Patent ID: 8043659
Filing Date: 2011-10-25
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A substrate processing method for use in a substrate processing apparatus having a processing chamber adapted to house substrates, a supply unit adapted to supply a processing gas into the processing chamber, a first pipe connected to the processing chamber at one end thereof, a turbo molecular pump disposed in the first pipe, a first shutoff valve disposed between the processing chamber and the turbo molecular pump in the first pipe, a second pipe connected to the processing chamber at one end thereof and being smaller in sectional area than the first pipe, a pressure control valve disposed in the second pipe and having a predetermined bore, and a dry pump connected to the other end of the first pipe and to the other end of the second pipe, said substrate processing method comprising: a substrate processing step of performing a treatment on a substrate housed in said processing chamber by supplying the processing gas into the processing chamber; a first exhaust step of exhausting gases within the processing chamber through the second pipe using the dry pump by opening the pressure control valve after performing the treatment on the substrate; and a second exhaust step of exhausting gases within the processing chamber through the first pipe using the turbo molecular pump by closing the pressure control valve and opening the first shutoff valve after said first exhaust step, wherein the first pipe and the second pipe merge with each other downstream of the turbo molecular pump in the first pipe and downstream of the pressure control valve in the second pipe, the first pipe is provided with a second shutoff valve disposed between an exhaust port of the turbo molecular pump and a merging portion in which the first pipe merges with the second pipe, in said substrate processing step, the first shutoff valve is closed, the second shutoff valve is opened, said pressure control valve controls an internal pressure of said processing chamber so that an interior of said processing chamber and the exhaust port of the turbo molecular pump communicate with each other, the turbo molecular pump is driven all the time during said substrate processing step, and the supply unit supplies the processing gas into the processing chamber only during a partial period in said substrate processing step such that the processing gas is supplied at a maximum flow rate only during an initial period of supply, and then a flow rate of the processing gas is gradually decreased thereafter.