Patent ID: 8216382
Filing Date: 2012-07-10
Classification: B08B,G01B,H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A foreign matter removal method in which foreign matter attached to a substrate is removed using a foreign matter removal apparatus including a mounting stage that rotates with a substrate mounted thereon, a laser light irradiation unit that irradiates foreign matter removal laser light onto an edge of the substrate rotating on the mounting stage to remove foreign matter attached to the substrate, and a laser light-receiving unit that detects power of the laser light irradiated from the laser light irradiation unit, comprising: an irradiation step in which the laser light irradiation unit irradiates misalignment measurement laser light onto the edge of the rotating substrate mounted on the mounting stage; a power detection step in which, of the irradiated misalignment measurement laser light, remaining laser light other than the laser light blocked by the edge of the substrate is received by the laser light-receiving unit, and power of the misalignment measurement laser light is detected; a rotation angle detecting step of detecting a rotation angle of the rotating substrate; a calculation step of calculating an amount of misalignment of the substrate based on power data of the misalignment measurement laser light detected in said power detection step and data on the rotation angle detected by said rotation angle detecting step; a correction step of correcting for the misalignment of the substrate by movement of pin members which project out from a substrate mounting surface of the mounting stage and contact with a rear surface of the substrate based on the calculated amount of misalignment; and a decomposition step in which, after the misalignment has been corrected, said laser light irradiation unit irradiates foreign matter removal laser light onto the edge of the substrate, and a process gas that is to react with the foreign matter is jetted to the edge of the substrate so that the foreign matter attached to the substrate is decomposed and removed.