Abstract:
In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a flexible tube connects at least part of a path extending from a reaction chamber to a detoxification device through a vacuum pump. The flexible tube has a tube body made of hard material, the tube body having projected parts and depressed parts and a cover provided over an outer surface of the tube body, the cover being made of elastic material, the cover being in contact with around the projected parts of the tube body and formed over the depressed parts of the tube body so that a vacant space is formed between the tube body and the cover. Then, a semiconductor substrate is disposed within the reaction chamber. The vacuum pump is activated to bring the reaction chamber into a pressure-reduced state. A reaction gas is supplied to the reaction chamber. Finally, the reaction gas causes to react to thereby deposit a reactant on the semiconductor substrate.

Description:
This is a Divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/628,381, filed Jul. 29, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,919,281. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, using a flexible tube, and specifically to a method of using a flexible tube in a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing a semiconductor device by the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus. 
     A number of chemical materials are used in the manufacture of a semiconductor device. In particular, the semiconductor device undergoes many manufacturing processes associated with chemical reactions. Since the chemical reactions are generally performed under pressure and temperature conditions different from normal ones, they are carried out within a reaction chamber cut off from the outside air. As manufacturing steps of the semiconductor device, using such chemical reactions, may be mentioned, various ones such as etching, ashing, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), sputtering, ion implantation, evaporation, vacuum bake, SEM measurement, etc. There may be a case in which gaseous and liquid toxic substances are used in chemical reaction. The transfer of chemical reactants is carefully carried out. 
     A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing the semiconductor device under the above-described presumption has routes for transferring liquid and gaseous substances, which exist therein in large numbers. For instance, a CVD system will be considered by way of example. In the CVD system, several types of reaction gases which actually produce reaction by CVD, and several types of carrier gases for maintaining the environment of reaction are introduced into a reaction chamber. The carrier gases are high in stability in most cases, whereas since the reaction gases cause chemical reactions, they are low in stability and often contain toxic ones. Since the CVD reaction is made at low atmospheric pressure near a vacuum, the gases are exhausted from within the reaction chamber by a vacuum pump. Since the exhausted gases contain the toxic ones and high-reactive ones as described above, there is a need to defuse or detoxify these. Therefore, the gases exhausted from the vacuum pump are discharged through a detoxification device. 
     Such a CVD system makes use of tubes for the purpose of transferring gases. Upon transfer of the reaction and carrier gases, etc., tubes are used to connect between a gas source such as a cylinder and an apparatus. Since the reaction and carrier gases are not so high in flow rate, tubes each small in diameter and formed of a hard material are often used as the tubes used for transfer. 
     On the other hand, there is a need to provide tubes larger in diameter than the above tubes between the reaction chamber and the vacuum pump and between the vacuum pump and the detoxification device in order to ensure flow rates used for evacuation. As such tubes, may be mentioned a flexible tube. The flexible tube is made up of a thin metal sheet and has concave-convex surfaces. 
     When a device and other hard ones collide with the convex portions of the surface of the flexible tube, the convex portions are deformed and destroyed, so that the degree of vacuum in the reaction chamber is not maintained, thus yielding a leak. A flexible tube of a vacuum system is often used under a large atmospheric pressure difference between atmospheric pressure under normal vacuum and the atmospheric pressure. Thus, such a flexible tube is deformed and broken according to the difference in atmospheric pressure between the inside and outside of the flexible tube. There may be a case in which when the flexible tube is accidentally brought into contact with an electric wiring, a short occurs so that a small hole is formed in the flexible tube. 
     Since process conditions executed within the reaction chamber become different from process conditions to be originally set where the degree of vacuum in the reaction chamber is not kept, there is a possibility that the optimum process will become unexecutable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention may provide a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, which is capable of executing a process according to the set conditions. 
     Other objects, novel features and advantages of the present invention are partly described in detail, and the parts thereof will become apparent from their description by those skilled in the art. They can be understood by embodying the present invention. The objects and advantages of the present invention can be realized and achieved by constitutions and combinations pointed out by claims. 
     In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, according to the present invention, a flexible tube connects at least part of a path extending from a reaction chamber to a detoxification device through a vacuum pump. The flexible tube has a tube body made of hard material, the tube body having projected parts and depressed parts and a cover provided over an outer surface of the tube body, the cover being made of elastic material, the cover being in contact with around the projected parts of the tube body and formed over the depressed parts of the tube body so that a vacant space is formed between the tube body and the cover. Then, a semiconductor substrate is disposed within the reaction chamber. The vacuum pump is activated to bring the reaction chamber into a pressure-reduced state. A reaction gas is supplied to the reaction chamber. Finally, the reaction gas causes to react to thereby deposit a reactant on the semiconductor substrate. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention, it is believed that the invention, the objects and features of the invention and further objects, features and advantages thereof will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram of a CVD system used in a semiconductor manufacturing method of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram showing part of the CVD system shown in  FIG. 1 , using a flexible tube; 
         FIG. 3(A)  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of the flexible tube shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 3(B)  is a partly enlarged cross-sectional view of the flexible tube shown in  FIG. 3(A) ; 
         FIG. 4  is a partly cutaway cross-sectional view of a tube body; 
         FIG. 5(A)  is a cross-sectional view showing another structure of the flexible tube shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5(B)  is a partly enlarged cross-sectional view of the flexible tube shown in  FIG. 5(A) ; 
         FIG. 5(C)  is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a modification of the flexible tube shown in  FIG. 5(B) ; 
         FIG. 6(A)  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a further structure of the flexible tube shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6(B)  is a partly enlarged cross-sectional view of the flexible tube shown in  FIG. 6(A) ; 
         FIG. 7(A)  is a cross-sectional view showing a still further structure of the flexible tube shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 7(B)  is a partly enlarged cross-sectional view of the flexible tube shown in  FIG. 7(A) ; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic block diagram of an etching system used in a semiconductor manufacturing method of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic block diagram of an ashing system employed in a semiconductor manufacturing method of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic block diagram of a sputtering system used in a semiconductor manufacturing method of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic block diagram of a manufacturing apparatus used in a semiconductor manufacturing method of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic block diagram of a processing system with a beam generation source, which is used in a semiconductor manufacturing method of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Incidentally, the preferred embodiments described herein will be explained in detail so as to be practicable by those skilled in the art. It can be easily understood that other preferred embodiments to which logical and mechanical or electrical changes are made within the scope not departing from the substance of the invention, exit except for these embodiments. Accordingly, matters to be described below do not limit the scope of the present invention, and the scope of the invention is defined only by the matters described in claims. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram of a CVD system used in a semiconductor device manufacturing method of the present invention. Various devices not shown in  FIG. 1  additionally exist in an actual CVD system. However, those devices are not described to make clearly understandable the description of the present invention. 
     The present CVD system  100  comprises a reaction chamber  110  for effecting a CVD process on a semiconductor wafer  114  used as a base material of a semiconductor device, a vacuum pump  120  for bringing the reaction chamber  110  to a depressurized state (hereinafter called vacuum state because it is depressurized in proportion as approximation to vacuum), and a gas flow rate control unit  130  for introducing a reaction gas and a carrier gas into the reaction chamber  110  while adjusting their flow rates. While the vacuum pump  120  is described in the form of a block here, there may also be considered such a case that two or more vacuum pumps are used. 
     Incidentally, the reaction chamber  110  is provided with a plasma generator  112 , which is to produce a plasma reaction. Incidentally, the reaction chamber  110  might be called a “deposition chamber or the like”. Incidentally, while the reaction chamber  110  is provided with the plasma generator  112  in the present embodiment, it is needless to say that even a plasma device-free CVD system is capable of implementing the semiconductor device manufacturing method of the present invention. 
     The gas flow rate control unit  130  and the reaction chamber  110  are connected by tubes  142 ,  144  and  146 . These tubes  142 ,  144  and  146  are respectively made up of the hard material small in tube diameter as described above. On the other hand, the vacuum pump  120  and the reaction pump  110  are connected by a flexible tube  162  through a valve  152 . Incidentally, the vacuum pump  120  is connected to a defusing or detoxification device  156  by a flexible tube  164  through a valve  154  for the purpose of exhaust. Incidentally, the vacuum pump  120  and the detoxification device  156  are provided on another floor of a factory, which is a placed away from the reaction chamber  110 . 
     The gas flow rate control unit  130  is formed integrally with the reaction chamber  110  and has a plurality of mass flow controllers  172  through  178  and a plurality of valves  182  through  202 . The gas flow rate control unit  130  is connected to a carrier gas supply source  222  through a tube  212 . A carrier gas is fed to the mass flow controllers  172  through  178  through the valves  190 ,  192 ,  196  and  200 . The carrier gas is flow-controlled by the mass flow controllers  172  through  178  and fed to the reaction chamber  110  through the tubes  142  through  146 . Incidentally, the carrier gas is introduced into the reaction chamber  110  via the mass flow controller  172  and the tube  142  when it is introduced therein. On the other hand, other paths are generally used for the following purpose. Namely, the carrier gas is introduced for the purpose of cleaning the mass flow controllers  174  through  178  and tubes  144  and  146  rather than introducing into the reaction chamber. Incidentally, Ar, He, N 2 , etc. are generally used as the carrier gases. 
     On the other hand, reaction gas supply sources  224  through  228  are respectively connected to the gas flow rate control unit  130  through tubes  214  through  218 . Various gases exist according to the type of film deposited in a CVD process as reaction gases. SiH 4 , CIF 3 , TEOS, SiH 2 CI 2 , NH 3 , etc. are normally used as the reaction gases. 
     The CVD process using the CVD system  100  will next be explained. 
     The above-described CVD system is first prepared. An important point herein resides in that the flexible tubes  162  and  164  respectively connect between the reaction chamber  110  and the vacuum pump  120  and between the vacuum pump  120  and the detoxification device  156 . Next, the reaction chamber  110  is brought to the vacuum state by the vacuum pump  120  while the carrier gas is being introduced into the reaction chamber  110  from the carrier gas supply source  222  through the gas flow rate control unit  130 . On the other hand, plasma is generated in the reaction chamber  110  by the plasma generator  112 . Reaction gases are introduced into the reaction chamber from the reaction gas supply sources  224  through  228  through the gas flow rate control unit  130 . Thus, the reaction gases react chemically with the plasma within the reaction chamber  110 . A material produced by the chemical reaction is deposited on the semiconductor wafer  114  introduced into the reaction chamber, so that a CVD film is produced or formed on the semiconductor wafer  114 . 
     The flexible tube used in the present invention will now be described.  FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram showing part of the CVD system  100  using the flexible tube used in the present invention.  FIG. 1  discloses a flexible tube  10 , a vacuum pump  14  for effecting evacuation, and a vacuum chamber  16  for maintaining a vacuum state. The flexible tube  10  is provided between the vacuum pump  14  and the vacuum chamber  16 . Both ends of the flexible tube  10  are fixed to connecting ports  18  and  20 . 
       FIG. 3(A)  is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of the flexible tube  10  described above.  FIG. 3(B)  is a partly enlarged cross-sectional view of the flexible tube  10  shown in  FIG. 3(A) .  FIG. 4  is a partly cutaway sectional perspective view of a tube body  22 . 
     The flexible tube  10  has the tube body  22  made up of a thin metal sheet such as a stainless metal material or the like, and an elastic cover  24 .  FIG. 3  is a partly cutaway cross-sectional view of the tube body  22  used in the present invention. The tube body has convex portions  22   a  and concave portions  22   b  to obtain flexibility. The elastic cover  24  is provided on the external surface of the tube body  22 . The elastic cover  24  is formed of an elastic material like, for example, a silicon resin. The elastic cover  24  has a thickness t 1  ranging from about 1 mm to about 2 mm although depending on the diameter of the flexible tube. The thickness t 0  of the tube body  22  ranges from about 0.15 mm to about 0.3 mm. 
     In a manufacturing process, the tube body  22  is simply inserted into the elastic cover  24 . The elastic cover  24  is shaped in the form of a cylinder and has an internal surface which contacts the convex portions  22   a  of the tube body  22  but does not contact the concave portions  22   b.    
     Even when apparatuses or devices and other hard ones collide with the flexible tube  10 , the flexible tube  10  is not simply deformed or destroyed. The flexible tube  10  is not simply deformed or destroyed even by the difference in atmospheric pressure between the inside and outside of the flexible tube  10 . Further, even when the flexible tube  10  is accidentally brought into contact with an electric wiring, no short occurs because the tube body  22  is covered with the elastic cover  24  having an insulative property. 
       FIG. 5(A)  is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of another flexible tube  30  available for the CVD system  100 .  FIG. 5(B)  is a partly enlarged cross-sectional view of the flexible tube  30  shown in  FIG. 5(A) .  FIG. 5(C)  is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a modification of the flexible tube shown in  FIG. 5(B) . 
     The flexible tube  30  is used in a manner similar to the flexible tube  10 . Thus, in the flexible tube  30 , the same portions as those in the flexible tube  10  are respectively identified by the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted. 
     In  FIGS. 5(A) and 5(B) , the flexible tube  30  has a tube body  22  made up of a thin metal sheet such as a stainless metal material or the like, and an elastic cover  32 . The elastic cover  32  is formed so as to contact the entirety of an external surface including convex portions  22   a  and concave portions  22   b  of the tube body  22 . The elastic cover  32  is formed of an elastic material having a heat shrinkage property, like a silicon resin. 
     Even in  FIG. 5(C) , the flexible tube has a tube body  22  made up of a thin metal sheet such as a stainless metal material or the like. In  FIG. 5(C) , an elastic cover  32   a  is brought into contact with the tube body  22  in the neighborhood of each concave portion of the tube body  22 . However, the elastic cover  32   a  is not in contact with the tube body  22 , and gaps  34  are defined between the two. The elastic cover  24  has a thickness t 1  ranging from about 1 mm to about 2 mm although depending on the diameter of the flexible tube. The thickness t 0  of the tube body  22  ranges from about 0.15 mm to about 0.3 mm. 
     In a manufacturing process, a cylinder-shaped elastic cover  32  having an inside diameter larger than an outside diameter of the tube body is prepared. Next, the tube body  22  is inserted into the elastic cover  32 . Thereafter, the elastic cover  32  is uniformly heat-treated and then contracted to thereby contact the entirety of the external surface of the tube body  22 . Incidentally, such a structure that the elastic cover  32  is brought into contact with the entirety of the external surface of the tube body  22 , might not be obtained even by heat contraction. One having such a structure corresponds to the flexible tube shown in  FIG. 5(C) . 
     Even when devices and other hard ones collide with the flexible tube  30 , the flexible tube  30  is not simply deformed or destroyed. The flexible tube  30  is not simply deformed or destroyed even by the difference in atmospheric pressure between the inside and outside of the flexible tube  30 . Further, even when the flexible tube  30  is accidentally brought into contact with an electric wiring, no short occurs because the tube body  22  is covered with the elastic cover  32  having an insulative property. 
       FIG. 6(A)  is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a further flexible tube  40  available for the CVD system  100 .  FIG. 6(B)  is a partly enlarged cross-sectional view of the flexible tube  40  shown in  FIG. 6(A) . 
     The flexible tube  40  is used in a manner similar to the flexible tube  10 . In the description of the flexible tube  40 , the same portions as those in the flexible tubes  10  and  30  are respectively identified by the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted. 
     The flexible tube  40  has a tube body  22  made up of a thin metal sheet such as a stainless metal material or the like, and an elastic cover  42 . The elastic cover  42  is formed so as to contact the entirety of an external surface including convex portions  22   a  and concave portions  22   b  of the tube body  22 . The elastic cover  42  is formed of an elastic material like rubber. The elastic cover  42  has a thickness t 1  ranging from about 1 mm to about 2 mm although depending on the diameter of the flexible tube. The thickness t 0  of the tube body  22  ranges from about 0.15 mm to about 0.3 mm. 
     In a manufacturing process, molten rubber is charged into the convex portions  22   b  of the tube body  22  until it perfectly covers the tube body  22 . 
     Even when devices and other hard ones collide with the flexible tube  40 , the flexible tube  40  is not simply deformed or destroyed. The flexible tube  40  is not simply deformed or destroyed even by the difference in atmospheric pressure between the inside and outside of the flexible tube  40 . Further, even when the flexible tube  40  is accidentally brought into contact with an electric wiring, no short occurs because the tube body  22  is covered with the elastic cover  42  having an insulative property. 
       FIG. 7(A)  is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a still further flexible tube  50  available for the CVD system  100 .  FIG. 7(B)  is a partly enlarged cross-sectional view of the flexible tube  50  shown in  FIG. 7(A) . 
     The flexible tube  50  is used in a manner similar to the flexible tube  10 . In the flexible tube  50 , the same portions as those in the flexible tubes  30  and  40  are respectively identified by the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted. 
     The flexible tube  50  has a tube body  22  made up of a thin metal sheet such as a stainless metal material or the like, and an elastic cover  52 . The elastic cover  52  is formed so as to contact the entirety of an external surface including convex portions  22   a  and concave portions  22   b  of the tube body  22 . The elastic cover  52  is formed of an elastic material like rubber. The thickness t 0  of the tube body  22  is about 0.3 mm. As shown in  FIG. 7(A) , the thickness t 1  of the elastic cover  52  at each convex portion  22   a  is about 1 mm. The elastic cover  52  has V-type slits  52   a  formed at the concave portions  22   b  of the tube body  22 . The V-type slits  52   a  are respectively formed at such depths that they do not reach the external surface of the tube body  22 , in such a way as not expose the external surface of the tube body  22 . 
     In a manufacturing process, molten rubber is charged into the convex portions  22   b  of the tube body  22  until it perfectly covers the tube body  22 . Thereafter, the V-type slits  52   a  are formed in the convex portions  22  of the tube body  22 . 
     Even when devices and other hard ones collide with the flexible tube  50 , the flexible tube  50  is not simply deformed or destroyed. The flexible tube  50  is not simply deformed or destroyed even by the difference in atmospheric pressure between the inside and outside of the flexible tube  50 . Further, even when the flexible tube  50  is accidentally brought into contact with an electric wiring, no short occurs because the tube body  22  is covered with the elastic cover  52  having an insulative property. 
     Since the elastic cover  52  is additionally formed with the V-type slits  52   a , the flexible tube  50  is improved in flexibility as compared with the flexible tube  40 . Thus, a bending radius becomes smaller. 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic block diagram of an etching system used in a semiconductor device manufacturing method of the present invention. Various devices not shown in  FIG. 8  additionally exist in an actual etching system. However, those devices are not described to make it easy to understand the description of the present invention. Incidentally, the same portions as those shown in  FIG. 1  are respectively identified by the same reference numerals in  FIG. 8 , and their description will be omitted. 
     The present etching system  800  comprises a processing room  810  for effecting an etching process on a semiconductor wafer  814  serving as a base material of a semiconductor device, a vacuum pump  120  for bringing the processing room  810  to a vacuum state, and a gas flow rate control unit  830  for introducing an etching gas and a purge gas into the processing room  810  while adjusting their flow rates. Incidentally, the processing room  810  is provided with a plasma generator  112 , which is to produce a plasma reaction. Incidentally, the processing room  810  might be called a “chamber or the like”. Incidentally, while the processing room  810  is provided with the plasma generator  112  in the present embodiment, it is needless to say that even a plasma device-free etching system is capable of implementing the semiconductor device manufacturing method of the present invention. 
     The gas flow rate control unit  830  and the processing room  810  are connected by tubes  142 ,  144  and  146 . The gas flow rate control unit  830  is formed integrally with the processing room  810  and has a plurality of mass flow controllers  172  through  178  and a plurality of valves  182  through  202 . The gas flow rate control unit  830  is connected to a purge gas supply source  822  through a tube  212 . The purge gas is fed to the mass flow controllers  172  through  178  via valves  190 ,  196  and  200 . The purge gas is flow-controlled by these mass flow controllers  172  through  178  and fed to the processing room  810  through the tubes  142  through  146 . Incidentally, the purge gas is introduced via the mass flow controller  172  and the tube  142  when it is introduced into the processing room  810 . On the other hand, other paths are generally used for the following purpose. Namely, the purge gas is introduced for the purpose of cleaning the mass flow controllers  174  through  178  and tubes  144  and  146  rather than introducing into the processing room. Incidentally, N 2 , He, Ar, etc. are generally used as the purge gases. The purge gas also has the function of controlling an etching reaction and improving uniformity. 
     On the other hand, etching gas supply sources  824  and  828  are respectively connected to the gas flow rate control unit  830  through tubes  216  and  218 . Various gases exist according to the type of film removed in an etching process as etching gases. CHCI 3 , CCI 4 , CI 2 , CF 4 , CHF 3 , etc. are normally used as the etching gases. Although not directly involved in etching, gases called an additive gas having the function of controlling an etching reaction and improving uniformity, a control gas, etc. are also introduced into the processing room  810 . 
     The etching process using the etching system  800  will next be explained. 
     The above-described etching system is first prepared. An important point herein resides in that flexible tubes  162  and  164  respectively connect between the processing room  810  and the vacuum pump  120  and between the vacuum pump  120  and a detoxification device  156 . Next, the purge gas is introduced into the processing room  810  from the purge gas supply source  822  through the gas flow rate control unit  830 . At this time, the semiconductor wafer  814  has already been placed in a predetermined location in the processing room. Next, the processing room  810  is brought to the vacuum state by the vacuum pump  120 . Plasma is generated in the processing room  810  by the plasma generator  112 . Etching gases are introduced into the processing room from the etching gas supply sources  826  and  828  through the gas flow rate control unit  830 . Thus, the etching gases react chemically with the plasma within the processing room  810 . A material formed on the semiconductor wafer  814  by the chemical reaction is removed. 
     Incidentally, since the details of the flexible tube are the same as ones described above, the description thereof will be omitted. 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic block diagram of an ashing system used in a semiconductor device manufacturing method of the present invention. Various devices not shown in  FIG. 9  additionally exist in an actual ashing system. However, those devices are not described to make it easy to understand the description of the present invention. The same portions as those shown in  FIG. 8  are respectively identified by the same reference numerals in  FIG. 9 , and their description will be omitted. 
     The present ashing system  900  comprises a processing room  910  for performing an ashing process for oxidizing a resist or the like formed on a semiconductor wafer  914  serving as a base material of a semiconductor device, a vacuum pump  120  for bringing the processing room  910  to a vacuum state, and a gas flow rate control unit  930  for introducing an oxidation gas and a control gas into the processing room  910  while adjusting their flow rates. Incidentally, the processing room  910  is provided with a plasma generator  112 , which is to produce a plasma reaction. Incidentally, the processing room  910  might be called a “chamber or the like”. Incidentally, while the processing room  910  is provided with the plasma generator  112  in the present embodiment, it is needless to say that even a plasma device-free ashing system is capable of implementing the semiconductor device manufacturing method of the present invention. 
     The gas flow rate control unit  930  and the processing room  910  are connected by tubes  142 ,  144  and  146 . The gas flow rate control unit  930  is formed integrally with the processing room  910  and has a plurality of mass flow controllers  172  through  178  and a plurality of valves  182  through  202 . The gas flow rate control unit  930  is connected to an oxidation gas supply source  922  through a tube  212 . The oxidation gas is fed to the mass flow controller  172  via a valve  190 . The oxidation gas is flow-controlled by the mass flow controller  172  and fed to the processing room  910  through the valve  182  and the tube  142 . O 2  is generally used as the oxidation gas. 
     On the other hand, control gas supply sources  926  and  928  are respectively connected to the gas flow rate control unit  930  through tubes  216  and  218 . The control gas is introduced into the processing room  910  for the purpose of controlling oxidation in an ashing process. H 2 , He, etc. are generally used as the control gases. 
     The ashing process using the ashing system  900  will next be explained. 
     The above-described ashing system is first prepared. An important point herein resides in that flexible tubes  162  and  164  respectively connect between the processing room  910  and the vacuum pump  120  and between the vacuum pump  120  and a detoxification device  156 . Next, the oxidation gas is introduced into the processing room  910  from the oxidation gas supply source  922  through the gas flow rate control unit  930 . At this time, the semiconductor wafer  914  formed with the resist or the like used as a film subjected to ashing has already been placed in a predetermined location in the processing room  910 . Next, the processing room  910  is brought to the vacuum state by the vacuum pump  120 . Plasma is generated in the processing room  910  by the plasma generator  112 . Control gases are introduced into the processing room  910  from the control gas supply sources  926  and  928  through the gas flow rate control unit  930 . Thus, an oxidation reaction accelerated by the plasma occurs within the processing room  910 . With the oxidation reaction, the film subjected to ashing, which is formed on the semiconductor wafer  914 , is oxidized. 
     Incidentally, since the details of the flexible tube are the same as ones described above, the description thereof will be omitted. 
       FIG. 10  is a schematic block diagram of a sputtering system used in a semiconductor device manufacturing method of the present invention. Various devices not shown in  FIG. 10  additionally exist in an actual sputtering system. However, those devices are not described to make it easy to understand the description of the present invention. Incidentally, the same portions as those shown in  FIG. 9  are respectively identified by the same reference numerals in  FIG. 10 , and their description will be omitted. 
     The present sputtering system  1000  comprises a processing room or chamber  1010  for performing a sputtering process for forming a metal film or the like on a semiconductor wafer  1014  serving as a base material of a semiconductor device, a vacuum pump  120  for bringing the processing chamber  1010  to a vacuum state, and a gas flow rate control unit  1030  for introducing a sputtering gas and a reactive gas into the processing chamber  1010  while adjusting their flow rates. Incidentally, the processing chamber  1010  is provided with a plasma generator  112 , which is to produce a plasma reaction. 
     The gas flow rate control unit  1030  and the processing chamber  1010  are connected by tubes  142  and  146 . The gas flow rate control unit  1030  is formed integrally with the processing chamber  1010  and has mass flow controllers  172  and  178  and valves  182 ,  188 ,  190  and  202 . The gas flow rate control unit  1030  is connected to a sputtering gas supply source  1022  through a tube  212 . The sputtering gas is fed to the mass flow controller  172  via the valve  190 . The sputtering gas is flow-controlled by the mass flow controller  172  and fed to the processing chamber  1010  through the valve  182  and the tube  142 . The sputtering gas serves so as to give energy to a target  1016  disposed within the processing chamber  1010 . An inert gas such as Ar, Ne, Xe, He or the like is generally as the sputtering gas. 
     On the other hand, a reactive gas supply source  1028  is connected to the gas flow rate control unit  1030  through a tube  218 . The reactive gas is introduced into the processing chamber  1010  for the purpose of causing reaction with a material for the target in a sputtering process. When it is desired to produce a TiN film by sputtering through the use of a Ti target, for example, an N 2  gas is used as the reactive gas. Ti of the target and N of the N 2  gas react with each other to form TiN, which in turn is formed on the semiconductor wafer  1014  as a film. 
     The sputtering process using the sputtering system  1000  will next be explained. 
     The above-described sputtering system is first prepared. An important point herein resides in that flexible tubes  162  and  164  respectively connect between the processing chamber  1010  and the vacuum pump  120  and between the vacuum pump  120  and a detoxification device  156 . Next, the sputtering gas is introduced into the processing chamber  1010  from the sputtering gas supply source  1022  through the gas flow rate control unit  1030 . At this time, the semiconductor wafer  1014  has already been placed in a predetermined location in the processing chamber  1010 . The processing chamber  1010  is brought to the vacuum state by the vacuum pump  120 . Plasma is thereafter generated in the processing chamber  1010  by the plasma generator  112 . The reactive gas is introduced into the processing chamber  1010  from the reactive gas supply source  1028  through the gas flow rate control unit  1030  as needed. Thus, molecules of the sputtering gas excited by the plasma collide with the corresponding target within the processing chamber  1010 , so that a target material expelled from the target is deposited on the semiconductor wafer  1014 . Thus, a film of the target material (or compound of target material and reactive gas) is formed on the semiconductor wafer  1014 . 
     Incidentally, since the details of the flexible tube are the same as ones described above, the description thereof will be omitted. 
       FIG. 11  is a schematic block diagram of a manufacturing system used in a semiconductor device manufacturing method of the present invention. Various devices not shown in  FIG. 11  additionally exist in an actual manufacturing system. However, those devices are not described to make it easy to understand the description of the present invention. Incidentally, the same portions as those shown in  FIG. 10  are respectively identified by the same reference numerals in  FIG. 11 , and their description will be omitted. 
     The present manufacturing system  1100  comprises a processing chamber  1110  for effecting process processing or handling on a semiconductor wafer  1114  serving as a base material of a semiconductor device, a vacuum pump  120  for bringing the processing chamber  1110  to a vacuum state, and a gas flow rate control unit  1130  for introducing a purge gas into the processing chamber  1110  while adjusting its flow rate. Now, the processing chamber  1110  is a generic name for a room where ion implantation and vacuum bake, etc. can be carried out. Individual manufacturing systems  1100  exist every their processes. However, since these individual manufacturing systems can be collectively explained in the manufacturing method of the present invention, the manufacturing system  1100  is typically illustrated for them as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     The gas flow rate control unit  1130  and the processing chamber  1110  are connected by a tube  142 . The gas flow rate control unit  1130  is formed integrally with the processing chamber  1110  and has a mass flow controller  172  and valves  182  and  190 . The gas flow rate control unit  1130  is connected to a purge gas supply source  1122  through a tube  212 . The purge gas is fed to the mass flow controller  172  via the valve  190 . The purge gas is flow-controlled by the mass flow controller  172  and fed to the processing chamber  1110  through the valve  182  and the tube  142 . The purge gas is introduced to remove unnecessary substances within the processing chamber  1110  in respective processes. An inert gas such as N 2 , Ar or the like is generally as the purge gas. 
     A semiconductor device manufacturing method using the present manufacturing system  1100  will next be explained. 
     The above-described manufacturing system is first prepared. An important point herein resides in that flexible tubes  162  and  164  respectively connect between the processing chamber  1110  and the vacuum pump  120  and between the vacuum pump  120  and a detoxification device  156 . Next, the purge gas is introduced into the processing chamber  1110  from the purge gas supply source  1122  through the gas flow rate control unit  1130 . At this time, the semiconductor wafer  1114  may already be placed in a predetermined location in the processing chamber  1110 . After the processing chamber  1110  is filled with the purge gas, the semiconductor wafer  1114  may be shifted to a predetermined place in the processing chamber  1110 . Thereafter, the processing chamber  1110  is brought to the vacuum state by the vacuum pump  120 . Subsequently, various process handling or treatments are executed in the processing chamber  1110 . When the manufacturing system  1110  is of an ion implantation apparatus, desired ion implantation is effected on the semiconductor wafer  1114 . When the manufacturing system  1110  is of a vacuum bake apparatus, the semiconductor wafer  1114  is heat-treated while being held in the vacuum state. 
     Incidentally, since the details of the flexible tube are the same as ones described above, the description thereof will be omitted. 
       FIG. 12  is a schematic block diagram of a processing system with a beam generation source, which is used in a semiconductor device manufacturing method of the present invention. Various devices not shown in  FIG. 12  additionally exist in an actual processing system with a beam generation source. However, those additional devices are not described to make it easy to understand the description of the present invention. Incidentally, the same portions as those shown in  FIG. 11  are respectively identified by the same reference numerals in  FIG. 12 , and their description will be omitted. 
     The present processing system  1200  with the beam generation source comprises a processing room or chamber  1210  for effecting predetermined process processing or handling on a semiconductor wafer  1214  serving as a base material of a semiconductor device or observing/measuring the semiconductor wafer, a vacuum pump  120  for bringing the processing chamber  1210  to a vacuum state, and a gas flow rate control unit  1230  for introducing a purge gas into the processing chamber  1210  while adjusting its flow rate. Further, the processing system  1200  has a beam generation source  1240  for applying a predetermined beam to the processing chamber  1210 , and a vacuum pump  1220  for bringing the beam generation source  1240  to a vacuum state. Now, the processing chamber  1210  is a generic name for a room where EB (Electron Beam) evaporation, laser anneal, laser dope, a rapid thermal process (RTP), a scanning electron microscope (SEM) measurement, a fluorescent X-ray measurement, etc. can be carried out. Individual processing systems  1200  each having a beam generation source exist every their processes/measurements. However, since these individual processing systems can be collectively explained in the manufacturing method of the present invention, the processing system  1200  with the beam generation source is typically illustrated for them as shown in  FIG. 12 . 
     The gas flow rate control unit  1230  and the processing chamber  1210  are connected by a tube  142 . The gas flow rate control unit  1230  is formed integrally with the processing chamber  1210  and has a mass flow controller  172  and valves  182  and  190 . The gas flow rate control unit  1230  is connected to a purge gas supply source  1222  through a tube  212 . The purge gas is fed to the mass flow controller  172  via the valve  190 . The purge gas is flow-controlled by the mass flow controller  172  and fed to the processing chamber  1210  through the valve  182  and the tube  142 . The purge gas is introduced to remove substances unnecessary for their processes/measurements within the processing chamber  1210 . An inert gas such as N 2 , Ar or the like is generally as the purge gas. 
     On the other hand, the vacuum pump  1220  and the beam generation source  1240  are connected by a flexible tube  1262  through a valve  1252 . Incidentally, the vacuum pump  1220  is connected to a defusing or detoxification device  1256  by a flexible tube  1264  through a valve  1254  for the purpose of exhaust. Incidentally, the vacuum pump  1220  and the detoxification device  1256  are provided on another floor of a factory, which is a placed away from the beam generation source  1240 . 
     A semiconductor device manufacturing method using the processing system  1200  with the beam generation source will next be described. 
     The above-described processing system with the beam generation source is first prepared. An important point herein resides in that flexible tubes  162  and  164  respectively connect between the processing chamber  1210  and the vacuum pump  120  and between the vacuum pump  120  and a detoxification device  156 , and flexible tubes  1262  and  1264  respectively connect between the beam generation source  1240  and the vacuum pump  1220  and between the vacuum pump  1220  and the detoxification device  1256 . Next, the beam generation source  1240  is brought to a vacuum state by the vacuum pump  1220 . This processing is required to achieve stability of a beam applied from the beam generation source  1240  to the processing chamber  1210 . Further, the purge gas is introduced into the processing chamber  1210  from the purge gas supply source  1222  through the gas flow rate control unit  1230 . At this time, the semiconductor wafer  1214  may already be placed in a predetermined location in the processing chamber  1210 . After the processing chamber  1210  is filled with the purge gas, the semiconductor wafer  1214  may be shifted to a predetermined place in the processing chamber  1210 . Thereafter, the processing chamber  1210  is brought to the vacuum state by the vacuum pump  120 . Subsequently, various process handling/measurements are executed in the processing chamber  1210 . 
     When the processing system  1210  is of an EB evaporating apparatus, an electron beam is applied from the beam generation source  1240  to the processing chamber  1210  so that metals such as Au, Ag, etc. are evaporated onto the semiconductor wafer  1214  by EB. When the processing system  1210  is of a laser anneal/laser dope apparatus, a laser beam is applied to the processing chamber  1210  from the beam generation source  1240  so that the semiconductor wafer  1214  is heat-treated and impurities are diffused into the semiconductor wafer  1214 . When the processing system  1210  is of a rapid thermal process apparatus, the beam generation source  1240  serves as a halogen lamp such as an Xe lamp, and the semiconductor wafer  1214  is subjected to rapid processes such as heating, oxidation, nitriding, etc. When the processing system  1210  is of an SEM measuring apparatus, an electron beam is applied from the beam generation source  1240  to the processing chamber  1210  in the form of scanning. With its application, a secondary electron beam emitted from the semiconductor wafer  1214  is luminance-modulated to thereby enable a measurement of a scanned portion. When the processing system  1210  is of a fluorescent X-ray measuring apparatus, X rays are applied from the beam generation source  1240  to the processing chamber  1210 , so that the waveforms and intensities of specific X rays inherent in elements contained in a material on the semiconductor wafer  1214  can be measured. 
     Incidentally, since the details of each flexible tube are the same as ones described above, the description thereof will be omitted. 
     According to the semiconductor device manufacturing method of the present invention as described above in detail, flexible tubes are used which are resistant to external mechanical impact and hard to produce deformation and breakdown even by the difference in atmospheric pressure between the inside and outside. It is therefore possible to provide a semiconductor device manufacturing method capable of executing processes according to the set conditions. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to the illustrative embodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the illustrative embodiments, as well as other embodiments of the invention, will be apparent to those skilled in the art on reference to this description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments as fall within the true scope of the invention.