Liquid processing apparatus, liquid processing method, computer program, and storage medium

A processing apparatus is provided for enhancing throughput in the manufacture of semiconductor wafers and/or liquid crystal substrates, by reducing the time required for performing a rinsing process. A position of an object to be processed is controlled, such that a distance between the surface position of a rinsing liquid upon the rinsing process and a top end position of the object to be processed becomes shorter than a distance between the surface position of a chemical liquid upon a chemical liquid process and the top end position of the object to be processed. Alternatively, the position of the object to be processed is controlled, such that the distance between the surface position of the rinsing liquid upon the rinsing process and the top end position of the object to be processed becomes shorter than a distance between the bottom face position of the rinsing liquid and a bottom end position of the object to be processed.

CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on the priority Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-283185 filed on Oct. 18, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a liquid processing apparatus, a liquid processing method, a computer program, and a storage medium, for carrying out a chemical liquid processing and a rinsing process, by dipping an object to be processed, such as a semiconductor wafer or liquid crystal substrate, in a chemical liquid or rising liquid, in a processing tank.

2. Background Art

In the past, a cleaning step, for providing a cleaning process to a semiconductor wafer(s) or liquid crystal substrate(s), has been carried out, in a manufacturing process for a semiconductor part or flat display. In the cleaning step, an object to be processed, such as a semiconductor wafer or liquid crystal substrate, is dipped in a chemical liquid in a processing tank, and the object to be processed is then dipped in a rinsing liquid in the processing tank, so as to clean its surface.

A liquid processing apparatus for use in the cleaning step, includes a processing tank and a supporting instrument configured to optionally move in the vertical direction in the processing tank and adapted to support the object to be processed. The object to be processed, which is supported by the supporting instrument in the processing tank, is dipped in a chemical liquid and/or rinsing liquid, so as to be subjected to a chemical liquid process and/or rinsing process (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In the prior art liquid processing apparatus of this type, the chemical liquid is filled in advance in the processing tank, and the supporting instrument is lowered in the processing tank, so as to dip the object to be processed in the chemical liquid and provide the chemical liquid process to the object to be processed. Thereafter, without changing the level in the vertical direction of the supporting instrument, the rinsing process is performed, by replacing the chemical liquid with the rinsing liquid in the processing tank. Finally, the rinsing process is ended at a point of time the specific resistance of the rinsing liquid is detected to be higher than a predetermined value.Patent Document 1: TOKUKAI No. 2000-3895, KOHO

However, in the prior art processing apparatus, because nitrogen gas and/or carbon dioxide gas in the air is dissolved into the surface of the rinsing liquid upon the rinsing process, unduly long time may be required for the specific resistance of the rinsing liquid to be raised up to the predetermined value, due to the effect of the dissolved nitrogen gas and/or carbon dioxide gas. Thus, the time required for the cleaning process may also be unduly long, as such deteriorating the throughput in manufacturing the semiconductor wafers or liquid crystal substrates.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

After our extensive studies in order to address the above problem, we have found that the amount of dissolution of the nitrogen gas and/or carbon dioxide gas varies with the amount of the rinsing liquid existing between the surface of the rinsing liquid and a top end of the object to be processed, and that the time required for the specific resistance of the rinsing liquid to be raised up to a predetermined value can be shortened by reducing the distance between the surface of the rinsing liquid and the top end of the object to be processed. The present invention is based on the discovery.

The present invention is a liquid processing apparatus, comprising: a processing tank; a supporting instrument provided in the processing tank and configured to be raised and lowered, for supporting an object to be processed; a chemical liquid supply section for supplying a chemical liquid into the processing tank; a rinsing liquid supply section for supplying a rinsing liquid into the processing tank; a lifting mechanism configured to raise and lower the supporting instrument; and a control section for controlling the lifting mechanism, the chemical liquid supply section and the rinsing liquid supply section, wherein the control section controls the lifting mechanism, so as to move and hold the supporting instrument after performing a chemical liquid process using a chemical liquid, and performs a rinsing process using a rinsing liquid, in a position where the object to be processed is raised higher relative to the liquid surface than a level set upon the chemical liquid process.

The present invention is the liquid processing apparatus described above, wherein the control section controls the lifting mechanism to raise the supporting instrument, such that a distance between the surface position of the rinsing liquid upon the rinsing process and a top end position of the object to be processed becomes shorter than a distance between the surface position of the chemical liquid upon the chemical liquid process and the top end position of the object to be processed.

The present invention is the liquid processing apparatus described above, wherein the control section controls the lifting mechanism, so as to repeatedly raise and lower the supporting instrument upon the chemical liquid process, as well as to set an average position of the top end of the raised and lowered object to be processed as the top end position of the object to be processed upon the chemical liquid process.

The present invention is the liquid processing apparatus described above, wherein the control section controls the lifting mechanism, so as to repeatedly raise and lower the supporting instrument upon the chemical liquid process, as well as to set the highest position of the top end of the raised and lowered object to be processed as the top end position of the object to be processed upon the chemical liquid process.

The present invention is a liquid processing apparatus, comprising: a processing tank; a supporting instrument provided in the processing tank and configured to be raised and lowered, for supporting an object to be processed; a rinsing liquid supply section for supplying a rinsing liquid into the processing tank; a lifting mechanism configured to raise and lower the supporting instrument; and a control section for controlling the lifting mechanism and the rinsing supply section, wherein the control section controls the lifting mechanism, so as to transfer and hold the supporting instrument, such that a distance between the surface position of the rinsing liquid and a top end position of the object to be processed becomes shorter than a distance between the bottom face position of the rinsing liquid and a bottom end position of the object to be processed.

The present invention is a liquid processing method using a liquid processing apparatus, the liquid processing apparatus including: a processing tank; a supporting instrument provided in the processing tank and configured to be raised and lowered, for supporting an object to be processed; a chemical liquid supply section for supplying a chemical liquid into the processing tank; a rinsing liquid supply section for supplying a rinsing liquid into the processing tank; a lifting mechanism configured to raise and lower the supporting instrument; and a control section for controlling the lifting mechanism, the chemical liquid supply section and the rinsing liquid supply section, wherein the control section controls the lifting mechanism, so as to move and hold the supporting instrument after performing a chemical liquid process using a chemical liquid, and performs a rinsing process using a rinsing liquid, in a position where the object to be processed is raised higher relative to the liquid surface than a level set upon the chemical liquid process, and the method comprising the steps of: performing the chemical liquid process using the chemical liquid to the object to be processed in the processing tank; and after performing the chemical liquid process performing the rinsing process using the rinsing liquid, in the position where the object to be processed is raised higher relative to the liquid surface than the level set upon the chemical liquid process, while controlling the lifting mechanism by using the control section, so as to move and hold the supporting instrument.

The present invention is the liquid processing method described above, wherein the control section controls the lifting mechanism to raise the supporting instrument, such that a distance between the surface position of the rinsing liquid upon the rinsing process and the top end position of the object to be processed becomes shorter than a distance between the surface position of the chemical liquid upon the chemical liquid process and the top end position of the object to be processed.

The present invention is the liquid processing method described above, wherein the control section controls the lifting mechanism, so as to repeatedly raise and lower the supporting instrument upon the chemical liquid process, as well as to set an average position of the top end of the raised and lowered object to be processed as the top end position of the object to be processed upon the chemical liquid process.

The present invention is the liquid processing apparatus described above, wherein the control section controls the lifting mechanism, so as to repeatedly raise and lower the supporting instrument upon the chemical liquid process, as well as to set the highest position of the top end of the raised and lowered object to be processed as the top end position of the object to be processed upon the chemical liquid process.

The present invention is a liquid processing method using a liquid processing apparatus, the liquid processing apparatus including: a processing tank; a supporting instrument provided in the processing tank and configured to be raised and lowered, for supporting an object to be processed; a rinsing liquid supply section for supplying a rinsing liquid into the processing tank; a lifting mechanism configured to raise and lower the supporting instrument; and a control section for controlling the lifting mechanism and the rinsing liquid supply section, wherein the control section controls the lifting mechanism, so as to move and hold the supporting instrument, such that a distance between the surface position of the rinsing liquid and a top end position of the object to be processed becomes shorter than a distance between the bottom face position of the rinsing liquid and a bottom end position of the object to be processed, and the method comprising the steps of: supplying the rinsing liquid into the processing tank, and dipping the object to be processed in the rinsing liquid; and performing the rinsing process, while controlling the lifting mechanism so as to move and hold the supporting instrument, such that the distance between the surface position of the rinsing liquid and the top end position of the object to be processed becomes shorter than the distance between the bottom face position of the rinsing liquid and the bottom end position of the object to be processed.

The present invention is a computer program for driving a computer to execute a liquid processing method using a liquid processing apparatus, the liquid processing apparatus including: a processing tank; a supporting instrument provided in the processing tank and configured to be raised and lowered, for supporting an object to be processed; a chemical liquid supply section for supplying a chemical liquid into the processing tank; a rinsing liquid supply section for supplying a rinsing liquid into the processing tank; a lifting mechanism configured to raise and lower the supporting instrument; and a control section for controlling the lifting mechanism, the chemical liquid supply section and the rinsing liquid section, wherein the control section controls the lifting mechanism, so as to move and hold the supporting instrument after performing a chemical liquid process using a chemical liquid, and performs a rinsing process using a rinsing liquid, in a position where the object to be processed is raised higher relative to the liquid surface than a level set upon the chemical liquid process, and the method comprising the steps of: providing the chemical liquid process using the chemical liquid to the object to be processed in the processing tank; and after performing the chemical liquid process, performing the rinsing process using the rinsing liquid, in the position where the object to be processed is raised higher relative to the liquid surface than the level set upon the chemical liquid process, while controlling the lifting mechanism by using the control section, so as to move and hold the supporting instrument.

The present invention is the computer program described above, wherein the control section controls the lifting mechanism to raise the supporting instrument, such that a distance between the surface position of the rinsing liquid upon the rinsing process and the top end position of the object to be processed becomes shorter than a distance between the surface position of the chemical liquid upon the chemical liquid process and the top end position of the object to be processed.

The present invention is the computer program described above, wherein the control section controls the lifting mechanism, so as to repeatedly raise and lower the supporting instrument upon the chemical liquid process, as well as to set an average position of the top end of the raised and lowered object to be processed as the top end position of the object to be processed upon the chemical liquid process.

The present invention is the computer program described above, wherein the control section controls the lifting mechanism, so as to repeatedly raise and lower the supporting instrument upon the chemical liquid process, as well as to set the top end position of the object to be processed upon the chemical liquid process as the highest position of the top end of the raised and lowered object to be processed.

The present invention is a computer program for driving a computer to execute a liquid processing method using a liquid processing apparatus, the liquid processing apparatus including: a processing tank; a supporting instrument provided in the processing tank and configured to be raised and lowered, for supporting an object to be processed; a rinsing liquid supply section for supplying a rinsing liquid into the processing tank; a lifting mechanism configured to raise and lower the supporting instrument; and a control section for controlling the lifting mechanism and the rinsing supply section, wherein the control section controls the lifting mechanism, so as to move and hold the supporting instrument, such that a distance between the surface position of the rinsing liquid and a top end position of the object to be processed becomes shorter than a distance between the bottom face position of the rinsing liquid and a bottom end position of the object to be processed, and the method comprising the steps of: supplying the rinsing liquid into the processing tank, and dipping the object to be processed in the rinsing liquid; and performing the rinsing process, while controlling the lifting mechanism so as to move and hold the supporting instrument, such that the distance between the surface position of the rinsing liquid and the top end position of the object to be processed becomes shorter than the distance between the bottom face position of the rinsing liquid and the bottom end position of the object to be processed.

The present invention is a storage medium for storing a computer program for driving a computer to execute a liquid processing method using a liquid processing apparatus, the liquid processing apparatus including: a processing tank; a supporting instrument provided in the processing tank and configured to be raised and lowered, for supporting an object to be processed; a chemical liquid supply section for supplying a chemical liquid into the processing tank; a rinsing liquid supply section for supplying a rinsing liquid into the processing tank; a lifting mechanism configured to raise and lower the supporting instrument; and a control section for controlling the lifting mechanism, the chemical liquid supply section and the rinsing liquid supply section, wherein the control section controls the lifting mechanism, so as to move and hold the supporting instrument after performing a chemical liquid process using a chemical liquid, and performs a rinsing process using a rinsing liquid, in a position where the object to be processed is raised higher relative to the liquid surface than a level set upon the chemical liquid process, and the method comprising the steps of: performing the chemical liquid process using the chemical liquid to the object to be processed in the processing tank; and after performing the chemical liquid process, performing the rinsing process using the rinsing liquid, in the position where the object to be processed is raised higher relative to the liquid surface than the level set upon the chemical liquid process, while controlling the lifting mechanism by using the control section, so as to move and hold the supporting instrument.

The present invention is the storage medium described above, wherein the control section controls the lifting mechanism to raise the supporting instrument, such that a distance between the surface position of the rinsing liquid upon the rinsing process and the top end position of the object to be processed becomes shorter than a distance between the surface position of the chemical liquid upon the chemical liquid process and the top end position of the object to be processed.

The present invention is the storage medium described above, wherein the control section controls the lifting mechanism, so as to repeatedly raise and lower the supporting instrument upon the chemical liquid process, as well as to set an average position of the top end of the raised and lowered object to be processed as the top end position of the object to be processed upon the chemical liquid process.

The present invention is the storage medium described above, wherein the control section controls the lifting mechanism, so as to repeatedly raise and lower the supporting instrument upon the chemical liquid process, as well as to set the highest position of the top end of the raised and lowered object to be processed as the top end position of the object to be processed upon the chemical liquid process.

The present invention is a storage medium for storing a computer program for driving a computer to execute a liquid processing method using a liquid processing apparatus, the liquid processing apparatus including: a processing tank; a supporting instrument provided in the processing tank and configured to be raised and lowered, for supporting an object to be processed; a rinsing liquid supply section for supplying a rinsing liquid into the processing tank; a lifting mechanism configured to raise and lower the supporting instrument; and a control section for controlling the lifting mechanism and the rinsing liquid supply section, wherein the control section controls the lifting mechanism, so as to move and hold the supporting instrument, such that a distance between the surface position of the rinsing liquid and a top end position of the object to be processed becomes shorter than a distance between the bottom face position of the rinsing liquid and a bottom end position of the object to be processed, and the method comprising the steps of: supplying the rinsing liquid into the processing tank, and dipping the object to be processed in the rinsing liquid; and performing the rinsing process, while controlling the lifting mechanism so as to move and hold the supporting instrument, such that the distance between the surface position of the rinsing liquid and the top end position of the object to be processed becomes shorter than the distance between the bottom face position of the rinsing liquid and the bottom end position of the object to be processed.

Accordingly, the present invention can provide the following effects.

In the present invention, the distance between the surface of the rinsing liquid upon the rinsing process and the top end of the object to be processed is shortened. Thus, the amount of the rinsing liquid existing between the surface of the rinsing liquid and the top end of the object to be processed can be reduced, as such the amount of dissolution of nitrogen gas and/or carbon dioxide gas from the air into the rinsing liquid can also be reduced. Consequently, the time required for the specific resistance of the rinsing liquid to be raised up to a predetermined value can be shortened, thereby shortening the time required for the cleaning process and enhancing the throughput of manufacturing semiconductor wafers or liquid crystal substrates.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Examples

Hereinafter, one specific example of a liquid processing apparatus, a liquid processing method and a liquid processing program, according to the present invention, will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description below, while a case in which the present invention is applied to a substrate processing apparatus for providing a cleaning process and a drying process to a wafer as an object to be processed, this invention is not limited only to the substrate processing apparatus, but can be applied to various types of liquid processing apparatuses for performing a rinsing process.

As shown inFIG. 1, a substrate processing apparatus1includes a carrier carrying-in and carrying-out section4for performing carrying-in and carrying-out of each carrier3containing multiple sheets of wafers2(substrates) therein, a batch constituting section6for constituting a batch5adapted to combine and collectively process the wafers2contained in a plurality of the carriers3, and a substrate processing section7for providing a cleaning process and a drying process to the wafers2for each batch5.

The carrier carrying-in and carrying-out section4includes a carrier stage8on which each carrier3is placed, an opening and closing door9, a carrier transfer mechanism10provided on the inside of the opening and closing door9, a carrier placing table12, and carrier stocks11. In this case, the carriers3placed on the carrier stage8are kept temporarily in the carrier stocks11, as needed, by the carrier transfer mechanism10, and are then carried onto the carrier placing table12.

In the carrier carrying-in and carrying-out section4, the carriers3, each containing the wafers2having been subjected to a process in the substrate processing section7, and carried onto the carrier placing table12, will travel along a route reverse to that upon the carrying-in process, wherein they are kept temporarily in the carrier stocks11, as needed, by the carrier transfer mechanism10, and are then carried out onto the carrier stage8.

The batch constituting section6includes an opening and closing door13which is provided between the batch constituting section6and the carrier carrying-in and carrying-out section4, a substrate transfer mechanism14provided on the inside of the opening and closing door13and adapted to carry multiple sheets of wafers2contained in the carrier3at the same time, a batch constituting mechanism15for constituting the batch5by changing the interval of the arrangement of the wafers2to be carried into by the substrate transfer mechanism14into the half one, an arrangement order changing mechanism16for changing the order of arrangement of the wafers2to be carried into by the substrate transfer mechanism14, and a batch transfer mechanism17adapted to transfer each batch15constituted by the batch constituting mechanism15, between the batch constituting section6and the substrate processing section7as well as to carry the batch15the substrate processing section7. In addition, the batch constituting section6includes a wafer containing state detecting sensor18for detecting a containing state of the wafer2contained in each carrier3, and a notch aligner19adapted to adjust a position of a notch of each wafer2contained in each carrier3.

In the batch constituting section6described above, each batch5is constituted by combining the multiple sheets (for example, 25 sheets for each carrier3) of wafers2contained in the multiple (for example, two) carriers3carried out from the carrier carrying-in and carrying-out section4, to properly rearrange the total number (for example, 50 sheets) of wafers2, such that they will be processed collectively in the substrate processing section7.

The substrate processing section7includes a cleaning and drying mechanism20adapted to clean and dry the wafers2, and a cleaning mechanism21adapted to clean the wafers2. The cleaning and drying mechanism20includes a liquid processing apparatus23adapted to clean and dry each batch5by lifting up and lowering it by using a lifting mechanism22, and a cleaning apparatus24for cleaning the batch transfer mechanism17. The cleaning mechanism21includes first to third chemical liquid tanks25,26,27each adapted to perform a chemical liquid process to the batch5, first to third pure water tanks28,29,30each adapted to perform a pure water process to the batch5, and first to third carrying apparatuses31,32,33each adapted to transfer the batch5between these first to third chemical liquid tanks25,26,27and the first to third pure water tanks28,29,30.

The substrate processing section7includes the batch transfer mechanism17provided along the cleaning and drying mechanism20and cleaning mechanism21, and a starting end of the batch transfer mechanism17is connected with the batch constituting section6.

In the substrate processing section7, the batch5constituted by the batch constituting section6is carried by the batch transfer mechanism17to the lifting mechanism22of the cleaning and drying mechanism20as well as to the first to third carrying apparatuses31,32,33associated with the cleaning mechanism21so as to perform a process to the wafers2, for each batch5, in the cleaning and drying mechanism20and in the cleaning mechanism21. Thereafter, the processed batch5is transferred to the batch transfer mechanism17from the lifting mechanism22of the cleaning and drying mechanism20as well as from the first to third carrying apparatuses31,32,33associated with the cleaning mechanism21, and the processed batch5is in turn carried to the batch constituting section6by the batch transfer mechanism17.

In this manner, in the substrate processing apparatus1, the wafers2are carried, by the carrier carrying-in and carrying-out section4, into the batch constituting section6, while being contained in each carrier3. Subsequently, each batch5is constituted by the batch constituting section6, and the batch5is then transferred to the substrate processing section7so that the wafers2can be collectively processed in the substrate processing section7, while being properly rearranged in each batch5. Specifically, the respectively predetermined processes are performed to each batch5in the substrate processing section7, and the batch5is then transferred to the batch constituting section6, where the wafers2contained in the batch5are placed again in each carrier3. Thereafter, the carrier3is transferred to the carrier carrying-in and carrying-out section4, and the carrier3is then carried out by the carrier carrying-in and carrying-out section4, while containing the processed wafers2therein.

Next, the liquid processing apparatus23, according to the present invention, will be described, with respect to its specific structure. The liquid processing apparatus23, as shown inFIGS. 2 to 4, includes a cleaning unit34for cleaning the wafers2while they are contained in each batch5, and a drying unit35for drying the wafers2while they are contained in each batch5. The cleaning unit34and the drying unit35are integrally connected in the vertical direction. In a space defined by both of the cleaning unit34and the drying unit35, a supporting instrument36adapted to raise and lower the wafers2between the units34,35with the wafers2being contained in each batch5, is provided such that it can be optionally moved in the vertical direction.

A specific structure of the supporting instrument36will now be described. The supporting instrument36includes an arm37extending in the vertical direction, and four supporting members38,39,40,41each provided and attached to a front bottom end of the arm37, in parallel with each other, with a constant gap provided therebetween in the left and right directions. In addition, a connecting member42(43) is provided between the left and right two supporting members38,39(40,41).

In a top end of each supporting member38,39,40,41of the supporting instrument36, supporting grooves44,45,46,47, each vertically supporting the wafers2, are formed, with a constant gap provided therebetween in the forward and backward directions. Thus, by supporting the wafer2successively in each supporting groove44,45,46,47, multiple sheets of wafers2can be supported in parallel, with a constant gap provided therebetween in the forward and backward directions. The arm37of the supporting instrument36is connected with the lifting mechanism22, so that the wafers2can be raised and lowered due by the supporting instrument36by using the lifting mechanism22, between the cleaning unit34and the drying unit35, while the wafers2are contained in each batch5. A control section48is connected to the lifting mechanism22, so that the lifting mechanism22is driven and controlled by the control section48.

Next, a specific structure of the cleaning unit34will be described. The cleaning unit34includes a cleaning tank49with a rectangular box-like shape, having a bottom wall, an opening formed in a top end thereof, and cleaning liquid supply nozzles52,53respectively provided at left and right side walls50,51of the cleaning tank49and adapted to supply a cleaning liquid in an injected state. To the bottom wall54of the cleaning tank49, a drain pipe55is connected to be in communication with the interior of the tank49. In a middle portion of the drain pipe55, an opening and closing valve56is provided. In addition, at an outer upper portion of the cleaning tank49, an annular over-flow tank57is attached. A drain pipe59is connected with a bottom wall58of the over-flow tank57so as to be in communication with the interior of the over-flow tank57, and an opening and closing valve60is provided in a middle portion of the drain pipe59.

To the cleaning liquid supply nozzles52,53, a pure water supply source61for supplying pure water and a chemical liquid supply source62for supplying a chemical liquid are connected via a three-way cock63, respectively. By changing the liquid flows by using the three-way cock63, the pure water or chemical liquid can be supplied to the interior of the cleaning tank49from the respective cleaning liquid supply nozzles52,53. To the opening and closing valves56,60as well as to the three-way cock63, the control section48is connected, such that the opening and closing valve56,60and the three-way cock63can be driven and controlled by the control section48.

An aspiration tube85is connected with the cleaning tank49of the cleaning unit34so as to be in communication with the interior of the cleaning tank49, and a sensor86is in turn connected with the aspiration tube85, for detecting the specific resistance of the chemical liquid or rinsing liquid. Again, the sensor86is connected to the control section48.

Next, a specific structure of the drying unit35will be described. The drying unit35includes a drying tank64with a generally box-like shape having an opening formed in a bottom end thereof, and a shutter mechanism65provided below the drying tank64. The shutter mechanism65includes a casing66having a shutter containing portion67formed therein, such that a shutter68is contained in the shutter containing portion67so as to be optionally opened and closed.

In this embodiment, an opening and closing mechanism69is connected with the shutter68of the shutter mechanism65so as to be moved together. The opening and closing mechanism69is also connected to the control section48, such that the opening and closing mechanism69can be driven and controlled by the control section48.

The upper portion of the drying tank64of the drying unit35is formed to have a semicircular cross section, and has a through hole70at its top end, allowing the arm37of the supporting instrument36to be inserted therein. Around the through hole70, a packing71is fitted. Thus, the drying tank64can be maintained in an airtighly sealed state, while the arm37is inserted therein.

In addition, a lifting mechanism72is connected with the drying tank64so as to be driven together, and the lifting mechanism72is also connected with the control section48, thereby to drive and control the lifting mechanism72by the control section48. When the drying tank64is lowered by the lifting mechanism72, a flange73provided to a bottom end of the drying tank64is closely contacted with the shutter68of the shutter mechanism65.

To inner upper portions of the drying tank64of the drying unit35, a pair of left and right drying vapor supply nozzles74,75are attached, for supplying drying vapor (IPA gas: isopropyl alcohol gas, etc.) in an injected state.

In the drying vapor supply nozzles74,75, gas discharging ports76,77, for discharging the drying vapor toward the inner upper portion of the drying tank64, are respectively arranged, with a gap provided therebetween in the forward and backward directions.

A drying vapor source78, for supplying the drying vapor with a carrier gas, is connected to the drying vapor supply nozzles74,75, via an opening and closing valve79. By bringing the opening and closing valve79into an opened state, the drying vapor can be supplied into the drying tank64from the drying vapor supply nozzles74,75. The control section48is connected with the opening and closing valve79, thereby driving and controlling the opening and closing valve79due to the control section48.

The liquid processing apparatus23is constructed as described above, and is driven and controlled by the control section48. In addition to the liquid processing apparatus23, the control section48can also drive and control each section of the substrate processing apparatus1. The control section48includes a controller80composed of a computer CPU, and a storage medium81connected with the controller80. In the storage medium81, various setting data, including a liquid processing program (computer program)82, are stored. The storage medium81may be a memory, such as a ROM or RAM, or may be a disk-like storage medium, such as a hard disk or CD-ROM.

The control section48performs the cleaning process and the drying process for the wafers2, successively, by driving and controlling the liquid processing apparatus23, in accordance with a cleaning subroutine83and a drying subroutine84of the liquid processing program82stored in the storage medium81.

First, in the cleaning subroutine83, as shown inFIG. 5, initial setting of the liquid processing apparatus23is performed (initial setting step S1).

Specifically, the control section48, as shown inFIG. 6, brings the opening and closing valve56of cleaning tank49and the opening and closing valve60of over-flow tank57into closed states, respectively, while the control section48makes the shutter68into an opened state, by using the opening and closing mechanism69. Subsequently, the control section48makes the supporting instrument36above the shutter mechanism65, with a space, by using the lifting mechanism22, and arranges the drying tank64above the supporting instrument36, with a space, by using the lifting mechanism72. Thereafter, the control section48makes pure water supplied into the cleaning tank49, via the cleaning liquid supply nozzles52,53of the cleaning tank49, from the pure water supply source61, by driving and controlling the three-way cock63. At this time, the control section48makes the opening and closing valve60of the over-flow tank57into an opened state, so as to discharge over-flowing pure water from the cleaning tank49.

In the cleaning subroutine83, the supporting instrument36receives the batch5containing a plurality (for example, 50 sheets) of wafers2(wafer receiving step S2). This batch5has been constituted by the batch constituting section6, as described above.

Specifically, the control section48, as shown inFIG. 7, makes the wafers2constituting the batch5, which has been carried by the batch transfer mechanism17, onto the supporting grooves44to47provided in the supporting members38to41of the supporting instrument36, by driving and controlling the batch transfer mechanism17.

Subsequently, in the cleaning subroutine83, the wafers2each placed on the supporting instrument36are dipped in pure water accumulated in the cleaning tank49(cleaning ready step S3).

Specifically, the control section48, as shown inFIG. 8, makes the supporting instrument36lower into the interior of the cleaning tank49, by using the lifting mechanism22, so that the wafers2each placed on the supporting instrument36can be dipped in the pure water accumulated in the cleaning tank49.

Thereafter, in the cleaning subroutine83, the chemical liquid process for the wafers2is performed in the cleaning tank49(chemical liquid process step S4).

Specifically, while the control section48brings the opening and closing valve56of the cleaning tank49into a closed state and brings the opening and closing valve60of the over-flow tank57into an opened state, a chemical liquid (cleaning liquid) is supplied into the cleaning tank49, via the cleaning liquid supply nozzle52,53of the cleaning tank49, from the chemical liquid supply source62, by driving and controlling the three-way cock63. Consequently, the pure water will gradually overflow from the cleaning tank49into the over-flow tank57, and eventually the interior of the cleaning tank49will be filled with the chemical liquid. Thereafter, the wafers2are dipped in the chemical liquid accumulated in the cleaning tank49, thereby performing the cleaning process (chemical liquid process).

In the chemical liquid process (chemical liquid process step S4), in order to perform the chemical liquid process in a shorter time and more effectively, by increasing contact chances between the wafers2and the chemical liquid, a supporting instrument lifting step may be carried out, in which the supporting instrument36is repeatedly lifted up and lowered down so as to raise and lower the wafers2in the chemical liquid (see,FIG. 10).

Thereafter, in the cleaning subroutine83, the supporting instrument36is raised in the interior of the cleaning tank49(supporting instrument raising step S5).

Specifically, the control section48, as shown inFIG. 9, makes the supporting instrument36rise in the interior of the cleaning tank49, by using the lifting mechanism22. At this time, the control section48raises the supporting instrument36rise such that a distance L1from a liquid surface position LV1of the rinsing liquid and a top end position LV2of the wafers2becomes shorter than a distance L2from a liquid surface position LV3of the chemical liquid upon the chemical liquid process to a top end position LV4of the waters2.

Subsequently, in the cleaning subroutine83, the rinsing process for the wafers2is performed in the cleaning tank49(rinsing step S6).

Specifically, while the control section48brings the opening and closing valve56of the cleaning tank49into a closed state and brings the opening and closing valve60of the over-flow tank57is supplied into an opened state, it supplies pure water (cleaning liquid) into the cleaning tank49, via the cleaning liquid supply nozzles52,53of the cleaning tank49, from the pure water supply source61, by driving and controlling the three-way cock63. Thus, the chemical liquid will gradually overflows from the cleaning tank49into the over-flow tank57, and eventually the interior of the cleaning tank49will be filled with pure water. During this time, the wafers2are dipped in the pure water accumulated in the cleaning tank49, thereby performing the cleaning process with water (rinsing process). This rinsing process is ended at a point of time the specific resistance to be detected by the sensor86reaches a predetermined value (e.g., 14M Ωcm).

In this embodiment, upon rinsing, the wafers2are raised by lifting up the supporting instrument36, such that the distance L1from the liquid surface position LV1of the rinsing liquid and the top end position LV2of the wafers2becomes shorter than the distance L2from the liquid surface position LV3of the chemical liquid upon the chemical liquid process to the top end position LV4of the waters2. As such, the time (rinsing time) required for the specific resistance of the rinsing liquid to be raised up to the predetermined value can be reduced.

This is because by raising the wafers2using the supporting instrument36, the amount of the rinsing liquid to be accumulated between the liquid surface of the rinsing liquid and the top end of the waters2can be reduced, and therefore the amount of dissolution of nitrogen gas and/or carbon dioxide gas into the rinsing liquid from the air can be reduced.

Namely, when measuring the time required for the specific resistance of the rinsing liquid to be returned to 14M Ωcm while changing the position of the wafers2, we have found that the recovery time of the specific resistance of the rinsing liquid can be reduced as the distance L1from the liquid surface position LV1of the rinsing liquid to the top end position LV2of the wafers2is shortened. The results are shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1Results of measuring the recovery time of the rinsingliquidDistance L1 (mm)673212(Distance L3 (mm))(59)(80)(100)TimeIncluding940900850(seconds)wafersNo wafers—10101020

In Table 1, the time required for the specific resistance of the rinsing liquid to be returned to 14M Ωcm was measured, in the case that the wafers2are placed on the supporting instrument36, and in the case that the wafers are not placed thereon, under the conditions that the distance L2from the liquid surface position LV3of the chemical liquid upon the chemical liquid process to the top end position LV4of the waters2was set at 67 mm, and the distance L1from the liquid surface position LV1of the rinsing liquid upon the rinsing process and the top end position LV2of the wafers2was set at 67 mm, 32 mm, and 12 mm (and a distance L3from a bottom face position LV5of the rinsing liquid to a bottom end position LV6of the wafers2was set at 50 mm, 80 mm, 100 mm).

From Table 1, it can be seen that in the state wherein the wafers2are placed on the supporting instrument36, as the wafers2are raised together with the supporting instrument36, such that the distance L1from the liquid surface position LV1of the rinsing liquid upon the rinsing process to the top end position LV2of the wafers2is set at 67 mm, 32 mm, and 12 mm (and the distance L3from the bottom face position LV5of the rinsing liquid to the bottom end position LV6of the wafers2is set at 50 mm, 80 mm, and 100 mm), the time required for the specific resistance of the rinsing liquid to be returned to 14M Ωcm is reduced depending on such setting values. On the other hand, in the state wherein the wafers2are not placed on the supporting instrument36, substantially no change can be found in the time required for the specific resistance of the rinsing liquid to be returned to 14M Ωcm, even in the case wherein only the supporting instrument36is lifted up, such that the distance L1from the liquid surface position LV1of the rinsing liquid upon the rinsing to the top end position LV2of the wafers2is set at 32 mm and 12 mm (and the distance L3from the bottom face position LV5of the rinsing liquid to the bottom end position LV6of the wafers2is set at 80 mm and 100 mm).

From the results shown in Table 1, it was recognized that the amount of dissolution of nitrogen gas and/or carbon dioxide gas varies with the amount of the rinsing liquid existing between the surface of the rinsing liquid and the top end of each wafer2, and therefore the time required for the specific resistance of the rinsing liquid to be raised up to a predetermined value can be shortened, by reducing the distance L1between the surface position LV1of the rinsing liquid and the top end position LV2of the wafers2, or by reducing the distance L1between the surface position LV1of the rinsing liquid and the top end position LV2of the wafers2so that the distance L1is shorter than the distance L3between the bottom face position LV5of the rinsing liquid and the bottom end position LV6of each wafer2.

Thus, the distance L1between the surface position LV1of the rinsing liquid and the top end position LV2of the wafers2is shorter than the distance L2between the surface position LV3of the chemical liquid upon the chemical liquid process and the top end position LV4of the waters2, by lifting up the supporting instrument36in order to raise the wafers2.

In addition, in the present invention, it is intended to reduce the distance L1between the surface position LV1of the rinsing liquid and the top end position LV2of the wafers2so that the distance L1is shorter than the distance L3between the bottom face position LV5of the rinsing liquid and the bottom end position LV6of each wafer2, by lifting up the supporting instrument36in order to raise the wafers2.

Additionally, in the present invention, in the case of performing the supporting instrument lifting step, in which the supporting instrument36is repeatedly lifted up and lowered down, upon the chemical liquid process, as shown inFIG. 10, the supporting instrument36may be raised and lowered in the supporting instrument lifting step S5, by setting an average top end position LV7of the raised and lowered wafers2as the top end position LV4of the wafers2upon the chemical liquid process.

Furthermore, in the present invention, in the case of performing the supporting instrument lifting step, in which the supporting instrument36is repeatedly lifted up and lowered down, upon the chemical liquid process, as shown inFIG. 10, the supporting instrument36may be raised and lowered in the supporting instrument lifting step S5, by setting the highest position LV8of the top ends of the raised and lowered wafers2as the top end position LV4of the wafers2upon the chemical liquid process.

As described above, in the present invention, by lifting up the supporting instrument36in order to raise the wafers2, the distance L1between the surface position LV1of the rinsing liquid and the top end position LV2of the wafers2can be reduced so that the distance L1is shorter than the distance L2between the surface position LV3of the chemical liquid upon the chemical liquid process and the top end position LV4of the waters2, or otherwise the distance L1between the surface position LV1of the rinsing liquid and the top end position LV2of the wafers2can be reduced so that the distance L1is shorter than the distance L3between the bottom face position LV5of the rinsing liquid and the bottom end position LV6of each wafer2. Thus, the amount of the rinsing liquid existing between the surface of the rinsing liquid and the top end of each wafer2can be reduced, and therefore the amount of dissolution of nitrogen gas and/or carbon dioxide gas from the air into the rinsing liquid can be reduced. Consequently, the time required for the specific resistance of the rinsing liquid to be raised up to a predetermined value (the time required for the rinsing process) can be shortened, thereby shortening the time required for the cleaning process and enhancing the throughput of manufacturing the semiconductor wafers or liquid crystal substrates.

It is noted that, in the present invention, the surface position LV1of the rinsing liquid upon the rinsing process may be adjusted to be lower than the surface position LV3of the chemical liquid upon the chemical liquid process, without lifting up the supporting instrument36between the chemical liquid process and the rinsing process. As a result, the distance L1between the surface position LV1of the rinsing liquid and the top end position LV2of the wafers2can also be reduced so that the distance L1is shorter than the distance L2between the surface position LV3of the chemical liquid upon the chemical liquid process and the top end position LV4of the waters.

Finally, in the cleaning subroutine83, the wafers2placed on the supporting instrument36are carried into the drying tank64from the cleaning tank49(wafer carrying step S7).

Specifically, the control section48, as shown inFIG. 11, makes the drying tank64lower just above the shutter mechanism65, by using the lifting mechanism72. Subsequently, by lifting the supporting instrument36, from the interior of the cleaning tank49up to the interior of the drying tank64, by using the lifting mechanism22, the wafers2placed on the supporting instrument36are carried into the drying tank64.

Thereafter, in the drying subroutine84, as shown inFIG. 12, the bottom end opening of the drying tank64is first closed by the shutter68of the shutter mechanism65(shutter closing step S8).

Specifically, the control section48, as shown inFIG. 13, brings the shutter60of the shutter mechanism65into a closed state, by using the opening and closing mechanism69, so as to make the shutter68closely contact with the bottom end opening of the drying tank64.

Subsequently, in the drying subroutine84, drying vapor is supplied into the drying tank64(drying vapor supplying step S9).

Specifically, the control section48brings the opening and closing valve79into an opened state. Thus, the drying vapor set at a predetermined temperature is supplied into the drying tank64from the drying vapor supply source78via the discharging ports76,77of the drying vapor supply nozzles74,75.

Finally, the drying subroutine84serves to transfer the wafers2, having been subjected to both of the cleaning process and the drying process, into the batch transfer mechanism17(wafer transfer step S10).

Specifically, the control section48, as shown inFIG. 14, makes the drying tank64rise, by using the lifting mechanism72, and then the wafers2are received from the supporting instrument36by the batch transfer mechanism17.