Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A heater assembly for heating a wafer to a uniform temperature in association with heating of the wafer by application of radiated light comprising: a holder on which the wafer to be heat-treated is to be held in contact by gravity and means for heating principally a circumferential portion of the wafer, said means for heating including a heating device combined detachably with the holder, wherein the heating device has an elongated positioning arm which extends in one direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
79 words
A heater assembly for heating a wafer to a uniform temperature in association with heating of the wafer by application of radiated light comprising: a holder on which the wafer to be heat-treated is to be held in contact by gravity and means for heating principally a circumferential portion of the wafer, said means for heating including a heating device combined detachably with the holder, wherein the heating device has an elongated positioning arm which extends in one direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
114 words
A heater assembly comprising: a holder on which a wafer material to be heat-treated is to be held in contact by gravity and a heating device combined detachably with the holder for heating principally a circumferential portion of the wafer, wherein the holder is made of silica glass as a single unit in its entirety and has an arcuate ring-like portion elongated along a circular arc, a plurality of supporting and engagement portions are formed on the ring-like portion and engage with the heating device for supporting the holder on the heating device, and projections on which the wafer material is to be held by gravity are formed on the supporting and engagement portions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
114 words
A heater assembly comprising: a holder on which a wafer material to be heat-treated is to be held in contact by gravity and a heating device combined detachably with the holder for heating principally a circumferential portion of the wafer, wherein the holder is made of silica glass as a single unit in its entirety and has an arcuate ring-like portion elongated along a circular arc, a plurality of supporting and engagement portions are formed on the ring-like portion and engage with the heating device for supporting the holder on the heating device, and projections on which the wafer material is to be held by gravity are formed on the supporting and engagement portions.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for heat-treating a semiconductor wafer having a surface, a circumferential portion and a circumferential edge, which method comprises: providing a heater assembly having a heating device and a holder; mounting and holding a semiconductor wafer to be heat-treated in contact with the holder of the heater assembly at least at three contact points of small area on the surface of the wafer, said contact points being positioned inward by at least 1 mm from the circumferential edge of the wafer; heating by said heating device principally at least one of said circumferential edge and said circumferential portion; and heating the semiconductor wafer by application of radiated light in association with said heating by said heating device.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for heat-treating a semiconductor wafer having a surface, a circumferential portion and a circumferential edge, which method comprises: providing a heater assembly having a heating device and a holder; mounting and holding a semiconductor wafer to be heat-treated in contact with the holder of the heater assembly at least at three contact points of small area on the surface of the wafer, said contact points being positioned inward by at least 1 mm from the circumferential edge of the wafer; heating by said heating device principally at least one of said circumferential edge and said circumferential portion; and heating the semiconductor wafer by application of radiated light in association with said heating by said heating device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the area of each contact point is no greater than 0.5 mm 2 .
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said heating of the semiconductor wafer by means of application of radiated light is performed while said heating by said heating device is performed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein said heating of the semiconductor wafer by means of application of radiated light is performed after said heating by said heating device is performed.