Patent ID: 7659216

Claim:
A method for producing an annealed wafer, the method comprising at least: placing one or more semiconductor wafers in a boat supported by a support member; inserting the boat, in which the one or more semiconductor wafers are placed, at an insertion rate into a furnace tube; disposing one or more semiconductor wafers to be products of the one or more semiconductor wafers in a thermally uniform portion of the furnace tube, the thermally uniform portion having a temperature distribution that is uniform in a longitudinal direction by heating with a heater; blocking in the furnace tube with a shutter; and heat-treating the one or more semiconductor wafers; wherein when the boat, in which the one or more semiconductor wafers are placed, is inserted into the furnace tube, introducing an inert gas into the furnace tube along with the boat, so that an entirety of the one or more semiconductor wafers to be products reach the thermally uniform portion; then the insertion rate of the boat, in which the one or more semiconductor wafers are placed, is decelerated and/or suspended, so that an interval between the furnace tube and the shutter is maintained for a predetermined time; and then the furnace tube is blocked in with the shutter.