Abstract: An apparatus, methods and controllers for electrostatically chucking varied substrate materials are disclosed. Some embodiments of the disclosure provide electrostatic chucks with variable polarity and/or voltage. Some embodiments of the disclosure provide electrostatic chucks able to operate as monopolar and bipolar electrostatic chucks. Some embodiments of the disclosure provide bipolar electrostatic chucks able to compensate for substrate bias and produce approximately equal chucking force at different electrodes.

Abstract: Describes are shutter disks comprising one or more of titanium (Ti), barium (Ba), or cerium (Ce) for physical vapor deposition (PVD) that allows pasting to minimize outgassing and control defects during etching of a substrate. The shutter disks incorporate getter materials that are highly selective to reactive gas molecules, including O2, CO, CO2, and water.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a process chamber for a microwave batch curing process includes: an annular body having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a central opening of the annular body, wherein the inner surface comprises a plurality of angled surfaces defining a first volume; a first lip extending radially outward from the outer surface of the annular body proximate a first end of the annular body; a second lip extending radially outward from the outer surface of the annular body proximate a second end of the annular body; an exhaust disposed between the first lip and the second lip and fluidly coupled to the first volume, wherein the exhaust comprises a plurality of first openings; a plurality of second openings fluidly coupled to the first volume, wherein the plurality of second openings are configured to expose the first volume to microwave energy; and one or more ports fluidly coupled to the first volume.

Abstract: Embodiments of process kits for use in a process chamber are provided herein. In some embodiments, a process kit for use in a process chamber includes a tubular body having a central opening configured to surround a substrate support, wherein sidewalls of the tubular body do not include any through holes; and a top plate coupled to an upper end of the tubular body and substantially covering the central opening, wherein the top plate has a gas inlet and has a diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of the tubular body, and wherein the tubular body extends straight down from the top plate.

Abstract: Embodiments of process kits for use in a process chamber are provided herein. In some embodiments, a process kit for use in a process chamber includes an annular ring configured to surround a substrate support; and an annular lip extending from an upper surface of the annular ring, wherein the annular ring includes a plurality of ring slots extending through the annular ring and disposed at regular intervals along the annular ring, and wherein the annular lip includes a plurality of lip slots extending through the annular lip disposed at regular intervals along the annular lip.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing a substrate are provided herein. The apparatus can include, for example, a microwave energy source configured to provide microwave energy from beneath a substrate support provided in an inner volume of the process chamber; a first microwave reflector positioned on the substrate support above a substrate supporting position of the substrate support; and a second microwave reflector positioned on the substrate support beneath the substrate supporting position, wherein the first microwave reflector and the second microwave reflector are positioned and configured such that microwave energy passes through the second microwave reflector and some of the microwave energy is reflected from a bottom surface of the first microwave reflector back to the substrate during operation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing a substrate are provided. The apparatus, for example, can include a process chamber comprising a chamber body defining a processing volume and having a view port coupled to the chamber body; a substrate support disposed within the processing volume and having a support surface to support a substrate; and an infrared temperature sensor (IRTS) disposed outside the chamber body adjacent the view port to measure a temperature of the substrate when being processed in the processing volume, the IRTS movable relative to the view port for scanning the substrate through the view port.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for curing a substrate or polymer using variable microwave frequency are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of curing a substrate or polymer using variable microwave frequency includes: contacting a substrate or polymer with a plurality of predetermined discontinuous microwave energy bandwidths or a plurality of predetermined discontinuous microwave energy frequencies to cure the substrate or polymer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for increasing voltage breakdown levels of an electrostatic chuck in a process chamber. A soft anodization layer with a thickness of greater than zero and less than approximately 10 microns is formed on an aluminum base of the electrostatic chuck. The soft anodization layer remains thermally elastic in a temperature range of approximately ?50 degrees Celsius to approximately 100 degrees Celsius. An alumina spray coating is then applied on the soft anodization layer. The soft anodization layer provides thermal stress relief between the aluminum base and the alumina spray coating to reduce/eliminate cracking caused by the thermal expansion rate differences between the aluminum base and the alumina spray coating.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a substrate processing chamber are provided herein. In some embodiments, a substrate processing chamber includes a chamber body having sidewalls defining an interior volume having a polygon shape; a selectively sealable elongated opening disposed in an upper portion of the chamber body for transferring one or more substrates into or out of the chamber body; a funnel disposed at a first end of the chamber body, wherein the funnel increases in size along a direction from an outer surface of the chamber body to the interior volume; and a pump port disposed at a second end of the chamber body opposite the funnel.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for detecting a shutter disk assembly in a process chamber using a number of sensors. A first, second, and third sensor in a shutter housing for a shutter disk assembly provide indications of a status of the shutter disk assembly. The indications are used in part to determine the operational status of the shutter disk assembly along with process information from a process controller. The operational status is then used to alter a process of the process chamber when necessary.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a cooling plate for solid state power amplifiers are provided herein. In some embodiments, a cooling plate of a solid state power amplifier includes a body having a rectangular shape, a first sidewall opposite a second sidewall, and a third sidewall opposite a fourth sidewall; a plurality of holes disposed on a first side of the body configured to mount a plurality of heat generating microelectronic components; and a channel having a plurality of segments disposed within the body and extending from a first port disposed on the first sidewall to a second port disposed on the first sidewall.

Abstract: An apparatus for relaying microwave field intensity in a microwave cavity. In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises a microwave transparent substrate with at least one Radio Frequency (RF) detector that is capable of detecting a microwave field and generating a signal associated with a field intensity of the detected microwave field and a transmitter that receives the signal associated with the detected microwave field from the RF detector and transmits or stores information about the detected microwave field intensity. In some embodiments, the apparatus relays the microwave intensity via a wired, wireless, or optical transmitter located in proximity of the RF detector.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring the temperature of epoxy resin in an electronics package are provided herein. In some embodiments, apparatus for encapsulating an electronics package includes: a process chamber having a chamber body enclosing a processing volume; a substrate support having a support surface for receiving and supporting a substrate for forming an electronics package; and a temperature sensor to measure a temperature of an epoxy resin in an electronics package. The temperature sensor includes: an input apparatus including at least a light source disposed outside the chamber body to provide an excitation light energy to a portion of the epoxy resin; and an output apparatus including at least a signal analyzer disposed outside the chamber body to detect fluorescent light energy emitted by the portion of the epoxy resin and determine a temperature of the epoxy resin based on the excitation light energy and the fluorescent light energy.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing a substrate are described herein. A vacuum multi-chamber deposition tool can include a degas chamber with both a heating mechanism and a variable frequency microwave source. The methods described herein use variable frequency microwave radiation to increased quality and speed of the degas process without damaging the various components.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring the temperature of epoxy resin in an electronics package are provided herein. In some embodiments, apparatus for encapsulating an electronics package includes: a process chamber having a chamber body enclosing a processing volume; a substrate support having a support surface for receiving and supporting a substrate for forming an electronics package; and a temperature sensor to measure a temperature of an epoxy resin in an electronics package. The temperature sensor includes: an input apparatus including at least a light source disposed outside the chamber body to provide an excitation light energy to a portion of the epoxy resin; and an output apparatus including at least a signal analyzer disposed outside the chamber body to detect fluorescent light energy emitted by the portion of the epoxy resin and determine a temperature of the epoxy resin based on the excitation light energy and the fluorescent light energy.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling gas flow in a process chamber use reconfigurable gas flow plates. The gas flow plates are configured based on at least one processing parameter in the process chamber and then inserted into the process chamber such that a gas flow into an internal volume of the process chamber is controlled by the gas flow plate. The configuration of the gas flow plate may be based on a type of processing, dimensions of the internal volume of the processing chamber, a number of substrates to be processed in the processing chamber, and other parameters. The gas flow plate may include changeable parameters such as a number of through holes, through hole diameters, orientation of through holes, or a position of through holes relative to spacing between substrates.

Abstract: Substrate processing chambers with integrated shutter garage are provided herein. In some embodiments, a pre-clean substrate processing chamber may include a chamber body, wherein the chamber body includes a first side configured to be attached to mainframe substrate processing tool, and a second side disposed opposite the first side, a substrate support configured to support a substrate when disposed thereon, a shutter disk garage disposed on the second side of the process chamber, and a shutter disk assembly mechanism comprising a rotatable shaft, and a robot shutter arm coupled to the shaft, wherein the robot shutter arm includes a shutter disk assembly support section configured to support a shutter disk assembly, and wherein the shutter disk assembly mechanism is configured to move the robot shutter arm between a storage position within the shutter garage and a processing position within the process chamber over the substrate support.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for substrate processing for lowering contact resistance in at least contact pads of a semiconductor device are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of substrate processing for lowering contact resistance of contact pads includes: circulating a cooling fluid in at least one channel of a pedestal; and exposing a backside of the substrate located on the pedestal to a cooling gas to cool a substrate located on the pedestal to a temperature of less than 70 degrees Celsius. In some embodiments in accordance with the present principles, the method can further include distributing a hydrogen gas or hydrogen gas combination over the substrate.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for supporting substrates are provided herein. In some embodiments, a substrate support for supporting a plurality of substrates includes: a plurality of substrate support elements having a ring shape configured to support a plurality of substrates in a vertically spaced apart relation; and a plurality of substrate lift elements interfacing with the plurality of substrate support elements and configured to simultaneously selectively raise or lower substrates off of or onto respective substrate support elements.