US4709655A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Chemical vapor deposition apparatus
Assignee: Novellus Systems Inc
•
Filing: 1985-12-03
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Granted: 1987-12-01
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Expires: 2005-12-03
Abstract
Abstract A chemical vapor deposition apparatus includes a gas mixing chamber and a water-cooled reaction chamber with adjustable water-cooled baffle between them. A wafer is clamped face down to a chuck and an inert gas such as helium is forced between the chuck and the wafer to insure proper heat conduction from chuck to wafer. The chuck can be radiantly heated from above and operated in a plasma-enhanced mode. A wafer loading apparatus driven by a computer is isolated by a loadlock during deposition to enhance cleanliness. The chamber can be plasma cleaned to reduce downtime.
Inventors
- 👤 Max Van Mastrigt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 06:16
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23C; C23C16/00; C23C16/44; C23C16/54
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
An apparatus for chemical vapor deposition on a workpiece comprising: a deposition reaction chamber; a gas mixing chamber communicating with said deposition reaction chamber; connection means for connecting a vacuum pumping means to said deposition reaction chamber; gas distribution means for introducing gas into said gas mixing chamber; adjustable baffle means between said gas mixing chamber and said deposition reaction chamber for controlling the flow of gas from said gas mixing chamber into said deposition reaction chamber, said adjustable baffle means including a generally flat thin body attached near the center of said flat thin body to a slender support; chuck means for controlling the temperature of a workpiece, said chuck means being located within said deposition reaction chamber; and wafer holding means for holding a workpiece against said chuck means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
131 words
An apparatus for chemical vapor deposition on a workpiece comprising: a deposition reaction chamber; a gas mixing chamber communicating with said deposition reaction chamber; connection means for connecting a vacuum pumping means to said deposition reaction chamber; gas distribution means for introducing gas into said gas mixing chamber; adjustable baffle means between said gas mixing chamber and said deposition reaction chamber for controlling the flow of gas from said gas mixing chamber into said deposition reaction chamber, said adjustable baffle means including a generally flat thin body attached near the center of said flat thin body to a slender support; chuck means for controlling the temperature of a workpiece, said chuck means being located within said deposition reaction chamber; and wafer holding means for holding a workpiece against said chuck means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said adjustable baffle means is cooled with fluids flowing in said baffle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said adjustable baffle means includes a disk mounted on a support.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said gas distribution means includes at least one hollow pipe formed into a ring and having a multiplicity of small holes therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said gas distribution means includes at least two closely located hollow pipes each said pipe being formed into a ring with each having a multiplicity of small holes therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said connection means includes at least three outlets in said deposition reaction chamber, each said outlet having shutter means for independently adjusting the flow in each said outlet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said chuck means includes a means for flowing a gas across the back of the workpiece for thermal contact between said chuck and the workpiece.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as in claim 7 further including a means for radiant heating said chuck means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said chuck means includes a means for supporting a plasma discharge on the face of a workpiece in contact with said chuck means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as in claim 9 further including a means for radiant heating said chuck means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said wafer holding means includes a multiplicity of ceramic fingers supporting the workpiece from below.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said gas distribution means includes at least two closely located hollow pipes each said pipe being formed into a ring having a multiplicity of small holes therein.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said chuck means includes a means for flowing a gas across the back of the workpiece for thermal contact.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as in claim 13 further including a means for radiant heating said chuck means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as in claim 14 wherein said chuck means includes a means for supporting a plasma discharge on the face of the workpiece in contact with said chuck means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as in claim 14 including a means for plasma cleaning of said apparatus.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as in claim 14 including a means for reactive ion cleaning of said apparatus.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
259 words
An apparatus for chemical vapor deposition on a workpiece comprising: a deposition reaction chamber having walls cooled by an internally circulating fluid; a gas mixing chamber communicating with said deposition reaction chamber; a connection means for connecting a vacuum pumping means to said deposition reaction chamber, said connection means including at least three outlets in said deposition reaction chamber, each said outlet having shutter means independently adjusting the flow in each said outlet; gas distribution means for introducing gas into said gas mixing chamber, said gas distribution means including at least two closely located hollow pipes, each said pipe being formed into a ring, each said pipe having a multiplicity of small holes therein; adjustable baffle means between said gas mixing chamber and said deposition reaction chamber for controlling the flow of gas from said gas mixing chamber into said deposition reaction chamber, said adjustable baffle means being cooled with fluids flowing in said baffle, said adjustable baffle means including a disk mounted on a support; chuck means for controlling the temperature of a workpiece, said chuck means including means for flowing a gas across the back of the workpiece for thermal contact, said chuck means being located within said deposition reaction chambers, said chuck means including means for radiant heating said chuck means and means for supporting a plasma discharge on the face of a workpiece in contact with said chuck means; wafer holding means for holding a workpiece against said chuck means, said wafer holding means including a multiplicity of ceramic fingers supporting the workpiece from below.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
259 words
An apparatus for chemical vapor deposition on a workpiece comprising: a deposition reaction chamber having walls cooled by an internally circulating fluid; a gas mixing chamber communicating with said deposition reaction chamber; a connection means for connecting a vacuum pumping means to said deposition reaction chamber, said connection means including at least three outlets in said deposition reaction chamber, each said outlet having shutter means independently adjusting the flow in each said outlet; gas distribution means for introducing gas into said gas mixing chamber, said gas distribution means including at least two closely located hollow pipes, each said pipe being formed into a ring, each said pipe having a multiplicity of small holes therein; adjustable baffle means between said gas mixing chamber and said deposition reaction chamber for controlling the flow of gas from said gas mixing chamber into said deposition reaction chamber, said adjustable baffle means being cooled with fluids flowing in said baffle, said adjustable baffle means including a disk mounted on a support; chuck means for controlling the temperature of a workpiece, said chuck means including means for flowing a gas across the back of the workpiece for thermal contact, said chuck means being located within said deposition reaction chambers, said chuck means including means for radiant heating said chuck means and means for supporting a plasma discharge on the face of a workpiece in contact with said chuck means; wafer holding means for holding a workpiece against said chuck means, said wafer holding means including a multiplicity of ceramic fingers supporting the workpiece from below.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as in claim 18 further including a means for plasma cleaning of said apparatus.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as in claim 18 further including a means for reactive ion cleaning of said apparatus.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-11-30 | 1991-06-01 | 1991-12-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-11-30 | 1995-06-01 | 1995-12-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-11-30 | 1999-06-01 | 1999-12-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |