Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising the steps of passing a stream of hydrogen gas over a silicon body, said silicon body being at a first temperature below 900 degrees Celsius to prevent at least one of diffusion and outgassing from said silicon body, applying a heat pulse to said silicon body to heat said silicon body form said first temperature to a second temperature above 1000 degrees Celsius, said heat pulse cleaning surfaces of said silicon body at said second temperature, maintaining said heat pulse at said second temperature for time ranging from 15 to 120 seconds, passing a silicon carrier gas over said silicon body during said heat pulse to deposit an epitaxial silicon layer on said silicon body at said second temperature, and reducing temperature below a minimum temperature for depositing silicon at the end of said heat pulse.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising the steps of passing a stream of hydrogen gas over a silicon body, said silicon body being at a first temperature below 900 degrees Celsius to prevent at least one of diffusion and outgassing from said silicon body, applying a heat pulse to said silicon body to heat said silicon body form said first temperature to a second temperature above 1000 degrees Celsius, said heat pulse cleaning surfaces of said silicon body at said second temperature, maintaining said heat pulse at said second temperature for time ranging from 15 to 120 seconds, passing a silicon carrier gas over said silicon body during said heat pulse to deposit an epitaxial silicon layer on said silicon body at said second temperature, and reducing temperature below a minimum temperature for depositing silicon at the end of said heat pulse.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of passing said silicon carrier gas over said silicon body is commenced after application of said heat pulse.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of passing said silicon carrier gas over said silicon body is commenced before application of said heat pulse.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said silicon body falls from said second temperature above 1000 degrees Celsius to a temperature below said minimum temperature in less than approximately ten seconds.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 4, wherein said silicon carrier gas is silane and said minimum temperature is approximately 500 degrees Celsius.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 4, wherein said silicon carrier gas is trichlorsilane and said minimum temperature is approximately 750 degrees Celsius.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein said silicon body falls to a desired deposition temperature above said minimum temperature after said heat pulse to continue deposition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein said silicon carrier gas is silane and a remainder of said epitaxial silicon layer is deposited at a temperature between 650 degrees Celsius and 800 degrees Celsius.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein said silicon carrier gas is trichlorsilane and a remainder of said epitaxial silicon layer is deposited at a temperature between 800 degrees Celsius and 850 degrees Celsius.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein said step of applying said heat pulse raises temperatures of said silicon body from said first temperature to said second temperature in less than about 20 seconds.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein said step of applying said heat pulse is carried out by a radiant heat source.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein said second temperature ranges from 1000 degrees Celsius to 1250 degrees Celsius.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 12, wherein said step of passing said silicon carrier gas is carried out after said surfaces of said silicon body is cleaned.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein said step of reducing temperature below said minimum temperature occurs nearly immediately after said heat pulse ends.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein said heat pulse heats said silicon body to said second temperature in less than 20 seconds upon said step of applying said heat pulse.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein surfaces of said said silicon body are initially cleaned after applying said heat pulse, then said stream of hydrogen gas is ended, and finally said silicon carrier gas is passed over said silicon body during remaining portions of said heat pulse.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein said heat pulse cleans said surfaces at said second temperature for a time ranging from 15 to 90 seconds.