Patent ID: 6360687
Filing Date: 2002-03-26
Classification: B24B,H01L

Abstract:
A wafer flattening system comprising:a natural oxide film removing device for removing a natural oxide film formed on a wafer surface; a first transport device for taking out a wafer from which the natural oxide film has been removed by said natural oxide film removing device and transporting it to a predetermined location; a local etching apparatus provided with a discharge tube with a nozzle facing the wafer transported by said first transport device and a plasma generator for causing plasma generation of a gas of a fluorine compound or a mixed gas including a fluorine compound fed to said discharge tube so as to produce a predetermined activated species gas and spraying the activated species gas from the nozzle of said discharge tube to a relatively thick portion of the surface of the wafer to locally etch the relatively thick portion; a second transport device for taking out a wafer flattened by said local etching apparatus and transporting it to a predetermined location; and a smoothing apparatus for grinding off a projection on the surface of the wafer transported by said second transport device to smooth the wafer surface.