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US5042423A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Semiconductor wafer carrier design

Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1988-12-20
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Granted: 1991-08-27
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Expires: 2008-12-20
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Abstract

Abstract A carrier for use in a continuous chemical vapor deposition reactor system has a lid with tapered edges which match the sides of a recess in the carrier in which the lid resides during processing of the semiconductor to provide a precise fit for the lid and to minimize thermal stresses in the carrier, the lid and the lid-carrier assembly due to extreme heat during processing of the semiconductor wafer.

Inventors

  • 👤 Thomas F. Wilkinson

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 12:08
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10P; H10P72/00; H10P72/10; H10P72/18

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 141 words
A semiconductor wafer carrier for use in a continuous chemical vapor deposition reactor, comprising: a generally rectangular body of a high temperature material having first and second major faces, said first major face having a recess formed in and extending across said first major face, said body defining a generally circular opening extending from a lower surface defining, in part, said recess through the carrier and opening through the second of said major faces of the carrier, a lip extending from sides defining the generally circular opening for holding a semiconductor wafer, a lip shaped to fit in the recess formed in and extending across said first major face to cover a semiconductor wafer residing in said generally circular opening; and generally circular grooves on two sides of the carrier on which the carrier is to be moved through the reactor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 141 words
A semiconductor wafer carrier for use in a continuous chemical vapor deposition reactor, comprising: a generally rectangular body of a high temperature material having first and second major faces, said first major face having a recess formed in and extending across said first major face, said body defining a generally circular opening extending from a lower surface defining, in part, said recess through the carrier and opening through the second of said major faces of the carrier, a lip extending from sides defining the generally circular opening for holding a semiconductor wafer, a lip shaped to fit in the recess formed in and extending across said first major face to cover a semiconductor wafer residing in said generally circular opening; and generally circular grooves on two sides of the carrier on which the carrier is to be moved through the reactor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 16 words
The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the carrier is made of silicon carbide coated graphite.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 30 words
The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the lip extending from the sides defining the generally circular opening extend from the sides of the opening adjacent said second major face.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 28 words
The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the surfaces defining generally circular opening have a flat edge region to correspond with a flat edge on a semiconductor wafer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 150 words
A semiconductor wafer carrier for use in a continuous chemical vapor deposition reactor, comprising; a generally rectangular body of a high temperature material, said body having two major surfaces and defining, an opening through the carrier corresponding to the shape of a semiconductor wafer to be mounted in the carrier; means for mounting a semiconductor wafer having a flat orientation edge in said opening through said carrier; means for mounting a semiconductor wafer having a flat orientation edge in said opening through said carrier; a recess in one side of said carrier; a lip extending from sides defining the opening through the carrier for holding a semiconductor wafer; a lid having a shape corresponding to the recess in said carrier for covering and transmitting heat to said semiconductor wafer; and generally circular grooves on two sides of the carrier on which the carrier is to be moved through the reactor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 150 words
A semiconductor wafer carrier for use in a continuous chemical vapor deposition reactor, comprising; a generally rectangular body of a high temperature material, said body having two major surfaces and defining, an opening through the carrier corresponding to the shape of a semiconductor wafer to be mounted in the carrier; means for mounting a semiconductor wafer having a flat orientation edge in said opening through said carrier; means for mounting a semiconductor wafer having a flat orientation edge in said opening through said carrier; a recess in one side of said carrier; a lip extending from sides defining the opening through the carrier for holding a semiconductor wafer; a lid having a shape corresponding to the recess in said carrier for covering and transmitting heat to said semiconductor wafer; and generally circular grooves on two sides of the carrier on which the carrier is to be moved through the reactor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 17 words
The carrier according to claim 5, wherein the carrier is made of graphite coated with silicon carbide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 30 words
The carrier according to claim 5, wherein the lip extending from the sides defining the generally circular opening extends from the sides of the opening adjacent said second major face.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 25 words
The carrier according to claim 5, wherein surfaces defining the generally circular opening in the carriage have a flat edge region partially defining the opening.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 21 words
The carrier according to claim 5, wherein the lid and carrier have matching tapers to facilitate lid alignment on the carrier.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 34 words
The carrier according to claim 5, wherein the lid and carrier have rounded corners to prevent stress due to the heating of the lid and carrier during processing of the semiconductor device during processing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 149 words
A semiconductor wafer carrier, having an under side and an upper side, for use in a continuous chemical vapor deposition reactor, comprising: a generally rectangular body of a high temperature material having two major faces; an opening through the carrier corresponding to the shape of a semiconductor wafer to be mounted in the carrier; means for mounting a semiconductor wafer having a flat orientation edge in said opening through said carrier; a recess in the upper side of said carrier; a lip extending from sides defining the opening through the carrier for holding a semiconductor wafer; a lid having a shape corresponding to the recess in the upper side of said carrier for covering and transmitting heat to said semiconductor wafer, said lid and carrier having matching tapers to facilitate lid alignment on the carrier; and said carrier having generally circular grooves extend along two sides of said carrier.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 149 words
A semiconductor wafer carrier, having an under side and an upper side, for use in a continuous chemical vapor deposition reactor, comprising: a generally rectangular body of a high temperature material having two major faces; an opening through the carrier corresponding to the shape of a semiconductor wafer to be mounted in the carrier; means for mounting a semiconductor wafer having a flat orientation edge in said opening through said carrier; a recess in the upper side of said carrier; a lip extending from sides defining the opening through the carrier for holding a semiconductor wafer; a lid having a shape corresponding to the recess in the upper side of said carrier for covering and transmitting heat to said semiconductor wafer, said lid and carrier having matching tapers to facilitate lid alignment on the carrier; and said carrier having generally circular grooves extend along two sides of said carrier.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 25 words
The carrier according to claim 11, wherein surfaces defining the generally circular opening in the carriage have a flat edge region partially defining the opening.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 19 words
The carrier according to claim 11, wherein the carrier and lid are made of graphite coated with silicon carbide.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 31 words
The carrier according to claim 13, wherein the lip extending from the sides defining the opening through the carrier extends from the sides of the opening adjacent said second major face.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-08-26 1995-02-25 1995-08-27 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-08-26 1999-02-25 1999-08-27 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-08-26 2003-02-25 2003-08-27 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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