Patent ID: 9256131
Filing Date: 2016-02-09
CPC Classification: G03F

Claim Text:
1. A developing apparatus configured to rotate a horizontally held substrate on which a resist film is formed, and to develop the substrate by supplying a developer onto a surface of the substrate, the developing apparatus comprising: a substrate holding means configured to horizontally hold the substrate; a rotating mechanism configured to rotate the substrate in a horizontal plane; a first nozzle configured to supply the developer onto the substrate surface, while the substrate is being rotated by the rotating mechanism; a second nozzle, which is used for only a pre-wetting process before a developing step, and configured to supply a deionized water onto the substrate surface, the second nozzle being located on a position nearer to an outer peripheral part of the substrate than the first nozzle; and a control means configured to control the rotating mechanism, the first nozzle, and the second nozzle; wherein, before developing step in which the developer is supplied to the substrate, the control means drives the rotating mechanism so as to rotate the substrate, and performs the pre-wetting process in which, simultaneously with the developer being supplied from the first nozzle that is located on a position near a central part of the surface of the substrate, the deionized water is supplied from the second nozzle that is located on a position nearer to the outer peripheral part of the substrate than the first nozzle, to thereby spread out the developer in the rotating direction of the substrate by a wall that is formed by the deionized water flowing to the outer peripheral side of the substrate with the rotation of the substrate.