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US5740488A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Resist developing apparatus with selectable spray and drip nozzles

Assignee: Alps Alpine Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1996-02-27
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Granted: 1998-04-14
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Expires: 2016-02-27
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Abstract

Abstract The present invention provides a resist developing method and apparatus which achieves high in-plane uniformity and high reproducibility of resist pattern accuracy and low consumption of developer. The resist developing method sprays developer on a patterned resist formed on a substrate while rotating the substrate at high speed, drips the developer on the resist while rotating the substrate at low speed, and then, stops the substrate to hold the developer on the surface of the resist. The resist developing apparatus has a rotating substrate holder whose rotation speed is variable, a nozzle for supplying developer onto a substrate, and a device for supplying the developer to the nozzle. The nozzle includes a spray nozzle and a drip nozzle.

Inventors

  • 👤 Satoshi Fujimoto

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 11:19
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03F; G03F7/00; G03F7/26; G03F7/30; G03F7/3021

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 78 words
A resist developing apparatus, comprising: a rotating substrate holder whose rotation speed is variable; a nozzle for supplying developer onto a resist formed on a substrate; and means for supplying the developer to said nozzle, wherein said nozzle includes a spray nozzle and a drip nozzle located immediately adjacent to and parallel to said spray nozzle; and wherein said spray nozzle and said drip nozzle are connected to said developer supply means through at least one selector valve.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 78 words
A resist developing apparatus, comprising: a rotating substrate holder whose rotation speed is variable; a nozzle for supplying developer onto a resist formed on a substrate; and means for supplying the developer to said nozzle, wherein said nozzle includes a spray nozzle and a drip nozzle located immediately adjacent to and parallel to said spray nozzle; and wherein said spray nozzle and said drip nozzle are connected to said developer supply means through at least one selector valve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 30 words
A resist developing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for moving a jetting portion of said drip nozzle from a center toward an outer periphery of said substrate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 32 words
A resist developer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said spray nozzle and said drip nozzle are arranged to supply the developer in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the substrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 28 words
A resist developer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said spray nozzle and said drip nozzle are connected to said developer supply means through a single three-way valve.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4564280A Cited
US4808513A Cited
JPH01302725A Cited
US5342738A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2001-04-13 2001-10-13 2002-04-14 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2005-04-13 2005-10-13 2006-04-14 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2009-04-13 2009-10-13 2010-04-14 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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