The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 02, 1999
Filed:
Dec. 17, 1996
Carl W Almgren, Fort Collins, CO (US);
LSI Logic Corporation, Milpitas, CA (US);
Abstract
An electrode assembly for a plasma reactor used in connection with fabrication or manufacture of semiconductor devices. The electrode assembly includes an anode having, a top side that includes a pedestal adapted to support a wafer and defines an annular void that preferably surrounds the pedestal and extends to an outer periphery of the top side. The electrode assembly also includes a ring removably received within the annular void so that the ring extends from the pedestal and covers substantially the entire portion of the top side of the anode save the pedestal. The thickness of the ring is slightly less than the height of the pedestal so that the top surface of the ring is located below the top surface of the pedestal. When the wafer is supported by the pedestal during fabrication of a semiconductor device, the wafer extends beyond the circumference of the pedestal, and a gap is defined between the wafer and the removable ring. The removable ring can be quickly and easily removed and replaced.