Patent · US Expired

High-pressure processing chamber for a semiconductor wafer

US7077917B2 · kind B2 · utility

6Cited by
226References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 10, 2003
Grant dateJul 18, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 4, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S134/902
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A processing chamber having an improved sealing means is disclosed. The processing chamber comprises a lower element, an upper element, and a sealing means that tightly holds the lower element to the upper element to define a processing volume that is maintained using the minimum pressure necessary. The processing chamber comprises a plate having a first face that forms the processing volume and a second, opposing face that forms a seal-energizing cavity. In one embodiment, a surface area of the first face is smaller than a surface area of the second face. When the same pressure is applied against both the first face and the second face, the force on the second face is greater than the force on the first face, resulting in a sealing force exceeding a processing force generated within the processing volume.

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