Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE(S) TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a divisional of pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/524,215, filed on Feb. 10, 2005, which is herein incorporated by reference, which is the National Stage application of PCT International Application No. PCT/JP2003/010506 filed on Aug. 20, 2003, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-252267, filed on Aug. 30, 2002. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a substrate processing apparatus for processing a substrate while heating same. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    There has been known in the art a film forming apparatus for forming a thin film on a semiconductor wafer (hereinafter simply refereed to as a “wafer”) by supplying a processing gas while heating the wafer. In case of such a film forming apparatus of this type, the wafer mounted on a susceptor is heated by flowing an electric current to a resistant heating element embedded in the susceptor. 
         [0004]    In such a configuration, the resistance heating element and a power supply outside a chamber are connected to each other via lead lines; and in case the processing gas is brought in contact with the lead lines, there may be a likelihood that the lead lines are corroded by a chemical reaction between the lead lines and the processing gas. For the reason, a sealing member is installed between the chamber and the susceptor to prevent the contact between the lead lines and the processing gas. 
         [0005]    Recently, there is a need for miniaturization of the film forming apparatus in terms of, e.g., consumption amount of the processing gas. However, if the film forming apparatus is miniaturized, the distance between the susceptor and the chamber is shortened, resulting in a problem that the sealing member cannot sustain heat and is melted. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a substrate processing apparatus capable of suppressing a rise of temperature of a sealing member. 
         [0007]    In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a substrate processing apparatus including: a processing chamber for accommodating a substrate therein; a mounting table for mounting the substrate thereon; a heating member disposed in the mounting table, for heating the substrate; a sealing member disposed between the mounting table and the processing chamber; and a cooling unit, having a cooling medium, for cooling the sealing member by using a latent heat of vaporization of the cooling medium included therein. According to the substrate processing apparatus of the present invention, the sealing member can be cooled down by the cooling unit, so that a rise of temperature in the sealing member can be suppressed. 
         [0008]    Further, the cooling unit includes a depressurized airtight casing for accommodating the cooling medium therein. By way of employing the airtight casing, the boiling point of the cooling medium can be reduced. 
         [0009]    Preferably, the substrate processing apparatus further includes a temperature sensor disposed near the sealing member and a cooling unit controller for controlling the cooling unit based on a measurement result of the temperature sensor. By using the temperature sensor and the cooling unit controller, the temperature in the vicinity of the sealing member can be maintained at a desired level. 
         [0010]    In accordance with the present invention, there is further provided a substrate processing apparatus including: a processing chamber for accommodating a substrate therein; a mounting table having a mounting portion for mounting thereon the substrate and having a support for supporting the mounting table; a heating member disposed in the mounting portion, for heating the substrate; a sealing member disposed between the support and the processing chamber; and a shielding member for shielding a heat radiation directed toward the sealing member from the mounting table. 
         [0011]    Preferably, the shielding member covers at least a part of a bottom surface of the mounting portion. Here, the bottom surface of the mounting portion refers to a surface opposite to a surface of the mounting portion on which a substrate is loaded. By covering at least a part of the bottom surface of the mounting portion with the shielding cap, the heat radiation directed toward the sealing member from the mounting portion can be blocked successively. 
         [0012]    Further, it is preferred that the substrate processing apparatus further includes a substrate elevating member for moving up and down the substrate and the shielding member supports the substrate elevating member. By the shielding member supporting the substrate elevating member, the number of parts involved can be reduced, resulting in a cost-down. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the substrate processing apparatus further includes a processing gas supply system for supplying a processing gas into the processing chamber. In case the substrate processing apparatus is miniaturized, the consumption amount of the processing gas can be reduced. 
         [0014]    The processing gas supply system includes a plurality of processing gas supply units for supplying different processing gases and a processing gas supply unit controller for controlling each of the processing gas supply units such that the processing gases are supplied alternately. In case the substrate processing apparatus is miniaturized, the time required to exhaust the processing gases can be reduced. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a schematic configuration view of a film forming apparatus in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  provide a schematic plan view and a schematic vertical cross sectional view of a wafer elevating pin support in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, respectively; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  present a schematic plan view and a schematic vertical cross sectional view of a shielding cap in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, respectively; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  sets forth a schematic configuration view of a cooling unit in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart that describes a sequence of a processing method performed by the film forming apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIGS. 6A to 6D  are schematic drawings for describing the processing method performed by the film forming apparatus in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  provides a schematic configuration view of a film forming apparatus in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  offers a flowchart that describes a sequence of a processing method performed by the film forming apparatus in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  depict a schematic plan view and a schematic vertical cross sectional view of a wafer elevating pin support in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, respectively; and 
           [0024]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  present a schematic plan view and a schematic vertical cross sectional view of another wafer elevating pin support in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     First Preferred Embodiment 
       [0025]    Hereinafter, a film forming apparatus in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described.  FIG. 1  is a schematic configuration view of the film forming apparatus and  FIGS. 2A and 2B  schematically show a plan view and a vertical cross sectional view of a wafer elevating pin support in accordance with the first embodiment, respectively. Further,  FIGS. 3A and 3B  schematically illustrate a plan view and a vertical cross sectional view of a shielding cap in accordance with the first embodiment, respectively. 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the film forming apparatus  1  includes a chamber  2  formed of, e.g., aluminum or stainless steel. Here, it may be preferred that the surface of the chamber  2  is, for example, alumite treated. An opening  2 A is formed at a side portion of the chamber  2  and a gate valve  3  is installed near the opening  2 A in order to allow a wafer W to be loaded into or unloaded from the chamber  2 . 
         [0027]    Further, an opening is formed at an upper portion of the chamber  2 , and a shower head  4  for injecting TiCl 4  and NH 3  toward the wafer W is inserted into the opening. The shower head  4  includes a TiCl 4  injecting portion  4 A for injecting TiCl 4  and a NH 3  injecting portion  4 B for injecting NH 3 . The TiCl 4  injecting portion  4 A is provided with a number of TiCl 4  injection openings through which TiCl 4  is discharged. Likewise, the NH 3  injecting portion  4 B has a multiplicity of NH 3  injection openings through which NH 3  is discharged. 
         [0028]    Connected to the TiCl 4  injecting portion  4 A of the shower head  4  is a TiCl 4  supply system  10  for supplying TiCl 4  thereto. And, connected to the NH 3  injecting portion  4 B is a NH 3  supply system  20  for supplying NH 3  thereto. 
         [0029]    The TiCl 4  supply system  10  includes a TiCl 4  supply source  11  containing therein TiCl 4 . Connected to the TiCl 4  supply source  11  is a TiCl 4  supply line  12  whose one end is coupled to the TiCl 4  injecting portion  4 A. Installed on the TiCl 4  supply line  12  are a valve  13  and a mass flow controller (MFC)  14  for controlling the flow rate of TiCl 4 . By opening the valve  13  after setting the MFC  14 , TiCl 4  is supplied into the TiCl 4  injecting portion  4 A from the TiCl 4  supply source  11  at a predetermined flow rate. 
         [0030]    The NH 3  supply system  20  includes a NH 3  supply source  21 . Coupled to the NH 3  supply source  21  is a NH 3  supply line  22  whose one end is connected to the NH 3  injecting portion  4 B. Installed on the NH 3  supply line are a valve  23  and a MFC  24  for controlling the flow rate of NH 3 . By opening the valve  23  after setting the MFC  24 , NH 3  is supplied into the NH 3  injecting portion  4 B from the NH 3  supply source  21  at a preset flow rate. 
         [0031]    Further, a valve controller  25  is electrically coupled to the valves  13  and  23  to control same to be opened alternately. By controlling the valves  13  and  23  in such a manner through the use of the valve controller  25 , a TiN film having an excellent step coverage and the like can be formed on the wafer W. 
         [0032]    Connected to the bottom portion of the chamber  2  is a gas exhaust system  30  for pumping out, e.g., TiCl 4  and NH 3  gases. The gas exhaust system  30  includes an automatic pressure controller (APC)  31  for controlling the internal pressure of the chamber  2 . By controlling conductance with the APC  31 , the internal pressure of the chamber  2  is controlled at a predetermined pressure level. 
         [0033]    A gas exhaust line  32  is coupled to the APC  31 . On the gas exhaust line  32 , a main valve  33 , a turbo molecular pump  34 , a trap  35 , a valve  36  and a dry pump  37  are installed in that order from the upstream side to the downstream side. 
         [0034]    The turbo molecular pump  34  is for performing a main pumping process. By carrying out the main pumping through the use of the turbo molecular pump  34 , the internal pressure of the chamber  2  is maintained at the predetermined pressure level. Furthermore, by way of evacuating the chamber  2  through the use of the turbo molecular pump  34 , superfluous TiCl 4 , NH 3 , TiN, NH 4 Cl and the like are exhausted from the chamber  2 . 
         [0035]    The trap  35  is for removing NH 4 Cl from the exhaust gas by filtering out NH 4 Cl contained in the exhaust gas. The dry pump  37  assists the turbo molecular pump  34 . By operating the dry pump  37 , the backing pressure of the turbo molecular pump  34  can be reduced. Furthermore, the dry pump  37  performs a rough pumping of the chamber  2 . 
         [0036]    Connected to the gas exhaust line  32  between the valve  36  and the dry pump  37  is a rough pumping line  38  for use in performing the rough pumping by means of the dry pump  37 . The other end of the rough pumping line  38  is coupled to the gas exhaust line  32  between the APC  31  and the main valve  33 . A valve  39  is installed on the rough pumping line  38 . By operating the dry pump  37  under the condition that the main valve  33  and the valve  36  are closed while the valve  39  is opened, the chamber  2  is roughly evacuated. 
         [0037]    A susceptor  40  is disposed in the chamber  2 . The susceptor  40  includes an approximately disc-shaped mounting portion  40 A for mounting thereon the wafer W and a support  40 B for supporting the mounting portion  40 A. 
         [0038]    Disposed within the mounting portion  40 A is a resistance heating element  41  which heats the mounting portion  40 A to a predetermined temperature. Two lead lines  42 , one end of each being connected to an external power supply (not shown), are coupled to the resistance heating element  41 . By flowing an electric current to the resistance heating element  41  via the lead lines  42  from the external power supply, the mounting portion  40 A is heated up to the predetermined temperature. 
         [0039]    Holes  40 C for use in moving up and down the wafer W are respectively formed in a vertical direction at three places in the mounting portion  40 A, and a wafer elevating pin  43  is inserted into each of the holes  40 C. The wafer elevating pins  43  are supported upright by a wafer elevating pin support  44 . 
         [0040]    The wafer elevating pin support  44  is formed as a ring-shaped flat plate, as shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , and is installed between the mounting portion  40 A and a sealing member  47  to be described later. The wafer elevating pin support  44  serves to support the wafer elevating pins  43  and also functions to shield a heat radiation directed toward the sealing member  47  from the mounting portion  40 A. 
         [0041]    The wafer elevating pin support  44  is formed of a material capable of effectively shielding a heat radiation. Specifically, the wafer elevating pin support  44  is formed of, e.g., any one of aluminum oxide, aluminum nitride, silicon carbide (SiC), quartz, stainless steel, aluminum, hastelloy, inconel and nickel. 
         [0042]    An air cylinder (not shown) is fixed to the wafer elevating pin support  44 . The air cylinder includes a rod  45 . When the rod  45  is contracted by the operation of the air cylinder, the wafer elevating pins  43  are lowered and the wafer W is loaded on the mounting portion  40 A. Further, when the rod  45  is extended by the operation of the air cylinder, the wafer elevating pins  43  are lifted, so that the wafer W is moved away from the mounting portion  40 A. Further, an expansible/contractible bellows  46  is disposed inside the chamber  2  to cover the rod  45 . By covering the rod  45  with the bellows  46 , the inside of the chamber  2  can be maintained hermetically. 
         [0043]    Inserted between the support  40 B of the susceptor  40  and the chamber  2  is the ring-shaped sealing member  47  formed of a synthetic resin. By inserting the sealing member  47  therebetween, the lead lines  42  are prevented from contacting with TiCl 4 , etc. 
         [0044]    The bottom portion of the support  40 B is covered with the shielding cap  48  which serves to shield the heat radiation directed toward the sealing member  47  from the mounting portion  40 A. The shielding cap  48  has a hollow shape provided with an opening at a top surface thereof, as shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . 
         [0045]    The shielding cap  48  is formed of a material capable of effectively blocking a heat radiation. Specifically, the shielding cap  48  is formed of, e.g., any one of aluminum oxide, aluminum nitride, silicon carbide (SiC), quartz, stainless steel, aluminum, hastelloy, inconel and nickel. 
         [0046]    Openings are formed at two places of the bottom portion of the chamber  2 , and a part of a cooling unit  50  for cooling the sealing member  47  is inserted into each of the openings.  FIG. 4  shows a schematic configuration of the cooling unit  50  in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the cooling unit  50  includes a heat pipe  51  for cooling the sealing member  47 , and an end portion  51 A of the heat pipe  51  is inserted into the corresponding opening formed through the bottom portion of the chamber  2 . 
         [0047]    The heat pipe  51  has a cylindrical airtight casing  52 , and a cooling medium  53  is accommodated in the airtight casing  52 . For example, one of water, hydrofluoroether, alcohol such as ethanol, fluorine-contained inactive liquid and naphthalene can be used as the cooling medium  53 . Moreover, a mixture of polyhydric alcohols, for example, a mixture of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, can also be used as the cooling medium  53 . By depressurizing the inside of the airtight casing  52 , the boiling point of the cooling medium  53  is lowered compared with that under the atmospheric pressure. 
         [0048]    Disposed in the airtight casing  52  is a wick  54  which serves to move the liquefied cooling medium  53  to the end portion  51 A of the heat pipe  51  by a capillary force. The wick  54  has a shape of a wire net. The liquefied cooling medium  53  moved to the end portion  51 A of the heat pipe  51  vaporizes by absorbing heat around the sealing member  47 . The vaporized cooling medium  53  is then transferred to a base portion  51 B of the heat pipe  51  and is cooled down by a condenser  55  to be described later, thereby being liquefied again. Then, the liquefied cooling medium  53  is transferred to the end portion  51 A again by the wick  54 . By repetition of this cycle, the sealing member  47  is cooled, so that a rise of temperature of the sealing member  27  is suppressed. 
         [0049]    The condenser  55  is disposed outside the base portion  51 B of the heat pipe  51  to cool the base portion  51 B, to thereby liquefy the vaporized cooling medium  53 . The condenser  55  has a vessel  56  for enclosing the base portion  51 B of the heat pipe  51 . Further, a circulation line  57  for circulating the cooling medium  53  therethrough is connected to two places of the vessel  56 , and a cooling medium supply source  58  for storing the cooling medium therein is connected to the circulation line  57 . Further, installed on the circulation line  57  is a pump  59  for pumping the coolant medium from the cooling medium supply source  58 . By the operation of the pump  59 , the cooling medium circulates between the cooling medium supply source  58  and a space (cooling medium supply space) between the outer surface of the airtight casing  52  and the inner surface of the vessel  56  via the circulation line  57 . Moreover, the pump  59  is configured to be able to control the flow rate of the cooling medium. 
         [0050]    Hereinafter, a sequence of a processing method performed in the film forming apparatus  1  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 .  FIG. 5  is a flowchart that describes the sequence of the processing method carried out by the film forming process  1  in accordance with the first embodiment and  FIGS. 6A to 6D  are schematic drawings describing the processing method performed by the film forming apparatus  1  in accordance with the first embodiment. 
         [0051]    First, an electric current is supplied to the resistance heating element  41  disposed in the mounting portion  40 A of the susceptor  40 , so that the mounting portion  40 A is heated up to about 300 to 450° C. Further, a cooling medium is supplied into the cooling medium supply spaces, and the cooling of the sealing member  47  by the heat pipes  51  is started (Step  1 A). The cooling medium is continuously circulated while the mounting portion  40 A is heated. 
         [0052]    Subsequently, the dry pump  37  is operated under the condition that the main valve  33  and the valve  36  are closed while the valve  39  is opened, to thereby perform a rough pumping of the chamber  2 . Thereafter, when the internal pressure of the chamber  2  is reduced to a certain level, the valve  39  is closed and, at the same time, the main valve  33  and the valve  36  are opened. Then, the rough pumping by the dry pump  37  is switched to a main pumping by the turbo molecular pump  34  (Step  2 A). Even after the switching to the main pumping, the dry pump  37  continues to operate. 
         [0053]    When the internal pressure of the chamber  2  is reduced down to, for example, 1.33×10 −2  Pa or less, the gate valve  3  is opened and a transfer arm (not shown) on which a wafer W is supported is extended, so that the wafer W is loaded into the chamber  2  (Step  3 A). 
         [0054]    Thereafter, the transfer arm is contracted and the wafer W is placed on the wafer elevating pins  43 . After the wafer is put on the wafer elevating pins  43 , the wafer elevating pins  43  are lowered by the descent of the rod  45 , to thereby load the wafer W on the mounting portion  40 A which is heated to about 300 to 450° C. (Step  4 A). 
         [0055]    After the wafer W is loaded on the mounting portion  40 A, the valve  13  is opened under the condition that the internal pressure of the chamber  2  is maintained at about 5 to 400 Pa, and TiCl 4  is injected toward the wafer W from the TiCl 4  injecting portion  4 A at a flow rate of about 30 sccm, as shown in  FIG. 6A  (Step  5 A). When the injected TiCl 4  comes in contact with the wafer W, TiCl 4  is adsorbed on the surface of the wafer W. 
         [0056]    With the lapse of a predetermined time period, the valve  13  is closed, and the supply of TiCl 4  is stopped and TiCl 4  remaining in the chamber  2  is exhausted therefrom, as shown in  FIG. 6B  (Step  6 A). When TiCl 4  is exhausted, the internal pressure of the chamber  2  is reduced to 6.67×10 −2  Pa or less. 
         [0057]    After a predetermined time period has elapsed, the valve  23  is opened, and NH 3  is injected toward the wafer W from the NH 3  injecting portion  4 B at a flow rate of about 100 sccm, as shown in  FIG. 6C  (Step  7 A). When the injected NH 3  makes contact with TiCl 4  adsorbed on the wafer W, TiCl 4  and NH 3  react with each other to form a TiN film on the wafer W. 
         [0058]    With the lapse of a predetermined time period, the valve  23  is closed, and the supply of NH 3  is stopped and NH 3 , etc., remaining in the chamber  2  is exhausted therefrom, as shown in  FIG. 6D  (Step  8 A). When NH 3  is exhausted, the internal pressure of the chamber  2  is reduced to about 6.67×10 −2  Pa or less. 
         [0059]    Then, with the lapse of another predetermined time period, it is determined by a central controller (not shown) whether a processing cycle from the steps  5 A to  8 A has been repeated 200 times (Step  9 A). If it is determined that the processing cycle has not been performed 200 times yet, the steps  5 A to  8 A are performed again. 
         [0060]    If it is determined that the processing cycle has been repeated 200 times, the wafer elevating pins  43  are lifted by the ascent of the rod  45 , so that the wafer W is separated from the mounting portion  40 A (Step  10 A). Upon completion of the 200 times repetition of the processing cycle, a TiN film with a thickness of about 10 nm is deposited on the wafer W. 
         [0061]    Thereafter, the gate valve  3  is opened, and the transfer arm (not shown) is extended to receive the wafer W thereon. Then, the transfer arm is contracted, so that the wafer W is unloaded from the chamber  2  (Step  11 A). 
         [0062]    In this embodiment, since the heat pipes  51  are provided, the sealing member  47  can be cooled to suppress a rise in the temperature thereof. As a result, the sealing member  47  can be protected from being melted even in a case where the film forming apparatus  1  is reduced in size. 
         [0063]    Further, if a miniaturized film forming apparatus  1  is employed in case of supplying TiCl 4  and NH 3  alternately as in this preferred embodiment, less amounts of TiCl 4  and NH 3  are consumed; and the amounts of TiCl 4  and NH 3  supplied into the chamber  2  are reduced as well, which gives rise to an effect of reducing the time period required to exhaust TiCl 4  and NH 3 . 
         [0064]    Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. H4-78138 discloses a technical scheme for cooling parts of a chamber by using of a water cooling jacket installed in the chamber. Here, the water cooling jacket performs a cooling operation by way of circulating a cooling medium. In contrast, the heat pipe  51  carries out a cooling operation by using latent heat of vaporization, and provides a higher cooling power than that of the water cooling jacket. Furthermore, in case of using the water cooling jacket, air bubbles may be generated in a tube as water therein vaporizes, resulting in the expansion of the tube. However, in the case of using the heat pipes  51 , the expansion of the airtight casing  52  can be avoided even with the vaporization of the cooling medium  53  taking place at the end portion of the heat pipe  51 , because the cooling medium  53  is liquefied at the base portion  51 B. 
         [0065]    Further, in accordance with the first embodiment described above, since the wafer elevating pin support  44  and the shielding cap  48  are disposed between the mounting portion  40 A and the sealing member  47 , a heat radiation directed toward the sealing member  47  from the mounting portion  40 A can be reduced, thereby suppressing a temperature rise of the sealing member  47 . 
       Second Preferred Embodiment 
       [0066]    A second preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described. Further, in preferred embodiments to be described hereinafter, descriptions identical to those in a preceding embodiment may be omitted. The second embodiment is directed to a scheme for measuring the temperature in the vicinity of a sealing member by using a temperature sensor and controlling the cooling power of a heat pipe based on a measurement result provided from the temperature sensor. 
         [0067]      FIG. 7  shows a schematic configuration of a film forming apparatus in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 7 , openings are formed in the bottom portion of a chamber  2  near a sealing member  47 , and temperature sensors  60  are inserted into the respective openings. Further, electrically connected to the temperature sensors  60  are cooling unit controllers  61 , which are in turn coupled to the pumps  59 . 
         [0068]    The cooling unit controllers  61  control flow rates of the cooling medium which flows in cooling medium supply spaces to control cooling powers of the heat pipes  51 . Specifically, the cooling unit controllers  61  compare the measurement results from the temperature sensors  60  with a preset temperature stored in the cooling unit controllers  61 , and, based on the comparison results, control (feedback control) the operation of the pumps  59  such that the temperature in the vicinity of the sealing member  47  is maintained at the preset level. Here, if the flow rates of the cooling medium supplied into the cooling medium supply spaces are increased, the base portions  51 B of the heat pipes  51  are further cooled down, resulting in an increased cooling powers of the heat pipes  51 . 
         [0069]    Hereinafter, a sequence of a processing method performed by the film forming apparatus  1  will be described with reference to  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 8  presents a flowchart showing the sequence of the processing method executed by the film forming apparatus  1  in accordance with the second embodiment. 
         [0070]    First, an electric current is supplied to the resistance heating element  41 , and the mounting portion  40 A is heated up to about 300 to 450° C. Further, the temperatures near the sealing member  47  are measured by the temperature sensors  60 , and cooling of the sealing member  47  by the heat pipes  51  is executed while controlling the flow rates of the cooling medium supplied into the cooling medium supply spaces based on the measurement results (Step  1 B). Further, the temperature measurement by the temperature sensors  60  and the control of the flow rates of the cooling medium based on the measurement results of the temperature sensors  60  are performed every predetermined time interval while the mounting portion  40 A is being heated. 
         [0071]    Subsequently, the dry pump  37  is operated to thereby perform a rough pumping of the chamber  2 . Thereafter, the rough pumping by the dry pump  37  is switched to a main pumping by the turbo molecular pump  34  (Step  2 B). 
         [0072]    When the internal pressure of the chamber  2  is reduced down to, for example, 1.33×10 −2  Pa or less, the transfer arm (not shown) on which a wafer W is placed is extended, so that the wafer W is loaded into the chamber  2  (Step  3 B). Then, wafer elevating pins  43  are lowered, to thereby load the wafer W on the mounting portion  40 A (Step  4 B). 
         [0073]    After the wafer W is loaded on the mounting portion  40 A, the valve  13  is opened under the condition that the internal pressure of the chamber  2  is maintained at about 5 to 400 Pa, and TiCl 4  is injected toward the wafer W from the TiCl 4  injecting portion  4 A (Step  5 B). Then, with the lapse of a predetermined time period, the valve  13  is closed, and the supply of TiCl 4  is stopped and TiCl 4  remaining in the chamber  2  is exhausted therefrom (Step  6 B). 
         [0074]    After a preset time period has elapsed, the valve  23  is opened, and NH 3  is injected toward the wafer W from the NH 3  injecting portion  4 B (Step  7 B), and, with the lapse of another preset time period, the valve  23  is closed, and the supply of NH 3  is stopped and NH 3 , etc., remaining in the chamber  2  is exhausted therefrom (Step  8 B). 
         [0075]    Then, after a predetermined time period, it is determined whether a processing cycle from the steps  5 B to  8 B has been repeated 200 times (Step  9 B). If it is determined that the cycle has not been executed 200 times yet, the processes of steps  5 B to  8 B are performed again. 
         [0076]    If it is determined that the processing cycle has been repeated 200 times, the wafer elevating pins  43  are lifted, so that the wafer W is separated from the mounting portion  40 A (Step  10 B). Finally, the wafer W is unloaded from the chamber  2  by the transfer arm (not shown) (Step  11 B). 
         [0077]    In the second embodiment, the temperatures near the sealing member  47  are measured by the temperature sensors  60  and the cooling powers of the heat pipes  51  are controlled based on the measurement results of the temperature sensors  60 , thereby making it possible to maintain the vicinity of the sealing member  47  at a desired temperature. 
       Third Preferred Embodiment 
       [0078]    Hereinafter, a third preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described, in which variations of the shape of a wafer elevating pin support are illustrated.  FIGS. 9A and 9B  schematically show a plan view and a vertical cross sectional view of a wafer elevating pin support in accordance with the third embodiment, respectively.  FIGS. 10A and 10B  schematically illustrate a plan view and a vertical cross sectional view of a modification of the wafer elevating pin support in accordance with the third embodiment, respectively. 
         [0079]    As shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B , a wafer elevating pin support  44  is formed as a ring-shaped plate, wherein a part thereof is cut out. Further, the wafer elevating pin support  44  may be formed as a U-shaped plate, as shown in  FIGS. 10A and 10B . Even with the wafer elevating pin supports  44  of such shapes, same effects as in the first and the second embodiment can be obtained. 
         [0080]    Moreover, the present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above and various modifications of, e.g., structures, materials and arrangements of the components can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Though the first and the second embodiment have been described to include the wafer elevating pin support  44  and the shielding cap  48 , they may be omitted in case a cooling unit  50  is installed. Further, conversely, in case the wafer elevating pin support  44  and the shielding cap  48  are installed, the cooling unit  50  may be omitted. Furthermore, though both the wafer elevating pin support  44  and the shielding cap  48  are disposed between the mounting portion  40 A and the sealing member  47 , it may also be sufficient to install either one of them. 
         [0081]    Further, though a cooling unit for cooling the wafer elevating pin support  44  is not installed thereon in the first and the second embodiment, it is also possible to install the cooling unit on the wafer elevating pin support  44 . Likewise, the cooling unit may also be installed on the shielding cap  48 . 
         [0082]    Table 1 shows types of films and processing gases employed to form such films. Though the first and the second embodiment have been described for the case of using TiCl 4  and NH 3 , other processing gases shown in  FIG. 1  can be used as well. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Types 
                 First 
                 Second 
                 Third 
               
               
                   
                 Of Film 
                 Processing Gas 
                 Processing Gas 
                 Processing Gas 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 TiN 
                 TiCl 4   
                 NH 3   
                 — 
               
               
                   
                   
                 TiF 4   
                 NH 3   
                 — 
               
               
                   
                   
                 TiBr 4   
                 NH 3   
                 — 
               
               
                   
                   
                 TiI 4   
                 NH 3   
                 — 
               
               
                   
                   
                 TEMAT 
                 NH 3   
                 — 
               
               
                   
                   
                 TDMAT 
                 NH 3   
                 — 
               
               
                   
                   
                 TDEAT 
                 NH 3   
                 — 
               
               
                   
                 TiSiN 
                 TiCl 4   
                 NH 3   
                 SiH 4   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TiF 4   
                 NH 3   
                 SiH 4   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TiBr 4   
                 NH 3   
                 SiH 4   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TiI 4   
                 NH 3   
                 SiH 4   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TEMAT 
                 NH 3   
                 SiH 4   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TDMAT 
                 NH 3   
                 SiH 4   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TDEAT 
                 NH 3   
                 SiH 4   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TiCl 4   
                 NH 3   
                 Si 2 H 6   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TiF 4   
                 NH 3   
                 Si 2 H 6   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TiBr 4   
                 NH 3   
                 Si 2 H 6   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TiI 4   
                 NH 3   
                 Si 2 H 6   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TEMAT 
                 NH 3   
                 Si 2 H 6   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TDMAT 
                 NH 3   
                 Si 2 H 6   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TDEAT 
                 NH 3   
                 Si 2 H 6   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TiCl 4   
                 NH 3   
                 SiH 2 Cl 2   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TiF 4   
                 NH 3   
                 SiH 2 Cl 2   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TiBr 4   
                 NH 3   
                 SiH 2 Cl 2   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TiI 4   
                 NH 3   
                 SiH 2 Cl 2   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TEMAT 
                 NH 3   
                 SiH 2 Cl 2   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TDMAT 
                 NH 3   
                 SiH 2 Cl 2   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TDEAT 
                 NH 3   
                 SiH 2 Cl 2   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TiCl 4   
                 NH 3   
                 SiCl 4   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TiF 4   
                 NH 3   
                 SiCl 4   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TiBr 4   
                 NH 3   
                 SiCl 4   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TiI 4   
                 NH 3   
                 SiCl 4   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TEMAT 
                 NH 3   
                 SiCl 4   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TDMAT 
                 NH 3   
                 SiCl 4   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TDEAT 
                 NH 3   
                 SiCl 4   
               
               
                   
                 TaN 
                 TaF 5   
                 NH 3   
                 — 
               
               
                   
                   
                 TaCl 5   
                 NH 3   
                 — 
               
               
                   
                   
                 TaBr 5   
                 NH 3   
                 — 
               
               
                   
                   
                 TaI 5   
                 NH 3   
                 — 
               
               
                   
                   
                 TBTDET 
                 NH 3   
                 — 
               
               
                   
                 TaSiN 
                 TaF 5   
                 NH 3   
                 SiH 4   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TaCl 5   
                 NH 3   
                 SiH 4   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TaBr 5   
                 NH 3   
                 SiH 4   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TaI 5   
                 NH 3   
                 SiH 4   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TBTDET 
                 NH 3   
                 SiH 4   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TaF 5   
                 NH 3   
                 Si 2 H 6   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TaCl 5   
                 NH 3   
                 Si 2 H 6   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TaBr 5   
                 NH 3   
                 Si 2 H 6   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TaI 5   
                 NH 3   
                 Si 2 H 6   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TBTDET 
                 NH 3   
                 Si 2 H 6   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TaF 5   
                 NH 3   
                 SiH 2 Cl 2   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TaCl 5   
                 NH 3   
                 SiH 2 Cl 2   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TaBr 5   
                 NH 3   
                 SiH 2 Cl 2   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TaI 5   
                 NH 3   
                 SiH 2 Cl 2   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TBTDET 
                 NH 3   
                 SiH 2 Cl 2   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TaF 5   
                 NH 3   
                 SiCl 4   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TaCl 5   
                 NH 3   
                 SiCl 4   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TaBr 5   
                 NH 3   
                 SiCl 4   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TaI 5   
                 NH 3   
                 SiCl 4   
               
               
                   
                   
                 TBTDET 
                 NH 3   
                 SiCl 4   
               
               
                   
                 Al 2 O 3   
                 Al(CH 3 ) 3   
                 H 2 O 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Al(CH 3 ) 3   
                 H 2 O 2   
               
               
                   
                 ZrO 2   
                 Zr(O-t(C 4 H 9 )) 4   
                 H 2 O 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Zr(O-t(C 4 H 9 )) 4   
                 H 2 O 2   
               
               
                   
                   
                 ZrCl 4   
                 H 2 O 
               
               
                   
                   
                 ZrCl 4   
                 H 2 O 2   
               
               
                   
                 Ta 2 O 5   
                 Ta(OC 2 H 5 ) 5   
                 O 2   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Ta(OC 2 H 5 ) 5   
                 H 2 O 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Ta(OC 2 H 5 ) 5   
                 H 2 O 2   
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0083]    Though the mounting portion  40 A is heated to about 300 to 450° C. in the first and the second embodiment, it should be apparent that the heating temperature may be changed depending on the processing gas involved. For example, the mounting portion  40 A is heated up to about 300 to 450° C. when TaF 5 +NH 3 , TaCl 5 +NH 3 , TiCl 4 +SiH 2 Cl 2 +NH 3 , TiCl 4 +SiH 4 +NH 3  or TiCl 4 +SiCl 4 +NH 3  shown in Table 1 is used. On the other hand, the mounting portion  40 A is heated up to about 150 to 500° C. when Al(CH 3 ) 3 +H 2 O, or Al(CH 3 ) 3 +H 2 O 2  is employed. Further, in case of using Zr(O-t(C 4 H 9 )) 4 +H 2 O or Zr(O-t(C 4 H 9 )) 4 +H 2 O 2 , the mounting portion  40 A is heated up to 150 to 300° C. Still further, when Ta(OC 2 H 5 ) 5 +O 2 , Ta(OC 2 H 5 ) 5 +H 2 O or Ta(OC 2 H 5 ) 5 +H 2 O 2  is used, the mounting portion  40 A is heated up to about 150 to 600° C. 
         [0084]    Moreover, though the film forming process is performed by supplying TiCl 4  and NH 3  alternately in the first and the second embodiment, it is also possible to execute the film forming process by supplying them simultaneously. Further, a glass substrate can be used instead of the wafer W. 
         [0085]    Though the first and the second embodiment have been described in connection with to the film forming apparatus  1 , the present invention can be applied to any apparatuses that performs a processing on a substrate while heating the substrate. Specifically, for example, the present invention can be applied to an etching apparatus, a sputtering apparatus, a vacuum evaporation apparatus, etc. In addition, in case of using two or more etching gases, the etching gases can be supplied either alternately or simultaneously. 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0086]    The substrate processing apparatus in accordance with the present invention can be employed in the field of manufacturing semiconductors. 
         [0087]    While the invention has been shown and descried with respect to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Technology Category: 5