Patent · US Expired

Wafer holder

US6242718A · kind A · utility

26Cited by
2References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 4, 1999
Grant dateJun 5, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 4, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S414/135
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A Bernoulli wand type semiconductor wafer pickup device that is adapted to regulate the temperature of a wafer while the wafer is being repositioned within a semiconductor processing system. In one embodiment, the device is comprised of a resistive heating element that is adapted to raise the temperature of the pickup device. In particular, by raising the temperature of the pickup device, a portion of the thermal radiation emitted from the device is absorbed by the wafer, thus providing a means for regulating the wafer temperature. In another embodiment, the device is adapted with the characteristics of a black body absorber so as to enable the device to optimally absorb thermal radiation from external radiant sources, thereby providing a means for increasing the temperature of the device. In another embodiment, the device is coated with reflective material that enables a large portion of thermal radiation emitted from the wafer to be reflected and absorbed back into the wafer. In another embodiment, the preexisting gas system of the pickup device is adapted with a gas beating device that is adapted to raise the temperature of the gas so as to regulate the temperature of the wafer.

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