Patent US4938992A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4938992A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods for thermal transfer with a semiconductor
Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates Inc
•
Filing: 1989-10-25
•
Granted: 1990-07-03
•
Expires: 2009-10-25
Abstract
Abstract Thermal transfer between a semiconductor wafer and a platen during vacuum processing is provided through a soft, thermally-conductive polymer layer having a thin, hard surface film. The soft polymer layer, which is preferably silicone rubber containing thermally-conductive particles, conforms to surface irregularities on the wafer and has low thermal resistance. The surface film is preferably silicon dioxide in the form of a multiplicity of flat plates integrally formed on the silicone rubber. Adherence of the wafer and of foreign matter to the polymer layer is prevented by the surface film. In addition, the underlying polymer layer is protected by the surface film. A high purity polymer layer is fabricated by evacuating the mold cavity and the resin container prior to injection of resin. The mold for the polymer layer utilizes a hard, smooth mold release surface and a resilient gasket between the platen and the mold release surface. The gasket establishes the dimensions of the polymer layer and seals the mold cavity. The surface film is formed by oxygen plasma treatment of the silcone rubber layer.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric L. Mears
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:02
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10P; H10P72/00; H10P72/04; H10P72/0431; H10P72/0432; C; C23; C23C; C23C14/00; C23C14/22; C23C14/50; C30; C30B; C30B25/00; C30B25/02; C30B25/10; C30B31/00; C30B31/06; C30B31/12; C30B31/20; C30B31/22; H10P72/0402; H10P72/0418; H10P72/0421
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for treating a thermally-conductive polymer layer used for thermal transfer with a workpiece to prevent adherence of the workpiece to a surface of the polymer layer, comprising the steps of: treating said polymer layer with oxygen plasma; and providing silicon at the surface of said polymer layer during oxygen plasma treatment to cause formation of a thin surface film on said polymer layer, said surface film being harder than said polymer layer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for treating a thermally-conductive polymer layer used for thermal transfer with a workpiece to prevent adherence of the workpiece to a surface of the polymer layer, comprising the steps of: treating said polymer layer with oxygen plasma; and providing silicon at the surface of said polymer layer during oxygen plasma treatment to cause formation of a thin surface film on said polymer layer, said surface film being harder than said polymer layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A treatment method as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of treating said polymer layer with oxygen plasma includes placing said polymer layer in a plasma chamber and wherein the step of providing silicon includes providing an independent source of silicon in said plasma chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A treatment method as defined in claim 2 wherein the step of providing a source of silicon includes providing a volatile silicon-containing material on an absorbent member located in said plasma chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A treatment method as defined in claim 2 wherein the step of providing a source of silicon includes introducing a gaseous silicon-containing material into said plasma chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A treatment method as defined in claim 2 wherein the step of providing a source of silicon includes spraying a silicon-containing material onto the surface of said polymer layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A treatment method as defined claim 1 further including the step of heating said polymer layer prior to the step of treating said polymer layer with oxygen plasma in order to drive volatile materials from said polymer layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
A treatment method as defined in claim 1 wherein the steps of treating said polymer layer with oxygen plasma and providing silicon at the surface of said polymer layer are continued until said surface film has a thickness in the range of 0.1 to 5.0 micrometers.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for treating a thermally-conductive silicone rubber layer used for thermal transfer with a semiconductor wafer to prevent adherence of the wafer to a surface of the silicone rubber layer, comprising the steps of: treating said silicone rubber layer with oxygen plasma in a plasma chamber; and providing silicon from an independent source at the surface of said silicone rubber layer during oxygen plasma treatment to cause formation of a thin surface film on said silicone rubber layer, said surface film being harder than said silicone rubber layer.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for treating a thermally-conductive silicone rubber layer used for thermal transfer with a semiconductor wafer to prevent adherence of the wafer to a surface of the silicone rubber layer, comprising the steps of: treating said silicone rubber layer with oxygen plasma in a plasma chamber; and providing silicon from an independent source at the surface of said silicone rubber layer during oxygen plasma treatment to cause formation of a thin surface film on said silicone rubber layer, said surface film being harder than said silicone rubber layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A treatment method as defined in claim 8 wherein the step of providing silicon includes providing a volatile silicon-containing material on an absorbent member located in said plasma chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A treatment method as defined in claim 8 wherein the step of providing silicon includes introducing a gaseous silicon-containing material into said plasma chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A treatment method as defined in claim 8 wherein the step of providing silicon includes spraying a silicon-containing material onto the surface of said silicone rubber layer
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
A treatment method as defined in claim 8 further including the step of heating said silicone rubber layer prior to the step of treating said silicone rubber layer with oxygen plasma in order to drive volatile materials from said silicone rubber layer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
A treatment method as defined in claim 8 wherein the steps of treating said silicone rubber layer with oxygen plasma and providing silicon at the surface of said silicone rubber layer ar continued until said surface film has a thickness in the range of 0.1 to 5.0 micrometers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A treatment method as defined in claim 8 wherein said surface film comprises silicon dioxide.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for treating a thermally-conductive polymer layer used for thermal transfer with a workpiece to prevent adherence of the workpiece to a surface of the polymer layer, comprising the steps of: providing oxygen and silicon at the surface of said polymer layer; and elevating the temperature at the surface of said polymer layer sufficiently to cause reaction of said oxygen and silicon to form a surface film on said polymer layer that is harder than said polymer layer.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for treating a thermally-conductive polymer layer used for thermal transfer with a workpiece to prevent adherence of the workpiece to a surface of the polymer layer, comprising the steps of: providing oxygen and silicon at the surface of said polymer layer; and elevating the temperature at the surface of said polymer layer sufficiently to cause reaction of said oxygen and silicon to form a surface film on said polymer layer that is harder than said polymer layer.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for effecting thermal transfer with a workpiece in vacuum, comprising the steps of: providing a thermally-conductive platen including a heat transfer surface having a soft, thermally-conductive polymer layer affixed thereto; forming on said polymer layer a thin surface film for contacting said workpiece without adhering thereto by treating said polymer layer with oxygen plasma and providing silicon from an independent silicon source at the surface of said polymer layer during oxygen plasma treatment; and placing the workpiece in contact with the surface film.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for effecting thermal transfer with a workpiece in vacuum, comprising the steps of: providing a thermally-conductive platen including a heat transfer surface having a soft, thermally-conductive polymer layer affixed thereto; forming on said polymer layer a thin surface film for contacting said workpiece without adhering thereto by treating said polymer layer with oxygen plasma and providing silicon from an independent silicon source at the surface of said polymer layer during oxygen plasma treatment; and placing the workpiece in contact with the surface film.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as defined in claim 16 wherein the step of forming a thin surface film is continued until said surface film has a thickness in the range of 0.1 to 5.0 micrometers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3526694A
Cited
US3818982A
Cited
US4072738A
Cited
GB1443215A
Cited
JPS50109596A
Cited
US4139051A
Cited
WO1979000510A1
Cited
US4282924A
Cited
US4580619A
Cited
US4682566A
Cited
GB2071673A
Cited
US4311661A
Cited
US4460525A
Cited
JPS5862017A
Cited
US4457359A
Cited
US4535835A
Cited
US4724325A
Cited
US4832781A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-07-02 | 1994-01-01 | 1994-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-07-02 | 1998-01-01 | 1998-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-07-02 | 2002-01-01 | 2002-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |