Patent ID: 7901514
Filing Date: 2011-03-08
Classification: B08B,G03F,H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A cleaning method of cleaning a surface of a substrate that is processed by a developing process that develops an exposed film formed on the substrate by wetting the exposed film with a developer, said cleaning method comprising the steps of: pouring a cleaning liquid onto a central part of the substrate that is held in a horizontal position on a substrate holding device rotating about a vertical axis; creating a dry area that is not wetted with the cleaning liquid in a central part of the substrate by stopping pouring of the cleaning liquid while the substrate holding device is rotating, wherein the dry area includes a margin, or creating the dry area not wetted with the cleaning liquid in a central part of the substrate by shifting a cleaning liquid pouring position to which the cleaning liquid is poured radially outward from the central part while the substrate holding device is rotating, the cleaning liquid pouring position being shifted so as to be located in an area wetted with the cleaning liquid ahead of the margin of the dry area as the dry area expands radially outward by centrifugal force; expanding by centrifugal force the dry area outward from the central part of the substrate by rotating the substrate holding device at a rotating speed not lower than 1500 rpm without pouring the cleaning liquid onto the dry area; and pouring the cleaning liquid onto an outer area contiguously surrounding the dry area on the surface of the substrate, the outer area contiguously surrounding the dry area being an area located in the area wetted with the cleaning liquid and ahead of the margin of the dry area.