Patent Publication Number: US-2015079795-A1

Title: Substrate Processing System with Multiple Processing Devices Deployed in Shared Ambient Environment and Associated Methods

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application is a divisional application under 35 U.S.C. 121 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/899,503, filed on Oct. 6, 2010. The disclosure of the above-identified patent application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In semiconductor device fabrication, materials are built-up in a layered manner on a substrate, i.e., silicon wafer, to form integrated circuit devices. The build-up of materials in the layered manner can include many different types of fabrication operations that deposit material, remove material, modify material, or combinations thereof. Conventionally, most semiconductor device fabrication processes are conducted in chambers that are specially designed to perform the respective fabrication process. Therefore, it is most often necessary for a given substrate to be moved from one isolated processing chamber to another isolated processing chamber to have different types of fabrication processes performed thereon. Such movement of the substrate from chamber-to-chamber requires time and adds expense to the overall fabrication cost of the final substrate. 
     For example, in some semiconductor fabrication processes a photoresist material is disposed on the substrate, patterned, and used as a mask for either a material deposition, removal, or modification process. During some processes, such as ion implant processes, the exposed photoresist material can be transformed into a cross-linked photoresist crust material that is extremely difficult to remove using a single wet stripping process. In this case, it is necessary for the cross-linked photoresist crust and the underlying normal photoresist material to be subjected to different processes for their respective removal from the substrate. Conventionally, these different required photoresist removal processes must be performed in separate isolated chambers, which requires transfer of the substrate from chamber-to-chamber. Again, transfer of the substrate from chamber-to-chamber for multiple sequential processing adds time and expense to the overall fabrication cost of the final substrate, and increases the probability that a given substrate will be damaged during the chamber-to-chamber movement operation. 
     It is within this context that the invention disclosed herein arises. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, a substrate processing system is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of substrate processing devices disposed in a separated manner within a shared ambient environment. The system also includes a conveyance device disposed within the shared ambient environment and defined to move a substrate through and between each of the plurality of substrate processing devices in a continuous manner. 
     In another embodiment, a substrate processing system is disclosed. The system includes a first substrate processing device disposed within a shared ambient environment. The system also includes a second substrate processing device disposed within the shared ambient environment and separate from the first substrate processing device. The system further includes a conveyance device disposed within the shared ambient environment and defined to move a substrate in a continuous manner through the first substrate processing device, between the first and second substrate processing devices, and through the second substrate processing device. The first substrate processing device is defined to perform a dry substrate processing operation. The second substrate processing device is defined to perform a wet substrate processing operation. The first substrate processing device is defined to create an energized reactive environment in exposure to a surface of the substrate in an absence of liquid material to perform the dry substrate processing operation. The second substrate processing device is defined to apply at least one material in a liquid state to the substrate to perform the wet substrate processing operation. 
     In another embodiment, a method is disclosed for processing a substrate. The method includes moving the substrate in a sequential manner through a plurality of substrate processing devices disposed in a separated manner within a shared ambient environment. Moving the substrate through a given substrate processing device subjects the substrate to a processing operation performed by the given substrate processing device. Some of the plurality of substrate processing devices operate to perform a dry substrate processing operation. The dry substrate processing operation does not apply any material in a liquid state to the substrate. Also, some of the plurality of substrate processing devices operate to perform a wet substrate processing operation. The wet substrate processing operation does apply at least one material in a liquid state to the substrate. 
     Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  shows a substrate processing system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1B  shows a close-up side view of two sequentially disposed substrate processing devices within the system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1C  shows a top view of a straight course version of the conveyance device relative to the plurality of substrate processing devices, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1D  shows a top view of a curved course version of the conveyance device relative to the plurality of substrate processing devices, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1E  shows a top view of a circular course version of the conveyance device relative to the plurality of substrate processing devices, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2A  shows a substrate processing system in which a wet substrate processing device is disposed to sequentially follow a dry substrate processing device relative to the movement direction of the conveyance device, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2B  shows an example of the dry substrate processing device in which a laser beam is used to create an energized reactive environment in exposure to the surface of the substrate, in an absence of liquid material, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2C  shows an example of the dry substrate processing device in which a plasma generation device is used to create an energized reactive environment, i.e., plasma, in exposure to the surface of the substrate, in an absence of liquid material, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2D  shows an example of the wet substrate processing device in which a spray bar is defined to spray a liquid processing material onto the surface of the substrate as the substrate is moved by the conveyance device, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2E  shows another example of the wet substrate processing device in which a proximity head is defined to flow a meniscus of liquid processing material onto the surface of the substrate, as the substrate is moved by the conveyance device below the proximity head, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows a flowchart of a method for processing a substrate, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4  shows a flowchart of a method for processing a substrate to remove photoresist material, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known process operations have not been described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention. 
       FIG. 1A  shows a substrate processing system  100 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The system  100  includes two or more substrate processing devices  101 A- 101   n  disposed in a separated manner within a shared ambient environment  103 . For ease of discussion, any given one of the plurality of substrate processing devices  101 A- 101   n  is referred to hereafter in general terms as a substrate processing device  101 . The system  100  also includes a conveyance device  109  disposed within the shared ambient environment  103 . The conveyance device  109  is defined to move one or more substrates  107  through and between each of the plurality of substrate processing devices  101 A- 101   n  in a continuous manner, as indicated by arrows  111 . It should be understood that the conveyance device  109  can be defined to carry either one or multiple substrates  107  through the system  100  at a given time. 
     In one embodiment, the conveyance device  109  is defined to move the substrate  107  through each substrate processing device  101  in a linear manner, such that a top surface of the substrate  107  is processed in a substantially uniform manner during a single pass of the substrate  107  through the substrate processing device  101 . In one embodiment, the term substrate  107  as used herein refers to a semiconductor wafer. However, it should be understood that in other embodiments, the term substrate  107  as used herein can refer to substrates formed of sapphire, GaN, GaAs or SiC, or other substrate materials, and can include glass panels/substrates, metal foils, metal sheets, polymer materials, or the like. Also, in various embodiments, the substrate  107  as referred to herein may vary in form, shape, and/or size. 
     Each substrate processing device  101 A- 101   n  is defined to perform a process on the substrate  107  within its respective processing region  105 A- 105   n , as the substrate  107  is moved through/past/by the substrate processing device  101 A- 101   n . The process performed on the substrate  107  by a given substrate processing device  101  can include one or more of material modification, material removal, material deposition, and/or metrology, i.e., measurement of some characteristic of the substrate  107 . Some of the substrate processing devices  101  can be defined to perform a dry substrate processing operation that does not include application of any material in a liquid state to the substrate  107 . Also, some of the substrate processing devices  101  can be defined to perform a wet substrate processing operation in which at least one material in a liquid state is applied to the substrate  107 . 
     The system  100  can include a number of shield components  106  disposed to ensure that substrate processing devices  101  that perform dry substrate processing operations are shielded with regard to liquid from the substrate processing devices  101  that perform wet substrate processing operations. In some embodiments, the shield components  106  may be physical structures, such as barriers or splash guards. In some embodiments, the shield components  106  may be non-physical barriers such as gas curtains. However, regardless of the particular embodiment, it should be understood that the shield components  106  are defined and disposed to avoid interference with movement of the substrate  107  by the conveyance device  109 , and to ensure that each of the plurality of substrate processing devices  101 A- 101   n  and its respective processing region  105 A- 105   n  remains in open exposure to the shared ambient environment  103 . 
     In one embodiment, the shared ambient environment  103  is a controlled ambient environment, having a monitored and controlled gas composition, pressure, temperature, and humidity that is suitable for substrate processing operations performed therein. The shared ambient environment  103  can also be filtered to remove particulate contaminants which may pose a threat to the substrates  107  within the system  100 . The system  100  can include gas supply/removal equipment plumbed to the shared ambient environment  103 . The system  100  can also include a number of pressure, temperature, and humidity monitoring and/or control devices disposed within the shared ambient environment  103 , so long as these devices do not interfere with operation of the system  100  as disclosed herein. It should be appreciated that the substrate  107  is moved by the conveyance device  109  through the system  100 , from one processing region  105  to another processing region  105 , within the same shared ambient environment  103 , without having to pass between separately controlled ambient environments, i.e., without having to move from one isolated processing chamber to a different isolated processing chamber. 
     In one embodiment, the system  100  includes a process control module  110  defined to control operation of one or more of the plurality of substrate processing devices  101 A- 101   n  on a substrate-by-substrate basis, as the conveyance device  109  moves substrates  107  in the continuous manner through each of the plurality of substrate processing devices  101 A- 101   n . Although the example embodiment of  FIG. 1A  shows the process control module  110  disposed within the system  100 , it should be understood that in other embodiments the process control module  100  can be disposed outside of the system  100 , and can be connected to communicate with one or more of the substrate processing devices  101  through either a wired connection or a wireless connection. It should also be understood that in some embodiments not all substrate processing devices  101  are connected/defined to communicate with the process control module  110 . 
     In one embodiment, at least one of the plurality of substrate processing devices  101 A- 101   n  is a scanning metrology device defined to scan the substrate  107  as the substrate  107  is moved by the conveyance device  109  through the scanning metrology device. The scanning metrology device is defined to measure and record one or more characteristics of the surface of the substrate  107  and transmit the measured characteristics to the process control module  110 . In various embodiments, a scanning metrology device deployed as one of the substrate processing devices  101  within the system  100  can be defined to measure characteristics of the substrate  107  including, but not limited to, surface roughness, film thickness, contamination levels (particles, metals, ions, etc.), among others. 
     In one embodiment, the measured characteristics of the substrate  107  as sent to the process control module  110  serves as an input to control operation of a subsequently disposed substrate processing device  101  through which the substrate  107  will be moved by the conveyance device  109 . For example, a scanning metrology device can be deployed in the system  100  to determine if a substrate  107  has been fully cleaned of a specified material. If the scanning metrology device determines that the substrate  107  is not fully clean, then the process control module  110  to which the scanning metrology device communicates can direct a subsequently disposed substrate processing device  101  to perform additional cleaning operations on the substrate  107 . However, if the scanning metrology device determines that the substrate  107  is fully clean, then the process control module  110  to which the scanning metrology device communicates can direct a subsequently disposed substrate processing device  101  to not perform additional cleaning operations on the substrate  107 , which may avoid adverse affects from over-cleaning of the substrate  107 . 
       FIG. 1B  shows a close-up side view of two sequentially disposed substrate processing devices  101 A and  101 B within the system  100 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Each of the substrate processing devices  101 A and  101 B includes a respective processing region  105 A and  10 B to which the substrate  107  is exposed as it is moved by the conveyance device  109 . There may be a time consideration with regard to moving the substrate  107  from one substrate processing device, e.g.,  101 A, to a sequentially disposed substrate processing device, e.g.,  101 B. A separation distance  113  between the two sequentially disposed substrate processing devices  101 A and  101 B, and a rate of travel of the conveyance device  109  between the two sequentially disposed substrate processing devices  101 A and  101 B, are defined to ensure that a condition imparted to the substrate  107  by the first substrate processing device  101 A is sustained until processing of the substrate  107  by the second  101 B substrate processing device. 
     For example, the substrate processing device  101 A can perform a process within the region  105 A that temporarily modifies a layer of material on the substrate, such that the modified layer of material can be removed by a subsequent process. It is necessary for the substrate  107  to be subjected to the subsequent process before the temporarily modified layer of material returns to its unmodified state. In this example, the separation distance  113  and velocity of the conveyance device  109  are defined to ensure that the substrate  107  is moved through the processing region  105 B of the next substrate processing device  101 B before the temporarily modified layer of material returns to its unmodified state. 
     The above-described example may occur in many instances during substrate processing. For instance, if an oxidization layer of a material prone to rapid oxidization needs to be removed to enable processing of the bare material, then the first substrate processing device  105 A can function to remove the oxidation layer, with the substrate  107  being conveyed through the second processing region  105 B of the second substrate processing device  101 B before the oxidization layer can reform. In another example, the substrate  107  may have disposed thereon a bulk photoresist material covered by an insoluble cross-linked photoresist crust material. In this example, the first substrate processing device  101 A can function to temporarily modify the cross-linked photoresist crust material so that it is soluble in a wet processing operation, then the second substrate processing device  101 B can perform a wet substrate processing operation to remove, e.g., dissolve, both the modified cross-linked photoresist material and the underlying bulk photoresist material. 
     In conventional substrate processing, the substrate would normally have to be transferred from one isolated chamber to another isolated chamber for sequential processing operations that were not compatible for performance in a single chamber, i.e., dry processing quickly followed by wet processing. This transfer of the substrate from chamber-to-chamber typically involves traversal through environmental isolation equipment, and can result in substantial time delay relative to process time scales. Therefore, the chamber-to-chamber processing paradigm is limited in regard to the diversity of processes that can be performed in a sufficiently rapid sequential manner. It should be appreciated that chamber-to-chamber transfer of the substrate  107  is not required in the system  100  in order to perform diverse processing operations in a rapidly sequential manner. More specifically, in the system  100  the substrate  107  is moved and processed in a continuous manner within a shared ambient environment  103 . 
     In one embodiment, the conveyance device  109  is defined to include multiple substrate holding regions formed in a spaced apart manner to carry multiple substrates  107  through the system  100  at a given time. However, in another embodiment, the conveyance device  109  is defined to include a single substrate holding region to carry a single substrate through the system  100  at a given time. In one embodiment, the conveyance device  109  is defined as a conveyor belt having one or more substrate holding regions formed therein. In another embodiment, the conveyance device  109  includes a number of independently movable substrate supports that each include one or more substrate holding regions. In this embodiment, the independently movable substrate supports are connected to a motion control device that maintains appropriate orientation, position, and motion of the substrate support as it moves through the system  100 . It should be understood, however, that regardless of the specific embodiment of the conveyance device  109 , the conveyance device  109  is defined to move in a continuous manner through the system  100  in exposure to the shared ambient environment  103 , such that each substrate carried by the conveyance device  109  is exposed to processing by the plurality of substrate processing devices  101  disposed within the system  100 . 
     Also, it should be understood that in some embodiments, the substrate holding regions of the conveyance device  109  are defined to hold the substrate such that a bottom side of the substrate is substantially uncontacted by the conveyance device  109 . In one example, substantially uncontacted means that the bottom side of the substrate may be contacted at a few peripheral location to provide support for the substrate, while leaving a majority of the bottom side of the substrate uncontacted. The amount and locations of support contact with the bottom side of substrate can vary between different embodiments. Some example embodiments of substrate support configurations that may be utilized in the substrate holding regions of the conveyance device  109  are described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/537,501, filed Sep. 29, 2006, entitled “CARRIER FOR REDUCING ENTRANCE AND/OR EXIT MARKS LEFT BY A SUBSTRATE-PROCESSING MENISCUS,” which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. 
       FIG. 1C  shows a top view of a straight course version of the conveyance device  109  relative to the plurality of substrate processing devices  101 A- 101   n , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, each substrate  107  is moved by the conveyance device  109  in a linear manner, i.e., straight-line manner, through the system  100  to be exposed to processing by the plurality of substrate processing devices  101 . 
       FIG. 1D  shows a top view of a curved course version of the conveyance device  109  relative to the plurality of substrate processing devices  101 A- 101   n , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, each substrate  107  is moved by the conveyance device  109  in an arbitrary path, i.e., including curves/turns, through the system  100 . In one version of this embodiment, the conveyance device  109  is defined to move each substrate  107  through each substrate processing device  101  in a substantially linear manner, such that curves/turns made by the conveyance device exist in regions between substrate processing device  101  locations. Regardless of the particular embodiment, it should be understood that the conveyance device  109  is defined to hold the substrate  107  in an appropriate orientation and distance from each substrate processing device  101 , as the substrate is moved through/past/by the substrate processing device  101  and is subjected to corresponding substrate processing operations. In one embodiment, the conveyance device  109  is defined to move each substrate  107  along a semi-circular path that enables loading and unloading of each substrate  107  onto/from the conveyance device  109  in a compact space. 
       FIG. 1E  shows a top view of a circular course version of the conveyance device  109  relative to the plurality of substrate processing devices  101 A- 101   n , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In this example embodiment, the conveyance device  109  includes a number of substrate supports  121  connected by a respective arm member  123  to a central rotatable hub member  125 . Each substrate support  121  is defined to hold a substrate  107  and move the substrate  107  through the plurality of substrate processing devices  101 A- 101 D, as shown by arrows  127 . 
     In one embodiment, each arm member  123  can be rotated in a controlled manner about a respective pin  124  connected to the central rotatable hub member  125 , such that a velocity of each substrate support  121  relative to a given substrate processing device  101  can be independently controlled within a given velocity range, as the central hub member  125  rotates. Also, in this embodiment, each arm member  123  can be defined to extend and retract in a telescoping manner to enable proper positioning of the corresponding substrate support  121  relative to a given substrate processing device  101 , as the arm member  123  is rotated about its pin  124  while the central hub member  125  rotates. The example configuration of  FIG. 1E  shows four substrate supports  121  and four substrate processing devices  101 . However, it should be understood that the number of substrate supports  121  and the number of substrate processing devices  101  can vary in different embodiments. 
     It should also be understood that the straight, curved, and circular course versions of the conveyance device  109  as depicted in  FIGS. 1C-1E  represent examples of how the conveyance device  109  and the plurality of substrate processing devices  101 A- 101   n  may be defined within the shared ambient environment  103 . In other embodiments, the conveyance device  109  and the plurality of substrate processing devices  101 A- 101   n  may be defined as a combination of the example configurations depicted in  FIGS. 1C-1E , or in essentially any configuration different from those depicted in the examples of  FIGS. 1C-1E , so long as the conveyance device  109  is defined to move the substrate  107  in a continuous manner through and between the plurality of substrate processing devices  101 A- 101   n , with both the conveyance device  109  and the plurality of substrate processing devices  101 A- 101   n  disposed within the shared ambient environment  103 . 
       FIG. 2A  shows a substrate processing system  200  in which a wet substrate processing device  203  is disposed to sequentially follow a dry substrate processing device  201  relative to the movement direction  111  of the conveyance device  109 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the dry substrate processing device  201  is defined to perform dry substrate processing operations on the substrate  107  within a processing region  205  as the substrate  107  is moved through/past/by/below the dry substrate processing device  201 . In one embodiment, the dry substrate processing device  201  is defined to create an energized reactive environment in exposure to a surface of the substrate  107 , in an absence of liquid material, to perform the dry substrate processing operation. In one version of this embodiment, the energized reactive environment is created to modify and/or remove one or more materials present on the surface of the substrate  107 . 
     The wet substrate processing device  203  is defined to perform wet substrate processing operations on the substrate  107  within a processing region  207  as the substrate  107  is moved through/past/by/below the wet substrate processing device  203 . The wet substrate processing device  203  is defined to apply at least one material in a liquid state to the substrate  107  to perform the wet substrate processing operation. 
     In one embodiment, the dry substrate processing device  201  is shielded with regard to liquid that may emanate from the wet substrate processing device  203  by one or more shield components  106 , as discussed above with regard to  FIG. 1A . Movement of the substrate  107  through the system  200  by the conveyance device  109  is depicted by the substrate  107 -T1 passing through the dry substrate processing device  201  at a first time T1, then by the substrate  107 -T2 passing between the dry and wet substrate processing devices ( 201  and  203 ) at a second time T2, then by the substrate  107 -T3 passing through the wet substrate processing device  203  at a third time T3. 
     The dry-wet configuration of the system  200  is well-suited to perform many processes that require rapid sequential dry and wet processing of the substrate  107 . One such process involves the removal, i.e., cleaning, of photoresist material from the substrate  107 , where the photoresist material is defined by a bulk photoresist material disposed on the top surface of the substrate  107 , with a cross-linked photoresist crust material disposed over the bulk photoresist material. In this photoresist removal process, the cross-linked photoresist crust material is difficult to remove with wet substrate processing alone. However, the cross-linked photoresist crust material can be modified in a dry substrate processing operation to become removable by a subsequent wet substrate processing operation. Therefore, the dry substrate processing device  201  can be operated to modify the cross-linked photoresist crust material to render it removable in a subsequent wet substrate processing operation. Then, the wet substrate processing device  203  can be operated to remove both the modified cross-linked photoresist crust material and the bulk photoresist crust material through wet substrate processing. 
       FIG. 2B  shows an example of the dry substrate processing device  201  in which a laser beam  225  is used to create an energized reactive environment  227  in exposure to the surface of the substrate  107 -T1, in an absence of liquid material, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The substrate  107 -T1 is shown to have a bulk photoresist material  223  disposed thereon, and a cross-linked photoresist crust material  221 A disposed over the bulk photoresist material  223 . The energized reactive environment  227  is created to modify and/or remove one or more materials present on the surface of the substrate  107 -T1. In the embodiment of  FIG. 2B , the energized reactive environment  227  is created by the laser beam  225  to modify the cross-linked photoresist crust material  221 A into a modified cross-linked photoresist material  221 B that is capable of being removed by a subsequent wet substrate processing operation in the wet substrate processing device  203 . 
     In one embodiment, in addition to utilizing the laser beam  225  to create the energized reactive environment  227  on the surface of the substrate  107 -T1, one or more gases can be flowed to the substrate to enable or enhance creation of the energized reactive environment  227 . The one or more gases in this embodiment may include reactive neutrals and/or ions that modify the cross-linked photoresist crust material  221 A in such a way as to enable a complete removal of both the modified cross-linked photoresist material  221 B and bulk photoresist material  223  in the subsequent wet processing operation. Also, in one embodiment, the laser beam  225  generation device is defined to scan the laser beam  225  of energy across the surface of the substrate  107 -T1 in a rasterized manner, i.e., side-to-side manner, as the substrate  107 -T1 is moved by the conveyance device  109 , such that an entirety of the substrate  107 -T1 surface is exposed to the laser beam  225 . 
       FIG. 2C  shows an example of the dry substrate processing device  201  in which a plasma generation device  271  is used to create an energized reactive environment  270 , i.e., plasma  270 , in exposure to the surface of the substrate  107 -T1, in an absence of liquid material, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Again, the energized reactive environment  270  is created to modify and/or remove one or more materials present on the surface of the substrate  107 -T1. In the embodiment of  FIG. 2C , the plasma  270  is created to modify the cross-linked photoresist crust material  221 A into a modified cross-linked photoresist material  221 B that is capable of being removed by a subsequent wet substrate processing operation in the wet substrate processing device  203 . 
     The plasma generation device  271  includes a gas supply channel  275  and outer gas return channels  277 . The gas supply channel  275  is separated from the outer gas return channels  277  by walls  273 . And, the outer gas return channels  277  are defined by outer walls  273 . The plasma generation device  271  also includes an electrode  274  disposed to be near to the substrate  107  as the substrate  107  moves below the plasma generation device  271 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 2C , the electrode  274  includes a number of gas flow passages through which reactant gas is flowed from the gas supply channel  275  to reach the surface of the substrate  107 -T1. Also, in the embodiment of  FIG. 2C , the conveyance device  109  includes a grounded electrode  276  positioned below the substrate  107 -T1. 
     During operation, reactant gas is flowed through the gas supply channel  275  and electrode  274  to the substrate  107 -T1, and radiofrequency (RF) power is applied to the electrode  274  to transform the reactant gas into the plasma  270  in exposure to the surface of the substrate  107 -T1. The reactant gas is exhausted from the plasma  270  region through the outer gas return channels  277 . The plasma  270  is defined to either remove or modify the cross-linked photoresist crust material  221 A such that it can be removed in a subsequent wet processing operation. 
     In one embodiment, the plasma generation device  271  is defined such that the plasma  270  generation region covers a diameter of the substrate  107 -T1, thereby allowing an entirety of the top surface of the substrate  107 -T1 to be exposed to the plasma  270  in a single pass of the substrate  107 -T1 through the dry substrate processing device  201 . In another embodiment, the plasma generation device  271  is defined to generate a local plasma  270  in exposure to the surface of the substrate  107 -T1, and scan the local plasma  270  across the surface of the substrate  107 -T1 in a rasterized manner as the substrate  107 -T1 is moved by the conveyance device  109 . It should be understood that the configuration of the plasma generation device  271  in  FIG. 2C  is provided by way of example. In other embodiments, the plasma generation device  271  can have a different configuration and/or operation means, so long as the plasma generation device  271  is defined to create the plasma  270  in exposure to the substrate  107 -T1. 
       FIG. 2D  shows an example of the wet substrate processing device  203  in which a spray bar  230  is defined to spray a liquid processing material  231  onto the surface of the substrate  107 -T3 as the substrate is moved by the conveyance device  109 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, one or more megasonic transducers can be deployed within the spray bar  230  to impart megasonic energy to the liquid material  231  as it is sprayed onto the substrate  107 -T3. The liquid material  231  is formulated to remove both the modified cross-linked photoresist material  221 B and the underlying bulk photoresist material  223 . In one embodiment, a single spray pattern of liquid material  231  can be directed toward the substrate  107 -T3. In other embodiments, such as that shown in  FIG. 2D , multiple spray patterns of liquid material  213  can be directed toward the substrate  107 -T3. 
       FIG. 2E  shows another example of the wet substrate processing device  203  in which a proximity head  251  is defined to flow a meniscus  253  of liquid processing material  231  onto the surface of the substrate  107 -T3, as the substrate  107 -T3 is moved by the conveyance device  109  below the proximity head  251 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The meniscus  253  is formed between the substrate  107 -T3 and the proximity head  251 . In one embodiment, the proximity head  251  is defined such that the meniscus  253  of liquid processing material  231  covers a diameter of the substrate  107 -T3, thereby allowing an entirety of the top surface of the substrate  107 -T3 to be exposed to the meniscus  253  in a single pass of the substrate  107 -T3 through the wet substrate processing device  203 . 
     The proximity head  251  includes a fluid supply channel  255  and outer fluid return channels  257 . The fluid supply channel  255  is separated from the outer fluid return channels  257  by walls  259 . And, the outer fluid return channels  257  are defined by outer walls  259 . During operation, the liquid processing material  231  is flowed through the fluid supply channel  255  to the substrate  107 -T3, and back through the outer fluid return channels  257 , thereby forming the meniscus  253  of liquid processing material  231  on the substrate  107 -T3. The liquid processing material  231  is formulated to remove both the modified cross-linked photoresist material  221 B and the underlying bulk photoresist material  223 . It should be understood that the configuration of the proximity head  251  in  FIG. 2C  is provided by way of example. In other embodiments, the proximity head  251  can have a different configuration and/or operation means, so long as the meniscus  253  of liquid processing material  231  is formed in exposure to the substrate  107 -T3. 
       FIG. 3  shows a flowchart of a method for processing a substrate, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The method includes an operation  301  in which a substrate is moved in a sequential manner through a plurality of substrate processing devices that are disposed in a separated manner within a shared ambient environment. Moving the substrate through a given substrate processing device subjects the substrate to a processing operation performed by the given substrate processing device. The method can include operating a conveyance device disposed within the shared ambient environment to move the substrate through and between each of the plurality of substrate processing devices in a continuous manner. 
     Some of the plurality of substrate processing devices operate to perform dry substrate processing operations. And, some of the plurality of substrate processing devices operate to perform wet substrate processing operations. The method also includes an operation  303  in which some of the substrate processing devices are operated to perform one or more dry substrate processing operations on the substrate in exposure to the shared ambient environment. Any given dry substrate processing operation does not apply any material in a liquid state to the substrate. The method further includes an operation  305  in which some of the substrate processing devices are operated to perform one or more wet substrate processing operations on the substrate in exposure to the shared ambient environment. The one or more wet substrate processing operations do apply at least one material in a liquid state to the substrate, as the substrate is moved. 
     The one or more dry substrate processing operations are performed by creating an energized reactive environment in exposure to the surface of the substrate in an absence of liquid material, as the substrate is moved. The energized reactive environment is created to modify and/or remove one or more materials present on the surface of the substrate. In one embodiment, such as that described with regard to  FIG. 2B , creating the energized reactive environment includes operating a laser generation device to direct a laser beam of energy toward the surface of the substrate. In another embodiment, such as that described with regard to  FIG. 3C , creating the energized reactive environment includes operating a plasma generation device to generate a plasma in exposure to the surface of the substrate. 
     The one or more wet substrate processing operations are performed by applying processing material in a liquid form to the substrate as the substrate is moved. In one embodiment, such as that described with regard to  FIG. 2D , some of the plurality of substrate processing devices are operated to perform a wet substrate processing operation by spraying liquid processing material onto the surface of the substrate as the substrate is moved. In another embodiment, such as that described with regard to  FIG. 2E , some of the plurality of substrate processing devices are operated to perform a wet substrate processing operation by flowing a meniscus of liquid processing material onto the surface of the substrate between the substrate and a proximity head as the substrate is moved below the proximity head. 
     The method can also include an operation for controlling a movement time of the substrate between two sequentially disposed substrate processing devices to ensure that a condition imparted to the substrate by a first of the two sequentially disposed substrate processing devices is sustained until processing of the substrate by a second of the two sequentially disposed substrate processing devices. In this embodiment, controlling the movement time of the substrate between the two sequentially disposed substrate processing devices includes controlling a separation distance between the two sequentially disposed substrate processing devices, a rate of travel of the substrate between the two sequentially disposed substrate processing devices, or a combination thereof. 
       FIG. 4  shows a flowchart of a method for processing a substrate to remove photoresist material, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The method includes an operation  401  for moving the substrate within a shared ambient environment to a first substrate processing device disposed within the shared ambient environment. The substrate has disposed thereon a bulk photoresist material, and a cross-linked photoresist material overlying the bulk photoresist material. The method also includes an operation  403  for operating the first substrate processing device to perform a dry substrate processing operation on the substrate as the substrate is moved through the first substrate processing device. The dry substrate processing operation serves to modify the cross-linked photoresist crust material into a form that is removable in a subsequent wet substrate processing operation. 
     The method continues with an operation  405  to move the substrate within the shared ambient environment from the first substrate processing device to a second substrate processing device also disposed within the shared ambient environment. The method then proceed with an operation  407  in which the second substrate processing device is operated to perform a wet substrate processing operation on the substrate as the substrate is moved through the second substrate processing device. The wet substrate processing operation serves to remove both the modified cross-linked photoresist crust material and the underlying bulk photoresist material. 
     As disclosed herein, the multiple processing region, sequential processing system can be utilized to remove, deposit, and/or modify essentially any layered combination of materials from/to any type of substrate in a shared, i.e., common, ambient environment. This is particularly useful where the different layered materials require different types of processing that can be implemented within respective processing regions of the sequential processing system. In the sequential processing system, the multiple substrate processing devices can be positioned in essentially any manner necessary to achieve desired substrate processing results. Also, because the substrate is moved within the shared ambient environment, and because the substrate processing devices are also deployed within the shared ambient environment, sequential processing operations can be performed on a substrate with small intervening time delay. 
     While this invention has been described in terms of several embodiments, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art upon reading the preceding specifications and studying the drawings will realize various alterations, additions, permutations and equivalents thereof. It is therefore intended that the present invention includes all such alterations, additions, permutations, and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.