Substrate Process Setting Display With Validity-Based File Editing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display processing apparatuses lack an efficient method to identify valid setting items during file editing operations, making it difficult for operators to determine which settings are valid and which are not.

Innovation Solution

A technique that includes a memory to store files with categorized items, setting values, and validity information, a display to show validity and setting values for each category on a screen, and a manipulator to edit the displayed information, allowing easy identification and editing of valid settings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If file editing operation is performed without validity information display, then the interface is simpler, but operators cannot easily identify valid setting items

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalidity information identificationVSAvoiddisplay structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies color coding to visually distinguish valid and invalid setting items. Valid items are displayed in a first color (e.g., green or blue) while invalid items are displayed in a second color (e.g., red or gray). This color change principle allows operators to immediately identify which setting items are valid without adding complex interface elements, thus resolving the contradiction between information visibility and interface simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

2Loss of information

If all setting items are displayed without categorization, then the display is more compact, but operators have difficulty identifying valid setting items

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalid setting item identificationVSAvoidinformation organization structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the display into multiple categories, with each category containing relevant setting items grouped together. This segmentation allows operators to navigate through organized groups rather than viewing all items in a single undifferentiated list. The categorization structure helps operators quickly locate valid setting items within specific functional categories, resolving the contradiction between information organization and identification ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If validity information is not displayed, then the editing operation is faster, but error prevention capability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror preventionVSAvoidediting operation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-calculating and displaying validity information for all setting items before the operator completes the editing operation. The system determines which items are valid based on predefined criteria and displays this information in advance, allowing operators to make informed decisions without time-consuming trial and error. This preliminary validation display resolves the contradiction between error prevention and operation speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4528409A1Display processing apparatus, substrate processing apparatus, display method, substrate processing method, method of manufacturing semiconductor device and program
Publication Date: 2025.03.26 KOKUSAI DENKI KK
  • EP4528409A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4528409A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4528409A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is provided a technique capable of easily identifying information related to a valid setting item used in a substrate processing apparatus when performing a file editing in a display processing apparatus. There is provided a technique that includes: a memory configured to store a file containing a plurality of items for each of a plurality of categories, setting values for each of the plurality of items and validity information indicating whether the setting values for each of the plurality of items are valid, wherein process conditions for a substrate are classified into the plurality of categories; a display configured to display the validity information and the setting values for each of the plurality of items classified for each of the plurality of categories on a screen for each of the categories; and a manipulator configured to perform an edit operation on the validity information displayed on the screen.