Patent · US Expired

Method of oxidizing work pieces and oxidation system

US6869892B1 · kind B1 · utility

16Cited by
7References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 30, 2004
Grant dateMar 22, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 30, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/02255
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method of oxidizing work pieces according to the present invention comprises the steps of: containing a plurality of work pieces W in a processing vessel 22 which has a predetermined length and is capable forming a vacuum therein, oxidizing surfaces of the work pieces in an atmosphere including active oxygen species and active hydroxyl species which are generated by supplying an oxidative gas and a reductive gas into the processing vessel to interact the gases. The oxidative gas and the reductive gas are respectively supplied into the processing vessel in the longitudinal direction. Parts of the reductive gas are additionally supplied from at least two or more independently controlled gas nozzles located at separate locations in the longitudinal direction of the processing vessel. The gas flow rate through each nozzle is set depending on any combination of the work pieces composed of product wafers, dummy wafers, and monitor wafers in the processing vessel.

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