Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US8996422
Timestamp: 2018-03-20 23:38:38
Document Index: 414499541

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 2004', 'Application No. 13185393', 'Application No. 2007', 'Application No. 2007', 'Application No. 05770468', 'Application No. 094127505', 'Application No. 094127505']

US8996422B2 - Substrate processing system, method of confirmation of its state of use, and method of prevention of illicit use - Google Patents
Substrate processing system, method of confirmation of its state of use, and method of prevention of illicit use Download PDF
US8996422B2
US8996422B2 US11659878 US65987805A US8996422B2 US 8996422 B2 US8996422 B2 US 8996422B2 US 11659878 US11659878 US 11659878 US 65987805 A US65987805 A US 65987805A US 8996422 B2 US8996422 B2 US 8996422B2
US11659878
US20070272151A1 (en )
A semiconductor element, liquid crystal display element, imaging device, thin film magnetic head, or other device is produced by using a substrate processing system to perform various types of processing on a semiconductor wafer, glass plate, or other substrate. The processing performed by a substrate processing system on a substrate includes for example coating processing for coating a photoresist or other photosensitizer, exposure processing for projection exposure of patterns of a mask or reticle (when referring to these all together, referred to as a “mask”) on the substrate coated with the photosensitizer, and development processing for developing the exposed substrate.
The above exposure processing is performed by an exposure apparatus provided in the substrate processing system. The coating processing and development processing are formed by a coater/developer installed in-line with the exposure apparatus. Further, the above exposure apparatus or other substrate processing system is often provided with an evaluation apparatus for evaluating the uniformity of the patterns formed on the variously processed substrate or the degree of overlay of the patterns, an inspection apparatus for detecting the secondary electrons or back scattered electrons when firing an electron beam at the substrate to inspect the patterns formed on the substrate, etc. Further, in this description, “substrate processing system” sometimes means the individual exposure apparatus, coater, developer, evaluation apparatus, inspection apparatus, etc. and sometimes means a combination of two or more of these as a whole.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a substrate processing system for processing a substrate comprising a license information storing device which stores license information including a shutdown time of the substrate processing system as usage terms of the substrate processing system for a specific user and a confirming device which confirms a state of use of the substrate processing system based on the license information stored in the license information storing device and time information from a timer, the confirming device confirming the state of use of the substrate processing system by whether the time during which the substrate processing system has been shut down exceeds the shutdown time based on the license information and time information from the timer.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a substrate processing system for processing a substrate comprising a license information storing device which stores license information including at least one of device information relating to the substrate processing system and network information relating to a network to which the substrate processing system is connected as usage terms of the substrate processing system for a specific user and a confirming device which refers to at least one of device information and the network information obtained from the substrate processing system and at least one of device information and network information included in the license information to confirm the state of use of the substrate processing system.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a substrate processing system for processing a substrate comprising a license information storing device which stores license information including usage terms of the substrate processing system for a specific user, a counter which counts an amount of processing of substrates of the substrate processing system, and a confirming device which confirms the state of use of the substrate processing system based on the license information stored in the license information storing device and count information from the counter.
FIG. 1 A top view showing the schematic configuration of a substrate processing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 A view showing the configuration of an exposure apparatus provided in a substrate processing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 A view for explaining a method of confirmation of the state of use of a substrate processing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention and a method of prevention of illicit use.
FIG. 4 A top view showing the schematic configuration of a substrate processing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 A top view showing the schematic configuration of a substrate processing system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 A top view showing the schematic configuration of a substrate processing system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
[FIG. 7 a] A view showing an example of display of content of a license of a control program used in a substrate processing system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
[FIG. 7 b] A view showing an example of display of content of a license of a control program used in a substrate processing system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
[FIG. 7 c] A view showing an example of display of content of a license of a control program used in a substrate processing system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 A flowchart showing an example of the process of production of a device.
This control computer 32 is provided with a network connection card 32 a. This network connection card 32 a is used by the control computer 32 to connect to a network LN1 laid in the factory in which the substrate processing system 11 is installed. When the network LN1 is an Ethernet®, the network connection card 32 a is assigned an unambiguously determined unique physical address (MAC address (Media Access Control address)). The control computer 32 controls the operations of the substrate processing system 11 based on control commands sent from a not shown host computer through the network LN1 and received by the network connection card 32 a.
Further, a coater 36 is provided along one side surface of the conveyance line 33 provided at the coater/developer 31, while a developer 37 is provided along the other side surface. The coater 36 is provided with, from the wafer carrier 34 to the exposure apparatus 30, a resist coater 36 a for coating a wafer W with a photoresist, a prebaker 36 b comprised of a hot plate for prebaking the photoresist on that wafer W, and a cooler 36 c for cooling the prebaked wafer W.
The developer 37 is provided with, from the exposure apparatus 30 to the wafer carrier 35, a post-baker 37 a for baking the photoresist on an exposed wafer W, that is, so-called PEB (Post-Exposure Bake), a cooler 37 b for cooling the PEB'ed wafer W, and a developer 37 c for developing the photoresist on the wafer W. Further, in the present embodiment, a measurement device 38 is provided in-line for measuring the shapes of the patterns of the photoresist (resists patterns) formed on the wafer developed by the developer 37 c. The measurement device 38 is an inspection device for measuring the shapes of the resist patterns formed on a wafer W (for example, the line widths of the patterns, the overlay error of the patterns, etc.)
The exposure apparatus 30 is provided with a wafer stage 85 moving two-dimensionally over a wafer base B6 (see FIG. 2). A wafer W to be exposed is held via a wafer holder 84 on the wafer stage 85. Further, the exposure apparatus 30 is provided inside it with a first guide member 39 so as to substantially follow along the extension of the center axis of the conveyance line 33 provided at the coater/developer 31 and is provided with a second guide member 40 above the end of first guide member 39 so as to perpendicularly intersect it.
Here, the “license file” is a file storing license information including at least part of the content of a license agreement on the control program for controlling the operation of the substrate processing system 11 concluded in advance between the manufacturer of the substrate processing system 11 and the user of the substrate processing system 11 (purchaser (transferee) of substrate processing system 11) which serves as confirmation material for confirming whether the substrate processing system 11 is being used in contravention to the agreement. As a specific example of this license information, this includes the usage start date, the usage end date or usage period, and shutdown time of the substrate processing system 11, the physical address of the network connection card 32 a provided in the control computer 32, the IP address and gateway address assigned to the control computer 32, etc.
Next, the operation when the substrate processing system 11 of the above configuration processes a wafer W will be explained in brief. First, a not shown host computer outputs a processing start command through the network LN1 to the control computer 32 provided in the substrate processing system 11. The control computer 32, based on this processing start command, outputs various types of control signals to the exposure apparatus 30, coater 36, and developer 37. When these control signals are output, a wafer taken out from the wafer carrier 34 is conveyed over the conveyance line 33 to the resist coater 36 a where it is coated with photoresist, then is transferred along the conveyance line 33 through the prebaker 36 b and cooler 36 c to the first arm 42 of the exposure apparatus 30.
The exposed wafer W is conveyed along the second guide member 40 and first guide member 39 to the conveyance line 33 of the coater/developer 31, then successively sent along the conveyance line 33 to the post-baker 37 a and cooler 37 b to the developer 37 c. Further, relief shape-resist patterns corresponding to the device patterns of the reticle are formed at the shot areas of the wafer W developed by the developer 37 c. The thus developed wafer W is according to need inspected for the line widths of the patterns formed, overlay error, etc. by the measurement device 38, conveyed along the conveyance line 33, and stored in the wafer carrier 35. After this lithography process is finished, for example one lot of wafers in the wafer carrier 35 is for example conveyed to the production line for performing the etching or ion implantation or other pattern forming process and resist peeling process.
In FIG. 2, 51 is an exposure light source. This exposure light source 51 is an ArF excimer laser light source (wavelength 193 nm) emitting exposure light IL of a substantially rectangular shape cross-section comprised of parallel beams. This exposure light source 51 may additionally be, for example, an ultrahigh voltage mercury lamp emitting g-rays (wavelength 436 nm) or i-rays (wavelength 365 nm), a KrF excimer laser (wavelength 248 nm), F2 laser (wavelength 157 nm), Kr2 laser (wavelength 146 nm), YAG laser high frequency generator, or semiconductor laser high frequency generator.
The exposure light IL passing through the variable optical attenuator 53 passes through a beam shaping system 55 comprised of the lens systems 54 a, 54 b to enter a first stage light integrator (uniformizer or homogenizer) comprised of a first fly eye lens 56. The exposure light IL emitted from this first fly eye lens 56 passes through a first lens system 57 a, optical path bending mirror 58, and second lens system 57 b to enter a second stage light integrator comprised of a second fly eye lens 59.
At the emission face of the second fly eye lens 59, that is, the optical Fourier transform plane with respect to the pattern surface of the reticle R to be exposed (pupil plane of illumination syste), an aperture stop plate 60 is arranged rotably by a drive motor 60 a. The aperture stop plate 60 is provided with a circular aperture stop for normal illumination, an aperture stop for ring illumination, and a plurality of (for example, four) aperture stops for modified illumination comprised of small offset apertures and small circular aperture stops for a small coherence factor (σ value) in a switchable manner. A main control system 74 for controlling the operation of the exposure apparatus 30 as a whole uses the drive motor 60 a to rotate the aperture stop plate 60 and set the illumination conditions.
The exposure light IL passing through the beam splitter 61 successively passes along the optical axis IAX through lens systems 62, 63 to enter a fixed blind (fixed illumination field stop) 64 and movable blind (movable illumination field stop) 65. The latter movable blind 65 is set at a conjugate plane with respect to the reticle surface, while the former fixed blind 64 is set at a plane defocused by exactly a predetermined amount from that conjugate plane. The fixed blind 64 has apertures arranged so as to extend in straight slit shapes or rectangle shapes (hereinafter referred to all together as “slit shapes”) in directions perpendicular to the scan exposure direction at the center of the circular field of the projection optical system PL.
The exposure light IL passing through the fixed blind 64 and movable blind 65 passes through an optical path bending mirror 66, focusing lens system 67, condenser lens 68, and main condenser lens system 69 to illuminate the illumination area (illumination field area) IA of the pattern surface (bottom surface) of the mask comprised of the reticle R. Further, the BMU 52 to main condenser lens 69 form an illumination optical system IS. Under the exposure light IL, the images of the circuit patterns in the illumination area IA of the reticle R are transferred through a double telecentric projection optical system PL to slit-shaped exposure areas of the photoresist layer on the wafer W arranged on the imaging plane of the projection optical signal PL by a predetermined projection magnification α (α is for example ¼ or ⅕ etc.)
Further, the wafer stage 85 is provided at one end with a reference member 89 for finding the reference position of the wafer stage 85. This reference member 89 is used to measure the relative position of the reticle R with respect to the coordinate system of the wafer stage 85 and the base line amount. Here, the “base line amount” means for example the distance between the center position of the images of the patterns formed on the reticle R projected by the projection optical system PL and the center of the measurement field of the later explained wafer alignment sensor 92. This reference member 89 is provided with reference marks comprised of, for example, five slit patterns comprised of light passing L-shaped patterns and two reference patterns formed by light reflecting chrome (duty ratio 1:1).
Further, at the side of the projection optical system PL, a multipoint autofocus signal comprised of a projection optical system 90 a for projecting slit images at an angle on a plurality of measurement points on the surface of the wafer W (detected surface) and a reception optical system 90 b receiving the reflected light from that detected surface and generating focus signals corresponding to the focus positions of the plurality of measurement points is provided. These focus signals are supplied to the main control system 74. The positional deviation of the position of the wafer W with respect to the image plane of the projection optical system PL, that is, the focus error, is found from the difference between the best focus position measured using the above illumination sensor 88 and the image plane position measured by the autofocus sensor.
The main control system 74 is provided at the control computer 32 shown in FIG. 1. It reads the various types of exposure conditions for scan exposure of the photoresist of the shot areas of the wafer W by suitable exposure amounts from the exposure data file and executes the optimal exposure sequence linked with the exposure control unit 73. Before the exposure processing, the main control system 74 adjusts the position and posture of the wafer W in the optical axis AX-direction based on the detection results of the autofocus sensor and uses the wafer alignment sensor 92 to measure the position information of a predetermined number (three to nine) of alignment marks formed on the wafer W. Further, it uses the measured position information for statistical processing called “EGA (enhanced global alignment) processing” so as to find the array of all shot areas set on the wafer W.
During the scan exposure, the reticle R is scanned through the illumination area IA of the exposure light IL in the +Y direction (or −Y direction) at the speed Vr through the reticle stage 81. In synchronization with this, the wafer W is scanned through the exposure area of the pattern images of the reticle R in the −Y direction (or +Y direction) at the speed α·Vr (α is the projection magnification from the reticle R to the wafer W) through the wafer stage 85. The directions of movement of the reticle R and wafer W are opposite since the projection optical system PL of this example performs reverse projection. Further, even during the scan exposure, the posture of the wafer W is controlled based on the detection results of the autofocus sensor.
Next, the processing by the control computer 32 provided in the substrate processing system 11 will be explained. As explained above, the substrate processing system 11 uses the count results of the timer T1 provided in the chamber unit and the content stored in the license file to confirm whether the substrate processing system 11 is being illicitly used. As the confirmation method, there are “check of the usage end date”, “check of the usage period”, and “check of the shutdown time”.
Here, “the check of the usage end date” means processing for confirming whether the usage end date set by the agreement has past from the usage start date set by the agreement (usage start date of control program for controlling substrate processing system 11) so as to confirm the state of use of the substrate processing system 11. Further, “the check of the usage period” means processing for confirming whether the operating time of the substrate processing system 11 from the usage start date set by the agreement has exceeded a cumulative usage period set by the agreement so as to confirm the state of use of the substrate processing system 11. The above processing confirms if the substrate processing system 11 is being used as stipulated in the agreement.
Further, “the check of the shutdown time” means processing for confirming if the time during which the operation of the substrate processing system 11 has shut down has exceeded a predetermined threshold so as to confirm the state of use of the substrate processing system 11. Work for restoring malfunctions occurring in the substrate processing system 11 is normally completed in two or three days, while work for moving the substrate processing system 11 takes seven to 10 days. For this reason, the threshold for judging if the substrate processing system 11 has been moved is set to about four to five days.
Here, to enable the above confirmation reliably, the current time has to be accurately obtained and the time has to be managed. The control computer 32 a of the substrate processing system 11 is connected to the network LN1, so, for example, the time can be managed by constructing an NTP (Network Time Protocol) server and having each of the control computers 32 provided in the substrate processing system 11 refer to the NTP server. However, as explained above, to ensure security, the network LN1 is not connected to any outside network like the Internet, so time management under the control of the manufacturer of the substrate processing system 11 is not possible. For this reason, in the present embodiment, time management becomes necessary under the closed environment of the factory.
By using the content stored in the above-mentioned license file and the count results of the timer T1 to periodically perform the “check of the usage end date”, the “check of the usage period”, and the “check of the shutdown time”, it can be confirmed whether the substrate processing system 11 is being illicitly used. In addition to this, in the present embodiment, the existence if any move can be reliably confirmed by whether the physical address of the network connection card 32 a, the IP address and gateway address assigned to the control computer 32, etc. match with those contained in the license file. This confirmation method and method of prevention of illicit use will be explained in detail below.
FIG. 3 is a view for explaining the method of confirmation of state of use and method of prevention of illicit use of a substrate processing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Further, in FIG. 3, parts corresponding to parts shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are assigned the same reference notations. The CN in FIG. 3 indicates the chamber unit provided in the exposure apparatus 30 (illustration omitted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2), while NM indicates a network setting information file provided in the control computer 32 and storing network setting information. Here, the “network setting information” is information including the IP address and gateway address assigned to the control computer 32. Further, the control unit 101 and storage unit 102 are provided in the control computer 32.
First, the manufacturer of the substrate processing system 11 and the user of the substrate processing system 11 (the purchaser (transferee) of the substrate processing system 11) conclude a license agreement on a control program for controlling the operation of the substrate processing system 11. The manufacturer of the substrate processing system 11 determines the license information L. Here, as the license information L, the usage start date (licensing date), usage end date or usage period, and shutdown time of the substrate processing system 11 and the physical address of the network connection card 32 a provided in the control computer 32, IP address and gateway address assigned to the control computer 32, destination network address of the control computer 32, etc. are included. Further, to prevent leakage and tampering of the license information, a password PW for the license information is set. This password PW is managed by the manufacturer of the substrate processing system 11.
When the above work is completed and the substrate processing system 11 is started up, the license file LF and password PW stored in the storage unit 102 are read out and the license file LF is decrypted by the decryption program P1 provided in the control unit 101. Further, the Ethernet® physical address is read out from the network connection card 32 a provided in the control computer 32, the unit identifier (unit ID) is read out from the chamber unit CN, and these are stored as device information DI in the storage unit 102. Further, the IP address and gateway address assigned to the control computer 32 are read out from the network setting information file NM and stored as network information NI in the storage unit 102. Further, the current time CT is read out from the timer T1 provided in the chamber unit CN and stored in the storage unit 102.
Further, the match confirmation program P2 uses the current time CT stored in the storage unit 102 and the usage start date (licensing date), usage end date or usage period, and shutdown time of the substrate processing system 11 stored in the decrypted license file LF to perform the “check of the usage end date”, “check of the usage period”, and “check of the shutdown time” so as to confirm that the substrate processing system 11 is being used as stipulated in the agreement. Specifically, in the “check of the usage end date”, it confirms if the current time CT before the usage end date, while in the “check of the usage period”, it confirms if the cumulative usage period PT found by adding the elapsed times of the current time CT is within the usage period set by the agreement of the substrate processing system 11.
Further, in the “check of the shutdown time”, it writes the current time CT as the previous time PT in the memory M1 provided in the chamber unit CN at the time of the end of operation of the system, reads out the previous time PT written into the memory M1 at the next startup time, and confirms if the elapsed time from the previous time PT to the current time CT is within the above shutdown time. Further, the settings for whether or not to perform the “check of the usage end date”, “check of the usage period”, and “check of the shutdown time” are stored encrypted in the license file LF stored in the storage unit 102. The content written in the memory M1 is password protected.
When the result of the above confirmation is that the substrate processing system 11 is not being used as stipulated in the agreement, the match confirmation program P2 outputs information showing that effect to the control program P3 controlling the operations of the parts of the substrate processing system 11. Based on this information, the control program P3 shuts down the operation of the substrate processing system 11. If the control program P3 shuts down the operation of the substrate processing system 11 based on the information from the match confirmation program P2, the operation of the substrate processing system 11 can no longer be restarted by just restarting the substrate processing system 11. The operation of the substrate processing system 11 remains shut down until a predetermined action (for example, acquisition of a new license) is performed.
According to the present embodiment, the “check of the usage end date”, “check of the usage period”, “check of the shutdown time”, and other various types of check are performed by the content of the file storing license information including all or part of the content of the license agreement of the control program controlling the operation of the substrate processing system 11 concluded between the manufacturer of the substrate processing system and the customer and the count results of the timer T1, so whether the substrate processing system 11 is being illicitly used can be confirmed. Further, when there is the fact of illicit use, the operation of the substrate processing system 11 is shut down until a predetermined action is taken, so continued illicit use of the substrate processing system 11 can be prevented.
Note that in the above explanation, whether the substrate processing system 11 is being used as stipulated in the agreement was confirmed at the time of startup of the substrate processing system 11, but the confirmation may also be performed at the time of exchange of the wafers W, at the time of alignment of a wafer W or reticle R, at the time of start of exposure, at the time of end of exposure end, and at other predetermined timings during the exposure processing sequence. Further, for the above “check of the shutdown time”, if performing this at certain time intervals (for example, every minute) when finishing sending the chamber status check or other command sent to the chamber unit CN, this would be effective for reliably confirming the shutdown of the substrate processing system 11.
In the above embodiment, the password PW and license file LF were stored in a storage unit 102 provided in the control computer 32. The license file storing the license information etc. is encrypted, so leakage and tampering of the license information can be prevented. However, if backing up the encrypted license file and password PW after licensing and rewriting this license file in the storage unit 102 when necessary, the “check of the usage end date”, “check of the usage period”, and “check of the shutdown time” could be avoided. For this reason, it is desirable to store these in the password protected memory M1 of the chamber unit CN and have the decryption program P1 read these out from the memory M1.
FIG. 4 is a top view showing the schematic configuration of a substrate processing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The substrate processing system 11 according to a second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 4 and the substrate processing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention 11 shown in FIG. 1 differ on the point that a port (not shown) in which a protect key K1 functioning as the key required for operating the substrate processing system 11 is provided in the control computer 32. Here, the protect key is a hardware protection device called a “dongle” used inserted into the USB port or parallel port of a computer. Further, in the above-mentioned first embodiment, the timer T1 provided in the chamber unit was used to confirm the state of use of the substrate processing system 11, but the present embodiment differs in the point of confirming the state of use of the substrate processing system 11 without using the timer T1. Further, the chamber unit may also be provided with the timer T1 and memory M1 in the present embodiment as well, but illustration of these in FIG. 4 is omitted to clarify the difference.
In the present embodiment, the substrate processing system 11 cannot be operated unless inserting the protect key K1 into the port provided at the control computer 32. This protect key K1 is provided with a timer and memory and is protected from access from the outside by a password. For this reason, if using the timer provided at the protect key K1 instead of the timer T1 in the above-mentioned first embodiment (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 3), it is also possible to perform the “check of the usage end date”, “check of the usage period”, and “check of the shutdown time”. Further, the protect key K1 is password protected, so it is also possible to use the memory in the protect key K1 instead of the memory M1 in the above-mentioned first embodiment (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 3).
In the present embodiment, if reading the “chamber unit CN” in FIG. 3 as the “protect key K1”, reading the “unit ID” as the protect key ID, and reading the “timer T1” and “memory M1” as the “timer” and “memory” in the protect key K1, a similar method as in the first embodiment may be used to confirm illicit use of the substrate processing system 11 and prevent illicit use. Further, it is also possible to add the configuration of the present embodiment to the configuration of the above-mentioned first embodiment and store the license file LF and password PW etc. in both the chamber unit CN and protect key K1. By adopting this configuration, it is possible to prepare against unforeseen hardware failure. Further, it is also possible to periodically or intermittently compare the license files LF stored in a plurality of locations to confirm that they are not any different and thereby check for the existence of any tampering.
(1) Information of the usage start date (licensing date) of the substrate processing system 11 and the day counter are recorded encrypted in the encrypted license file LF and it is confirmed if the time shown by the sum of the same (hereinafter referred to as the “confirmed time”) matches with the time of the count result of the timer T2 or if the confirmed time is before the time of the count result of the timer T2. If the above confirmed time were after the time indicated by the count result of the timer T2, it would mean that the timer T2 had been tampered with to indicate a previous time. In this case, it would possible to correct the time of the timer T2 to the confirmed time and then confirm the state of use of the above-mentioned substrate processing system 11 so as to confirm whether the substrate processing system 11 is being used as stipulated in the agreement.
Further, when performing the “check of the usage end date”, if the above confirmed time is before the time of the count result of the timer T3, it is preferable to automatically current the confirmed time to match with the current time. This is because if shutting down the operation of the substrate processing system 11 for several days for maintenance, the confirmed time will become difficult from the actual time and will have to be corrected. Further, when performing the “check of the usage period”, this correction is not performed.
Further, when the method of the above (2) or (3) confirms that the timer T2 has been tampered with, it is preferable that the control program P3 shut down the operation of the substrate processing system 11 and keep the operation of the substrate processing system 11 shut down until a predetermined action (for example, acquisition of a new license) has been taken. Further, if a device configuration in which the timer T1 explained in the above-mentioned first embodiment or the timer provided in the protect key K1 explained in the second embodiment can be used, the count results of these timers may also be used to correct the timer T2.
The method of confirming tampering with the timer T2 may be any of the above (1) to (3) alone or (1) and (3) in combination or (2) and (3) in combination. Further, in the antitampering measure of (2), if providing at least one of the timer T1 and protect key K1, it would also be possible to record the current time in these without recording it in the license file LF. Further, in the present embodiment, in FIG. 3, if reading the “timer T1” as the “timer T2” and making the memory M1 the memory provided in the storage unit 102, a similar method as in the first embodiment could be used to confirm illicit use of the substrate processing system 11 and prevent illicit use.
FIG. 7 a to FIG. 7 c are views showing examples of display of the content of the license for a control program used in a substrate processing system. In the example shown in FIG. 7 a, the display box D1 displays a message m1 to the effect that the manufacturer of the substrate processing system, “Nikon”, and a “ooo Company” have concluded a license and displays a message m2 showing the usage end date as the content of that agreement and a message m2 showing the usage period. In the example shown in FIG. 7 a, from the content of the message m2 displayed in the display box D1, it can be seen at a glance that the usage end date of the control program for controlling the substrate processing system is set to “Dec. 31, 2006” and the usage period is set to “two years”.
Further, in the examples shown in FIG. 7 b and FIG. 7 c, the display box D2 smaller in cross-sectional area than the display box D1 shown in FIG. 7 a displays a first display showing a message m1 showing the manufacturer of the substrate processing system, that is, “Nikon”, and the message m12 showing the current time (FIG. 7 b) or a second display showing a message 21 showing the user of the substrate processing system, that is, the “ooo Company”, and a message 22 showing part of the content of the agreement, that is, the usage end date (FIG. 7 c). These first display and second display are alternately displayed at predetermined time intervals (for example, at 10 minute or 30 minute intervals). By this display, it is possible to display the manufacturer of the substrate processing system, the user of the substrate processing system, and content of the agreement even in a small display area.
The displays shown in FIG. 7 a to FIG. 7 c may also be applied to any of the above-mentioned first to fourth embodiments. At this time, it is possible to show the display shown in FIG. 7 a to FIG. 7 c on the display panel provided on the control computer at all times, display it at predetermined time intervals, or display it at any another timing. Further, the display on the display panel is not limited to the examples shown in FIG. 7 a to FIG. 7 c. Any display method may be used. For example, the content of the display box may be made just the manufacturer of the substrate processing system, just the user of the substrate processing system, and just the content of the agreement successively changed. Further, when the display panel also serves as an input panel for the operator to input instructions, it is desirably to display the information in a manner not obstructing operator instructions.
For example, in the above embodiments, when encrypting the license information L, a password W set by the manufacturer of the substrate processing system 11 was used, but to prevent this password PW from being deciphered and to facilitate management, it is desirable to use a password PW combining information unique to each substrate processing system 111, for example, the physical address of the network connection card 32 a registered in the license file LF, the unique protect key ID for each protect key K1, the licensing date, or other information.
Further, in the above embodiments, the count results of a timer were used when confirming the usage period of the substrate processing system, but it is also possible to provide means for counting the number of shots in the exposure processing, the number of exposed wafers, the number of exposed lots, or other substrate processing amount showing the amount of processing of substrates and use the substrate processing amount to confirm the state of use of the substrate processing system. Further, to prevent tampering of these, these information may be stored in the memory M1 provided in the chamber unit CN shown in the first embodiment or the memory provided in the protect key K1 shown in the second embodiment or encrypted and then stored in the storage unit 102′.
Next, the production of a device using the substrate processing system will be explained. FIG. B is a flowchart showing an example of the process of production of a device (IC or LSI or other semiconductor chip, liquid crystal panel, CCD, thin film magnetic head, micromachine, etc.) As shown in FIG. 8, first, at step S10 (design step), the functions of the device are designed (for example, semiconductor device circuit design etc.) and patterns for realizing those functions are designed. After this, at step S11 (mask fabrication step), a mask formed with the designed circuit patterns is fabricated. On the other hand, at step S12 (wafer production step), silicon or another material is used to produce a wafer.
This disclosure relates to the matter included in Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-235216 filed on Aug. 12, 2004 and clearly incorporates by reference all of that disclosure here.
1. An exposure system for exposing a substrate comprising:
a chamber that surrounds said exposure apparatus;
a chamber controller, which controls operation of said chamber, including a timer that counts time and a memory, access to the chamber controller being protected by requiring a password;
a control computer including (1) a processor and (2) a memory storing a computer executable program that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform the steps of:
storing license information in a license information storing device, the license information including a shutdown time period of said exposure system as usage terms of said exposure system for a specific user;
detecting end of operation of the exposure system;
in response to the detection of end of operation of the exposure system, writing a current time counted by said timer to said memory provided in said chamber controller as a previous time;
detecting initiation of operation of the exposure system;
in response to the detection of initiation of operation of the exposure system, reading out said previous time written into said memory in the chamber controller;
determining an elapsed time by retrieving current time from said timer, retrieving the previous time from said memory, and comparing the retrieved current time to the previous time, wherein the elapsed time indicates a time period during which said exposure system has been shut down;
retrieving said shutdown period from said license information and determining whether said elapsed time exceeds said shutdown period from said license information;
confirming a state of use of said exposure system based on the determination whether said elapsed time exceeds said shutdown period from said license information; and
disabling operation of the exposure system based on the determination whether said elapsed time exceeds said shutdown period from said license information.
2. The substrate processing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein
said license information further includes at least one of (1) a usage end date and (2) a predetermined usage period of said substrate processing system, and a usage start date of said substrate processing system, and
said control computer is configured to confirm the state of use of said substrate processing system based on at least one of (1) whether a usage period from said usage start date of said substrate processing system has exceeded said usage end date and (2) whether a cumulative usage period from said usage start date of said substrate processing system has exceeded said predetermined usage period.
3. The substrate processing system as set forth in claim 2, wherein
said control computer is configured to confirm the state of use of said substrate processing system based on a comparison of at least one of device information and network information obtained from said substrate processing system with at least one of the device information and the network information contained in said license information.
4. The substrate processing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said license information is stored in said license information storing device as a set with unique information generated using an indecipherable function based on said license information or is stored encrypted in said license information storing device using an encryption method.
5. The substrate processing system as set forth in claim 4, wherein said license information storing device is configured to store said license information as the set with unique information generated using the indecipherable function based on said license information, and
said indecipherable function is a hash function.
6. The substrate processing system as set forth in claim 4, wherein said license information storing device is configured to store said license information encrypted using an encryption method, and
said encryption method includes at least one of a common key system and a public key system.
7. The substrate processing system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising
a key device that is configured to be attachable/detachable to the control computer of said substrate processing system for starting up said substrate processing system, wherein
said exposure apparatus is provided with a plurality of control units for controlling the operations of parts of the substrate processing system, and
at least one of said license information storing device and said timer is connected to least at one of the plurality of control units.
8. The substrate processing system as set forth in claim 7, wherein the time information of said timer is stored in a time information storing device provided in at least one of (1) said plurality of control units, (2) said key device, and (3) said control computer.
9. The substrate processing system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the time information storing device is configured to store the time information encrypted.
10. The substrate processing system as set forth in claim 8, further including a tampering judging device which judges existence of tampering of time information stored in said time information storing device.
11. The substrate processing system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said tampering judging device judges the existence of said tampering based on whether (1) a confirmed time shown by a sum of the usage start date of said substrate processing system included in said license information and a number of days elapsed from said start of use matches with a time indicated by the time information of said timer or whether (2) said confirmed time is before the time indicated by time information of said timer.
12. The substrate processing system as set forth in claim 11, wherein when said confirmed time is before the time indicated by the time information of said timer, said tampering judging device corrects said confirmed time to the time indicated by said time information.
13. The substrate processing system as set forth in claim 10, wherein
said system stores time information of said timer in said time information storing device periodically at predetermined timings, and
said tampering judging device judges the existence of said tampering based on whether time information stored in said time information storing device is before current time information of said timer.
14. The substrate processing system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said tampering judging device judges the existence of said tampering based on whether a time of preparation of automatically prepared specific information is before current time information of said timer.
15. The substrate processing system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising
a position detecting device which receives a signal emitted from a global positioning system satellite and detects position information indicating a position of said substrate processing system, wherein
said license information includes a distance of movement of said substrate processing system, and
said control computer confirms the state of use of said substrate processing system based on said movement distance stored in said storing device and detection results of said position detecting device.
16. The substrate processing system as set forth in claim 1, further including a shutdown device which shuts down the operation of said substrate processing system until a predetermined action is taken when the state of use of said substrate processing system confirmed by said control computer contravenes predetermined usage terms.
17. The substrate processing system as set forth in claim 16, wherein said predetermined action is an action of storing updated license information with newly determined usage terms of said substrate processing system in said storing device.
18. The substrate processing system as set forth in claim 1, further including a display device which displays (1) a manufacturer of said substrate processing system, (2) information for identifying a user given said license information, and (3) at least part of content of an agreement concluded with said user when imparting said license information.
19. A method of confirmation of state of use which confirms the state of use of an exposure system having an exposure apparatus that exposes a substrate, a chamber that surrounds said exposure apparatus, and a chamber controller, which controls operation of said chamber, including a timer that counts time and a memory, access to the chamber controller being protected by requiring a password, the method being performed by a control computer of the exposure system and comprising the steps of:
preparing a license file by the control computer;
storing license information in the license file by the control computer, the license information including a shutdown time period of said exposure system as usage terms of said exposure system for a specific user;
detecting, by the control computer, end of operation of the exposure system;
in response to the detection of end of operation of the exposure system, acquiring time information from said timer in said chamber controller by the control computer and writing the acquired time information to said memory provided in said chamber controller as a previous time;
detecting, by the control computer, initiation of operation of the exposure system;
in response to the detection of initiation of operation of the exposure system, reading out, by the control computer, said previous time written into said memory in the chamber controller;
determining, by the control computer, an elapsed time by retrieving current time from said timer, retrieving the previous time from said memory, and comparing the retrieved current time to the previous time, wherein the elapsed time indicates a time period during which said exposure system has been shut down;
judging, by the control computer, whether said time period during which said exposure system has been shut down exceeds said shutdown time period included in said license information stored in said license file by retrieving said shutdown period from said license information and determining whether said elapsed time exceeds said shutdown period from said license information; and
disabling, by the control computer, operation of the exposure system based on the determination whether said elapsed time exceeds said shutdown period from said license information.
20. A method of confirmation of state of use as set forth in claim 19 further including a step of stopping the operation of said substrate processing system until a predetermined action has been taken when the state of use of said substrate processing system contravenes said predetermined usage terms.
21. The method of confirmation of state of use as set forth in claim 19 further including a step of displaying on a display device (1) a manufacturer of said substrate processing system, (2) information for identifying a user given said license information, and (3) at least part of content of an agreement concluded with said user when imparting said license information.
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US11659878 Active 2029-01-19 US8996422B2 (en) 2004-08-12 2005-08-10 Substrate processing system, method of confirmation of its state of use, and method of prevention of illicit use
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Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:SUZUKI, HIROYUKI;OKITA, SHINICHI;YAMAGUCHI, TADASHI;REEL/FRAME:019581/0729
Owner name: NIKON SYSTEMS INC., JAPAN
Free format text: CHANGE OF ADDRESS;ASSIGNOR:NIKON SYSTEMS INC.;REEL/FRAME:019832/0945