Patent ID: 8119196

Claim:
A semiconductor manufacturing method using a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus comprising a discharge portion discharging a coating liquid onto a substrate; a gas supply tube pressurizing an interior of a liquid container with an inert gas; a coating liquid supply tube airtightly supplying the coating liquid from the liquid container to the discharge portion using pressurization from the gas supply tube; a first connecting portion capable of attaching and detaching the liquid container to and from the coating liquid supply tube; a second connecting portion capable of attaching and detaching the liquid container to and from the gas supply tube; an exhaust tube capable of reducing an internal pressure of the coating liquid supply tube including the first connecting portion; and a solvent supply tube supplying a solvent, which can dissolve the coating liquid, to the first connecting portion; the method comprising: attaching the liquid container to the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion; supplying the inert gas to the liquid container via the gas supply tube, thereby carrying the coating liquid to the discharge portion via the coating liquid supply tube; discharging the coating liquid to the substrate from the discharge portion; reducing an internal pressure of the liquid container via the exhaust tube and the second connecting portion after discharging the coating liquid; and returning the coating liquid in the first connecting portion and the liquid supply tube to the liquid container by using the pressure in the liquid container, the method further comprising: supplying the solvent to the first connecting portion and to the coating liquid supply tube, therewith returning the coating liquid in the first connecting portion and the liquid supply tube to the liquid container.