Muffle-type Enclosure Patents (Class 219/390)
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Patent number: 8062471Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and a method for heating fluid in a proximity head. A fluid source supplies fluid to a channel within the proximity head. The fluid flows in the channel, through the proximity head, to an outlet port located on a bottom surface of the proximity head. Further, within the proximity head is a heating portion that heats the fluid. Various methods can heat the fluid in the heating portion. For example, the fluid can be heated via resistive heating and heat exchange. However, any mechanism for heating fluid in the proximity head is possible. After heating the fluid, the proximity head delivers the heated fluid through the outlet port to a surface of a semiconductor wafer. An inlet port proximately disposed near the outlet port vacuums the heated fluid to remove the heated fluid from the surface of the semiconductor wafer.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2004Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: LAM Research CorporationInventors: Katrina Mikhaylichenko, John deLarios
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Patent number: 8030599Abstract: Provided are a substrate processing apparatus, a heating device, and a semiconductor device manufacturing method. The substrate processing apparatus comprises a process chamber configured to process a substrate. A heating element is installed at a peripheral side of the process chamber. An annular inner wall is installed at a peripheral side of the heating element. An annular outer wall is installed at a peripheral side of the inner wall with a space being formed therebetween. An annular cooling member is installed at the space for cooling. An actuating mechanism moves the cooling member between a contacting position where the cooling member makes contact with at least one of the inner wall and the outer wall and a non-contacting position where the cooling member does not make contact with any one of the inner wall and the outer wall. A control unit controls at least the actuating mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2009Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric, Inc.Inventor: Masakazu Shimada
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Patent number: 8008602Abstract: An electrostatic chuck heater is provided including a base which is formed by applying conductive paste containing a binder to upper and lower surfaces of an alumina sintered body to print an electrostatic electrode and heater electrode, calcining the alumina sintered body, arranging alumina powder above the electrostatic electrode and alumina powder below the heater electrode, and pressing the alumina powder and alumina sintered body in the above state for pressure sintering. The diffusion area ratio of the conductive material near the electrostatic electrode in the dielectric layer is set to not more than 0.25%.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2007Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventors: Yutaka Mori, Akiyoshi Hattori, Takeru Torigoe
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Patent number: 8003920Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus of which through holes in a mounting stage can be properly sealed. A substrate processing apparatus comprises a plate-like mounting stage having a plurality of first through holes, a base member including a plurality of second through holes that have female thread portions, a plurality of pin-shaped members being passed through and fitted into the first and second through holes and including flange portions, a plurality of sealing surfaces, and a plurality of sealing members disposed such as to enclose openings of the first through holes. One ends of the pin-shaped members project out from the sealing surfaces, and the other ends have male thread portions capable of engaging with female thread portions of the base member. When the base member moves away from the mounting stage, an end of each of the female thread portions comes into abutment with an end of each of the male thread portions.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2008Date of Patent: August 23, 2011Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Daisuke Hayashi, Morihiro Takanashi
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Patent number: 8003918Abstract: The present invention provides a vertical heat treatment boat that has at least four or more support portions per processing target substrate to be supported, the support portions horizontally supporting the processing target substrate, support auxiliary members on which the processing target substrate is mounted being detachably attached to the four or more support portions, respectively, wherein flatness obtained from all surfaces of the respective support auxiliary members on which the processing target substrate is mounted is adjusted by adjusting thicknesses of the support auxiliary members or interposing spacers between the support portions and the support auxiliary members in accordance with respective shapes of the four or more support portions.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2008Date of Patent: August 23, 2011Assignee: Shin-Etsu Handotai Co., Ltd.Inventor: Takeshi Kobayashi
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Patent number: 8003919Abstract: A heat-treating plate has support elements projecting from an upper surface thereof. The support elements are located at apexes of equilateral triangles arranged regularly and continually. The heat-treating plate and a substrate placed on the support elements form a minute space therebetween which is sealed by a sealer. The substrate is sucked by reducing the pressure in the minute space to a negative pressure through exhaust bores. Since all the distances between adjoining support elements are equal, the substrate sags in the same amount between these support elements. With such arrangement of the support elements, sagging of the substrate is inhibited efficiently by a reduced number of support elements.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2006Date of Patent: August 23, 2011Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shigehiro Goto, Keiji Matsuchika, Akira Yamaguchi, Akihiko Morita
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Patent number: 7999210Abstract: A heating device for manufacturing semiconductor capable of uniformly heating a wafer or other materials to be treated, and in particular a heating device in a coater-developer used for heat-hardening of resin film for photolithography and for heat-calcining of low-dielectric constant insulating film, is provided. A device of this invention comprises a ceramic holder 1 having a resistive heating element 2 embedded therein, which holds and heats a wafer 6 or another material to be treated; a cylindrical support member 4 which supports the ceramic holder 1; and a chamber 5 which houses these. The support member 4 and ceramic holder 1 are not hermetically sealed, or alternatively the atmospheres within the cylindrical support member 4 and within the chamber 5 are maintained to be substantially the same by adjusting the introduction and evacuation of gas.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2003Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Akira Kuibira, Masuhiro Natsuhara, Hirohiko Nakata
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Patent number: 8000587Abstract: Pulsed processing methods and systems for heating objects such as semiconductor substrates feature process control for multi-pulse processing of a single substrate, or single or multi-pulse processing of different substrates having different physical properties. Heat is applied a controllable way to the object during a background heating mode, thereby selectively heating the object to at least generally produce a temperature rise throughout the object during background heating. A first surface of the object is heated in a pulsed heating mode by subjecting it to at least a first pulse of energy. Background heating is controlled in timed relation to the first pulse. A first temperature response of the object to the first energy pulse may be sensed and used to establish at least a second set of pulse parameters for at least a second energy pulse to at least partially produce a target condition.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2007Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: Mattson Technology, Inc.Inventors: Paul J. Timans, Narasimha Acharya
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Patent number: 7985945Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus and method for reducing noises in temperature measurement during thermal processing. One embodiment of the present invention provides a chamber for processing a substrate comprising a chamber enclosure defining a processing volume, an energy source configured to direct radiant energy toward the processing volume, a spectral device configured to treat the radiant energy directed from the energy source towards the processing volume, a substrate support disposed in the processing volume and configured to support the substrate during processing, and a sensor assembly configured to measure temperature of the substrate being processed by sensing radiation from the substrate within a selected spectrum.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2008Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Blake Koelmel, Joseph Michael Ranish, Aaron Hunter
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Patent number: 7981218Abstract: A substrate supporting mechanism includes a function for heating a substrate placed thereon in a process container of a substrate processing apparatus. The substrate supporting mechanism includes a worktable configured to place the substrate thereon and including a heating element made of silicon carbide and formed in a predetermined pattern; an electric feeder electrode configured to supply electricity to the heating element; and a partition member made of an electrically insulating material and interposed between portions adjacent to each other in the heating element formed in the predetermined pattern.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2007Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventor: Jun Yamashita
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Patent number: 7973266Abstract: In a heat treatment apparatus, a reflector is provided to cover a plurality of flash lamps arranged in an array for emitting a flash of light, and a cooling box is provided over the reflector. The cooling box has a buffer space incorporated therein, and a plurality of jet openings in communication with the buffer space are formed through a bottom surface of the cooling box and the reflector. The plurality of jet openings are positioned just over gaps between the plurality of flash lamps in the lamp array. Nitrogen gas ejected from the plurality of jet openings passes through the gaps between adjacent ones of the flash lamps in the lamp array, and is then blown against a lamp light radiation window. The flash lamps are effectively cooled down by the direct cooling using the nitrogen gas and the decrease in temperature of the lamp light radiation window.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2007Date of Patent: July 5, 2011Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshihiro Nakajima, Jun Watanabe
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Patent number: 7972441Abstract: A method and apparatus for oxidizing materials used in semiconductor integrated circuits, for example, for oxidizing silicon to form a dielectric gate. An ozonator is capable of producing a stream of least 70% ozone. The ozone passes into an RTP chamber through a water-cooled injector projecting into the chamber. Other gases such as hydrogen to increase oxidation rate, diluent gas such as nitrogen or O2, enter the chamber through another inlet. The chamber is maintained at a low pressure below 20 Torr and the substrate is advantageously maintained at a temperature less than 800° C. Alternatively, the oxidation may be performed in an LPCVD chamber including a pedestal heater and a showerhead gas injector in opposition to the pedestal.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2005Date of Patent: July 5, 2011Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Yoshitaka Yokota, Sundar Ramamurthy, Vedapuram Achutharaman, Cory Czarnik, Mehran Behdjat, Christopher Olsen
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Patent number: 7952054Abstract: There is disclosed a heating element 10 comprising: at least a heat-resistant base member 1; a conductive layer 3 having a heater pattern 3a formed on the heat-resistant base member; a protection layer 4 with an insulating property formed on the conductive layer; and a corrosion-resistant layer 4p that is an oxide having an oxygen amount of stoichiometric ratio or less formed on the protection layer. There can be provided a heating element in which a corrosion-resistant layer whose resistivity or hardness is controlled is formed on a protection layer and through which the corrosive gas is difficult to be transmitted even under an environment of a high temperature and a corrosive gas and by which degradation due to corrosion of a conductive layer, particularly, a power-supply-terminal portion can be avoided and additionally which can fulfill a high function as an electrostatic chuck even when having a chuck pattern and which has a long operation life and is capable of being produced at a low cost.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2007Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Noboru Kimura, Yoshihiro Kubota, Waichi Yamamura, Shoji Kano
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Patent number: 7947926Abstract: In a heat treatment method in which a semiconductor wafer is carried into a heat treatment chamber constituted of a heat plate and a cover body covering the heat plate and processed, until the wafer is carried into the heat treatment chamber, an opening and closing operation of the cover body is performed to maintain the accumulated heat temperature of the heat treatment chamber at a prescribed processing temperature.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2007Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Katsuhisa Fujii, Tetsuya Oda, Akihiro Kubo
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Patent number: 7943886Abstract: A heat treatment apparatus capable of ensuring a uniform temperature distribution on a substrate and reducing the generation of a sublimate includes a housing, a mounting table being arranged to move up and down within the housing, and a first heater being provided on the mounting table to heat a substrate placed on the mounting table, a second heater is provided on one side of the housing while an exhaust device is provided on the other side of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2007Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: Tokyo Ohka Kogyo Co., Ltd.Inventor: Futoshi Shimai
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Patent number: 7910860Abstract: A heat exchange apparatus including a heat exchanging portion capable of conforming to the outer surface of a heat exchange target.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2008Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Inventor: Daniel Irvin
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Patent number: 7888622Abstract: A heat-processing furnace comprises: a processing vessel for housing an object to be processed to thermally heat the object to be processed; a cylindrical heat insulating member surrounding the processing vessel; a helical heating resistor disposed along an inner circumferential surface of the heat insulating member; and support members axially disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the heat insulating member, for supporting the heating resistor at predetermined pitches. A plurality of terminal plates are disposed outside the heating resistor at suitable intervals therebetween and attached to the heating resistor, the terminal plates radially passing through the heat insulating member to be extended outside. A plurality of fixing plates are disposed outside the heating resistor at suitable intervals therebetween and attached to the heating resistor, the fixing plates being fixed in the heat insulating member.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2007Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Ken Nakao, Kenichi Yamaga, Makoto Kobayashi
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Patent number: 7850449Abstract: In an embodiment, heat treatment equipment comprises a process tube, an exhaust duct connected to the process tube, and, during operation, exhausting gases present within the process tube. The heat treatment equipment also comprises a hollow pressure control member interposed between the process tube and the exhaust duct, the pressure control member being operatively connected to the process tube and the exhaust duct respectively, and including one or a number of openings. Negative pressure is avoided in the process tube during heat treatment processes so that unwanted gas and impurities cannot enter the process tube from outside.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2007Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jae-Hyun Yang, Yo-Han Ahn, Kun-Hyung Lee, Gui-Young Cho, Hong-Hee Jeong, Mi-Ae Kim
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Patent number: 7847218Abstract: An apparatus for heat treating semiconductor wafers is disclosed. The apparatus includes a heating device which contains an assembly linear lamps for emitting light energy onto a wafer. The linear lamps can be placed in various configurations. In accordance with the present invention, tuning devices which are used to adjust the overall irradiance distribution of the light energy sources are included in the heating device. The tuning devices can be, for instance, are lamps or lasers.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2007Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: Mattson Technology, Inc.Inventor: Paul Janis Timans
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Patent number: 7838801Abstract: A heating apparatus cooling a substrate heated by a hot plate at a cooling position adjacent to the hot plate, capable of achieving a smaller height and reducing an operation time in the apparatus, in which contamination of the substrate by particles or the like is less likely, and the like, are provided. The heating apparatus includes a hot plate for heating a wafer representing a substrate from below, in a heating chamber having a wafer load/unload port. In addition, a wire for transferring the wafer between a cooling position of the substrate adjacent to the load/unload port of the heating chamber (position above a cooling plate) and a position above the hot plate is provided and extends. The wafer is mounted on a gap forming member provided on the wire, and thereafter loaded into the heating chamber.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2007Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Osamu Hirakawa, Masami Akimoto, Shinichi Hayashi
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Patent number: 7838800Abstract: A substrate holder for supporting a substrate in a processing system includes a temperature controlled support base having a first temperature, a substrate support opposing the temperature controlled support base and configured to support the substrate, and one or more heating elements coupled to the substrate support and configured to heat the substrate support to a second temperature above the first temperature. An erosion resistant thermal insulator disposed between the temperature controlled support base and the substrate support, wherein the erosion resistant thermal insulator includes a material composition configured to resist halogen-containing gas corrosion.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2006Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventor: Yuji Tsukamoto
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Patent number: 7820947Abstract: A cooking appliance for cooking a foodstuff over a period of time including a shell having a heating cavity and a heating element to heat the heating cavity. A container is removably positionable within the heating cavity and includes a food cavity for receiving the foodstuff. A temperature probe is removably insertable into the foodstuff and a controller is mounted to the shell. The controller controls operation of the cooking appliance in a probe mode wherein the temperature probe is inserted into the foodstuff and transmits foodstuff temperatures to the controller for controlling the heating of the foodstuff, a program mode wherein the controller actuates the heating element to heat the container at a temperature for a selected amount of time and subsequently at a lower temperature and a manual mode wherein the controller actuates the heating element to heat the container at a selected temperature.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2007Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc.Inventors: Jim Gaynor, Yvonne Olson, Adam Steinman
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Patent number: 7812286Abstract: A method and apparatus for thermally processing a substrate is described. The apparatus includes a substrate support configured to move linearly and/or rotationally by a magnetic drive. The substrate support is also configured to receive a radiant heat source to provide heating region in a portion of the chamber. An active cooling region comprising a cooling plate is disposed opposite the heating region. The substrate may move between the two regions to facilitate rapidly controlled heating and cooling of the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2007Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Khurshed Sorabji, Alexander N. Lerner
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Patent number: 7812285Abstract: A substrate heating apparatus includes a top plate arranged above a hot plate so that a vertical space is formed between the hot plate and the top plate. The top plate has an evacuated internal chamber serving as a vacuum insulating layer that suppresses heat transfer from a first surface of the top plate facing the hot plate to a second surface of the top plate opposite to the first surface. When heating the substrate, a gas flow flowing through the space between the hot plate and the top plate is generated.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2005Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Shinichi Hayashi, Tetsuo Fukuoka, Tetsuya Oda, Hiroaki Inadomi
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Publication number: 20100252547Abstract: An approach for optimizing the thermal budget during a pulsed heating process is disclosed. A heat sink or thermal transfer plate is configured and positioned near an object, such as a semiconductor wafer, undergoing thermal treatment. The heat sink is configured to enhance the thermal transfer rate from the object so that the object is rapidly brought down from the peak temperature after an energy pulse. High thermally-conductive material may be positioned between the plate and the object. The plate may include protrusions, ribs, holes, recesses, and other discontinuities to enhance heat transfer and avoid physical damage to the object during the thermal cycle. Additionally, the optical properties of the plate may be selected to allow for temperature measurements via energy measurements from the plate, or to provide for a different thermal response to the energy pulse. The plate may also allow for pre-heating or active cooling of the wafer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2010Publication date: October 7, 2010Applicant: Mattson Technology, Inc.Inventor: Paul Janis Timans
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Patent number: 7802986Abstract: A thermal processing apparatus for thermally processing a substrate in a processing chamber includes a heating plate for mounting and thermally processing the substrate thereon, and a lid body covering the heating plate from above to constitute a portion of the processing chamber. The lid body has a ceiling plate and a peripheral side portion vertically provided at a peripheral end portion of the ceiling plate. The ceiling plate is provided with a supply port for supplying a gas into the processing chamber, and a side portion of the ceiling plate is provided with a plurality of exhaust ports for exhausting the gas in the processing chamber. An exhaust pipe communicating with the exhaust ports and having an outlet at a point at equal distances from the exhaust ports is provided to be attachable and detachable to/from the lid body.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2006Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Kazuhiko Ooshima, Shigeki Aoki
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Publication number: 20100240224Abstract: A semiconductor furnace suitable for chemical vapor deposition processing of wafers. The furnace includes a thermal reaction chamber having a top, a bottom, a sidewall, and an internal cavity for removably holding a batch of vertically stacked wafers. A heating system is provided that includes a plurality of heaters arranged and operative to heat the chamber. The heating system includes at least one top heater; at least one bottom heater, and a plurality of sidewall heaters spaced along the height of the reaction chamber to control temperature variations within in the chamber and promote uniform film deposit thickness on the wafers.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2009Publication date: September 23, 2010Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufactruing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hsin-Hsien Wu, Chun-Lin Chang, Chi-Ming Yang
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Patent number: 7781945Abstract: A retaining device for use when sintering electrical components made of ceramic and metal electrodes inside the ceramic. The retaining device includes a structure to hold the electrical components. The structure has a surface that contains a sintering aid. The sintering aid includes a material that is able to bind to a gas contained in the structure and to release the gas.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2009Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: Epcos AGInventor: Peter Sedlmaier
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Patent number: 7780439Abstract: Kilns for processing ceramics and methods for using such kilns are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a kiln includes an inner body configured to hold one or more ceramic workpieces for processing. The kiln can also include an outer body at least partially surrounding the inner body and spaced apart from the inner body to define an airflow passageway therebetween. The airflow passageway includes an inlet proximate to an upper portion of the outer body and an outlet proximate to a lower portion of the outer body. The kiln can further include an air mover positioned to move air through the airflow passageway from the inlet toward the outlet. In several embodiments, the kiln can additionally include a lid assembly pivotably coupled to the outer body and configured to sealably close against at least the inner body.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2005Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: Duncan EnterprisesInventors: Ehsan Alipour, Alex Shullman, Eric Schultz, Benjamin T. Mino, Mike Strasser, Thomas King, Clinton N. Slone
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Patent number: 7780438Abstract: Disclosed is a substrate heating apparatus including a hot plate that heats a substrate, and a cooling plate that supports the substrate and moves between a first position (home position) and the second position above the hot plate to transfer wafers between the two positions. A heat-radiating fin structure is connected to the cooling plate to move together with the cooling plate. The fin structure is thermally connected to the cooling plate via heat pipes. A suction port is arranged so as to locate adjacent to the fin structure when the cooling plate is in the home position. The fin structure is cooled by a gas passing therethrough before flown into the suction port, whereby the cooling plate is cooled through heat transfer from the cooling plate to the fin structure through the heat pipes.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2006Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Shinichi Hayashi, Hiroaki Inadomi
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Patent number: 7778533Abstract: During fabrication, a rotating semiconductor substrate is radiated in accordance with a thermal recipe. Temperature measurements of the semiconductor substrate are obtained along with the position of the semiconductor substrate at the time of each temperature measurement. It is then determined for the position of the semiconductor substrate whether at least one particular temperature measurement of the temperature measurements should be filtered. If so, at least one filtered temperature measurement is obtained. The radiation of the semiconductor substrate is subsequently controlled based on the temperature measurements, the at least one filtered temperature measurement, and the thermal recipe.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2002Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Wolfgang R. Aderhold, Balasubramanian Ramachandran, Leonid M. Tertitski, Patrick F. Stone
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Patent number: 7769279Abstract: A processing gas is prevented from entering into a space below a placement table. A supporting surface 62 for supporting the lower face of a placement table 58 is provided at an inner circumferential portion of the upper end of a support 56. A circumferentially extending purge gas groove 64 is formed outside the supporting surface 62, in an intermediate circumferential portion of the upper end of the support 56. A narrow flow path 68 is provided outside the purge gas groove 64, at a position corresponding to an outer circumferential portion of the upper end of the support 56. A purge gas fed from purge gas-feeding means 66 into the purge gas groove diffuses in the circumferential direction in the purge gas groove 64 and flows out to the outside from the narrow flow path 68. Such a flow of the purge gas prevents a processing gas from entering into the purge gas groove 64 and a space S1 below the placement table.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2007Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Sumi Tanaka, Takayuki Kamaishi, Kouki Suzuki
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Patent number: 7763863Abstract: An apparatus capable of improving image quality by making it possible to suck specimens of different sizes electrostatically, and uniformalizing an electric field of a specimen edge portion, while suppressing increase in prime cost is provided. Specimen holding means is an electrostatic chuck, a master flat plane part surrounding a specimen of the largest size of specimen sizes, and an opening surrounding a specimen size except for the largest specimen size are included at an outer peripheral portion of the electrostatic chuck, a dummy specimen attachable to and detachable from the electrostatic chuck is included, and at a time of switching the specimen size, a dummy specimen is selected (or may be prevented from being used).Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2008Date of Patent: July 27, 2010Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies CorporationInventors: Masaki Mizuochi, Shoji Tomida
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Patent number: 7763553Abstract: An auxiliary heating process is performed to set the temperature of the outer peripheral portion of a semiconductor substrate higher than that of the central portion thereof by use of an auxiliary heating source which supplementally heats a region of an area smaller than the area of the main surface of the semiconductor substrate from the rear surface of the main surface thereof, pulse-like flash lamp light or laser light is applied in the auxiliary heated state and the heat treatment is performed by use of the applied energy. The flash lamp light is applied to the main surface of the semiconductor substrate in a pulse form of 0.1 ms to 100 ms.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2008Date of Patent: July 27, 2010Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Takayuki Ito, Kyoichi Suguro
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Patent number: 7758341Abstract: A utility apparatus supplies a liquid to a substrate processing apparatus having a plurality of blocks of heat treatment apparatus groups. A plurality of supply ports supplies the liquid for each vertical block, horizontal block, or heat treatment apparatus. A plurality of recovery ports collects the liquid supplied to each vertical block, horizontal block, or heat treatment apparatus. Detecting mechanisms are provided respectively in the plurality of recovery ports to detect a temperature of the recovered liquid. A control mechanism controls based on detection information of the detecting mechanisms.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2007Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: SNF Solutions, Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kim Dong-Hun
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Patent number: 7759617Abstract: A gas range includes a gas cooktop including a plurality of gas cooktop burners, and an oven coupled to the gas cooktop. The oven includes an oven cavity comprising a top portion, a bottom portion, a rear portion coupled to the top and bottom portions, a first side portion, and a second side portion, the first and second side portions coupled to the top, bottom, and rear portions respectively, at least one gas oven burner positioned proximate to the bottom portion within the oven cavity; and a first electrical heating element positioned proximate the top portion within the oven cavity.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2004Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Howard Richard Bowles, John Mark Smith, Timothy Scott Shaffer, David Joseph Najewicz
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Patent number: 7745762Abstract: An approach for optimizing the thermal budget during a pulsed heating process is disclosed. A heat sink or thermal transfer plate is configured and positioned near an object, such as a semiconductor wafer, undergoing thermal treatment. The heat sink is configured to enhance the thermal transfer rate from the object so that the object is rapidly brought down from the peak temperature after an energy pulse. High thermally-conductive material may be positioned between the plate and the object. The plate may include protrusions, ribs, holes, recesses, and other discontinuities to enhance heat transfer and avoid physical damage to the object during the thermal cycle. Additionally, the optical properties of the plate may be selected to allow for temperature measurements via energy measurements from the plate, or to provide for a different thermal response to the energy pulse. The plate may also allow for pre-heating or active cooling of the wafer.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2006Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Assignee: Mattson Technology, Inc.Inventor: Paul Janis Timans
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Patent number: 7741583Abstract: A method and system for positioning a wafer on a bake plate in a processing module that includes lowering a bake plate cover assembly over the wafer during a baking process, raising the bake plate cover assembly after the baking process, removing the wafer, determining whether the bake plate cover assembly requires cleaning, then either processing another wafer if the cover assembly does not need cleaning or establishing a cleaning process for the bake plate cover assembly if the cover does need cleaning. Automated sensing of the state of the cover assembly may be employed, and cleaning process may be automatically performed in response to the cleaning need determination.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2007Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Mark G. Winkler, Thomas E. Winter
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Patent number: 7737385Abstract: A customizable chamber spectral response is described which can be used at least to tailor chamber performance for wafer heating, wafer cooling, temperature measurement, and stray light. In one aspect, a system is described for processing a treatment object having a given emission spectrum at a treatment object temperature which causes the treatment object to produce a treatment object radiated energy. The chamber responds in a first way to the heating arrangement radiated energy and in a second way to the treatment object radiated energy that is incident thereon. The chamber may respond in the first way by reflecting the majority of the heat source radiated energy and in the second way by absorbing the majority of the treatment object radiated energy. Different portions of the chamber may be treated with selectively reflectivity based on design considerations to achieve objectives with respect to a particular chamber performance parameter.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2006Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: Mattson Technology, Inc.Inventors: Paul J. Timans, Daniel J. Devine, Young Jai Lee, Yao Zhi Hu, Peter C. Bordiga
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Patent number: 7732739Abstract: A degassing from a susceptor heated at a high temperature in a vacuum atmosphere is suppressed. The susceptor is disposed between a heater and a substrate and partitions a space in the chamber into a first chamber space where the heater is placed and a second chambers space where the substrate is placed, and the surface of the susceptor facing the second chamber space is coated with a pyrolytic carbon layer (15) of thickness of 10 ?m to 50 ?m.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2005Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Assignee: Canon Anelva CorporationInventors: Masami Shibagaki, Yasumi Kurematsu
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Patent number: 7723648Abstract: A substrate holder for supporting a substrate in a processing system includes a temperature controlled support base having a first temperature, and a substrate support opposing the temperature controlled support base and configured to support the substrate. Also included is one or more heating elements coupled to the substrate support and configured to heat the substrate support to a second temperature above the first temperature, and a thermal insulator disposed between the temperature controlled support base and the substrate support. The thermal insulator includes a non-uniform spatial variation of the heat transfer coefficient (W/m2-K) through the thermal insulator between the temperature controlled support base and the substrate support.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2006Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Yuji Tsukamoto, Eric J. Strang
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Patent number: 7723649Abstract: A vacuum thermal annealing device is provided having temperature control for use with various materials, such as semiconductor substrates. A vacuum is used to remove air and outgas residual materials. Heated gas is injected planar to a substrate as pressure is quickly raised. Concurrent with the heated gas flow, a chamber wall heater is turned on and maintains a temperature for a proper annealing time. Upon completion of the annealing process, the chamber wall heater shuts down and air is forced around the chamber wall heater. Additionally, cool gas replaces the heated gas to cool the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2007Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: Steed Technology, Inc.Inventor: Harold Chris Guiver
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Patent number: 7718930Abstract: A thermal processing system has a processing vessel 4, a support post 30 stood on the bottom wall of the processing vessel 4, and a support table 32 internally provided with a heating means 38 and supported on the support post 30. A workpiece W is placed on the upper surface of the support table 32 and is subjected to a predetermined thermal process. The upper, the side and the lower surface of the support table 32 are covered with heat-resistant covering members 72, 74 and 76 to prevent the thermal diffusion of metal atoms causative of contamination from the support table 32. thus, various types of contamination, such as metal and organic contamination, can be prevented.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2004Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Hiroo Kawasaki, Teruo Iwata, Manabu Amikura
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Patent number: 7718925Abstract: A heat-treating plate has, arranged on the upper surface thereof, support elements for supporting a substrate, and a first sealer for closing lateral areas of a first space formed between the heat-treating plate and the substrate supported. Further, second sealers ring-shaped in plan view are arranged around openings of perforations accommodating transfer pins. The second sealers close lateral areas of second spaces opposed to the perforations. Gastightness of the first space excluding the second spaces is never impaired through the perforations. By exhausting gas from the first space through exhaust bores, the substrate is effectively sucked for heat treatment.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2006Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shigehiro Goto, Keiji Matsuchika
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Patent number: 7704327Abstract: A method including removing an impurity from a gas stream to a processing chamber at a point of use. An apparatus with a point of use purifier on a gas stream. An apparatus including a shelf having dimensions suitable for placement within a thermal processing including a body of a material that renders the body opaque to radiation frequency range used for a temperature measurement of a substrate in a thermal processing chamber.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2002Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Ann P. Waldhauer, Juan M. Chacin, Brian H. Burrows
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Patent number: 7704898Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and a method for reducing flash in an injection mold (532 or 542,543) which molds a molded article between a first mold surface and a second mold surface. The apparatus includes an active material actuator (530 or 533a and 533b or 561a and 561b) configured to, in response to application or removal of an electrical actuation signal thereto, change dimension and urge the first mold surface relative to the second mold surface to reduce flash therebetween. The apparatus also includes a transmission structure (533) configured to provide in use, the electrical actuation signal to said active material actuator (530 or 533a and 533b or 561a and 561b) includes a set of active material actuators stacked one against the other to provide a varying sealing force to urge the first mold surface relative to the second mold surface.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2004Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignee: Mattson Technology, Inc.Inventors: Zsolt Nenyei, Steffen Frigge, Patrick Schmid, Thorsten Hülsmann, Thomas Theiler
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Patent number: 7700898Abstract: Heat treatment equipment and a method of driving the same are provided. The heat treatment equipment includes: a process tube having an aperture at one side thereof; a sealing unit for opening or closing the aperture; and a pressure sensor for measuring sealing pressure between the sealing unit and the one side of the process tube. In the heat treatment equipment, the aperture of the process tube can be sealed according to the sealing pressure of the sealing unit so that the process tube can be precisely sealed.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2006Date of Patent: April 20, 2010Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Dae-Man Seo, Jang-Hyeok Lee, Dae-Woo Kim
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Publication number: 20100089903Abstract: A cooking appliance, in particular, a cooking appliance which is mounted in an elevated manner, comprising a muffle which defines a cooking chamber and electric and/or electronic components which are arranged inside the door. The electric connection elements are formed by cables, in particular, having strain relief, and at least one part of the cable is received via at least one part of the longitudinal extension thereof in a cable guide, in order to enable a secure cable connection between the electric and/or electronic components in the door and the corresponding connections in the housing, without the cables being guided in an uncontrollable manner in a free chamber of the housing or rub against each other or against additional components inside the housing and as a result become worn.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2006Publication date: April 15, 2010Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERATE GMBHInventors: Ingo Bally, Kerstin Feldmann, Wolfgang Fuchs, Martin Keller, Edmund Kuttalek, Maximilian Neuhauser, Klemens Roch, Wolfgang Schnell, Günter Zschau
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Patent number: 7683291Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a single substrate processing method which continuously heats substrates to be processed to which films containing solvents are applied, by use of a heating apparatus having an opening/closing mechanism, including supplying a gas containing a solvent contained in a film of a first substrate to be processed into the heating apparatus in a closed state of the opening/closing mechanism between processing of the first substrate to be processed and processing of a second substrate to be processed.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2006Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Kei Hayasaki, Tsuyoshi Shibata, Koutarou Sho, Shinichi Ito
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Publication number: 20100065546Abstract: A cooking appliance, in particular, a cooking appliance which is mounted in an elevated manner, which comprises at least one muffle which defines a cooking chamber and which comprises a muffle opening, a door which is used to close the muffle opening and a drive device which is controlled by a control device and which is used to displace the door. Said drive device comprises at least one drive motor which can be moved by the cables which are connected to the door. The cables, which are lay cables, can be displaced by the drive motor in a linear manner.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2006Publication date: March 18, 2010Applicant: BSH Bosch und Siemens hausgerate GmbHInventor: Ingo Bally