The present invention relates to a magnetic recording medium manufacturing device for manufacturing a high density magnetic recording medium.
In a conventional method for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium, a magnetic layer is etched in accordance with a resist pattern formed on the magnetic layer by using plasma or an ion beam at first, and then a groove in the etched magnetic layer is filled with a non-magnetic material. Next, after flattening a surface of the magnetic layer through a flattening process, such as ion beam etching and polishing, a protective film is formed on the surface (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
Using the method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium, disclosed in Patent Document 1, requires steps of filling with a non-magnetic material and flattening the surface of the magnetic layer after etching an area other than an information recording area for removal, so that the manufacturing process becomes complicated. Accordingly, this also results in another unfavorable effect that the production cost increases.
As a method for solving the unfavorable issues described above, proposed is a method, in which ions are locally implanted into a magnetic film to change a magnetization state there, and afterwards an entire surface of the magnetic film is annealed (For example, refer to Patent Document 2).
However, in the method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium disclosed in Patent Document 2, it is required to implant high-density ions within a density range from 1×1016 ions/cm2 to 1×1019 ions/cm2 for changing a composition ratio of atomic elements in a magnetic film. Accordingly, there exists a risk that a resist film and a protective film may disappear, and a further risk that a magnetic film may also disappear owing to ion beam milling. Meanwhile, since a substrate is externally transferred when being moved among manufacturing processes, the substrate exposes itself to the atmosphere so that unfortunately deterioration in quality happens.
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic recording medium manufacturing device that can manufacture a magnetic recording medium with neither any disappearance of a resist film, a protective film, and a magnetic film owing to ion beam milling, nor any effect of the atmosphere.
To achieve the object described above, the present invention provides the following aspect; i.e., a magnetic recording medium manufacturing device for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium through steps of dosing an ion beam into a substrate having a magnetic recording layer, and ashing and removing at least one of a resist film and a metal mask on a surface of the substrate having the magnetic recording layer after the ion beam dosing; the magnetic recording medium manufacturing device including: an ion implantation chamber, to which a required kind of ions are supplied from a source of ion supply for generating ions; the ions being accelerated to have an energy as required, and the ion beam then being dosed into a substrate having a magnetic recording layer created by applying one of a resist film and a metal mask; and an ashing chamber equipped with a plasma generator for generating and diffusing plasma; in the ashing chamber, at least one of the resist film and the metal mask being ashed and removed by using the plasma diffused with the plasma generator, from the substrate having the magnetic recording layer created by applying one of the resist film and the metal mask; wherein, the ion implantation chamber and the ashing chamber are connected with a vacuum valve under vacuum condition, and the magnetic recording medium manufacturing device is equipped with a substrate carrier for carrying the substrate from the ion implantation chamber to the ashing chamber after the ion beam dosing.
According to the structure described above, the ion implantation chamber and the ashing chamber are connected with the vacuum valve under the vacuum condition. Therefore, the substrate having the magnetic recording layer can be processed continuously without exposing itself to the atmosphere at an inter-process point between the ion implantation and the ashing. Accordingly, this arrangement makes it possible to avoid a quality deterioration of the magnetic recording medium owing to a bad effect of the atmosphere.
In addition to the above aspect, it is preferable that the magnetic recording medium manufacturing device further includes a CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) chamber for forming a thin film on a surface of the substrate, having the magnetic recording layer after the ashing, by means of generating plasma through applying a high-frequency power to one of a parallel plate electrode and an inductive coupling antenna; wherein the ashing chamber and the CVD chamber are connected with a vacuum valve under vacuum condition, and the substrate carrier carries the substrate having the magnetic recording layer after the ashing from the ashing chamber to the CVD chamber.
According to the structure described above, the magnetic recording medium manufacturing device makes it possible to form a protective film on a surface of the substrate. Therefore, it becomes possible to avoid damage of the magnetic recording medium due to a defect, and also to surely avoid a quality deterioration of the magnetic recording medium owing to a bad effect of the atmosphere.
In addition to the above aspect, it is preferable that furthermore the substrate carrier includes; a substrate holder for holding the substrate; and a driving mechanism for driving the substrate holder.
According to the structure described above, the substrate having the magnetic recording layer can smoothly be transferred to a next process chamber.
According to the present invention, a magnetic recording medium can be manufactured with neither any disappearance of a surface of a substrate, including a magnetic recording layer, owing to ion milling, nor any effect of the atmosphere. Furthermore, a manufacturing process according to the present invention is simplified in comparison with the manufacturing method described in Patent Document 1 so as to enable cost reduction.
A magnetic recording medium manufacturing device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanied drawings. In the following explanation, each direction shown in
As shown in
A load lock chamber 56 is each placed at the rear of the ion implantation chamber 20 and in front of the CVD chamber 40. Each load lock chamber 56 is used for a preparatory vacuuming operation in order to avoid the air from entering the process chambers 20, 30, and 40, before the substrate carrier 60 with the substrate 52 is introduced from the substrate transfer passage 50, having the atmospheric environment, into the process chambers 20, 30, and 40 under vacuum condition. The ion implantation chamber 20, the ashing chamber 30, the CVD chamber 40, a front vertical passage 50a to be described later, a bottom horizontal passage 50d to be described later, and each load lock chamber 56 are connected one another by means of a connecting part 58 so as to be airtight. Though being not shown in
The substrate transfer passage 50 includes the front vertical passage 50a, a rear vertical passage 50b, a top horizontal passage 50c, and the bottom horizontal passage 50d. These passages are circularly connected so as to interconnect one load lock chamber 56 with the other load lock chamber 56 for making up an endless circuit (Refer to
Described below next is a structure of a substrate carrier 60.
As
The driving rollers 64, for example 4 sets in number, are laid out at a bottom of the substrate holder 62 in a back-and-forth direction. When the driving rollers 64 rotate, the substrate holder 62 moves backward and forward. Through controlling rotation movement of the driving rollers 64 by a control device, not shown in the drawing, movement of the substrate carrier 60 is controlled.
Explained next with reference to
As shown in
Each of both left and right sides of the substrate storage section 25 is provided with one MFC 21, one ion generator 23, and one accelerating electrode 24. The MFC 21 regulates the amount of process gas that is supplied from a process gas supply source, not shown in the drawing, into the ion generator 23. The MFC 21 and the ion generator 23 are so connected with a tube 28 that the process gas is fed from the MFC 21 through the tube 28 to the ion generator 23. The ion generator 23 generates the ions according to the supplied process gas, and regulates the amount of ions and its spatial distribution. Then, the accelerating electrode 24 blows off and accelerates the ions, for example with a voltage within the range of 20 KV to 30 KV. Thus, the accelerated ions are dosed from the ion generator 23 and the accelerating electrode 24 into the substrate 52 as an ion beam.
The substrate holding section 26 is placed in an upper area of the substrate storage section 25, being almost at a center position in an Y1-Y2 direction of the substrate storage section 25. Provided at a bottom section of the substrate holding section 26 is an engaging groove 26a prepared by cutting out a part upward in a back-and-forth direction. While a protrusion part 65 of the substrate holder 62 being in engagement with the engaging groove 26a under contact-free condition, the substrate holder 62 is held almost at a center position of the ion implantation chamber 20. Then, an ion beam is radiated toward the substrate 52 held by the substrate holder 62 to accomplish ion implantation. A residual gas remaining inside the substrate storage section 25 after the ion implantation is discharged externally by the vacuum pump 27.
Explained next with reference to
As shown in
Each of both left and right sides of the substrate storage section 34 is provided with one MFC 21, and one plasma generator 32. An appropriate amount of process gas regulated by the MFC 21 is supplied from a process gas supply source, not shown in the drawing, to the plasma generator 32. As the process gas for an ashing operation, a commonly used oxygen-based or fluorine-based single-component gas or a mixed gas including those components can be used. The MFC 21 and the plasma generator 32 are so connected with a tube 36 that the process gas is fed from the MFC 21 through the tube 36 to the plasma generator 32. In the plasma generator 32, the fed process gas is excited by a high-frequency wave to generate plasma, and then the generated plasma is diffused toward a center of the substrate storage section 34. Thus, the plasma is radiated to the substrate 52 held by the substrate holding section 26 to perform ashing for a resist film on the substrate 52. Then, after the ashing operation, a gas inside the substrate storage section 34 is externally exhausted by the vacuum pump 27. The conductance-variable valve 35 placed between the vacuum pump 27 and the substrate storage section 34 controls an effective exhausting speed of the exhaust out of the vacuum pump 27 to control a partial pressure inside the substrate storage section 34. Connected to the substrate holding section 26 of the ashing chamber 30 is a bias applying power supply which is able to apply a substrate bias to the substrate holder 62 held by the substrate holding section 26, the bias applying power supply being not shown in the drawing. Then, energy of the plasma radiated to the substrate 52 can be controlled by means of controlling the substrate bias to the substrate holder 62.
Explained next with reference to
As shown in
Each of both left and right sides of the substrate storage section 44 is provided with one MFC 21, and one plate electrode 41. A high-frequency power is applied through a high-frequency power supply, not shown in the drawing, to each plate electrode 41. In the meantime, an appropriate amount of process gas regulated by the MFC 21 is supplied from a process gas supply source, not shown in the drawing, to the substrate storage section 44. Furthermore, while the substrate holding section 26 being connected to a ground potential, connected to the substrate holder 62 held by the substrate holding section 26 is a bias applying power supply which is able to apply a substrate bias, the bias applying power supply being not shown in the drawing. Then, a film forming performance is controlled through controlling the substrate bias applied to the substrate holder 62. As the process gas for a CVD operation, a commonly used carbon-based gas mixture can be used. The MFC 21 and the substrate storage section 44 are so connected with a tube 46 that the process gas is introduced from the MFC 21 through the tube 46 to the substrate storage section 44. Under the condition, when the high-frequency power is applied to the plate electrode 41, the process gas introduced from the MFC 21 to the substrate storage section 44 discharges between the substrate holder 62 and the plate electrode 41 to become plasma in the substrate storage section 44. The process gas energized into plasma reaches a surface of the substrate 52, which is held by the substrate holding section 26 at a center of the substrate storage section 44, to form a thin film on the substrate 52 as expected. Then, after the film forming operation, the gas inside the substrate storage section 44 is externally exhausted by the vacuum pump 27. In the meantime, connected to the substrate holding section 26 of the CVD chamber 40 is a bias applying power supply which is able to apply a substrate bias to the substrate holder 62 held by the substrate holding section 26, the bias applying power supply being not shown in the drawing. Then, characteristics of the thin film formed on the substrate 52 can be controlled by means of controlling the substrate bias to the substrate holder 62.
Explained next is a series of processes for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium 70 by using the magnetic recording medium manufacturing device 10.
At first, a substrate with a resist film 71; in which a magnetic film 72, a protective film 74, and a resist film 76 are laminated in this order on a base substrate 73 shown in
The substrate with a resist film 71 is placed into the substrate carrier 60, and then the substrate carrier 60 passes through the bottom horizontal passage 50d shown in
Next, the substrate carrier 60 moves from the ion implantation chamber 20 through the connecting part 58, shown in
Next, the substrate carrier 60 moves from the ashing chamber 30 through the connecting part 58, shown in
Next, under the condition that the pressure inside the load lock chamber 56 is equal to the atmospheric pressure, the substrate carrier 60 holding the magnetic recording medium 70 passes through the load lock chamber 56 and moves to the front vertical passage 50a. Furthermore, as the substrate carrier 60 moves from the front vertical passage 50a through the top horizontal passage 50c to the rear vertical passage 50b, the magnetic recording medium 70 is transferred back to the start point 54. Then, being dismounted out of the substrate carrier 60 by using the transfer device at the start point 54, the magnetic recording medium 70 can be removed from the magnetic recording medium manufacturing device 10.
In the magnetic recording medium manufacturing device 10 structured as described above, the ion implantation chamber 20, the ashing chamber 30, as well as the CVD chamber 40 are connected in series under the vacuum condition so that the processes of the ion implantation, the ashing and the CVD can be carried out continuously without any contact with the atmosphere. Therefore, this arrangement makes it possible to avoid a quality deterioration of the magnetic recording medium 70 owing to a bad effect of the atmosphere.
Furthermore, the magnetic recording medium manufacturing device 10 makes it possible to form the CVD protective film 86 on a surface of the substrate 52. Accordingly, it becomes possible to avoid damage of the magnetic recording medium 70 due to a defect, and also to surely avoid a quality deterioration of the magnetic recording medium 70 owing to a bad effect of the atmosphere.
Moreover, in the magnetic recording medium manufacturing device 10, the substrate 52 is transferred into the process chambers 20, 30, and 40 while being held by the substrate carrier 60. Therefore, when being transferred, the substrate 52 exposes its surfaces in the substrate holder 62 in a right-angle direction in relation to its moving direction. Accordingly, the substrate 52 can be set ready for processing instantly by simply holding the transferred substrate carrier 60 in the process chambers 20, 30, and 40.
With respect to the embodiment according to the present invention as described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and various other variations may be made.
In the above embodiment, the substrate transfer passage 50 is so placed as to be circular in a vertical plane in relation to the process chambers 20, 30, and 40. Alternatively, instead of the placement of the passage in a vertical plane, the substrate transfer passage 50 may as well be placed to be circular in a horizontal plane. Furthermore, the magnetic recording medium manufacturing device 10 may be prepared in any arrangement other than such a circular inline mode.
In the above embodiment, the substrate carrier 60 is driven by the driving rollers 64. Since the present invention is not limited to such an arrangement, alternatively possible may be another arrangement in which, for example, a line is placed in the magnetic recording medium manufacturing device 10 and the substrate carrier 60 moves along the line. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the number of substrates, i.e., the substrate 52 provided in plurality, to be held in the substrate carrier 60 at the same time is 3. Alternatively, the number of substrates may be 2 or less, or 4 or more, instead of the number of substrates at 3.
In the above embodiment, the substrate carrier 60 is held in the process chambers 20, 30, and 40 by means of the engagement with the substrate holding section 26. Since the holding method is not limited to such engagement, alternatively the substrate carrier 60 may be held in the process chambers 20, 30, and 40 by any other method.
In the above embodiment, a mono-atomic ion beam is adopted. Since the type of ion beams is not limited to that of such a mono-atomic ion beam, alternatively adopted may be for example a cluster ion beam that includes a number of atoms in a bunch.
The ion implantation chamber 20, the ashing chamber 30, and the CVD chamber 40 are connected in series in the above embodiment. Instead, adopted may be another arrangement in which a processing chamber for preheating or cooling the substrate 52 is placed among the process chambers 20, 30, and 40. Furthermore, a buffer chamber for controlling the pressure in the process chambers 20, 30, and 40 may as well be placed.
In the above embodiment, the plasma is generated in the CVD chamber 40 by means of applying a high-frequency power to the plate electrode 41. Alternatively, a loop-shaped inductive coupling antenna may be placed instead of the plate electrode 41 to generate inductive coupling high-frequency plasma by means of applying a high-frequency power to the antenna.
The magnetic recording medium manufacturing device according to the present invention can be applied in various electronic industries using semiconductors.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2008-188466 | Jul 2008 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/JP2009/003404 | 7/21/2009 | WO | 00 | 4/18/2011 |