. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 4 , a substrate treating apparatus  1000  of the inventive concept may include an index module  100 , a process module  200 , and a transfer robot  900 . 
     The index module  100  and the process module  200  are sequentially disposed in a row. Hereinafter, a direction in which the index module  100  and the process module  200  are arranged is referred to as a first direction X. A direction perpendicular to the first direction X when viewed from above is referred to as a second direction Y, and a direction perpendicular to the plane including the first direction X and the second direction Y is referred to as a third direction Z. 
     The process module  200  may include a first process module  200 - 1 , a second process module  200 - 2 , and a transfer chamber  800 . In the first process module  200 - 1  and the second process module  200 - 2 , towers T, each of which has process chambers  300  stacked one above another in the third direction Z, are disposed along the lengthwise direction of the transfer chamber  800 . That is, the process chambers  300  may be disposed in an A×B array (A and B being natural numbers of 1 or larger) on one side of the transfer chamber  800 . Here, “A” is the number of process chambers  300  provided along the first direction X, and “B” is the number of process chambers  300  provided along the third direction Z. In a case where six or nine process chambers  300  are provided on the one side of the transfer chamber  800 , the process chambers  300  may be disposed in a 2×3 or 3×3 array. The number of process chambers  300  may be increased or decreased. 
     In this embodiment, each of the towers T may have a structure in which three process chambers  300  are stacked one above another. Accordingly, the first process module  200 - 1  may include a total of nine process chambers  300  that the transfer robot  900  is able to access. Likewise to the first process module  200 - 1 , the second process module  200 - 2  may include a total of nine process chambers  300  that the transfer robot  900  is able to access. 
     Substrate treating apparatuses for performing cleaning processes on substrates W are provided in the process chambers  300 , respectively. The substrate treating apparatuses provided in the process chambers  300  may have different structures depending on the types of cleaning processes performed. Alternatively, the substrate treating apparatuses in the respective process chambers  300  may have the same structure. In another case, the process chambers  300  may be divided into a plurality of groups. The substrate treating apparatuses provided in the process chambers  300  belonging to the same group may have the same structure. The substrate treating apparatuses provided in the process chambers  300  belonging to different groups may have different structures. 
     For example, in a case where the process chambers  300  are divided into two groups, a first group of process chambers  300  may be provided in the first process module  200 - 1  located on the one side of the transfer chamber  800 , and a second group of process chambers  300  may be provided in the second process module  200 - 2  located on an opposite side of the transfer chamber  800 . Selectively, on the one side and the opposite side of the transfer chamber  800 , the first group of process chambers  300  may be provided in a lower layer, and the second group of process chambers  300  may be provided in an upper layer. The first group of process chambers  300  may be distinguished from the second group of process chambers  300  depending on the types of chemicals used and the types of cleaning methods. 
     The index module  100  may include a first load port  100 - 1  and a second load port  100 - 2 . The first load port  100 - 1  and the second load port  100 - 2  may be located to face each other with the transfer chamber  800  therebetween. 
     The process chambers  300  of the first process module  200 - 1  and the process chambers  300  of the second process module  200 - 2 , which are disposed to face each other, may be provided at different heights. For example, the heights of substrate entrance/exit openings  301  of the process chambers  300  disposed in the first process module  200 - 1  may differ from the heights of substrate entrance/exit openings  301  of the process chambers  300  disposed in the second process module  200 - 2 . In other words, the heights of upper ends of the process chambers  300  disposed in the first process module  200 - 1  may differ from the heights of upper ends of the process chambers  300  disposed in the second process module  200 - 2 . A height difference “t” between the process chambers  300  of the first process module  200 - 1  and the process chambers  300  of the second process module  200 - 2  may correspond to a height difference between adjacent hands among a plurality of hands. 
     The transfer robot  900  is provided in the transfer chamber  800  so as to be movable. The transfer robot  900  serves to transfer substrates between the index module  100  and the process module  200 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating the transfer robot in the apparatus of  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 6  is a side view of the transfer robot illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the transfer robot  900  may include a main body  902 , a base  904 , and a plurality of hands  910 . 
     The base  904  may be provided on the main body  902  so as to be rotatable and height-adjustable. 
     The plurality of hands  910  may include a first hand  920  and a second hand  930 . The first hand  920  and the second hand  930  may be disposed at different heights on the base  904 . A height difference between the first hand  920  and the second hand  930  corresponds to the height difference “t” between the process chambers  300  of the first process module  200 - 1  and the process chambers  300  of the second process module  200 - 2 . 
     The first hand  920  may transfer substrates into or out of the process chambers  300  of the first process module  200 - 1 , and the second hand  930  may transfer substrates into or out of the process chambers  300  of the process module  200 - 2  at the same time as the first hand  920 . 
     Furthermore, the first hand  920  and the second hand  930  may operate to simultaneously transfer substrates into or out of substrate carriers seated on the first load port  100 - 1  and the second load port  100 - 2 . That is, the first hand  920  and the second hand  930  may extract substrates from the substrate carriers seated on the first load port  100 - 1  and the second load port  100 - 2 , or may place substrates in the substrate carriers seated on the first load port  100 - 1  and the second load port  100 - 2 . 
     For example, each of the first hand  920  and the second hand  930  may include two transfer hands  922  and  924  for replacement of substrates. For example, one of the two transfer hands  922  and  924  extracts a completely processed substrate from the process chamber  300 , and the other places a non-processed substrate in the process chamber  300 . In this embodiment, the first hand  920  and the second hand  930  are illustrated as having the two transfer hands  922  and  924 . However, the first hand  920  and the second hand  930  are not limited thereto. 
     The first hand  922  and the second hand  924  may be independently moved forward and backward in the same direction at different heights. In this embodiment, the first hand  911  may be located over the second hand  924 . Each of the first and second hands  922  and  924  includes a pocket part on which a substrate is placed, and the pocket part has the shape of “⊂”. The shape of the pocket part is not limited to the shape of “⊂” and may be changed into various shapes. 
     The transfer robot  900  performs a substrate pickup operation in a state (a pickup position) in which the first transfer hand  922  or the second transfer hand  924  is moved forward. The transfer robot  900  performs a substrate transfer operation in a state (a home position) in which the first transfer hand  922  or the second transfer hand  924  is moved backward. 
     As described above, the transfer robot  900  includes the bidirectional hands, thereby minimizing a bottleneck phenomenon. 
       FIG. 7  is a view illustrating the load ports in the apparatus of  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 8  is a side view illustrating the load port illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , in this embodiment, the first load port  100 - 1  and the second load port  100 - 2  have the same configuration. Therefore, a configuration of the first load port  100 - 1  will hereinafter be described in detail, and description of a configuration of the second load port  100 - 2  will be omitted. 
     The first load port  100 - 1  may include a vertical frame  110  that is placed in a vertical position and that includes a port door  112  for opening or closing a door D of a carrier C, a mounting table  120  formed in a structure in which the carrier C is seated on an upper surface, and a moving member  130  that moves the carrier C to the mounting table  120  from a first position in which the carrier C is transferred from a carrier transfer device. The mounting table  120  is mounted in a structure capable of moving in a direction toward or away from the port door  112 . 
     Here, the carrier C includes a body that is open at one side and is selectively opened or closed by the door D and that has a plurality of slots therein in which substrates are loaded. For example, a front opening unified pod (FOUP) may be used as the carrier C. The door D is inserted into the open side of the carrier C to seal the interior of the carrier C from the outside and has a plurality of recesses that are coupled with the port door  112  of the first load port  100 - 1 . 
     The vertical frame  110  is installed such that at least part thereof is attached to the transfer chamber  800 . The vertical frame  110  is installed in an upright position to constitute part of a side of the transfer chamber  800 . The port door  112 , which can be opened or closed, is formed in the vertical frame  110  to allow a substrate to be transferred into the transfer chamber  800 . 
     While being brought into close contact with the door D installed at the one side of the carrier C, the port door  12  may operate between a state of opening the door D and a state of isolating the interior space of the transfer chamber  800  and the interior space of the carrier C. The operation of the port door  112  may be performed by a motor and gears in the vertical frame  110 . Alternatively, the port door  112  may be driven by a pneumatic cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder. Because the interior of the transfer chamber  800  is maintained as a clean room, the port door  112  is preferably completely isolated from the outside for cleanness of the transfer chamber  800 . 
     The moving member  130  may include a moving table  132  that is able to rotate and slide to allow the door D of the carrier C to face toward the port door  112  of the first load port  100 - 1 . The moving table  132  may be provided so as to be rotatable and may have, on an upper surface thereof, a carrier moving device  134  for placing the carrier C on the mounting table  120  or moving the carrier C placed on the mounting table  120  to the moving table  132 . The carrier moving device  134  may be provided in various forms without being limited to the structure illustrated in the drawing. The moving table  132  may be located under a path along which a carrier transfer device (e.g., an overhead hoist transport (OHT)) moves. 
       FIGS. 9 to 12  are views illustrating steps of a process of loading the carrier onto the load port. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 9 to 12 , the carrier C is seated on the moving table  132  by the carrier transfer device (e.g., an overhead hoist transport (OHT)) (refer to  FIG. 9 ). At this time, the carrier C is seated on the moving table  132  in the state in which the door D of the carrier C faces toward the process module  200 . The moving table  132  rotates 90 degrees such that the door D of the carrier C faces toward the port door  112  (refer to  FIG. 10 ). In this state, the carrier C is moved to the mounting table  120  by the carrier moving device  134  (refer to  FIG. 11 ). The door D of the carrier C placed on the mounting table  120  may be opened by the port door  112  (refer to  FIG. 12 ). 
     As described above, through the optimization of the layout, the substrate treating apparatus of the inventive concept may decrease the number of transfer devices and may omit a buffer chamber, thereby increasing the number of chambers by a multiple of 1.5 at the same foot-print and thus improving productivity. In addition, the substrate treating apparatus of the inventive concept may eliminate a bottleneck phenomenon by using the transfer robot of a bidirectional multi-layer multi-hand type. 
       FIG. 13  is a view illustrating another embodiment of the transfer robot. 
     In describing the embodiment of  FIG. 13 , repetitive descriptions of components identical or corresponding to those in the above-described embodiment may be omitted. 
     A transfer robot  900   a  according to the embodiment of  FIG. 13  differs from the transfer robot  900  according to the above-described embodiment in that a second hand  930   a  is able to change a direction so as to transfer a substrate in the same direction as the first hand  920 . 
     That is, transfer hands  922  and  924  of the second hand  930   a  may be rotated by 180 degrees by a rotary part  990 , and in the state of being rotated, the second hand  930   a , together with the first hand  920 , may transfer a substrate in the same direction. 
     According to the inventive concept, a remarkable effect of disposing more process chambers than in the related art without increasing the width of an apparatus may be obtained. 
     In addition, according to the inventive concept, by omitting an index robot and a buffer chamber in the same equipment area, more process chambers may be disposed, and thus an increase in production may be achieved. 
     While the inventive concept has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventive concept. Therefore, it should be understood that the above embodiments are not limiting, but illustrative.