Patent ID: 8196619

Claim:
A load lock apparatus including a carry port provided on a side of a carry-in/out section for carrying a substrate in/out from/to the outside, and a carry port provided on a side of a processing section for processing the substrate, said apparatus comprising: a temperature controlling plate for controlling a temperature of the substrate carried in said load lock apparatus; and a mechanism which brings the substrate and said temperature controlling plate relatively close to each other; said temperature controlling plate being placed on a front surface side of the substrate, said temperature controlling plate comprising a plate body made of a porous material and a temperature controlling gas supply path for supplying a temperature controlling gas controlled in temperature to said plate body, wherein the temperature controlling gas passes through said plate body, blows out from a surface of said plate body, and is supplied to the substrate, wherein an upper surface and an outer side surface of said plate body of said temperature controlling plate are covered with a non-permeable protection material, wherein the non-permeable protection material extends to a point below a lower surface of said plate body, wherein the non-permeable protection material surrounds an outside of a peripheral portion of the substrate when the substrate is brought close to said temperature controlling plate, and wherein said plate body is divided into upper and lower plates, a gap is formed between the upper plate and the lower plate, and an upper surface of the lower plate is provided with a plurality of grooves.