Patent Publication Number: US-2021181033-A1

Title: Substrate Temperature Sensor, Substrate Retainer and Substrate Processing Apparatus

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT//JP2019/036426, filed on Sep. 17, 2019, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Application No. JP 2018-173328 filed on Sep. 18, 2018, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a substrate temperature sensor, a substrate retainer and a substrate processing apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an example of routing a cable  101   c  by using a substrate  101  with a thermocouple attached thereto when measuring a temperature of a substrate  1 . When the substrate  101  with the thermocouple is used, the cable  101   c  coming out of the substrate  101  with the thermocouple is routed along a support column of a substrate retainer (hereinafter, also referred to as a “boat”)  31 , and is pulled out of a seal cap (hereinafter, also referred to as a “CAP”)  25  serving as a lid configured to close the boat  31  while supporting the boat  31 . The cable  101   c  pulled out of the CAP  25  is further extended and wired to a temperature controller  64 . 
     However, in such a configuration, when the boat  31  is rotated, the cable  101   c  may be disconnected (or broken). In such a case, it may not be possible to rotate the boat  31  and the substrate  1 . 
     SUMMARY 
     Described herein is a technique capable of providing a temperature sensor in the vicinity of a substrate and measuring a temperature of a substrate which is being rotated. 
     According to one aspect of the technique of the present disclosure, there is provided a substrate temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of a substrate, wherein the substrate temperature sensor is provided in a protective pipe passing through a notch provided at least in a bottom plate of a substrate retainer inserted into a process chamber in a state where the substrate is mounted on the substrate retainer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  schematically illustrates a vertical cross-section of a substrate processing apparatus according to one or more embodiments described herein. 
         FIG. 2  schematically illustrates a vertical cross-section of a part of the substrate processing apparatus according to the embodiments described herein. 
         FIG. 3  schematically illustrates a hardware configuration of a controller of the substrate processing apparatus according to the embodiments described herein. 
         FIG. 4  schematically illustrates an example of a substrate with a thermocouple attached thereto. 
         FIG. 5  schematically illustrates an example of routing a cable by using the substrate with the thermocouple when measuring a temperature of a substrate to be measured. 
         FIG. 6  schematically illustrates the substrate processing apparatus according to the embodiments described herein. 
         FIGS. 7A through 7C  schematically illustrate transition states of the substrate processing apparatus according to the embodiments described herein when a boat of the substrate processing apparatus is loaded, wherein  FIG. 7A  schematically illustrates the transition state of the substrate processing apparatus when the substrate is being transferred,  FIG. 7B  schematically illustrates the transition state of the substrate processing apparatus when the boat is being elevated, and  FIG. 7C  schematically illustrates the transition state of the substrate processing apparatus when loading the boat is complete. 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart schematically illustrating a substrate processing according to the embodiments described herein. 
         FIG. 9A  is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating a boat according to a modified example of the embodiments described herein, and  FIG. 9B  schematically illustrates a vertical cross-section of the boat according to the modified example shown in  FIG. 9A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments 
     Hereinafter, one or more embodiments (also simply referred to as “embodiments”) according to the technique of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. 
     A substrate processing apparatus  10  shown in  FIG. 1  includes a process tube  11  serving as a reaction tube of a vertical type supported therein. The process tube  11  includes an outer tube  12  serving as an outer reaction tube and an inner tube  13  serving as an inner reaction tube. The outer tube  12  is provided concentrically with the inner tube  13 . For example, the outer tube  12  is made of quartz (SiO 2 ). The outer tube  12  is of a cylinder shape with a closed upper end and an open lower end. The inner tube  13  is of a cylinder shape with open upper and lower ends. A process chamber  14  is defined by a hollow cylindrical portion of the inner tube  13 . A boat  31  serving as a substrate retainer is loaded into the process chamber  14 . A lower end opening of the inner tube  13  serves as a furnace opening (which is a furnace opening space)  15  for loading the boat  31  into the process chamber  14  and unloading the boat  31  out of the process chamber  14 . As will be described later, the boat  31  is configured to accommodate a plurality of substrates including a substrate (hereinafter also referred to as a “wafer”)  1  vertically arranged (or aligned) in a multistage manner. Therefore, an inner diameter of the inner tube  13  is greater than a maximum outer diameter of the substrate  1  to be processed. For example, the maximum outer diameter of the substrate  1  is 300 mm. 
     A lower end portion between the outer tube  12  and the inner tube  13  is airtightly sealed by a manifold  16  serving as a furnace opening flange. The manifold  16  is substantially of a cylinder shape. For example, for exchanging the outer tube  12  and the inner tube  13 , the manifold  16  is detachably attached to each of the outer tube  12  and the inner tube  13 . By supporting the manifold  16  on a housing  2  of the substrate processing apparatus  10 , the process tube  11  is vertically provided on the manifold  16 . Hereinafter, in the following drawings, the inner tube  13  which is a part of the process tube  11  may be omitted. 
     An exhaust path  17  is constituted by a gap between the outer tube  12  and the inner tube  13 . The exhaust path  17  is of a circular ring shape with a constant transverse cross-section. As shown in  FIG. 1 , one end of an exhaust pipe  18  is connected to an upper portion of a side wall of the manifold  16 , and the exhaust pipe  18  communicates with a lower end portion of the exhaust path  17 . An exhauster (which is an exhaust apparatus)  19  controlled by a pressure controller  21  is connected to the other end of the exhaust pipe  18 . A pressure sensor  20  is connected to an intermediate location of the exhaust pipe  18 . The pressure controller  21  is configured to feedback-control the exhauster  19  based on the measured pressure by the pressure sensor  20 . 
     A gas introduction pipe  22  is provided below the manifold  16  so as to communicate with the furnace opening  15  of the inner tube  13 . A source gas supplier (which is a source gas supply apparatus), a reactive gas supply supplier (which is a reactive gas supply apparatus) and an inert gas (which is an inert gas supply apparatus), which constitute a gas supplier  23 , are connected to the gas introduction pipe  22 . Hereinafter, the source gas supplier, the reactive gas supplier and the inert gas supplier are collectively or individually referred to simply as the gas supplier  23 . The gas supplier  23  is configured to be controlled by a gas flow rate controller  24 . A gas supplied into the furnace opening  15  through the gas introduction pipe  22  flows through the process chamber  14  of the inner tube  13 , and is exhausted through the exhaust path  17  and the exhaust pipe  18 . 
     A seal cap (“CAP”)  25  capable of airtightly sealing the lower end opening of the manifold  16 , is provided under the manifold  16 . The CAP  25  is in contact with the lower end of the manifold  16 . The CAP  25  is of a disk shape, and a diameter of the CAP  25  is substantially equal to an outer diameter of the manifold  16 . The CAP  25  is elevated or lowered vertically by a boat elevator  26  protected by a boat cover  37 . The boat cover  37  is provided in a transfer chamber  3  of the housing  2 . The boat elevator  26  may be constituted by components such as a motor-driven feed screw shaft device and a bellows. A motor  27  of the boat elevator  26  is controlled by an operation controller  28 . A rotating shaft  30  is provided on a center line of the CAP  25  so as to be rotatably supported. The rotating shaft  30  is configured to be rotationally driven by a motor  29  controlled by the operation controller  28 . The boat  31  is vertically supported at an upper end of the rotating shaft  30 . According to the present embodiments, for example, a rotator is constituted by the rotating shaft  30  and the motor  29 . 
     The boat  31  includes a pair of end plates (an upper end plate  32  and a lower end plate  33 ) and a plurality of support columns (for example, three support columns)  34  provided between the upper end plate  32  and the lower end plate  33  to connect the upper end plate  32  and the lower end plate  33 . A plurality of support recesses  35  are engraved at each of the support columns  34  at equal intervals in a lengthwise direction of each of the support columns  34 . The support recesses  35  located at the same stage of each of the support columns  34  are open to face one another. By inserting the plurality of the substrates including the substrate  1  into the support recesses  35  located at the same stage of each of the support columns  34 , the boat  31  supports the plurality of substrates vertically arranged in a multistage manner while the plurality of substrates  1  are horizontally oriented with their centers aligned with one another. A plurality of support recesses  39  are engraved at a lower portion of each of the support columns  34  at equal intervals in the lengthwise direction of each of the support columns  34 . By inserting a plurality of heat insulating plates  120  into the support recesses  39  located at the same stage of each of the support columns  34 , the boat  31  supports the heat insulating plates  120  vertically arranged in a multistage manner while the heat insulating plates  120  are horizontally oriented with their centers aligned with one another. 
     That is, the boat  31  includes a substrate processing region between the upper end plate  32  and an end plate  38  where the plurality of substrates including the substrate  1  are accommodated, and a heat insulating plate region between the end plate  38  and the lower end plate  33  where the heat insulating plates  120  are accommodated. The heat insulating plate region is provided below the substrate processing region. For example, a heat insulator  36  is constituted by the heat insulating plates  120  provided between the end plate  38  and the lower end plate  33 . 
     The rotating shaft  30  is configured to support the boat  31  while the boat  31  is lifted from an upper surface of the CAP  25 . The heat insulator  36  is provided in the furnace opening (furnace opening space)  15  and is configured to thermally insulate the furnace opening  15 . Further, the motor  29  configured to rotate the boat  31  is provided under the CAP  25 . The motor  29  is configured as a hollow motor structure, and the rotating shaft  30  penetrates the motor  29 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a heater  40  serving as a heating structure is provided at an outside of the process tube  11 . The heater  40  is provided concentrically with the process tube  11  and supported by the housing  2 . The heater  40  is configured to heat the plurality of substrates including the substrate  1  in the substrate processing region supported by the boat  31 . The heater  40  includes a case  41 . For example, the case  41  is made of stainless steel (SUS). The case  41  is of a tube shape with a closed upper end and an open lower end. Preferably, the case  41  is of a cylinder shape. An inner diameter and an overall length of the case  41  are greater than an outer diameter and an overall length of the outer tube  12 , respectively. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a heat insulating structure  42  is provided in the case  41 . The heat insulating structure  42  includes a sidewall outer layer (hereinafter, also simply referred to as an “outer layer”)  45  provided on an outer side of the heat insulating structure  42  and a sidewall inner layer (hereinafter, also simply referred to as an “inner layer”)  44  provided on an inner side of the heat insulating structure  42 . The heat insulating structure  42  is of a tube shape, preferably, of a cylinder shape. A sidewall  43  of the heat insulating structure  42  of a cylinder shape is configured as a multilayer structure. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a check damper  104  provided with a back-diffusion prevention structure  104   a  is installed in each zone of the case  41 . In accordance with the check damper  104  and the back-diffusion prevention structure  104   a , each zone of the case  41  is provided with a buffer  106 , a gas introduction path  107 , a gas supply flow path  108  and an opening hole  110 , which are described later. Cooling air  90  can be supplied to the buffer  106  through the gas introduction path  107  by opening the back-diffusion prevention structure  104   a.    
     The cooling air  90  supplied to the buffer  106  flows through the gas supply flow path  108  provided in the inner layer  44  and is supplied to a space  75  through the opening hole  110  serving as an opening. The opening hole  110  provided as a part of a supply path including the gas supply flow path  108 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a ceiling wall  80  serving as a ceiling structure is provided on an upper end of the sidewall  43  of the heat insulating structure  42 . The ceiling wall  80  covers the space  75  to close the space  75 . An exhaust hole  81  of a ring shape, which is a part of an exhaust path configured to exhaust an atmosphere of the space  75 , is formed in the ceiling wall  80 . A lower end of the exhaust hole  81 , which is an upstream end of the exhaust hole  81 , communicates with the inner space (that is, the space)  75 . A downstream end of the exhaust hole  81  is connected to an exhaust duct  82 . The cooling air  90  ejected from the opening hole  110  into the space  75  is exhausted through the exhaust hole  81  and the exhaust duct  82 . In  FIG. 2 , a gas supply system such as the gas supplier  23  and an exhaust system such as the exhauster  19  are omitted. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , a controller  200 , which is a control computer serving as a control structure, includes: a computer main body  203  including components such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit)  201  and a memory  202 ; a communication interface  204  serving as a communication structure; a memory  205  serving as a memory structure; and a display/input device  206  serving as an operation structure. That is, the controller  200  includes components constituting a general-purpose computer. 
     The CPU  201  constitutes a backbone of the controller  200 . The CPU  201  is configured to execute a control program stored in the memory  205  and a recipe (for example, a process recipe) stored in the memory  205 , according to an instruction from the display/input device  206 . For example, the process recipe includes a temperature control process including a step S 1  through a step S 9  shown in  FIG. 8  described later. 
     The memory  202  serving as a temporary memory may function as a memory area (work area) of the CPU  201 . 
     The communication interface  204  is electrically connected to the pressure controller  21 , the gas flow rate controller  24 , the operation controller  28  and a temperature controller  64 . The pressure controller  21 , the gas flow rate controller  24 , the operation controller  28  and the temperature controller  64  may be collectively or individually referred to simply as a sub-controller. The controller  200  can exchange data on operations of components with the sub-controller through the communication interface  204 . 
       FIG. 6  schematically illustrates the substrate processing apparatus according to the embodiments described herein. In  FIG. 6 , the substrate to be processed is indicated by “1” and the detailed illustration thereof is omitted. 
     A configuration of the heater  40  will be described. In the heater  40 , a sub-heater is provided for each zone wherein the case  41  is divided into a plurality of zones in a vertical direction (for example, divided into 5 zones as shown in  FIG. 6 ) and a temperature of each zone can be individually controlled. That is, the heater  40  includes a plurality of sub-heaters. A heater thermocouple (which is a first temperature sensor)  65  configured to measure a temperature of the sub-heater is installed for each zone. 
     A cascade thermocouple (which is a second temperature sensor)  66  configured to measure an inner temperature of a tube such as the outer tube  12  is installed inside the outer tube  12 . The cascade thermocouple  66  may be implemented in a structure in which a number of thermocouples corresponding to the number of the zones are accommodated in a quartz tube. Temperature measurement points of thermocouples are disposed at positions facing the zones, respectively. 
     A substrate temperature meter (which is a third temperature sensor)  211  serving as a substrate temperature sensor is configured to be rotated together with the substrate  1  when the boat  31  and the substrate  1  are rotated. For example, the substrate temperature meter  211  is constituted by a temperature meter  211   b  configured to measure a temperature of the substrate  1  and a cable  211   c  including a wire of the temperature meter  211   b . The temperature meter  211   b  and the substrate  1  may not be in contact with each other. However, since the temperature meter  211   b  is arranged in the process chamber  14 , it is preferable to provide a protector (not shown) configured to cover the temperature meter  211   b . Further, the cable  211   c  is pulled out to a lower portion of the boat  31  along one of the support columns  34  of the boat  31 . The cable  211   c  pulled out to the lower portion of the boat  31  is routed and connected to a transmitter  221  under the seal cap  25  through a hole of the rotating shaft  30  provided in a hole formed in the seal cap  25 . 
     The transmitter  221  is fixed to the rotating shaft  30  and configured to make a rotational movement together with the rotating shaft  30 . The hole through which the cable  211   c  passes penetrates the rotating shaft  30 . The cable  211   c  can be pulled out to the transmitter  221  and connected to the transmitter  221  provided outside the process chamber  14  (for example, a lower end of the rotating shaft  30 ) while vacuum-sealing the hole and its periphery using components such as a hermetic seal. 
     For example, the substrate temperature meter  211  may be a substrate  101  with a thermocouple attached thereto as shown in  FIG. 4 . The substrate temperature meter  211  can measure the temperature of the substrate  1  by placing the substrate temperature meter  211  (that is, the substrate  101  with the thermocouple shown in  FIG. 4 ) on the boat  31 , pulling out the cable  211   c  (that is, the cable  101   c  shown in  FIG. 4 ) along the one of the support columns  34  of the boat  31  to the lower portion of the boat  31  and measuring the temperature of the substrate  1  by the temperature meter  211   b  (that is, a temperature meter  101   b  shown in  FIG. 4 ). 
     The substrate temperature meter  211  is not limited to the thermocouple described above. A sensor such as a temperature measuring resistor may be used as long as it can measure the temperature of the substrate  1  as an electric signal. Further, the cable  211   c  may be arranged inside the one of the support columns  34  of the boat  31  and be pulled out to the lower portion of the boat  31 . In such a configuration, the cable  211   c  is not exposed into the process chamber  14  until it reaches the transmitter  221 . Therefore, the cable  211   c  is prevented from being disconnected (or broken) due to the rotation of the substrate  1  and the boat  31 . 
     Then, the transmitter  221  converts the electric signal (voltage) input from the substrate temperature meter  211  such as the thermocouple via the cable  211   c  into a digital signal; modulates a radio wave according to the digital signal such that the radio wave carries the digital signal; and transmits the digital signal in the radio wave by using a wireless transmission. 
     A receiver  222  is provided and fixed in a region below the CAP  25 . A terminal (output terminal)  222   a  configured to receive the digital signal transmitted by the transmitter  221  and to output the received digital signal by a serial communication is provided, or a terminal (output terminal)  222   b  configured to convert the digital signal into an analog signal and to output the analog signal such as a current ranging from 4 mA to 20 mA is provided. A cable  223  is used to connect the output terminal  222   a  of the digital signal or the output terminal  222   b  of the analog signal to a temperature indicator (not shown) or the temperature controller  64 , and temperature data is input to the temperature controller  64 . 
     According to the present embodiments, for example, a temperature control system is constituted by the substrate temperature meter  211 , the transmitter  221 , the receiver  222  and the temperature controller  64 . With such a configuration, the wireless transmission is performed between: a rotating portion including the substrate temperature meter  211 , the boat  31 , the rotating shaft  30  and the transmitter  221 ; and a fixed portion such as the receiver  222  fixed to the substrate processing apparatus  10 . Further, the rotating portion is mechanically separated from the fixed portion such as the receiver  222  while maintaining a temperature data transmission path. Since the rotating portion including the substrate temperature meter  211 , the boat  31 , the rotating shaft  30  and the transmitter  221  rotates together like an integrated body, and the cable  211   c  is prevented from being wound around the boat  31 . 
     The signal output from the output terminal  222   a  or the output terminal  222   b  of the receiver  222  is input to the temperature controller  64  and displayed as the temperature data by the temperature controller  64 . Further, by controlling the temperature of the heater  40  based on the temperature data input to the temperature controller  64 , it is possible to more accurately control the temperature of the substrate  1  as compared with a case where the temperature of the substrate  1  is controlled by a conventional cascade thermocouple provided between the outer tube  12  and the inner tube  13 . 
     Subsequently, transition states of operations of loading the boat  31  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 7A through 7C .  FIGS. 7A through 7C  schematically illustrate the transition states of the operations of loading the boat  31  (that is, operations of elevating the boat  31 ) when the plurality of the substrates including the substrate  1  are mounted on the boat  31  and the substrate temperature meter  211  is installed. In  FIGS. 7A through 7C , the substrate to be processed is indicated by “1” and the detailed illustration thereof is omitted. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7A , when the plurality of the substrates including the substrate  1  are mounted on the boat  31  by a transfer device  125 , the boat  31  is entirely located in the transfer chamber  3 , and the transmitter  221  is located in the vicinity of a bottom of the transfer chamber  3 . The receiver  222  is fixed to a wall in the vicinity of the bottom of the transfer chamber  3 . Then, after the plurality of the substrates including the substrate  1  are completely mounted on the boat  31 , as shown in  FIG. 7B , the boat  31  and the transmitter  221  are elevated by the boat elevator  26  (see in  FIG. 1 ). The transmitter  221  is elevated from a lower portion of the transfer chamber  3  toward a ceiling of the transfer chamber  3 . That is, the transmitter  221  moves away from the receiver  222 . Thereafter, the CAP  25  is fixed in contact with the manifold  16 , and the boat  31  is stored (accommodated) in the process chamber  14 . 
     Then, the transmitter  221  converts the electric signal (voltage) into a digital signal, modulates the radio wave according to the digital signal such that the radio wave carries the digital signal, and transmits the digital signal in the radio wave by using the wireless transmission to the receiver  222  fixed to the wall in the vicinity of the bottom of the transfer chamber  3 . The receiver  222  is connected to the temperature controller  64  provided outside the transfer chamber  3  by the cable  223 . 
     With such a configuration, it is possible to omit a cable used for wiring (or routing) in the transfer chamber  3  (that is, in the region below the CAP  25 ). By omitting the cable, even though an elevating shaft of the boat  31  is operated, it is possible to eliminate the risk of the cable being disconnected (or broken) due to its cable length being insufficient or the cable being caught somewhere. 
     According to the present embodiments, by using the wireless transmission for the temperature data transmission path, the rotating portion including the substrate temperature meter  211 , the boat  31  (the rotating shaft  30 ) and the transmitter  221  can be mechanically separated from the fixed portion such as the receiver  222  configured to input the temperature data to the temperature controller  64  while the rotating portion is communicable with the fixed portion through the temperature data transmission path. Therefore, it is possible to measure the temperature of the substrate  1  while rotating the substrate  1  with the substrate temperature meter  211  being provided to serve as the substrate temperature sensor in the vicinity of the substrate  1 . Further, by using the wireless transmission for the temperature data transmission path, it is possible to eliminate the risk of the cable being disconnected (or broken) when the elevating shaft of the boat  31  is operated. It is also possible to improve the working efficiency of measuring the temperature of the substrate  1 . 
     According to the present embodiments, by providing the temperature sensor such as the substrate temperature meter  211  in the vicinity of the substrate  1 , it is possible to measure the temperature of the substrate  1  in a location close to the substrate  1 . As a result, for example, it is possible to remarkably improve the temperature controllability as compared with a conventional temperature control. 
     Modified Example of Embodiments 
     Hereinafter, a boat  31  according to a modified example of the embodiments will be described with reference to  FIGS. 9A and 9B . For example, the boat  31  serving as a substrate retainer according to the modified example is constituted by: a substrate holder  71  serving as the substrate processing region; a heat insulating plate holder  72  arranged below the substrate holder  71  and serving as the heat insulating region; and a quartz base  73  serving as a cylinder. The substrate holder  71  may include: an upper end plate  32 ; a lower end plate  38   a ; and a plurality of support columns (for example, three support columns)  34   a  provided between the upper end plate  32  and the lower end plate  38   a  to connect the upper end plate  32  and the lower end plate  38   a . A plurality of support pins  35   a  are provided at each of the three support columns  34   a  at equal intervals in a lengthwise direction of each of the three support columns  34   a . The support pins  35   a  provided at the same stage of each of the support columns  34   a  protrude to face one another. By inserting the plurality of the substrates including the substrate  1  between the support pins  35   a  provided at the same stage of each of the support columns  34   a , the substrate holder  71  supports the plurality of substrates vertically arranged in a multistage manner while the plurality of substrates  1  are horizontally oriented with their centers aligned with one another. 
     The heat insulating plate holder  72  may include: an upper end plate  38   b ; a lower end plate  33 ; and a plurality of support columns (for example, three support columns)  34   b  provided between the upper end plate  38   b  and the lower end plate  33  to connect the upper end plate  38   b  and the lower end plate  33 . By inserting the heat insulating plates  120  to a plurality of support recesses  39   b  located at the same stage of each of the support columns  34   b , the heat insulating plate holder  72  supports the heat insulating plates  120  vertically arranged in a multistage manner while the heat insulating plates  120  are horizontally oriented with their centers aligned with one another. That is, the heat insulator  36  is constituted by the heat insulating plate holder  72  and the heat insulating plates  120  accommodated in the heat insulating plate holder  72 . 
     For example, the substrate temperature meter  211  serving as the substrate temperature sensor is constituted by the temperature meter  211   b  configured to measure the temperature of the substrate  1  and the cable  211   c  including the wire constituting the temperature meter  211   b . For example, the cable  211   c  is stored (accommodated) in a protective pipe  76  of a crank shape made of quartz. 
     The CAP  25  airtightly seals (or closes) an inside of a furnace such as the inner tube  13  via the manifold  16  and an O-ring (not shown) by contacting the inner tube  13  when the substrate  1  is processed by the heat (that is, heat-treated). Although not shown, the CAP  25  is attached to an elevating shaft (also referred to as an “E-shaft”) capable of elevating and lowering the CAP  25 , and the CAP  25  can be elevated and lowered by the elevating shaft. A hole is provided in the center of the CAP  25 , and a boat receiver  74  penetrates through the hole. The boat receiver  74  is sealed by a magnetic seal  78 , and can be rotated by a rotating shaft (also referred to as an “R-shaft) of the motor  29  while maintaining furnace such as the inner tube  13  in a vacuum state. 
     The protective pipe  76  configured to accommodate the substrate temperature meter  211  may extend below the CAP  25  through a hole opened in a center of the boat receiver  74 . The protective pipe  76  that extends below the CAP  25  is fixed to the boat receiver  74  by a vacuum sealable fixing method (for example, by using Ultra-Torr®). 
     The quartz base  73 , which is located at a lower end of the boat  31 , is installed on the boat receiver  74 . The quartz base  73  is provided with a notch of a U shape. The protective pipe  76  protruding into the furnace from the center of the boat receiver  74  extends laterally along the notch of the quartz base  73  as its guide, and extends upward again from an outer circumference of the heat insulating plate holder  72 . The heat insulating plate holder  72  capable of holding the heat insulating plates  120  is installed on the quartz base  73 . Further, a thickness of the quartz base  73  is greater than an outer diameter of the protective pipe  76  so that no load is applied to the protective pipe  76 . 
     Each of the upper end plate  38   b  which is a top plate of the heat insulating plate holder  72  and the lower end plate  33  which is a bottom plate of the heat insulating plate holder  72  is provided with a notch through which the protective pipe  76  extending upward passes. In order to install the protective pipe  76  in the vicinity of the substrate  1 , each of the upper end plate  32  which is a top plate of the substrate holder  71  of the boat  31  and the lower end plate  38   a  which is a bottom plate of the substrate holder  71  of the boat  31  is provided with a notch as well. Therefore, it is possible to provide the temperature meter  211   b  (which is a temperature measuring point of the substrate temperature meter  211 ) in the vicinity of the substrate  1 . As a result, it is possible to measure the temperature at a location closer to the substrate  1  as compared with a case where a conventional cascade TC is installed in the vicinity of a wall of the reaction tube (that is, the process tube  11 ). The protective pipe  76  is provided in the vicinity of the support columns  34   a  and the support columns  34   b.    
     The boat  31  constituted by the substrate holder  71 , the heat insulating plate holder  72  and the quartz base  73  and the substrate temperature meter  211  are configured to be mounted on the boat receiver  74 . By rotating the boat receiver  74  by the R-shaft of the motor  29  via a drive belt  77 , the boat  31  and the substrate temperature meter  211  are rotated together. The CAP  25  and the magnetic seal  78  are not rotated. 
     By connecting the cable  211   c  pulled out to a bottom of the CAP  25  to the transmitter  221  rotated together with the boat receiver  74 , it is possible to measure the temperature of the substrate  1  while rotating the substrate  1 . 
     While the modified example is described by way of an example in which the substrate temperature meter  211  is provided in the protective pipe  76 , the modified example is not limited thereto. For example, the substrate temperature meter  211  may be provided in one of the support columns  34   a  or one of the support columns  34   b . Further, the wire of the temperature meter  211   b  such as the thermocouple may be arranged inside the one of the support columns  34   a  or the one of the support columns  34   b  without providing the protective pipe  76 . 
     Exemplary Sequence of Substrate Processing 
     Subsequently, an exemplary sequence of a process of forming a film on a substrate (hereinafter, also referred to as a “substrate processing” or a “film-forming process”), which is a part of manufacturing processes of a semiconductor device, using the substrate processing apparatus  10  will be described with reference to  FIG. 8 . 
     Hereinafter, an example of forming a silicon nitride film (Si 3 N 4  film, hereinafter simply referred to as an “SiN film”) on the substrate  1  by using hexachlorodisilane (Si 2 Cl 6 , abbreviated as HCDS) gas serving as a source gas and ammonia (NH 3 ) gas serving as a reactive gas will be described. Hereinafter, the controller  200  and the sub-controller control the operations of the components constituting the substrate processing apparatus  10 . 
     In the film-forming process according to the present embodiments, the SiN film is formed on the substrate  1  by performing a cycle a predetermined number of times (once or more). The cycle may include: a step of supplying the HCDS gas onto the substrate  1  in the process chamber  14 ; a step of removing the HCDS gas (residual gas) from the process chamber  14 ; a step of supplying the NH 3  gas onto the substrate  1  in the process chamber  14 ; and a step of removing the NH 3  gas (residual gas) from the process chamber  14 . The steps in the cycle are performed non-simultaneously. 
     Substrate Charging and Boat Loading: Step S 1   
     The operation controller  28  controls the transfer device  125  and the transfer device elevator (not shown) to transfer the plurality of substrates including the substrate  1  in the substrate processing region of the boat  31  (substrate charging step). The heat insulating plates  120  are accommodate in the heat insulating plate region of the boat  31  in advance. 
     Then, the operation controller  28  controls the boat elevator  26  to load the boat  31  accommodating the plurality of substrates including the substrate  1  and the heat insulating plates  120  into the process tube  11 , and then to load into the process chamber  14  (boat loading). When the boat  31  is loaded into the process chamber  14 , the CAP  25  airtightly seals (or closes) the lower end of the inner tube  13  via the O-ring (not shown). 
     Pressure and Temperature Adjusting: Step S 2   
     The pressure controller  21  controls the exhauster  19  such that the inner pressure of the process chamber  14  reaches a predetermined pressure (vacuum level). When the pressure controller  21  controls the exhauster  19 , an inner pressure of the process chamber  14  is measured by the pressure sensor  20 , and the exhauster  19  is feedback-controlled based on pressure information measured by the pressure sensor  20 . The exhauster  19  is continuously operated at least until the processing of the substrate  1  is completed. 
     The heater  40  heats the process chamber  14  until the temperature of the substrate  1  inside the process chamber  14  reaches and is maintained at a predetermined temperature. When heater  40  heats the process chamber  14 , the temperature controller  64  feedback-controls a state of electric conduction of the heater  40  based on temperature information detected by the substrate temperature meter  211  such that a predetermined temperature distribution of the inner temperature of the process chamber  14  can be obtained. The heater  40  continuously heats the process chamber  14  at least until the processing of the substrate  1  is completed. Further, the temperature information detected by the heater thermocouple  65  and the cascade thermocouple  66  may be used when the temperature controller  64  feedback-controls the state of electric conduction of the heater  40 . 
     The boat  31  and the substrate  1  are rotated by the motor  29 . Specifically, the operation controller  28  rotates the motor  29  to rotate the boat  31  and the transmitter  221 . The substrate  1  is thereby rotated. The motor  29  continuously rotates the boat  31 , the transmitter  221  and the substrate  1  at least until the processing of the substrate  1  is completed. 
     Film-Forming Process 
     When the inner temperature of the process chamber  14  is stabilized at a pre-set process temperature, four steps described below, that is, a step S 3  through a step S 6 , are sequentially performed. 
     Source Gas Supply: Step S 3   
     In the step S 3 , the HCDS gas is supplied onto the substrate  1  in the process chamber  14 . 
     In the step S 3 , the HCDS gas is supplied to the process chamber  14  through the gas introduction pipe  22 . Specifically, the HCDS gas whose flow rate is adjusted by the gas flow rate controller  24  is supplied to the process chamber  14  of the inner tube  13 , and is exhausted through the exhaust path  17  and the exhaust pipe  18 . Simultaneously, N 2  gas is supplied through the gas introduction pipe  22 . The N 2  gas whose flow rate is adjusted by the gas flow rate controller  24  is supplied to the process chamber  14  with the HCDS gas, and is exhausted through the exhaust pipe  18 . By supplying the HCDS gas onto the substrate  1 , for example, a silicon (Si)-containing layer whose thickness is within a range from less than one atomic layer to several atomic layers is formed as a first layer on a top surface of the substrate  1 . 
     Purge Gas Supply: Step S 4   
     After the first layer is formed on the substrate  1 , the supply of the HCDS gas is stopped. In the step S 4 , the exhauster  19  vacuum-exhausts the process chamber  14  to remove a residual HCDS gas which did not react or which did contribute to the formation of the first layer in the process chamber  14  from the process chamber  14 . The N 2  gas is continuously supplied into the process chamber  14 . The N 2  gas acts as a purge gas, which improves the efficiency of removing the residual HCDS gas from the process chamber  14 . 
     Reactive Gas Supply: Step S 5   
     After the step S 4  is completed, the NH 3  gas is supplied onto the substrate  1  in the process chamber  14  (that is, onto the first layer formed on the substrate  1  in the process chamber  14 . In the step S 5 , the NH 3  gas is thermally activated and then supplied onto the substrate  1 . 
     In the step S 5 , the NH 3  gas is supplied to the process chamber  14  through the gas introduction pipe  22 . Specifically, the NH 3  gas whose flow rate is adjusted by the gas flow rate controller  24  is supplied to the process chamber  14  of the inner tube  13 , and is exhausted through the exhaust path  17  and the exhaust pipe  18 . Simultaneously, the N 2  gas is supplied through the gas introduction pipe  22 . The N 2  gas whose flow rate is adjusted by the gas flow rate controller  24  is supplied to the process chamber  14  with the NH 3  gas, and is exhausted through the exhaust pipe  18 . Thereby, the NH 3  gas is supplied onto the substrate  1 . The NH 3  gas supplied onto the substrate  1  reacts with the first layer (that is, at least a portion of the silicon-containing layer formed on the substrate  1  in the first step S 3 ). As a result, the first layer is thermally nitrided under a non-plasma atmosphere and changed (modified) into a second layer, that is, a silicon nitride (SiN) layer. 
     Purge Gas Supply: Step S 6   
     After the second layer is formed, the supply of the NH 3  gas is stopped. The exhauster  19  vacuum-exhausts the process chamber  14  to remove a residual NH 3  gas which did not react or which did contribute to the formation of the second layer in the process chamber  14  from the process chamber  14  in the same manner as the step S 4 . Similar to the step S 4 , the gas remaining in the process chamber  14  may not be completely discharged. 
     Performing a Predetermined Number of Times: Step S 7   
     The cycle in which the four steps described above are performed non-simultaneously are performed a predetermined number of times (n times) until a silicon nitride (SiN) film of a predetermined thickness is formed on the substrate  1 . It is preferable that the cycle is repeatedly performed until the SiN film of the predetermined thickness is obtained by controlling the second (SiN) layer formed in each cycle to be thinner than the SiN film of the predetermined thickness and stacking the thin second (SiN) layer by repeatedly performing the cycle. That is, it is preferable that the cycle is performed a plurality of times. 
     Purge and Returning to Atmospheric Pressure: Step S 8   
     After the film-forming process is completed, the N 2  gas is supplied into the process chamber  14  through the gas introduction pipe  22 , and is exhausted through the exhaust pipe  18 . The N 2  gas serves as a purge gas. Thus, the inside of the process chamber  14  is purged, and substances such as the residual gas in the process chamber  14  and the reaction by-products are removed from the process chamber  14  (purge). Simultaneously, in order to efficiently lower the inner temperature of the process chamber  14  from the process temperature, the cooling air  90  serving as the cooling gas is supplied to the gas introduction path  107  via the check damper  104 . The supplied cooling air  90  is temporarily stored in the buffer  106  and is ejected into the space  75  through the opening hole  110  provided in each zone and the gas supply flow path  108  to cool the process tube  11 . When cooling the process tube  11 , the temperature controller  64  may control the cooling of the process chamber  14  by the cooling air  90  according to the temperature information detected by the substrate temperature meter  211 , or the temperature controller  64  may determine whether to stop the cooling of the process chamber  14 . Then, an inner atmosphere of the process chamber  14  is replaced with an inert gas (substitution by the inert gas) and the inner pressure of the process chamber  14  is returned to a normal pressure (returning to the atmospheric pressure). In the step S 8 , the temperature controller  64  may determine whether to perform the next boat unloading step based on the temperature information detected by the substrate temperature meter  211 . 
     Boat Unloading and Substrate Discharging: Step S 9   
     Thereafter, by lowering the boat elevator  26  by the operation controller  28 , the CAP  25  is lowered by the boat elevator  26 , and the lower end of the process tube  11  is opened. The boat  31  with the processed substrates including the substrate  1  charged therein is unloaded out of the process tube  11  through the lower end of the process tube  11  (boat unloading step). Then, the processed substrates including the substrate  1  are discharged from the boat  31  (substrate discharging step). 
     OTHER EMBODIMENTS 
     While the technique is described in detail by way of the embodiments and the modified example, the above-described technique is not limited thereto. The above-described technique may be modified in various ways without departing from the gist thereof. 
     For example, the above-described embodiments are described by way of an example in which the SiN film is formed. However, the above-described technique is not limited thereto. For example, the above-described technique may also be applied to form various types of films such as an oxide film. For example, the oxide film includes a silicon oxide (SiO) film or a metal oxide film. 
     For example, the above-described embodiments are described based on the substrate processing apparatus. However, the above-described technique is not limited thereto. For example, the above-described technique may be generally applied to a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus. For example, the above-described technique may also be applied to a substrate processing apparatus such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) manufacturing apparatus configured to process a glass substrate. 
     According to some embodiments in the present disclosure, it is possible to provide the temperature sensor in the vicinity of the substrate and measuring the temperature of the substrate which is being rotated.