Showerhead mounting to accommodate thermal expansion
US7722925B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 23, 2005 |
| Grant date | May 25, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 6, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01J37/32522
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for accommodating thermal expansion of a showerhead. In a first aspect of the invention, the showerhead is movably supported by resting a rim of the showerhead on a support shelf. In a second aspect, the showerhead is suspended from the chamber wall by a plurality of hangers that are connected to the showerhead, the chamber wall, or both by pins that slide within slots so as to permit the hangers to slide radially to accommodate thermal expansion of the showerhead in the radial direction. In a third aspect, the showerhead is suspended from the wall of the vacuum chamber by a plurality of rods or flexible wires. In a fourth aspect, the showerhead is connected near its perimeter to a second material having a greater thermal expansion coefficient than the showerhead. In a fifth aspect, a heater is mounted behind the showerhead to reduce the temperature differential between the top and bottom surfaces of the showerhead or to reduce heat transfer from the workpiece to the showerhead.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.