Heating system for high throughput sputtering
US5972184A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 9, 1993 |
| Grant date | Oct 26, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 9, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P90/02
- WIPO fieldSemiconductors
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A high throughput sputtering apparatus which provides a single or multi-layer coating to the surface of a plurality of substrates. The apparatus comprises a plurality of buffer and sputtering chambers which include an input end and an output end. The substrates are transported through the chambers at varying rates of speed such that the rate of speed of a pallet from the input end to the output end is a constant for each of the pallets. The high throughput sputtering apparatus also includes a transport system which transports the substrates through the sputtering chambers at variable velocities, a high capacity vacuum pump system which evacuates the ambient pressure within the sputtering chambers to a vacuum level within a pressure range sufficient to enable sputtering operation, a substrate heating system which heats the substrates to a temperature conducive to sputtering the coatings thereon and provides a substantially uniform temperature profile over the surface of the substrates; and an electronic control system which provides control signals to and for receiving feedback input from other components of the apparatus. The electronic control system is programmable to control the…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.