Abstract: A multi-zone heater with a plurality of thermocouples such that different heater zones can be monitored for temperature independently. The independent thermocouples may have their leads routed out from the shaft of the heater in a channel that is closed with a joining process that results in hermetic seal adapted to withstand both the interior atmosphere of the shaft and the process chemicals in the process chamber. The thermocouple and its leads may be enclosed with a joining process in which a channel cover is brazed to the heater plate with aluminum.

Abstract: An electrostatic chuck includes a ceramic top plate layer made of a beryllium oxide material, a ceramic bottom plate layer made of a beryllium oxide material, a ceramic middle plate layer disposed between the ceramic top plate layer and the ceramic bottom plate layer, an electrode layer disposed between the ceramic top plate layer and the ceramic middle plate layer, and a heater layer disposed between the ceramic middle plate layer and the ceramic bottom plate layer. The electrode layer joins and hermetically seals the ceramic top plate layer to the ceramic middle plate layer, and the heater layer joins and hermetically seals the ceramic middle plate layer to the ceramic bottom plate layer.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electrostatic chuck with multiple chucking electrodes made of ceramic pieces using metallic aluminum as the joining. The aluminum may be placed between two pieces and the assembly may be heated in the range of 770 C to 1200 C. The joining atmosphere may be non-oxygenated. After joining the exclusions in the electrode pattern may be machined by also machining through one of the plate layers. The machined exclusion slots may then be filled with epoxy or other material. An electrostatic chuck or other structure manufactured according to such methods.

Abstract: A multi-zone heater with a plurality of thermocouples such that different heater zones can be monitored for temperature independently. The independent thermocouples may have their leads routed out from the shaft of the heater in a channel that is closed with a joining process that results in hermetic seal adapted to withstand both the interior atmosphere of the shaft and the process chemicals in the process chamber. The thermocouple and its leads may be enclosed with a joining process in which a channel cover is brazed to the heater plate with aluminum.

Abstract: A multi-zone heater with a plurality of thermocouples such that different heater zones can be monitored for temperature independently. The independent thermocouples may have their leads routed out from the shaft of the heater in a channel that is closed with a joining process that results in hermetic seal adapted to withstand both the interior atmosphere of the shaft and the process chemicals in the process chamber. The thermocouple and its leads may be enclosed with a joining process in which a channel cover is brazed to the heater plate with aluminum.

Abstract: An electrical termination unit or feedthrough which may be used for routing electrical conductors through a chamber wall, or otherwise across a barrier between isolated atmospheric conditions. The electrical termination unit may have aluminum as the interface material to the chamber interface and may utilize a ceramic insulator. The electrical termination unit may have the aluminum used as the interface brazed directly to a ceramic surface of the insulator. The aluminum that forms the chamber interface may be formed within a hollow ceramic tube in the same process step that brazes the aluminum to the ceramic tube with a hermetic joint. Machining subsequent to the brazing of the aluminum to the ceramic insulator may allow for achievement of the final form desired. A method for manufacturing such an electrical termination unit.

Abstract: A method for the joining of ceramic pieces with a hermetically sealed joint comprising brazing a layer of joining material between the two pieces. The wetting and flow of the joining material is controlled by the selection of the joining material, the joining temperature, the joining atmosphere, and other factors. The ceramic pieces may be on a non-diffusable type, such as aluminum nitride, alumina, beryllium oxide, and zirconia, and the pieces may be brazed with an aluminum alloy under controlled atmosphere. The joint material is adapted to later withstand both the environments within a process chamber during substrate processing, and the oxygenated atmosphere which may be seen within the shaft of a heater or electrostatic chuck.

Abstract: An electrical termination unit or feedthrough which may be used for routing electrical conductors through a chamber wall, or otherwise across a barrier between isolated atmospheric conditions. The electrical termination unit may have aluminum as the interface material to the chamber interface and may utilize a ceramic insulator. The electrical termination unit may have the aluminum used as the interface brazed directly to a ceramic surface of the insulator. The aluminum that forms the chamber interface may be formed within a hollow ceramic tube in the same process step that brazes the aluminum to the ceramic tube with a hermetic joint. Machining subsequent to the brazing of the aluminum to the ceramic insulator may allow for achievement of the final form desired. A method for manufacturing such an electrical termination unit.

Abstract: A method for the joining of ceramic pieces into an assembly adapted to be used in semiconductor processing. The joined pieces are adapted to withstand the environments within a process chamber during substrate processing, chamber cleaning processes, and the oxygenated atmosphere which may be seen within the shaft of a heater or electrostatic chuck. The ceramic pieces may be aluminum nitride and the pieces may be brazed with aluminum. The joint material is adapted to withstand both the environments within a process chamber during substrate processing, and the oxygenated atmosphere which may be seen within the shaft of a heater or electrostatic chuck. The joint is adapted to provide a hermetic seal across the joint. The joined pieces are adapted to be separated at a later time should rework or replacement of one of the pieces be desired.

Abstract: A method for the joining of ceramic pieces into an assembly adapted to be used in semiconductor processing. The joined pieces are adapted to withstand the environments within a process chamber during substrate processing, chamber cleaning processes, and the oxygenated atmosphere which may be seen within the shaft of a heater or electrostatic chuck. The ceramic pieces may be aluminum nitride and the pieces may be brazed with aluminum. The joint material is adapted to withstand both the environments within a process chamber during substrate processing, and the oxygenated atmosphere which may be seen within the shaft of a heater or electrostatic chuck. The joint is adapted to provide a hermetic seal across the joint. The joined pieces are adapted to be separated at a later time should rework or replacement of one of the pieces be desired.

Abstract: A method for the joining of ceramic pieces with a hermetically sealed joint comprising brazing a layer of joining material between the two pieces. The wetting and flow of the joining material is controlled by the selection of the joining material, the joining temperature, the joining atmosphere, and other factors. The ceramic pieces may be aluminum nitride and the pieces may be brazed with an aluminum alloy under controlled atmosphere. The joint material is adapted to later withstand both the environments within a process chamber during substrate processing, and the oxygenated atmosphere which may be seen within the shaft of a heater or electrostatic chuck.

Abstract: A method for the joining of ceramic pieces with a hermetically sealed joint comprising brazing a layer of joining material between the two pieces. The wetting and flow of the joining material is controlled by the selection of the joining material, the joining temperature, the joining atmosphere, and other factors. The ceramic pieces may be on a non-diffusable type, such as aluminum nitride, alumina, beryllium oxide, and zirconia, and the pieces may be brazed with an aluminum alloy under controlled atmosphere. The joint material is adapted to later withstand both the environments within a process chamber during substrate processing, and the oxygenated atmosphere which may be seen within the shaft of a heater or electrostatic chuck.

Abstract: An electrical termination unit or feedthrough which may be used for routing electrical conductors through a chamber wall, or otherwise across a barrier between isolated atmospheric conditions. The electrical termination unit may have aluminum as the interface material to the chamber interface and may utilize a ceramic insulator. The electrical termination unit may have the aluminum used as the interface brazed directly to a ceramic surface of the insulator. The aluminum that forms the chamber interface may be formed within a hollow ceramic tube in the same process step that brazes the aluminum to the ceramic tube with a hermetic joint. Machining subsequent to the brazing of the aluminum to the ceramic insulator may allow for achievement of the final form desired. A method for manufacturing such an electrical termination unit.

Abstract: A method for the joining of ceramic pieces with a hermetically sealed joint comprising brazing a layer of joining material between the two pieces. The wetting and flow of the joining material is controlled by the selection of the joining material, the joining temperature, the joining atmosphere, and other factors. The ceramic pieces may be on a non-diffusable type, such as aluminum nitride, alumina, beryllium oxide, and zirconia, and the pieces may be brazed with an aluminum alloy under controlled atmosphere. The joint material is adapted to later withstand both the environments within a process chamber during substrate processing, and the oxygenated atmosphere which may be seen within the shaft of a heater or electrostatic chuck.

Abstract: A composite assembly of a relatively inexpensive ceramic, such as alumina, with a skin, or covering, of a high wear ceramic, such as sapphire, adapted to be used in semiconductor processing environments subjected to high levels of corrosion and/or erosion. The design life of the composite assembly may be significantly longer than previously used components. The composite assembly may have its ceramic pieces joined together with aluminum, such that the joint is not vulnerable to corrosive aspects to which the composite assembly may be exposed.

Abstract: A method for the joining of ceramic pieces with a hermetically sealed joint comprising brazing a continuous layer of joining material between the two pieces. The wetting and flow of the joining material is controlled by the selection of the joining material, the joining temperature, the time at temperature, the joining atmosphere, and other factors. The ceramic pieces may be aluminum nitride and the pieces may be brazed with an aluminum alloy under controlled atmosphere. The joint material is adapted to later withstand both the environments within a process chamber during substrate processing, and the oxygenated atmosphere which may be seen within the shaft of a heater or electrostatic chuck.

Abstract: A composite assembly of a relatively inexpensive ceramic, such as alumina, with a skin, or covering, of a high wear ceramic, such as sapphire, adapted to be used in industrial environments subjected to high levels of corrosion and/or erosion. The design life of the composite assembly may be significantly longer than previously used components. The composite assembly may have its ceramic pieces joined together with aluminum, such that the joint is not vulnerable to corrosive aspects to which the composite assembly may be exposed.

Abstract: A method for the joining of ceramic pieces into an assembly adapted to be used in semiconductor processing. The joined pieces are adapted to withstand the environments within a process chamber during substrate processing, chamber cleaning processes, and the oxygenated atmosphere which may be seen within the shaft of a heater or electrostatic chuck. The ceramic pieces may be aluminum nitride and the pieces may be brazed with aluminum. The joint material is adapted to withstand both the environments within a process chamber during substrate processing, and the oxygenated atmosphere which may be seen within the shaft of a heater or electrostatic chuck. The joint is adapted to provide a hermetic seal across the joint. The joined pieces are adapted to be separated at a later time should rework or replacement of one of the pieces be desired.

Abstract: A multi-zone heater with a plurality of thermocouples such that different heater zones can be monitored for temperature independently. The independent thermocouples may have their leads routed out from the shaft of the heater in a channel that is closed with a joining process that results in hermetic seal adapted to withstand both the interior atmosphere of the shaft and the process chemicals in the process chamber. The thermocouple and its leads may be enclosed with a joining process in which a channel cover is brazed to the heater plate with aluminum.

Abstract: A multi-zone heater with a plurality of thermocouples such that different heater zones can be monitored for temperature independently. The independent thermocouples may have their leads routed out from the shaft of the heater in a channel that is closed with a joining process that results in hermetic seal adapted to withstand both the interior atmosphere of the shaft and the process chemicals in the process chamber. The thermocouple and its leads may be enclosed with a joining process in which a channel cover is brazed to the heater plate with aluminum.