Patent · US Expired

System for measuring the temperature of a semiconductor wafer during thermal processing

US6204484A · kind A · utility

39Cited by
25References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 31, 1998
Grant dateMar 20, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 31, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/67115
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

An apparatus for heat treating semiconductor wafers is disclosed. In accordance with the present invention, the apparatus includes a temperature measuring system for determining the temperature of semiconductor wafers being heated within the apparatus. The temperature measurement system includes a shield member made from, for instance, ceramic which is placed adjacent to the semiconductor wafer being heated. A temperature measuring device, such as a thermocouple, is placed in association with the shield member. As the wafer is heated, the temperature of the shield member is monitored. Based on a predetermined calibration curve, by knowing the temperature of the shield member, the temperature of the semiconductor wafer can be estimated with reasonable accuracy.

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