Epsilon Technology Corporation

Advanced Semiconductor Materials America, Inc.

Epsilon Limited Partnership

Other

Epsilon

McDonald Robinson

Mark R Hawkins

Dennis L Goodwin

Richard Crabb

Armand P Ferro

Wiebe B deBoer

Albert E Ozias

Wayne L Johnson

Ronald D Behee

Aage Olsen

Klavs F Jensen

Gary W Read

The present invention relates to improved injectors for use in CVD reactor systems, and more specifically for use in epitaxial deposition systems for processing a single wafer-at-a-time. The improved injectors of the present invention are used to provide a predetermined desired shaped velocity profile for the injected reactant gases for insuring a more uniform deposition on a single wafer to be processed within the reactor system. In the first embodiment, the reactant gas is fed into a horizontal gas distribution manifold cavity and distributed horizontally in both directions. The gas then passes through a manifold wall having a pattern of predetermined sized and spaced apertures therein. The size of the apertures and the distribution of these sizes, shapes the resultant velocity profile to a desired pattern. Since the volume flow rate through each aperture of the manifold member increases as the diameter of the aperture increases, the resultant velocity profile produced will have its maximum at the center where the largest apertures exist and its minimum at the sides where the smallest apertures exist and the velocity profile will have a desired predetermined shape as it exits the gas delivery chamber and is turned 90.degree. for injection into the input of the reaction chamber. In an alternate embodiment, a plurality of linearly dimensioned slots are provided between spacer legs for producing the predetermined desired shaped velocity profile.

Gas injection system for reaction chambers in CVD systems

The present invention relates to improved injectors for use in CVD reactor systems, and more specifically for use in epitaxial deposition systems for processing a single wafer-at-a-time. The improved injectors of the present invention are used to provide a predetermined desired shaped velocity profile for the injected reactant gases for insuring a more uniform deposition on a single wafer to be processed within the reactor system. In the first embodiment, the reactant gas is fed into a horizontal gas distribution manifold cavity and distributed horizontally in both directions. The gas then passes through a manifold wall having a pattern of predetermined sized and spaced apertures therein. The size of the apertures and the distribution of these sizes, shapes the resultant velocity profile to a desired pattern. Since the volume flow rate through each aperture of the manifold member increases as the diameter of the aperture increases, the resultant velocity profile produced will have its maximum at the center where-the largest apertures exist and its minimum at the sides where the smallest apertures exist and the velocity profile will have a desired predetermined shape as it exits the gas delivery chamber and is turned 90 for injection into the input of the reaction chamber. In an alternate embodiment, a plurality of linearly dimensioned slots are provided between spacer legs for producing the predetermined desired shaped velocity profile.

Gas injectors for reaction chambers in CVD systems

This invention discloses a system for chemically depositing various materials carried by a reactant gas onto substrates for manufacturing semiconductor devices. The system includes special loading and unloading sub-systems for placement of substrates to be processed into the system and subsequent extraction without contamination of the system. A special substrate handling sub-system is provided for moving the substrates to and from at least one processing sub-system without physically contacting the planar surfaces of the substrates. The processing sub-system includes a horizontal gas flow reaction chamber having a rotatable susceptor therein for rotating the single substrate supportable thereon about an axis that is normal to the center of the substrate for averaging of the temperature and reactant gas concentration variables. The processing sub-system is separated from the handling sub-system by a special isolation valve and a gas injection device is used to inject the gas into the reaction chamber with a predetermined velocity profile. A special temperature sensing arrangement is provided in the processing sub-system for controlling a radiant heating sub-system which is provided above and below the reaction chamber.

Chemical vapor desposition system

An improved wafer handling system including a pair of robot arms each having a drive apparatus operatively coupled to its rear end portion for extending, retracting, and rotatably positioning the robot arms. The opposite end of the robot arms are operatively connected to a pick-up wand. The pick-up wand includes a top plate and a bottom plate. The lower surface of the top plate has a plurality of commonly-connected grooves ground therein and a reservoir for supplying gas to said grooves from the forward end portion of the robot arms. A plurality of gas outlets are provided in the bottom plate, and the bottom surface of the top plate is positioned securely over and flush against the top surface of the bottom plate such that at least one of the grooves are over each of the plurality of gas outlets for delivering gas thereto. The outlets are slanted for substantially radially outwardly directing a flow of gas away from the pattern and over the top surface of the water for creating an area of relatively low pressure between the bottom surface of the lower pick-up plate and the top surface of the wafer (with respect to the pressure existing beneath the wafer) for picking up or lifting the wafer without physical contact between the wafer and the wand in the actual pick-up by utilizing Bernoulli's Principle.

Wafer handling system with bernoulli pick-up

The present invention relates to improved injectors for use in CVD reactor systems, and more specifically for use in epitaxial deposition systems for processing a single water-at-a-time. The improved injectors of the present invention are used to provide a predetermined desired shaped velocity profile for the injected reactant gases for insuring a more uniform deposition on a single wafer to be processed within the reactor system. In the first embodiment, the reactant gas is fed into a horizontal gas distribution manifold cavity and distributed horizontally in both directions. The gas then passes through a manifold wall having a pattern of predetermined sized and spaced apertures therein. The size of the apertures and the distribution of these sizes, shapes the resultant velocity profile to a desired pattern. Since the volume flow rate through each aperture of the manifold member increases as the diameter of the aperture increases, the resultant velocity profile produced will have its maximum at the center where the largest apertures exist and its minimum at the sides where the smallest apertures exist and the velocity profile will have a desired predetermined shape as it exits the gas delivery chamber and is turned 90.degree. for injection into the input of the reaction chamber. In an alternate embodiment, a plurality of linearly dimensioned slots are provided between spacer legs for producing the predetermined desired shaped velocity profile.

A method for loading a substrate into a receiving chamber upon a positionable platform, which platform is in sealed relationship with the receiving chamber, permits purging of the receiving chamber prior to transport of the loaded substrate(s) to a feed chamber. The platform is positioned from the receiving chamber into the feed chamber to off load the substrates. A cassette containing a plurality of stacked substrates may be loaded upon the platform to transport a plurality of substrates into the feed chamber.

Method for loading a substrate into a GVD apparatus

Each substrate is loaded into a receiving chamber upon a positionable platform, which platform is in sealed relationship with the receiving chamber to permit purging of the receiving chamber prior to transport of the loaded substrate(s) to a feed chamber. The platform is positioned from the receiving chamber into the feed chamber wherefrom the substrates are off loaded. A cassette containing a plurality of stacked substrates may be loaded upon the platform to transport a plurality of substrates into the feed chamber.

Substrate loading apparatus for a CVD process

Wafer handling apparatus operating under the Bernoulli principle to pick up, transport and deposit wafers, which apparatus includes a plate having a plurality of laterally oriented outlets and a central outlet for discharging gas in a pattern sufficient to develop a low pressure enviroment to pick up the wafer while bathing the wafer in radially outflowing gases to prevent intrusion and deposition on the wafer of particulate matter in suspension.

Wafer handling system with Bernoulli pick-up

A substrate loading subsystem receives substrates from an external source and delivers them to an input port. A substrate pickup transports the substrates serially from the input port to a delivery port of a processing subsystem wherein the substrates are subjected to a reactant gas in a reaction chamber. After completion of the chemical vapor deposition, the substrate pick up serially transports the substrates to an outlet port wherefrom they are off loaded.

Substrate handling and transporting apparatus

A heating system for use in chemical vapor deposition equipment of the type wherein a reactant gas is directed in horizontal flow for depositing materials on a substrate which is supported in a reaction chamber on a susceptor which is rotatably driven for rotating the substrate about an axis which extends normally from its center. The heating system works in conjunction with a special heat sensing arrangement and includes an upper heating element assembly, a lower heating element assembly and a heat concentrator mechanism whic interact to provide rapid temperature build-up at the beginning of a processing cycle, rapid temperature attenuation at the end of a processing cycle and a controlled flat temperature profile during the processing cycle.

Heating system for substrates

The present invention relates to a high throughput single crystal epitaxial deposition process which achieves increased uniformity, both wafer to wafer and across the wafer surface. There is provided an epitaxial deposition process characterized by low-level cooling periods which minimize temperature changes between deposition cycles and inter-cycle cleaning so that each new wafer is presented with a substantially equivalent deposition environment.

Process for epitaxial deposition of silicon

A heating system for use in chemical vapor deposition equipment of the type wherein a reactant gas is directed in a horizontal flow for depositing materials on a substrate which is supported in a reaction chamber on a susceptor which is rotatably driven for rotating the substrate about an axis which extends normally from its center. The heating system works in conjunction with a special heat sensing arrangement and includes an upper heating element assembly, a lower heating element assembly and a heat concentrator mechanism which interact to provide rapid temperature build-up at the beginning of a processing cycle, rapid temperature attenuation at the end of a processing cycle and a controlled flat temperature profile during the processig cycle.

Heating system for reaction chamber of chemical vapor deposition

This invention discloses a system for chemically depositing various materials carried by a reactant gas onto substrates for manufacturing semiconductor devices. The system includes special loading and unloading sub-system for placement of substrates to be processed into the system and subsequent extraction without contamination of the system. A special substrate handling sub-system is provided for moving the substrates to and from at least one processing sub-system without physically contacting the planar surfaces of the substrates. The processing sub-system includes a horizontal gas flow reaction chamber having a rotatable susceptor therein for rotating the single substrate supportable thereon about an axis that is normal to the center of the substrate for averaging of the temperature and reactant gas concentration variables. The processing sub-system is separated from the handling sub-system by a special isolation valve and a gas injection device is used to inject the gas into the reaction chamber with a predetermined velocity profile. A special temperature sensing arrangement is provided in the processing sub-system for controlling a radiant heating sub-system which is provided above and below the reaction chamber.

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Paradise Valley, AZ, United States of America

McDonald Robinson