Patent · US Expired

Reusable wafer support for semiconductor processing

US6187134A · kind A · utility

12Cited by
9References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 9, 1999
Grant dateFeb 13, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 9, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/68721
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A wafer holding device supports a wafer during semiconductor processing. The device has a planar disk member with a raised supporting edge on which the wafer sits. Cooling gas passes through an aperture in the disk member to contact the bottom surface of the wafer. An O-ring, which sits on or near the raised supporting edge, is used to maintain an airtight seal between the wafer and the wafer holding device. Pegs or a ridge on the supporting edge fix the rotational position of the wafer. The wafer is secured to the device using a ring member, with holes for the ridge or pegs, placed on top of the wafer. At the bottom of the disk member is an annular projection that is held by a robotic transfer mechanism during transport into the process chamber. The projection fits processing equipment designed to hold standard-sized wafers.

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