Applied Materials, Inc.

Richard A Marsh

Alan F Morrison

Karl Anthony Littau

Lawrence C Lei

Salvador P Umotoy

Mei Yin Chang

Dale R Dubois

John Vincent Schmitt

Dale DuBois

In a process and apparatus for delivering a processing substance from a storage vessel to a processing station, the storage vessel enclosing a processing substance storage space and being coupled to conduits which communicate with the storage space, the storage vessel and the conduits enclosing a volume which includes the storage space, a method and system for determining the quantity of processing substance in the storage space by: closing the volume enclosed by the storage vessel and the conduits; performing first and second pressure measurements for measuring the gas pressure in the volume when the volume contains respectively first and second quantities of gas; determining the difference between the first and second quantities of gas; and calculating the quantity of processing substance in the storage space on the basis of the volume, the difference between the first and second quantities of gas and the gas pressures measured during the first and second pressure measurements.

Measurement of quantity of incompressible substance in a closed container

This invention provides a method and apparatus for supporting a wafer in a processing chamber, where the wafer is supported and heated from below via a heater pedestal having a diameter larger than that of the wafer. A process fluid flowing downward toward the top of the wafer is inhibited from depositing near the wafer edge by a shadow ring. The shadow ring, which is placed over but does not contact the wafer, physically masks an annular strip of the wafer near its edge. The shadow ring inhibits deposition of process fluides on the wafer in two distinct ways. First, the shadow ring physically obstructs process gas, flowing downward from above the wafer, from depositing on the masked portion of the wafer. Second, the shadow ring is used to direct a flow of a purge gas to inhibit process gas from seeping under the shadow ring and depositing near the wafer edge. A purge gas manifold is defined by a cylindrical annulus located concentrically below the shadow ring and circumscribing the heater pedestal. A purge gap between the wafer and the shadow ring forms the outlet of the purge gas manifold. The purge gas flows out of the purge gap, inhibiting the process gas from entering the purge gap, and thus further inhibiting deposition on the masked portion of the wafer.

Heater with shadow ring and purge above wafer surface

Apparatus for CVD processing wherein a wafer mounted on a vertically movable susceptor beneath a showerhead. The susceptor extends beyond the outer perimeter of the wafer such that, when the susceptor is raised into contact with a shield ring which normally rests on a ring support in the chamber, the shield ring engages outer portion of the susceptor beyond the perimeter of the wafer, lifting the shield ring off its support. The shield ring shields the edge of the top surface of the susceptor during the deposition, whereby unwanted deposition on the susceptor is prevented while, at the same time, allowing for deposition over the entire upper surface of the wafer. To center the shield ring and the susceptor with respect to each other, the shield ring may include a plurality of centering protrusions, at least some of which engage the susceptor as it moves upwards to lift the shield ring off its supports in the chamber.

Substrate support shield in wafer processing reactors

A substrate processing apparatus comprising a processing chamber in which a substrate support is located. The substrate support, which is in the form of a heater pedestal, has a surface dimensioned to receive the substrate, and is circumscribed by a removable purge ring which defines an annulus between itself and the pedestal. At the outer edge of the pedestal is a purge gas manifold, in the form of a cavity between the purge ring and the pedestal. The lower end of the manifold is sealed by means of a mechanical seal that is formed at process temperature as the pedestal expands from heating and comes into contact with the purge ring's lower edge. The upper end of the manifold opens into the annulus defined by the purge ring and the pedestal. The manifold is arranged so that during processing, purge gas is injected into the manifold and projected toward the edge of a substrate received on the surface of the pedestal. This gas moves upwards through the annulus defined between the purge ring and the substrate support. Consequently, processing gas is prevented from contacting the extreme edge portion of the substrate. This reduces unwanted deposition on the peripheral edge and lower surface of the substrate.

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Austin, TX, United States of America

Richard A Marsh