Patent ID: 7749333
Filing Date: 2010-07-06
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A substrate processing method for performing a substrate process by supplying a chemical liquid and a rinsing liquid onto a substrate held on a substrate holding member configured to rotate along with the substrate and surrounded by an annular drain cup that is configured to receive liquid scattered from a substrate being rotated and includes a portion forming an annular flow path through which the liquid thus received flows, the method comprising: performing a rinsing process by supplying the rinsing liquid onto a substrate while rotating this substrate at a first rotational speed, while receiving the rinsing liquid scattered from this substrate by the drain cup; and then performing a chemical liquid process by supplying the chemical liquid onto a substrate while rotating this substrate, while receiving the chemical liquid scattered from this substrate by the drain cup, wherein the chemical liquid process comprises: first performing an auxiliary process by supplying the chemical liquid onto the substrate while rotating the substrate at a second rotational speed not lower than the first rotational speed, thereby performing cleaning inside the drain cup by the chemical liquid, while discarding the chemical liquid received by the drain cup, such that said rotating the substrate at the second rotational speed causes a circular flow of the chemical liquid to be formed inside the annular flow path and to extend along an inner surface of the drain cup to a height not lower than residues of the rinsing liquid deposited during the rinsing process, thereby washing away the residues, and then performing a main process by supplying the chemical liquid onto the substrate while rotating the substrate at a third rotational speed for the chemical liquid process that is lower than the second rotational speed, while collecting for reuse the chemical liquid received by the drain cup.