Patent ID: 8043440
Filing Date: 2011-10-25
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A cleaning method performed in a cleaning apparatus comprising a substrate holding member including a rotary plate configured to rotate in a horizontal state and a holding accessory attached to the rotary plate and configured to hold a substrate above the rotary plate in a horizontal state with a gap therebetween, a rotation mechanism configured to rotate the rotary plate along with the substrate, a non-rotatable liquid delivery plate disposed in an opening formed at a center of the rotary plate and including a liquid delivery port located near a rotational center of the rotary plate and configured to deliver a liquid onto a center of a back surface of the substrate held on the holding member, a back surface liquid supply nozzle connected to the liquid delivery port and configured to supply a cleaning liquid and a rinsing liquid to deliver the cleaning liquid and the rinsing liquid through the liquid delivery port onto the back surface of the substrate, a cup configured to surround the substrate held on the substrate holding member, support pins extending upward on the liquid delivery plate around the liquid delivery port, and an elevating mechanism configured to move the liquid delivery plate integrally with the support pins along the opening of the rotary plate so that the support pins move up and down to assist transfer of the substrate to and from the substrate holding member, the method comprising: receiving the substrate by the support pins set at an upper position integrally with the liquid delivery plate by the elevating mechanism; then moving down the support pins integrally with the liquid delivery plate by the elevating mechanism and holding the substrate on the substrate holding member; then setting the support pins at a lower position integrally with the liquid delivery plate by the elevating mechanism and rotating the rotary plate along with the substrate held thereon; performing a cleaning process that comprises rotating the substrate, while delivering the cleaning liquid from the back surface liquid supply nozzle through the delivery port, thereby forming a liquid film of the cleaning liquid on the back surface of the substrate; then sequentially performing a rinsing process that comprises rotating the substrate, while delivering the rinsing liquid from the back surface liquid supply nozzle through the liquid delivery port, thereby forming a liquid film of the rinsing liquid on the back surface of the substrate; and then performing a throwing off and drying process that comprises rotating the substrate at a predetermined rotation speed, wherein the rinsing process comprises: a first sub-step of delivering the rinsing liquid at a first delivery rate from the back surface liquid supply nozzle through the liquid delivery port while rotating the substrate at a first rotation speed to form a first liquid film on the back surface of the substrate, a second sub-step of then stopping delivery of the rinsing liquid from the back surface liquid supply nozzle to fill the back surface liquid supply nozzle with the rinsing liquid, while continuing substrate rotation from the first sub-step, and a third sub-step of re-starting delivery of the rinsing liquid from the back surface liquid supply nozzle while continuing substrate rotation from the second sub-step to form a second liquid film on the liquid delivery plate and the support pins so as to clean the liquid delivery plate and the support pins while rinsing the substrate, wherein the third sub-step includes a first operation of delivering the rinsing liquid at a second delivery rate smaller than the first delivery rate while rotating the substrate at a second rotation speed, and a second operation of delivering the rinsing liquid at a third delivery rate larger than the second delivery rate while rotating the substrate at a third rotation speed, such that the first and second operations are continuously performed in this order directly following the second sub-step.