Patent · US Active

Redundant temperature sensor for semiconductor processing chambers

US7993057B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
41References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 20, 2007
Grant dateAug 9, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 15, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/67248
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Systems are provided for measuring temperature in a semiconductor processing chamber. Embodiments provide a multi-junction thermocouple comprising a first junction and a second junction positioned to measure temperature at substantially the same portion of a substrate. A controller may detect failures in the first junction, the second junction, a first wire pair extending from the first junction, or a second wire pair extending from the second junction. The controller desirably responds to a detected failure of the first junction or first wire pair by selecting the second junction and second wire pair. Conversely, the controller desirably responds to a detected failure of the second junction or second wire pair by selecting the first junction and first wire pair. Systems taught herein may permit accurate and substantially uninterrupted temperature measurement despite failure of a junction or wire pair in a thermocouple.

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