Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for low pressure chemical vapor deposition using multiple chambers and vacuum pumps

US5873942A · kind A · utility

530Cited by
17References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 6, 1997
Grant dateFeb 23, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 6, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S438/935
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

An apparatus for low pressure chemical vapor deposition for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises a group of reaction chambers, a group of high-vacuum pumps connected to the reaction chambers, a group of gate valves connected to the high-vacuum pumps, and a low-vacuum pump connected to the gate valves. There are fewer gate valves than high-vacuum pumps. A method for fabricating a semiconductor device using the above apparatus includes the sequence and duration of opening gate valves, injecting reaction gases, and pumping with the low vacuum pump. According to the present invention, since the number of pumps is reduced, the cost for installation, operation and maintenance of the semiconductor device fabrication apparatus is reduced.

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