Patent ID: 8152933

Claim:
A substrate processing method performed in a substrate processing apparatus that comprises a substrate holding member configured to rotate along with a substrate held thereon in a horizontal state, a process liquid supply mechanism configured to supply a process liquid onto the substrate, a rinsing liquid supply mechanism configured to supply a rinsing liquid onto the substrate, and an annular rotary cup configured to rotate along with the substrate holding member and the substrate held on the substrate holding member, and to surround the substrate held on the substrate holding member and to receive the process liquid or rinsing liquid scattered from the substrate being rotated, an annular drain cup configured to receive liquid discharged from the rotary cup, the drain cup including an annular drain flow passage defined by an outer sidewall that surrounds a lateral side of an edge of the substrate and an internal wall that surrounds a lower side of the edge of the substrate, and a rotation mechanism configured to rotate the substrate holding member and the rotary cup along with the substrate, the method comprising: performing a substrate process on the substrate while rotating the substrate held on the substrate holding member by the rotation mechanism and supplying the process liquid onto the substrate from the process liquid supply mechanism; and then performing a rinsing process that includes rinsing the substrate while rotating the substrate held on the substrate holding member by the rotation mechanism and supplying the rinsing liquid onto the substrate from the rinsing liquid supply mechanism, wherein the rinsing process includes adjusting a rotational speed of the substrate to be the same as the rotational speed used in the substrate process while supplying the rinsing liquid, thereby also rinsing the drain flow passage of the drain cup by rinsing liquid thrown off from the substrate, raising a liquid level of the rinsing liquid inside the drain flow passage of the drain cup by decreasing the rotational speed of the substrate or increasing a flow rate of the rinsing liquid, as compared to that used in said rinsing the drain flow passage, and raising a reach position of the rinsing liquid inside the drain flow passage by increasing the rotational speed of the substrate, as compared to that used in said rinsing the drain flow passage, the reach position being defined by a highest point which the rinsing liquid touches on the outer sidewall of the drain cup.