In situ resist control during spray and spin in vapor

Claim 2

A spin coating process for producing a resist coating having a particular film thickness on a substrate, said process comprising the steps of: a) obtaining a substrate having a coating of a liquid resist material thereon, b) spinning said substrate in a vapor rich environment, c) measuring the resist coating thickness in situ, and d) providing feedback to adjust spin speed to obtain the particular film thickness of the resist coating in response to the measurement result.

Claim 3

The spin coating process of claim 1 wherein said spinning involves a cycle consisting of a) an initial acceleration stage, b) a first constant speed stage, c) thickness measurement during the first constant speed stage, d) a final acceleration stage, and e) a final constant speed stage, said final constant speed being adjusted according to the measurement result at the first constant speed stage.

Claim 4

The spinning cycle of claim 2 repeated iteratively until the desired wet resist thickness is reached.

Claim 5

The spin coating process of claim 1 using polychromatic interference to measure the resist thickness.

Claim 6

The spin coating process of claim 1 using monochromatic interference to measure the resist thickness.

Claim 7

The spin coating process of claim 1 using an ellipsometer to measure the resist thickness for said thickness.

Claim 8

Apparatus for treating a polymer coated substrate to produce a polymer coating having a particular film thickness, said apparatus comprising: a) a support for said substrate, b) a chamber surrounding said substrate and said support, said chamber having a means for controlling the concentration of solvent vapor in the chamber, c) means for introducing a solvent vapor into said chamber, d) means for introducing said polymer into said chamber and applying said polymer onto said substrate, e) means for removing said solvent from said chamber, f) means for in situ thickness measurement, and g) feedback means to adjust spin speed to obtain the particular film thickness of the polymer coating, which feedback means is responsive to the means for in situ thickness measurement.

Claim 9

Apparatus for treating a polymer coated substrate to produce a polymer coating having a particular film thickness, said apparatus comprising: a) a support for said substrate, b) a chamber surrounding said substrate and said support, said chamber having a means for controlling the concentration of solvent vapor in the chamber, c) means for introducing a solvent vapor into said chamber, d) means for introducing said polymer into said chamber and applying said polymer onto said substrate, e) means for removing said solvent from said chamber, f) means for in situ thickness measurement, and g) feedback means to adjust spin speed to obtain the particular film thickness of the polymer coating, which feedback means is responsive to the means for in situ thickness measurement.

Claim 10

Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said support is rotatably supported for spinning.

Claim 11

Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said means for introducing includes means for vaporizing solvent.

Claim 12

Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said means for introducing said solvent vapor comprises at least one vaporizing nozzle.

Claim 13

Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said means for introducing said solvent vapor comprises at least one vaporizing nozzle, and said support is rotatably supported for spinning.

Claim 14

Apparatus for treating a polymer coated substrate to produce a polymer coating having a particular film thickness, said apparatus comprising: a) a support for said substrate, said support being rotatably supported for spinning, b) an enclosed chamber surrounding said substrate and said support, c) means for introducing a solvent vapor into said chamber, d) means for removing said solvent from said chamber comprising an evacuated chamber coupled with said enclosed chamber for removing said solvent vapor from said enclosed chamber, e) means for in situ thickness measurement, and f) feedback means to adjust spin speed to obtain the particular film thickness of the polymer coating, which feedback means is responsive to the means for in situ thickness measurement.

Claim 15

Apparatus for treating a polymer coated substrate to produce a polymer coating having a particular film thickness, said apparatus comprising: a) a support for said substrate, said support being rotatably supported for spinning, b) an enclosed chamber surrounding said substrate and said support, c) means for introducing a solvent vapor into said chamber, d) means for removing said solvent from said chamber comprising an evacuated chamber coupled with said enclosed chamber for removing said solvent vapor from said enclosed chamber, e) means for in situ thickness measurement, and f) feedback means to adjust spin speed to obtain the particular film thickness of the polymer coating, which feedback means is responsive to the means for in situ thickness measurement.

Claim 16

Apparatus in accordance with claim 12 comprising: at least one vaporizing nozzle for vaporizing solvent vapor.

Claim 17

Apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein said means for introducing comprises an auxiliary vapor chamber coupled with said enclosed chamber for providing said solvent vapor to said enclosed chamber.

Claim 18

Apparatus for coating a substrate with a polymer to produce a polymer coating having a particular film thickness, said apparatus comprising: a) a support for said substrate, said support being rotatably supported for spinning, b) a sealed chamber surrounding said substrate and said support, c) means for introducing a solvent vapor into said chamber, d) means for applying said polymer to said substrate, e) means for removing said solvent from said chamber, f) means for in situ thickness measurement, and g) feedback means to adjust spin speed to obtain the particular film thickness of the polymer coating, which feedback means is responsive to the means for in situ thickness measurement.

Claim 19

Apparatus for coating a substrate with a polymer to produce a polymer coating having a particular film thickness, said apparatus comprising: a) a support for said substrate, said support being rotatably supported for spinning, b) a sealed chamber surrounding said substrate and said support, c) means for introducing a solvent vapor into said chamber, d) means for applying said polymer to said substrate, e) means for removing said solvent from said chamber, f) means for in situ thickness measurement, and g) feedback means to adjust spin speed to obtain the particular film thickness of the polymer coating, which feedback means is responsive to the means for in situ thickness measurement.

Claim 20

Apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said support is rotatably supported for spinning.

Claim 21

Apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said means for introducing includes means for vaporizing solvent.

Claim 22

Apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said means for introducing said solvent vapor comprises at least one nozzle.

Claim 23

Apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said means for introducing said solvent vapor comprises at least one vaporizing nozzle and said support is rotatably supported for spinning.

Claim 24

Apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said means for applying said polymer comprises a spraying nozzle.

Claim 25

A process of spin coating a soluble coating material upon a substrate to produce a coating of the soluble material having a particular film thickness and uniformity, said process comprising: a) applying a solvent enriching vapor upon a substrate, b) subsequently spraying said coating material upon said substrate, c) spinning said substrate, d) performing in situ thickness measurement, and e) providing feedback to adjust the spin speed in response to the in situ thickness measurement, wherein the spin speed is adjusted to obtain the particular film thickness and uniformity of the soluble material coating.

Claim 26

A process of spin coating a soluble coating material upon a substrate to produce a coating of the soluble material having a particular film thickness and uniformity, said process comprising: a) applying a solvent enriching vapor upon a substrate, b) subsequently spraying said coating material upon said substrate, c) spinning said substrate, d) performing in situ thickness measurement, and e) providing feedback to adjust the spin speed in response to the in situ thickness measurement, wherein the spin speed is adjusted to obtain the particular film thickness and uniformity of the soluble material coating.

Claim 27

The process of claim 21 wherein a spread out delay time is introduced between said spraying step and said spinning step.

Claim 28

The process of claim 21 wherein said coating material comprises resist.

Claim 29

The process of claim 21 wherein said substrate is spun at a high rpm during solvent vapor introduction.

Claim 30

The process of claim 24 wherein said substrate is spun at a substantially lower rpm during introduction of coating material.

Claim 31

The process of claim 21 wherein after a step of thickness regulating spinning, a delay time is introduced before a step of solvent vapor evacuation.

Claim 32

The process of claim 21 wherein during said spinning step and a spread out delay time, vapor pressure of said solvent enriching vapor is maintained substantially stable.

Claim 33

The process of claim 21 wherein during said spinning step, solvent vapor pressure is substantially reduced by exhaust thereof into an evacuation outlet.

Claim 34

The process of claim 21 wherein ultrasonic agitation is applied to said system, during said delay time, before spinning.

Claim 35

The process of claim 21 wherein vibratory agitation is applied to said system, during said delay time, before spinning.