Patent ID: 6373681
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: H01L,Y10T

Abstract:
A sample processing method, comprising the steps of:electrostatically attracting and holding a sample on an electrostatic chuck which includes a pair of electrodes having different polarities and being concentrically disposed, and a dielectric film formed on top surfaces of said pair of electrodes, by applying a DC voltage between said pair of electrodes; subjecting said sample attracted and held on said chuck through said dielectric film to plasma processing while applying a bias voltage; stopping application of the bias voltage applied during plasma processing after termination of processing said sample; eliminating an unbalance between electric charges stored on attracting portions of said dielectric film formed on said electrodes by continuing generation of the plasma for a specific time after stopping the application of the bias voltage, and extinguishing the plasma after an elapse of the specific time; and removing said sample from said chuck.