Patent ID: 7056831
Filing Date: 2006-06-06
Classification: H01J,H01L

Abstract:
1. A plasma processing method in which an electrode that is a conductor and has a top surface that is greater in external size than a substrate to be plasma-processed that has an insulating layer on a front surface thereof is provided in a processing room, the top surface of the electrode has a top surface central area that is inside a boundary line that is distant inward by a prescribed length from an outer periphery of the substrate and in which the conductor is exposed and a ring-shaped top surface peripheral area that surrounds the top surface central area and in which the conductor is covered with an insulating coating, and plasma processing is performed in a state that the substrate is held by the top surface of the electrode by electrostatic absorption and the electrode is being cooled, comprising: mounting the substrate on the top surface of the electrode in such a manner that a central portion and a peripheral portion of the insulating layer of the substrate are in contact with the top surface central area and the insulating coating in the top surface peripheral area, respectively; electrostatically absorbing the substrate on the top surface central area by mainly utilizing the central portion of the insulating layer as a dielectric for electrostatic absorption; and insulating the top surface central area of the electrode from plasma by bringing the outer peripheral portion of the insulating layer into close contact with the insulating coating.