Patent ID: 9627184
Date: 2017-04-18
CPC Classifications: H01J

Claim:
1. A plasma processing method, comprising the sequential steps of: loading a target object into a processing chamber; plasma processing the target object by using a plasma generated from a first gas introduced into the processing chamber under a first condition; unloading the target object from the processing chamber; performing, after unloading the target object, a particle removing process in which a second gas is introduced into the processing chamber under a second condition and particles, which are not removed from the processing chamber by the first gas, are removed from an inside of the processing chamber by discharging the second gas from the processing chamber; introducing a third gas into the processing chamber; generating a plasma of the third gas in the processing chamber; removing deposits remaining in the processing chamber by using the plasma of the third gas; and discharging the third gas from the processing chamber, wherein the first condition is a product of a flow rate and a gas molecular weight of the first gas and the second condition is a product of a flow rate and a gas molecular weight of the second gas, wherein said performing the particle removing process is carried out prior to generating the plasma from the third gas and the flow rate of the second gas is controlled during the particle removing process such that a magnitude of the second condition is greater than that of the first condition to thereby remove the particles by a gas viscous force of the second gas, and wherein the second gas and the third gas each consist essentially of oxygen gas.