Patent ID: 7484513
Filing Date: 2009-02-03
Classification: C23C,H01L

Abstract:
1. A cleaning method for removing a film formed on a surface of a process vessel defining a film forming chamber or a surface of a component member of a processing apparatus arranged in the film forming chamber, said method comprising the steps of: evacuating a plasma generating chamber arranged remote from the film forming chamber to a predetermined vacuum at a pressure in a range of 0.1 to 20 Torr; supplying cleaning gases including an inert gas, a fluorine-containing gas, and a chlorine-containing gas into the plasma generating chamber; applying microwaves to the cleaning gases via a slot antenna provided in the plasma generating chamber, thereby converting the cleaning gases into plasma in the plasma generating chamber, heating the surface of the process vessel or the surface of the component member to a predetermined temperature; feeding the cleaning gases thus converted into plasma from the plasma generating chamber into the film forming chamber so that the cleaning gases thus converted into plasma react with the film to decompose the film to produce a decomposition product; and discharging the decomposition product from the film forming chamber.