Patent ID: 6190063
Filing Date: 2001-02-20
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
A developing method for use in a photolithographic process comprising the steps of:(a) mounting a substrate having a resist coating film exposed to light, on a mounting table;(b) aligning a fluid supply mechanism with the substrate mounted on the mounting table; said fluid supply mechanism having a head member and a plurality of fluid discharge sections, said head member having a space for temporarily storing fluid supplied from a fluid supply source, said fluid discharge sections each being communicated with the space, and said head member having a plurality of regions having one or a plurality of fluid discharge sections;(c) supplying a developer to the substrate on the mounting table to form a film of a developer so as to cover the resist coating film;(d) supplying a fluid to the film of the developer from said fluid discharge sections such that output amount of the fluid is controlled for each of the regions so as to control a resolution of a latent image present in the resist coating film; and(e) removing the film of the developer from the resist coating film and rinsing the substrate.