Patent ID: 9340891
Filing Date: 2016-05-17
CPC Classification: C25D,G01M

Claim Text:
1. A method of plating a substrate while holding the substrate by a substrate holder having a first holding member and a second holding member which has an opening, said method comprising: holding the substrate with the substrate holder by supporting one surface of the substrate with the first holding member while placing the second holding member in contact with other surface of the substrate, with the other surface of the substrate exposed through the opening of the second holding member; sealing a gap between the first holding member and the second holding member by a first protruding portion of the second holding member while sealing a peripheral portion of the substrate by a second protruding portion of the second holding member when the substrate is held by the substrate holder, thereby forming an internal space in the substrate holder by the first holding member, the second holding member, and the substrate; performing a first-stage leakage test of the substrate holder by producing a vacuum in the internal space and checking whether pressure in the internal space reaches a predetermined vacuum pressure within a certain period of time to check a sealed state provided by the first protruding portion and the second protruding portion; if the substrate holder has passed the first-stage leakage test, performing a second-stage leakage test of the substrate holder, which is holding the substrate, by closing off the internal space after producing the vacuum therein and checking whether a change in the pressure in the internal space becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined value within a certain period of time to further check the sealed state provided by the first protruding portion and the second protruding portion; and plating the substrate using the substrate holder that has passed the second-stage leakage test.