Patent ID: 6443191
Filing Date: 2002-09-03
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A vacuum processing method comprising placing an article in a vacuum processing vessel and subjecting the article to at least one vacuum processing step therein with the vacuum processing vessel communicating with a pressure-reduced space different therefrom under reduced pressure,wherein the vacuum processing vessel has at least a first openable/closable opening, wherein the pressure-reduced space different from the vacuum processing vessel has at least a second opening, wherein the communication between the vacuum processing vessel and the pressure-reduced space different therefrom is established when, after closely connecting the first opening and the second opening to each other, the first openable/closable opening is brought into an open state, wherein for the connection, the vacuum processing vessel having the article placed therein is moved to locate the first opening and the second opening at closely connectable positions, and the first and second openings are connected to each other, and during the movement and connection, the first opening is kept in a closed state and the interior of the vacuum processing vessel is kept in a pressure-reduced state, wherein, for carrying out the at least one vacuum processing step, the communication between the different pressure-reduced space and the vacuum processing vessel with their respective openings being connected to each other is established by opening the first opening kept in the closed state during the connection, in a state in which the interior of the different pressure-reduced space is also kept in a pressure-reduced state, and wherein the internal pressure of the vacuum processing vessel kept in the pressure-reduced state during the movement and connection is set higher than the internal pressure of the different pressure-reduced space kept in the pressure-reduced state, when opening the first opening to establish the communication.