Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus and method, capable of reliably and rapidly transporting a heated semiconductor wafer. the apparatus is provided for transporting a semiconductor wafer, which has been processed by desired treatment (for example, film formation) and is held by a susceptor equipped with a heater, to the outside by a transport arm which holds the semiconductor wafer by suction, by moving the susceptor to a certain position above a top of a wafer waiting stage and introducing the semiconductor wafer held by the susceptor onto the top of the wafer waiting stage. Then, the susceptor present on the top of the wafer waiting stage is moved in a horizontal direction. After a certain cooling time, the transport arm holds the semiconductor wafer placed on the wafer waiting stage by suction and transports the semiconductor wafer to outside.

Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus and method, capable of reliably and rapidly transporting a heated semiconductor wafer. the apparatus is provided for transporting a semiconductor wafer, which has been processed by desired treatment (for example, film formation) and is held by a susceptor equipped with a heater, to the outside by a transport arm which holds the semiconductor wafer by suction, by moving the susceptor to a certain position above a top of a wafer waiting stage and introducing the semiconductor wafer held by the susceptor onto the top of the wafer waiting stage. Then, the susceptor present on the top of the wafer waiting stage is moved in a horizontal direction. After a certain cooling time, the transport arm holds the semiconductor wafer placed on the wafer waiting stage by suction and transports the semiconductor wafer to outside.

Abstract: The present invention provides means for making appropriate a preheat condition at a sapphire substrate preheating step and thereby smoothing sucking and holding of a sapphire substrate. The means includes a hot plate for heating up a sapphire substrate in the atmosphere, support portions for supporting the sapphire substrate with a back surface thereof being opposite to the hot plate and a predetermined spacing being defined therebetween, and a jet hole provided in the hot plate and for jetting gas toward a central part of the sapphire substrate. When the sapphire substrate is preheated by the hot plate, a preheat condition for the sapphire substrate is set assuming that the predetermined spacing is 1 mm or less and the jet amount of the gas from the jet hole is 20 L/min or more. An end condition for the preheat is set as the time when the temperature of the central part of the sapphire substrate becomes lower 65° C. or more than that of an outer peripheral edge portion thereof.

Abstract: Foreign particles are prevented from adhering to a semiconductor wafer in a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus including (a) a hot plate which heats a semiconductor wafer to increase its temperature and which has a suction/discharge hole through which a negative pressure is supplied to suck and hold said semiconductor wafer at a rear surface thereof, and through which a gas is ejected to control the increase in temperature of said semiconductor wafer; and (b) a film forming section which forms a film used for production of a semiconductor device on a front surface of the semiconductor wafer, wherein the gas is ejected from the suction/discharge hole when the hot plate is placed on the film forming section and the hot plate does not hold the semiconductor wafer.