Patent Publication Number: US-2021191371-A1

Title: Substrate processing apparatus, substrate processing system, method of manufacturing semiconductor device, and recording medium

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-229939, filed on Dec. 20, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a substrate processing apparatus, a substrate processing system, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, and a recording medium. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the related art, a substrate processing apparatus used in a process of manufacturing a semiconductor device may be connected to other apparatuses via a network and configured to respond to a remote control from the other apparatuses. 
     In a substrate processing apparatus connected to a network, for example, in a case where there is a virus infection from the network, an operation of the apparatus may be impaired, and as a result, a throughput of substrate processing may be adversely affected. 
     SUMMARY 
     Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a technique capable of improving a throughput of substrate processing. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a technique that includes: a processor configured to process a substrate; a transceiver connected to a group management apparatus such that the transceiver can communicate with the group management apparatus, the transceiver being configured to transmit and receive only telegram data to and from the group management apparatus; and a controller configured to be capable of controlling a process performed by the processor based on the telegram data received by the transceiver. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration example of an entire system of a substrate processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a substrate processing unit constituting a substrate processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic configuration view showing a substrate processing module constituting a substrate processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing a controller constituting a substrate processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart of an outline of a substrate processing process according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is an explanatory view showing an example of table data of a telegram data size in a substrate processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is an explanatory view showing an example of a correspondence table between telegram data and a process program in a substrate processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the drawings. 
     A substrate processing apparatus given as an example in the following embodiments is used in a process of manufacturing a semiconductor device and is configured to perform a predetermined process on a substrate to be processed. An example of the substrate to be processed may include a semiconductor wafer substrate (hereinafter, simply referred to as a “wafer”) in which a semiconductor integrated circuit device (semiconductor device) is built. When the term “wafer” is used in the present disclosure, it may refer to “a wafer itself” or “a laminated body (aggregate) of a wafer and certain layers or films formed on a surface of the wafer (that is, the wafer may include the certain layers or films formed on the surface of the wafer).” When the phrase “a surface of a wafer” is used in the present disclosure, it may refer to “a surface (an exposed surface) of a wafer itself” or “a surface of a certain layer, a film, and the like formed on a wafer, that is, an outermost surface of the wafer as a laminated body.” When the term “substrate” is used in the present disclosure, it may be synonymous with the term “wafer.” Examples of a process to perform on a wafer may include a transfer process, a pressurization (depressurization) process, a heating process, a film-forming process, an oxidation process, a diffusion process, reflow or annealing for carrier activation and flattening after ion implantation, and the like. 
     (1) Overall System Configuration 
     First, a configuration example of an entire system of a substrate processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.  FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration example of the entire system of the substrate processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , an entire system  1000  of the substrate processing apparatus (hereinafter, simply referred to as a “substrate processing system”) to which the present disclosure is applied includes a plurality of substrate processing apparatuses  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c , and  100   d . Further, the substrate processing system  1000  includes a group management apparatus  274  configured to manage the substrate processing apparatuses  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c , and  100   d , and a LAN (Local Area Network)  268  which is an in-system network configured to connect the group management apparatus  274  and the substrate processing apparatuses  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c , and  100   d . Although the case where four substrate processing apparatuses  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c , and  100   d  exist in the system is illustrated herein, at least one substrate processing apparatus may exist in the system, and the number thereof is not particularly limited. 
     A host apparatus (a host computer)  500 , which is a higher-level device of the substrate processing system  1000 , is connected to the group management apparatus  274  via an out-of-system network (for example, a wide area network such as the Internet)  269 . Other electronic devices and substrate processing apparatuses (none of them is shown) or the like that does not constitute the substrate processing system  1000  may be connected to the out-of-system network  269 . 
     Each of the substrate processing apparatuses  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c , and  100   d  constituting the substrate processing system  1000  is configured to process a wafer as a substrate. For the purpose of this, the substrate processing apparatuses  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c , and  100   d  include substrate processing units  280   a ,  280   b ,  280   c , and  280   d  as processing parts (or processors) configured to process the wafer, controllers  260   a ,  260   b ,  260   c , and  260   d  as control parts configured to control the processing, and transceivers  285   a ,  285   b ,  285   c , and  285   d  connected to the group management apparatus  274  via the LAN  268  such that the transceivers  285   a ,  285   b ,  285   c , and  285   d  can communicate with the group management apparatus  274 , respectively. 
     In the following description, since the substrate processing apparatuses  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c , and  100   d  have the same configuration, they are collectively referred to as a substrate processing apparatus  100 . The same applies to a substrate processing unit  280 , a controller  260 , and a transceiver  285 . 
     (2) Configuration of Substrate Processing Unit 
     Subsequently, a configuration example of the substrate processing unit  280  in the substrate processing apparatus  100  will be described. The substrate processing unit  280  functions as a processor configured to process a wafer in a substrate processing process which is a process of manufacturing a semiconductor device.  FIG. 2  is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the substrate processing unit according to the present embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the substrate processing unit  280  to which the present disclosure is applied is configured to process a wafer  200  as a substrate and is of a so-called cluster type including a plurality of substrate processing modules  2000   a ,  2000   b ,  2000   c , and  2000   d . More specifically, the substrate processing unit  280  of the cluster type includes an IO stage  2100 , an atmosphere transfer chamber  2200 , a load lock (L/L) chamber  2300 , a vacuum transfer chamber  2400 , and the plurality of substrate processing modules  2000   a ,  2000   b ,  2000   c , and  2000   d . Since the substrate processing modules  2000   a ,  2000   b ,  2000   c , and  2000   d  have the same configuration, they are collectively referred to as a substrate processing module  2000  in the following description. In the figure, it is assumed that an X 1  direction is a right direction, an X 2  direction is a left direction, a Y 1  direction is a front direction, and a Y 2  direction is a rear direction. 
     The IO stage (load port)  2100  is installed at the front side of the substrate processing unit  280 . A plurality of storage containers (hereinafter, simply referred to as “pods”)  2001  called FOUPs (Front Open Unified Pods) are mounted on the IO stage  2100 . The pods  2001  are used as carriers configured to transport the wafers  200  and are configured such that a plurality of unprocessed wafers  200  or processed wafers  200  are each stored in a horizontal posture in the pods  2001 . 
     The IO stage  2100  is adjacent to the atmosphere transfer chamber  2200 . An atmosphere transfer robot  2220  as a first transfer robot configured to transfer the wafer  200  is installed in the atmosphere transfer chamber  2200 . The load lock chamber  2300  is connected to the atmosphere transfer chamber  2200  on a side different from that of the IO stage  2100 . 
     An internal pressure of the load lock chamber  2300  is set to fluctuate according to a pressure of the atmosphere transfer chamber  2200  and a pressure of the vacuum transfer chamber  2400  to be described below and, for that purpose, configured to withstand a negative pressure. The vacuum transfer chamber (a transfer module: TM)  2400  is connected to the load lock chamber  2300  on a side different from that of the atmosphere transfer chamber  2200 . 
     The TM  2400  functions as a transfer chamber that serves as a transfer space where the wafer  200  is transferred under the negative pressure. A housing  2410  constituting the TM  2400  has a pentagonal shape in a plane view, and a plurality of (for example, four) substrate processing modules  2000  configured to process the wafer  200  are respectively connected to sides of the pentagonal shape except a side of the pentagonal shape to which the load lock chamber  2300  is connected. A vacuum transfer robot  2700  as a second transfer robot configured to transfer (carry) the wafer  200  under the negative pressure is installed at substantially a central portion of the TM  2400 . Although the vacuum transfer chamber  2400  is herein illustrated as the pentagonal shape, it may be a polygonal shape such as a quadrangular shape or a hexagonal shape. 
     The vacuum transfer robot  2700  installed in the TM  2400  includes two arms  2800  and  2900  that can operate independently of each other. The vacuum transfer robot  2700  is controlled by the controller  260  to be described below. 
     A gate valve (GV)  1490  is installed between the TM  2400  and each substrate processing module  2000 . Specifically, a gate valve  1490   a  is installed between the substrate processing module  2000   a  and the TM  2400 , and a GV  1490   b  is installed between the substrate processing module  2000   b  and the TM  2400 . A GV  1490   c  is installed between the substrate processing module  2000   c  and the TM  2400 , and a GV  1490   d  is installed between the substrate processing module  2000   d  and the TM  2400 . When each GV 1490  is opened, the vacuum transfer robot  2700  in the TM  2400  can take in and out the wafer  200  via a substrate loading/unloading port  1480  installed at each substrate processing module  2000 . 
     (3) Configuration of Substrate Processing Module 
     Subsequently, a configuration example of the substrate processing module  2000  in the substrate processing unit  280  will be described. The substrate processing module  2000  is configured to execute a substrate processing process which is a process of manufacturing a semiconductor device, and more specifically, performs, for example, a film-forming process as a process to perform on a wafer. Here, as the substrate processing module  2000  configured to perform the film-forming process, a module configured as a single-wafer type substrate processing apparatus will be given as an example.  FIG. 3  is a schematic configuration view showing a substrate processing module according to the present embodiment. 
     (Process Container) 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the substrate processing module  2000  includes a process container  202 . The process container  202  is made of, for example, a metal material such as aluminum (Al) or stainless steel (SUS), or quartz and is configured as a flat closed container having a circular cross section. Further, the process container  202  includes an upper container  202   a  and a lower container  202   b , and a partition portion  204  is provided therebetween. A space surrounded by the upper container  202   a  above the partition portion  204  functions as a process space (also referred to as a “process chamber”)  201  configured to process the wafer  200  to be processed in the film-forming process. On the other hand, a space surrounded by the lower container  202   b  below the partition portion  204  functions as a transfer space (also referred to as a “transfer chamber”)  203  where the wafer  200  is transferred. the substrate loading/unloading port  1480  adjacent to the gate valve  1490  is installed at the side surface of the lower container  202   b  such that the space surrounded by the lower container  202   b  below the partition portion  204  functions as the transfer chamber  203 , and the wafer  200  is moved to and from an outside (for example, the TM  2400  adjacent to the transfer chamber  203 ) via the substrate loading/unloading port  1480 . A plurality of lift pins  207  are installed at the bottom of the lower container  202   b . Further, the lower container  202   b  is grounded. 
     (Substrate Support) 
     A substrate support (susceptor)  210  configured to support the wafer  200  is installed in the process chamber  201 . The susceptor  210  includes a substrate mounting stage  212  having a mounting surface  211  on which the wafer  200  is mounted. The substrate mounting stage  212  includes therein at least heaters  213   a  and  213   b  configured to adjust (heat or cool) a temperature of the wafer  200  on the mounting surface  211 . Temperature regulating parts  213   c  and  213   d  configured to regulate power supplied to the respective heaters  213   a  and  213   b  are individually connected to the heaters  213   a  and  213   b . The temperature regulating parts  213   c  and  213   d  are independently controlled according to an instruction from the controller  260  to be described below. As a result, the heaters  213   a  and  213   b  are configured to be capable of performing a zone control to independently regulate the temperature of the wafer  200  on the mounting surface  211  for each zone. Further, the substrate mounting stage  212  is provided with through-holes  214  through which the lift pins  207  penetrate, at positions corresponding to the lift pins  207 . 
     The substrate mounting stage  212  is supported by a shaft  217 . The shaft  217  penetrates the bottom of the process container  202  and is further connected to an elevating mechanism  218  outside the process container  202 . Then, by operating the elevating mechanism  218 , the substrate mounting stage  212  can be moved up or down. A periphery of a lower end of the shaft  217  is covered with a bellows  219 , and an interior of the process chamber  201  is kept airtight. 
     The substrate mounting stage  212  lowers so that the substrate mounting surface  211  is at a position of the substrate loading/unloading port  1480  (a wafer transfer position) when the wafer  200  is transferred, and rises so that the wafer  200  rises to a process position in the process chamber  201  (a wafer process position) when the wafer  200  is processed. Specifically, when the substrate mounting stage  212  is lowered to the wafer transfer position, upper end portions of the lift pins  207  protrude from an upper surface of the substrate mounting surface  211  such that the lift pins  207  support the wafer  200  from below. Further, when the substrate mounting stage  212  is raised to the wafer process position, the lift pins  207  are buried from the upper surface of the substrate mounting surface  211  such that the substrate mounting surface  211  supports the wafer  200  from below. Since the lift pins  207  come into a direct contact with the wafer  200 , the lift pins  207  may be made of a material such as quartz or alumina. 
     (Gas Introduction Port) 
     A gas introduction port  241  configured to supply various kinds of gases into the process chamber  201  is installed at an upper portion of the process chamber  201 . A configuration of gas supply units connected to the gas introduction port  241  is described below. 
     A shower head (a buffer chamber)  234  including a dispersion plate  234   b  may be disposed in the process chamber  201  communicating with the gas introduction port  241  to disperse a gas supplied from the gas introduction port  241  and evenly diffuse the gas in the process chamber  201 . 
     A matching device  251  and a high-frequency power supply  252  are connected to a support member  231   b  of the dispersion plate  234   b  such that electromagnetic waves (high-frequency power and microwaves) can be supplied. As a result, the gas supplied into the process chamber  201  via the dispersion plate  234   b  can be excited into plasma. That is, the dispersion plate  234   b , the support member  231   b , the matching device  251 , and the high-frequency power supply  252  are configured to convert a first process gas and a second process gas to be described below into plasma, and function as a part of a first gas supply part (details of which are described below) and a part of a second gas supply part (details of which are described below) configured to supply the gas converted into plasma. 
     (Gas Supply Part) 
     A common gas supply pipe  242  is connected to the gas introduction port  241 . A first gas supply pipe  243   a , a second gas supply pipe  244   a , and a third gas supply pipe  245   a  are connected to the common gas supply pipe  242 . The first process gas (details of which are described below) is mainly supplied from the first gas supply part  243  including the first gas supply pipe  243   a , and the second process gas (details of which are described below) is mainly supplied from the second gas supply part  244  including the second gas supply pipe  244   a . A purge gas is mainly supplied from a third gas supply part  245  including the third gas supply pipe  245   a.    
     (First Gas Supply Part) 
     A first gas supply source  243   b , a mass flow controller (MFC)  243   c , which is a flow rate controller (a flow rate control part), and a valve  243   d , which is an opening/closing valve, are installed at the first gas supply pipe  243   a  sequentially from the corresponding upstream side. Then, a gas containing a first element (a first process gas) is supplied from the first gas supply source  243   b  into the process chamber  201  via the MFC  243   c , the valve  243   d , the first gas supply pipe  243   a , and the common gas supply pipe  242 . 
     The first process gas is, for example, a gas containing a silicon (Si) element. Specifically, a dichlorosilane (SiH 2 Cl 2 , abbreviation: DCS) gas, a tetraethoxysilane (Si(OC 2 H 5 ) 4 , abbreviation: TEOS) gas, or the like is used as the first process gas. In the following description, an example using the DCS gas will be described. 
     The downstream end of a first inert gas supply pipe  246   a  is connected to the downstream side of the valve  243   d  of the first gas supply pipe  243   a . An inert gas supply source  246   b , an MFC  246   c , and a valve  246   d  are installed at the first inert gas supply pipe  246   a  sequentially from the corresponding upstream side. Then, an inert gas is supplied from the inert gas supply source  246   b  to the first gas supply pipe  243   a  via the MFC  246   c  and the valve  246   d . The inert gas is, for example, a nitrogen (N 2 ) gas. As the inert gas, in addition to the N 2  gas, a rare gas such as an argon (Ar) gas, a helium (He) gas, a neon (Ne) gas, a xenon (Xe) gas, or the like can be used. 
     The first gas supply part (also referred to as a Si-containing gas supply part)  243 , which is one of the process gas supply parts, mainly includes the first gas supply pipe  243   a , the MFC  243   c , and the valve  243   d . The first gas supply part  243  may include the first gas supply source  243   b . A first inert gas supply part mainly includes the first inert gas supply pipe  246   a , the MFC  246   c , and the valve  246   d . The first inert gas supply part may include the inert gas supply source  246   b  and the first gas supply pipe  243   a . Further, the first gas supply part  243  may include the first inert gas supply part. 
     (Second Gas Supply Part) 
     A second gas supply source  244   b , an MFC  244   c , and a valve  244   d  are installed at the second gas supply pipe  244   a  sequentially from the corresponding upstream side. Then, a gas containing a second element (a second process gas) is supplied from the second gas supply source  244   b  into the process chamber  201  via the MFC  244   c , the valve  244   d , the second gas supply pipe  244   a , and the common gas supply pipe  242 . 
     The second process gas contains a second element (for example, nitrogen) different from the first element (for example, Si) contained in the first process gas and is, for example, a nitrogen (N)-containing gas. As the N-containing gas, for example, an ammonia (NH 3 ) gas is used. 
     The downstream end of a second inert gas supply pipe  247   a  is connected to the downstream side of the valve  244   d  of the second gas supply pipe  244   a . An inert gas supply source  247   b , an MFC  247   c , and a valve  247   d  are installed at the second inert gas supply pipe  247   a  sequentially from the corresponding upstream side. Then, an inert gas is supplied from the inert gas supply source  247   b  to the second gas supply pipe  244   a  via the MFC  247   c  and the valve  247   d . The inert gas is the same as that in the case of the first inert gas supply part. 
     The second gas supply part (also referred to as an oxygen-containing gas supply part)  244 , which is another one of the process gas supply parts, mainly includes the second gas supply pipe  244   a , the MFC  244   c , and the valve  244   d . The second gas supply part  244  may include the second gas supply source  244   b . A second inert gas supply part mainly includes the second inert gas supply pipe  247   a , the MFC  247   c , and the valve  247   d . The second inert gas supply part may include the inert gas supply source  247   b  and the second gas supply pipe  244   a . Further, the second gas supply part  244  may include the second inert gas supply part. 
     (Third Gas Supply Part) 
     A third gas supply source  245   b , an MFC  245   c , and a valve  245   d  are installed at the third gas supply pipe  245   a  sequentially from the corresponding upstream side. Then, an inert gas as a purge gas is supplied from the third gas supply source  245   b  into the process chamber  201  via the MFC  245   c , the valve  245   d , the third gas supply pipe  245   a , and the common gas supply pipe  242 . 
     Here, the inert gas is, for example, a N 2  gas. As the inert gas, in addition to the N 2  gas, a rare gas such as an Ar gas, a He gas, a Ne gas, a Xe gas, or the like can be used. 
     The third gas supply part (also referred to as a purge gas supply part)  245 , which is an inert gas supply part, mainly includes the third gas supply pipe  245   a , the MFC  245   c , and the valve  245   d . The third gas supply part  245  may include the third gas supply source  245   b.    
     (Exhaust Part) 
     An exhaust port  221  configured to exhaust an atmosphere in the process chamber  201  (the upper container  202   a ) is installed at an upper surface of an inner wall of the process chamber  201 . An exhaust pipe  224  as a first exhaust pipe is connected to the exhaust port  221 . At the exhaust pipe  224 , a pressure regulator  227  such as an APC (Auto Pressure Controller) configured to control a pressure of the interior of the process chamber  201  to be a predetermined pressure, an exhaust regulating valve  228  as an exhaust regulating part installed at the front stage or the rear stage of the pressure regulator  227 , and a vacuum pump  223  are connected in series. 
     The pressure regulator  227  and the exhaust regulating valve  228  are configured to regulate an internal pressure of the process chamber  201 , while following the control by the controller  260 , which is described below, when the substrate processing step to be described below is performed. More specifically, the pressure regulator  227  and the exhaust regulating valve  228  are configured to regulate the internal pressure of the process chamber  201  by varying a degree of opening of valves in the pressure regulator  227  and the exhaust regulating valve  228  according to a process recipe in which the procedures and conditions of substrate processing are described. 
     Further, at the exhaust pipe  224 , a pressure sensor  229  as a pressure measuring part configured to measure the internal pressure of the exhaust pipe  224 , is installed, for example at the front stage (that is, a side close to the process chamber  201 ) of the pressure regulator  227 . Although the case where the pressure sensor  229  measures the internal pressure of the exhaust pipe  224  is taken as an example herein, the pressure sensor  229  may measure the internal pressure of the process chamber  201 . That is, the pressure sensor  229  may measure the internal pressure of either the process chamber  201  or the exhaust pipe  224  constituting the exhaust part. 
     The exhaust part (exhaust line) mainly includes the exhaust port  221 , the exhaust pipe  224 , the pressure regulator  227 , and the exhaust regulating valve  228 . The exhaust part may include the vacuum pump  223  and the pressure sensor  229 . 
     (4) Configuration of Controller 
     Next, a configuration example of the controller  260  in the substrate processing apparatus  100  will be described. The controller  260  is configured to control the processing operation of the substrate processing unit  280  including the above-mentioned substrate processing module  2000 .  FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing the controller according to the present embodiment. 
     (Hardware Configuration) 
     The controller  260  functions as a controller (control means) configured to control the operation of the substrate processing unit  280 . Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the controller  260  is configured as a computer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit)  2601 , a RAM (Random Access Memory)  2602 , a storage device  2603 , and an I/O port  2604 . The RAM  2602 , the storage device  2603 , and the I/O port  2604  are configured to exchange data with the CPU  2601  via an internal bus  2605 . 
     The storage device  2603  includes, for example, a flash memory, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), or the like. A control program that controls the operation of the substrate processing unit  280 , a process recipe in which the procedures and conditions of substrate processing are written, arithmetic data and processing data generated in the course of various processes, and the like can be readably stored in the storage device  2603 . The process recipe functions as a program combined to cause the controller  260  to execute each procedure in the substrate processing to obtain an expected result. That is, the storage device  2603  has a function as a program memory configured to store a program. The storage device  2603  also has a function as a table memory configured to store table data to be described in detail below. 
     The RAM  2602  is configured as a memory area (work area) in which the program, arithmetic data, processing data, and the like read by the CPU  2601  are temporarily held. 
     The I/O port  2604  is connected with the gate valve  1490 , the elevating mechanism  218 , the pressure regulator  227 , the exhaust regulating valve  228 , the vacuum pump  223 , the pressure sensor  229 , the MFC  243   c ,  244   c ,  245   c ,  246   c , and  247   c , the valves  243   d ,  244   d ,  245   d ,  246   d , and  247   d , the temperature regulating parts  213   c  and  213   d , the matching device  251 , the high-frequency power supply  252 , the vacuum transfer robot  2700 , the atmosphere transfer robot  2220 , and the like. 
     Further, the controller  260  is configured so that an input/output device  261  configured as, for example, a touch panel or the like and an external storage device  262  can be connected to the controller  260 . Further, the controller  260  is configured so that the group management apparatus  274  can be connected via the transceiver  285  and the LAN  268 . The connection in the present disclosure also includes a meaning that each part is connected by a physical cable (signal line), but also includes a meaning that signals (electronic data) of each part can be directly or indirectly transmitted/received. 
     (Program) 
     The control program, process recipe, and the like stored in the storage device  2603  function as a program executed by the CPU  2601  as an arithmetic part. Hereinafter, these are generally and simply referred to as a program or a recipe. When the term “program” is used in the present disclosure, it may indicate a case of including the program only, a case of including the recipe only, or a case of including a combination thereof. 
     The CPU  2601  as the arithmetic part is configured to read out and execute the program from the storage device  2603 . Then, the CPU  2601  performs the opening/closing of the gate valve  1490 , the moving up/down operation of the elevating mechanism  218 , the supply of power of the temperature regulating parts  213   c  and  213   d , the matching operation of power of the matching device  251 , the on/off control of the high-frequency power supply  252 , the operation control of the MFC  243   c ,  244   c ,  245   c ,  246   c , and  247   c , the on/off control of gas of the valves  243   d ,  244   d ,  245   d ,  246   d ,  247   d , and  308 , the regulation of degree of valve opening of the pressure regulator  227 , the regulation of degree of valve opening of the exhaust regulating valve  228 , the on/off control of the vacuum pump, the operation control of the vacuum transfer robot  2700 , the operation control of the atmosphere transfer robot  2220 , and on the like according to contents prescribed in the read program. 
     The controller  260  is not limited to a case where it is configured as a dedicated computer, but may be configured as a general-purpose computer. For example, the controller  260  according to the present embodiment can be configured by providing an external storage device (for example, a magnetic tape, a magnetic disk such as a flexible disk or a hard disk, an optical disc such as a CD or DVD, a magneto-optical disc such as an MO, a semiconductor memory such as a USB memory or a memory card)  262  that stores the above-mentioned program and installing the program on the general-purpose computer by using the external storage device  262 . However, the means to supply the program to the computer is not limited to the case of supplying the program via the external storage device  262 . For example, another communication means may be used to supply the program without going via the external storage device  262 . The storage device  2603  and the external storage device  262  are configured as a computer-readable recording medium. Hereinafter, these are generally referred to simply as a recording medium. In the present disclosure, when the term “recording medium” is used, it may include the storage device  2603  alone, the external storage device  262  alone, or both. 
     (5) Basic Procedure of Substrate Processing Process 
     Next, as a process of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a substrate processing process of forming a predetermined film on a wafer  200  is taken as an example, and the outline thereof will be described. Here, a case where a silicon nitride film (SiN film) as a nitride film is formed as the predetermined film is taken as an example. The substrate processing process to be described below is performed by the substrate processing unit  280  in the above-described substrate processing apparatus  100 . Further, in the following description, the operation of each part is controlled by the controller  260 . 
       FIG. 5  is a flow chart of the outline of the substrate processing process according to the present embodiment. 
     (Substrate Loading/Heating Step: S 101 ) 
     In substrate processing, first, in a substrate loading/heating step (S 101 ), an unprocessed wafer  200  is taken out from the pod  2001  on the  10  stage  2100 , and the wafer  200  is loaded into the substrate processing module  2000 . When a plurality of substrate processing modules  2000  exist, the wafer  200  is loaded into the respective substrate processing modules  2000  in a predetermined order. The wafer  200  is taken out by using the atmosphere transfer robot  2220  in the atmosphere transfer chamber  2200 . Further, the wafer  200  is loaded in by using the vacuum transfer robot  2700  in the TM  2400 . Then, when the wafer  200  is loaded in, the vacuum transfer robot  2700  is retracted, and the gate valve  1490  is closed to seal the interior of the process container  202  of the substrate processing module  2000 . Thereafter, the substrate mounting stage  212  is raised to position the wafer  200  on the mounting surface  211  at the wafer process position. In this state, the exhaust part (exhaust system) is controlled so that the internal pressure of the process chamber  201  becomes a predetermined pressure, and the heaters  213   a  and  213   b  are controlled so that the surface temperature of the wafer  200  becomes a predetermined temperature. 
     (Substrate Processing Step: S 102 ) 
     When the wafer  200  located at the wafer process position reaches a predetermined temperature, a substrate processing step (S 102 ) is subsequently performed. In the substrate processing step (S 102 ), while the wafer  200  is heated to a predetermined temperature, the first gas supply part  243  is controlled to supply the first process gas to the process chamber  201 , and the exhaust part is controlled to exhaust the process chamber  201  to process the wafer  200 . At this time, the second gas supply part  244  may be controlled so that the second process gas exists at the same time with the first process gas in the process space to perform a CVD process, or the first process gas and the second process gas are supplied alternately to perform a cyclic process. Further, when the second process gas is processed in a plasma state, plasma may be generated in the process chamber  201  by supplying high-frequency power to the dispersion plate  234   b.    
     The following method may be considered as a cyclic process which is a specific example of a film-processing method. For example, a case where a DCS gas is used as the first process gas and a NH 3  gas is used as the second process gas can be considered. In this case, the DCS gas is supplied to the wafer  200  in a first step, and the NH 3  gas is supplied to the wafer  200  in a second step. As a purge step between the first step and the second step, a N 2  gas is supplied and the atmosphere of the process chamber  201  is exhausted. A silicon nitride (SiN) film is formed on the wafer  200  by performing a cyclic process in which the first step, the purge step, and the second step are performed a plurality of times. 
     (Substrate Loading/Unloading Step: S 103 ) 
     After a predetermined process is performed on the wafer  200 , the processed wafer  200  is unloaded from the inside of the process container  202  of the substrate processing module  2000  in the substrate loading/unloading step (S 103 ). The processed wafer  200  is unloaded, for example by using the arm  2900  of the vacuum transfer robot  2700  in the TM  2400 . 
     At this time, for example, when the unprocessed wafer  200  is held by the arm  2800  of the vacuum transfer robot  2700 , the vacuum transfer robot  2700  loads the unprocessed wafer  200  into the process container  202 . Then, the substrate processing step (S 102 ) is performed on the wafer  200  in the process container  202 . When the unprocessed wafer  200  is not held by the arm  2800 , the processed wafer  200  is only unloaded. 
     When the vacuum transfer robot  2700  unloads the wafer  200 , the processed wafer  200  that has been unloaded is then accommodated in the pod  2001  on the IO stage  2100 . The wafer  200  is accommodated in the pod  2001  by using the atmosphere transfer robot  2220  in the atmosphere transfer chamber  2200 . 
     (Determination Step: S 104 ) 
     In the substrate processing apparatus  100 , the substrate processing step (S 102 ) and the substrate loading/unloading step (S 103 ) are repeatedly performed until there are no unprocessed wafers  200 . Then, when there are no unprocessed wafers  200 , the series of processes (S 101  to S 104 ) described above are completed. 
     (6) Remote Control of Substrate Processing Apparatus 
     Next, a remote control of the substrate processing apparatus  100  that performs the series of processes described above will be described. 
     (Overview of Remote Control) 
     The series of processes described above is controlled by the controller  260 . The contents of control by the controller  260  are prescribed by a control program, a process recipe, or the like read from the storage device  2603  (hereinafter, these are generally referred to as a “process program”). That is, the series of process procedures, process conditions, and the like described above are prescribed by the process program in the storage device  2603 . 
     In that case, when the host apparatus  500  connected to the substrate processing apparatus  100  via a network gives instructions regarding the execution of the process program, the remote control of the substrate processing apparatus  100  can be realized. 
     However, in the case where the remote control of the substrate processing apparatus  100  is performed, when an unspecified number of electronic apparatuses and the like are present on a network connected to the substrate processing apparatus  100 , it is difficult to completely eliminate a risk of virus infection on the substrate processing apparatus  100 . When the controller  260  of the substrate processing apparatus  100  is infected with a virus, the substrate processing apparatus  100  requires a maintenance work for removing the virus, which impairs the operation of the apparatus, and as a result, the throughput of substrate processing may be adversely affected. 
     From this, in the present embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the substrate processing system  1000  includes the group management apparatus  274  between the substrate processing apparatus  100  and the host apparatus  500 . Then, with the group management apparatus  274  as a gate, the LAN  268 , which is an in-system network on the substrate processing apparatus  100  side, and the out-of-system network  269  on the host apparatus  500  side are configured to be completely independent from one another. 
     (Group Management Device) 
     The group management apparatus  274 , which is configured by, for example, a computer device, is disposed between the substrate processing apparatus  100  and the host apparatus  500 , and is configured to bridge data between them. 
     The host apparatus  500  is connected to the group management apparatus  274  via the out-of-system network  269 . Then, data can be transmitted and received to and from the host apparatus  500  constantly by using a plurality of types of communication protocols (that is, a plurality of protocols). That is, the group management apparatus  274  is connected to the host apparatus  500  capable of communicating with a plurality of protocols. As a result, the group management apparatus  274  can provide a host interface for remote control of the substrate processing apparatus  100 . 
     On the other hand, the substrate processing apparatus  100  is connected to the group management apparatus  274  via the LAN 268 . Then, only data of a telegram format (hereinafter, also simply referred to as “telegram data”) are transmitted and received to and from the substrate processing apparatus  100 . That is, the group management apparatus  274  is configured to receive a plurality of types of data including the telegram data from the host apparatus  500  and transmit only the telegram data among the plurality of types of data to the transceiver  285  of the substrate processing apparatus  100 . 
     Here, the “telegram data” refers to a set of data described according to a predetermined telegram format and exchanged between computers. Further, “only” the telegram data mean that data in any format other than the telegram data are not exchanged at all. 
     Specifically, the group management apparatus  274  is configured to conduct communication corresponding to, for example, an HSMS (High Speed Message Service) format of an SEMI (Semiconductor Equipment and Material Institute) E37 with the transceiver  285  of the substrate processing apparatus  100 . The HSMS is a communication interface that transmits and receives message-structured telegram data. 
     Here, as the communication interface that transmits and receives only the telegram data, the HSMS format is taken as an example, but the present disclosure is not necessarily limited thereto. Any other formats may be used as long as only the telegram data can be transmitted and received. 
     (Transceiver of Substrate Processing Apparatus) 
     The substrate processing apparatus  100  includes the transceiver  285  to communicate with the group management apparatus  274  as described above. The transceiver  285  is configured to be capable of communicating with only the group management apparatus  274  via the LAN  268 . The presence of such a transceiver  285  enables the controller  260  to exchange data with the group management apparatus  274 . 
     As described above, the group management apparatus  274  transmits only the telegram data to the substrate processing apparatus  100 . Therefore, the transceiver  285  is connected to the group management apparatus  274  so that the transceiver  285  can communicate with the group management apparatus  274 , and configured to transmit and receive only the telegram data to and from the group management apparatus  274 . The meanings of “telegram data” and “only” are as described above. 
     Specifically, the transceiver  285  is configured to conduct communication corresponding to the HSMS format, similarly to the group management apparatus  274 . However, the present disclosure is not necessarily limited thereto, but any other formats may be used as long as only the telegram data can be transmitted and received. 
     (Telegram Data) 
     Here, the telegram data transmitted and received between the group management apparatus  274  and the transceiver  285  of the substrate processing apparatus  100  will be described with a specific example. 
     The telegram data has a message structure including a header and a data part (body), for example, in the HSMS format. Of these, in a section of the data part, a command statement (instruction data) corresponding to an instruction to the substrate processing apparatus  100  is described. Specifically, for example, a command statement to select a process program to be executed by the controller  260  of the substrate processing apparatus  100  is described in the section of the data part of the telegram data. 
     Such telegram data includes, for example, text data. The text data refer to data including only character codes (for example, ASCII, Shift JIS, and the like). 
     Further, the telegram data may have a message structure including a message length (length byte), for example like the HSMS format. 
     Further, the telegram data may be configured to include a parity, a checksum value, and a code for checking. In the present disclosure, the parity, the checksum value, and the code for checking are used when at least one selected from the group of parity check, checksum, CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check), and the like to be described below is performed. 
     Further, size data specifying the data size (file size) of the telegram data is described in a section of the message length of the telegram data. That is, the telegram data may include the size data of the telegram data. 
     Further, the telegram data may be configured to have a predetermined size. Specifically, the telegram data may be configured to have data size matching one of predetermined size frames. For example, the data size of the telegram data is m bytes, n bytes, and so on (m and n are natural numbers). 
     As described above, in the present embodiment, the LAN  268  and the out-of-system network  269  are completely independent from each other via the group management apparatus  274 , and only telegram data are transmitted and received between the group management apparatus  274  and the transceiver  285  of the substrate processing apparatus  100  via the LAN  268 . Since the telegram data is the data described according to a predetermined telegram format as described above, a possibility that unjustified information (for example, a virus) may be mixed in is extremely low. Therefore, when the communication between the group management apparatus  274  and the substrate processing apparatus  100  is limited to the telegram data, even in a case where there is a virus infection from the out-of-system network  269 , it is possible to eliminate a risk that the substrate processing apparatus  100  may be infected with the virus. The out-of-system network  269  may be connected to a public network. In this case, the risk of virus infection also increases, but according to the technique of the present disclosure, it is possible to eliminate the risk that the substrate processing apparatus  100  may be infected with the virus. 
     (Data Transmission/Reception Process) 
     Next, a telegram data transmission/reception process performed between the group management apparatus  274  and the substrate processing apparatus  100  will be described. 
     Data of a plurality of protocols is sent from the host apparatus  500  to the group management apparatus  274  via the out-of-system network  269  are transmitted. The group management apparatus  274  transmits only the telegram data among those data to the transceiver  285  of the substrate processing apparatus  100  via the LAN  268 . 
     When the transceiver  285  receives the telegram data from the group management apparatus  274 , the controller  260  checks the telegram data. That is, the controller  260  has a function of checking the telegram data received by the transceiver  285 , and is configured to determine whether or not the telegram data is error data. 
     Specifically, the controller  260  checks a size capacity (a file size) of the telegram data. The size capacity is checked by using the table data that records the size capacity of the telegram data. 
       FIG. 6  is an explanatory view showing an example of table data of a telegram data size in the substrate processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the table data is a record of the telegram data and the size capacity (file size) of the telegram data in association with each other. It is assumed that the table data is set in advance and is readably stored in the storage device  2603  that functions as a table memory. 
     While using such table data, the controller  260  checks the size capacity of the telegram data according to the procedure to be described below. When the transceiver  285  receives the telegram data, it first recognizes the data size (file size) of the telegram data. For example, in a case where the received telegram data includes size data, the data size is recognized based on the size data. However, the data size may be recognized by measuring the data size of the telegram data each time the telegram data are received. On the other hand, when the transceiver  285  receives the telegram data, it accesses the table data in the storage device  2603  and reads out the size capacity (file size) corresponding to the received telegram data. Then, for the received telegram data, a data size recognition result is compared with the size capacity recorded in the table data to determine whether or not they match. 
     When it is determined that they do not match, the received telegram data does not have the original (justified) size, and it is suspected that some unjustified information (for example, a virus) is mixed in. Therefore, the controller  260  regards such a determination result for the telegram data as an error. Then, an instruction is given to the transceiver  285  to transmit the telegram data determined to have the error (that is, the error data) to the group management apparatus  274  as it is without receiving and processing the error data. This makes it possible to completely eliminate the risk of virus infection on the substrate processing apparatus  100 . 
     It should be noted that in addition to the above-mentioned checking method, at least one selected from the group of the above-mentioned parity, checksum value, and code for checking may be used to execute any one of parity check, checksum, and CRC. It is possible to make a determination based on the result obtained by such a check. 
     At this time, the controller  260  may output an alarm, which indicates that the check result for the telegram data is an error, to the group management apparatus  274  or the host apparatus  500 . 
     On the other hand, when it is determined that the data size recognition result matches the size capacity recorded in the table data, the received telegram data has the original (justified) size. Thus, the controller  260  performs a program execution process to be described in detail below based on the telegram data. 
     Here, the case where the check for the telegram data is performed by using the table data in the storage device  2603  is given as an example, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and checks by other methods may also be performed. For example, in the case where the telegram data includes size data, the telegram data may be checked by determining whether or not the measurement result of the data size of the telegram data matches the size data. Further, for example, in the case where the telegram data is configured to have a predetermined size, the telegram data that does not match a predetermined size frame may be determined to be an error. 
     (Program Execution Process) 
     Next, a program execution process in the substrate processing apparatus  100  based on the received telegram data will be described. 
     In the case where the telegram data received from the group management apparatus  274  is not an error, the controller  260  recognizes contents of the command statement (instruction data) described in the section of the data part of the telegram data. 
     Upon recognizing the contents of the command statement in the telegram data, subsequently, the controller  260  selectively reads out a process program corresponding to the recognized contents of the command statement among a plurality of types of process programs (hereinafter, also referred to as a “process program group”) stored in the storage device  2603  that functions as the program memory. The determination of the corresponding process program may be performed, for example based on the contents of a correspondence table attached to the process program group and stored in the storage device  2603 . 
       FIG. 7  is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the correspondence table between the telegram data and the process program in the substrate processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The correspondence table is a table in which each process program constituting the process program group and the command statement of the telegram data instructing the execution of the process program are recorded in association with each other. For example, according to the correspondence table shown in  FIG. 7 , it can be seen that a command statement of the telegram data “ABCD . . . ” corresponds to “process program 1,” a command statement of the telegram data “EFGH . . . ” corresponds to “process program 2,” and a command statement of the telegram data “IJKL . . . ” corresponds to “process program 3.” The process programs 1, 2, 3, . . . are stored in advance in the storage device  2603  as the program memory, and the process programs each prescribe processing operations according to different types of process procedures, process conditions, or the like. 
     By referring to such a correspondence table, even when the transceiver  285  receives only the telegram data, the controller  260  can specify a process program that matches the command statement of the telegram data, and can selectively read out the specified process program from the process program group in the storage device  2603 . It is assumed that the corresponding table is set in advance and is readably stored in the storage device  2603  that functions as the program memory. 
     When the process program corresponding to the received telegram data is selectively read out from the process program group in the storage device  2603 , the CPU  2601  in the controller  260  executes the process program thus read out. Then, the CPU  2601  controls the processing operation performed by the substrate processing unit  280  that functions as a processing part to conform to the contents prescribed by the read-out process program. 
     Specifically, the CPU  2601  executes the process program to perform, for example, the opening/closing of the gate valve  1490  constituting the substrate processing module  2000  in the substrate processing unit  280 , the moving up/down operation of the elevating mechanism  218 , the supply of power of the temperature regulating parts  213   c  and  213   d , the matching operation of power of the matching device  251 , the on/off control of the high-frequency power supply  252 , the operation control of the MFC  243   c ,  244   c ,  245   c ,  246   c , and  247   c , the on/off control of gas of the valves  243   d ,  244   d ,  245   d ,  246   d ,  247   d , and  308 , the regulation of degree of valve opening of the pressure regulator  227 , the regulation of degree of valve opening of the exhaust regulating valve  228 , the on/off control of the vacuum pump, the operation control of the vacuum transfer robot  2700  and the atmosphere transfer robot  2220  constituting the substrate processing unit  280 , and the like. 
     That is, the controller  260  controls the processing operation performed by the substrate processing unit  280  that functions as the processing part, by executing the process program corresponding to the telegram data, based on the telegram data received by the transceiver  285 . 
     When the controller  260  performs such a program execution process, it is possible to realize a remote control using the telegram data exchanged via the group management apparatus  274  for the processing operation in the substrate processing apparatus  100 . Moreover, even in that case, since only the telegram data are exchanged between the group management apparatus  274  and the substrate processing apparatus  100 , it is possible to eliminate the risk of virus infection on the substrate processing apparatus  100 . 
     (7) Effects of the Embodiments 
     According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, one or more effects set forth below may be achieved. 
     (a) In the embodiments, only the telegram data is transmitted and received between the group management apparatus  274  and the substrate processing apparatus  100 , and the process performed by the substrate processing unit  280  of the substrate processing apparatus  100  is controlled based on the telegram data. Therefore, when the substrate processing apparatus  100  is remotely controlled, even in the case where there is a virus infection from the out-of-system network  269 , it is possible to eliminate the risk that the virus may infect the substrate processing apparatus  100 . 
     That is, according to the embodiments, by transmitting and receiving only the telegram data, it is possible to eliminate the risk of virus infection from the out-of-system network  269 , which prevents operation of the apparatus from being impaired due to maintenance work for virus removal, and the like in advance. As a result, the throughput of the substrate processing in the substrate processing apparatus  100  can be improved. 
     (b) In the embodiments, the controller  260  has the function of checking the telegram data received from the group management apparatus  274 . Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the error data by determining whether or not the received telegram data are the error data, which makes it possible to completely eliminate the risk of virus infection on the substrate processing apparatus  100 . 
     (c) In the embodiments, the size capacity (file size) of the telegram data received from the group management apparatus  274  is checked while using the table data stored in the storage device  2603 . Therefore, it is possible to easily and accurately determine whether or not the received telegram data is the error data. This leads to simplification of the determination process by the checking function and therefore is effective in improving the throughput of the substrate processing in the substrate processing apparatus  100 . 
     (d) In the embodiments, when the result of determination by the checking function is the error, the error data are returned to the group management apparatus  274 . Therefore, it is very effective in completely eliminating the risk of virus infection on the substrate processing apparatus  100 . 
     (e) In the embodiments, when the telegram data are received from the group management apparatus  274 , the program execution process that reads out and executes the process program corresponding to the telegram data from the storage device  2603  is performed based on the contents of the correspondence table. Therefore, even when only the telegram data is transmitted and received, it is possible to specify a process program that matches the command statement of the telegram data and selectively read out and execute the process program from the process program group in the storage device  2603 . That is, it is possible to realize the remote control using the telegram data for the processing operation in the substrate processing apparatus  100 , which is very effective in eliminating the risk of virus infection on the substrate processing apparatus  100 . 
     (f) In the embodiments, communication between the host apparatus  500  and the group management apparatus  274  may be performed by using a plurality of protocols, but only the telegram data is transmitted and received between the group management apparatus  274  and the substrate processing apparatus  100 . That is, the group management apparatus  274  functions as a gate that makes the out-of-system network  269  and the LAN  268  independent from each other while ensuring a versatility of communication with the host apparatus  500 , and transmits and receives only the telegram data to and from the substrate processing apparatus  100 . Therefore, the group management apparatus  274  can provide a host interface for remote control of the substrate processing apparatus  100 , which can eliminate the risk of virus infection without requiring any restrictions on communication in the out-of-system network  269 . 
     OTHER EMBODIMENTS 
     Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been specifically described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but various changes can be made without departing from the gist thereof. 
     For example, in the above-described embodiments, the method of alternately supplying the first process gas and the second process gas to form the film has been described, but other methods may also be applied. For example, the process may be performed by using one type of gas or three or more types of gases instead of two types of gases. 
     Further, in the above-described embodiments, the examples in which the SiN film is formed on the wafer surface by using the DCS gas, which is the silicon-containing gas, as the precursor gas and the NH 3  gas, which is the nitrogen-containing gas, as the reaction gas have been shown, but other gases may also be applied to the film formation. For example, there are an oxygen-containing film, a nitrogen-containing film, a carbon-containing film, a boron-containing film, a metal-containing film, a film containing more than one of these elements, and the like. Examples of these films may include an AlO film, a ZrO film, a HfO film, a HfAlO film, a ZrAlO film, a SiC film, a SiCN film, a SiBN film, a TiN film, a TiC film, a TiAlC film, and the like. 
     Further, in the above-described embodiments, the film-forming process is taken as an example as the process performed in the substrate processing step, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. That is, the present disclosure can be applied to processes other than the film-forming process taken as an example in the above-described embodiments. For example, there are diffusion treatment, oxidation treatment, nitridation treatment, oxynitridation treatment, reduction treatment, oxidation-reduction treatment, etching treatment, heat treatment, and the like using plasma. Further, for example, the present disclosure may be applied to plasma oxidation treatment or plasma nitridation treatment of a substrate surface or a film formed on a substrate by using only a reaction gas. The present disclosure can also be applied to plasma annealing treatment by using only a reaction gas. These treatments may be used as the first process, and then the above-described second process may be performed. 
     Further, in the above-described embodiments, the cases where the substrate processing module  2000  that performs the substrate processing is configured as a single-wafer type substrate processing apparatus, that is, a configuration of the apparatus that processes one wafer  200  in one process chamber  201 , have been shown, but the present disclosure is not limited and may also be applied to apparatuses in which a plurality of substrates are arranged in a horizontal direction or a vertical direction. 
     Further, for example, in the above-described embodiments, the manufacturing process of the semiconductor device has been described, but the present disclosure can be applied to processes other than the manufacturing process of the semiconductor device. For example, the present disclosure may be applied to substrate processing such as a liquid crystal device manufacturing process, a solar cell manufacturing process, a light-emitting device manufacturing process, a glass substrate processing process, a ceramic substrate processing process, a conductive substrate processing process, and the like. 
     According to the present disclosure in some embodiments, it is possible to improve the throughput of substrate processing. 
     While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosures. Indeed, the embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosures. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the disclosures.