Patent ID: 7191785

Claim:
A substrate processing apparatus comprising: a processing vessel for processing a substrate therein, the substrate having a resist film on a surface thereof; a substrate holding member for holding the substrate in the processing vessel; a process gas supply section for supplying a process gas into the processing vessel; a solvent vapor supply section having a solvent heater for generating and heating the solvent vapor, a vapor supply line for supplying the solvent vapor into the processing vessel, a vapor heater for heating the solvent vapor flowing through the supply line, a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the vapor heater, and an overheat monitoring sensor for monitoring the overheat of the vapor heater; a main heater for heating the processing vessel; and means for controlling the solvent heater, the vapor heater based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor while monitoring the overheat of the vapor heater through the monitoring sensor and the main heater, to heat the solvent vapor and the substrate within respective temperature ranges in which a mixed gas molecular layer of a mixture of molecules of the solvent vapor and molecules of the process gas is formed on the substrate to alter the resist film into a water-soluble substance.