Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
In a method of surface treatment irradiating a predetermined part of a plate of which surface is to be treated with light flux, detecting a quantity of transmitted light or a quantity of reflected light on the plate to be treated corresponding to said light flux, and detecting an end point of said surface treatment based on the variation in the detected signal level, the combination with said steps of a step of detecting whether said detected signal level exceeds a predetermined target level or not within a predetermined period of time, a step of repeatedly setting up a new target level so long as the detected signal level is found exceeding the predetermined target level, and a step of determining the end point of said surface treatment at the moment when said detected signal level is found not exceeding the new target level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
In a method of surface treatment irradiating a predetermined part of a plate of which surface is to be treated with light flux, detecting a quantity of transmitted light or a quantity of reflected light on the plate to be treated corresponding to said light flux, and detecting an end point of said surface treatment based on the variation in the detected signal level, the combination with said steps of a step of detecting whether said detected signal level exceeds a predetermined target level or not within a predetermined period of time, a step of repeatedly setting up a new target level so long as the detected signal level is found exceeding the predetermined target level, and a step of determining the end point of said surface treatment at the moment when said detected signal level is found not exceeding the new target level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of surface treatment claimed in claim 1, wherein the target level to be repeatedly set up is constant.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method of surface treatment claimed in claim 1, wherein the target level to be repeatedly set up is operated each time according to the quantity of transmitted light or reflected light.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of surface treatment claimed in claim 1, wherein the target level to be set up is selective according to the progress of the surface treatment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
160 words
In a method of surface treatment irradiating a predetermined part of a plate of which surface is to be treated with light flux, detecting a quantity of transmitted light or a quantity of reflected light on the plate to be treated corresponding to said light flux, and detecting an end point of said surface treatment based on the variation in the detected signal level, the combination with said steps of a step of gradually detecting whether said detected signal level exceeds a predetermined target level or not consecutively at a predetermined frequency within a predetermined period of time, a step of repeatedly setting up a new target level so long as the detected signal level is found exceeding the predetermined target level, and a step of determining the end point of said surface treatment at the moment when said target level is found not exceeding the new target level consecutively at a predetermined frequency within a predetermined period of time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
160 words
In a method of surface treatment irradiating a predetermined part of a plate of which surface is to be treated with light flux, detecting a quantity of transmitted light or a quantity of reflected light on the plate to be treated corresponding to said light flux, and detecting an end point of said surface treatment based on the variation in the detected signal level, the combination with said steps of a step of gradually detecting whether said detected signal level exceeds a predetermined target level or not consecutively at a predetermined frequency within a predetermined period of time, a step of repeatedly setting up a new target level so long as the detected signal level is found exceeding the predetermined target level, and a step of determining the end point of said surface treatment at the moment when said target level is found not exceeding the new target level consecutively at a predetermined frequency within a predetermined period of time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of surface treatment claimed in claim 5, wherein the target level to be set up is selective according to the progress of the surface treatment.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
29 words
A method of surface treatment claimed in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein the surface treatment applied to the plate to be treated is an etching.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
29 words
A method of surface treatment claimed in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 wherein the surface treatment applied to the plate to be treated is a development.