Patent Publication Number: US-2010129526-A1

Title: Substrate processing apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/295,257, filed Dec. 6, 2005, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-353121, filed Dec. 6, 2004, Japanese Patent Application 2005-095779, filed Mar. 29, 2005, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-216158, filed on Jul. 26, 2005. The disclosures of Ser. No. 11/295,257, JP 2004-353121, 2005-095779, and JP 2005-216158 are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes. 
     The present application is related to the following four applications filed Dec. 6, 2005, and commonly owned: 1) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/294,877, entitled “SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND SUBSTRATE PROCESSING METHOD,” 2) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/294,727, entitled “SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS,” and 3) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/295,240, entitled “SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND SUBSTRATE PROCESSING METHOD,” and 4) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/295,216, entitled “SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS.” 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to substrate processing apparatuses for applying processing to substrates. 
     2. Description of the Background Art 
     A substrate processing apparatus is used to apply a variety of processings to substrates such as semiconductor substrates, substrates for use in liquid crystal displays, plasma displays, optical disks, magnetic disks, magneto-optical disks, photomasks, and other substrates. 
     Such a substrate processing apparatus typically applies a plurality of successive processings to a single substrate. The substrate processing apparatus as described in JP 2003-324139 A comprises an indexer block, an anti-reflection film processing block, a resist film processing block, a development processing block, and an interface block. An exposure device is arranged adjacent to the interface block as an external device separate from the substrate processing apparatus. 
     In the above-described substrate processing apparatus, a substrate is carried from the indexer block into the anti-reflection film processing block and the resist film processing block, where the formation of an anti-reflection film and resist film coating processing are applied to the substrate. The substrate is then carried to the exposure device through the interface block. After exposure processing has been applied to the resist film on the substrate by the exposure device, the substrate is transported to the development processing block through the interface block. In the development processing block, development processing is applied to the resist film on the substrate to form a resist pattern thereon, and the substrate is subsequently carried into the indexer block. 
     With recent improvements in the density and integration of devices, making finer resist patterns have become very important. Conventional exposure devices typically perform exposure processing by providing reduction projection of a reticle pattern on a substrate through a projection lens. With such conventional exposure devices, however, the line width of an exposure pattern is determined by the wavelength of the light source of an exposure device, thus making it impossible to make a resist pattern finer than that. 
     For this reason, a liquid immersion method is suggested as a projection exposure method allowing for finer exposure patterns (refer to, e.g., WO99/49504 pamphlet). In the projection exposure device according to the WO99/49504 pamphlet, a liquid is filled between a projection optical system and a substrate, resulting in a shorter wavelength of exposure light on a surface of the substrate. This allows for a finer exposure pattern. 
     However, in the projection exposure device according to the aforementioned WO99/49504 pamphlet, exposure processing is performed with the substrate and the liquid being in contact with each other. Accordingly, the substrate to which the liquid adheres is transported out of the exposure device. Thus, when combining the substrate processing apparatus according to the aforementioned JP 2003-324139 A with the exposure device using the liquid immersion method as described in the aforementioned WO99/49504 pamphlet as an external device, the liquid adhering to the substrate that has been carried out of the exposure device may drop in the substrate processing apparatus, causing operational troubles such as abnormalities in the electric system of the substrate processing apparatus. 
     There is also a possibility that the substrate is contaminated by, e.g., residual droplets after the exposure processing and the eluate from an organic film on the substrate, causing processing defects of the substrate in subsequent processing steps. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a substrate processing apparatus in which operational troubles due to a liquid attached to a substrate in an exposure device are prevented. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a substrate processing apparatus in which processing defects of a substrate due to the contamination after exposure processing are prevented. 
     (1) 
     A substrate processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention that is arranged adjacent to an exposure device comprises a processing section for applying processing to a substrate, and an interface that is provided on one end of the processing section for exchanging the substrate between the processing section and the exposure device, wherein the processing section comprises a first processing block that includes the first processing unit that forms a photosensitive film made of a photosensitive material on the substrate, a first thermal processing unit that thermally treats the substrate, and a first transport unit that transports the substrate, a second processing block that includes a second processing unit that applies drying processing to a substrate after the exposure processing by the exposure device, a second thermal processing unit that thermally treats the substrate, and a second transport unit that transports the substrate, and a third processing block that includes a third processing unit that applies development processing to the substrate after the drying processing by the second processing unit, a third thermal processing unit that thermally treats the substrate, and a third transport unit that transports the substrate, wherein the second processing block is arranged adjacent to the interface. 
     In the substrate processing apparatus, the photosensitive film made of a photosensitive material is formed on the substrate by the first processing unit in the first processing block. Then, the substrate is transported to the first thermal processing unit by the first transport unit, where the substrate is subjected to given thermal treatment. Then, the substrate is transported to the exposure device from the processing section through the interface, where the substrate is subjected to the exposure processing. The substrate after the exposure processing is transported to the second processing block from the exposure device through the interface. 
     Next, in the second processing block, the substrate is subjected to the drying processing by the second processing unit. Then, the substrate is transported from the second processing unit to the second thermal processing unit, the substrate is subjected to given thermal treatment by the second thermal processing unit. The substrate is subsequently transported to an adjacent other processing block by the second transport unit. 
     Next, in the third processing block, the substrate is subjected to the development processing by the third processing unit. The substrate is subsequently transported to the third thermal processing unit by the third transport unit, and subjected to given thermal treatment by the third thermal processing unit. Then, the substrate is transported to an adjacent other processing block by the third transport unit. 
     In this way, the substrate after the exposure processing is subjected to the drying processing by the second processing unit. The second processing block is arranged adjacent to the interface, which allows the drying processing to be applied to the substrate immediately after the exposure processing. For this reason, even if a liquid is attached to the substrate in the exposure device, it is possible to prevent the liquid from dropping in the substrate processing apparatus. As a result, in the substrate processing apparatus, operational troubles such as abnormalities in the electric system are prevented. In addition, drying the substrate prevents particles and the like in the atmosphere from attaching to the substrate, which prevents contamination of the substrate. This allows processing defects of the substrate to be reduced. 
     In addition, during the transport of substrate after the drying processing to the third processing unit, the component of the photosensitive material on the substrate can be reliably prevented from being eluted in the liquid remaining on the substrate. This prevents an exposure pattern formed on the substrate from deformation. As a result, processing defects of the substrate during the development processing in the third processing unit are prevented. 
     Furthermore, the substrate processing apparatus has the structure in which the second processing block is added to an existing substrate processing apparatus having the first and third processing blocks. Thus, operational troubles of substrate the processing apparatus and processing defects of the substrate can be reduced at low cost. 
     (2) 
     The second processing unit may dry the substrate by supplying an inert gas onto the substrate. The use of the inert gas prevents a chemical influence upon a film on the substrate while drying the substrate reliably. 
     (3) 
     The processing section may comprise a fourth processing block that includes a fourth processing unit that forms of an anti-reflection film on the substrate before the formation of a photosensitive film by the first processing unit, a fourth thermal processing unit that thermally treats the substrate, and a fourth transport unit that transports the substrate. 
     In this case, the anti-reflection film is formed on the substrate by the fourth processing unit, thus, potential standing waves and halation generated during the exposure processing can be reduced. This can reduce further processing defects of the substrate during the exposure processing. 
     (4) 
     The substrate processing apparatus may further comprise an indexer that is arranged on another end of the processing section and carries in and out the substrate to and from the processing section, wherein the fourth processing block may be arranged adjacent to the indexer. In this case, the anti-reflection film is formed on the substrate immediately after that transported to the processing section by the fourth processing unit, and then the photosensitive film is subsequently formed by the first processing unit. This allows the anti-reflection film and the photosensitive film on the substrate to be formed smoothly. 
     (5) 
     The interface may further include a fifth processing unit that applies given processing to the substrate, a platform on which the substrate is temporarily mounted, a fifth transport unit that transports the substrate between the processing section, the fifth processing unit, and the platform, and a sixth transport unit that transports the substrate between the platform, the exposure device, and the second processing unit, and wherein the sixth transport unit may transport the substrate that has been carried out of the exposure device to the second processing unit. 
     In this case, the substrate is subjected to the given processing by the processing section, and then transported to the fifth processing unit by the fifth transport unit. After the substrate is subjected to the given processing by the fifth processing unit, the substrate is transported onto the platform by the fifth transport unit. Then, the substrate is transported from the platform into the exposure device by the sixth transport unit. After the substrate is subjected to the exposure processing by the exposure device, the substrate is transported to the second processing unit by the sixth transport unit. The substrate is dried by the second processing unit, and then transported onto the platform by the sixth transport unit. After this, the substrate is subsequently transported from the platform onto the processing section by the fifth transport unit. 
     In this way, the substrate after the exposure processing is dried by the second processing unit, and then transported onto the platform. For this reason, even if a liquid is attached to the substrate in the exposure device, it is possible to prevent the liquid from dropping in the substrate processing apparatus. As a result, operational troubles of the substrate processing apparatus are prevented. 
     In addition, the disposition of the fifth processing unit in the interface and the transport of the substrate by the two transport units enables the addition of processing contents without increasing the footprint of the substrate processing apparatus. 
     (6) 
     The sixth transport unit may include a first holder and a second holder each for holding the substrate, the sixth transport unit may hold the substrate with the first holder during the transport of the substrate from the platform to the exposure device and from the second processing unit to the platform, and the sixth transport unit may hold the substrate with the second holder during the transport of the substrate from the exposure device to the second processing unit. 
     In this way, the first holder is used during the transport of the substrate to which a liquid is not attached before the exposure processing and after the drying processing, while the second holder is used during the transport of the substrate to which a liquid is attached immediately after the exposure processing. This prevents the liquid from attaching to the first holder, which prevents the liquid from attaching to the substrate before the exposure processing. This prevents the particles and the like in the atmosphere from adhering to the substrate, which prevents contaminations of the exposure device. As a result, processing defects of the substrate in the exposure device can be reduced. 
     (7) 
     The second holder may be provided below the first holder. In this case, even if a liquid drops from the second holder and the substrate held thereon, the liquid will not attach to the first holder and the substrate held thereon. The liquid is thus reliably prevented from attaching to the substrate after the drying processing and before the exposure processing. 
     (8) 
     The fifth processing unit may include an edge exposure unit for subjecting a peripheral portion of the substrate to exposure processing. The peripheral portion of the substrate is thus subjected to exposure by the edge exposure unit. 
     (9) 
     The second processing unit may further apply the cleaning processing to the substrate before the drying processing to the substrate. 
     In this case, even if a liquid attaches to the substrate during exposure, and particles and the like in the atmosphere attach to the substrate while being transported from the exposure device to the second processing unit, the deposits can be removed reliably. This prevents processing defects of the substrate reliably. 
     (10) 
     The second processing unit may comprise a substrate holding device that holds the substrate substantially horizontally, a rotation-driving device that rotates the substrate held on the substrate holding device about an axis vertical to the substrate, a cleaning liquid supplier that supplies a cleaning liquid onto the substrate held on the substrate holding device, and an inert gas supplier that supplies an inert gas onto the substrate after the cleaning liquid has been supplied onto the substrate by the cleaning liquid supplier. 
     In the second processing unit, the substrate is held on the substrate holding device substantially horizontally, and the substrate is rotated about the axis vertical to the substrate by the rotation-driving device. Then, the cleaning liquid is supplied onto the substrate from the cleaning liquid supplier, followed by the supply of the inert gas from the inert gas supplier. 
     In this case, since the substrate is rotated as the cleaning liquid is supplied onto the substrate, the cleaning liquid on the substrate moves toward the peripheral portion of the substrate by the centrifugal force and splashed away. This reliably prevents the deposits of particles and the like removed by the cleaning liquid from remaining on the substrate. In addition, since the substrate is rotated as the inert gas is supplied onto the substrate, the cleaning liquid remaining on the substrate after the cleaning of the substrate is efficiently removed. This reliably prevents the deposits of particles and the like from remaining on the substrate and the substrate is dried reliably. This reliably prevents the component of the photosensitive material from being eluted in the liquid attached to the substrate during the transport of the substrate after the drying processing to the third processing unit. This reliably prevents the deformation of the exposure pattern formed on the photosensitive film. As a result, processing defects of the substrate during the development processing in the third processing unit are reliably prevented. 
     (11) 
     The inert gas supplier may supply the inert gas so that the cleaning liquid supplied onto the substrate by the cleaning liquid supplier is removed from the substrate as the cleaning liquid moves outwardly from the center of the substrate. 
     This prevents the cleaning liquid from remaining on the center of the substrate, thus reliably preventing the generation of dry marks (dry stains) on a surface of the substrate. In addition, this reliably prevents the component of the photosensitive material from being eluted in the liquid attached to the substrate during the transport of the substrate after the drying processing to the third processing unit. This reliably prevents the deformation of the exposure pattern formed on the photosensitive film. As a result, processing defects of the substrate during the development processing in the third processing unit are reliably prevented. 
     (12) 
     The second processing unit may further comprise a rinse liquid supplier that supplies a rinse liquid onto the substrate after the supply of the cleaning liquid by the cleaning liquid supplier and before the supply of the inert gas by the inert gas supplier. 
     This allows the cleaning liquid to be reliably cleaned away by the rinse liquid, thus reliably preventing the deposits of particles and the like from remaining on the substrate. 
     (13) 
     The inert gas supplier may supply the inert gas so that the rinse liquid supplied onto the substrate by the rinse liquid supplier is removed from the substrate as the rinse liquid moves outwardly from the center of the substrate. 
     This prevents the rinse liquid from remaining on the center of the substrate, thus reliably preventing the generation of dry marks on the surface of the substrate. In addition, this reliably prevents the component of the photosensitive material from being eluted in the liquid attached to the substrate during the transport of the substrate after the drying processing to the third processing unit. This reliably prevents the deformation of the exposure pattern formed on the photosensitive film. 
     (14) 
     A substrate processing apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention that is arranged adjacent to an exposure device comprises a processing section for applying processing to a substrate, and an interface that is provided on one end of the processing section for exchanging the substrate between the processing section and the exposure device, wherein the processing section comprises a first processing block that includes the first processing unit that forms a photosensitive film made of a photosensitive material on the substrate, a first thermal processing unit that thermally treats the substrate, and a first transport unit that transports the substrate, a second processing block that includes a second processing unit that cleans the substrate with a fluid nozzle that supplies a fluid mixture containing a liquid and a gas onto the substrate after the exposure processing by the exposure device, a second thermal processing unit that thermally treats the substrate, and a second transport unit that transports the substrate; and a third processing block that includes a third processing unit that applies development processing to the substrate after the cleaning processing by the second processing unit, a third thermal processing unit that thermally treats the substrate, and a third transport unit that transports the substrate, wherein the second processing block is arranged adjacent to the interface. 
     In the substrate processing apparatus, the photosensitive film made of a photosensitive material is formed on the substrate by the first processing unit in the first processing block. Then, the substrate is transported to the first thermal processing unit by the first transport unit, where the substrate is subjected to given thermal treatment. Then, the substrate is transported to the exposure device from the processing section through the interface, where the substrate is subjected to the exposure processing. The substrate after the exposure processing is transported to the second processing block from the exposure device through the interface. 
     Next, in the second processing block, the substrate is subjected to the cleaning processing by the second processing unit. Then, the substrate is transported from the second processing unit to the second thermal processing unit, the substrate is subjected to given thermal treatment by the second thermal processing unit. The substrate is subsequently transported to an adjacent other processing block by the second transport unit. 
     Next, in the third processing block, the substrate is subjected to the development processing by the third processing unit. The substrate is subsequently transported to the third thermal processing unit by the third transport unit, and subjected to given thermal treatment by the third thermal processing unit. Then, the substrate is transported to an adjacent other processing block by the third transport unit. 
     In this way, the substrate after the exposure processing is subjected to the cleaning processing by the second processing unit. The fluid mixture containing a gas and a liquid is supplied onto the substrate from the fluid nozzle in the second processing unit. 
     Since the fluid mixture discharged from the fluid nozzle contains fine droplets, any contaminants attached on the surface of the substrate are stripped off, even if the surface has irregularities. This reliably removes the contaminants on the surface of the substrate. Moreover, even if the film on the substrate has low wettability, the fine droplets strip off the contaminants on the substrate surface, so that the contaminants can be reliably removed from the substrate surface. As a result of the foregoing, processing defects of the substrate due to the contamination after the exposure processing are prevented. 
     In addition, adjusting the flow rate of the gas make it easy to adjust the detergency in cleaning the substrate. Thus, when the film on the substrate is prone to damage, damage to the film on the substrate can be prevented by weakening the detergency. Tough contaminants on the substrate surface can also be removed reliably by strengthening the detergency. By adjusting the detergency in this way according to the properties of the film on the substrate and the degree of contamination, it is possible to prevent damage to the film on the substrate while cleaning the substrate reliably. 
     Furthermore, the substrate processing apparatus has the structure in which the second processing block is added to an existing substrate processing apparatus having the first and third processing blocks. This prevents processing defects of the substrate at low cost. 
     (15) 
     The second processing unit may apply cleaning processing to the substrate by supplying a fluid mixture containing an inert gas and a cleaning liquid onto the substrate from the fluid nozzle. 
     The use of the inert gas prevents a chemical influence upon the film on the substrate and the cleaning liquid while removing the contaminants on the substrate surface more reliably As a result, processing defects of the substrate due to the contamination after the exposure processing are sufficiently prevented. 
     (16) 
     The second processing unit may apply drying processing to the substrate after the cleaning processing to the substrate. 
     In this case, the second processing block is arranged adjacent to the interface, which allows the drying and the cleaning processing to be applied to the substrate immediately after the exposure processing. For this reason, even if a liquid is attached to the substrate in the exposure device, it is possible to prevent the liquid from dropping in the substrate processing apparatus. As a result, in the substrate processing apparatus, operational troubles such as abnormalities in the electric system are prevented. In addition, drying the substrate after the cleaning processing prevents particles and the like in the atmosphere from attaching to the substrate, which prevents contamination of the substrate. This allows processing defects of the substrate to be reduced. 
     In addition, the component of the photosensitive material on the substrate can be reliably prevented from being eluted in the liquid remaining on the substrate. This prevents the deformation of an exposure pattern formed on the substrate. As a result, processing defects of the substrate during the development processing in the third processing unit are prevented. 
     (17) 
     The second processing unit may include an inert gas supplier that applies drying processing to the substrate by supplying an inert gas onto the substrate. The use of the inert gas prevents a chemical influence upon the film on the substrate while reliably drying the substrate. 
     (18) 
     The fluid nozzle may function as the inert gas supplier. In this case, the inert gas is supplied onto the substrate from the fluid nozzle to apply drying processing to the substrate. This obviates the need to provide the inert gas supplier separately from the fluid nozzle. As a result, the cleaning and drying processings can be reliably applied to the substrate with a simple structure. 
     (19) 
     The second processing unit may further include a substrate holding device that holds the substrate substantially horizontally, and a rotation-driving device that rotates the substrate held on the substrate holding device about an axis vertical to the substrate. 
     In the second processing unit, the substrate is held on the substrate holding device substantially horizontally, and the substrate is rotated about the axis vertical to the substrate by the rotation-driving device. Then, the fluid mixture containing the inert gas and the cleaning liquid is supplied onto the substrate from the fluid nozzle, followed by the supply of the inert gas from the inert gas supplier. 
     In this case, since the substrate is rotated as the inert gas is supplied onto the substrate, the fluid mixture remaining on the substrate after the cleaning of the substrate is efficiently removed. This reliably prevents the deposits of particles and the like from remaining on the substrate and the substrate is reliably dried. This reliably prevents the component of the photosensitive material from being eluted in the liquid attached to the substrate during the transport of the substrate after the drying processing to the third processing unit. This reliably prevents the deformation of the exposure pattern formed on the photosensitive film. As a result, processing defects of the substrate during the development processing in the third processing unit are reliably prevented. 
     (20) 
     The second processing unit may supply the inert gas so that the fluid mixture supplied onto the substrate from the fluid nozzle is removed from the substrate as the fluid mixture moves outwardly from the center of the substrate. 
     This prevents the fluid mixture from remaining on the center of the substrate, thus reliably preventing the generation of dry marks (dry stains) on a surface of the substrate. In addition, this reliably prevents the component of the photosensitive material from being eluted in the liquid attached to the substrate during the transport of the substrate after the drying processing to the third processing unit. This reliably prevents the deformation of the exposure pattern formed on the photosensitive film. As a result, processing defects of the substrate during the development processing in the third processing unit are reliably prevented. 
     (21) 
     The second processing unit may further include a rinse liquid supplier that supplies a rinse liquid onto the substrate, after the supply of the fluid mixture from the fluid nozzle and before the supply of the inert gas from the inert gas supplier. 
     This allows the fluid mixture to be reliably cleaned away by the rinse liquid, thus reliably preventing the deposits of particles and the like from remaining on the substrate. 
     (22) 
     The fluid nozzle may function as the rinse liquid supplier. In this case, the rinse liquid is supplied from the fluid nozzle. This obviates the need to provide the rinse liquid supplier separately from the fluid nozzle. As a result, the cleaning and drying processings can be reliably applied to the substrate with a simple structure. 
     (23) 
     The second processing unit may supply the inert gas so that the rinse liquid supplied onto the substrate from the rinse liquid supplier is removed from the substrate as the rinse liquid moves outwardly from the center of the substrate. 
     This prevents the rinse liquid from remaining on the center of the substrate, thus reliably preventing the generation of dry marks on the surface of the substrate. In addition, this reliably prevents the component of the photosensitive material from being eluted in the liquid attached to the substrate during the transport of the substrate after the drying processing to the third processing unit. This reliably prevents the deformation of the exposure pattern formed on the photosensitive film. As a result, processing defects of the substrate during the development processing in the third processing unit are reliably prevented. 
     (24) 
     The fluid nozzle may have a liquid flow passage through which a liquid flows, a gas flow passage through which a gas flows, a liquid discharge port having an opening that communicates with the liquid flow passage, and a gas discharge port that is provided near the liquid discharge port and has an opening that communicates with the gas flow passage. 
     In this case, the liquid flows through the liquid flow passage, and is discharged from the liquid discharge port, while the gas flows through the gas flow passage, and is discharged from the gas discharge port. The liquid and gas are mixed outside the fluid nozzle. A mist-like fluid mixture is thus generated. 
     In this way, the fluid mixture is generated by mixing the liquid and the gas outside the fluid nozzle. This obviates the need to provide space for mixing the liquid and the gas inside the fluid nozzle. As a result, the size of the fluid nozzle can be reduced. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of a substrate processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the substrate processing apparatus in  FIG. 1  that is seen from the +X direction; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the substrate processing apparatus in  FIG. 1  that is seen from the −X direction; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram for use in illustrating the configuration of the drying processing unit; 
         FIGS. 5(   a ),  5 ( b ), and  5 ( c ) are diagrams for use in illustrating the operation of the drying processing unit; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of a nozzle in which a nozzle for cleaning processing and a nozzle for drying processing are formed integrally; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram showing another example of the nozzle for drying processing; 
         FIGS. 8(   a ),  8 ( b ), and  8 ( c ) are diagrams for use in illustrating a method of applying drying processing to a substrate using the nozzle in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram showing another example of the nozzle for drying processing; 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram showing another example of the drying processing unit; 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram for use in illustrating a method of applying drying processing to the substrate using the drying processing unit in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram for use in illustrating the configuration and operation of the interface transport mechanism; 
         FIG. 13  is a longitudinal cross section showing an example of the internal structure of a two-fluid nozzle for use in cleaning and drying processings; and 
         FIGS. 14(   a ),  14 ( b ), and  14 ( c ) are diagrams for use in illustrating a method of applying drying processing to the substrate using the two-fluid nozzle in  FIG. 13 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A substrate processing apparatus according to embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. A substrate as used in the specification includes a semiconductor substrate, a substrate for a liquid crystal display, a substrate for a plasma display, a glass substrate for a photomask, a substrate for an optical disk, a substrate for a magnetic disk, a substrate for a magneto-optical disk, and a substrate for a photomask. 
     (1) First Embodiment 
     (1-1) Configuration of Substrate Processing Apparatus 
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of a substrate processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  and each of the subsequent drawings is accompanied by the arrows that indicate X, Y, and Z directions perpendicular to one another, for clarification of positions. The X and Y directions are perpendicular to each other in a horizontal plane, and the Z direction corresponds to the vertical direction. In each of the directions, the direction toward an arrow is defined as +direction, and the opposite direction is defined as −direction. The rotation direction about the Z direction is defined as θ direction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the substrate processing apparatus  500  includes an indexer block  9 , an anti-reflection film processing block  10 , a resist film processing block  11 , a development processing block  12 , a drying processing block  13 , and an interface block  14 . An exposure device  15  is arranged adjacent to the interface block  14 . The exposure device  15  applies exposure processing to substrates W by a liquid immersion method. 
     Each of the indexer block  9 , anti-reflection film processing block  10 , resist film processing block  11 , development processing block  12 , drying processing block  13 , and interface block  14  will hereinafter be referred to as a processing block. 
     The indexer block  9  includes a main controller (controller)  30  for controlling the operation of each processing block, a plurality of carrier platforms  40 , and an indexer robot IR. The indexer robot IR has a hand IRH for receiving and transferring the substrates W. 
     The anti-reflection film processing block  10  includes thermal processing groups  100 ,  101  for anti-reflection film, a coating processing group  50  for anti-reflection film, and a first central robot CR 1 . The coating processing group  50  is arranged opposite to the thermal processing groups  100 ,  101  with the first central robot CR 1  therebetween. The first central robot CR 1  has hands CRH 1 , CRH 2  provided one above the other for receiving and transferring the substrates W. 
     A partition wall  17  is arranged between the indexer block  9  and the anti-reflection film processing block  10  for shielding an atmosphere. The partition wall  17  has substrate platforms PASS 1 , PASS 2  provided closely one above the other for receiving and transferring the substrates W between the indexer block  9  and the anti-reflection film processing block  10 . The upper substrate platform PASS 1  is used in transferring the substrates W from the indexer block  9  to the anti-reflection film processing block  10 , and the lower substrate platform PASS 2  is used in transferring the substrates W from the anti-reflection film processing block  10  to the indexer block  9 . 
     Each of the substrate platforms PASS 1 , PASS 2  has an optical sensor (not shown) for detecting the presence or absence of a substrate W. This enables a determination to be made whether or not a substrate W is on the substrate platform PASS 1 , PASS 2 . In addition, each of the substrate platforms PASS 1 , PASS 2  has a plurality of support pins secured thereto. Note that each of substrate platforms PASS 3  to PASS 12  mentioned below similarly has such optical sensor and support pins. 
     The resist film processing block  11  includes thermal processing groups  110 ,  111  for resist film, a coating processing group  60  for resist film, and a second central robot CR 2 . The coating processing group  60  is arranged opposite to the thermal processing groups  110 ,  111  with the second central robot CR 2  therebetween. The second central robot CR 2  has hands CRH 3 , CRH 4  provided one above the other for receiving and transferring the substrates W. 
     A partition wall  18  is arranged between the anti-reflection film processing block  10  and the resist film processing block  11  for shielding an atmosphere. The partition wall  18  has substrate platforms PASS 3 , PASS 4  provided closely one above the other for receiving and transferring the substrates W between the anti-reflection film processing block  10  and the resist film processing block  11 . The upper substrate platform PASS 3  is used in transferring the substrates W from the anti-reflection film processing block  10  to the resist film processing block  11 . The lower substrate platform PASS 4  is used in transferring the substrates W from the resist film processing block  11  to the anti-reflection film processing block  10 . 
     The development processing block  12  includes thermal processing groups  120 ,  121  for development, a development processing group  70 , and a third central robot CR 3 . The development processing group  70  is arranged opposite to the thermal processing groups  120 ,  121  with the third central robot CR 3  therebetween. The third central robot CR 3  has hands CRH 5 , CRH 6  provided one above the other for receiving and transferring the substrates W. 
     A partition wall  19  is arranged between the resist film processing block  11  and the development processing block  12  for shielding an atmosphere. The partition wall  19  has substrate platforms PASS 5 , PASS 6  provided closely one above the other for receiving and transferring the substrates W between the resist film processing block  11  and the development processing block  12 . The upper substrate platform PASS 5  is used in transferring the substrates W from the resist film processing block  11  to the development processing block  12 , and the lower substrate platform PASS 6  is used in transferring the substrates W from the development processing block  12  to the resist film processing block  11 . 
     The drying processing block  13  includes thermal processing groups  130 ,  131  for post-exposure bake (PEB), a drying processing group  80 , and a fourth central robot CR 4 . The thermal processing group  131 , adjacent to the interface block  14 , has substrate platforms PASS 9 , PASS 10  as described below. The drying processing group  80  is arranged opposite to the thermal processing groups  130 ,  131  with the fourth central robot CR 4  therebetween. The fourth central robot CR 4  has hands CRH 7 , CRH 8  provided one above the other for receiving and transferring the substrates W. 
     A partition wall  20  is arranged between the development processing block  12  and the drying processing block  13  for shielding an atmosphere. The partition wall  20  has substrate platforms PASS 7 , PASS 8  provided closely one above the other for receiving and transferring the substrates W between the development processing block  12  and the drying processing block  13 . The upper substrate platform PASS 7  is used in transferring the substrates W from the development processing block  12  to the drying processing block  13 , and the lower substrate platform PASS 8  is used in transferring the substrates W from the drying processing block  13  to the development processing block  12 . 
     The interface block  14  includes a fifth central robot CR 5 , a send buffer unit SBF, an interface transport mechanism IFR, and edge exposure units EEW. A return buffer unit RBF, and substrate platforms PASS 11 , PASS 12  are provided under the edge exposure units EEW as described below. The fifth central robot CR 5  has hands CRH 9 , CRH 10  provided one above the other for receiving and transferring the substrates W, the interface transport mechanism IFR has hands H 5 , H 6  provided one above the other for receiving and transferring the substrates W. 
     In the substrate processing apparatus  500  of the embodiment, the indexer block  9 , the anti-reflection film processing block  10 , resist film processing block  11 , development processing block  12 , drying processing block  13 , and interface block  14  are sequentially arranged in parallel along the Y direction. 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the substrate processing apparatus  500  in  FIG. 1  that is seen from the +X direction. 
     The coating processing group  50  in the anti-reflection film processing block  10  (see  FIG. 1 ) includes a vertical stack of three coating units BARC. Each of the coating units BARC comprises a spin chuck  51  for rotating a substrate W while holding the substrate W in a horizontal attitude by suction, and a supply nozzle  52  for supplying coating liquid for an anti-reflection film to the substrate W held on the spin chuck  51 . 
     The coating processing group  60  in the resist film processing block  11  (see  FIG. 1 ) includes a vertical stack of three coating units RES. Each of the coating units RES comprises a spin chuck  61  for rotating a substrate W while holding the substrate W in a horizontal attitude by suction, and a supply nozzle  62  for supplying coating liquid for a resist film to the substrate W held on the spin chuck  61 . 
     The development processing group  70  in the development processing block  12  (see  FIG. 1 ) includes a vertical stack of five development processing units DEV. Each of the development processing units DEV comprises a spin chuck  71  for rotating a substrate W while holding the substrate W in a horizontal attitude by suction, and a supply nozzle  72  for supplying development liquid to the substrate W held on the spin chuck  71 . 
     The drying processing group  80  in the drying processing block  13  (see  FIG. 1 ) includes a vertical stack of three drying processing units DRY. The drying processing units DRY apply cleaning and drying processings to the substrates W. The drying processing units DRY will be described in detail below. 
     The interface block  14  includes a vertical stack of two edge exposure units EEW, a return buffer unit RBF, and substrate platforms PASS 11 , PASS 12 , and also includes the fifth central robot CR 5  (see  FIG. 1 ) and interface transport mechanism IFR. Each of the edge exposure units EEW comprises a spin chuck  98  for rotating a substrate W while holding the substrate W in a horizontal attitude by suction, and a light irradiator  99  for subjecting a peripheral edge of the substrate W held on the spin chuck  98  to exposure. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the substrate processing apparatus  500  in  FIG. 1  that is seen from the −X direction. 
     In the anti-reflection film processing block  10 , the thermal processing group  100  includes a vertical stack of two cooling units (cooling plates) CP, and the thermal processing group  101  includes a vertical stack of four heating units (hot plates) HP and two cooling units CP. The thermal processing group  100  also includes a local controller LC on top thereof for controlling the temperatures of the cooling units CP, and the thermal processing group  101  also includes a local controller LC on top thereof for controlling the temperatures of the heating units HP and the cooling units CP. 
     In the resist film processing block  11 , the thermal processing group  110  includes a vertical stack of four cooling units CP, and the thermal processing group  111  includes a vertical stack of four heating units HP. The thermal processing group  110  also includes a local controller LC on top thereof for controlling the temperatures of the cooling units CP, and the thermal processing group  111  also includes a local controller LC on top thereof for controlling the temperatures of the heating units HP. 
     In the development processing block  12 , the thermal processing group  120  includes a vertical stack of four cooling units CP, and the thermal processing group  121  includes a vertical stack of four heating units HP. The thermal processing group  120  also includes a local controller LC on top thereof for controlling the temperatures of the cooling units CP, and the thermal processing group  121  also includes a local controller LC for controlling the temperatures of the heating units HP. 
     In the drying processing block  13 , the thermal processing group  130  includes a vertical stack of two heating units HP and the two cooling units CP, and the thermal processing group  131  includes a vertical stack of four heating units HP, a cooling units CP, substrate platforms PASS 9 , PASS 10  and a cooling units CP. The thermal processing group  130  also includes a local controller LC on top thereof for controlling the temperatures of the heating units HP and the cooling units CP, and the thermal processing group  131  also includes a local controller LC for controlling the temperatures of the heating units HP and the cooling units CP. 
     The numbers of the coating units BARC, RES, the development processing units DEV, the drying processing units DRY, the heating unit HP and the cooling unit CP may suitably be changed according to the processing speed of each processing block. 
     (1-2) Operation of Substrate Processing Apparatus 
     Next, the operation of the substrate processing apparatus  500  in this embodiment will be described. 
     Carriers C for storing the substrates W in multiple stages are mounted on the carrier platforms  40 , respectively, in the indexer block  9 . The indexer robot IR takes out a substrate W yet to be processed which is stored in a carrier C using the hand IRH. Then, the indexer robot IR moves in the ±X direction while rotating in the ±θ direction to transfer the unprocessed substrate W onto the substrate platform PASS 1 . 
     Although FOUPs (Front Opening Unified Pods) are adopted as the carriers C in this embodiment, SMIF (Standard Mechanical Inter Face) pods or OCs (Open Cassettes) that expose stored substrates W to outside air may also be used, for example. In addition, although linear-type transport robots that move their hands forward or backward by sliding them linearly to a substrate W are used as the indexer robot IR, the first central robot CR 1  to the fifth central robot CR 5 , and the interface transport mechanism IFR, multi joint type transport robots that linearly move their hands forward and backward by moving their joints may also be used. 
     The unprocessed substrate W that has been transferred onto the substrate platform PASS 1  is received by the first central robot CR 1  in the anti-reflection film processing block  10 . The first central robot CR 1  carries the substrate W to the thermal processing group  100  or  101 . 
     After this, the first central robot CR 1  takes out the thermally treated substrate W from the thermal processing group  100  or  101 , and then carries the substrate W to the coating processing group  50 . The coating processing group  50  forms a coating of an anti-reflection film over a lower portion of a photoresist film using a coating unit BARC, in order to reduce potential standing waves and halation generated during exposure. 
     The first central robot CR 1  subsequently takes out the substrate W after the coating processing from the coating processing group  50 , and carries the substrate W to the thermal processing group  100  or  101 . Then, the first central robot CR 1  takes out the thermally treated substrate W from the thermal processing group  100  or  101 , and transfers the substrate W to the substrate platform PASS 3 . 
     The substrate Won the substrate platform PASS 3  is received by the second central robot CR 2  in the resist film processing block  11 . The second central robot CR 2  carries the substrate W to the thermal processing group  110  or  111 . 
     The second central robot CR 2  then takes out the thermally treated substrate W from the thermal processing group  110  or  111 , and transfers the substrate W to the coating processing group  60 . The coating processing group  60  forms a coating of a resist film over the substrate W coated with the anti-reflection film by a coating unit RES. 
     After this, the second central robot CR 2  takes out the substrate W after the coating processing from the coating processing group  60 , and carries the substrate W to the thermal processing group  110  or  111 . Then, the second central robot CR 2  takes out the thermally treated substrate W from the thermal processing group  110  or  111 , and transfers the substrate W onto the substrate platform PASS 5 . 
     The substrate W on the substrate platform PASS 5  is received by the third central robot CR 3  in the development processing block  12 . The third central robot CR 3  transfers the substrate W onto the substrate platform PASS 7 . 
     The substrate W on the substrate platform PASS 7  is received by the fourth central robot CR 4  in the drying processing block  13 . The fourth central robot CR 4  transfers the substrate W onto the substrate platform PASS 9 . 
     The substrate Won the substrate platform PASS 9  is received by the fifth central robot CR 5  in the interface block  14 . The fifth central robot CR 5  transfers the substrate W to an edge exposure unit EEW. The edge exposure unit EEW applies exposure processing to the peripheral portion of the substrate W. 
     Then, the fifth central robot CR 5  takes out the substrate W after the edge exposure processing from the edge exposure unit EEW, and transfers the substrate W onto the substrate platform PASS 11 . The substrate W on the substrate platform PASS 11  is carried into the exposure device  15  by the interface transport mechanism IFR. After exposure processing has been applied to the substrate W by the exposure device  15 , the interface transport mechanism IFR transports the substrate W to a drying processing group  80 . The drying processing group  80  applies cleaning and drying processings to the substrates W as described above. After drying processings have been applied to the substrate W by the drying processing group  80 , the interface transport mechanism IFR transfers the substrate W to the substrate platform PASS 12 . The interface transport mechanism IFR will be described below. 
     The substrate Won the substrate platform PASS 12  is received by the fifth central robot CR 5  in the interface block  14 . The fifth central robot CR 5  carries the substrate W into the thermal processing group in the drying processing block  13 . The thermal processing group  131  applies a post-exposure baketo the substrate W. It is noted that the post-exposure bake may be performed by the thermal processing group  130 . 
     After this, the fifth central robot CR 5  takes out the substrate W from the thermal processing group  131 , and transfers the substrate W onto the substrate platform PASS 10 . The substrate W on the substrate platform PASS 10  is received by the fourth central robot CR 4  in the drying processing block  13 . The fourth central robot CR 4  transfers the substrate W onto the substrate platform PASS 8 . 
     The substrate W on the substrate platform PASS 8  is received by the third central robot CR 3  in the development processing block  12 . The third central robot CR 3  carries the substrate W into the development processing group  70 . The development processing group  70  applies development processing to the exposed substrate W. After this, the third central robot CR 3  takes out the substrate W after the development processing from the development processing group  70 , and transfers the substrate W to the thermal processing group  120  or  121 . 
     Then, the third central robot CR 3  takes out the thermally treated substrate W from the thermal processing group  120  or  121 , and transfers the substrate W onto the substrate platform PASS 6 . The substrate W on the substrate platform PASS 6  is transferred onto the substrate platform PASS 4  by the second central robot CR 2  in the resist film processing block  11 . The substrate W on the substrate platform PASS 4  is transferred onto the substrate platform PASS 2  by the first central robot CR 1  in the anti-reflection film processing block  10 . 
     The substrate W on the substrate platform PASS 2  is stored in a carrier C by the indexer robot IR in the indexer block  9 . Each of the processings to the substrate W in the substrate processing apparatus  500  is thus completed. 
     (1-3) Drying Processing Unit 
     The aforementioned drying processing units DRY are now described in detail with reference to the drawings. 
     (1-3a) Configuration of Drying Processing Unit 
     The configuration of each of the drying processing units DRY is first described.  FIG. 4  is a diagram for use in illustrating the configuration of the drying processing unit DRY. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the drying processing unit DRY comprises a spin chuck  621  for rotating a substrate W about the vertical rotation axis passing through the center of the substrate W while horizontally holding the substrate W. 
     The spin chuck  621  is secured to an upper end of a rotation shaft  625 , which is rotated via a chuck rotation-drive mechanism  636 . An air suction passage (not shown) is formed in the spin chuck  621 . With the substrate W being mounted on the spin chuck  621 , air inside the air suction passage is discharged, so that a lower surface of the substrate W is sucked onto the spin chuck  621  by vacuum, and the substrate W is held in a horizontal attitude. 
     A first rotation motor  660  is arranged outside the spin chuck  621 . The first rotation motor  660  is connected to a first rotation shaft  661 . The first rotation shaft  661  is coupled to a first arm  662 , which extends in the horizontal direction, and whose end is provided with a nozzle  650  for cleaning processing. 
     The first rotation shaft  661  is rotated by the first rotation motor  660 , so that the first arm  662  swings. This causes the nozzle  650  to move above the substrate W held on the spin chuck  621 . 
     A supply pipe  663  for cleaning processing is arranged so as to pass through the inside of the first rotation motor  660 , first rotation shaft  661 , and first arm  662 . The supply pipe  663  is connected to a cleaning liquid supply source R 1  and a rinse liquid supply source R 2  through a valve Va and a valve Vb, respectively. Controlling the opening and closing of the valves Va, Vb allows the selection of the processing liquid supplied to the supply pipe  663  and adjustments of the amount thereof. In the configuration of  FIG. 4 , when the valve Va is opened, cleaning liquid is supplied to the supply pipe  663 , and when the valve Vb is opened, rinse liquid is supplied to the supply pipe  663 . 
     The cleaning liquid or the rinse liquid is supplied to the nozzle  650  through the supply pipe  663  from the cleaning liquid supply source R 1  or the rinse liquid supply source R 2 . The cleaning liquid or the rinse liquid is thus supplied to a surface of the substrate W. Examples of the cleaning liquid may include pure water, a pure water solution containing a complex (ionized), or a fluorine-based chemical solution. Examples of the rinse liquid may include pure water, carbonated water, hydrogen water, electrolytic ionic water, and HFE (hydrofluoroether). 
     A second rotation motor  671  is arranged outside the spin chuck  621 . The second rotation motor  671  is connected to a second rotation shaft  672 . The second rotation shaft  672  is coupled to a second arm  673 , which extends in the horizontal direction, and whose end is provided with a nozzle  670  for drying processing. 
     The second rotation shaft  672  is rotated by the second rotation motor  671 , so that the second arm  673  swings. This causes the nozzle  670  to move above the substrate W held on the spin chuck  621 . 
     A supply pipe  674  for drying processing is arranged so as to pass through the inside of the second rotation motor  671 , second rotation shaft  672 , and second arm  673 . The supply pipe  674  is connected to an inert gas supply source R 3  through a valve Vc. Controlling the opening and closing of the valve Vc allows adjustments to be made to the amount of the inert gas supplied to the supply pipe  674 . 
     The inert gas is supplied to the nozzle  670  through the supply pipe  674  from the inert gas supply source R 3 . The inert gas is thus supplied to the surface of the substrate W. Nitrogen gas (N 2 ), for example, may be used as the inert gas. 
     When supplying the cleaning liquid or the rinse liquid onto the surface of the substrate W, the nozzle  650  is positioned above the substrate. When supplying the inert gas onto the surface of the substrate W, the nozzle  650  is retracted to a predetermined position. 
     When supplying the cleaning liquid or the rinse liquid onto the surface of the substrate W, the nozzle  670  is retracted to a predetermined position. When supplying the inert gas onto the surface of the substrate W, the nozzle  670  is positioned above the substrate W. 
     The substrate W held on the spin chuck  621  is housed in a processing cup  623 . A cylindrical partition wall  633  is provided inside the processing cup  623 . A discharge space  631  is formed so as to surround the spin chuck  621  for discharging the processing liquid (i.e., cleaning liquid or rinse liquid) used in processing the substrate W. Also, a liquid recovery space  632  is formed between the processing cup  623  and the partition wall  633 , so as to surround the discharge space  631 , for recovering the processing liquid used in processing the substrate W. 
     The discharge space  631  is connected with a discharge pipe  634  for directing the processing liquid to a liquid discharge processing device (not shown), while the liquid recovery space  632  is connected with a recovery pipe  635  for directing the processing liquid to a recovery processing device (not shown). 
     A guard  624  is provided above the processing cup  623  for preventing the processing liquid on the substrate W from splashing outward. The guard  624  is configured to be rotation-symmetric with respect to the rotation shaft  625 . A liquid discharge guide groove  641  with a V-shaped cross section is formed in a circular shape inwardly of an upper end portion of the guard  624 . 
     Also, a liquid recovery guide  642  having an inclined surface that inclines down outwardly is formed inwardly of a lower portion of the guard  624 . A partition wall housing groove  643  for receiving the partition wall  633  in the processing cup  623  is formed in the vicinity of the upper end of the liquid recovery guide  642 . 
     This guard  624  is provided with a guard lifting mechanism (not shown) composed of a ball screw mechanism or the like. The guard lifting mechanism lifts and lowers the guard  624  between a recovery position in which the liquid recovery guide  642  is positioned opposite to outer edges of the substrate W held on the spin chuck  621  and a discharge position in which the liquid discharge guide groove  641  is positioned opposite to the outer edges of the substrate W held on the spin chuck  621 . When the guard  624  is in the recovery position (i.e., the position of the guard shown in  FIG. 4 ), the processing liquid splashed out from the substrate W is directed by the liquid recovery guide  642  to the liquid recovery space  632 , and then recovered through the recovery pipe  635 . On the other hand, when the guard  624  is in the discharge position, the processing liquid splashed out from the substrate W is directed by the liquid discharge guide groove  641  to the discharge space  631 , and then discharged through the discharge pipe  634 . With the above-described configuration, discharge and recovery of the processing liquid is performed. 
     (1-3b) Operation of Drying Processing Unit 
     The processing operation of the drying processing unit DRY having the above-described configuration is next described. Note that the operation of each component in the drying processing unit DRY described below is controlled by the main controller  30  in  FIG. 1 . 
     When the substrate W is initially carried into the drying processing unit DRY, the guard  624  is lowered, and the interface transport mechanism IFR in  FIG. 1  places the substrate W onto the spin chuck  621 . The substrate W on the spin chuck  621  is held by suction. 
     Next, the guard  624  moves to the aforementioned discharge position, and the nozzle  650  moves above the center of the substrate W. Then, the rotation shaft  625  rotates, causing the substrate W held on the spin chuck  621  to rotate. After this, the cleaning liquid is discharged onto the top surface of the substrate W from the nozzle  650 . This provides cleaning of the substrate W. Note that the supply of the cleaning liquid onto the substrate W may be executed by a soft spray method using a two-fluid nozzle. An example of the drying processing unit DRY using a two-fluid nozzle will be described in the second embodiment. 
     After the elapse of a predetermined time, the supply of the cleaning liquid is stopped, and the rinse liquid is discharged from the nozzle  650 . The cleaning liquid on the substrate W is thus cleaned away. 
     After the elapse of another predetermined time, the rotation speed of the rotation shaft  625  decreases. This reduces the amount of the rinse liquid that is shaken off by the rotation of the substrate W, resulting in the formation of a liquid layer L of the rinse liquid over the entire surface of the substrate W, as shown in  FIG. 5(   a ). Alternatively, the rotation of the rotation shaft  625  may be stopped to form the liquid layer L over the entire surface of the substrate W. 
     The embodiment employs the configuration in which the nozzle  650  is used for supplying both the cleaning liquid and the rinse liquid, so as to supply both the cleaning liquid and the rinse liquid from the nozzle  650 . However, a configuration may also be employed in which nozzles are separately provided for supplying the cleaning liquid and the rinse liquid. 
     In order to prevent the rinse liquid from flowing to the back surface of the substrate W during the supply of the rinse liquid, pure water may be supplied to the back surface of the substrate W from a back rinsing nozzle (not shown). 
     Note that when using pure water as the cleaning liquid for cleaning the substrate W, it is not necessary to supply the rinse liquid. 
     The supply of the rinse liquid is subsequently stopped, and the nozzle  650  retracts to the predetermined position while the nozzle  670  moves above the center of the substrate W. The inert gas is subsequently discharged from the nozzle  670 . This causes the rinse liquid around the center of the substrate W to move toward a peripheral portion of the substrate W, leaving the liquid layer L only on the peripheral portion, as shown in  FIG. 5(   b ). 
     Next, as the number of revolutions of the rotation shaft  625  (see  FIG. 4 ) increases, the nozzle  670  gradually moves from above the center of the substrate W to above the peripheral portion thereof, as shown in  FIG. 5(   c ). This causes a great centrifugal force acting on the liquid layer L on the substrate W while allowing the inert gas to be sprayed toward the entire surface of the substrate W, thereby ensuring the removal of the liquid layer L on the substrate W. As a result, the substrate W can be reliably dried. 
     Then, the supply of the inert gas is stopped, and the nozzle  670  retracts to the predetermined position while the rotation of the rotation shaft  625  is stopped. After this, the guard  624  is lowered, and the interface transport mechanism IFR in  FIG. 1  carries the substrate W out of the drying processing unit DRY. The processing operation of the drying processing unit DRY is thus completed. 
     It is preferred that the position of the guard  624  during cleaning and drying processings is suitably changed according to the necessity of the recovery or discharge of the processing liquid. 
     (1-3c) Another Example of Drying Processing Unit 
     Although the drying processing unit DRY shown in  FIG. 4  includes the nozzle  650  for cleaning processing and the nozzle  670  for drying processing separately, the nozzle  650  and the nozzle  670  may also be formed integrally, as shown in  FIG. 6 . This obviates the need to move each of the nozzle  650  and the nozzle  670  separately during the cleaning or drying processing to the substrate W, thereby simplifying the driving mechanism. 
     A nozzle  770  for drying processing as shown in  FIG. 7  may also be used instead of the nozzle  670  for drying processing. 
     The nozzle  770  in  FIG. 7  extends vertically downward, and also has branch pipes  771 ,  772  that extend obliquely downward from sides thereof. A gas discharge port  770   a  is formed at the lower end of the branch pipe  771 , a gas discharge port  770   b  is formed at the lower end of the nozzle  770 , and a gas discharge port  770   c  is formed at the lower end of the branch pipe  772 , each for discharging an inert gas. The discharge port  770   b  discharges an inert gas vertically downward, and the discharge ports  770   a ,  770   c  each discharge an inert gas obliquely downward, as indicated by the arrows in  FIG. 7 . That is to say, the nozzle  770  discharges the inert gas so as to increase the spraying area downwardly. 
     Now, a drying processing unit DRY using the nozzle  770  for drying processing applies drying processing to the substrate W as will now be described. 
       FIGS. 8(   a ),  8 ( b ),  8 ( c ) are diagrams for use in illustrating a method of applying drying processing to the substrate W using the nozzle  770 . 
     Initially, a liquid layer L is formed on the surface of the substrate W by the method as described in  FIG. 6 , and then the nozzle  770  moves above the center of the substrate W, as shown in  FIG. 8(   a ). After this, an inert gas is discharged from the nozzle  770 . This causes the rinse liquid on the center of the substrate W to move to the peripheral portion of the substrate W, leaving the liquid layer L only on the peripheral portion of the substrate W, as shown in  FIG. 8(   b ). At the time, the nozzle  770  is brought close to the surface of the substrate W so as to reliably move the rinse liquid present on the center of the substrate W. 
     Next, as the number of revolutions of the rotation shaft  625  (see  FIG. 4 ) increases, the nozzle  770  moves upward as shown in  FIG. 8(   c ). This causes a great centrifugal force acting on the liquid layer L on the substrate W while increasing the area to which the inert gas is sprayed on the substrate W. As a result, the liquid layer L on the substrate W is reliably removed. Note that the nozzle  770  can be moved up and down by lifting and lowering the second rotation shaft  672  via a rotation shaft lifting mechanism (not shown) provided to the second rotation shaft  672  in  FIG. 4 . 
     Alternatively, a nozzle  870  for drying processing as shown in  FIG. 9  may be used instead of the nozzle  770 . The nozzle  870  in  FIG. 9  has a discharge port  870   a  whose diameter gradually increases downward. This discharge port  870   a  discharges an inert gas vertically downward and obliquely downward as indicated by the arrows in  FIG. 9 . That is, similarly to the nozzle  770  in  FIG. 7 , the nozzle  870  discharges the inert gas so as to increase the spraying area downwardly. Consequently, drying processing similar to that using the nozzle  770  can be applied to the substrate W using the nozzle  870 . 
     A drying processing unit DRYa as shown in  FIG. 10  may also be used instead of the drying processing unit DRY shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     The drying processing unit DRYa in  FIG. 10  is different from the drying processing unit DRY in  FIG. 4  as described below. 
     The drying processing unit DRYa in  FIG. 10  includes above the spin chuck  621   a  disk-shaped shield plate  682  having an opening through the center thereof. A support shaft  689  extends vertically downward from around an end of an arm  688 , and the shield plate  682  is mounted at a lower end of the support shaft  689  so as to oppose the top surface of the substrate W held on the spin chuck  621 . 
     A gas supply passage  690  that communicates with the opening of the shield plate  682  is inserted into the inside of the support shaft  689 . A nitrogen gas (N 2 ), for example, is supplied into the gas supply passage  690 . 
     The arm  688  is connected with a shield plate lifting mechanism  697  and a shield plate rotation-driving mechanism  698 . The shield plate lifting mechanism  697  lifts and lowers the shield plate  682  between a position close to the top surface of the substrate W held on the spin chuck  621  and a position upwardly away from the spin chuck  621 . 
     During the drying processing to the substrate W in the drying processing unit DRYa in  FIG. 10 , with the shield plate  628  brought close to the substrate W as shown in  FIG. 11 , an inert gas is supplied to clearance between the substrate W and the shield plate  682  from the gas supply passage  690 . This allows the inert gas to be efficiently supplied from the center of the substrate W to the peripheral portion thereof, thereby ensuring the removal of the liquid layer L on the substrate W. 
     Although in the above-described embodiment, the substrate W is subjected to drying processing by spin drying in the drying processing unit DRY, the substrate W may be subjected to drying processing by other methods such as a reduced pressure drying method or an air knife drying method. 
     Although in the above-described embodiment, the inert gas is supplied from the nozzle  670  with the liquid layer L of the rinse liquid being formed, the following method may be applied when the liquid layer L of the rinse liquid is not formed or the rinse liquid is not used. That is, the liquid layer of cleaning liquid is shaken off once by rotating the substrate W, and an inert gas is then immediately supplied from the nozzle  670  to thoroughly dry the substrate W. 
     (1-3d) Effects of Drying Processing Unit 
     As described above, in the substrate processing apparatus  500  according to the embodiment, the substrate W is subjected to the drying processing by the drying processing group  80  after the exposure processing by the exposure device  15 . The liquid attached to the substrate W during the exposure processing is thus removed in the drying processing unit. This prevents a liquid from dropping in the substrate processing apparatus  500  as the substrate W is carried from the drying processing group  80  to the indexer block  9  through the interface block  14 , drying processing block  13 , development processing block  12 , resist film processing block  11  and anti-reflection film processing block  10 . As a result, in the substrate processing apparatus  500 , operational troubles such as abnormalities in the electric system are prevented. 
     In addition, the drying processing unit DRY applies the drying processing to the substrate W by spraying the inert gas to the substrate W from the center to the peripheral portion thereof while rotating the substrate W. This reliably removes the cleaning liquid and the rinse liquid on the substrate W, which reliably prevents particles and the like in the atmosphere from attaching to the cleaned substrate W. This prevents contamination of the substrate W reliably while preventing the generation of dry marks on the surface of the substrate W. 
     In addition, the cleaning liquid and the rinse liquid are reliably prevented from remaining on the cleaned substrate W, so that the resist component are reliably prevented from being eluted in the cleaning liquid and the rinse liquid during the transport of the substrate W from the drying processing unit DRY to the development processing group  70 . This prevents the deformation of an exposure pattern formed on the resist film. As a result, the accuracy of line width can be reliably prevented from decreasing during the development processing. 
     Further, the drying processing unit DRY applies the cleaning processing to the substrate W before the drying processing. Thus, even if a liquid attaches to the substrate during exposure, and particles and the like in the atmosphere adhere to the substrate during the transport of the substrate W from the exposure device  15  to the drying processing unit DRY, the deposits can be reliably removed. 
     As a result of the foregoing, processing defects of the substrate W are reliably prevented. 
     Furthermore, since the substrate processing apparatus according to the embodiment has the structure in which the drying processing block  13  is added to an existing substrate processing apparatus, operational troubles of the substrate processing apparatus  500  and contamination of the substrate W are prevented at low cost. 
     (1-4) Interface Transport Mechanism 
     The interface transport mechanism IFR is next described.  FIG. 12  is a diagram for use in illustrating the configuration and operation of the interface transport mechanism IFR. 
     (1-4a) Configuration and operation of Interface Transport Mechanism 
     The configuration of the interface transport mechanism IFR is first described. As shown in  FIG. 12 , a movable base  31  in the interface transport mechanism IFR is threadably mounted to a screwed shaft  22 . The screwed shaft  32  is rotatably supported with support bases  33  so as to extend in the X direction. One end of the screwed shaft  32  is provided with a motor M 1 , which causes the screwed shaft  32  to rotate and the movable base  31  to horizontally move in the ±X direction. 
     A hand support base  34  is mounted on the movable base  31  so as to rotate in the ±θ direction while moving up and down in the ±Z direction. The hand support base  34  is coupled to a motor M 2  in the movable base  31  through a rotation shaft  35 , and rotated by the motor M 2 . Two hands H 5 , H 6  for holding the substrate W in a horizontal attitude are mounted to the hand support base  34  one above the other so as to move forward and backward. 
     The operation of the interface transport mechanism IFR is next described. The operation of the interface transport mechanism IFR is controlled by the main controller  30  in  FIG. 1 . 
     The interface transport mechanism IFR initially rotates the hand support base  34  at the position A in  FIG. 12  while lifting the hand support base  34  in the +Z direction, to allow the upper hand H 5  to enter the substrate platform PASS 9 . When the hand H 5  has received the substrate W in the substrate platform PASS 9 , the interface transport mechanism IFR retracts the hand H 5  from the substrate platform PASS 9 , and lowers the hand support base  34  in the −Z direction. 
     The interface transport mechanism IFR subsequently moves in the −X direction, and rotates the hand support base  34  at the position B while allowing the hand H 5  to enter a substrate inlet  15   a  in the exposure device  15  (see  FIG. 1 ). After the hand H 5  has carried the substrate W into the substrate inlet  15   a , the interface transport mechanism IFR retracts the hand H 5  from the substrate inlet  15   a.    
     Then, the interface transport mechanism IFR allows the hand H 6  to enter a substrate outlet  15   b  in the exposure device  15  (see  FIG. 1 ). When the hand H 6  has received the substrate W after the exposure processing from the substrate outlet  15   b , the interface transport mechanism IFR retracts the hand H 6  from the substrate outlet  15   b.    
     After this, the interface transport mechanism IFR moves in the +X direction, and rotates the hand support base  34  at the position A while lifting the hand support base  24  in the +Z direction, to allow the hand H 6  to enter the drying processing units DRY in the drying processing group  80 . After the hand  6  has carried the substrate W into a drying processing unit DRY, the interface transport mechanism IFR retracts the hand H 6  from the drying processing unit DRY. 
     Then, the interface transport mechanism IFR allows the hand H 5  to enter the drying processing unit DRY, then the hand H 5  receives the substrate W therefrom. After this, the interface transport mechanism IFR retracts the hand H 5  from the drying processing unit DRY. 
     The interface transport mechanism IFR then lifts or lowers the hand support base  34  in the ±Z direction while rotating the hand support base  34 , to allow the hand H 5  to enter the substrate platform PASS 12 , and transfer the substrate W therein. 
     If the exposure device  15  is not capable of receiving the substrate W during the transport of the substrate W from the substrate platform PASS 11  to the exposure device  15 , the substrate W is transported to the buffer SBF once, and wait there until the exposure device  15  becomes capable of receiving the substrate W. 
     Also, if the drying processing group  80  is not capable of receiving the substrate W during the transport of the substrate W from the exposure device  15  to the drying processing group  80 , the substrate W is transported to the return buffer unit RBF 2  once, and wait until the drying processing group  80  becomes capable of receiving the substrate W. 
     (1-4b) Effects of Interface Transport Mechanism 
     As described above, in this embodiment, the hand H 5  of the interface transport mechanism IFR is used during the transport of the substrate W from the substrate platform PASS 11  to the exposure device  15  and from the drying processing group  80  to the substrate platform PASS 12 , while the hand H 6  is used during the transport of the substrate W from the exposure device  15  to the drying processing group  80 . That is, the hand H 6  is used for transporting the substrate W to which a liquid is attached after the exposure processing, while the hand H 5  is used for transporting the substrate W to which no liquid is attached before the exposure processing. This prevents the liquid on the substrate W from attaching to the hand H 5 . 
     Moreover, since the hand H 6  is arranged below the hand H 5 , even if a liquid drops from the hand H 6  and the substrate W held thereon, the liquid will not attach to the hand H 5  and the substrate W held thereon. 
     As a result of the foregoing, the liquid is reliably prevented from attaching to the substrate W after the drying processing, so that operational troubles of the substrate processing apparatus  500  due to drops of liquid in the substrate processing apparatus  500  are more reliably prevented. 
     Moreover, a liquid is prevented from attaching to the substrate W before the exposure processing, which prevents particles and the like in the atmosphere from attaching to the substrate W before the exposure processing. This prevents the contamination in the exposure device  15 , so that processing defects of the substrate W in the exposure device  15  are reduced. 
     (1-4c) Modifications of First Embodiment 
     In this embodiment, the substrates W are transported from the substrate platform PASS 11  to the exposure device  15 , from the exposure device  15  to the drying processing group  80 , and from the drying processing group  80  to the substrate platform PASS 12  by the single interface transport mechanism IFR. However, the substrates W may also be carried using a plurality of interface transport mechanisms. 
     In addition, the operation and configuration of the interface transport mechanism IFR may be modified according to the positions of the substrate inlet  15   a  and the substrate outlet  15   b  in the exposure device  15 . For example, when the substrate inlet  15   a  and the substrate outlet  15   b  in the exposure device  15  are positioned opposite to position A in  FIG. 12 , the screwed shaft  32  in  FIG. 12  may be omitted. 
     (2) Second Embodiment 
     (2-1) Drying Processing Unit Using Two-Fluid Nozzle 
     A substrate processing apparatus according to a second embodiment is different from the substrate processing apparatus according to the first embodiment in using a two-fluid nozzle shown in  FIG. 13  in the drying processing unit DRY, instead of the nozzle  650  for cleaning processing and the nozzle  670  for drying processing in  FIG. 4 . The configuration of the substrate processing apparatus according to the second embodiment is otherwise similar to that of the substrate processing apparatus according to the first embodiment. 
       FIG. 13  is a longitudinal cross section showing an example of the internal structure of the two-fluid nozzle  950  for use in cleaning and drying processings. The two-fluid nozzle  950  is capable of selectively discharging a gas, a liquid, and a fluid mixture of the gas and liquid. 
     The two-fluid nozzle  950  in this embodiment is so-called an external-mix type. The external-mix type two-fluid nozzle  950  shown in  FIG. 13  comprises an inner body portion  311  and an outer body portion  312 . The inner body portion  311  is composed of quartz or the like, and the outer body portion  312  is composed of a fluororesin such as PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene). 
     A liquid passage  311   b  is formed along the central axis of the inner body portion  311 . The liquid passage  311   b  is provided with the supply pipe  663  shown in  FIG. 4  for cleaning processing. Cleaning liquid or rinse liquid supplied from the supply pipe  663  is thus introduced into the liquid passage  311   b.    
     A liquid discharge port  311   a  that communicates with the liquid passage  311   b  is formed at a lower end of the inner body portion  311 . The inner body portion  311  is inserted into the outer body portion  312 . Upper ends of the inner body portion  311  and the outer body portion  312  are joined together, while lower ends thereof are not joined. 
     A cylindrical gas passage  312   b  is formed between the inner body portion  311  and the outer body portion  312 . A gas discharge port  312   a  that communicates with the gas passage  312   b  is formed at the lower end of the outer body portion  312 . The supply pipe  674  shown in  FIG. 4  for drying processing is mounted to a peripheral wall of the outer body portion  312 , so as to communicate with the gas passage  312   b . An inert gas supplied from the supply pipe  674  is thus introduced into the gas passage  312   b.    
     The diameter of the gas passage  312  decreases downward in the vicinity of the gas discharge port  312   a . As a result, the velocity of flow of the inert gas is accelerated, and the inert gas is discharged from the gas discharge port  312   a.    
     The cleaning liquid discharged from the liquid discharge port  311   a  and the inert gas discharged from the gas discharge port  312   a  are mixed outside near the lower end of the two-fluid nozzle  950  to generate a mist-like fluid mixture that contains fine droplets of the cleaning liquid. 
       FIGS. 14(   a ),  14 ( b ),  14 ( c ) are diagrams for use in illustrating a method of applying drying processing to the substrate W using the two-fluid nozzle  950  in  FIG. 13 . 
     The substrate W is initially held on the spin chuck  621  by suction, as shown in  FIG. 4 , and rotates together with the rotation of the rotation shaft  625 . The rotation speed of the rotation shaft  625  is, e.g., about 500 rpm. 
     In this state, as shown in  FIG. 14(   a ), the two-fluid nozzle  950  discharges the mist-like fluid mixture of the cleaning liquid and the inert gas onto the top surface of the substrate W while gradually moving from above the center of the substrate W to above the peripheral portion thereof. In this way, the fluid mixture is sprayed onto the entire surface of the substrate W from the two-fluid nozzle  950  to clean the substrate W. 
     Since the fluid mixture discharged from the two-fluid nozzle  950  contains fine droplets of the cleaning liquid, any contaminants attached on the surface of the substrate W can be stripped off, even if the surface has irregularities. The contaminants on the surface of the substrate W can thus be reliably removed. Moreover, even if the films on the substrate W have low wettability, the fine droplets of the cleaning liquid strip off the contaminants on the surface of the substrate W, so that the contaminants can be reliably removed from the surface of the substrate W. 
     In addition, adjusting the flow rate of the inert gas makes it easy to adjust the detergency in cleaning the substrate W. Thus, when the organic films (i.e., a resist film and a resist cover film) on the substrate W are prone to damage, damage to the organic films on the substrate W can be prevented by weakening the detergency. Tough contaminants on the surface of the substrate W can also be removed reliably by strengthening the detergency. By adjusting the detergency in this way according to the properties of the organic films on the substrate W and the degree of contamination, it is possible to prevent damage to the organic films on the substrate W and the substrate W is cleaned reliably. 
     Next, the supply of the fluid mixture is stopped, and the rotation speed of the rotation shaft  625  decreases while the rinse liquid is discharged from the two-fluid nozzle  960  onto the substrate W, as shown in  FIG. 14(   b ). The rotation speed of the rotation shaft  625  is, e.g., about 10 rpm. A liquid layer L of the rinse liquid is thus formed on the entire surface of the substrate W. Alternatively, the rotation of the rotation shaft  625  may be stopped to form the liquid layer L on the entire surface of the substrate W. When pure water is used as the cleaning liquid in the fluid mixture for cleaning the substrate W, the supply of the rinse liquid may be omitted. 
     After the formation of the liquid layer L, the supply of the rinse liquid is stopped. Then, the inert gas is discharged onto the substrate W from the two-fluid nozzle  950 , as shown in  FIG. 14(   c ). This causes the cleaning liquid on the center of the substrate W to move to the peripheral portion of the substrate W, leaving the liquid layer L only on the peripheral portion. 
     Then, the rotation speed of the rotation shaft  625  increases. The rotation speed of the rotation shaft  625  is, e.g., about 100 rpm. This causes a great centrifugal force acting on the liquid layer L on the substrate W, allowing the removal of the liquid layer L on the substrate W. As a result, the substrate W is dried. 
     The two-fluid nozzle  950  may gradually move from above the center of the substrate W to above the peripheral portion thereof when removing the liquid layer L on the substrate W. This allows the inert gas to be sprayed to the entire surface of the substrate W, which ensures the removal of the liquid layer L on the substrate W. As a result, the substrate W can be reliably dried. 
     (2-2) Other Example of Drying Processing Unit Using Two-Fluid Nozzle 
     Although the two-fluid nozzle  950  in  FIG. 13  is used to supply the rinse liquid to the substrate W, a separate nozzle may also be used for supplying the rinse liquid to the substrate W. 
     Moreover, although the two-fluid nozzle  950  in  FIG. 13  is used to supply the inert gas to the substrate W when removing the liquid layer L on the substrate W, a separate nozzle may also be used for supplying the inert gas to the substrate W. 
     (2-3) Effects of Second Embodiment 
     In the substrate processing apparatus  500  according to the second embodiment, the drying processing unit DRY applies the cleaning processing to the substrate W after the exposure processing by the exposure device  15 . In this case, the residual droplets attached on the substrate W after the exposure processing, the eluate from the organic films on the substrate, and the like are removed by supplying the fluid mixture of the cleaning liquid and the inert gas from the two-fluid nozzle  950  in the drying processing unit DRY. 
     Since the fluid mixture discharged from the two-fluid nozzle  950  contains fine droplets of the cleaning liquid, the contaminants attached on the surface of the substrate W is removed by the fine droplets of the cleaning liquid, even if the surface of the substrate W has irregularities. The contaminants on the surface of the substrate W is thus reliably removed. Moreover, even if the films on the substrate W have low wettability, the fine droplets of the cleaning liquid remove the contaminants on the surface of the substrate W, so that the contaminants can be reliably removed from the surface of the substrate W. As a result of the foregoing, processing defects of the substrate due to the contamination after the exposure processing are prevented. 
     In addition, adjusting the flow rate of the inert gas makes it easy to adjust the detergency in cleaning the substrate W. Accordingly, when the organic films on the substrate (i.e, resist film and resist cover film) are prone to damage, damage to the organic films on the substrate W can be prevented by weakening the detergency. Tough contaminants on the surface of the substrate W can also be removed reliably by strengthening the detergency. By adjusting the detergency in this way according to the properties of the organic films on the substrate W and the degree of contamination, it is possible to prevent damage to the organic films on the substrate W and the substrate W is cleaned reliably. 
     Moreover, the drying processing unit DRY applies the drying processing to the substrate W after the cleaning processing. This removes the cleaning liquid supplied onto the substrate W, thus preventing the cleaning liquid from dropping in the substrate processing apparatus  500  as the substrate W is carried from the drying processing group  80  to the indexer block  9  through the interface block  14 , drying processing block  13 , development processing block  12 , resist film processing block  11 , and anti-reflection film processing block  10 . As a result, in the substrate processing apparatus  500 , operational troubles such as abnormalities in the electric system are prevented. 
     Furthermore, the drying processing unit DRY applies the drying processing to the substrate W by spraying the inert gas to the substrate W from the center to the peripheral portion thereof while rotating the substrate W. This reliably removes the cleaning liquid and the rinse liquid on the substrate W, which prevents particles and the like in the atmosphere from attaching to the cleaned substrate W. This prevents contamination of the substrate W reliably while preventing the generation of dry marks on the surface of the substrate W. 
     Furthermore, the cleaning liquid and the rinse liquid are reliably prevented from remaining on the cleaned substrate W, so that the resist component are reliably prevented from being eluted in the cleaning liquid and the rinse liquid during the transport of the substrate W from the drying processing unit DRY to the development processing group  70 . This prevents the deformation of an exposure pattern formed on the resist film. As a result, the accuracy of line width can be reliably prevented from decreasing during the development processing. 
     As a result of the foregoing, processing defects of the substrate W are prevented. 
     In the second embodiment, the external-mix type two-fluid nozzle  950  is used. This external-mix type two-fluid nozzle  950  generates the fluid mixture by mixing the cleaning liquid and the inert gas outside the two-fluid nozzle  950 . The inert gas and the cleaning liquid flow through the separate flow passages, respectively, in the two-fluid nozzle  950 . This prevents the cleaning liquid from remaining in the gas passage  312   b , allowing the inert gas to be discharged independently from the two-fluid nozzle  950 . Also, the rinse liquid can be discharged independently from the two-fluid nozzle  950  by supplying the rinse liquid from the supply pipe  663 . This allows the fluid mixture, the inert gas, and the rinse liquid to be selectively discharged from the two-fluid nozzle  950 . 
     Furthermore, the use of the two-fluid nozzle  950  obviates the need to provide nozzles for supplying the cleaning liquid or the rinse liquid to the substrate W and for supplying the inert gas to the substrate W separately. This provides reliable cleaning and drying of the substrate W with a simple structure. 
     Furthermore, since the substrate processing apparatus according to the embodiment has the structure in which the drying processing block  13  is added to an existing substrate processing apparatus, operational troubles of the substrate processing apparatus  500  and contamination of the substrate W are prevented at low cost. 
     (3) Correspondence Between Each Claim Element and Each Component in Embodiments 
     In the embodiments, each of the anti-reflection film processing block  10 , the resist film processing block  11 , the development processing block  12 , and the drying processing block  13  corresponds to a processing section; the interface block  14  corresponds to an interface; the coating unit RES corresponds to a first processing unit; the resist film processing block  11  corresponds to a first processing block; each of the drying processing units DRY, DRYa corresponds to a second processing unit; the drying processing block  13  corresponds to a second processing block; the development processing units DEV corresponds to a third processing unit; the development processing block  12  corresponds to a third processing block; the coating unit BARC corresponds to a fourth processing unit; the anti-reflection film processing block  10  corresponds to a fourth processing block; and the indexer block  9  corresponds to a indexer. 
     The heating unit HP and the cooling unit CP correspond to first to fourth thermal processing units; the second central robot CR 2  corresponds to a first transport unit; the fourth transport robot CR 4  corresponds to a second transport unit; the third transport robot CR 3  corresponds to a third transport unit; the first transport robot CR 1  corresponds to a fourth transport unit; the fifth transport robot CR 5  corresponds to a fifth transport unit; the interface transport mechanism IFR corresponds to a sixth transport unit; the hand H 5  corresponds to a first holder; the hand H 6  corresponds to a second holder; and the each of the substrate platforms PASS 11 , PASS 12  correspond to a platform. 
     The spin chuck  621  corresponds to a substrate holding device; the rotation shaft  625  and the chuck rotation-drive mechanism  636  correspond to a rotation-driving device; the nozzle  650  for cleaning processing corresponds to a cleaning liquid supplier and a rinse liquid supplier; and each of the nozzles  670 ,  770 ,  870  for drying processing corresponds to an inert gas supplier. 
     The two-fluid nozzle  950  corresponds to a fluid nozzle; the liquid passage  311   b  corresponds to a liquid flow passage; and the gas passage  312   b  corresponds to a gas flow passage. 
     Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.