Patent · US Active

Microwave excursion detection for semiconductor processing

US8841629B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
5References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 27, 2012
Grant dateSep 23, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 8, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH05B3/0047
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Devices and methods are provided for monitoring low-level microwave excursions from a UV curing system to determine if equipment is damaged, such as screen tears or improper assembly of UV lampheads. A radio frequency (RF) detector may be used to detect microwaves in a range of about 0.2-5 mW/cm2, wherein the RF detector comprises an antenna with a hoop shaped portion, a circuit board having a diode detector and an amplifier circuit, a housing, and a bracket coupled to the housing that is suitable for coupling the RF detector to the UV curing system. An alarm threshold may also be set, which can be correlated to microwave levels at or below levels that could cause damage to semiconductor devices being processed. A substrate processing system comprising an RF detector is also provided.

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