METHOD OF TREATING SUBSTRATE

Disclosed is a method of treating a substrate by using a substrate treating apparatus generating plasma in a treatment space by applying microwaves, the method including: a plasma treatment operation of treating a substrate with the plasma; a replacement operation in which the plasma treatment operation is performed a preset number of times and a component included in the substrate treating apparatus is replaced; and a backup operation of backing up the substrate treating apparatus after the replacement operation, in which the backup operation includes a bake purge operation for removing byproducts present in the component.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0186761, 10-2022-0040762 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Dec. 24, 2021, and Mar. 31, 2022 the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a substrate treating method, and more particularly, to a method of treating a substrate by using plasma.

BACKGROUND ART

Plasma is generated by a very high temperature, a strong electric field, or a high-frequency electromagnetic field (RF electromagnetic field), and the plasma refers to an ionized gas state composed of ions, electrons, radicals, and the like. In a semiconductor device manufacturing process, various processes are performed using plasma. For example, the etching process is performed by colliding radicals and ion particles contained in plasma with a substrate.

In the case of a substrate treating apparatus that generates plasma by generating microwaves, durability of components included in the substrate treating apparatus decreases during a process. Accordingly, after the plasma treatment of the substrate is performed a predetermined number of times, maintenance work, such as replacing components, is periodically performed. When the durability of components reaches a critical point and the components are replaced, the replaced components containing byproducts originally present are mounted inside the substrate treating apparatus. When the plasma treatment is performed on the substrate in a state in which byproducts (for example, moisture and/or particles) are included on the surface of the replaced component, the contamination level inside the treatment space in which substrate treatment is performed is increased, resulting in substrate treatment defects. In addition, byproducts adhere to the surface of the substrate to prevent efficient plasma treatment of the substrate.

In addition, when using a method of performing a purge operation to remove byproducts included in the surface of a component, there is a problem in that the time required for maintenance becomes long. When the maintenance work is long, it results in a problem that the treatment efficiency of the substrate is decreased. Furthermore, it is difficult to easily remove byproducts adhered to minute valleys on the surface of the component by simply performing a purge operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in an effort to provide a substrate treating method capable of efficiently performing maintenance work of a substrate treating apparatus.

The present invention has also been made in an effort to provide a substrate treating method capable of quickly performing maintenance work of a substrate treating apparatus.

The present invention has also been made in an effort to provide a substrate treating method capable of efficiently removing byproducts included in a surface of a component after the component included in a substrate treating apparatus is replaced.

The object of the present invention is not limited thereto, and other objects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art from the following description.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a method of treating a substrate by using a substrate treating apparatus generating plasma in a treatment space by applying microwaves, the method including: a plasma treatment operation of treating a substrate with the plasma; a replacement operation in which the plasma treatment operation is performed a preset number of times and a component included in the substrate treating apparatus is replaced; and a backup operation of backing up the substrate treating apparatus after the replacement operation, in which the backup operation includes a bake purge operation for removing byproducts present in the component.

According to the exemplary embodiment, in the bake purge operation, atmosphere of the treatment space may be formed to atmospheric pressure and a temperature of the treatment space is formed to 100 degrees Celsius to 200 degrees Celsius.

According to the exemplary embodiment, in the bake purge operation, purge gas may be supplied to the treatment space.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the backup operation may include: a primary purge operation of purging the treatment space; and a secondary purge operation of performing secondary purge of the treatment space after the primary purge operation.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the bake purge operation may be performed prior to the primary purge operation.

According to the exemplary embodiment, in the primary purge operation, purge gas may be supplied to the treatment space formed at room temperature to check a leak in the treatment space, and the purge gas supplied to the treatment space may be exhausted to primarily purge the treatment space, and in the secondary purge operation, purge gas may be supplied to the treatment space formed at a high temperature by increasing a temperature of the treatment space to check a leak in the treatment space, and the purge gas supplied to the treatment space may be exhausted to secondarily purge the treatment space.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the byproduct may include moisture contained in the component and/or particles attached to the component.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a substrate treating method of replacing a component included in a substrate treating apparatus and backing up the substrate treating apparatus, in which backup of the substrate treating apparatus includes a bake purge operation for removing a byproduct including moisture contained in the component and/or particles attached to the component, and the bake purge operation includes forming a treatment space for treating a substrate at a high temperature and purging the treatment space by supplying purge gas to the treatment space at a high temperature.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the backup of the substrate treating apparatus may further include a primary purge operation of supplying purge gas to the treatment space formed at room temperature to check a leak of the treatment space, and exhausting the purge gas supplied to the treatment space to primarily purge the treatment space, and the primarily purge operation may be performed after the bake purge operation.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the backup of the substrate treating apparatus may further include a secondary purge operation of supplying purge gas to the treatment space formed at a high temperature by raising a temperature of the treatment space to check a leak in the treatment space, and exhausting the purge gas supplied to the treatment space to secondarily purge the treatment space.

According to the exemplary embodiment, in the bake purge operation, the pressure in the treatment space may be formed to atmospheric pressure, and in the bake purge operation, the temperature of the treatment space may be formed from 100 degrees Celsius to 200 degrees Celsius.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the substrate treating apparatus may be an apparatus for treating a substrate by applying microwaves to generate plasma in the treatment space.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, it is possible to efficiently perform maintenance work of a substrate treating apparatus.

Further, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to quickly perform maintenance work of the substrate treating apparatus.

Furthermore, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to efficiently remove byproducts included in the surface of the component after replacing the component included in the substrate treating apparatus.

The effect of the present invention is not limited to the foregoing effects, and the not-mentioned effects will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be modified in various forms, and the scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited by the exemplary embodiment described below. The present exemplary embodiment is provided to more completely explain the present invention to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the shapes of components in the drawings are exaggerated to emphasize a clearer description.

Terms, such as first and second, are used for describing various constituent elements, but the constituent elements are not limited by the terms. The terms are used only to discriminate one constituent element from another constituent element. For example, without departing from the scope of the invention, a first constituent element may be named as a second constituent element, and similarly a second constituent element may be named as a first constituent element.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference toFIGS.1to8.

FIG.1is a diagram schematically illustrating a substrate treating apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, with reference toFIG.1, a substrate treating apparatus in which a substrate treating method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is performed will be described in detail.

A substrate treating apparatus10treating a substrate W. The substrate treating apparatus10according to the exemplary embodiment may treat the substrate W by using plasma. For example, the substrate treating apparatus1may perform an etching process for removing a thin film on the substrate W by using plasma, an ashing process for removing a photoresist film, a deposition process for forming a thin film on the substrate W, or a dry cleaning process. Optionally, the substrate treating apparatus10may perform an annealing process on the substrate W by using hydrogen plasma. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the plasma treatment process performed in the substrate treating apparatus10may be variously modified as a known plasma treatment process. The substrate W loaded into the substrate treating apparatus10may be a substrate W on which a part of a treatment process has been performed. For example, the substrate W loaded into the substrate treating apparatus10may be a substrate W on which an etching process or a photo process has been previously performed.

Also, in the substrate treating apparatus10, a maintenance process may be performed after plasma treatment is performed on the substrate W a predetermined number of times. For example, the substrate treating apparatus10may perform a maintenance process after a predetermined number of substrates W is treated. A detailed description of this will be given later.

Referring toFIG.1, the substrate treating apparatus10may include a controller20, a process chamber100, a support unit200, an exhaust baffle300, a gas supply unit400, a microwave applying unit500, and a radiation unit600.

Further, the controller20may include a process controller formed of a microprocessor (computer) executing the control of the substrate treating apparatus10, a user interface formed of a keyboard through which an operator performs a command input manipulation and the like for managing the substrate treating apparatus10, a display for visualizing and displaying an operation situation of the substrate treating apparatus10, or the like, and a storage unit in which a control program for executing the processing executed in the substrate treating apparatus10under the control of the process controller or various data and a program, that is, a processing recipe, for executing processing on each configuration according to processing conditions are stored. Further, the user interface and the storage unit may be connected to the process controller. The processing recipe may be stored in a storage medium in the storage unit, and the storage medium may be a hard disk, and may also be a portable disk, such as a CD-ROM or a DVD, or a semiconductor memory, such as a flash memory.

The controller20may control the substrate treating apparatus10so as to perform a substrate treating method described below. For example, the controller20may control components provided in the substrate treating apparatus10s as to perform the substrate treating method described below.

The process chamber100has a treatment space101therein. The treatment space101is provided as a space in which treatment of the substrate W is performed. The treatment space101may function as a space in which process gas G1is supplied and plasma is formed when a plasma treatment operation S10, which will be described later, is performed. In addition, the treatment space101may function as a purge space to which purge gas G2is supplied when a maintenance operation S20is performed.

The process chamber100may include a body110and a cover120. The body110may have an open upper surface and an internal space. For example, the body110may have an inner space and a cylindrical shape with an open upper surface. The cover120may be placed on top of the body110. The cover120may seal the open upper surface of the body110. For example, the cover120may be provided in a cylindrical shape with an open lower surface. The inner side of the lower end of the cover120may be stepped so that the upper space has a larger radius than the lower space. The body110and the cover120may be combined with each other to define the process chamber100. In addition, since the body110and the cover120are combined with each other, the inner space of the body110can function as the aforementioned treatment space101.

An opening (not illustrated) may be formed in one lateral wall of the process chamber100. The opening (not illustrated) functions as a passage through which the substrate W is unloaded from the treatment space101or loaded into the treatment space101. The opening (not illustrated) may be selectively opened/closed by a door (not illustrated). For example, an opening (not illustrated) may be formed on one sidewall of the body110. An inner wall of the process chamber100may be coated. For example, an inner wall of the process chamber100may be coated with a material including quartz.

An exhaust hole130is formed on the bottom surface of the process chamber100. For example, the exhaust hole130may be formed on the bottom surface of the body110. The exhaust hole130is connected to the exhaust line140. The exhaust line140discharges byproducts flowing inside the treatment space101to the outside of the treatment space101. For example, byproducts may include moisture, process gases, and/or particles.

One end of the exhaust line140is connected to the exhaust hole130, and the other end of the exhaust line140is connected to a decompressing unit150. The decompressing unit150provides negative pressure to the treatment space101. The pressure reducing unit150may be a pump. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the decompressing unit150may be variously modified and provided as a known device that provides negative pressure. Due to the exhaust through the exhaust hole130and the exhaust line140, the inside of the process chamber100may be maintained at a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure in the plasma treatment operation S10.

The support unit200is located inside the treatment space101. The support unit200supports the substrate W within the treatment space101. For example, the support unit200may be an ESC capable of chucking the substrate W by using electrostatic force. Optionally, the support unit200may physically support the substrate W by mechanical clamping. Optionally, the support unit200does not provide a means for fixing the substrate W, and the substrate W may be placed on the support unit200.

The support unit200may include a body210, a support shaft220, and a heating unit230. The body210supports the substrate W. The upper surface of the body210is provided as a support surface for supporting the substrate W. The substrate W is seated on the upper surface of the body210. According to one example, the body210may be provided with a dielectric substance. The body210may be provided as a dielectric plate having a substantially disk shape. The diameter of the upper surface of the body210may be provided to be relatively larger than the diameter of the substrate W.

A pin hole (not illustrated), which is a passage through which a lift pin (not illustrated) moves, may be formed inside the body210. A plurality of pin holes (not illustrated) may be formed inside the body210and extend to an upper end of the body210. The lift pins (not illustrated) are provided in numbers corresponding to the number of pin holes (not illustrated), and move in the vertical direction along the longitudinal direction of the pin holes (not illustrated), and load the substrate W to the body210or unload the substrate W placed on the body210.

The support shaft220supports the body210. The support shaft220is coupled to the body210at the lower portion of the body210. The support shaft220may be coupled to the process chamber100. For example, the support shaft220may be coupled to the bottom surface of the body110.

The heating unit230is provided inside the body210. The heating unit230heats the substrate W. The heating unit230heats the substrate W supported on the upper surface of the body210. The heating unit230heats the substrate W by increasing the temperature of the body210. For example, the heating unit230may be provided as a heating element that generates heat by resisting a current flowing from an externally applied power source. The heating unit230may be a heating element, such as tungsten. However, the type of heating unit230is not limited thereto, and may be variously modified and provided as a known heating element.

The heat generated by the heating unit230is transferred to the substrate W through the body210. The substrate W may be maintained at a set temperature required for a process by heat generated by the heating unit230. In addition, the heating unit230may increase the temperature of the body210so as to prevent byproducts (for example, various oxide films) separated from the substrate W from being reattached to the substrate W while the substrate W is being treated.

Although not illustrated, according to the example, the heating unit230may be provided with a plurality of spiral coils. The heating units230may be provided in different regions of the body210, respectively. For example, the heating unit230heating the region including the center of the body210and the heating unit230heating the region surrounding the region including the center of the body210(for example, the edge region of the body210) may be provided respectively, and heating levels of the heating units230may be controlled independently of each other.

In addition, the heating unit230may adjust the temperature of the treatment space101when the maintenance operation S20to be described later is performed. When the maintenance operation S20is performed, since the maintenance operation S20is performed in a state where the substrate W does not exist on the body210, heat generated by the heating unit230may be transferred to the treatment space101via the body210.

The exhaust baffle300uniformly exhausts the air flow inside the treatment space101to the exhaust line140. For example, the exhaust baffle300uniformly exhausts the plasma generated in the treatment space101for each area in the plasma treatment operation S10to be described later. In addition, the exhaust baffle300induces the byproducts included in the replaced component in the maintenance operation S20to be described later to be easily exhausted to the exhaust line140.

When viewed from the top, the exhaust baffle300has an annular ring shape. The exhaust baffle300is located between the inner wall of the process chamber100and the support unit200in the treatment space101. For example, the exhaust baffle300may be positioned between an inner wall of the body110and an outer surface of the body210. A plurality of exhaust holes310is formed in the exhaust baffle300. The exhaust holes310are provided as through holes extending from the upper end to the lower end of the exhaust baffle300. The exhaust holes310may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other along the circumferential direction of the exhaust baffle300.

The gas supply unit400supplies gas to the treatment space101. The gas supply unit400may include a process gas supply member420and a purge gas supply member440.

The process gas supply member420supplies process gas G1into the treatment space101. The process gas supply member420may supply the process gas G1to the process space101through a process gas supply hole160formed on the sidewall of the process chamber100. According to the example, the process gas G1may include fluorine or hydrogen. For example, the process gas G1may be nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) or ammonia (NH3).

The purge gas supply member440supplies purge gas G2into the treatment space101. The purge gas supply member440may supply the purge gas G2to the treatment space101through a purge gas supply hole170formed on the sidewall of the process chamber100. According to the example, the purge gas G2may include argon (Ar).

Unlike the above example, only one gas supply hole is formed on the sidewall of the process chamber100, and a gas supply line connected to the gas supply hole may be branched to supply each of process gas and purge gas into the treatment space101.

The microwave application unit500applies microwaves to a radiation unit600to be described later. The microwave application unit500may include a microwave generator510, a first waveguide520, a second waveguide530, a phase shifter540, and a matching network550.

The microwave generator510generates microwaves. The microwave generator510is connected to the first waveguide520to be described later. According to the exemplary embodiment, the microwave generator510may be disposed outside the process chamber100.

The first waveguide520is connected to the microwave generator510, and a passage is formed therein. The microwaves generated by the microwave generator510are transferred to the phase converter540to be described later along the first waveguide520.

The second waveguide530may include an outer conductor532and an inner conductor534.

The outer conductor532extends in a vertical downward direction from a distal end of the first waveguide520, and a passage is formed therein. An upper end of the outer conductor532may be connected to a lower end of the first waveguide520, and a lower end of the outer conductor532may be connected to an upper end of the cover120.

The inner conductor534is located inside the outer conductor532. The inner conductor534is provided as a cylindrical rod, and a longitudinal direction thereof may be parallel to the vertical direction. An upper end of the inner conductor534may be inserted and fixed to a lower end of the phase shifter540to be described later. The inner conductor534extends in the down direction, so that a lower end thereof may be located inside the process chamber100. A lower end of the inner conductor534may be fixedly coupled to the center of an antenna plate620to be described later. The inner conductor534may be disposed perpendicular to the upper surface of the antenna plate620.

The inner conductor534may be provided by sequentially coating a first plating film and a second plating film on a rod made of copper. For example, the first plating layer may be made of a nickel (Ni) material. For example, the second plating layer may be made of a gold (Au) material. In this case, the microwaves may propagate to the antenna plate620mainly through the first plating film. The microwaves phase-shifted by the phase shifter540described below may be transferred to the antenna plate620along the second waveguide530.

The phase shifter540may be provided at a point where the first waveguide520and the second waveguide530are connected to each other. The phase shifter540changes the phase of the microwave. The phase shifter540may be provided in a cone shape with a pointed bottom. The phase shifter540propagates the microwave transmitted from the first waveguide520to the second waveguide530in a mode-converted state. The phase shifter540may convert microwaves from a TE mode to a TEM mode.

The matching network550may be provided to the first waveguide520. The matching network550matches the microwave propagating through the first waveguide520to a predetermined frequency.

The radiation unit600transfers the microwaves generated from the microwave applying unit500to the treatment space101. The radiation unit600may include an antenna plate620, a slow wave plate640, and a dielectric plate660.

The antenna plate620may emit microwaves. The antenna plate620may be disposed between the slow wave plate640and the dielectric plate660to be described later. For example, the antenna plate620may be disposed below the slow wave plate640and above the dielectric plate660.

The antenna plate620may be provided in a plate shape. For example, the antenna plate620may be provided as a circular plate having a thin thickness. The antenna plate620is disposed above the support unit200to face the body210. A plurality of slots622may be formed inside the antenna plate620. The slots622may be provided in a single (—) shape, but are not limited thereto, and the shape and arrangement of the slots622may be variously changed.

The slow wave plate640may be positioned above the antenna plate620. The slow wave plate640may be provided as a disk having a predetermined thickness. The slow wave plate640may have a radius corresponding to the inside of the cover120. Microwaves propagated in a vertical direction through the inner conductor534propagate in a radial direction of the slow wave plate640. Wavelengths of microwaves propagated to the slow wave plate640are compressed and resonated. In addition, the slow wave plate640may re-reflect the microwaves reflected from the dielectric plate660and return the reflected microwaves to the dielectric plate660.

The dielectric plate660may function as an upper wall of the treatment space101. For example, the dielectric plate660is located below the antenna plate620and may be provided in a disk shape having a predetermined thickness. The bottom surface of the dielectric plate660may be provided as a concave surface recessed inward. The lower surface of the dielectric plate660may be located at the same height as the lower end of the cover120. Side portions of the dielectric plate660may be formed to be stepped so that an upper end thereof has a larger radius than a lower end. An upper end of the dielectric plate660may be placed on the stepped lower end of the cover120. The lower end of the dielectric plate660has a smaller radius than the lower end of the cover120and may maintain a predetermined distance from the lower end of the cover120. The dielectric plate660may be made of a material containing a dielectric material.

Microwaves are radiated into the treatment space101via the dielectric plate660. The process gas supplied into the treatment space101may be excited into a plasma state by the electric field of the radiated microwaves. Ions, electrons, and/or radicals included in the plasma may act on the substrate W positioned inside the treatment space101to treat the substrate W.

A substrate treating method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention described below may be performed in the substrate treating apparatus10described above. In addition, the controller20may control the configurations of the substrate treating apparatus10so that the substrate treating apparatus10can perform the substrate treating method described below.

FIG.2is a flowchart of a substrate treating method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.FIG.3is a graph schematically illustrating a temperature of a treatment space in a maintenance operation according to the exemplary embodiment ofFIG.2.FIGS.4to8are diagrams sequentially illustrating each operation of the substrate treating method according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG.2, the substrate treating method according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a plasma treatment operation S10and a maintenance operation S20. The maintenance operation S20may include a replacement operation S30and a backup operation S40. The backup operation S40may include a bake purge operation S410, a primary purge operation S430, and a secondary purge operation S450.

In the plasma treatment operation S10, the substrate W may be treated. According to the example, in the plasma treatment operation S10, the substrate W may be treated by using the plasma P. In the maintenance operation S20, a maintenance operation is performed on the configurations (hereinafter, collectively referred to as components) included in the substrate treating apparatus10. In the replacement operation S30, a replacement operation is performed for the components that are severely damaged. In the backup operation S40, after the component replacement work is completed, the substrate treating apparatus10performs a task of creating an environment suitable for performing the plasma treatment operation S10. In the backup operation S40, the internal environment of the treatment space101may be created as an environment in which the plasma treatment operation S10is performed. For example, in the backup operation S40, it is possible to check whether the process chamber100leaks and/or whether byproducts B in the treatment space101are removed.

FIG.4is a schematic diagram of the substrate treating apparatus in which the plasma treatment operation is performed according to the exemplary embodiment ofFIG.2. Referring toFIGS.2and4, in the plasma treatment operation S10, the process gas supply member420supplies process gas G1to the process space101through the process gas supply hole160formed on the sidewall of the process chamber100. The process gas G1supplied to the treatment space101may be excited into a plasma P state by an electric field of microwaves radiated from the microwave applying unit500and the radiation unit600to the treatment space101. The plasma P formed in the treatment space101may treat the substrate W by acting on the substrate W supported on the upper surface of the body210.

The plasma treatment operation S10may be performed a predetermined number of times. In the plasma treatment operation S10, the substrate W may be treated with the plasma P a predetermined number of times. For example, in the plasma treatment operation S10, the plasma P treatment may be performed on a predetermined number of substrates W. After the predetermined number of substrates W is treated in the plasma treatment operation S10, the maintenance operation S20may be performed. According to the exemplary embodiment, the predetermined number of substrates W to be processed in the substrate treating apparatus10may be approximately5,000or more.

Referring toFIG.2, the replacement operation S30is performed after the plasma treatment operation S10. As described above, the replacement operation S30may be performed after the predetermined number of substrates W is treated in the plasma treatment operation S10.

In the replacement operation S30according to the exemplary embodiment, a component replacement work is performed. For example, in the replacement operation S30, a replacement work is performed on a component that is exposed to the plasma P during the plasma treatment operation S10and is severely damaged (for example, worn). In the replacement operation S30according to the exemplary embodiment, the replaced component may be at least one of components included in the substrate treating apparatus10. For example, the component to be replaced in the replacement operation S30may be at least one of the heating unit230, the exhaust baffle300, and the radiation unit600. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, the case where the component to be replaced in the replacement operation S30is the dielectric plate660will be described as an example.

FIG.5is a diagram schematically illustrating an enlarged view of a surface of a replaced component after the replacement operation is completed according to the exemplary embodiment ofFIG.2. Referring toFIG.5, fine valleys having a depth of1micrometer or less may be formed on the surface of the replaced dielectric plate660. Such minute valleys may be mounted inside the substrate treating apparatus10in a state in which the minute valleys are formed on not only the dielectric plate660but also the components to be replaced in the substrate treating apparatus10. The minute valleys of the component may be generated during a manufacturing process (for example, polishing process) of the component. That is, the component to be replaced may be mounted on the substrate treating apparatus10in a state in which minute valleys are originally formed on the surface of the component to be replaced.

Byproduct B may be attached to the minute valleys formed on the surface of the component. In the replacement operation S30, the byproducts B are mounted on the substrate treating apparatus10in a state of being included in the component. According to one example, the byproducts B may include moisture, particles, and/or outgassing.

FIG.6is a schematic diagram illustrating the substrate treating apparatus in which the bake purge operation is performed according to the exemplary embodiment ofFIG.2. Referring toFIGS.2,3, and6, in the bake purge operation S410according to the exemplary embodiment, the treatment space101formed at high temperature and atmospheric pressure is purged. For example, in the bake purge operation S410, the purge gas G2may be supplied to the treatment space101formed at high temperature and atmospheric pressure by using the purge gas supply member440, and the purge gas G2supplied to the treatment space101may be exhausted to the outside of the treatment space101by using the decompressing unit150. The bake purge operation S410may be performed for a preset time. For example, the bake purge operation S410may be performed for 30 to 150 minutes.

The bake purge operation S410may be performed by setting the temperature of the treatment space101to a high temperature. For example, the temperature of the treatment space101in the bake purge operation S410may be set to a first temperature T1. The first temperature T1may be a temperature between 100 and 200 degrees Celsius. In the bake purge operation S410, the heating unit230generates heat to a temperature equal to or higher than the first temperature T1to raise the temperature of the treatment space101to the first temperature T1.

The bake purge operation S410may be performed by forming the atmosphere of the treatment space101at atmospheric pressure. For example, the pressure of the treatment space101in the bake purge operation S410may be formed to be 1 to 600 Torr. More preferably, the pressure of the treatment space101in the bake purge operation S410may be set to 200 Torr. In the bake purge operation S410, the decompressing unit150may exhaust the internal atmosphere of the treatment space101to set the pressure in the treatment space101to atmospheric pressure.

In the bake purge operation S410according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the fluidity of the internal air flow of the treatment space101may be improved by forming the pressure of the treatment space101to atmospheric pressure and forming the temperature of the treatment space101to a high temperature. Accordingly, the byproducts B attached to the minute valleys formed on the surface of the replaced component may be induced to be separated from the minute valleys to the treatment space101. Accordingly, the byproducts B separated into the treatment space101ride on the airflow of the purge gas G2inside the treatment space101during the process of supplying the purge gas G2to the treatment space101and exhausting the purge gas G2to be discharged to the outside of the process chamber100. Thus, the byproducts B included in the component replaced in the replacement operation S30can be easily and quickly removed from the component.

FIG.7is a diagram schematically illustrating the substrate treating apparatus in which a primary purge operation is performed according to the exemplary embodiment ofFIG.2. Referring toFIGS.2,3, and7, the primary purge operation S430purges the treatment space101. The primary purge operation S430may be performed after the bake purge operation S410is completed. In the primary purge operation S430, the treatment space101formed at room temperature is purged. For example, in the primary purge operation S430, the heating unit230may lower the temperature of the treatment space101from the first temperature T1to a second temperature T2by adjusting the heat generation level. According to the exemplary embodiment, the second temperature T2may be room temperature. For example, the second temperature T2may be a temperature between 0 and 50 degrees Celsius.

In the primary purge operation S430, purge gas G2is supplied to the treatment space101at room temperature. The purge gas G2supplied to the treatment space101is discharged to the outside of the process chamber100by the decompressing unit150. Whether a leak occurs in the process chamber100may be detected by the purge gas G2supplied to the treatment space101. In addition, as the treatment space101is purged by the purge gas G2supplied to the treatment space101, the byproducts B attached to the components disposed inside the treatment space101are secondarily removed.

FIG.7is a diagram schematically illustrating the substrate treating apparatus in which a secondary purge operation is performed according to the exemplary embodiment ofFIG.2. Referring toFIGS.2,3, and8, in the secondary purge operation S450, the treatment space101is purged. The secondary purge operation S450may be performed after the primary purge operation5430is performed. In the secondary purge operation S450, the treatment space101formed at a high temperature is purged. For example, in the secondary purge operation S450, the heating unit230may increase the temperature of the treatment space101to a temperature higher than the second temperature T2by adjusting the heat generation level. According to the example, in the secondary purge operation S450, the temperature of the treatment space101may be the first temperature T1. Optionally, in the secondary purge operation S450, the temperature of the treatment space101may be higher than the second temperature T2and lower than the first temperature T1.

In the secondary purge operation5450, the purge gas G2is supplied to the treatment space101having a relatively higher temperature than in the primary purge operation5430. The purge gas G2supplied to the treatment space101is discharged to the outside of the treatment space101by the decompressing unit150. Whether a leak occurs in the process chamber100may be detected by the purge gas G2supplied to the process space101, the byproducts B attached to the components disposed inside the treatment space101may be finally removed.

According to the above-described exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the flowability of airflow inside the treatment space101may be improved by forming the treatment space101with atmospheric pressure and high temperature atmosphere while the bake purge operation S410is performed. Accordingly, by inducing the byproducts B originally included in the components replaced in the replacement operation S30to be separated into the treatment space101, the byproducts B originally included in the components may be smoothly removed from the substrate treating apparatus10. As a result, since the treatment space101in a clean state is formed and the byproducts interfering with the surface of the substrate W when the substrate W is plasma-treated are removed, the effect of reducing the defect rate of the substrate W may be achieved.

In addition, since byproducts B included in the components may be preemptively removed from the substrate treating apparatus10before performing the subsequent purge operations S430and S450, the time required to create a process environment in the subsequent purge operations S430and S450may be shortened. Accordingly, the treatment efficiency of the substrate W may be improved by shortening the time required for the maintenance operation S20necessarily involved in treating the substrate W.

In addition, the byproducts may be removed from the surfaces of the components, such as the replaced dielectric plate660, so that an electric field of microwaves may be uniformly formed inside the treatment space101. Accordingly, since the density of the plasma acting on the substrate W is uniformly formed, the yield of treating the substrate W may be improved.

The foregoing detailed description illustrates the present invention. Further, the above content illustrates and describes the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention can be used in various other combinations, modifications, and environments. That is, the foregoing content may be modified or corrected within the scope of the concept of the invention disclosed in the present specification, the scope equivalent to that of the disclosure, and/or the scope of the skill or knowledge in the art. The foregoing exemplary embodiment describes the best state for implementing the technical spirit of the present invention, and various changes required in specific application fields and uses of the present invention are possible. Accordingly, the detailed description of the invention above is not intended to limit the invention to the disclosed exemplary embodiment. Further, the accompanying claims should be construed to include other exemplary embodiments as well.