Patent · US Active

Load lock design for rapid wafer heating

US7960297B1 · kind B1 · utility

28Cited by
35References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 7, 2006
Grant dateJun 14, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 20, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/67248
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A semiconductor processing tool heats wafers using radiant heat and resistive heat in chamber or in a load lock where pressure changes. The wafers are heated in greater part with a resistive heat source until a transition temperature or pressure is reached, then they are heated in greater part with a radiant heat source. Throughput improves for the tool because of the wafers can reach a high temperature uniformly in seconds.

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