Patent ID: 7670960
Filing Date: 2010-03-02
Classification: G02F,G03F,H01L

Abstract:
1. A substrate processing method that dissolves and deforms a photoresist film having a first pattern formed on a substrate to reshape the resist film into a second pattern, said method comprising the steps of: evacuating a processing chamber holding therein the substrate, thereby reducing an internal pressure of the processing chamber from a standard pressure to a first target pressure lower than the standard pressure; introducing a solvent vapor-containing atmosphere into the processing chamber, thereby bringing the internal pressure back to the standard pressure; dissolving the resist film by a solvent contained in the solvent vapor-containing atmosphere; and evacuating a processing chamber, thereby reducing the internal pressure to a second target pressure higher than the first target pressure and lower than the standard pressure and discharging the solvent vapor-containing atmosphere from the processing chamber.