Patent · US Expired

Heating device for semiconductor wafers

US5930456A · kind A · utility

52Cited by
189References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 14, 1998
Grant dateJul 27, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 14, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH05B3/0047
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus for heat treating semiconductor wafers is disclosed. The apparatus includes a heating device which contains an assembly of light energy sources for emitting light energy onto a wafer. In particular, the light energy sources are positioned such that many different radial heating zones are created on a wafer being heated. For instance, in one embodiment, the light energy sources form a spiral configuration. In an alternative embodiment, the light energy sources appear to be randomly dispersed with respect to each other so that no discernable pattern is present. In a third alternative embodiment of the present invention, the light energy sources form concentric rings. Tuning light sources are then placed in between the concentric rings of light.

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