Patent · US Expired

Rapid thermal processing apparatus for processing semiconductor wafers

US6310327A · kind A · utility

44Cited by
69References
29Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 18, 2000
Grant dateOct 30, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 18, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH05B3/0047
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A novel rapid thermal process (RTP) reactor processes a multiplicity of wafers or a single large wafer, e.g., 200 mm (8 inches), 250 mm (10 inches), 300 mm (12 inches) diameter wafers, using either a single or dual heat source. The wafers or wafer are mounted on a rotatable susceptor supported by a susceptor support. A susceptor position control rotates the wafers during processing and raises and lowers the susceptor to various positions for loading and processing of wafers. A heat controller controls either a single heat source or a dual heat source that heats the wafers to a substantially uniform temperature during processing. A gas flow controller regulates flow of gases into the reaction chamber. Instead of the second heat source, a passive heat distribution is used, in one embodiment, to achieve a substantially uniform temperature throughout the wafers. Further, a novel susceptor is used that includes a silicon carbide cloth enclosed in quartz.

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