Patent Description:
Conventionally, a substrate processing apparatus is used to perform various processing using a processing liquid on various substrates such as a substrate for an FPD (Flat Panel Display) that is used for a liquid crystal display device, an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display device or the like, a semiconductor substrate, a substrate for an optical disc, a substrate for a magnetic disc, a substrate for a magneto-optical disc, a substrate for a photomask, a ceramic substrate or a substrate for a solar cell.

As such a substrate processing apparatus, there is a development device that performs development processing on a photosensitive film using a development liquid. In a case in which the development liquid has a strong odor, when an atmosphere including the development liquid leaks out of the development device, comfort of a working environment around the development device is degraded. In order to suppress degradation of comfort of a working environment, the configuration for suppressing leakage of an atmosphere including the development liquid has been suggested (see <CIT>, for example).

The development device described in <CIT> has a configuration in which a substrate holder, a nozzle, a nozzle cover, a container and a cup are contained in a casing. The substrate holder is configured to be capable of holding a substrate in a horizontal posture. The nozzle is provided at a position above the substrate holder and is configured to be capable of supplying a development liquid to a substrate held by the substrate holder. The nozzle cover has a cylindrical shape and is provided so as to surround the nozzle in a plan view and overlap with at least part of the nozzle in a side view.

The container is provided at a position below the nozzle cover so as to be spaced apart from the nozzle cover and contains a lower portion of the substrate holder. Further, the container includes an exhauster that exhausts an atmosphere in the casing to the outside of the casing. The cup has a cylindrical shape surrounding the substrate holder in a plan view and is provided to be vertically movable.

During the development processing for a substrate, the cup is held so as to overlap with the lower end of the nozzle cover and the upper end of the container in a side view. Thus, in the casing, a processing space surrounded by the nozzle cover, the cup and the container is formed, and a non-processing space is formed to surround the processing space. In this state, a downward airflow is formed in the casing.

The following document can be mentioned as being an additional pertinent prior art illustration:.

<CIT> discloses a liquid processing apparatus, liquid processing method and storage medium.

The following references are also mentioned as a complementary prior art illustration:.

In the development device of <CIT> having the above-mentioned configuration, the pressure in the processing space is set lower than the pressure in the non-processing space in the casing, so that leakage of an atmosphere including the development liquid out of the casing through the non-processing space is suppressed. However, in the development device described in <CIT>, it is difficult to actually make the pressure in the processing space be lower than the pressure in the non-processing space to such an extent that an atmosphere in the processing space does not leak out to the non-processing space.

An object of the present invention is to provide a substrate processing apparatus capable of suppressing degradation of comfort of a working environment around the substrate processing apparatus.

In the substrate processing apparatus, the internal space of the chamber is partitioned into the processing space and the non-processing space by the processing cup and the partition plate with the substrate held by the substrate holder. Part of a downward airflow is guided to the processing space through the plurality of through holes of the partition plate. In this case, an amount of gas supplied to the processing space may be smaller than an amount of gas supplied to the non-processing space. Thus, the pressure in the processing space can be lower than the pressure in the non-processing space.

When the pressure in the processing space is lower than the pressure in the non-processing space, an atmosphere in the processing space is unlikely to enter the non-processing space. Therefore, in a case in which an odor caused by the processing liquid is generated in the processing space, the odor is unlikely to leak out of the chamber.

Further, in the above-mentioned configuration, the nozzle opening is formed in the partition plate. With this configuration, the nozzle and the lid do not interfere with each other with the nozzle located at the processing position. Further, with the nozzle located at the processing position, the nozzle opening formed in the partition plate is covered by the lid. Thus, when the processing liquid is supplied from the nozzle to the substrate, leakage of an atmosphere in the processing space from the nozzle opening to the non-processing space is reduced.

As a result, it is possible to suppress degradation of comfort of a working environment around the substrate processing apparatus.

(<NUM>) The substrate processing apparatus may further include a nozzle driver that moves the nozzle between the processing position and a waiting position close to the substrate held by the substrate holder. In this case, the nozzle can be held at the waiting position with processing for the substrate not performed. Thus, processing such as dummy dispensing can be performed with the nozzle located at the waiting position. This prevents an unnecessary processing liquid from falling from the nozzle located at the processing position and the tip portion of the nozzle located at the processing position from being dried, and suppresses an occurrence of processing defects of the substrate.

(<NUM>) The substrate processing apparatus may further include a support that supports the nozzle and supports the lid, wherein the nozzle driver may move the nozzle and the lid member by moving or rotating the support. In this case, when the nozzle moves between the waiting position and the processing position, the nozzle and the lid integrally move. This prevents the interference between the nozzle and the lid.

(<NUM>) The substrate processing apparatus may further include an exhauster that exhausts an atmosphere of the processing space to an outside of the chamber. In this case, an atmosphere in the processing space is exhausted, so that the pressure in the processing space can be easily made lower than the pressure in the non-processing space.

(<NUM>) The partition plate may have a first wall portion extending upwardly from an inner edge of the nozzle opening, and the lid may have a lid main body larger than the nozzle opening in a plan view and a second wall portion extending downwardly from an outer edge of the lid main body, and may be held such that the second wall portion surrounds at least part of the first wall portion in a plan view, overlaps with at least part of the first wall portion in a side view and does not come into contact with the partition plate, when the nozzle opening is covered by the lid.

In this case, because the lid and the partition plate do not come into contact with each other when the nozzle opening is covered by the lid, generation of particles due to contact between a plurality of members is suppressed. Further, with the above-mentioned configuration, when the nozzle opening is covered by the lid, a gap space interposed between the first wall portion and the second wall portion is formed between the space located farther inward than the first wall portion of the partition plate and the space located close to the second wall portion of the lid. Thus, compared to a case in which the first wall portion and the second wall portion are not present, a flow of an atmosphere in the processing space out of the non-processing space through the nozzle opening is reduced.

(<NUM>) The partition may further include a cylindrical member that is formed to surround the partition plate in a plan view, extend downwardly from an outer edge of the partition plate and surround an upper portion of the processing cup, and the processing cup may be configured to be liftable and lowerable in a vertical direction so as to change between a first state in which the upper portion of the processing cup is spaced apart from the cylindrical member in a side view and a second state in which the upper portion of the processing cup overlaps with the cylindrical member in a side view.

In this case, when the processing cup is put in the second state with the substrate held by the substrate holder, the processing space surrounding the substrate is partitioned from the non-processing space by the processing cup, the partition plate and the cylindrical member. At this time, a gap space interposed between the cylindrical member and the upper portion of the processing cup is formed between the processing space and the non-processing space. Thus, as compared to a case in which the cylindrical member is not present, a flow of an atmosphere in the processing space from between the processing cup and the partition plate into the non-processing space is reduced. Further, with the above-mentioned configuration, when the processing cup is put in the first state, the substrate can be received from and transferred to the substrate holder.

(<NUM>) The substrate holder may be configured to be capable of rotating the held substrate in a horizontal attitude when a processing liquid is supplied to the substrate from the nozzle, the partition plate may have a disc shape larger than the substrate held by the substrate holder, and in a case in which a circular center region that includes a center of the partition plate in a plan view and has one radius, and an annular outer peripheral region that includes an outer peripheral end of the partition plate in a plan view and has a width equal to the one radius in a radial direction of the partition plate, are defined in the partition plate, the plurality of through holes may be formed dispersedly in the partition plate, and a count of through holes formed in the outer peripheral region of the partition plate may be larger than a count of through holes formed in the center region of the partition plate.

In this case, in the processing space, an amount of a downward airflow guided to the vicinity of the inner peripheral surface of the processing cup can be made larger than an amount of a downward airflow guided to the center portion of the substrate. This suppresses generation of an upward airflow in the vicinity of the inner peripheral surface of the processing cup during rotation of the substrate. Therefore, in the processing space, upward splashing of the processing liquid supplied to the substrate in the vicinity of the outer peripheral end of the substrate is suppressed.

(<NUM>) The substrate holder may be configured to be capable of rotating the held substrate in a horizontal attitude when a processing liquid is supplied to the substrate from the nozzle, the partition plate may have a large disc shape larger than the substrate held by the substrate holder, the nozzle opening of the partition plate may be opposite to a center portion of a substrate held by the substrate holder, and in a case in which a virtual circle that is based on a center of the partition plate in a plan view and surrounds the nozzle opening is defined in the partition plate, the plurality of holes may be partially and dispersedly arranged to align at constant or substantially constant intervals over the entire virtual circle.

In this case, in the processing space, an amount of a downward airflow guided to the vicinity of the entire inner peripheral surface of the processing cup can be made larger than an amount of a downward airflow guided to the center portion of the substrate opposite to the nozzle opening of the partition plate. This suppresses generation of an upward airflow in the vicinity of the inner peripheral surface of the processing cup during rotation of the substrate. Therefore, in the processing space, upward splashing of the processing liquid supplied to the substrate in the vicinity of the outer peripheral end of the substrate is suppressed.

(<NUM>) The nozzle may include a two-fluid nozzle that injects a fluid mixture including gas and droplets of the processing liquid to the substrate held by the substrate holder. In this case, it is possible to process the substrate using a fluid mixture including gas and liquid.

(<NUM>) A processing liquid supplied from the nozzle to the substrate may include an organic solvent. In this case, it is possible to process the substrate using a processing liquid using an organic solvent.

Other features, elements, characteristics, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to the attached drawings.

A substrate processing apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, a substrate refers to a substrate for an FPD (Flat Panel Display) that is used for a liquid crystal display device, an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display device or the like, a semiconductor substrate, a substrate for an optical disc, a substrate for a magnetic disc, a substrate for a magneto-optical disc, a substrate for a photomask, a ceramic substrate, a substrate for a solar cell or the like.

A development device will be described as one example of the substrate processing apparatus. A substrate subjected to development processing in the present embodiment has a main surface and a back surface. Further, in the development device according to the present embodiment, with the main surface of the substrate directed upwardly and the back surface of the substrate directed downwardly, the back surface (lower surface) of the substrate is held, and development processing is performed on the main surface (upper surface) of the substrate.

A photosensitive film on which exposure processing has been performed is formed at least in the center portion of the main surface of the substrate. This photosensitive film is a negative photosensitive polyimide film, for example. As a development liquid for dissolving the exposed negative photosensitive polyimide film, an organic solvent including cyclohexanone, cyclopentanone or the like is used. As a rinse liquid, an organic solvent including isopropyl alcohol, propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (PGMEA) or the like is also used.

In the present embodiment, "development processing for a substrate" means dissolution of part of a photosensitive film by supply of a development liquid to the photosensitive film which is formed on a main surface of a substrate after exposure processing is performed on the photosensitive film.

<FIG> is a schematic perspective view for explaining the schematic configuration of a development device according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in <FIG>, the development device <NUM> basically has the configuration in which two liquid processing units LPA, LPB are contained in a casing CA. In <FIG>, the schematic shapes of the two liquid processing units LPA, LPB are indicated by the dotted lines. Details of the configuration of the liquid processing units LPA, LPB will be described below.

The casing CA has a substantially cuboid box shape extending in one direction in a horizontal plane. Specifically, a first sidewall plate 1w, a second sidewall plate 2w, a third sidewall plate 3w, a fourth sidewall plate 4w, a bottom plate 5w and a top plate 6w are attached to a frame (not shown) to form the casing CA. In the following description, a direction parallel to the direction in which the casing CA extends in a horizontal plane is suitably referred to as a first direction D1, and a direction orthogonal to the first direction D1 in a horizontal plane is suitably referred to as a second direction D2. The two liquid processing units LPA, LPB are arranged on the bottom plate 5w so as to be aligned in the first direction D1 in the casing CA.

The first and second sidewall plates 1w, 2w have a rectangular plate shape and are provided so as to be parallel to the vertical direction and the first direction D1 and face each other. The third and fourth sidewall plates 3w, 4w have a rectangular plate shape and are provided so as to be parallel to the vertical direction and the second direction D2 and face each other.

In the second sidewall plate 2w, two carry-in carry-out ports ph for transporting a substrate between the inside and outside of the casing CA are formed. The two carry-in carry-out ports ph are respectively formed in two portions opposite to the liquid processing units LPA, LPB in the second direction D2 in the second sidewall plate 2w. In the top plate 6w, two openings op1 are formed to be aligned in the first direction D1. The aperture ratio of the two openings op1 in the top plate 6w is set as sufficiently large as the aperture ratio of when the entire upper end of the casing CA is opened upwardly.

Two filters FL are provided above the top plate 6w so as to respectively close the two openings op1 of the top plate 6w. The two filters FL may be provided immediately below the top plate 6w. In <FIG>, the two filters FL are indicated by the thick one-dot and dash lines. The two filters FL are ULPA (Ultra-Low Penetration Air) filters, for example, and are attached to a frame (not shown) that constitutes the casing CA or the top plate 6w. An air guide AG is provided on the top plate 6w of the casing CA so as to surround the two filters FL. In <FIG>, the air guide AG is indicated by the two-dots and dash lines.

A gas supplier <NUM> is provided outside of the casing CA. The gas supplier <NUM> is an air control unit, for example, and regulates the conditions of air such as a temperature and humidity so as to satisfy a predetermined condition during power-on of the development device <NUM>. Further, the gas supplier <NUM> supplies air the conditions of which are regulated to the air guide AG through a duct DU. In this case, the air guide AG guides the air supplied from the gas supplier <NUM> to the two openings op1 of the top plate 6w through the two filters FL. Thus, a clean air the temperature, humidity and the like of which are regulated is supplied into the casing CA, and a downward airflow is generated in an entire internal space SP of the casing CA.

Two fluid suppliers <NUM> are further provided outside of the casing CA. Each fluid supplier <NUM> includes a development liquid supply source, a rinse liquid supply source, a gas supply source and various fluid-related elements and supplies a development liquid, a rinse liquid and gas to the liquid processing units LPA, LPB through a fluid supply path <NUM>. In <FIG>, the fluid supply path <NUM> is indicated by the one-dot and dash line. In the present embodiment, the fluid supply path <NUM> is constituted by one or a plurality of pipes, a valve and the like.

The development device <NUM> further includes a controller <NUM>. The controller <NUM> includes a CPU (Center Processing Unit) and a memory, or a microcomputer, for example, and controls the liquid processing units LPA, LPB and the two fluid suppliers <NUM>. Details of the controller <NUM> will be described below.

The two liquid processing units LPA, LPB of <FIG> basically have the same configuration except that parts of constituent elements are provided to be symmetrical to each other with respect to a plane (vertical plane) orthogonal to the first direction D1. The configuration of the liquid processing unit LPA out of the two liquid processing units LPA, LPB will be described below representatively. <FIG> is a partially exploded perspective view for explaining the configuration of the liquid processing unit LPA of <FIG>, <FIG> is a schematic plan view for explaining the configuration of part of the liquid processing unit LPA of <FIG>, and <FIG> is a schematic longitudinal cross sectional view for explaining the configuration of part of the liquid processing unit LPA of <FIG>. In <FIG>, a substrate W to be processed is indicated by the dotted lines.

As shown in <FIG>, the liquid processing unit LPA includes a partition plate <NUM>, a cylindrical member <NUM>, a nozzle arm unit <NUM>, a nozzle driver <NUM> and a waiting pod <NUM>. Further, the liquid processing unit LPA further includes a cup <NUM>, a lifting-lowering driver <NUM>, a container <NUM>, an exhaust pipe <NUM>, a drain pipe <NUM>, a substrate holding device <NUM> and a suction device <NUM>. In <FIG>, in order to facilitate understanding of the structure of the plurality of constituent elements, parts of the constituent elements are shown in the upper field, and the rest of the constituent elements is shown in the lower field. Specifically, in <FIG>, the parts of the constituent elements including the partition plate <NUM>, the cylindrical member <NUM>, the nozzle arm unit <NUM>, the nozzle driver <NUM> and the waiting pod <NUM> are shown in the upper field, and the rest of the constituent elements including the cup <NUM>, the container <NUM> and the substrate holding device <NUM> is shown in the lower field. In <FIG> and <FIG>, the schematic plan view and the schematic longitudinal cross sectional view of the cup <NUM>, the container <NUM> and the substrate holding device <NUM> are respectively shown as the partial configuration of the liquid processing unit LPA. In the partition plate <NUM> shown in <FIG>, a plurality of through holes H (<FIG>), described below, are not shown.

In the casing CA of <FIG>, the container <NUM> is fixed to the bottom plate 5w (<FIG>). As shown in <FIG>, the container <NUM> includes a sidewall portion <NUM> and a bottom portion <NUM>. The sidewall portion <NUM> has an annular horizontal cross section, and is formed to extend in the vertical direction while having a constant inner diameter and a constant outer diameter. The bottom portion <NUM> is formed so as to close the lower end of the sidewall portion <NUM>.

Two through holes are formed in the bottom portion <NUM>. The exhaust pipe <NUM> is connected to the portion of the bottom portion <NUM> in which one through hole is formed. The exhaust pipe <NUM> guides an atmosphere in the casing CA to an exhaust device (not shown) provided outside of the casing CA. In the container <NUM>, an end portion (opening end) of the exhaust pipe <NUM> is located farther upwardly than the bottom portion <NUM>.

The drain pipe <NUM> is further connected to the portion of the bottom portion <NUM> in which the other through hole is formed. During the development processing for the substrate W, the drain pipe <NUM> guides the liquids (the development liquid and the rinse liquid) flowing from the cup <NUM> to a bottom portion of the container <NUM> to a drain device (not shown) provided outside of the casing CA as described below. In the container <NUM>, an end portion (opening end) of the drain pipe <NUM> is located farther downwardly than the end portion of the exhaust pipe <NUM>.

At least a lower portion of the substrate holding device <NUM> is contained in the container <NUM>. Specifically, the substrate holding device <NUM> includes a suction holder <NUM>, a spin motor <NUM> and a motor cover <NUM> (<FIG>). In <FIG> and <FIG>, the motor cover <NUM> is not shown. As shown in <FIG>, the spin motor <NUM> is fixed onto the bottom portion <NUM> so as to be located at the center of the container <NUM> in a plan view. As shown in <FIG>, a rotation shaft <NUM> is provided at the spin motor <NUM> to extend upwardly. The suction holder <NUM> is provided at the upper end of the rotation shaft <NUM>. The suction holder <NUM> projects farther upwardly than the upper end of the container <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the suction device <NUM> is provided outside of the container <NUM>. The suction holder <NUM> is configured to be capable of sucking the center portion of the back surface of the substrate W by an operation of the suction device <NUM>. The suction holder <NUM> sucks the center portion of the back surface of the substrate W, so that the substrate W is held in a horizontal posture at a position above the container <NUM>. Further, the spin motor <NUM> operates with the substrate W held by suction by the suction holder <NUM>, so that the substrate W is rotated in a horizontal posture.

As shown in <FIG>, the motor cover <NUM> substantially has a bowl shape, and is fixed to the container <NUM> such that an open large-diameter portion is directed downwardly. A through hole into which the rotation shaft <NUM> is insertable is formed in the center portion of the upper end of the motor cover <NUM>. With the rotation shaft <NUM> inserted into the through hole in the center portion of the upper end of the motor cover <NUM>, the motor cover <NUM> covers an upper end portion of the spin motor <NUM> excluding the rotation shaft <NUM> and a space having a constant width and surrounding the spin motor <NUM> in a horizontal plane from above. A gap having a constant width is formed between the outer peripheral end of the motor cover <NUM> and the inner peripheral surface of the sidewall portion <NUM>.

Here, the above-mentioned end portion of the exhaust pipe <NUM> is located below the motor cover <NUM>. This prevents the liquids (the development liquid and the rinse liquid) falling from above the container <NUM> from entering the exhaust pipe <NUM> during the development processing for the substrate W.

As shown in <FIG>, at least the lower end of the cup <NUM> is contained in the container <NUM> in addition to the lower portion of the substrate holding device <NUM>. Here, the cup <NUM> is configured to be movable in the vertical direction in the container <NUM>. Further, the cup <NUM> includes a cylindrical wall portion <NUM> and a liquid receiving portion <NUM>. Each of the cylindrical wall portion <NUM> and the liquid receiving portion <NUM> has an annular horizontal cross section and is provided to extend at least in the vertical direction. As shown in <FIG>, the cup <NUM> is configured to surround the substrate holding device <NUM> in a plan view.

As shown in <FIG>, the outer diameter and the inner diameter of the liquid receiving portion <NUM> gradually increase downwardly from the upper end of the liquid receiving portion <NUM>. The outer diameter of the lower end of the liquid receiving portion <NUM> (the largest outer diameter of the liquid receiving portion <NUM>) is smaller than the inner diameter of the sidewall portion <NUM> of the container <NUM>. Therefore, a gap having a constant width is formed between the outer peripheral end of the liquid receiving portion <NUM> and the inner peripheral surface of the sidewall portion <NUM>. The cylindrical wall portion <NUM> has a constant inner diameter and a constant outer diameter and is formed to extend upwardly from the upper end of the liquid receiving portion <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the lifting-lowering driver <NUM> is provided in the vicinity of the container <NUM> in the casing CA of <FIG>. The lifting-lowering driver <NUM> includes a driving mechanism such as a motor or an air cylinder, and changes the cup <NUM> between a first state and a second state by supporting the cup <NUM> and vertically moving the cup <NUM>. The first state and the second state of the cup <NUM> will be described below.

In the casing CA of <FIG>, the nozzle driver <NUM> is provided to be adjacent to the container <NUM> in the first direction D1. The nozzle driver <NUM> includes a motor having a rotation shaft <NUM> and an actuator. The actuator includes an air cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, a motor or the like and supports the motor on the bottom plate 5w (<FIG>) such that the motor having the rotation shaft <NUM> is movable in the vertical direction. The rotation shaft <NUM> is located at the upper end of the nozzle driver <NUM>.

In the casing CA of <FIG>, the waiting pod <NUM> is further provided on the bottom plate 5w (<FIG>). The nozzle driver <NUM> and the waiting pod <NUM> are aligned in the second direction D2 close to the container <NUM> with a distance therebetween. The waiting pod <NUM> has a box shape extending by a constant length in the second direction D2. A plurality of waiting holes <NUM> (<FIG>) for containing injecting portions 310c (<FIG>) of a plurality of nozzles <NUM> (<FIG>), described below, are formed in the upper surface of the waiting pod <NUM>.

A drain pipe (not shown) that drains liquid injected or falling from the plurality of nozzles <NUM> (<FIG>) to the outside of the casing CA when the plurality of nozzles <NUM> (<FIG>) are waiting is connected to the waiting pod <NUM>. Further, an exhaust pipe (not shown) that exhausts an atmosphere in the waiting pod <NUM> to the outside of the casing CA is connected to the waiting pod <NUM>.

The nozzle arm unit <NUM> is attached to the upper end of the rotation shaft <NUM>. The nozzle arm unit <NUM> has a longitudinal shape extending linearly in a direction different from the direction in which the rotation shaft <NUM> extends while being attached to the upper end of the rotation shaft <NUM>. The nozzle arm unit <NUM> is mainly constituted by the plurality (six in the present example) of nozzles <NUM>, a support <NUM> and a cover member <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the nozzle arm unit <NUM> of <FIG>, and <FIG> is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the nozzle arm unit <NUM> taken along the predetermined vertical plane (the vertical plane parallel to the direction in which the nozzle arm unit <NUM> extends). In <FIG>, the cover member <NUM> being separated from the rest of the constituent elements is shown to facilitate understanding of the internal structure of the nozzle arm unit <NUM>.

The support <NUM> is fabricated by suitable bending of one metal plate that has been cut or laser-processed into a predetermined shape, for example. Alternatively, the support <NUM> is fabricated by connection of a plurality of metal plates processed into a predetermined shape by screwing, welding or the like. Further, the support <NUM> is formed to extend in one direction and has one end portion <NUM> and the other end portion <NUM>. Further, the support <NUM> has three nozzle fixing portions <NUM> which are aligned from the vicinity of the one end portion <NUM> toward the other end portion <NUM> at intervals. Two nozzles <NUM> are attached to each of the three nozzle fixing portions <NUM>. Further, the support <NUM> includes a pipe fixing portion <NUM> and two cover attachment portions <NUM>. The pipe fixing portion <NUM> is located in the vicinity of the other end portion <NUM>. The pipe fixing portion <NUM> and the cover attachment portions <NUM> will be described below.

One of the two nozzles <NUM> provided at each nozzle fixing portion <NUM> is used to supply the development liquid to the substrate W. Further, the other one of the two nozzles <NUM> provided at each nozzle fixing portion <NUM> is used to supply a rinse liquid to the substrate W. Further, each of all of the nozzles <NUM> according to the present embodiment is a soft spray-type two-fluid nozzle capable of injecting a fluid mixture of liquid and gas. Therefore, each nozzle <NUM> has two fluid introducing portions 310a, 310b for introducing liquid and gas into the nozzle <NUM>, and an injecting portion 310c for injecting a fluid mixture.

Each nozzle <NUM> is fixed to the support <NUM> with the injecting portion 310c directed downwardly. In this state, the fluid introducing portion 310a for introducing liquid into the nozzle <NUM> is provided at the upper end of each nozzle <NUM>. Further, the fluid introducing portion 310b for introducing gas into the nozzle <NUM> is provided at a side portion of each nozzle <NUM>.

One end of a pipe <NUM> for supplying liquid (the development liquid or the rinse liquid in the present example) to the nozzle <NUM> is connected to the fluid introducing portion 310a of each nozzle <NUM>. Further, one end of a pipe <NUM> for supplying gas (a nitrogen gas in the present example) to the nozzle <NUM> is connected to the fluid introducing portion 310a of each nozzle <NUM>. The pipes <NUM>, <NUM> are formed of a flexible resin material. Examples of such a resin material are PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), PPS (polyphenylene sulfide), PFA (tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoro alkyl vinyl ether copolymer) and the like.

The other end portion <NUM> of the support <NUM> is attached to the upper end of the rotation shaft <NUM> of the nozzle driver <NUM>. In this state, a horizontal flat support surface SS is formed at the substantially center portion in the longitudinal direction of the support <NUM>. Part of each of the plurality of pipes <NUM>, <NUM> is provided so as to extend on the support surface SS from the nozzle <NUM> to which the pipe is connected toward the pipe fixing portion <NUM>.

The pipe fixing portion <NUM> is constituted by part of the support surface SS. In the pipe fixing portion <NUM>, the plurality of pipes <NUM>, <NUM> are bound. In this state, a pipe fixing piece <NUM> having an inverted U-shape is screwed onto the support surface SS constituting the pipe fixing portion <NUM>. Therefore, the plurality of pipes <NUM>, <NUM> are fixed in the vicinity of the other end portion <NUM> of the support <NUM>. Portions of the plurality of pipes <NUM>, <NUM> extending outwardly of the support <NUM> from the pipe fixing portion <NUM> are contained in a cylindrical binding member <NUM> while being bound. The cylindrical binding member <NUM> is formed of rubber or resin, for example, and is flexible.

The cover member <NUM> has a box shape with an open bottom portion. Specifically, the cover member <NUM> of the present example includes an upper surface portion <NUM>, one end-surface portion <NUM>, another end-surface portion <NUM>, one side-surface portion <NUM> and another side-surface portion <NUM>. The upper surface portion <NUM> is an oblong that is larger than a nozzle opening <NUM> (<FIG>) of the below-mentioned partition plate <NUM> in a plan view. The one end-surface portion <NUM>, the other end-surface portion <NUM>, the one side-surface portion <NUM> and the other side-surface portion <NUM> extend downwardly from the four sides of the outer edge of the upper surface portion <NUM>. The one end-surface portion <NUM> and the other end-surface portion <NUM> face each other, and the one side-surface portion <NUM> and the other side-surface portion <NUM> face each other. A cutout 333N is formed in the other end-surface portion <NUM>.

As described above, the support <NUM> has the two cover attachment portions <NUM>. The two cover attachment portions <NUM> are located at the upper end of the support <NUM>. A screw hole is formed in each cover attachment portion <NUM>. In the upper surface portion <NUM> of the cover member <NUM>, through holes <NUM> are formed in two portions corresponding to the two cover attachment portions <NUM> of the support <NUM>.

With the plurality of nozzles <NUM> attached to the support <NUM>, the plurality of pipes <NUM>, <NUM> connected to the plurality of nozzles <NUM> and the plurality of pipes <NUM>, <NUM> fixed, the cover member <NUM> is attached to the support <NUM>. Specifically, the two through holes <NUM> of the cover member <NUM> are positioned on the two cover attachment portions <NUM> of the support <NUM>, and the cover member <NUM> is screwed to the support <NUM>.

Thus, a portion of the support <NUM> from the one end portion <NUM> to the vicinity of the other end portion <NUM> is covered by the cover member <NUM> from above and the side. On the other hand, the remaining portion of the support <NUM> is drawn out through the cutout 333N formed in the other end-surface portion <NUM> of the cover member <NUM>. In this manner, the part of the support <NUM> is contained in the cover member <NUM>. Further, part of the plurality of nozzles <NUM> supported by the support <NUM> is contained in the cover member <NUM>. Further, part of the plurality of pipes <NUM>, <NUM> supported by the support <NUM> is contained in the cover member <NUM>. In <FIG>, the cover member <NUM> being attached to the support <NUM> is indicated by the two-dots and dash lines.

Here, in the support <NUM>, the pipe fixing portion <NUM> is located between the other end portion <NUM> of the support <NUM> and the other end-surface portion <NUM> of the cover member <NUM>. The pipe fixing piece <NUM> binds the plurality of pipes <NUM>, <NUM> and fixes them to the pipe fixing portion <NUM> such that the plurality of pipes <NUM>, <NUM> drawn out from the cover member <NUM> do not come into contact with the inner edge of the cutout 333N of the other end-surface portion <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, with the cover member <NUM> attached to the support <NUM>, a large portion of each nozzle <NUM> except for the fluid introducing portion 310a projects downwardly of the cover member <NUM>.

<FIG> is an external perspective view of the partition plate <NUM> and the cylindrical member <NUM> of <FIG>, and <FIG> is a plan view of the partition plate <NUM> and the cylindrical member <NUM> of <FIG>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the cylindrical member <NUM> has a cylindrical shape and is fixed to part of the casing CA (<FIG>) via a bracket (not shown). The inner diameter of the cylindrical member <NUM> is larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical wall portion <NUM> (<FIG>) of the cup <NUM>. Further, the cylindrical member <NUM> is positioned such that the center axis of the cylindrical member <NUM> coincides or substantially coincides with the center axis of the cup <NUM> in a plan view. Thus, in a case in which the cup <NUM> is lifted, for example, it is possible to insert the upper end of the cup <NUM> into the cylindrical member <NUM> while preventing the cup <NUM> from coming into contact with the cylindrical member <NUM>.

The partition plate <NUM> has a substantially disc shape and is attached to the cylindrical member <NUM> so as to come into contact with the entire inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member <NUM> in the vicinity of the upper end of the cylindrical member <NUM>. The oblong nozzle opening <NUM> extending in the first direction D1 is formed in the substantially center portion of the partition plate <NUM>. The nozzle opening <NUM> is opposite to the center portion of the substrate W held by the substrate holding device <NUM> during the development processing for the substrate W. As shown in <FIG>, a wall portion <NUM> extending upwardly from the inner edge of the nozzle opening <NUM> by a constant length (about <NUM> to <NUM>, for example) is formed in the portion of the partition plate <NUM> in which the nozzle opening <NUM> is formed.

As shown in <FIG>, a plurality of through holes H are formed in the partition plate <NUM> so as to be dispersed over the entire partition plate <NUM> except for the nozzle opening <NUM>. The number and size of the plurality of through holes H formed in the partition plate <NUM> are defined in consideration of the pressure relationship between a processing space Spa (<FIG>) and a non-processing space SPb (<FIG>), described below.

Specifically, in regard to the arrangement of the plurality of through holes H, as indicated by the dotted lines in <FIG>, concentric circles (a plurality of virtual circles vc1) having a predetermined pitch are defined on the basis of a partition plate center 100C in a plan view. In this case, the plurality of through holes H are dispersedly formed so as to be aligned at equal intervals on each virtual circle vc1. Further, the number of through holes H formed on the largest virtual circle vc1 among the plurality of virtual circles vc1 is larger than the number of through holes H formed on each of the rest of the virtual circles vc1. Further, in the present example, only the largest virtual circle vc1 among the plurality of virtual circles vc1 surrounds the entire nozzle opening <NUM>. Therefore, in the largest virtual circle vc1, a plurality of through holes H are formed so as to be aligned at constant intervals over the entire virtual circle vc1.

Further, as indicated by the thick two-dots and dash line in <FIG>, a virtual circle vc2 having a radius of <NUM>/<NUM> of the radius of the partition plate <NUM> is defined with the partition plate center 100C as the center. Here, in a case in which the inner region of the virtual circle vc2 is a center region A1, and the outer region of the virtual circle vc2 is an outer peripheral region A2, the number of the through holes H formed in the outer peripheral region A2 is larger than the number of the through holes H formed in the center region A1.

As described above, the nozzle arm unit <NUM> is attached to the rotation shaft <NUM> of the nozzle driver <NUM>. Therefore, when the motor of the nozzle driver <NUM> moves in the vertical direction, the nozzle arm unit <NUM> moves in the vertical direction. Further, when the motor of the nozzle driver <NUM> is operated, the nozzle arm unit <NUM> rotates in a horizontal plane around the rotation shaft <NUM>. Thus, the plurality of nozzles <NUM> of the nozzle arm unit <NUM> are held at a waiting position P1 close to the substrate W held by the substrate holding device <NUM> in a period during which the developing processing is not performed on the substrate W. Further, the plurality of nozzles <NUM> are held at a processing position P2 above the substrate W held by the substrate holding device <NUM> in a period during which the developing processing is performed on the substrate W. In <FIG>, the waiting position P1 and the processing position P2 are respectively indicated by the outlined arrows.

<FIG> are diagrams for explaining the operation of the nozzle arm unit <NUM> when the plurality of nozzles <NUM> move between the waiting position P1 and the processing position P2. In <FIG>, the states of the nozzle arm unit <NUM> and its peripheral members of when the plurality of nozzles <NUM> move from the waiting position P1 to the processing position P2 are shown in external perspective views in a chronological order. In the partition plate <NUM> shown in each of <FIG>, similarly to the example of <FIG>, the plurality of through holes H are not shown.

First, as shown in <FIG>, with the plurality of nozzles <NUM> located at the waiting position P1, the nozzle arm unit <NUM> is located close to the partition plate <NUM> and the cylindrical member <NUM> and held while extending parallel to the second direction D2. At this time, the nozzle arm unit <NUM> is positioned such that the injecting portions 310c (<FIG>) of the plurality of nozzles <NUM> are contained in the plurality of waiting holes <NUM> (<FIG>) of the waiting pod <NUM>.

When the nozzle driver <NUM> starts to operate in the state shown in <FIG>, the nozzle arm unit <NUM> is lifted to a height position farther upward than the cylindrical member <NUM> together with the rotation shaft <NUM> as indicated by the thick solid arrow in <FIG>. Thus, the injecting portions 310c (<FIG>) of the plurality of nozzles <NUM> are drawn out from the plurality of waiting holes <NUM> (<FIG>) of the waiting pod <NUM>.

Next, the rotation shaft <NUM> of the nozzle driver <NUM> rotates by a predetermined angle (<NUM>° in the present example). Thus, the nozzle arm unit <NUM> rotates about the rotation shaft <NUM> as indicated by the thick solid arrow in <FIG>. Thus, the nozzle arm unit <NUM> is held while extending parallel to the first direction D1. At this time, the nozzle arm unit <NUM> is positioned such that the cover member <NUM> overlaps with the nozzle opening <NUM> of the partition plate <NUM> in a plan view.

Next, the rotation shaft <NUM> of the nozzle driver <NUM> is lowered. Thus, the cover member <NUM> is lowered as indicated by the thick solid arrow in <FIG>. At this time, the height position of the nozzle arm unit <NUM> is adjusted such that the cover member <NUM> does not come into contact with the partition plate <NUM> and is sufficiently close to the partition plate <NUM>. This reduces a flow of gas in the nozzle opening <NUM>. In this manner, with the nozzle opening <NUM> of the partition plate <NUM> covered by the cover member <NUM>, the plurality of nozzles <NUM> are held at the processing position P2.

Portions of the plurality of pipes <NUM>, <NUM> extending outwardly from the nozzle arm unit <NUM> are bound by the cylindrical binding member <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, a fixing portion <NUM> for fixing part of the cylindrical binding member <NUM> to part (the bottom plate 5w, for example) of the casing CA is provided in the casing CA of <FIG>. The fixing portion <NUM> fixes the part of the cylindrical binding member <NUM> extending from the nozzle arm unit <NUM> to the casing CA. Thus, the plurality of pipes <NUM>, <NUM> located between the nozzle arm unit <NUM> and the fixing portion <NUM> are deformably bound by the cylindrical binding member <NUM>. Therefore, handleability of the plurality of pipes <NUM>, <NUM> in the casing CA of <FIG> is improved. Further, because the cylindrical binding member <NUM> is flexible, a degree of freedom in regard to movement and rotation of the nozzle arm unit <NUM> is not limited by the cylindrical binding member <NUM>. The plurality of pipes <NUM>, <NUM> bound by the cylindrical binding member <NUM> are drawn out from the cylindrical binding member <NUM> in the vicinity of the fixing portion <NUM> and connected to the fluid supply path <NUM> of the fluid supplier <NUM> of <FIG>.

In the development device <NUM>, the cup <NUM> is kept in the first state when the substrate W is carried into or carried out from the liquid processing unit LPA, LPB. On the other hand, during the development processing for the substrate W held by the substrate holding device <NUM>, the cup <NUM> is kept in the second state. The first state and the second state of the cup <NUM> will be described.

<FIG> is a schematic longitudinal cross sectional view of the development device <NUM> when the cups <NUM> of the liquid processing units LPA, LPB are in the first state, and <FIG> is a schematic longitudinal cross sectional view of the development device <NUM> when the cups <NUM> of the liquid processing units LPA, LPB are in the second state. In <FIG> and <FIG>, each nozzle arm unit <NUM> located at the waiting position P1 is indicated by the dotted lines. Further, in <FIG> and <FIG>, part of the plurality of constituent elements of the liquid processing units LPA, LPB is not shown.

As shown in <FIG>, when being in the first state, each cup <NUM> is located in each container <NUM>. That is, when being in the first state, the cup <NUM> overlaps with the container <NUM> in a side view and are separated from the cylindrical member <NUM>. Therefore, when the cup <NUM> is in the first state, the substrate holding device <NUM> can be accessed from the side of the cup <NUM> and the container <NUM>. Thus, the substrate W carried in from the outside of the development device <NUM> can be placed on the suction holder <NUM> of the liquid processing unit LPA, LPB. Further, the substrate W placed on the suction holder <NUM> of the liquid processing unit LPA, LPB can be taken out to be carried out from the development device <NUM>.

The height (dimension in the vertical direction) of the cup <NUM> is set larger than the distance between the cylindrical member <NUM> and the container <NUM> in the vertical direction. As shown in <FIG>, when being in the second state, the cup <NUM> overlaps with the lower end of the cylindrical member <NUM> and the upper end of the container <NUM> in a side view. At this time, the upper end of the cup <NUM> and the inner peripheral surface in the vicinity of the lower end of the cylindrical member <NUM> are close to each other. Further, the lower end of the cup <NUM> and the inner peripheral surface in the vicinity of the upper end of the container <NUM> are close to each other.

During the development processing for the substrate W, the cup <NUM> is held in the second state, and the plurality of nozzles <NUM> of the nozzle arm unit <NUM> are arranged at the processing position P2. <FIG> is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the development device <NUM> during the development processing for the substrates W. As shown in <FIG>, during the developing processing for the substrates W, in each of the liquid processing units LPA, LPB, the plurality of nozzles <NUM> are arranged at the processing position P2 (<FIG>), and the cover member <NUM> covers the nozzle opening <NUM> of the partition plate <NUM>. Thus, the internal space SP of the casing CA is partitioned into the processing spaces SPa and the non-processing space SPb by the partition plates <NUM>, the cylindrical members <NUM>, the cover members <NUM>, the cups <NUM> and the containers <NUM> of the liquid processing units LPA, LPB. Each processing space SPa is a space including the substrate W held by each substrate holding device <NUM>, and the non-processing space SPb is a space surrounding the processing spaces SPa.

As indicated by the outlined arrows in <FIG>, clean air is continuously supplied to the non-processing space SPb from above. Further, part of the clean air supplied to the non-processing space SPb is supplied to the processing spaces SPa through the plurality of through holes H (<FIG>) of the partition plates <NUM>. Thus, in the casing CA, a downward flow of clean air is formed in each of the two processing spaces SPa and the non-processing space SPb.

The inner peripheral surface of the liquid receiving portion <NUM> of the cup <NUM> forming each processing space SPa surrounds the substrate W held by the substrate holding device <NUM> in a horizontal plane. Thus, large portions of the development liquid and the rinse liquid supplied to the substrate W from the plurality of nozzles <NUM> during the development processing for the substrate W are received by the inner peripheral surface of the liquid receiving portion <NUM> and guided to the container <NUM>. On the other hand, splashes of the development liquid or the rinse liquid that are not received by the liquid receiving portion <NUM> and splash around the substrate W are guided to the container <NUM> by a downward airflow formed in the processing space SPa.

When the substrate W is rotated by the substrate holding device <NUM> in the processing space SPa, an airflow (upward airflow) directed from below toward above may be generated along the inner peripheral surfaces of the cup <NUM> and the cylindrical member <NUM> in the vicinity of the peripheral edge of the substrate W. In this case, when an atmosphere including splashes of the development liquid or the rinse liquid is lifted in the processing space SPa, these splashes may adhere to the lower surface of the partition plate <NUM> and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member <NUM>. Further, these splashes may re-adhere to the substrate W.

As such, as described with reference to <FIG>, in a case in which concentric circles are defined on the substrate W, the partition plate <NUM> is fabricated such that the number of through holes H formed on the largest virtual circle vc1 is larger than the number of through holes H formed on each of the rest of the virtual circles vc1. Further, the partition plate <NUM> is fabricated such that the plurality of through holes H are dispersedly arranged at constant intervals over the entire largest virtual circle vc1 surrounding the nozzle opening <NUM>. Alternatively, in a case in which the center region A1 and the outer peripheral region A2 are defined on the partition plate <NUM>, the partition plate <NUM> is fabricated such that the number of through holes H formed in the outer peripheral region A2 is larger than the number of through holes H formed in the center region A1.

With the above-mentioned configuration of the partition plate <NUM>, in the processing space SPa, an amount of a downward airflow guided to the vicinity of the inner peripheral surface of the cup <NUM> can be made larger than an amount of a downward airflow guided to the center portion of the substrate W. In particular, in a case in which the plurality of through holes H are dispersedly arranged at constant intervals over the entire largest virtual circle vc1 surrounding the nozzle opening <NUM>, it is possible to form a downward airflow in the vicinity of the inner peripheral surface of the cup <NUM> over the entire circumference of the inner peripheral surface of the cup <NUM>. This suppresses generation of an upward airflow in the vicinity of the inner peripheral surface of the cup <NUM> during rotation of the substrate W. Therefore, in the processing space SPa, upward splashing of the development liquid or the rinse liquid supplied to the substrate W in the vicinity of the outer peripheral end of the substrate W is suppressed. As a result, adherence of splashes of the development liquid or the rinse liquid to the lower surface of the partition plate <NUM> and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member <NUM> is suppressed. Further, re-adherence of the development liquid or the rinse liquid to the substrate W is suppressed.

As shown in <FIG>, in a case in which the processing spaces SPa and the non-processing space SPb are formed in the casing CA, a difference between the pressure in each of the processing spaces SPa and the pressure in the non-processing space SPb is generated. The reason will be described.

As described above, clean air is continuously supplied from above to the processing spaces SPa and the non-processing space SPb. However, an amount of a downward airflow that can enter the processing spaces SPa from above the casing CA is limited by the partition plates <NUM>. Further, in the development device <NUM>, the end portion of the exhaust pipe <NUM> for exhausting an atmosphere in the casing CA is located in the internal space of the container <NUM>, that is, each processing space SPa. Therefore, an atmosphere in the processing space SPa is actively exhausted to the outside of the casing CA.

On the other hand, in the non-processing space SPb, a member, such as the partition plate <NUM>, for limiting an amount of a downward airflow is not provided. Further, in the non-processing space SPb, the configuration for actively exhausting an atmosphere in the non-processing space SPb to the outside of the casing CA is not provided. In particular, as shown in <FIG>, the bottom plate 5w of the present example has closing portions cp that close the non-processing space SPb from below the casing CA. Thus, part of air guided from above the casing CA to the non-processing space SPb is not exhausted to the outside of the non-processing space SPb due to the closing portions cp. As a result, the pressure in the non-processing space SPb is sufficiently higher than the pressure in each processing space SPa.

Since the pressure in the non-processing space SPb surrounding the processing spaces SPa is higher than the pressure in each processing space SPa, that is, the pressure in the processing space SPa is lower than the pressure in the non-processing space SPb, leakage of an atmosphere in the processing space SPa out of the casing CA through the non-processing space SPb is suppressed.

Here, in a case in which the internal space SP of the casing CA is partitioned into the processing spaces SPa and the non-processing space SPb, each cover member <NUM> desirably closes the nozzle opening <NUM> such that a flow of gas through the nozzle opening <NUM> is completely blocked. However, in a case in which the cover member <NUM> is repeatedly in contact and not in contact with the partition plate <NUM> each time the development processing for the substrate W is performed, particles may be generated. Therefore, it is desirable that the cover member <NUM> does not come into contact with the partition plate <NUM>.

As such, in the present embodiment, the cover member <NUM> covers the nozzle opening <NUM> without coming into contact with the partition plate <NUM> during the development processing for the substrate W. The cover member <NUM> and the partition plate <NUM> are formed as described below so as to reduce a flow of gas in the nozzle opening <NUM> when the nozzle opening <NUM> is covered by the cover member <NUM>.

<FIG> is a plan view showing one example of the nozzle opening <NUM> of the partition plate <NUM> being covered by the cover member <NUM>, and <FIG> is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the partition plate <NUM>, the cylindrical member <NUM> and the nozzle arm unit <NUM> taken along the line K-K of <FIG>. In <FIG>, the plurality of pipes <NUM>, <NUM> are not shown.

As shown in <FIG>, in a case in which covering the nozzle opening <NUM>, the cover member <NUM> is held such that the entire upper surface portion <NUM> (<FIG>) covers the entire nozzle opening <NUM> in a plan view. The plurality of end-surface portions and side-surface portions (<NUM> to <NUM>) of the cover member <NUM> are formed so as to surround the entire wall portion <NUM> of the partition plate <NUM> with a minute gap therebetween in a plan view when the cover member <NUM> covers the nozzle opening <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the cover member <NUM> is held such that parts of the plurality of end-surface portions and side-surface portions (<NUM> to <NUM>) overlap with the wall portion <NUM> of the partition plate <NUM> in a side view and does not come into contact with the partition plate <NUM>. In <FIG>, an enlarged cross-sectional view of the lower end portion of the one end-surface portion <NUM> of the cover member <NUM> and its vicinal portions is shown in the balloon.

As shown in the balloon of <FIG>, in a case in which the nozzle opening <NUM> is covered by the cover member <NUM>, a gap space G is formed between the processing space SPa and the non-processing space SPb. The gap space G is the space interposed between the wall portion <NUM> of the partition plate <NUM> and the plurality of end-surface portions and side-surface portions (<NUM> to <NUM>) of the cover member <NUM>. Thus, it is possible to reduce a flow of gas in the nozzle opening <NUM> as compared to a case in which the wall portion <NUM> is not formed in the partition plate <NUM> or the cover member <NUM> is constituted by only the upper surface portion <NUM>. The distance (distance of the gap space G) between the wall portion <NUM> of the partition plate <NUM> and the plurality of end-surface portions and side-surface portions (<NUM> to <NUM>) of the cover member <NUM> in a plan view is preferably set to about <NUM> to <NUM>, for example.

In the development device <NUM> according to the present embodiment, when the cup <NUM> is in the second state, the upper end of the cup <NUM> and the inner peripheral surface in the vicinity of the lower end of the cylindrical member <NUM> are close to each other. In this case, a gap space is formed between the cylindrical member <NUM> and an upper portion of the cup <NUM>. Thus, as compared to a case in which the cylindrical member <NUM> is not present, a flow of an atmosphere in the processing space SPa from between the cup <NUM> and the partition plate <NUM> into the non-processing space SPb is reduced. The distance between the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member <NUM> and the outer peripheral surface of the cup <NUM> (the distance of the gap space between the cylindrical member <NUM> and the upper portion of the cup <NUM>) in a plan view is preferably set to about <NUM> to <NUM>, for example.

<FIG> is a block diagram showing the configuration of the controller <NUM> of the development device <NUM> of <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, the controller <NUM> includes a first lifting-lowering controller <NUM>, a fluid controller <NUM>, a first rotation controller <NUM>, a suction controller <NUM>, a second lifting-lowering controller <NUM> and a second rotation controller <NUM>. The function of each element of the controller <NUM> of <FIG> is implemented by execution of a predetermined program stored in a memory by a CPU, for example.

The first lifting-lowering controller <NUM> controls the operation of the lifting-lowering driver <NUM> of the liquid processing units LPA, LPB. Thus, the cup <NUM> of each of the liquid processing units LPA, LPB changes to the first state or the second state. The fluid controller <NUM> controls the operation of the two fluid suppliers <NUM> of <FIG>. Thus, in each of the liquid processing units LPA, LPB, a fluid mixture of a development liquid and gas is injected from part of the plurality of nozzles <NUM>, and a fluid mixture of a rinse liquid and gas is injected from the rest of the nozzles <NUM>.

The first rotation controller <NUM> controls the operation of the spin motors <NUM> of the liquid processing units LPA, LPB of <FIG>. Further, the suction controller <NUM> controls the operation of the suction devices <NUM> of the liquid processing units LPA, LPB of <FIG>. Thus, in each substrate holding device <NUM>, the substrate W is held by suction and rotated in a horizontal attitude.

The second lifting-lowering controller <NUM> and the second rotation controller <NUM> control the operation of the nozzle drivers <NUM> of the liquid processing units LPA, LPB of <FIG>. Specifically, the second lifting-lowering controller <NUM> controls the operation of an actuator of each nozzle driver <NUM>. The second rotation controller <NUM> controls the operation of a motor having the rotation shaft <NUM> of each nozzle driver <NUM>.

The basic operation of the development device <NUM> will be described. <FIG> is a flowchart showing the basic operation during the development processing for the substrate W1 performed by the development device <NUM>. In an initial state, air the temperature, humidity and the like of which are adjusted is supplied from the gas supplier <NUM> to the development device <NUM>. Further, an atmosphere in the casing CA is guided to the exhaust device (not shown) from the exhaust pipes <NUM> of the liquid processing units LPA, LPB. A downward flow of clean air is formed in the casing CA. Further, in the initial state, the cup <NUM> is held in the first state. Further, the plurality of nozzles <NUM> are held at the waiting position P1.

Before the development processing for the substrate W is started, the substrate W to be processed is first carried into the liquid processing unit LPA, LPB. Further, as shown in <FIG>, the substrate W is placed on the suction holder <NUM> of the substrate holding device <NUM>. When the development processing for the substrate W is started, the suction controller <NUM> of <FIG> controls the suction device <NUM> of the liquid processing unit LPA, LPB such that the substrate W is sucked by the suction holder <NUM> of the substrate holding device <NUM> (step S11).

Next, the first lifting-lowering controller <NUM> of <FIG> controls the lifting-lowering driver <NUM> of the liquid processing unit LPA, LPB such that cup <NUM> changes from the first state to the second state (step S12).

Next, the second lifting-lowering controller <NUM> and the second rotation controller <NUM> of <FIG> control the nozzle driver <NUM> of the liquid processing unit LPA, LPB such that the plurality of nozzles <NUM> move from the waiting position P1 to the processing position P2 (step S13).

Next, the first rotation controller <NUM> of <FIG> controls the spin motor <NUM> of the liquid processing unit LPA, LPB such that the substrate W rotates about the rotation shaft <NUM> (step S14).

Next, the fluid controller <NUM> of <FIG> controls the fluid supplier <NUM> of the liquid processing unit LPA, LPB such that a development liquid is supplied to the substrate W from part of the plurality of nozzles <NUM> for a predetermined period of time (step S15). Further, the fluid controller <NUM> of <FIG> controls the fluid supplier <NUM> of the liquid processing unit LPA, LPB such that a rinse liquid is supplied to the substrate W from the rest of the plurality of nozzles <NUM> for a predetermined period of time (step S16).

Next, the first rotation controller <NUM> of <FIG> dries the substrate W by continuing to rotate the substrate W until a constant period of time elapses from the time when supply of the rinse liquid is stopped. Further, the first rotation controller <NUM> of <FIG> controls the spin motor <NUM> of the liquid processing unit LPA, LPB such that the rotation of the substrate W is stopped after the constant period of time elapses from the time when supply of the rinse liquid is stopped (step S17).

Next, the second lifting-lowering controller <NUM> and the second rotation controller <NUM> of <FIG> control the nozzle driver <NUM> of the liquid processing unit LPA, LPB such that the plurality of nozzles <NUM> move from the processing position P2 to the waiting position P1 (step S18).

Next, the first lifting-lowering controller <NUM> of <FIG> controls the lifting-lowering driver <NUM> of the liquid processing unit LPA, LPB such that cup <NUM> changes from the second state to the first state (step S19).

Finally, the suction controller <NUM> of <FIG> controls the suction device <NUM> of the liquid processing unit LPA, LPB such that suction of the substrate W by the suction holder <NUM> of the substrate holding device <NUM> is released (step S20). Thus, the development processing for the substrate W ends. The substrate W on which the development processing has been performed is carried out from the liquid processing unit LPA, LPB.

In a case in which the pressure in the processing space SPa is lower than the pressure in the non-processing space SPb, an atmosphere in the processing space SPa is unlikely to enter the non-processing space SPb. Therefore, in a case in which an odor caused by a processing liquid is generated in the processing space SPa, the odor is unlikely to leak to the outside of the casing CA.

Further, in the above-mentioned configuration, the nozzle opening <NUM> is formed in the partition plate <NUM>. With this configuration, the plurality of nozzles <NUM> and the partition plate <NUM> do not interfere with each other with the plurality of nozzles <NUM> located at the processing position P2. Further, with the plurality of nozzles <NUM> located at the processing position P2, the nozzle opening <NUM> formed in the partition plate <NUM> is covered by the cover member <NUM>. Thus, when a development liquid and a rinse liquid are supplied from the plurality of nozzles <NUM> to the substrate W, leakage of an atmosphere in the processing space SPa from the nozzle opening <NUM> to the non-processing space SPb is reduced.

As a result, degradation of comfort of a working environment around the development device <NUM> can be suppressed.

(<NUM>) In the above-mentioned development device <NUM>, the plurality of nozzles <NUM> move between the waiting position P1 and the processing position P2 by movement and rotation of the nozzle arm unit <NUM> by the nozzle driver <NUM>. Therefore, with the development processing for the substrate W not performed, the plurality of nozzles <NUM> can be held at the waiting position P1. With the plurality of nozzles <NUM> located at the waiting position P1, processing such as dummy dispense and cleaning of the plurality of nozzles <NUM> can be performed. This prevents a fall of an unnecessary development liquid or an unnecessary rinse liquid from the plurality of nozzles <NUM> located at the processing position P2, drying of tips of the plurality of nozzles <NUM> located at the processing position P2, etc. As a result, an occurrence of processing defects of the substrate W is suppressed.

(<NUM>) In the above-mentioned nozzle arm unit <NUM>, the cover member <NUM> is attached to the support <NUM> that supports the plurality of nozzles <NUM>. Thus, when the plurality of nozzles <NUM> are moved between the waiting position P1 and the processing position P2, the plurality of nozzles <NUM> and the cover member <NUM> are integrally moved. This prevents interference between the plurality of nozzles <NUM> and the cover member <NUM>. Further, because it is not necessary to separately provide a moving mechanism for the plurality of nozzles <NUM> and a moving mechanism for the cover member <NUM>, complication of the configuration is suppressed.

(<NUM>) In the above-mentioned development device <NUM>, in each of the liquid processing units LPA, LPB, an atmosphere in the container <NUM> is exhausted to the outside of the casing CA through the exhaust pipe <NUM>. On the other hand, the closing portions cp for closing the non-processing space SPb from below the casing CA are provided at the bottom plate 5w. This facilitates a reduction of the pressure in the processing space SPa to be lower than the pressure in the non-processing space SPb during the development processing for the substrate W.

In the following paragraphs, non-limiting examples of correspondences between various elements recited in the claims below and those described above with respect to various preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are explained. In the above-mentioned embodiment, the casing CA is an example of a chamber, the air guide AG and the filter FL are examples of an airflow former, the substrate holding device <NUM> is an example of a substrate holder, the plurality of nozzles <NUM> are an example of a nozzle, the processing space SPa is an example of a processing space, and the non-processing space SPb is an example of a non-processing space.

The partition plate <NUM>, the cylindrical member <NUM>, the cup <NUM> and the cover member <NUM> are examples of a partition, the cup <NUM> is an example of a processing cup, the plurality of through holes H are an example of a plurality of through holes, the nozzle opening <NUM> is an example of a nozzle opening, the partition plate <NUM> is an example of a partition plate, the cover member <NUM> is an example of a cover member, and the development device <NUM> is an example of a substrate processing apparatus.

Further, the nozzle driver <NUM> is an example of a nozzle driver, the support <NUM> is an example of a support, the connection portion of the exhaust pipe <NUM> in the bottom portion <NUM> of the container <NUM> is an example of an exhauster, the wall portion <NUM> of the partition plate <NUM> is an example of a first wall, the upper surface portion <NUM> of the cover member <NUM> is an example of a lid main body, and the one end-surface portion <NUM>, the other end-surface portion <NUM>, the one side-surface portion <NUM> and the other side-surface portion <NUM> of the cover member <NUM> are examples of a second wall.

Further, the cylindrical member <NUM> is an example of a cylindrical member, the center region A1 defined in the partition plate <NUM> is an example of a center region, the outer peripheral region A2 defined in the partition plate <NUM> is an example of an outer peripheral region, and the largest virtual circle among the plurality of virtual circles vc1 is an example of a virtual circle.

As each of constituent elements recited in the claims, various other elements having configurations or functions described in the claims can be also used.

Claim 1:
A substrate processing apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
a chamber (CA) having an inner space;
an airflow former (AG or FL) supplies gas into the chamber to form a downward airflow;
a substrate holder (<NUM>) that holds a substrate in the chamber;
a nozzle (<NUM>) that supplies a processing liquid to the substrate from a processing position (P2) above the substrate held by the substrate holder; and
a partition that partitions an inner space of the chamber into a processing space (Spa) including the substrate held by the substrate holder and a non-processing space (Spb) surrounding at least part of the processing space with the substrate held by the substrate holder, wherein
the partition includes
a processing cup (<NUM>) that is provided to surround the substrate held by the substrate holder in a plan view and overlap with the substrate held by the substrate holder in a side view, and forms the processing space,
a partition plate (<NUM>) that is provided at a position above the processing cup, and has a plurality of through holes (H) for guiding part of the downward airflow to the processing space and a nozzle opening (<NUM>) formed to overlap with the processing position in a plan view, and
a lid (<NUM>) configured to cover the nozzle opening while allowing supply of a processing liquid from the nozzle to the substrate with the substrate held by the substrate holder and the nozzle located at the processing position.