Recipe Editing Interface for Substrate Processing Step Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

The operational efficiency during recipe-editing in substrate processing apparatuses is decreased due to the need to switch between steps to check settings, leading to inefficiencies in managing and editing processing conditions.

Innovation Solution

A controlling apparatus that displays selected steps and processing conditions in a differentiated manner, allowing for side-by-side display of step and processing-condition information, enabling easier editing and management of settings through distinct icons and icons for editing status, thereby improving operational efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If settings that affect other steps are made when editing a selected step, switching between steps is performed to check the settings, then the settings can be verified, but operational efficiency during recipe-editing decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesetting verification accuracyVSAvoidoperational efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the display of multiple step information and processing conditions into a single integrated screen. The display unit shows both the selected step's processing conditions and other steps' information simultaneously, eliminating the need to switch between screens while verifying settings, thus resolving the contradiction between verification accuracy and operational efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a sequential, single-step display approach to a multi-dimensional display that shows multiple steps and their conditions concurrently. By organizing information in a spatial layout that accommodates multiple steps and their interrelationships on one screen, the system enables comprehensive verification without temporal switching, improving operational efficiency while maintaining verification accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Loss of information

If all steps and processing conditions are displayed in detail, then complete information is available, but display complexity and information management difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completenessVSAvoiddisplay complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the display into distinct functional regions: a first region for displaying multiple steps and a second region for displaying processing conditions. This segmentation allows complete information to be presented while organizing it in a structured, manageable layout that reduces perceived complexity and improves information retrieval efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different display characteristics to different regions of the interface. The first region displays step information with specific formatting, while the second region displays processing conditions with different formatting. This local differentiation allows comprehensive information display while maintaining visual organization and reducing overall display complexity through consistent regional patterns

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4443256A1Controlling apparatus, substrate processing apparatus, method of manufacturing semiconductor device, and program
Publication Date: 2024.10.09 KOKUSAI DENKI KK
  • EP4443256A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4443256A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4443256A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is provided a technique that includes: a recipe including a plurality of steps for which a processing condition for a substrate is defined; a display capable of displaying at least one selected from information on the plurality of steps included in the recipe and information on the processing condition of at least one step selected from the plurality of steps; an operator configured to perform an editing operation for the processing condition; and a controller capable of controlling information on a step for which the editing operation for the processing condition is performed to be displayed in a different manner from information on a step for which the editing operation is not performed.