Patent ID: 6925731

Claim:
A thin film deposition apparatus cleaning method of cleaning a thin film deposition apparatus by removing deposits adhering to the inner surfaces of the thin film deposition apparatus after depositing thin films on workpieces by supplying a process gas into a reaction vessel included in the thin film deposition apparatus, said thin film deposition apparatus cleaning method comprising the steps of: discharging the workpieces having the deposited thin films from the reaction vessel; heating an interior of the reaction vessel at a predetermined temperature after discharging the workpieces; and cleaning an interior of the thin film deposition apparatus, with no workpieces being in the reaction vessel, by supplying a cleaning gas containing fluorine gas and an additive gas capable of promoting the activation of the fluorine gas into the reaction vessel heated at the predetermined temperature, heating the cleaning gas at a predetermined temperature to activate the fluorine gas contained in the cleaning gas, and removing the deposits with the activated fluorine gas.