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US4956538A
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Method and apparatus for real-time wafer temperature measurement using infrared pyrometry in advanced lamp-heated rapid thermal processors
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1988-09-09
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Granted: 1990-09-11
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Expires: 2008-09-09
Abstract
Abstract A first and second pyrometer (26-28) are optically coupled by a light pipe (24) to a wafer (30) in an apparatus (10). The light pipe (24) passes through a shroud (16) of a heating lamp module (14). A computer (74) is interconnected to the pyrometers (26-28) and a lamp module power supply (80). A laser (48) emits a laser beam (50) through a power meter (86) onto an infrared mirror (56) over the light pipe (24). The mirror (56) directs the beam onto wafer (30) which reflects a portion of the beam back to the infrared mirror (56). The beam is then guided to an infrared photo-detector (58) which provides, in combination with the incident laser beam power meter (86), reflectance of the wafer surface for the laser beam which is related to wafer emissivity. The spectral infrared emissivity measurement can be performed more accurately over an extended temperature range if the transmissivity of the wafer is determined by another infrared photodetector (59) and both the measured wafer reflectance and transmissivity data are used to calculate the emissivity. Wafer emissivity data and pyrometers reading data are evaluated by the computer (74) to determine the true wafer temperature in real-time and to raise or lower the power output from the power supply (80) to adjust the wafer temperature within the apparatus (10).
Inventors
- 👤 Mehrdad M. Moslehi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 04:05
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01J; G01J5/00; G01J5/0003; G01J3/00; G01J3/02; G01J3/0205; G01J3/0243; G01J5/0007; G01J2005/0074
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
Apparatus for determining and adjusting temperature of a semiconductor wafer in a single-wafer rapid thermal processing reactor utilizing a heating lamp module, comprising: at least one pyrometer position with the heating lamp module between said pyrometer and the wafer; a light pipe optically coupling said pyrometer and the wafer through the lamp module, such that said pyrometer may determine the temperature of the wafer; a lamp power supply; and a controller for adjusting output from the lamp module based on input from said pyrometer, such that the wafer temperature may be adjusted.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
Apparatus for determining and adjusting temperature of a semiconductor wafer in a single-wafer rapid thermal processing reactor utilizing a heating lamp module, comprising: at least one pyrometer position with the heating lamp module between said pyrometer and the wafer; a light pipe optically coupling said pyrometer and the wafer through the lamp module, such that said pyrometer may determine the temperature of the wafer; a lamp power supply; and a controller for adjusting output from the lamp module based on input from said pyrometer, such that the wafer temperature may be adjusted.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one pyrometer comprises: a first pyrometer for determining a first range of temperatures; and a second pyrometer for determining a second range of temperatures.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first pyrometer detects infrared radiation having a wavelength characteristic of said first range of temperatures.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said second pyrometer detects infrared radiation having a wavelength characteristic of said second range of temperatures.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further including a sapphire window disposed between said light pipe and the wafer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said controller comprises: a computer interconnected to said pyrometer; and said lamp power supply interconnected to said computer, such that said computer receives temperature data from said pyrometer, evaluates said data and alters output of said power supply to raise or lower the temperature of the wafer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said light pipe comprises a water-cooled hollow metallic pipe having infrared reflective internal walls coated with a plating material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said metallic pipe comprises aluminum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said plating material comprises gold.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said plating material comprises tungsten.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further a laser; at least one infrared photo-detector; an infrared mirror to direct an incident laser beam from said laser onto the wafer and to direct a reflected laser beam from the wafer to said infrared photo-detector; and a computer interconnected to said laser and said detector to monitor any power change between said incident and said reflected laser beams, such that emissivity of the wafer may be determined.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said laser comprises a tunable laser.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said laser comprises a carbon monoxide gas infrared laser.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said laser comprises: a gas carbon dioxide laser; and a frequency doubler.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said laser comprises a lead-salt tunable diode laser.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
102 words
Apparatus for monitoring and adjusting real-time temperature of a silicon semiconductor wafer in a single-wafer rapid thermal processing reactor having a heating lamp module, comprising: at least one pyrometer for detecting wafer emitted infrared radiation; a light pipe passing through the lamp module; an infrared laser; an infrared mirror over said light pipe for directing an incident light beam from said laser to the wafer, and for directing a reflected light beam from the wafer to an infrared photo-detector, and a computer interconnecting said pyrometer, said laser and said detector such that the wafer is monitored and adjusted for the real-time temperature.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
102 words
Apparatus for monitoring and adjusting real-time temperature of a silicon semiconductor wafer in a single-wafer rapid thermal processing reactor having a heating lamp module, comprising: at least one pyrometer for detecting wafer emitted infrared radiation; a light pipe passing through the lamp module; an infrared laser; an infrared mirror over said light pipe for directing an incident light beam from said laser to the wafer, and for directing a reflected light beam from the wafer to an infrared photo-detector, and a computer interconnecting said pyrometer, said laser and said detector such that the wafer is monitored and adjusted for the real-time temperature.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said at least one pyrometer comprises: a first pyrometer for determining a first range of temperatures; and a second pyrometer for determining a second range of temperatures.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said first pyrometer detects infrared radiation having a wavelength characteristic of said first range of temperatures.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said second pyrometer detects infrared radiation having a wavelength characteristic of said second range of temperatures.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a sapphire window positioned between said light pipe and the wafer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a heating lamp power supply interconnected to said computer such that said computer receives temperature data from said pyrometer and surface emissivity data from said laser and said detector, enabling said computer to evaluate said temperature and emissivity data and alter output of said power supply to raise or lower the temperature of the wafer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said light pipe comprises a water-cooled hollow infrared reflective coated aluminum pipe.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said coating comprises gold.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said coating comprises tungsten.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said infrared laser comprises a tunable laser.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said laser comprises a carbon monoxide infrared laser.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said laser comprises: a gas carbon dioxide laser; and a frequency doubler.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said laser comprises a lead-salt diode laser.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 16, further including a second infrared photo-detector to measure the power of a laser beam transmitted through the wafer.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for determining and adjusting temperature of a semiconductor wafer in a single-wafer rapid thermal processing reactor, comprising the steps of: providing a single-wafer rapid thermal processing reactor having a heating lamp module and at least one pyrometer; optically coupling a semiconductor wafer to said at least one pyrometer; detecting with said at least one pyrometer infrared radiation emitted from said wafer to determine the temperature of said wafer; and adjusting the amount of heat provided to said wafer by said heating lamp module in response to control means responsive to said pyrometer.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for determining and adjusting temperature of a semiconductor wafer in a single-wafer rapid thermal processing reactor, comprising the steps of: providing a single-wafer rapid thermal processing reactor having a heating lamp module and at least one pyrometer; optically coupling a semiconductor wafer to said at least one pyrometer; detecting with said at least one pyrometer infrared radiation emitted from said wafer to determine the temperature of said wafer; and adjusting the amount of heat provided to said wafer by said heating lamp module in response to control means responsive to said pyrometer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 30, wherein the step of adjusting further includes computer control responsive to said pyrometer.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 31, wherein the step of adjusting the amount of heat includes the steps of providing a heating lamp module power supply for supplying power to said heating lamp module and controlling the power sent form said power supply to said heating lamp module with said computer control to raise or lower the temperature of said wafer.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 30, further comprising the steps of: reflecting a laser beam from the wafer; detecting the reflected laser beam with an infrared detecting photo-detector; and determining the emissivity of the wafer by comparing the power level of an incident laser beam with said reflected laser beam.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for monitoring and adjusting real-time temperature of a silicon semiconductor wafer in a single wafer rapid thermal processing reactor having a heat lamp module, comprising the steps of: detecting infrared radiation emitted from the wafer with at least one pyrometer optically coupled to the wafer; directing a laser beam against the wafer; detecting power changes in the laser beam reflected from the wafer; and adjusting the output of a power supply to the lamp module in response to said detected radiation and said power change, such that the real-time temperature of the wafer is monitored and adjusted.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for monitoring and adjusting real-time temperature of a silicon semiconductor wafer in a single wafer rapid thermal processing reactor having a heat lamp module, comprising the steps of: detecting infrared radiation emitted from the wafer with at least one pyrometer optically coupled to the wafer; directing a laser beam against the wafer; detecting power changes in the laser beam reflected from the wafer; and adjusting the output of a power supply to the lamp module in response to said detected radiation and said power change, such that the real-time temperature of the wafer is monitored and adjusted.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 34, wherein the step of detecting infrared radiation comprises: detecting infrared radiation having a wavelength characteristic of a first pyrometer corresponding to a first temperature range; and detecting infrared radiation having a wavelength characteristic of a second pyrometer corresponding to a second temperature range.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 34, wherein the step of detecting infrared radiation further comprises the step of determining the wafer temperature based on said detected radiation.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
113 words
The method of claim 34, wherein the step of detecting a laser power change comprises: directing a laser beam through a power meter to an infrared mirror such that said power meter measures the input power of said incident laser beam; reflecting said beam from the reflector to the wafer; reflecting a portion of said beam from the wafer to a first infrared photo-detector which measures the power of said reflected beam; transmitting another portion of said beam through the wafer to a second infrared photo-detector which measures the power of said transmitted beam; and comparing said input power and a combination of said reflected power and said transmitted power with a computer.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 34, wherein the step of adjusting further comprises evaluating said power change to determine a wafer emissivity and thence to determine a true real-time wafer temperature.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-09-10 | 1994-03-12 | 1994-09-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-09-10 | 1998-03-12 | 1998-09-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-09-10 | 2002-03-12 | 2002-09-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |