U.S. patent application number 12/139881 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-02 for pressure sensor and substrate processing apparatus.
Invention is credited to Yasuhiro Mizohata, Takeshi Yane.
Application Number | 20080236291 12/139881 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37447076 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080236291 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yane; Takeshi ; et
al. |
October 2, 2008 |
PRESSURE SENSOR AND SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS
Abstract
A pressure sensor comprises a thin disk-shaped diaphragm, a
laser displacement meter for detecting an amount of deformation of
the diaphragm, and an operation part connected to the laser
displacement meter. In the pressure sensor, an amount of
deformation of the diaphragm due to pressure of fluid flowing into
the pressure sensor is detected by the laser displacement meter,
and pressure of the fluid is obtained on the basis of the amount of
deformation and conversion information stored in the operation part
in advance. The base part of the diaphragm of the pressure sensor
is made of graphite (or silicon substrate), and a thin film of
silicon carbide which is in contact with fluid is formed on a
surface of the base part. This improves chemical resistance to the
pressure sensor and extends the lifetime of the pressure sensor
while preventing metal elution.
Inventors: |
Yane; Takeshi; (Kyoto,
JP) ; Mizohata; Yasuhiro; (Kyoto, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OSTROLENK FABER GERB & SOFFEN
1180 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK
NY
100368403
US
|
Family ID: |
37447076 |
Appl. No.: |
12/139881 |
Filed: |
June 16, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11417765 |
May 1, 2006 |
7409864 |
|
|
12139881 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
73/715 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01L 9/0072 20130101;
G01L 9/0077 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
73/715 |
International
Class: |
G01L 7/08 20060101
G01L007/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 18, 2005 |
JP |
2005-145367 |
Claims
1. A pressure sensor, comprising: a pressure chamber filled with
fluid whose pressure is to be measured; a thin-plate diaphragm
which is elastically deformed according to pressure of fluid in
said pressure chamber, a part of said diaphragm, which is in
contact with said fluid, being made of silicon carbide, glassy
carbon, or diamond; and a detection mechanism for detecting an
amount of deformation of said diaphragm.
2. The pressure sensor according to claim 1, wherein a base part of
said diaphragm is made of graphite, and a thin film of silicon
carbide which is in contact with fluid in said pressure chamber is
formed on a surface of said base part.
3. The pressure sensor according to claim 1, wherein a base part of
said diaphragm is a silicon substrate, and a thin film of silicon
carbide which is in contact with fluid in said pressure chamber is
formed on a surface of said base part.
4. The pressure sensor according to claim 1, wherein said detection
mechanism detects an amount of deformation of said diaphragm
without being in contact with said diaphragm.
5. The pressure sensor according to claim 4, wherein said detection
mechanism emits a light beam to said diaphragm and detects a light
receiving position of said light beam reflected on said diaphragm,
to detect an amount of deformation of said diaphragm.
6. The pressure sensor according to claim 4, wherein said detection
mechanism detects an amount of deformation of said diaphragm on the
basis of a capacitance between a first electrode provided on one
surface of said diaphragm, the opposite surface of which faces said
pressure chamber, and a second electrode facing said first
electrode without in contact with said first electrode.
7. The pressure sensor according to claim 1, further comprising:
channels for replacing gas in a space isolated from said pressure
chamber by said diaphragm with external air.
8. The pressure sensor according to claim 1, wherein said fluid
contains at least one of HF, HCl, HNO.sub.3, H.sub.2SO.sub.4,
H.sub.2O.sub.2, and NH.sub.4OH.
9. The pressure sensor according to claim 1, further comprising an
operation part for storing conversion information representing a
relationship between an amount of deformation of said diaphragm and
pressure of said fluid, and obtaining pressure of said fluid on the
basis of said conversion information and an amount of deformation
of said diaphragm detected by said detection mechanism.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a Divisional Application of U.S.
Ser. No. 11/417,765 filed May 1, 2006, which application claims the
benefit and priority of JP2005-145367 filed May 18, 2005,
incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a pressure sensor
comprising a diaphragm and a substrate processing apparatus
comprising a pressure sensor.
[0004] 2. Description of the Background Art
[0005] Conventionally, a fluid pressure sensor comprising a
diaphragm between fluid and a pressure receiving device has been
used. In such a pressure sensor, fluid flowing through a pipe
presses the diaphragm, the pressure receiving device detects a
pressing amount of the diaphragm, and a signal circuit converts the
pressing amount into a pressure value.
[0006] In semiconductor processing apparatuses and various chemical
plants, frequently used are chemicals with high corrosivity such as
oxidizing power or the like or high permeability, and a fluid
pressure sensor used in such a condition is needed to have
extremely high chemical resistance and permeation resistance
(penetration resistance). For example, fluorocarbon resin with high
chemical resistance is used as material for forming a diaphragm.
However, in a pressure sensor having high chemical resistance, if
chemicals with high corrosivity and high permeability such as
high-concentrated hydrofluoric acid (HF) are used, the lifetime of
the pressure sensor is reduced to about one year and frequent
calibrations are necessary, and these cause increase in running
cost for a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus.
[0007] In the foregoing situation, with respect to a liquid
contacting member contacting with chemicals having high corrosivity
and high permeability (penetrating power), material for the member,
arrangement of the pressure receiving device, or the like have been
improved. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid Open
Gazette No. 7-72029 discloses a technique for improving chemical
resistance, where a housing is made of material mainly composed of
fluorocarbon resin and a pressure sensing part of a sensor device
is made of anticorrosive material. The housing is divided into a
part for a diaphragm and a part for holding the sensor device.
Japanese Patent Application Laid Open Gazette No. 2002-310823
discloses a pressure sensor having a structure with excellent
corrosion resistance to extend the lifetime, where a protective cap
is attached to an end of a working rod and the end is housed in a
diaphragm to which pressure of fluid is applied.
[0008] In the pressure sensor used in the semiconductor processing
apparatus, the liquid contacting member such as the diaphragm or
the like needs to have chemical resistance as described above and
have an extremely low level of metal elution. Fluorocarbon resin
such as PFA (a copolymer of tetra-fluoro-ethylene and
per-fluoro-alkyl-vinyl-ether), PTFE (poly-tetra-fluoro-ethylene),
PCTFE (poly-chloro-tri-fluoro-ethylene), and the like have high
chemical resistance in comparison with other resin and satisfy the
criteria of metal elution. Though these resin have high chemical
resistance, their hardness tends to be affected by change of
temperature. If mechanical properties change due to deterioration
by micro cracks or plastic deformation caused by long pressing, an
amount of deformation of the diaphragm relative to predetermined
pressure changes, and consequently accurate pressure cannot be
measured.
[0009] Corrosive chemical such as hydrofluoric acid or the like is
not completely isolated by these resin. If adhesive between the
pressure receiving device and the diaphragm is deteriorated by a
small amount of chemical components (substances such as gas and the
like) which transmit these resin, adhesion between the pressure
receiving device and the diaphragm decreases, the pressure
receiving device is damaged, whereby measurement reliability or
measurement accuracy of the amount of deformation of the diaphragm
is affected seriously.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention is intended for a fluid pressure
sensor, and it is an object of the present invention to improve
chemical resistance to a pressure sensor and extend the lifetime of
the pressure sensor.
[0011] The pressure sensor in accordance with the present invention
comprises a pressure chamber filled with fluid whose pressure is to
be measured; a thin-plate diaphragm which is elastically deformed
according to pressure of fluid in the pressure chamber, a part of
the diaphragm, which is in contact with the fluid, being made of
silicon carbide, glassy carbon, or diamond; and a detection
mechanism for detecting an amount of deformation of the diaphragm.
With this structure, it is possible to extend the lifetime of the
pressure sensor against corrosive fluid.
[0012] To produce the diaphragm at low cost, preferably, a base
part of the diaphragm is made of graphite, and a thin film of
silicon carbide which is in contact with fluid in the pressure
chamber is formed on a surface of the base part. Also, the base
part may be a silicon substrate, and a thin film of silicon carbide
which is in contact with fluid in the pressure chamber can be
formed on a surface of the base part.
[0013] According to an aspect of the present invention, the
detection mechanism emits a light beam to the diaphragm and detects
a light receiving position of the light beam reflected on the
diaphragm, to detect an amount of deformation of the diaphragm.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the detection
mechanism detects an amount of deformation of the diaphragm on the
basis of a capacitance between a first electrode provided on one
surface of the diaphragm, the opposite surface of which faces the
pressure chamber, and a second electrode facing the first electrode
without in contact with the first electrode. This makes it possible
to measure the amount of deformation of the diaphragm with high
accuracy. Specifically, it is possible to provide the detection
mechanism easily by using a light beam in measurement.
[0014] Preferably, the pressure sensor further comprises channels
for replacing gas in a space isolated from the pressure chamber by
the diaphragm with external air. Even if corrosive gas flows into
the space isolated from the pressure chamber by the diaphragm from
the pressure chamber, deterioration of the detection mechanism is
prevented.
[0015] The present invention is also intended for a substrate
processing apparatus comprising the pressure sensor. The substrate
processing apparatus may comprise a process bath in which
substrates are dipped or a discharge outlet supplying a processing
liquid onto a substrate while rotating the substrate. Preferably,
the pressure sensor is applied to an apparatus where an allowable
concentration of elution in the processing liquid of any one of Na,
K, Ca, Mg, Al, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, W, and Pb is 10 ppb or
less. By extending the lifetime of the pressure sensor,
manufacturing cost for a semiconductor substrate can be
reduced.
[0016] These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of
the present invention will become more apparent from the following
detailed description of the present invention when taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a
construction of a pressure sensor in accordance with a first
preferred embodiment;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view at the positions
indicated by the arrows II-II in FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a
construction of a pressure sensor in accordance with a second
preferred embodiment;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a view showing a construction of a substrate
processing apparatus in accordance with a third preferred
embodiment; and
[0021] FIG. 5 is a view showing a construction of a substrate
processing apparatus in accordance with a fourth preferred
embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a
construction of a pressure sensor 1 in accordance with the first
preferred embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 2 is a
transverse sectional view at the position indicated by the arrows
II-II in FIG. 1. The pressure sensor 1 is installed on a conduit
through which fluid flows and used for measuring pressure of
fluid.
[0023] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pressure sensor 1 comprises a
thin disk-shaped diaphragm 13 which is elastically deformed
according to pressure of fluid, a lower fixing member 11 contacting
with a lower surface of a peripheral edge of the diaphragm 13, and
an upper fixing member 12 contacting with an upper surface of a
peripheral edge of the diaphragm 13. The peripheral edge of the
diaphragm 13 is fixed between the lower fixing member 11 and the
upper fixing member 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the pressure sensor 1
comprises a laser displacement meter 14 which is a detection
mechanism for detecting an amount of deformation of the diaphragm
13, a sensor part 141 of the laser displacement meter 14 is
supported by a sensor supporting member 15, and the sensor part 141
is connected to an amplifier 142. Under the lower fixing member 11,
provided is a base plate 16 for locating the pressure sensor 1 in a
desired place. The pressure sensor 1 further comprises an operation
part 19 connected to the amplifier 142 of the laser displacement
meter 14.
[0024] The lower fixing member 11 and the upper fixing member 12
are made of resin with high chemical resistance (such as
fluorocarbon resin). A channel 111 connected to a pipe of upstream
side and a channel 112 connected to a pipe of downstream side are
formed in the lower fixing member 11. Under the diaphragm 13, a
pressure chamber 113 connected to the channels 111, 112 and filled
with fluid whose pressure is to be measured is provided.
[0025] The diaphragm 13 is a thin plate and made of graphite. Since
a thin film of silicon carbide (SiC) having a thickness of several
hundreds of micrometers is formed on a lower surface (liquid
contacting surface) of the diaphragm 13 which is a part in contact
with the fluid in the pressure chamber 113, the diaphragm 13 has
high corrosion resistance (i.e., chemical resistance) and
permeation resistance to corrosive fluid. The thin film of silicon
carbide is formed by CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition), sputtering,
or the like, whereby dense thin film with good crystallinity is
formed. Other preferable base part for forming thin film of silicon
carbide on the surface in contact with the fluid in the pressure
chamber 113 may be a silicon substrate. Also in this case, it is
possible to easily form thin film of silicon carbide by CVD or
sputtering. The diaphragm 13 can be formed of other preferable
material having excellent corrosion resistance and permeation
resistance, such as a thin plate of glassy carbon (amorphous
carbon), and in this case it is not necessary to form thin film of
silicon carbide. The diaphragm 13 can be formed of silicon carbide
itself.
[0026] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, ring-like groove is provided in
an overlapping area of the lower fixing member 11 and the diaphragm
13, and a fluororubber O-ring 114 is disposed in the groove. With
this structure, the pressure chamber 113 is sealed from a space
above the diaphragm 13.
[0027] The sensor supporting member 15 is made of fluorocarbon
resin or PVC (polyvinyl chloride), and the sensor part 141 is
supported by the sensor supporting member 15 above the diaphragm 13
without being in contact with the diaphragm 13 (for example, a
clearance of 3 mm or more is provided between the sensor part 141
and the diaphragm 13). Since the laser displacement meter 14 for
emitting a laser beam to the diaphragm 13 is used as the detection
mechanism for detecting an amount of deformation of the diaphragm
13 without being in contact with the diaphragm 13, the diaphragm 13
and the detection mechanism are completely separated and the
detection mechanism can be easily positioned. The sensor supporting
member 15 may be integrated with the upper fixing member 12.
[0028] A plurality of vent holes 121 for communicating a space
above the diaphragm 13 with the outside are provided between the
upper fixing member 12 and the sensor supporting member 15. As
described above, components such as gas of corrosive fluid or the
like cannot transmit the diaphragm 13, but depending on kinds of
fluid, a small amount of corrosive gas transmits the diaphragm 13
through the O-ring 114. In the pressure sensor 1, the vent holes
121 are channels for replacing corrosive gas entering into a space
isolated from the pressure chamber 113 by the diaphragm 13 with
external air. The plurality of vent holes 121 (two vent holes 121
in the preferred embodiments) make it possible to efficiently
perform natural exchange of gas (i.e., air ventilation).
[0029] In the pressure sensor 1, the lowest base plate 16 is a
resin plate (for example, made of PVC), and the upper fixing member
12, the lower fixing member 11, and the sensor supporting member 15
are fixed by the base plate 16 and tightening screws 17 made of
PEEK (poly-ether-ether-ketone) or metal. With this structure, the
diaphragm 13 is sandwiched between the upper fixing member 12 and
the lower fixing member 11.
[0030] When the pressure sensor 1 is used, fluid continuously flows
through the channel 111 of upstream side, the pressure chamber 113
and the channel 112 of downstream side in this order. Depending on
measuring target of the pressure sensor 1, there may be a case
where an end of the channel 112 is closed, and the channel 111, the
pressure chamber 113 and the channel 112 are filled with the fluid.
The diaphragm 13 is slightly deformed due to pressure of the fluid
in the pressure chamber 113, and the amount of deformation of the
diaphragm 13 is proportional to pressure of the fluid (see Eq. 1 in
later discussion). Here, the amount of deformation of the diaphragm
13 refers to displacement of a specific part of the diaphragm 13,
and to improve accuracy of outputted pressure value, measurement by
the laser displacement meter 14 is performed to the central part of
the diaphragm 13 where the amount of deformation is maximum. In the
following description, the amount of deformation of the diaphragm
13 refers to an amount of displacement of the central part of the
diaphragm 13.
[0031] On the central part of the upper surface (i.e., surface
without in contact with fluid) of the diaphragm 13, a thin film of
precious metal such as platinum (Pt) or the like with mirror
surface is formed as necessary for improving reflection efficiency
of a laser beam by using methods, for example, evaporation,
plating, sputtering, or the like. A light beam is emitted from a
light beam emitting part 1411 in the sensor part 141 to the thin
film of the diaphragm 13 with mirror surface with being inclined.
As indicated by broken arrows in FIG. 1, the light beam incident on
and reflected by the thin film with mirror surface is received by a
light receiving part 1412 in the sensor part 141, and a light
receiving position of the light beam changes according to the
amount of deformation of the diaphragm 13. The light receiving part
1412 detects a light receiving position and outputs it as a
voltage. The voltage is outputted to the amplifier 142 and
amplified and digitized by the amplifier 142, to be converted into
a value indicating the amount of deformation. Then, the value
indicating the amount of deformation is outputted to the operation
part 19.
[0032] In the operation part 19, a relational expression or
correlation table between the amount of deformation and the
pressure is inputted as conversion information 191a and stored in a
memory 191 in advance. The value indicating the amount of
deformation detected by the laser displacement meter 14 is
converted into a pressure value of the fluid by the relational
expression or correlation table, and the pressure value is
outputted to a display and the like which are additionally
provided.
[0033] Though the construction and operation of the pressure sensor
1 have been discussed above, next discussion will be made on design
examples of the shape of the diaphragm 13.
[0034] The amount of deformation of the diaphragm 13, whose
peripheral edge is fixed and on which pressure is applied from the
fluid, can be regarded as an amount of displacement w (m) when
uniform load is applied to a circular plate with the circumference
fixed, and the amount of displacement w is expressed as Eq. 1.
.omega. = pa 4 64 D ( 1 - r 2 a 2 ) 2 Eq . 1 ##EQU00001##
[0035] Herein, p is pressure (Pa) of the fluid, a is a radius (m)
of a pressure receiving area of the diaphragm 13, D is flexural
rigidity (Pam.sup.3) of the diaphragm 13, r is a distance (m) from
the center of the position where the amount of deformation (the
amount of displacement) is detected, h is a thickness (m) of the
diaphragm 13, E is Young's modulus (Pa) of the diaphragm 13, and v
is Poisson's ratio of the diaphragm 13. The flexural rigidity D
(Pam.sup.3) is expressed as Eq. 2.
D = Eh 3 12 ( 1 - v 2 ) Eq . 2 ##EQU00002##
[0036] The maximum stress .sigma. (Pa) on the diaphragm 13 is
expressed as Eq. 3.
.sigma. = 0.750 .times. pa 2 h 2 Eq . 3 ##EQU00003##
[0037] For example, when a pressure sensor having the maximum
measurement pressure of 300 kPa is fabricated by using a diaphragm
having a diameter of pressure receiving area of 30 mm and a
thickness of 0.5 mm, which is made by a thin plate of silicon
carbide prepared by a method such as CVD or the like, the maximum
stress in the diaphragm is 202.5 MPa from Eq. 3. Since this value
is 50% or less of 590 MPa which is flexural strength of silicon
carbide, if pressure twice the maximum measurement pressure is
applied to the diaphragm, the diaphragm is not broken.
[0038] The amount of deformation of the diaphragm per 1 kPa is
0.165 .mu.m from Eqs. 1 and 2. When measurement accuracy of a laser
displacement meter to be used is +/-0.2 .mu.m, the maximum error of
a pressure value relative to the true value is +/-1.21 kPa. A ratio
of the error to the maximum measurement pressure of the pressure
sensor is +/-0.403% and it is equal to or less than that of a
conventional pressure sensor.
[0039] In the above calculations, the diaphragm is made of only
silicon carbide for convenience of description of the design
examples, but as described above, it is preferable that the
diaphragm is made by forming the thin film of silicon carbide on a
graphite plate or silicon substrate. Actually, the maximum stress
is reduced while suppressing degradation in detection accuracy by
increasing thickness of the graphite plate or silicon substrate
which is base part, decreasing a radius thereof, or the like.
[0040] As discussed above, in the pressure sensor 1, since a thin
film of silicon carbide which is in contact with the fluid in the
pressure chamber 113 is formed on the surface of the base part of
the diaphragm 13 where graphite (or silicon substrate) is base part
(or glassy carbon or silicon carbide is used as other preferable
material for the diaphragm 13), it is possible to prevent
substances such as corrosive gas and the like from transmitting the
diaphragm 13 while directly measuring pressure of corrosive fluid
used in a semiconductor processing apparatus. It is therefore
possible to improve reliability of the pressure sensor 1 and extend
the lifetime of the pressure sensor 1 with suppressing
deterioration of the detection mechanism. Specifically, the
pressure sensor 1 is suitable for measurement of pressure of fluid
containing at least one of HF (hydrofluoric acid), HCl
(hydrochloric acid), HNO.sub.3 (nitric acid), H.sub.2SO.sub.4
(sulfuric acid), H.sub.2O.sub.2 (hydrogen peroxide solution), and
NH.sub.4OH (ammonia water). Since the pressure sensor 1 has
corrosion resistance to all these chemicals, the pressure sensor 1
can be used in any process of manufacturing semiconductors. The
diaphragm is produced by forming a thin film of silicon carbide on
a base part such as graphite, silicon substrate, or the like,
thereby permitting production of the diaphragm at low cost in
comparison with the case where the diaphragm is made of only
silicon carbide.
[0041] In the pressure sensor 1, by using the laser displacement
meter 14 as the detection mechanism, it is possible to detect the
amount of deformation of the diaphragm 13 accurately without in
contact with the diaphragm 13 with no mechanical resistance. Since
the diaphragm and the detection mechanism are completely separated,
the detection mechanism can be easily provided. Further, even if
corrosive gas flows into the detection mechanism through the O-ring
114 as discussed above, the corrosive gas is exhausted from the
vent holes 121, it is therefore possible to prevent deterioration
of the detection mechanism and increase reliability and the
lifetime of the pressure sensor 1.
[0042] Table 1 shows results of metal elution experiment which is
performed in 50% hydrofluoric acid in the same environment where
the pressure sensor 1 is used in a semiconductor manufacturing
apparatus. The experiment is directed to PFA conventionally used as
material for the diaphragm 13, silicon carbide and glassy carbon
which are used for the pressure sensor 1, and sapphire glass which
is comparative material. It is obvious from Table 1 that silicon
carbide and glassy carbon have an elution concentration of metal
equal to or lower than the detection limit in almost all the metal
and have the same performance as PFA, silicon carbide and glassy
carbon are therefore excellent for material of the diaphragm 13.
Though sapphire glass is good in that it has impermeability to
corrosive substances, aluminum of 10 ppb or more is eluted and thus
sapphire glass cannot be used for a pressure sensor of a
semiconductor processing apparatus.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 SILICON GLASSY SAPPHIRE PFA CARBIDE CARBON
GLASS Na <0.05 <0.05 <0.05 <0.05 Mg <0.05 <0.05
<0.05 <0.05 Al 0.05 <0.05 0.05 14 K <0.05 <0.05
<0.05 <0.05 Ca <0.05 <0.05 <0.05 <0.05 Ti
<0.05 <0.05 <0.05 0.07 Cr <0.05 <0.05 <0.05
<0.05 Mn <0.05 <0.05 <0.05 <0.05 Fe 0.05 0.06
<0.05 0.06 Ni <0.05 <0.05 <0.05 0.06 Cu <0.05
<0.05 <0.05 <0.05 Zn <0.05 <0.05 <0.05 <0.05 W
<0.05 <0.05 <0.05 <0.05 Pb <0.05 <0.05 <0.05
<0.05 (UNIT: ppb)
[0043] Next discussion will be made on a pressure sensor 1a in
accordance with the second preferred embodiment. FIG. 3 is a
longitudinal sectional view showing a construction of the pressure
sensor 1a. As shown in FIG. 3, in the pressure sensor 1a, a
capacitance-type displacement meter 14a which is a detection
mechanism for detecting an amount of deformation of the diaphragm
13 is provided instead of the laser displacement meter 14 of the
pressure sensor 1 shown in FIG. 1, and a circuit supporting member
15a is provided instead of the sensor supporting member 15 in FIG.
1. Other constituent elements are almost the same as those of FIG.
1 and are represented by the same reference signs in FIG. 3.
[0044] The sensor part 141 of the displacement meter 14a comprises
a first electrode 1415 and a second electrode 1416 provided
opposite to each other and a circuit part 1417. In the pressure
sensor 1a, a plate 122 is located above the diaphragm 13 and it is
an electrode base fixed inside an upper opening end of the upper
fixing member 12. Between the upper fixing member 12 and the
circuit supporting member 15a, the plurality of vent holes 121 for
communicating a space above the diaphragm 13 with the outside are
formed. The plate 122 is located lower than the vent holes 121 and
a plurality of holes 122a are formed in the plate 122.
[0045] Like in the first preferred embodiment, the peripheral edge
of the diaphragm 13 is fixed between the upper fixing member 12 and
the lower fixing member 11, the first electrode 1415 is directly
attached on one surface of the diaphragm 13, and the opposite
surface of which faces the pressure chamber 113. The second
electrode 1416 is formed on a lower surface of the plate 122 and
faces the first electrode 1415 without being in contact with the
first electrode 1415. The circuit part 1417 is attached on an inner
surface of the circuit supporting member 15a above the plate 122,
and the first electrode 1415 and the second electrode 1416 are
electrically connected to the circuit part 1417 by wiring.
[0046] While the pressure sensor 1 is used, a capacitance between
the first electrode 1415 and the second electrode 1416 is
continuously monitored by the circuit part 1417. When the diaphragm
13 is slightly deformed due to pressure of fluid in the pressure
chamber 113, the capacitance between the first electrode 1415 and
the second electrode 1416, which changes because of deformation of
the diaphragm 13, is outputted from the circuit part 1417 as a
voltage to the amplifier 142. The voltage is amplified and
digitized by the amplifier 142, to be converted into a value
indicating the amount of deformation of the diaphragm 13 and
outputted to the operation part 19. In the operation part 19, like
in the first preferred embodiment, conversion information 191a
which is a relational expression or correlation table between the
amount of deformation and the pressure is inputted and stored in
the memory 191 in advance, and the value indicating the amount of
deformation detected by the displacement meter 14a is converted
into a pressure value by the conversion information 191a. The
pressure value is outputted to a display and the like which are
additionally provided.
[0047] In the pressure sensor 1a, the capacitance-type displacement
meter 14a for converting the amount of deformation into the
capacitance is used as the detection mechanism for detecting the
amount of deformation of the diaphragm 13, the first electrode 1415
of the displacement meter 14a is directly provided on one surface
of the diaphragm 13, and the opposite surface of which faces the
pressure chamber 113, whereby pressure of the fluid can be measured
with high accuracy. Since the vent holes 121 are connected to the
space above the diaphragm 13 through the holes 122a of the plate
122 and gas in the space is replaced with external air, it is
possible to prevent the first electrode 1415 and the second
electrode 1416 from deteriorating due to a small amount of
corrosive substances flowing through the O-ring 114. As a result,
it is possible to improve reliability of the pressure sensor 1a and
extend the lifetime of the pressure sensor 1a.
[0048] Referring to FIG. 4, next discussion will be made on a
substrate processing apparatus 2 as the third preferred embodiment
comprising the pressure sensor 1 shown in FIG. 1 (or the pressure
sensor 1a shown in FIG. 3). The substrate processing apparatus 2 is
a so-called batch-type apparatus for simultaneously etching a
plurality of semiconductor substrates 9 (hereinafter, referred to
as simply "substrates 9").
[0049] As shown in FIG. 4, the substrate processing apparatus 2
comprises a processing liquid supplying part 21 and a process bath
23 for storing a processing liquid supplied from the processing
liquid supplying part 21, in which the approximately disk-shaped
substrates 9 in a vertical state are dipped. In FIG. 4, the
substrates 9 are arranged in parallel with a direction
perpendicular to the sheet of figures. The processing liquid
supplying part 21 comprises a pressure vessel 211 where the
processing liquid is stored, and the pressure vessel 211 and the
process bath 23 are connected by a pipe 212. The pressure vessel
211 is connected to a nitrogen (N.sub.2) gas supply part 214
through a regulator 213. The processing liquid supplying part 21
comprises the pressure sensor 1 installed on the pipe 212, and the
pressure sensor 1 measures supply pressure of the processing liquid
which flows the pipe 212 to be supplied to the process bath 23.
[0050] In the substrate processing apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 4,
nitrogen gas is supplied from the nitrogen gas supply part 214 to
the pressure vessel 211, and the processing liquid is pumped out to
the pipe 212 by the pressure in the pressure vessel 211. At this
time, the regulator 213 controls supply pressure of nitrogen gas
(i.e., supply pressure of the processing liquid) and an amount of
supply of the processing liquid per unit time is controlled. The
processing liquid flowing through the pipe 212 is supplied to the
process bath 23 from the bottom of the process bath 23, the
plurality of substrates 9 held in the process bath 23 are gradually
dipped into the processing liquid stored in the process bath 23
from the lower side, and then etching of the substrates 9 is
performed.
[0051] In the substrate processing apparatus 2, at the processing
of the substrates 9, supply pressure of the processing liquid is
monitored by the pressure sensor 1. When the pressure sensor 1
detects variation of supply pressure of the processing liquid, the
regulator 213 controls the supply pressure of the processing liquid
and the processing liquid is supplied to the process bath 23 at
constant supply pressure. As a result, etching rate of silicon
dioxide films on the substrates 9 is controlled with high accuracy.
In the pressure control, advanced feedback control such as PID
Control may be performed. In monitoring of supply pressure, there
may be a case where abnormal variation of the supply pressure of
the processing liquid is only notified to a user by alarm.
[0052] In the substrate processing apparatus 2, by extending the
lifetime of the pressure sensor 1, frequent calibrations and the
number of exchange of the pressure sensor 1 due to the lifetime can
be decreased. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress downtime and
running cost, and reduce manufacturing cost for semiconductor
substrates. The elution concentration in the fluid which is the
processing liquid of any one of Na (natrium), K (kalium), Ca
(calcium), Mg (magnesium), Al (aluminum), Ti (titanium), Cr
(chromium), Mn (manganese), Fe (iron), Ni (nickel), Cu (copper), Zn
(zinc), W (tungsten), and Pb (lead), which are substances causing
deterioration of a semiconductor device, is 10 ppb or less in the
semiconductor processing apparatus, however, as discussed above
(see Table 1), since metal elution from the diaphragm 13 in the
pressure sensor 1 is kept at an extremely low level which satisfies
the above concentration, it is possible to suppress degradation of
processed semiconductor substrates and improve the yield.
[0053] Referring to FIG. 5, next discussion will be made on another
substrate processing apparatus 2a as the fourth preferred
embodiment comprising the pressure sensor 1 shown in FIG. 1 (or the
pressure sensor 1a shown in FIG. 3). The substrate processing
apparatus 2a is a so-called single wafer-type apparatus for etching
one substrate 9, and a substrate rotating part 24 is provided
instead of the process bath 23 of the substrate processing
apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 4. Above the substrate rotating part 24,
a nozzle 215 having a discharge outlet 215a which supplies the
processing liquid onto the substrate 9 is positioned as a part of a
processing liquid supplying part 21. Other constituent elements are
the same as those of FIG. 4 and are represented by the same
reference signs in FIG. 5.
[0054] As shown in FIG. 5, like in the third preferred embodiment,
the processing liquid supplying part 21 of the substrate processing
apparatus 2a comprises the pressure vessel 211 where a processing
liquid such as hydrofluoric acid and the like is stored, the
nitrogen gas supply part 214 connected to the pressure vessel 211
through the regulator 213, and the pressure sensor 1 installed on
the pipe 212 extending from the pressure vessel 211, and a nozzle
215 is attached to an end of the pipe 212.
[0055] The substrate rotating part 24 comprises a chuck 241 which
is a substrate holding part for holding the approximately
disk-shaped substrate 9 in a horizontal state on the lower surface
and the periphery of the substrate 9, a rotating mechanism 242 for
rotating the chuck 241, and a cup 243 covering the circumference of
the chuck 241.
[0056] The rotating mechanism 242 comprises a shaft 2421 coupled to
the bottom of the chuck 241 and a motor 2422 for rotating the shaft
2421. By driving the motor 2422, the substrate 9 rotates around an
axis in a vertical direction together with the shaft 2421 and the
chuck 241. The cup 243 comprises a side wall 2431 covering the
circumference of the substrate 9 held by the chuck 241 and a drain
outlet 2432 connected to the bottom of the side wall 2431.
[0057] In the substrate processing apparatus 2a, the nozzle 215 is
located above the substrate 9, and the processing liquid is
supplied onto the substrate 9 from the nozzle 215 through the
pressure sensor 1 while rotating the substrate 9 held by the chuck
241. The processing liquid spreads toward the periphery on the
upper surface of the substrate 9 by the centrifugal force, and
etching of the substrate 9 is performed. The processing liquid
moving to the edge of the substrate 9 is scattered from the edge
and received by the side wall 2431 of the cup 243 or falls on the
bottom of the cup 243 directly and then it is drained from the
drain outlet 2432. At this time, pressure of the processing liquid
directed to the discharge outlet 215a is measured by the pressure
sensor 1, and discharge pressure of the processing liquid is
controlled on the basis of measured pressure with high accuracy.
Since the processing liquid is discharged from the nozzle 215 at
desired discharge pressure, it is possible to control etching rate
of the substrate 9 with high accuracy and perform appropriate
processing. In monitoring of discharge pressure by the pressure
sensor 1, there may be a case where the abnormality is only
notified to a user.
[0058] In the substrate processing apparatus 2a, like in the third
preferred embodiment, it is possible to reduce manufacturing cost
for the semiconductor substrates by using the long-life pressure
sensor 1, and degradation of the semiconductor substrates can be
suppressed by satisfying the above elution concentration of metal
in the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus.
[0059] Though the preferred embodiments of the present invention
have been discussed above, the present invention is not limited to
the above-discussed preferred embodiments, but allows various
variations.
[0060] For example, for the diaphragm 13 of the pressure sensors 1,
1a in accordance with the first and second preferred embodiments,
the graphite plate or silicon substrate on which a thin film of
silicon carbide is formed, plate-like glassy carbon where the thin
film does not need to be formed, or silicon carbide is used. As
other preferable examples, a graphite plate, silicon substrate, or
metal plate on which a thin film of diamond is formed can be used
for the diaphragm 13. In other words, making a part of the
diaphragm, which is in contact with the fluid, of silicon carbide,
glassy carbon, or diamond makes it possible to improve corrosion
resistance and penetration resistance of the diaphragm 13, and
extends the lifetime of the pressure sensor.
[0061] Though the laser displacement meter 14 is used in the
pressure sensor 1 in accordance with the first preferred
embodiment, another optical method may be used as a method for
measuring the amount of deformation of the diaphragm 13 without in
contact with the diaphragm 13. For example, by measuring
interference between an incident light and a reflected light
to/from the diaphragm 13, the amount of deformation of the
diaphragm 13 can be detected easily. Also, by optically detecting
the amount of deformation of the diaphragm 13, it is possible to
easily provide a distance between the diaphragm 13 and the
detection mechanism (for example, a distance of 5 mm or more is
provided), and easily prevent corrosive gas from flowing into the
detection mechanism.
[0062] In the pressure sensors 1, 1a, exchange of gas in the space
above the diaphragm 13 is naturally performed through the vent
holes 121, but air ventilation may be forcedly performed.
[0063] In the pressure sensors 1, 1a, the amplifier 142 and the
sensor part 141 (the circuit part 1417 in the case of the pressure
sensors 1a) may be integrated, the amplifier 142 and the operation
part 19 may be combined, or these three elements can be provided as
a unit.
[0064] In the substrate processing apparatus in accordance with the
fourth preferred embodiment, the discharge outlet 215a can have
other various shapes. The processing liquid may be supplied by
spray system or discharged from a slit, for example.
[0065] Though in the preferred embodiments, discussion has been
made on measurement of pressure of fluid by the pressure sensor,
such a pressure sensor can be utilized for a pressure sensor for a
differential pressure flowmeter. In this case, for example,
flowrate control with higher accuracy can be achieved by
feedback-control.
[0066] While the invention has been shown and described in detail,
the foregoing description is in all aspects illustrative and not
restrictive. It is therefore understood that numerous modifications
and variations can be devised without departing from the scope of
the invention.
[0067] This application claims priority benefit under 35 U.S.C.
Section 119 of Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-145367 filed in
the Japan Patent Office on May 18, 2005, the entire disclosure of
which is incorporated herein by reference.
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