Patent Publication Number: US-2022230857-A1

Title: Substrate processing apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/214,731, filed Dec. 10, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/677,587, filed on Aug. 15, 2017 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,224,226), which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/434,255, filed on Mar. 29, 2012 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,799,542), which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/477,639, filed Apr. 21, 2011, with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and claims the benefit of priority of the Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-079859, filed on Mar. 31, 2011, with the Japan Patent Office, the entire disclosure of each of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a substrate processing apparatus including a vacuum processing chamber, a substrate transportation chamber in an atmospheric pressure environment, and a load lock chamber. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In a process of forming a wire structure, there is a case of performing plasma etching to form a damascene-structure concave portion constituted by a groove or a via hole on various layers formed on, for example, a semiconductor wafer (“wafer”). 
     A plasma etching apparatus that performs the plasma etching process is configured, for example, by placing an upper electrode and a placing table serving as a lower electrode in a processing chamber under a vacuum state. While the wafer is placed in the placing table, plasma is generated and ions are injected into the placing table by applying a high-frequency power at a predetermined frequency to the upper electrode and the placing table through a matching unit to thereby perform an etching process. An electrostatic chuck in which the wafer is placed on the surface thereof and a focus ring surrounding an outer periphery of the wafer placed in the electrostatic chuck are installed in the placing table. The electrostatic chuck serves to control the temperature of the wafer by adsorbing the wafer and transferring heat to the wafer. The focus ring is installed to distribute plasma on the surface of the wafer with high uniformity and etched together with the wafer by the ions. 
     However, the electrostatic chuck and the wafer have different thermal expansion coefficients, such that when the wafer is placed on the electrostatic chuck, the electrostatic chuck and the wafer rub against each other due to the difference between the thermal expansion coefficients. As a result, when the processing of the wafer is repeatedly continued, the surface of the electrostatic chuck is gradually planarized to increase a contact area between the placing table and the wafer, such that a transfer rate of heat to the wafer is changed, and as a result, an etching characteristic of the wafer is changed. Further, when the etching process of the wafer is repeatedly performed, the focus ring is also etched, and as a result, the shape of the corresponding focus ring is gradually changed. The change in the shape results in changing an injection direction of the ions or a formation state of an electric field, thereby changing the etching characteristic of the wafer. 
     In order to remove an adherend attached to a wall surface or the placing table within the processing chamber after etching, cleaning may be performed, in which a gas supplied into the processing chamber turned into plasma to remove the adherend. Protecting the electrostatic chuck by placing a dummy wafer on the electrostatic chuck has been considered in the cleaning. However, it has been considered that the cleaning is performed without using the dummy wafer in order to save time or reduce the cost required to transport the dummy wafer into the processing chamber. However, when the dummy wafer is not placed as such, the surface of the electrostatic chuck may be chamfered by the cleaning, such that the transfer rate of the heat to the wafer is changed, thus, the etching characteristic of the wafer is changed. 
     As such, the state of the surface of the electrostatic chuck and the shape of the focus ring are changed due to the consumption resulting from the etching process, and as a result, the etching characteristic is changed. Therefore, a precise state management is required. When the shape is out of an allowable range, an action such as an immediate replacement is needed. 
     However, since the electrostatic chuck and the focus ring are installed in the vacuum state as described above, installing a sensor in the processing chamber is considered in order to check the states of the electrostatic chuck and the focus ring in the vacuum state. However, plasma may be misaligned due to the installation of the sensor. Therefore, based on a tendency of the change in the state of the surface of the electrostatic chuck and the shape of the focus ring in the related art, usable durations (life-spans) of the electrostatic chuck and the focus ring are set, and when a plasma etching duration exceeds the set durations, the processing chamber is opened to the atmosphere to replace the electrostatic chuck and the focus ring. Further, when the change in etching characteristic in the wafer is verified, the processing chamber is opened and the states of the electrostatic chuck and the focus ring are checked. When the shape is out of the allowable range, the electrostatic chuck and the focus ring may be replaced. 
     However, since the change degrees in the shapes of the electrostatic chuck and the focus ring are different according to the difference in etching conditions, it is difficult to manage the states of the electrostatic chuck and the focus ring precisely by using a technique of setting the usable durations as described above. In the technique of verifying the change in etching characteristic of the wafer, and thereafter, replacing the electrostatic chuck and the focus ring, the wafer is wasted. As a result, it is difficult to acquire the stable etching characteristic over a long period. In the technique, since the processing chamber is opened to the atmosphere when replacing the electrostatic chuck and the focus ring, an etching process cannot be accomplished until a desired vacuum degree is acquired by vacuum-exhausting the processing chamber after the processing chamber is opened to the atmosphere. Therefore, productivity of the plasma etching apparatus may deteriorate. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-16447 discloses a substrate processing apparatus having the plasma etching apparatus, but a technique of solving the problem is not disclosed. 
     SUMMARY 
     An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a substrate processing apparatus, including: a transportation chamber maintained in an atmospheric environment where a substrate is transported; a vacuum processing chamber connected with the transportation chamber through a load lock chamber to perform a vacuum processing of the substrate; a substrate placing table installed in the vacuum processing chamber and having a body part and a surface part that is attachable to/detachable from the body part; a storage unit installed in the load lock chamber or the transportation chamber and configured to receive the surface pan; and a transportation mechanism configured to transport the substrate from the transportation chamber to the vacuum processing chamber through the load lock chamber and transport the surface part between the storage unit and the body part of the vacuum processing chamber. 
     The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a longitudinal side view of a substrate processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a longitudinal side view of a stocker installed in the substrate processing apparatus. 
         FIG. 3  is a longitudinal front view of an upper part of the stocker. 
         FIG. 4  is a transverse plan view of the stocker. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a placing table installed in the stocker. 
         FIG. 6  is a longitudinal side view of an alignment module installed in the substrate processing apparatus. 
         FIG. 7  is a longitudinal side view of an alignment module installed in the substrate processing apparatus. 
         FIG. 8  is a longitudinal side view of a plasma etching module installed in the substrate processing apparatus. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a placing table installed in the plasma etching module. 
         FIG. 10  is a process diagram illustrating processing performed in the substrate processing apparatus. 
         FIG. 11  is a process diagram illustrating processing performed in the substrate processing apparatus. 
         FIG. 12  is a process diagram illustrating processing performed in the substrate processing apparatus. 
         FIG. 13  is a process diagram illustrating processing performed in the substrate processing apparatus. 
         FIG. 14  is a process diagram illustrating processing performed in the substrate processing apparatus. 
         FIG. 15  is a process diagram illustrating processing performed in the substrate processing apparatus. 
         FIG. 16  is a process diagram illustrating processing performed in the substrate processing apparatus. 
         FIG. 17  is a process diagram illustrating processing performed in the substrate processing apparatus. 
         FIG. 18  is a process diagram illustrating processing performed in the substrate processing apparatus. 
         FIG. 19  is a process diagram illustrating processing performed in the substrate processing apparatus. 
         FIG. 20  is a process diagram illustrating an example of another processing in a substrate processing apparatus. 
         FIG. 21  is a process diagram illustrating an example of another processing in a substrate processing apparatus. 
         FIG. 22  is a process diagram illustrating an example of another processing in a substrate processing apparatus. 
         FIG. 23  is a plan view illustrating a configuration of another substrate processing apparatus. 
         FIG. 24  is a plan view illustrating an example of another transportation mechanism of a substrate processing apparatus. 
         FIG. 25  is a perspective view illustrating a placing table corresponding to the transportation mechanism. 
         FIG. 26  is a process diagram illustrating a transportation example in the transportation mechanism. 
         FIG. 27  is a longitudinal side view of another placing table installed in the plasma etching module. 
         FIG. 28  is a plan view of the placing table. 
         FIG. 29  is a longitudinal side view of the placing table. 
         FIG. 30  is a plan view of the placing table. 
         FIG. 31  is a longitudinal side view of yet another placing table. 
         FIG. 32  is a longitudinal side view of the placing table. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which form a part hereof. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawing, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. 
     The present disclosure has been made in an effort to check a state of a surface part of a substrate placing table installed in a vacuum processing chamber or shorten a stop time of vacuum processing by replacing the corresponding surface part and manage the state of the surface part precisely. 
     An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a substrate processing apparatus, including: a transportation chamber maintained in a atmospheric environment where a substrate is transported; a vacuum processing chamber connected with the transportation chamber through a load lock chamber to perform vacuum processing of the substrate; a substrate placing table installed in the vacuum processing chamber and having a body part and a surface part that is attachable to/detachable from the body part; a storage unit installed in the load lock chamber or the transportation chamber and configured to receive the surface part; and a transportation mechanism configured to transport the substrate from the transportation chamber to the vacuum processing chamber through the load lock chamber and transport the surface part between the storage unit and the body part of the vacuum processing chamber. 
     Detailed aspects of the present disclosure are as follows. 
     (1) A vacuum transportation chamber in a vacuum state interposed between the load lock chamber and the vacuum processing chamber is installed.
 
(2) The storage unit is partitioned from the load lock chamber and the vacuum processing chamber to be connected to the vacuum transportation chamber, instead of being installed in the load lock chamber or the transportation chamber, and the substrate processing apparatus further includes a gate valve configured to switch opening/closing of the storage unit with respect to the vacuum transportation chamber so that the inside of the storage unit is converted from a vacuum state to an atmospheric environment while the vacuum transportation chamber is in the vacuum state.
 
(3) The surface part has a placement surface where the substrate is placed, the storage unit has a holding unit for holding the surface part, and the transportation mechanism transports the substrate from the storage unit to a vacuum processing chamber while placing the substrate in the surface part.
 
(4) An alignment mechanism aligning the holding unit before transporting the surface part and the substrate to the holding unit is installed in order to place the substrate at a predetermined position of the placement surface.
 
(5) The vacuum processing chamber is used to plasma-process the substrate.
 
(6) The surface part includes at least one of an electrostatic chuck for adsorbing the substrate and a focus ring for surrounding an outer periphery of the substrate and controlling a state of plasma.
 
(7) The storage unit includes a first storage unit and a second storage unit that are partitioned from each other, and the gate valve is installed in each of the first storage unit and the second storage unit and is configured to be opened/closed independently from each other.
 
     According to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, a surface part of a substrate placing table installed in a vacuum processing chamber is configured to be attachable to/detachable from a body portion and installed in a load lock chamber or an atmospheric transportation chamber or transported to and from a storage unit connected to a vacuum transportation chamber. Therefore, since the surface part can be replaced even though the vacuum processing chamber is not opened to the atmosphere, a halt time of vacuum processing in the vacuum processing chamber can be impeded. Further, a state of the surface part can be checked with the naked eye or the state of the surface part can be checked by installing various sensors in the storage unit. Therefore, the state of the surface part can be precisely managed, and furthermore, an etching characteristic of a substrate can be prevented from deteriorating. 
     First Exemplary Embodiment 
     The configuration of a substrate processing apparatus  1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to a plan view of  FIG. 1 . Substrate processing apparatus  1  includes an atmospheric transportation chamber  11  that carries a wafer W as a substrate for fabricating a semiconductor device into substrate processing apparatus  1 , load lock chambers  12 ,  12 , a vacuum transportation chamber  13 , and for example, four plasma etching modules  4 . Atmospheric transportation chamber  11  is connected to vacuum transportation chamber  13  through load lock chambers  12 ,  12 . Plasma etching modules  4  are connected to vacuum transportation chamber  13  to be partitioned from load lock chambers  12 ,  12 . 
     Atmospheric transportation chamber  11  is configured in an atmospheric environment, and a carrier placing table  14  in which a carrier C storing, for example, twenty five sheets of wafers W is placed is installed on a front surface of atmospheric transportation chamber  11 . A gate door GT which is opened/closed together with a cover of carrier C in connection with carrier C is installed on a front wall of atmospheric transportation chamber  11 . A stocker  2  serving as a storage unit is installed on one side of atmospheric transportation chamber  1  and an alignment chamber  3  configuring an alignment mechanism is installed on the other side. Stocker  2  and alignment chamber  3  will be described below. 
     A first transportation mechanism  15  is installed in atmospheric transportation chamber  11 , and wafer W and an electrostatic chuck  51  and a focus ring  52  as described below are transferred among carrier C, load lock chamber  12 , alignment chamber  3  and stocker  2 . First transportation mechanism  15  includes a base portion  15   a , a multi-link arm  15   b  and a support portion  15   c . A base end of arm  15   b  is connected to base portion  15   a , and a front end of arm  15   b  is connected to support portion  15   c . Base portion  15   a  is movable horizontally, and further, is configured to be elevatable. Support portion  5   c  has a U shape in a planar view and supports wafer W, electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52 . 
     A stage, in which wafer W is placed, and elevatable support pins are installed in load lock chamber  12 , and wafer W may be transferred between first transportation mechanism  15  and a second transportation mechanism  16  as described below by the support pins. A vacuum pump and a leak valve (not shown) are installed in load lock chamber  12  to switch an atmospheric environment and a vacuum environment to each other. That is, since the environments of atmospheric transportation chamber  11  and vacuum transportation chamber  13  are maintained as the atmospheric environment and the vacuum environment, respectively, atmospheres of load lock chambers  12 ,  12  are switched in order to transport wafer W between the transportation chambers. 
     Vacuum transportation chamber  13  is maintained in the vacuum environment as described above and has second transportation mechanism  16 . Second transportation mechanism  16  is configured substantially similar to first transportation mechanism  15 , but two arms and support portions are installed in one base portion. A base portion, arms and support portions of second transportation mechanism  16  are represented by  16   a ,  16   b  and  16   c , respectively. 
     G in the figure represents an openable/closable gate valve (partition valve) partitioning between the respective chambers and between plasma etching modules  4  and the vacuum transportation chamber. In general, gate valve G is closed, and is opened when wafer W is transported between the respective chambers and between each module and vacuum transportation chamber  13 . 
     Next, stocker  2  will be described with reference to a longitudinal cross-sectional view of  FIG. 2  and a transverse plan view of  FIG. 3 . Stocker  2  has a case  21 , and an opening portion  22  through which first transportation mechanism  15  enters and a shutter  23  that opens/closes opening portion  22  are installed in case  21 . Several electrostatic chucks  51  and focus rings  52  constituting placing table  43  of wafer W in plasma etching module  4  are received in case  21 . A side wall  21   a  configuring case  21  and installed at an opposite side to atmospheric transportation chamber  11  is configured to, for example, be transparent for a user to check the states of electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  with naked eyes. Side wall  21   a  is configured to be attachable/detachable and enables electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  in case  21  to be replaced. 
     Herein, configurations of electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  will be described with reference to a perspective view of  FIG. 4 . Electrostatic chuck  51  serves to place and adsorptively hold wafer W and transfer heat to wafer W during processing in plasma etching module  4 , and has a disk shape. A step portion is formed on the surface thereof, and a center  511  is higher than a periphery  512 . A hole  513  penetrated by support pins  27  as described below, and a hole  514  for circulating gas to a rear surface of wafer W during processing wafer W are formed at center  511  in a thickness direction of electrostatic chuck  51 . A hole  515  penetrated by support pins  28  as described below is provided at the periphery  512  in the thickness direction. Holes  513 ,  515  are arranged three by three in a peripheral direction of electrostatic chuck  51 . A plurality of holes  514  are installed. Reference numeral  516  in the figure represents a notch formed toward the inside from an outer periphery of electrostatic chuck  51 . 
     Focus ring  52  is made of, for example, silicon as in wafer W, serves to prevent the state of plasma from being misaligned at the periphery and the center of wafer W during processing in plasma etching module  4 , and has a ring shape. A step is formed on the surface of focus ring  52  and an outer periphery  522  is higher than an inner periphery  521 . The material of focus ring  52  is not limited to silicon, and may be made of, for example, silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ) or silicon carbide (SiC). Focus ring  52  is configured to be placed on periphery  512  of electrostatic chuck  51 . Outer periphery  522  of focus ring  52  has a size enough to surround an outer periphery of wafer W. 
     Referring back to stocker  2 , a rack  24  for stacking and supporting a plurality of electrostatic chucks  51  and focus ring  52  is installed in an upper part of case  21 .  FIG. 5  is a longitudinal cross-section view acquired by viewing the upper part of case  21  from opening portion  22  of case  21 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , rack  24  is horizontally installed seen from opening portion  22 , and supports edges of electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52 . First transportation mechanism  15  that enters through opening portion  22  supports rear surfaces of electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52 , and may receive electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  from corresponding rack  24 . 
     A circular holding unit  25  is installed below rack  24  as shown in  FIGS. 2 to 4 . Electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52 , and wafer W that is transported from carrier C, are transported to holding unit  25  to be integrated with each other. The integrated members are transported to plasma etching module  4  by first transportation mechanism  15  and second transportation mechanism  16 . Three holes  26   a  (only two are shown in  FIG. 2  for convenience) that are formed in a thickness direction of holding unit  25  are placed in a circumferential direction of holding unit  25 . Support pins  26  supporting the rear surface of electrostatic chuck  51  are installed in each hole  26   a , and each support pin  26  is configured to be elevatable by a driving mechanism  26   b  shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     Three holes  27   a  are placed more inward on holding unit  25  than holes  26   a , in the same manner as holes  26   a  are placed. Support pins  27  are installed in each hole  27   a , and each support pin  27  is configured to be elevatable by a driving mechanism  27   b . As shown in  FIG. 4 , support pins  26  support the rear surface of wafer W through hole  513  of electrostatic chuck  51 . Three holes  28   a  are placed more outward on holding unit  25  than holes  26   a , in the same manner as holes  26   a  are placed. Support pins  28  are installed in each hole  28   a , and each support pin  28  is configured to be elevatable by a driving mechanism  28   b . As shown in  FIG. 4 , support pins  28  support the rear surface of focus ring  52  through hole  515  of electrostatic chuck  51 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the configuration of alignment chamber  3  will be described. A horizontal rotation stage  31  where wafer W, electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  are placed, respectively, is installed in alignment chamber  3 . Rotation stage  31  vacuum-adsorbs and horizontally supports wafer W, electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52 .  FIG. 6  illustrates a state in which electrostatic chuck  51  is placed in rotation stage  31 , and  FIG. 7  illustrates a state in which focus ring  52  is placed in rotation stage  31 . 
     Rotation stage  31  is rotated around a vertical axis while maintaining a horizontal state by a driving mechanism  32 . For example, three (only two are shown in the figure for convenience) support pins  33  are installed in a circumferential direction of rotation stage  31  below rotation stage  31 . Support pins  33  are elevated by an elevation mechanism  34  to protrude on rotation stage  31  through a hole  35  provided in a thickness direction of rotation stage  31 . Wafer W, electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  are transferred between rotation stage  31  and first transportation mechanism  15  by support pins  33 . 
     A light transmitting unit  36  is installed in an outer upper part of rotation stage  31 , and a light receiving unit  37  is installed therebelow. As shown in  FIG. 6 , while rotation stage  31  where electrostatic chuck  51  is placed rotates, light transmitting unit  36  transmits light to light receiving unit  37 . Based on a change in the amount of light which is not blocked by the periphery of electrostatic chuck  51  but projected to light receiving unit  37 , a control unit  100  as described below detects a center position of electrostatic chuck  51  on rotation stage  31  and a direction of a notch  516 , and places notch  516  in a predetermined direction by rotating rotation stage  31 . Control unit  100  may detect the center position of wafer W by performing the same processing even with respect to wafer W. Control unit  100  detects a center position of focus ring  52  by performing the same processing with respect to focus ring  52  as well. 
     First transportation mechanism  15  receives each member where the center position is detected and the direction is adjusted as described above so that the detected center position is positioned at a predetermined position with respect to support portion  15   c  of first transportation mechanism  15 . By transferring electrostatic chuck  51  as such, the aforementioned position of each hole and position of each support pin of holding unit  25  are aligned when the electrostatic chuck is placed in holding unit  25 . When electrostatic chuck  51  is transported to plasma etching module  4 , the position of hole  513  in electrostatic chuck  51 , the position of an electrode  518  on the bottom of electrostatic chuck  51  as described below, and the position of hole  514  for circulating gas may be aligned with respect to the position of support pins  46  of a body part  44 , the position of a surface electrode  531 , and the position of a gas ejection hole  48 , respectively, which are described below. That is, when the positions are aligned with respect to support portion  15   c , the positions are aligned with respect to holding unit  25  and plasma etching module  4  as well. Focus ring  52  and wafer W are also transferred based on the center position as described above to be accurately placed in electrostatic chuck  51 . 
     Next, plasma etching module  4  will be described with reference to a longitudinal side view of  FIG. 8 . Plasma etching module  4  is a magnetron type reactive ion etching apparatus. Plasma etching module  4  includes an airtight processing chamber  41 . In processing chamber  41 , an upper electrode  42  which also serves as a gas shower head for introducing processing gas for etching and a placing table  43  which also serves as a lower electrode are installed in opposition to each other. 
     Placing table  43  is constituted by, for example, circular body part  44 , and electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  as described above, and electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  are installed on the surface of body part  44 . Three holes  45   a  are formed in body part  44  in a thickness direction of body part  44  (only two are shown in  FIG. 8  for convenience) and respective holes  45   a  are arranged in a circumferential direction of body part  44 . Support pins  45  are installed in each of holes  45   a , and are configured to be elevatable by a driving mechanism  45   b  installed below processing chamber  41 . By this configuration, as shown in  FIG. 9 , wafer W, electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  that are integrated with holding unit  25  of stocker  2  are transferred between second transportation mechanism  16  and body part  44 . Thereafter, wafer W, electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  that are integrated with each other are referred to as a target transport body  50 . 
     Three holes  46   a  are formed in body part  44  in the thickness direction thereof, and holes  46   a  are arranged in a circumferential direction of body part  44  more inside body part  44  than holes  45   a . Support pins  46  are installed in each of holes  46   a , and are configured to be elevatable by an elevation mechanism  46   b  installed below processing chamber  41 . While electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  are placed in body part  44 , wafer W is pushed up by support pins  46  to transfer corresponding wafer W between second transportation mechanism  16  and placing table  43 . Reference numeral  47  in  FIG. 8  represents a bellows for keeping airtightness in processing chamber  41 . 
     A heater (not shown) is installed in body part  44 , and the temperature of wafer W is controlled by heat of the corresponding heater through electrostatic chuck  51 . Gas ejection hole  48  connected to a heat transfer gas supplying unit  48   a  is installed in body part  44 . The heat transfer gas composed of, for example, helium gas, which is ejected from gas ejection hole  48 , is supplied to a minute gap between corresponding electrostatic chuck  51  and wafer W through hole  514  of electrostatic chuck  51  to perform a heat transfer to wafer W. A high-frequency power supply unit  49   b  applying bias power through matching unit  49   a  is connected to body part  44 . 
     Herein, the configuration of body part  44  will be described while supplementing the configuration of electrostatic chuck  51 . The surface of electrostatic chuck  51  is made of, for example, ceramics, and a plate-shaped main electrode  517  is installed therein. An extraction electrode  518  is installed downward from main electrode  517 . Extraction electrode  518  is exposed to the bottom of electrostatic chuck  51 . Surface electrode  531  is installed at a position of the surface of body part  44 , which corresponds to extraction electrode  518 , and surface electrode  531  is connected to a DC power supply  532 . When electrostatic chuck  51  is placed in body part  44 , extraction electrode  518  and surface electrode  531  are duplicated with each other and DC voltage is applied to main electrode  517  from DC power supply  532 , such that wafer W is electrostatically adsorbed onto the surface of electrostatic chuck  51  by electrostatic force. 
     Pressing members  534  and  534  that form a pair are installed on the side of body part  44  with body part  44  interposed therebetween. Electrostatic chuck  51  is held between pressing members  534  to prevent electrostatic chuck  51  from floating by pressure of the aforementioned heat transfer gas. Pressing members  534  are formed such that an upper side of a standing plate installed on a side circumference of body part  44  is bent toward body part  44  at 90°. The upper side is shown as a pressing unit  535 . A support member  536  that extends in a diameter direction of corresponding body part  44  to support pressing members  534  is installed on the side circumference of body part  44 . Pressing unit  535  is moved in the diameter direction of body part  44  through support member  536  by a driving mechanism (not shown) installed in body part  44  to press and fix electrostatic chuck  51  horizontally. 
     Next, processing chamber  41  will be described. An exhaust pipe  53  is connected to the bottom of processing chamber  41 , such that the inside of processing chamber  41  is vacuum-exhausted by a vacuum pump  54 . A transport opening for transporting target transport body  50  is installed on a side wall of processing chamber  41  and opened/closed by gate valve G as described above. Magnet portions  55  and  55  formed by arranging, for example, a plurality of permanent magnets in the ring shape are vertically installed on an outer periphery of processing chamber  41  in order to form a predetermined magnetic field under a processing environment. 
     A plurality of gas ejection openings  56  are formed on the bottom of upper electrode  42 , and is in communication with a buffer chamber  56   a  within upper electrode  42 . Various gases supplied to buffer chamber  56   a  from a gas supplying unit  57  are ejected toward wafer W from gas ejection openings  56 . A high-frequency power supply unit  58  for supplying high-frequency power through a matching unit  58   a  is connected to upper electrode  42 . Reference numeral  41   b  in the figure represents an insulating member  41   b , and insulates upper electrode  42  and the side wall of processing chamber  41  from each other. 
     Substrate processing apparatus  1  has control unit  100  that controls an operation of each unit. Control unit  100  includes a computer including, for example, a CPU and a program (not shown). In the program, a step (command) group is organized to transmit a control signal to each unit of substrate processing apparatus  1  in order to perform operations of substrate processing apparatus  1  as described below, such as transportation of wafer W, electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  by first transportation mechanism  15  and second transportation mechanism  16 , alignment of these members in alignment chamber  3 , and etching of wafer W in each module. This program is stored in storage media such as, for example, a hard disk, a compact disk, a magneto-optical disk and a memory card, and is installed in the computer therefrom. 
     The aforementioned operation of substrate processing apparatus  1  will be described. First, the inside of vacuum transportation chamber  13  and the inside of processing chamber  41  of each plasma etching module  4  are vacuum-exhausted and maintained to the vacuum state. First transportation mechanism  15  receives electrostatic chuck  51  from rack  24  of stocker  2 , and transports received electrostatic chuck  51  to rotation stage  31  of alignment chamber  3 . As described above, the center of electrostatic chuck  51  and the direction of notch  516  are detected, notch  516  faces a predetermined direction, and electrostatic chuck  51  is transferred to support portion  15   c  of first transportation mechanism  15  so that the detected center is positioned at a predetermined position. 
     When first transportation mechanism  15  transports electrostatic chuck  51  onto holding unit  25  of stocker  2 , support pins  26  ascend to support the rear surface of electrostatic chuck  51  as shown in  FIG. 10 . When support portion  15   c  retreats from holding unit  25 , support pins  26  descend, such that electrostatic chuck  51  is placed on the surface of holding unit  25 . Continuously, first transportation mechanism  15  receives focus ring  52  from rack  24  of stocker  2 , and transports received focus ring  52  to rotation stage  31  of alignment chamber  3 . As described above, the center of focus ring  52  is detected and transferred to support portion  15   c  so that the center is positioned at a predetermined position of support portion  15   c  of first transportation mechanism  15 . 
     Continuously, first transportation mechanism  15  transports focus ring  52  onto holding unit  25  of stocker  2 , and as shown in  FIG. 11 , support pins  28  protrude on electrostatic chuck  51  through hole  515  of electrostatic chuck  51  to support the rear surface of focus ring  52 . When support portion  15   c  retreats from holding unit  25 , support pins  28  descend, such that focus ring  52  is placed on the surface of periphery  512  of electrostatic chuck  51 . 
     Continuously, carrier C is placed in carrier placing table  14  and connected to atmospheric transportation chamber  11 . Next, gate door GT and the cover of carrier C are opened, and wafer W within carrier C is carried into alignment chamber  3  through atmospheric transportation chamber  11  by first transportation mechanism  15 . As described above, the center position of wafer W is detected. Wafer W is transferred so that the detected center is positioned at a predetermined position of support portion  15   c  of first transportation mechanism  15 . 
     When support portion  15   c  of first transportation mechanism  15  transports wafer W onto holding unit  25  of stocker  2 , support pins  27  of electrostatic chuck  51  ascend to support the rear surface of wafer W as shown in  FIG. 12 . When support portion  15   c  retreats from holding unit  25 , support pins  27  descend, such that wafer W is placed on center  511  of electrostatic chuck  51  to form target transport body  50 . 
     Continuously, as shown in  FIG. 14 , support pins  26  push up a rear surface of target transport body  50  to transfer target transport body  50  to first transportation mechanism  15 . First transportation mechanism  15  transports target transport body  50  to load lock chamber  12  that is maintained to the air atmosphere. When the inside of the chamber is changed to the vacuum state by adjusting the pressure of load lock chamber  12 , support portion  16   c  of second transportation mechanism  16  receives target transport body  50  and transports received target transport body  50  onto body part  44  of plasma etching module  4  through vacuum transportation chamber  13 . As shown in  FIG. 15 , support pins  45  ascend to support the rear surface of target transport body  50  and thereafter, second transportation mechanism  16  retreats from the inside of plasma etching module  4 . Support pins  45  descend, such that target transport body  50  is placed on body part  44  to form placing table  43 . Electrostatic chuck  51  of target transport body  50  is interposed between pressing members  534 , corresponding electrostatic chuck  51  is fixed to body part  44  by the pressing force, and wafer W is adsorbed and fixed to electrostatic chuck  51  by applying voltage to electrostatic chuck  51 . 
     The inside of processing chamber  41  is maintained to a predetermined vacuum degree and mixed gas composed of processing gas, for example, C 4 F gas, CO gas, O 2  gas and Ar gas is supplied from upper electrode  42 . A high-frequency power is applied to each of upper electrode  42  and placing table  43 , the supplied processing gas is made into plasma, and the processing gas is injected into wafer W as indicated by an arrow in  FIG. 16  to etch an etched layer, for example, a silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ) layer on the surface of wafer W. 
     When etching is performed for a predetermined time, the application of the high-frequency power and the supply of the processing gas stop, the rear surface of wafer W is pushed up by support pins  47  that protrudes through hole  513  of electrostatic chuck  51 , and wafer W is transferred to support portion  16   c  of second transportation mechanism  16  ( FIG. 17 ). As wafer W is carried into load lock chamber  12  that is maintained to the vacuum state, the pressure of load lock chamber  12  rises to be in the air atmosphere. Wafer W is transferred to first transportation mechanism  15 , and returned to carrier C. 
     Subsequent wafer W is extracted from carrier C, and subsequent wafer W is transported to alignment chamber  3  similar to wafer W transported as target transport body  50 , and is transferred to first transportation mechanism  15  with the center position thereof adjusted. Wafer W is transported to plasma etching module  4  through not stocker  2  but load lock chamber  12  and vacuum transportation chamber  13  to be etched as described above. After the processing, the processed wafer is returned to carrier C similar to preceding wafer W. 
     For example, when a predetermined number of wafers W are processed in plasma etching module  4  and then wafer W is carried out, for example, O 2  gas as cleaning gas is supplied from upper electrode  42 . The high-frequency power is applied to each of upper electrode  42  and placing table  43 , such that the supplied cleaning gas is made into plasma to be injected into placing table  43  ( FIG. 18 ). Sediment deposited on placing table  43  or an inner wall of processing chamber  41  is removed by the plasma, and when plasma is generated for a predetermined time, the application of the high-frequency power and the supply of the cleaning gas halt. The cleaning is performed, for example, before processing a subsequent lot after processing a predetermined lot. 
     When, for example, a predetermined number of wafers W are processed, fixation of electrostatic chuck  51  to body part  44  by pressing member  534  is released, and support pins  45  push up target transport body  50  as shown in  FIG. 19 . Target transport body  50  is transferred to atmospheric transportation chamber  12  through vacuum transportation chamber  13  and load lock chamber  12 , and placed in holding unit  25  of stocker  2 , and thereafter, disassembled into wafer W, electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  in a reverse operation to the operation while being assembled. Wafer W is returned to carrier C, and electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  are returned to rack  24 . 
     Thereafter, new electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  that are held in stocker  2  are transported to holding unit  25 , and integrated with wafer W which is newly carried into the apparatus to configure target transport body  50 , and transported to plasma etching module  4 , such that the processing by plasma etching module  4  is restarted. Electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  in plasma etching module  4  is replaced, for example, before processing a subsequent lot after processing a predetermined lot as in the cleaning. While the processing is performed by new electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  as described above, a user verifies shapes of electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  returned to stocker  2  from plasma etching module  4 , and replaces electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  as necessary. 
     According to substrate processing apparatus  1 , electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  are configured to be attachable to/detachable from placing table  43  of plasma etching module  4 , and when electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  are not used, electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  are transported to stocker  2  in the atmospheric environment. Accordingly, since the inside of processing chamber  41  of plasma etching module  4  needs not be opened to the atmosphere in order to verify the surface state of electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52 , a throughput of substrate processing apparatus  1  can be prevented from deteriorating. Since electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  are carried out to the outside of processing chamber  41 , the surface state can be easily verified. As a result, since a replacement time can be precisely determined by performing a precise shape management, electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  are prevented from being used while the shapes thereof are out of an allowable level, and as a result, the etching characteristic of wafer W can be prevented from deteriorating. 
     In the above example, wafer W, electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  are individually transported to plasma etching module  4  to be etched. However, as described above, when wafer W, electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  are collectively transported as target transport body  50 , the number of operation processes of first transportation mechanism  15  and second transportation mechanism  16  decreases, and the number of times of replacement in the atmosphere of load lock chamber  12  decreases to thereby improve the throughput. 
     In the above example, transportation frequencies of electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  may be set to be different from each other. For example, a support pins that push up focus ring  52  corresponding to support pins  28  of stocker  2 , independently from electrostatic chuck  51  is installed in placing table  43  of plasma etching module  4 . After a predetermined number of wafers W are processed, only focus ring  52  is pushed up while electrostatic chuck  51  is fixed to body part  44  by the support pins, and thus, transferred to second transportation mechanism  16 , such that focus ring  52  is returned to stocker  2 . New focus ring  52  is transported from stocker  2  to plasma etching module  4 , and transferred to the support pins. After a predetermined number of wafers W are processed, target transport body  50  is carried out from plasma etching module  4  as described above. As such, since the number of alignment times in alignment chamber  3  or the operation process for disassembling target transport body  50  in first transportation mechanism  15  may be suppressed by individually setting the transportation frequencies of electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52 , the throughput can be improved. 
     In the above example, instead of the configuration in which the inside of stocker  2  may be seen with naked eyes, a sensor for detecting the shapes of electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  may be installed in stocker  2 . Since the sensor is installed outside processing chamber  41  of plasma etching module  4 , the sensor is easily installed without interrupting plasma etching within corresponding processing chamber  41 . As the sensor, a sensor using optical interference, atomic force, electron rays, X rays or electromagnetic force may be installed. A camera is installed within case  21  of stocker  2 , and a photographed image is configured to be displayed on a display unit constituting control unit  100 , and for example, the user may judge the replacement time on the basis of the image. The camera is also installed outside processing chamber  41 , and thus, is easily installed, as in the sensor. 
     The parts such as electrostatic chuck  5  and focus ring  52  have appropriate shapes or states according to a processing condition, but electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  having a shape or a state specialized for each processing are received in stocker  2 , and whenever the processing condition such as gas supplied to processing chamber  41  or pressure in the processing chamber is changed, electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  may be selected according to the processing condition to be transported to plasma etching module  4 . Therefore, a better etching characteristic than that of the related art can be acquired. In detail, for example, focus rings  52  having outer peripheries  522  of which heights, diameter sizes or materials are different from each other are stored in the stocker. The position of rack  24  where each focus ring  52  is placed, and the processing condition are stored in a memory constituting control unit  100  to correspond to each other. When the user designates the processing condition with respect to the lot of the wafer, first transportation mechanism  15  receives focus ring  52  of rack  24  corresponding to the processing condition to form target transport body  50  as described above, such that the processing in plasma etching module  4  is performed. 
     Modified Example of First Exemplary Embodiment 
     In the above exemplary embodiment, electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  are separated at the time of receiving stocker  2 . However, electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  may be joined to each other in advance to be integrated as a surface part  61 , and surface part  61  may be stored in rack  24  of stocker  2 . Even in this case, surface part  61  is integrated with wafer W on holding unit  25  in the same manner as above. For example, a notch (not shown) corresponding to notch  516  of electrostatic chuck  51  in the first exemplary embodiment is provided on an outer periphery of surface part  61 . When surface part  61  is transferred to first transportation mechanism  15  in alignment chamber  3 , a direction of surface part  61  is adjusted by the notch. 
     When surface part  61  ( FIG. 20 ) aligned with respect to support portion  15   c  of first transportation mechanism  15  is transferred to holding unit  25  of stocker  2  through support pins  26  in alignment chamber  3 , and thereafter, wafer W is transported to stocker  2  ( FIG. 21 ) to form target transport body  50  as in the first exemplary embodiment. Target transport body  50  is transferred to support portion  15   c  ( FIG. 22 ), and transported to plasma etching module  4  as in the first exemplary embodiment. After the processing in plasma etching module  4 , target transport body  50  is returned to holding unit  25  as in the first exemplary embodiment. Wafer W is separated from surface part  61  and returned to carrier C, and surface part  61  is returned to rack  24  of stocker  2 . In the modified example, since the number of operation times of first transportation mechanism  15  performed to form target transport body  50 , and the number of alignment times of alignment chamber  3  may be smaller than the first exemplary embodiment, a higher throughput can be acquired. 
     Second Exemplary Embodiment 
     As the second exemplary embodiment, an example in which stocker  2  is connected to vacuum transportation chamber  13  is shown in  FIG. 23 . Two stockers  2  are installed in a substrate processing apparatus  6  of  FIG. 23 . Each stocker  2  is configured similar to the first exemplary embodiment, but each stocker  2  has gate valve (division valve) G similar to plasma etching module  4  instead of shutter  23 . An exhaust hole that maintains the vacuum state by vacuum-exhausting the inside of corresponding case  21  and an air supply hole that supplies air to restore the inside of case  21  from the vacuum state to the atmospheric environment are installed in case  21 . 
     In the second exemplary embodiment, alignment chamber  3  is connected to and installed in vacuum transportation chamber  13 . Alignment chamber  3  is configured substantially similar to the first exemplary embodiment, but the inside thereof is maintained in the vacuum state. Rotation stage  31  is configured to electrostatically adsorb electrostatic chuck  51  or focus ring  52  instead of vacuum-adsorbing electrostatic chuck  51  or focus ring  52  to adsorb electrostatic chuck  51  or focus ring  52  in the vacuum state. However, instead of the electrostatic adsorption, position displacement by centrifugal force when rotation stage  31  rotates may be prevented by coating the entirety or a part of the surface of rotation stage  31  with a material having a high friction coefficient such as, for example, rubber, for each member of focus ring  52 , electrostatic chuck  51  and wafer W. Instead of installing a mechanism or member for preventing the position displacement thereof, rotation stage  31  may be rotated at a low speed so as to prevent the position displacement by the centrifugal force. 
     The processing in the second exemplary embodiment is similar to the processing in the first exemplary embodiment except that the transportation path of electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  is formed in a sequence of stocker  2 , alignment chamber  3  and stocker  2 , that wafer W transported from carrier C is transferred to load lock chamber  12 , vacuum transportation chamber  13 , alignment chamber  3  and stocker  2  in sequence, and that a transportation path of target transport body  50  formed in stocker  2  is formed in a sequence of vacuum transportation chamber  13  and plasma etching module  4 . 
     In substrate processing apparatus  6  of the second exemplary embodiment, the shapes of electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  therein are verified or electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  are replaced at two stockers  2  that are installed, one at a time. While gate valve G of one stocker  2  is closed to suppress an influence exerted to a vacuum degree of each of other chambers, vacuum exhaustion within case  21  of this stocker  2  stops, and at the same time, the atmosphere is supplied to case  21  to restore the inside of case  21  to the atmospheric environment. The verification of the shapes or the replacement is performed by separating side wall  21   a  of case  21 . Thereafter, the inside of case  21  is vacuum-exhausted again to be restored to the atmospheric environment. As described above, while electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  are verified and replaced in one stocker  2 , the processing is performed using electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  in the other stocker  2 . 
     In the second exemplary embodiment, since electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  are carried out from the inside of plasma etching module  4  to verify the shapes thereof, the inside of processing chamber  41  of plasma etching module  4  needs not be opened to the atmosphere similar to the first exemplary embodiment. Therefore, production efficiency of the apparatus can be prevented from deteriorating. By installing two stockers  2 , while one stocker  2  is opened to the atmosphere, formation and transportation of target transport body  50  are continuously performed in the other stocker  2  to thereby prevent the production efficiency of the apparatus from deteriorating more certainly. However, even a case in which only one stocker  2  is connected to vacuum transportation chamber  13  is effective because the shape verification and the replacement can be performed by opening the inside of stocker  2  to the atmosphere while the processing is performed in plasma etching module  4 . 
     However, the configurations shown in the respective exemplary embodiments may be used in combination with each other. For example, even in the second exemplary embodiment, various sensors or cameras may be installed in stocker  2  and electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  may be integrated and stored in stocker  2 . One stocker  2  may be installed in atmospheric transportation chamber  11 , and further, the other stocker  2  may be installed to be connected to vacuum transportation chamber  13 . 
     Herein, first transportation mechanism  15  and second transportation mechanism  16  correspond to a transportation mechanism. The transportation mechanism may be divided and installed in each chamber to transport each member and move among the respective chambers to transport each member. In regard to the support portion of the transportation mechanism of each exemplary embodiment, the support portion transporting target transport body  50  and the support portion transporting electrostatic chuck  51 , focus ring  52  and wafer W may be configured to be different from each other.  FIG. 24  illustrates another configuration example of first transportation mechanism  15  in the first exemplary embodiment and in this example, two multi-link arms  15   b  are installed in base portion  15   a . Support portion  15   c  described above is installed at a front end of one arm  15   b , and a support portion  15   d  is installed at a front end of the other arm  15   b . Support portion  15   d  is formed in a rectangular plate shape. Support portion  15   c  transports electrostatic chuck  5 , focus ring  52  and wafer W similar to the first exemplary embodiment. Support portion  15   d  transports target transport body  50 . 
     A transfer mechanism corresponding to support portion  15   d  may be installed even in holding unit  25  of stocker  2 .  FIG. 25  illustrates holding unit  25  and two slits  71  that are formed in parallel to each other are provided on the surface of holding unit  25 . Linear members  72  and  72  formed along slits  71  are installed to be elevatable and protrude or are dented on the surface of holding unit  25 . As described above, after target transport body  50  is formed in holding unit  25 , linear member  72  ascends to push up target transport body  50  and transfer transported body  50  to support portion  15   d  as shown in  FIG. 26 . Even when target transport body  50  restored from plasma etching module  4  is transferred to holding unit  25 , support portion  15   d  and linear member  72  are used as described above. 
     Target transport body  50 , wafer W, electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52  are transported by support portions  15   c  and  15   d  having different shapes, respectively, in order to prevent a transported object from falling from the support portion by using a support portion having an appropriate shape according to a shape or a weight of the transported object. Even in second transportation mechanism  16 , one side of two support portions  16   c  that are installed is configured in the same shape as support portion  15   d  to be configured as a dedicated support portion for transporting target transport body  50 . 
     In the first exemplary embodiment, vicuna transportation chamber  13  may not be installed and plasma etching module  4  may be connected directly to load lock chamber  12 . In this case, for example, the transportation mechanism such as first transportation mechanism  1 S is installed in load lock chamber  12  to transfer wafer W between atmospheric transportation chamber  11  and plasma etching module  4 . The member stored in stocker  2  is not limited to electrostatic chuck  51  and focus ring  52 . Although not shown, a protection component is installed in placing table  43  to prevent the outer periphery thereof from being etched. For example, the corresponding component may be configured to be attachable to/detachable from placing table  43  and may be stored in stocker  2 . Stocker  2  may be installed in load lock chamber  12 . A module connected to vacuum transportation chamber  13  is not limited to the plasma etching module and for example, may be a film forming module that forms a film on wafer W by making the processing gas into plasma. 
     Next, another method for fixing electrostatic chuck  51  in plasma etching module  4  will be described. In an example shown in  FIGS. 27 and 28 , a vertical plate  541  is installed in support member  536  of body part  44  of plasma etching module  4  and a horizontal insertion plate  542  is installed in an upper part of vertical plate  541  to extend toward body part  44 . A groove portion  534  is provided on a side circumference of electrostatic chuck  51  to correspond to insertion plate  542 . When target transport body  50  is placed in body part  44 , an end portion of insertion plate  542  is inserted into groove portion  543 , such that electrostatic chuck  51  is fixed to body part  44  as shown in  FIGS. 29 and 30 . 
       FIG. 31  illustrates body part  44  where a concave portion  540  is provided on the surface thereof. A bar  544  that extends downward is installed on the bottom of electrostatic chuck  51  and when target transport body  50  is placed in body part  44 , bar  544  is configured to enter concave portion  540 . Pressing members  545  that are opposite to each other with bar  544  interposed therebetween are installed in each concave portion  540  and pressing members  545  move toward the center of bar  544  to press bar  544 , such that electrostatic chuck  51  is fixed to body part  44 . 
     From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the various embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.