Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for fabricating a split-ring electrostatic chuck comprising: (a) forming a first electrode; (b) forming a second electrode; (c) coating said first electrode and said second electrode with an insulator; (d) joining said first electrode and said second electrode to form a joint, top surface; (e) machining the joint, top surface of said first and said second electrodes to form a single, co-planar, flat, smooth surface; and (f) applying an insulator to said top surface.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for fabricating a split-ring electrostatic chuck comprising: (a) forming a first electrode; (b) forming a second electrode; (c) coating said first electrode and said second electrode with an insulator; (d) joining said first electrode and said second electrode to form a joint, top surface; (e) machining the joint, top surface of said first and said second electrodes to form a single, co-planar, flat, smooth surface; and (f) applying an insulator to said top surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
78 words
A method for fabricating a split-ring electrostatic chuck as claimed in claim 19 wherein the step (a) of forming a first electrode further comprises: (g) providing a single, conducting block; (h) machining a depression having a taper of about ten degrees from normal between a hub portion and a rim portion in said block, said hub and said rim remaining integrally connected about said depression; and (i) machining a gas supply tube vertically disposed in said first electrode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
92 words
A method for fabricating a split-ring electrostatic chuck as claimed in claim 2 wherein the step (b) of forming a second electrode further comprises: (j) providing a single, conducting block; (k) shaping said conducting block into a donut having a substantially circular wall defining a central opening and an outer edge, with a band formed between said circular wall and said outer edge, said band being tapered to correspond to said taper of said depression of said first electrode; and (l) machining a gas supply tube vertically disposed through said second electrode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
87 words
A method for fabricating a split-ring electrostatic chuck as claimed in claim 3 wherein: (a) said joint, top surface of said first and said second electrodes is a substantially circular disc having a radius R, (b) said wall of said second electrode is located at a radius of 1/4 R, and (c) said outer edge of said second electrode is located at a radius of 3/4 R; whereby said joint, top surface of said first and said second electrodes has two, separate, equal electrode areas distributed symmetrically.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
119 words
A method for fabricating a split-ring electrostatic chuck as claimed in claim 3 wherein the step (d) of joining said first electrode and said second electrode further comprises: (m) applying epoxy between the surfaces of said first electrode and said second electrode to be joined; (n) positioning said second electrode within said first electrode, whereby: said band of said second electrode engages said depression of said first electrode, said hub of said first electrode engages said central opening of said second electrode, and said rim of said first electrode surrounds said outer edge of said second electrode; (o) squeezing excess epoxy out from the joints between said first electrode and said second electrode; and (p) removing said excess epoxy.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method for fabricating a split-ring electrostatic chuck as claimed in claim 1 further comprising, before the step (c) of coating said first electrode and said second electrode with an insulator, radiusing the corners of said first electrode and of said second electrode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method for fabricating a split-ring electrostatic chuck as claimed in claim 1 wherein following the step (e) of machining the joint, top surface of said first and said second electrodes to form a single, co-planar, flat, smooth surface the method further comprises forming a network of gas distribution grooves throughout both said first electrode and said second electrode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method for fabricating a split-ring electrostatic chuck as claimed in claim 1 further comprising, before the step (c) of coating said first electrode and said second electrode with an insulator, machining a series of cooling channels in said first electrode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method for fabricating a split-ring electrostatic chuck as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step (e) of machining the joint, top surface of said first and said second electrodes to form a single, co-planar, flat, smooth surface provides a surface having a smoothness of about 16 microinches.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method for fabricating a split-ring electrostatic chuck as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step (e) of machining the joint, top surface of said first and said second electrodes to form a single, co-planar, planar, flat, smooth surface provides a surface having a flatness of less than 0.0002 inches.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method for fabricating a split-ring electrostatic chuck as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step (e) of machining the joint, top surface of said first and said second electrodes to form a single, co-planar, flat, smooth surface excludes grinding.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method for fabricating a split-ring electrostatic chuck as claimed in claim 1 wherein the joint, top surface of said first and said second electrodes has two, separate, equal electrode areas distributed symmetrically.