Substrate Processing Startup Validation for Secure Tool Setup

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

There is a risk of inefficient setup and potential erroneous operations when an unfamiliar operator connects a substrate processing apparatus to a new management device, leading to inefficiencies in the setup process.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a substrate processing apparatus configuration that includes a process chamber, a main controller, storage for start-up condition execution status information, and a start-up condition controller to validate the execution status, ensuring proper authentication and setup procedures are followed, thereby preventing errors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If password authentication is implemented when connecting to a management device, then security and reliability are improved, but the complexity of the setup process increases and may cause operational delays

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication reliabilityVSAvoidsetup process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary authentication checks and validates the management device connection status before allowing full operational setup. The start-up condition controller pre-verifies authentication credentials and connection parameters, ensuring that security requirements are met before the operator proceeds with configuration tasks, thereby maintaining security while streamlining the setup flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The start-up condition controller acts as an intermediary between the authentication mechanism and the setup process. It manages the transition from authentication to operational mode by validating connection status and controlling access to setup functions, thereby reducing the perceived complexity for operators while maintaining security protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If comprehensive start-up conditions and authentication procedures are enforced, then operational safety and error prevention are improved, but the time required for setup increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror preventionVSAvoidsetup time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary validation of start-up conditions and authentication status before allowing setup operations. By checking connection validity and authentication credentials in advance, the system prevents erroneous operations without requiring operators to repeatedly verify conditions during setup, thereby reducing overall setup time while maintaining error prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The start-up condition controller provides feedback to the operator regarding the status of authentication and connection validity. This feedback mechanism guides operators through the setup process by indicating when conditions are satisfied, reducing uncertainty and preventing unnecessary delays caused by repeated validation attempts or erroneous operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If the substrate processing apparatus is connected to a new management device without validation, then setup speed is improved, but the risk of erroneous operations by unfamiliar operators increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesetup efficiencyVSAvoidoperation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary validation of the management device connection and authentication status before enabling setup operations. This preliminary check ensures that only valid connections are accepted, preventing erroneous operations by unfamiliar operators while maintaining efficient setup throughput by avoiding repeated validation during the configuration process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The start-up condition controller serves as an intermediary that manages the connection validation process between the substrate processing apparatus and the management device. It automatically verifies connection parameters and authentication credentials, reducing the burden on operators and minimizing human error while maintaining setup efficiency through automated validation workflows.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4266357B1Substrate processing apparatus, apparatus start-up method, method of manufacturing semiconductor device, and program
Publication Date: 2024.12.04 KOKUSAI DENKI KK
  • EP4266357B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4266357B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4266357B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is provided a technique that includes a process chamber (201) configured to be capable of processing a substrate (200), a main controller (240) configured to be capable of controlling the processing of the substrate (200), a storage (28) configured to be capable of storing start-up condition execution status information (72) used to determine whether or not a start-up condition is executed when the main controller (240) is started, start-up condition management information (52) for managing the start-up condition, and a state of the start-up condition management information (52), and a start-up condition controller (40) configured to be capable of validating the start-up condition execution status information (72) when the start-up condition management information (52) satisfies a predetermined condition.