Patent ID: 6843069
Filing Date: 2005-01-18
Classification: F25B

Abstract:
1. An etching apparatus comprising: a processing device having a reaction chamber in which an electrode provided with a built-in refrigerant-circulating path is installed; a refrigerator for cooling the refrigerant at a predetermined temperature and circulating the refrigerant in the refrigerant-circulating path at a predetermined flow rate; a controlling device for controlling the temperature or flow rate of the refrigerant; a status monitor for monitoring an operational status; and a temperature controlling device by which the temperature of the electrode is controlled so as to be held constant by gradually increasing the flow rate of the refrigerant in proportion to the increase in the number of processed target materials on the basis of the information about the operational status indicating that the processing device is in action, and by which the circulation of the refrigerant is lowered on the basis of information about the operational status indicating that the processing device is out of action when the processing device is out of action.