Patent ID: 7490010

Claim:
A data collection method to be adopted in a substrate processing apparatus that includes a processing chamber where a specific type of processing is executed on a processing target substrate such that the method collects data provided by a plurality of measuring instruments disposed, at least, in said processing chamber, the method comprising: a step in which measurement data are obtained from said measuring instruments with a predetermined sampling cycle and are stored into a data storage means, wherein said sampling cycle is adjusted based upon the state of said substrate processing apparatus, wherein a decision is made as to whether or not said substrate processing apparatus is in a substrate processing execution state, wherein if the state assumed by said substrate processing apparatus is judged not to be said substrate processing execution state, said sampling cycle is lengthened by the sampling control means relative to said sampling cycle set in said substrate processing execution state, and wherein when said substrate processing apparatus is judged by the sampling control means not to be in said substrate processing execution state, a sampling cycle, which is at least equal to or shorter than said sampling cycle set in said substrate processing execution state, is selected if said substrate processing apparatus is in an apparatus startup state.