Patent · US Expired

Magnetically-levitated rotor system for an RTP chamber

US6157106A · kind A · utility

49Cited by
8References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 16, 1997
Grant dateDec 5, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 16, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/68792
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Accomodations for a magnetically levitated rotating system in an RTP chamber are provided. The system includes a magnetically permeable rotor; a cylindrical thin wall concentric with and surrounding the rotor; and a magnetic stator assembly adjacent the cylindrical thin wall. The radial distance between the rotor and the magnetic stator assembly is small enough that a magnetic field created by the stator assembly magnetically levitates the rotor but is great enough that the rotor does not physically contact the thin wall upon thermal expansion. The system is such that the relative positions of a plurality of sensors which determine the position of a rotating frame is maintained upon dismantling. Thermal isolation of the area including the rotor is accomplished from the reactive gases in a processing area of the RTP chamber. The rotor may be cooled by a number of cooling chambers formed within the chamber.

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