Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for aligning a wafer

US6436192B1 · kind B1 · utility

11Cited by
7References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 11, 2000
Grant dateAug 20, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 22, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/68
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A method for aligning a wafer on a support member within a vacuum chamber includes increasing the pressure within the vacuum chamber to at least about 1 Torr before aligning the wafer. The wafer is introduced into the vacuum chamber on the support member, the pressure is increased to at least about one Torr, and the support member is lifted into a shadow ring that has a frustoconical inner cavity constructed to funnel the wafer to a centered, aligned position.

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