Patent ID: 6270581
Filing Date: 2001-08-07
Classification: C30B

Abstract:
A wet-oxidation apparatus, comprising:a reaction tube capable of accommodating a semiconductor wafer or semiconductor wafers;a water vapor generating apparatus for generating water vapor;a gas supply passage for supplying gas into said reaction tube;a discharge passage;a gas switching unit capable of switching the water vapor from said water vapor generating apparatus into either one of said gas supply passage and said discharge passage; anda control unit capable of controlling said water vapor generating apparatus and said gas switching unit, wherein said control unit controls such that,at least while wet-oxidation processing of said semiconductor wafer or wafers is conducted predetermined times in said reaction tube, said water vapor generating apparatus continuously generates the water vapor,whenever said wet-oxidation processing is started one time, said control unit switches the water vapor from said water vapor generating apparatus toward said gas supply passage, andwhenever said wet-oxidation processing is completed one time, said control unit switches the water vapor from said water vapor generating apparatus toward said discharge passage.