JP3413947B2 - Peripheral exposure equipment - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a peripheral exposure apparatus for exposing an unnecessary photosensitive layer region around a region where a mask pattern is exposed, of a photosensitive layer formed on the surface of a rectangular substrate.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, liquid crystal display devices have been widely used as display devices for calculators, word processors, personal computers, portable televisions and the like. This liquid crystal display device has a pair of glass substrates arranged to face each other, and a transparent thin film electrode is formed in a desired shape on the facing surface of each glass substrate by a photolithography method (for example, formed on both glass substrates). The plurality of strip-shaped transparent thin film electrodes are patterned so that they are orthogonal to each other. As a device for this photolithography, a mirror projection type aligner or stepper that exposes an original image pattern formed on a mask onto a photoresist layer (photosensitive layer) on a glass substrate through a projection optical system is used. .

An aligner or a stepper exposes a plurality of mask patterns (for example, strip patterns) on almost the entire surface of a square glass substrate (square substrate), but normally, the peripheral portion of the glass substrate has a strip shape with a width of about several mm. The exposure position of each mask pattern is determined so as to create a blank space. Therefore, when a positive resist is used in the photolithography process, unexposed resist remains in the form of a strip on the peripheral portion of the glass substrate after the development process. This residual resist (that is, of the photosensitive layer formed on the surface of the rectangular substrate,
Unwanted photosensitive layer area around the area where the pattern of the mask is exposed) may adversely affect later process processing, so that the unnecessary photosensitive layer area is exposed before or after the exposure of the mask pattern, It is necessary to remove this unnecessary photosensitive layer region by a developing process.

Conventionally, an illumination optical system capable of irradiating light on the entire surface of a rectangular glass substrate has been used as a peripheral exposure device for exposing the unnecessary photosensitive layer region, and the mask pattern on the surface of the glass substrate has been exposed. Alternatively, a mask that shields the exposed area (mask pattern forming area) is arranged between the illumination optical system and the glass substrate, and the area shielded by the mask and the area not shielded by the mask (the unnecessary photosensitive layer area). ) Is known to be collectively exposed by an illumination optical system.

Further, as another peripheral exposure device, there is provided at least one ultraviolet irradiation head for locally irradiating the unnecessary photosensitive layer region of the rectangular substrate with ultraviolet rays, and the reference side of the rectangular substrate mounted on the stage. Aligning the rectangular substrate and the scanning direction so that is substantially parallel to the scanning direction of the ultraviolet rays, and then scanning either one of the ultraviolet irradiation head or the stage to scan the ultraviolet rays. Accordingly, a structure is known in which the unnecessary photosensitive layer region is exposed to ultraviolet light.

[0006]

However, the former peripheral exposure apparatus described above has the following problems. First,
A mask that shields the illumination optical system and the mask pattern formation region is required, and this mask needs to be prepared for each mask pattern, resulting in high cost and an increase in the size of the rectangular substrate. The optical system and the mask become large, and the cost becomes higher. Second, the area to be exposed by the illumination optical system is only the unnecessary photosensitive layer area around the mask, and most of the illumination light of the illumination optical system is not used, so energy is wasted. Thirdly, an alignment mechanism for aligning the mask pattern forming region of the rectangular substrate with the mask is required, and if this alignment mechanism is configured by an optical type, the cost will be high, and the mechanism will be a mechanical type. When configured, there are problems that the alignment accuracy is high and the work is difficult.

Further, in the latter peripheral exposure apparatus described above,
There are the following problems. First, in order to align the rectangular substrate and the scanning direction so that the reference side of the rectangular substrate is substantially parallel to the scanning direction of ultraviolet rays, for example, two alignment pins that are in contact with the reference side are parallel to the scanning direction. However, since this installation accuracy directly affects the accuracy of the exposure position by ultraviolet rays, it is necessary to perform the installation work with high accuracy, and there is a problem that the work is extremely difficult. Second
In addition, if the friction coefficient of the rectangular substrate is large, it is difficult to align the rectangular substrate.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a peripheral exposure apparatus which is inexpensive, easy to assemble, and highly accurate.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the peripheral exposure apparatus of the present invention according to claim 1 is mounted on a stage and has a photosensitive layer on the surface thereof.
An ultraviolet irradiation head for irradiating ultraviolet rays, and an ultraviolet irradiation head scanning means for moving the ultraviolet irradiation head substantially parallel to the reference side of the rectangular substrate so that the ultraviolet rays scan the peripheral portion of the rectangular substrate. In the peripheral exposure apparatus, the ultraviolet irradiation head moving means for moving the ultraviolet irradiation head in a direction substantially orthogonal to the scanning direction of the ultraviolet irradiation head, and the inclination of the reference side of the rectangular substrate with respect to the scanning direction of the ultraviolet irradiation head are set. Control for controlling the ultraviolet irradiation head moving means according to the detection result of the inclination detecting means so that the inclination detecting means for detecting and the movement locus of the ultraviolet irradiation head become substantially parallel to the reference side of the rectangular substrate. And means.

In the peripheral exposure apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the control means controls the ultraviolet irradiation head moving means to further irradiate a desired area of the rectangular substrate with ultraviolet rays.

Further, the peripheral exposure apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention comprises a substrate rotating means for rotating the orientation of the rectangular substrate on the stage by approximately 90 °. Further, claim 4
In the peripheral exposure apparatus of the described invention, the control means controls the ultraviolet irradiation.
Set the path of movement of the head to an arbitrary angle with respect to the reference side of the rectangular substrate.
Control in the direction of.

[0012]

In the peripheral exposure apparatus according to the present invention, the inclination detecting means detects the inclination of the reference side of the rectangular substrate with respect to the scanning direction of the ultraviolet irradiation head, and the movement locus of the ultraviolet irradiation head is the reference side of the rectangular substrate. Since the ultraviolet irradiation head moving means is controlled by the control means according to the detection result of the inclination detection means so as to be parallel, there is no need to use an illumination optical system or a mask for light shielding, and the rectangular substrate It is not necessary to align the rectangular substrate so that the reference side is parallel to the scanning direction of ultraviolet rays.

In the peripheral exposure apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the control means controls the ultraviolet irradiation head moving means to further irradiate the desired area of the rectangular substrate with the ultraviolet light. Can be attached and exposed.

Further, in the edge exposure apparatus of the third aspect of the invention, the orientation of the rectangular substrate on the stage is approximately 90 degrees.
It is equipped with a substrate rotating means for rotating by .degree. And the positional error and the angular error due to the rotation can be known, so that the exposure can be performed in a desired direction. Further, the peripheral exposure according to the invention of claim 4
In the equipment, the movement trajectory of the UV irradiation head is set to the base of the rectangular substrate.
Since it is controlled to an arbitrary angle with respect to the quasi-side,
Expose the required photosensitive layer area with ultraviolet rays at an arbitrary angle
be able to.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an edge exposure apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This peripheral exposure apparatus is an unnecessary photosensitive layer region around a region (mask pattern forming region) where a mask pattern is exposed, of the photosensitive layer formed on the surface of a rectangular glass substrate (hereinafter referred to as a rectangular substrate) 1. (This is mainly for the peripheral portion of the photosensitive layer, and depending on the rectangular substrate, a cross-shaped unnecessary photosensitive layer region may be provided near the center of the photosensitive layer.).

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the peripheral exposure apparatus includes two ultraviolet irradiation heads 2 for locally irradiating an unnecessary photosensitive layer region with ultraviolet rays, and a prism conveyed by an automatic conveying mechanism (not shown). An X-axis drive unit (ultraviolet irradiation) that holds a holder (stage) 3 that holds the substrate 1 in a vacuum and holds it substantially horizontally and two ultraviolet irradiation heads 2 and moves the two ultraviolet irradiation heads 2 in the X-axis direction. Head moving means 4), a Y-axis driving unit (ultraviolet irradiation head scanning means) 5 that holds the X-axis driving unit 4 and moves the unit 4 in the Y direction, and three substrate position detecting mechanisms (tilt detecting means) 6A, 6B, 6C, X-axis drive unit 4, Y-axis drive unit 5, and three substrate position detection mechanisms 6
An exposure control unit (control means) 7 for controlling A, 6B, 6C and a rotation unit 11 described later is provided.

Ultraviolet rays are supplied to the two ultraviolet ray irradiation heads 2 from an ultraviolet ray irradiation device 8 (see FIG. 2) through a light guide (for example, an optical fiber) 9. The ultraviolet irradiation head 2 locally irradiates ultraviolet rays on the surface of the rectangular substrate 1 (for example, irradiates spot-shaped ultraviolet rays having a rectangular irradiation area). The ultraviolet irradiation head 2 can be moved in parallel in the X direction and the Y direction by the X-axis driving unit 4 and the Y-axis driving unit 5 while maintaining a constant distance from the surface of the rectangular substrate 1.

The Y-axis drive unit 5 is supported on the surface plate 10 by the columns 5a.

As shown in FIG. 2, the holder 3 is fixed to a 90 ° rotation unit (substrate rotating means) 11 provided on the surface plate 10 and can rotate by 90 °.
Further, the holder 3 has three board position detecting mechanisms 6A, 6A.
B and 6C are attached. Substrate position detection mechanism 6
A and 6B are pins 60 that come into contact with the reference side 1a of the rectangular substrate 1.
The board position detecting mechanism 6C has pins 60C that are in contact with the other side 1b of the rectangular board 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the substrate position detecting mechanisms 6A and 6B has a supporting member 6 fixed to the holder 3.
1, a linear guide 62 slidably provided on the support member 61, and the drive transmission block 6 on the linear guide 62.
3, the pins 60A and 60B fixed via 3, the spring 64 that urges the linear guide 62 to press the pins 60A and 60B against the reference side 1a, and the pins 60A and 60B against the urging force of the spring 64. An air cylinder 65 for separating from the reference side 1a and a position sensor 66 for detecting the position when the pins 60A and 60B contact the reference side 1a. Similarly, the substrate position detection mechanism 6C includes a support member 61, a straight guide 62, and a pin 60C fixed on the straight guide 62 via a drive transmission block 63.
And a spring 64 for pressing the pin 60C against the one side 1b.
And an air cylinder 65 for separating the pin 60C from the side 1b against the urging force of the spring 64, and a position sensor 66 for detecting the position when the pin 60C contacts the side 1b.

The air cylinder 65 is provided with a switch (not shown) for introducing air supplied from an air supply source (not shown) into the body of the air cylinder 65.

The switch (not shown) introduces the air into the main body of the air cylinder 65 under the control of the exposure control unit 7.

The three board position detecting mechanisms 6A, 6B,
The position of the rectangular substrate 1 held by the holder 3 is detected by 6C. Further, the substrate position detection mechanisms 6A and 6B detect the inclination (inclination of the ultraviolet head 2 with respect to the scanning direction) of the reference side 1a of the rectangular substrate 1 held by the holder 3 in the horizontal plane.

Each pin 6 when the pins 60A and 60B abut on the reference side 1a and the pin 60C abuts on the one side 1b.
A position detection signal indicating the positions of 0A, 60B, and 60C is input to the memory of the exposure control unit 7, and the value is stored.

Then, the exposure control unit 7 controls the X-axis drive unit 4 so that the movement locus of the ultraviolet irradiation head 2 becomes substantially parallel to the reference side 1a.

Next, the operation of the peripheral exposure apparatus of this embodiment will be described.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the rectangular substrate 1 is used.
Unnecessary photosensitive layer regions EX1 and E that are parallel to the reference side 1a of
X2 and an unnecessary photosensitive layer area EX orthogonal to the reference side 1a
A case where the ultraviolet rays are exposed to 3 and EX4 will be described.

First, the exposure control unit 7 performs test exposure on the first rectangular substrate 1 in the following procedure.

First, the exposure control unit 7 controls a switch (not shown) so as to supply air to the air cylinders 65 of the respective substrate position detecting mechanisms 6A, 6B and 6C, and the pins 60A and 60B are controlled by the respective air cylinders 65. , 60C is retracted.

In this state, the first rectangular substrate 1 transported by an automatic transport mechanism (not shown) is vacuum-sucked by the holder 3 and held horizontally without alignment.

After that, the exposure control unit 7 controls the air cylinder 65 so as to bleed air from the air cylinder 65 of each of the substrate position detecting mechanisms 6A, 6B, 6C, and the pins 60A, 60B that have been retracted are used for the rectangular substrate 1. On the reference side 1a of
The pin 60C is brought into contact with the side 1b by the biasing force of each spring 64. At this time, each board position detection mechanism 6A,
The position sensor 66 of 6B detects the position of the reference side 1a of the rectangular substrate 1, and the position sensor 66 of the substrate position detection mechanism 6C detects the position of one side 1b of the rectangular substrate 1, and these position information are used as reference position information. It is stored in the memory of the exposure control unit 7 as (for example, a zero position), and the calculation unit of the exposure control unit 7 calculates the inclination of the reference side 1a based on the position information from the position sensors 66 of both detection mechanisms 6A and 6B. Then, the value is stored in the memory.

Next, the exposure control unit 7 causes the Y-axis drive unit 5 to move the X-axis drive unit 4 in a state in which the ultraviolet irradiation head 2 is separated by a predetermined distance according to the interval between the unnecessary photosensitive layer regions EX1 and EX2. By moving in the Y direction, the unnecessary photosensitive layer area EX is generated by the ultraviolet irradiation head 2.
1 and EX2 are exposed by scanning with ultraviolet rays in the Y direction. At this time, the ultraviolet irradiation head 2 is not displaced in the X direction.

After the exposure, the exposure control unit 7 rotates the holder 3 and the rectangular substrate 1 by 90 ° by the 90 ° rotation unit 11.
Rotate.

Then, the exposure control unit 7 sets the X-axis drive unit 4 in a state where the ultraviolet irradiation head 2 is separated by a predetermined distance corresponding to the distance between the unnecessary photosensitive layer regions EX3 and EX4.
Is moved in the Y direction by the Y-axis drive unit 5, so that the unnecessary photosensitive layer region E is moved by the ultraviolet irradiation head 2.
The X3 and EX4 are exposed by scanning with ultraviolet rays in the Y direction. Also at this time, the ultraviolet irradiation head 2 is not displaced in the X direction.

After exposure, the rectangular substrate 1 is developed, and the unnecessary photosensitive layer regions EX1, EX2, E removed by this development.
Positional error and angular error of X3 and EX4 are obtained by measurement.

After the test exposure for the first rectangular substrate 1 described above is completed, the second rectangular substrate 1 is vacuum-adsorbed by the holder 3 and held horizontally without alignment. At this time, the board position detecting mechanisms 6A, 6
Each position information of the second rectangular substrate 1 obtained by the position sensors 66 of B and 6C and the inclination of the reference side 1a thereof, and each stored reference position information of the first rectangular substrate 1 and From the inclination of the reference side 1a, 1
Relative position of the second rectangular substrate 1 with respect to the first rectangular substrate 1 (positional deviation amount of both substrates in the X and Y directions and reference side 1).
The deviation amount of the inclination angle of a) is calculated by the calculation unit of the exposure control unit 7.

Then, based on the calculation result and the position error and the angle error of the unnecessary photosensitive layer regions EX1 and EX2 obtained by the test exposure, the exposure control unit 7 determines that the ultraviolet irradiation head 2 does not require the photosensitive layer region. An offset amount A1 for positioning the EX1 and EX2 at an accurate exposure start position when exposing the UV to the UV is calculated, and the UV from the UV irradiation head 2 is unnecessary in the photosensitive layer regions EX1 and EX2.
As the scanning is started in the Y direction from the exposure start position for
How much the ultraviolet irradiation head 2 is displaced in the X direction,
The displacement amount B1 is calculated.

Further, the exposure control unit 7 determines the ultraviolet irradiation head 2 based on the calculation result of the relative position and the position error and the angle error of the unnecessary photosensitive layer regions EX3 and EX4 obtained by the test exposure. , Unnecessary photosensitive layer area EX
The offset amount A2 for locating the accurate exposure start position when exposing the ultraviolet rays to the EX3 and EX4 is calculated, and the UV from the ultraviolet irradiation head 2 is calculated from the exposure start position to the unnecessary photosensitive layer regions EX3 and EX4 to Y. The amount of displacement B2 of the displacement of the ultraviolet irradiation head 2 in the X direction is calculated as the scanning is performed in the direction.

When the unnecessary photosensitive layer regions EX1 and EX2 of the second rectangular substrate 1 are exposed to ultraviolet rays, the exposure control unit 7 determines the X-axis based on the offset amount A1 and the displacement amount B1. The drive unit 4 and the Y-axis drive unit 5 are controlled so that the ultraviolet irradiation head 2 is controlled.
Starts scanning the ultraviolet ray in the Y direction from the accurate exposure start position, and the movement loci of both ultraviolet rays become parallel to the reference side 1a. As a result, unnecessary photosensitive layer regions EX1 and EX2
Then, ultraviolet rays are exposed in parallel with the reference side 1a.

Also, when the unnecessary photosensitive layer regions EX3, EX4 of the second rectangular substrate 1 are exposed to ultraviolet rays, the exposure control unit 7 determines X based on the offset amount A2 and the displacement amount B2. The axis drive unit 4 and the Y-axis drive unit 5 are controlled, whereby the ultraviolet irradiation head 2 is controlled.
Starts scanning the ultraviolet ray in the Y direction from the accurate exposure start position, and the movement loci of both ultraviolet rays become parallel to the reference side 1a. As a result, unnecessary photosensitive layer regions EX3 and EX4
Also, ultraviolet rays are exposed in a direction orthogonal to the reference side 1a.

The third and subsequent rectangular substrates 1 are also exposed in the same manner as the second rectangular substrate 1.

Further, according to the above-mentioned one embodiment, Y
By arbitrarily setting the displacement amounts B1 and B2 when scanning in the direction, the unnecessary photosensitive layer regions EX1 and EX
It is also possible to expose 2, 2, 3 and 4 with ultraviolet rays at an arbitrary angle.

[0044]

As described above, according to the peripheral exposure apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, there is no need to use an illumination optical system or a mask for blocking light, and the reference side of the rectangular substrate is in the ultraviolet scanning direction. Since it is not necessary to align the rectangular substrates so as to be parallel to each other, it is possible to perform peripheral exposure with low cost, easy assembly, and high precision.

According to the peripheral exposure apparatus of the second aspect of the invention, the control means controls the ultraviolet irradiation head moving means to further irradiate the desired area of the rectangular substrate with the ultraviolet light. Can be exposed at an angle of.

Further, according to the peripheral exposure apparatus of the third aspect of the invention, the orientation of the rectangular substrate on the stage can be rotated by approximately 90 ° by the substrate rotating means, and the positional error and the angular error due to the rotation can be known. Therefore, exposure can be performed in a desired direction. Further, the peripheral exposure apparatus according to the invention of claim 4
According to the above, the control means controls the ultraviolet irradiation head moving means.
And then irradiate the desired area of the rectangular substrate with ultraviolet light.
You can

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an edge exposure apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the peripheral exposure apparatus of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 square substrate 2 UV irradiation head 4 X-axis drive unit 5 Y-axis drive unit 6A, 6B, 6C Substrate position detection mechanism 7 Exposure control unit 11 90 ° rotation unit

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Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An ultraviolet irradiation head for irradiating ultraviolet rays on a peripheral portion of a rectangular substrate having a photosensitive layer on a surface, which is mounted on a stage, and the ultraviolet ray scans the peripheral portion of the rectangular substrate,
A peripheral exposure apparatus comprising an ultraviolet irradiation head scanning means for moving the ultraviolet irradiation head substantially parallel to a reference side of the rectangular substrate, wherein the ultraviolet irradiation head is moved in a direction substantially orthogonal to a scanning direction of the ultraviolet irradiation head. An ultraviolet irradiation head moving means for moving; an inclination detecting means for detecting an inclination of a reference side of the rectangular substrate with respect to the scanning direction of the ultraviolet irradiation head; and a movement locus of the ultraviolet irradiation head substantially parallel to the reference side of the rectangular substrate. And a control means for controlling the ultraviolet irradiation head moving means according to the detection result of the tilt detecting means. 2. The peripheral exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the ultraviolet irradiation head moving unit to further irradiate a desired region of the rectangular substrate with ultraviolet light. 3. The peripheral exposure apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a substrate rotating unit that rotates the orientation of the rectangular substrate on the stage by approximately 90 degrees. 4. The ultraviolet irradiation head, wherein the control means is the ultraviolet irradiation head.
The movement locus of the arbitrary angle with respect to the reference side of the rectangular substrate.
The control is performed in the direction of
Peripheral exposure apparatus according to item 1 above.