Applied Materials, Inc.

Crystal Solar, Inc.

Svagos Technik, Inc.

Andrzej Kaszuba

Visweswaren Sivaramakrishnan

Tirunelveli Subramaniam Ravi

Quoc Vinh Truong

Thomas E Nowak

Kedarnath Sangam

Sanjeev Baluja

Tom K Cho

Dustin Wenpin Ho

Jean Rene Vatus

Tuan Anh Nguyen

Juan Carlos Rocha-Alvarez

Yao-Hung Yang

Juan Carlos Rocha

Surinder S Bedi

Mario David Silvetti

Pyongwon Yim

Indrajit Lahiri

Sophia M Velastegui

Hichem M'Saad

Scott A Hendrickson

Nancy Fung

Eller Y Juco

Inna Shmurun

Ndanka O Mukuti

Soovo Sen

Josephine J Chang

Brian Hopper

Quoc Vinh

A system for depositing thin single crystal silicon wafers by epitaxial deposition in a silicon precursor depletion mode with cross-flow deposition may include: a substrate carrier with low total heat capacity, high emissivity and small volume; a lamp module with rapid heat-up, efficient heat production, and spatial control over heating; and a manifold designed for cross-flow processing. Furthermore, the substrate carrier may include heat reflectors to control heat loss from the edges of the carrier and/or heat chokes to thermally isolate the carrier from the manifolds, allowing independent temperature control of the manifolds. The carrier and substrates may be configured for deposition on both sides of the substrates&#x2014;the substrates having release layers on both sides and the carriers being configured to have equal process gas flow over both surfaces of the substrate. High volume may be addressed by a deposition system comprising multiple mini-batch reactors.

Silicon wafers by epitaxial deposition

An epitaxial reactor enabling simultaneous deposition of thin films on a multiplicity of wafers is disclosed. During deposition, a number of wafers are contained within a wafer sleeve comprising a number of wafer carrier plates spaced closely apart to minimize the process volume. Process gases flow preferentially into the interior volume of the wafer sleeve, which is heated by one or more lamp modules. Purge gases flow outside the wafer sleeve within a reactor chamber to minimize deposition on the chamber walls. Sequencing of the illumination of the individual lamps in the lamp module may further improve the linearity of variation in deposition rates within the wafer sleeve. To improve uniformity, the direction of process gas flow may be varied in a cross-flow configuration. Combining lamp sequencing with cross-flow processing in a multiple reactor system enables high throughput deposition with good film uniformities and efficient use of process gases.

High throughput multi-wafer epitaxial reactor

An epitaxial reactor enabling simultaneous deposition of thin films on a multiplicity of wafers is disclosed. During deposition, a number of wafers are contained within a wafer sleeve comprising a number of wafer carrier plates spaced closely apart to minimize the process volume. Process gases flow preferentially into the interior volume of the wafer sleeve, which is heated by one or more lamp modules. Purge gases flow outside the wafer sleeve within a reactor chamber to minimize wall deposition. In addition, sequencing of the illumination of the individual lamps in the lamp module may further improve the linearity of variation in deposition rates within the wafer sleeve. To improve uniformity, the direction of process gas flow may be varied in a cross-flow configuration. Combining lamp sequencing with cross-flow processing in a multiple reactor system enables high throughput deposition with good film uniformities and efficient use of process gases.

An epitaxial reactor enabling simultaneous deposition of thin films on a multiplicity of wafers is disclosed. During deposition, a number of wafers are contained within a wafer sleeve comprising a number of wafer carrier plates spaced closely apart to minimize the process volume. Process gases flow preferentially into the interior volume of the wafer sleeve, which is heated by one or more lamp modules. Purge gases flow outside the wafer sleeve within a reactor chamber to minimize deposition on the walls of the chamber. In addition, sequencing of the illumination of the individual lamps in the lamp module may further improve the linearity of variation in deposition rates within the wafer sleeve. To improve uniformity, the direction of process gas flow may be varied in a cross-flow configuration. Combining lamp sequencing with cross-flow processing in a multiple reactor system enables high throughput deposition with good film uniformities and efficient use of process gases.

A reflector for an ultraviolet lamp can be used in a substrate processing apparatus. The reflector comprises a centrally positioned longitudinal strip and first and second side reflectors to form a parabolic-type surface. The longitudinal strip and first and second side reflectors have curved reflective surfaces with dichroic coatings and the longitudinal strip comprises a plurality of through holes to direct a coolant gas toward the ultraviolet lamp. A chamber that uses an ultraviolet lamp module with the reflector, and a method of ultraviolet treatment are also described.

Ultraviolet reflector with coolant gas holes and method

A reflector for an ultraviolet lamp can be used in a substrate processing apparatus. The reflector comprises a longitudinal strip extending the length of the ultraviolet lamp. The longitudinal strip has a curved reflective surface and comprises a plurality of through holes to direct a coolant gas toward the ultraviolet lamp. A chamber that uses an ultraviolet lamp module with the reflector, and a method of ultraviolet treatment are also described.

An ultraviolet (UV) cure chamber enables curing a dielectric material disposed on a substrate and in situ cleaning thereof. A tandem process chamber provides two separate and adjacent process regions defined by a body covered with a lid having windows aligned respectively above each process region. One or more UV bulbs per process region that are covered by housings coupled to the lid emit UV light directed through the windows onto substrates located within the process regions. The UV bulbs can be an array of light emitting diodes or bulbs utilizing a source such as microwave or radio frequency. The UV light can be pulsed during a cure process. Using oxygen radical/ozone generated remotely and/or in-situ accomplishes cleaning of the chamber. Use of lamp arrays, relative motion of the substrate and lamp head, and real-time modification of lamp reflector shape and/or position can enhance uniformity of substrate illumination.

High efficiency UV curing system

A method and apparatus for a chamber for chemical vapor deposition on a substrate in a processing region comprising a gas box having a heated lid comprising a gas inlet passage, and a face plate connected to the heated lid positioned to conduct gas from the heated gas box to a substrate processing region. Also, a method for providing heat to a chemical vapor deposition chamber comprising supplying heat to a lid of a gas box, and heating a face plate connected to the gas box by heat transfer from the lid.

Heated gas box for PECVD applications

In one embodiment, the invention is a guard ring for reducing particle entrapment along a moveable shaft of a substrate support. In one embodiment, the guard ring comprises a substantially annular guard ring positioned within a step formed in a sleeve that circumscribes the shaft. The guard ring is positioned to substantially seal a gap separating the shaft from the sleeve, so that the amount of particles and foreign matter that travel within or become trapped in the gap is substantially reduced. In another embodiment, a guard ring comprises a base portion having an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter, a first flange coupled to the inner perimeter, a second flange coupled to the outer perimeter, and a continuous channel separating the first flange from the second flange. The first flange is adapted to function as a spring that accommodates displacement of the shaft.

Apparatus for reducing entrapment of foreign matter along a moveable shaft of a substrate support

A pump liner is used to direct a laminar flow of purge gas across a workpiece to remove contaminants or species outgassed or otherwise produced by the workpiece during processing. The pump liner can take the form of a ring having a plurality of injection ports, such as slits of a variety of shapes and/or sizes, opposite a plurality of receiving ports in order to provide the laminar flow. The flow of purge gas is sufficient to carry a contaminant or outgassed species from the processing chamber in order to prevent the collection of the contaminants on components of the chamber. The pump liner can be heated, via conduction and irradiation from a radiation source, for example, in order to prevent the condensation of species on the liner. The pump liner also can be anodized or otherwise processed in order to increase the emissivity of the liner.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Andrzej Kaszuba