Patent ID: 6481369
Filing Date: 2002-11-19
Classification: C23C

Abstract:
An apparatus for forming thin film on an object, comprising:an optical film thickness meter that measures a thickness of a thin film by measuring a light quantity of transmission or reflection obtained when a prescribed light is applied to an object on which the thin film is formed, wherein the light quantity depends on the thickness of the thin film; a means for storing standard light quantity values for transmission or reflection versus time as measured by the optical film thickness meter when the prescribed light is applied to the object when the object is a standard object, wherein the means for storing standard light quantity values also stores standard light quantity value variations for transmission or reflection versus time determined from the standard light quantity values; a means for vaporizing a thin film forming substance and thereby depositing a thin film on the object; and a means for controlling an amount of the film forming substance vaporized by the means for vaporizing, wherein actual light quantity values of transmission or reflection are measured versus time by the optical film thickness meter when the prescribed light is applied to the object, or actual light quantity value variations of transmission or reflection versus time are determined from the actual light quantity values, and wherein the actual light quantity value measured at a given point in time by the optical film thickness meter becomes equal to or approximately equal to the respective standard light quantity value stored in the means for storing.