Patent ID: 6409838
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
An apparatus for forming a coating film, comprising:a coating unit for coating a sol containing dielectric particles and a first solvent on a substrate; an aging unit for changing a sol-state coating film formed on the substrate in the coating unit to a gel state; and a solvent exchange unit for applying a second solvent different from the first solvent to the coating film to replace the first solvent in the coating film with the second solvent, wherein the aging unit comprises a heating plate, which supports the substrate substantially horizontally, for use in heating the substrate; a cover having a peripheral portion that is in contact with a peripheral portion of the heating plate to form a process chamber surrounding the substrate, together with the heating plate; a cylinder mechanism configured to press the cover against the heating plate; an annular groove formed in the peripheral portion of the heating plate; a vacuum adsorption mechanism having an exhaust passage communicating with the annular groove, for vacuum--evacuating the annular groove, thereby adsorbing the cover to the heating plate; a chemical solution vapor supply mechanism for supplying a chemical solution vapor to the process chamber; an evacuation mechanism for evacuating the process chamber to set an inner pressure of the process chamber at a negative value; and a process chamber pressure monitor for detecting an inner pressure of the process chamber.