Patent · US Expired

Dry interface thermal chuck temperature control system for semiconductor wafer testing

US5001423A · kind A · utility

143Cited by
2References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 24, 1990
Grant dateMar 19, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 24, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03F7/70875
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A wafer chuck temperature control system is disclosed for use in a semiconductor wafer testing apparatus. The wafer chuck is divided into a plurality of temperature sensor and cooling element domains corresponding to chip location regions of an overlying undiced wafer being tested. Computer scanning of the sensors determines which domain is the one harboring the heat source (chip under test) and selects the same for connection to a closed loop temperature control feedback servo. Provision also is made for introducing a helium gas interface between the wafer and the chuck by placing annular grooves in the face of the chuck through which the helium flows when the wafer is vacuum-seated against the chuck. A predetermined helium gas flow rate is maintained to preserve vacuum holddown and to optimize the thermal resistance of the wafer-chuck interface.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.