Patents Assigned to Aixtron AG.
  • Patent number: 7128785
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and to a method for depositing especially crystalline layers from the gas phase onto especially crystalline substrates. The device comprises a heated reaction chamber with a substrate support that receives at least one substrate; one or more heated sources where a gaseous halide is formed by chemical reaction of a halogen, especially HCl, fed to the source together with a substrate gas, and a metal, for example GA, In, Al associated with the source, which is transported through a gas inlet section to a substrate supported by the substrate support; and a hydride supply for supplying a hydride, especially NH3, AsH3 or PH3 into the reaction chamber. A plurality of rotationally driven substrate supports is disposed in an annular arrangement on a substrate support carrier, the sources being disposed in the center of said substrate carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Aixtron AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kaeppeler, Michael Heuken, Rainer Beccard, Gerhard Karl Strauch
  • Patent number: 7078318
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for depositing thick III-V semiconductor layers on a non-III-V substrate, particularly a silicon substrate, by introducing gaseous starting materials into the process chamber of a reactor. The aim of the invention is to carry out the crystalline deposition of thick III-V semiconductor layers on a silicon substrate without the occurrence of unfavorable lattice distortions. To this end, the invention provides that a thin intermediate layer is deposited at a reduced growth temperature between two III-V layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Aixtron AG
    Inventors: Holger Jürgensen, Alois Krost, Armin Dadgar
  • Patent number: 7067012
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for depositing especially, crystalline layers onto one or more, especially, also crystalline substrates in a process chamber using reaction gases which are guided into said process chamber, where they undergo pyrolytic reaction. The device has a heatable support plate wherein at least one substrate holder lies loosely, especially rotationally, with its surface flush with the surroundings. A compensation plate which adjoins the at least one substrate holder, following the contours of the same, is provided on the support plate in order to keep the isothermal profile on the support plate as flat as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Aixtron AG
    Inventors: Holger Jürgensen, Johannes Käppeler, Gerhard Karl Strauch
  • Patent number: 7056388
    Abstract: A reaction chamber for carrying out substrate coating methods is disclosed, having at least one opening in at least one outer wall in which an HF feedthrough is inserted in a pressure or vacuum tight manner. The reaction chamber is further characterized by a combination of the following features: a support plate with coolant channels, and at least one opening for an HF line; an HF line collar in the zone disposed in the reaction chamber, a first seal on the collar; a first disc from an insulating material between a second seal on the support plate and the first seal on the collar; a thread in the zone outside the reaction chamber, a screw element being screwed onto the thread, all configured to prevent an electrical contact between the HF line and the support plate being established or an arc-over between the HF line and the support plate occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Aixtron AG
    Inventors: Walter Franken, Gerd Strauch, Johannes Kappeler, Holger Jurgensen
  • Patent number: 7048802
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for depositing especially crystalline layers on especially crystalline substrates by means of reaction gases fed to a heated process chamber. Said process chamber is formed by the cavity of an especially multi-part graphite tube arranged in a reactor housing that especially comprises quartz walls. Said reactor housing, in the area of the process chamber, is enclosed by a high-frequency coil and the space between the reactor housing wall and the graphite tube is filled with a graphite foam sleeve. In order to improve heat insulation, the graphite foam sleeve is fully slit. The slot is wider than the maximum thermal elongation of the graphite foam sleeve in the peripheral direction to be expected when the device is heated up to process temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Aixtron AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kaeppeler, Frank Wischmeyer, Rune Berge
  • Patent number: 7033921
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for depositing several crystalline semiconductor layers on at least one semiconductor crystalline substrate. According to said method, gaseous parent substances are introduced into a process chamber of a reactor by means of a gas inlet organ, said substances accumulating, optionally after a chemical gas phase and/or surface reaction, on the surface of a semiconductor substrate that is placed on a substrate holder in the process chamber, thus forming the semiconductor layer. Said semiconductor layer and the semiconductor substrate form a crystal consisting of either one or several elements from main group V, elements from main groups III and V, or elements from main groups II and VI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Aixtron AG
    Inventor: Holger Jurgensen
  • Patent number: 6983620
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling the surface temperatures of substrates arranged on substrate supports borne by a substrate support carrier on dynamic gas cushions in a processing chamber of a CVD-reactor. The aim of the invention is to reduce or adjust the temperature variations. According to the invention, an average surface temperature value is calculated, being measured in a particularly optical manner, and the level of the gas cushions is regulated by varying the individually controlled gas flow producing the gas cushions in such a way that the variations of the measured surface temperatures in relation to the average value lies within a predetermined temperature window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Aixtron AG
    Inventor: Johannes Kaeppeler
  • Patent number: 6972050
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for depositing especially, crystalline layers onto especially, crystalline substrates, in a process chamber of a CVD reactor. At least one first and one second reaction gas are each led into a gas outlet area in an input area of the process chamber, by means of separate delivery lines. The gas outlet areas lie one above the other between the floor of the process chamber and the cover of the process chamber and have different heights. The first reaction gas flows out of the gas outlet area that is situated next to the process chamber floor, optionally together with a carrier gas. A carrier gas is added at least to the second reaction gas, which flows out of the gas outlet area lying further away from the process chamber floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Aixtron AG
    Inventors: Michael Bremser, Martin Dauelsberg, Gerhard Karl Strauch
  • Patent number: 6964876
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device comprising a process chamber which is arranged in a reaction housing and which can be heated especially by supplying heat to a substrate holder, comprising a gas inlet for the admission of gaseous starting material, whereby the decomposition products thereof are deposited on a substrate maintained by a substrate holder to form a layer, also comprising at least one sensor acting upon the inside of the process chamber for determining layer properties further comprising an electronic control unit for controlling the heating of the process chamber, mass controllers for controlling the flow of the starting materials and a pump for controlling the pressure of the process chamber, characterized in that the electronic control unit forms modified process parameters from deviation values obtained upon growth of the calibrating layer with the aid of stored calibrating parameters, thereby controlling the heating of the process chamber, the flow controllers and the pump upon growth of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Aixtron AG
    Inventor: Michael Heuken
  • Patent number: 6962624
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for depositing especially, organic layers. In a heated reactor, a non-gaseous starting material that is stored in a source in the form of a container is transported from said source to a substrate by a carrier gas in gaseous form and is deposited on said substrate. The rate of production of the gaseous starting material by the source is unpredictable due to a heat input that cannot be regulated in a reproducible manner and due to cooling resulting from the carrier gas. The invention therefore provides that the preheated carrier gas washes through the starting material from bottom to top, the starting material being kept essentially isothermal in relation to the carrier gas by the heated container walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Aixtron AG
    Inventors: Holger Jürgensen, Gerhard Karl Strauch, Markus Schwambera
  • Patent number: 6932866
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for depositing especially crystalline layers on especially crystalline substrates in a process chamber of a reactor housing having a water-cooled wall. The floor of said process chamber is heated. At least one reaction gas as a process gas, and hydrogen as a carrier gas, are centrally introduced into the process chamber, and are extracted by a gas evacuation ring surrounding the process chamber. A flush gas flows between the cover of the reactor and the cover of the process chamber. Said flush gas and the flush gas which flushes the area between the reactor wall and the gas evacuation ring are introduced into the outer region of the process chamber, via a gap between the cover of the reactor and the gas evacuation ring which can be lowered for loading the process chamber, in order to be sucked through the openings in the gas evacuation ring with the process gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Aixtron AG
    Inventor: Martin Dauelsberg
  • Patent number: 6908838
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device for treating semiconductor substrates. In conventional systems, the especially uncoated semiconductor substrates are fed to a treatment device through a charging sluice, said charging sluice adjoining a transfer chamber. A plurality of treatment chambers can be charged with the semiconductor substrates to be treated from said transfer chamber by first evacuating the transfer chamber and the treatment chamber and then opening the connecting door between the transfer chamber and the treatment chamber. The aim of the invention is to improve this system. To this end, at least one of the treatment chambers is operated at a low pressure or atmospheric pressure and the transfer chamber is flooded with an inert gas before the connecting door associated with the treatment chamber is opened, while a predetermined pressure difference between the transfer chamber and the treatment chamber is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Aixtron AG
    Inventor: Piotr Strzyzewski
  • Patent number: 6905548
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the deposition of in particular, crystalline layers on one or several, in particular, equally crystalline substrates, comprising a process chamber, arranged in a reactor housing, which may be charged with the substrates from above, by a reactor housing opening which may be sealed by a cover. The reactor housing opening opens out into a glove box, in particular flushed with highly pure gas and connects electricity, liquid or gas supply lines to the cover. According to the invention, the connection of supply lines for electricity, fluid or gas sources arranged outside the glove box to the cover of the reactor housing arranged within the glove box may be improved, whereby the electricity, fluid or gas supply lines run freely, from outside the glove box, through a flexible tube which is sealed atone end to a flange arrangement rigidly fixed to the cover and sealed at the other end to an opening in the glove box wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Aixtron AG
    Inventors: Holger Jürgensen, Gerhard Karl Strauch, Johannes Käppeler
  • Patent number: 6899764
    Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition reactor having a process chamber accommodating a substrate holder for wafers, a first gas flow of reactive gases to process the wafers and a crown-shaped gas-collector surrounding the substrate-holder, wherein said reactor further comprises: a base plate and a cover plate disposed respectively beneath and above the substrate-holder, an outer ring surrounding the gas-collector and touching both the base plate and the cover-plate, and a second flow of non-reactive gases propagating in spaces outside the process chamber limited by the base and cover plates and the outer ring, and said second flow acting as a counter-flow for preventing the first reactive gas flow to exit from the process chamber but through the gas-collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Aixtron AG
    Inventor: Peter Frijlink
  • Patent number: 6878395
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling the surface temperatures of substrates arranged on substrate supports borne by a substrate support carrier on dynamic gas cushions in a processing chamber of a CVD-reactor. The aim of the invention is to reduce or adjust the temperature variations. According to the invention, an average surface temperature value is calculated, being measured in a particularly optical manner, and the level of the gas cushions is regulated by varying the individually controlled gas flow producing the gas cushions in such a way that the variations of the measured surface temperatures in relation to the average value lies within a predetermined temperature window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Aixtron AG,
    Inventor: Johannes Kaeppeler
  • Patent number: 6849241
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for depositing one or more layers onto at least one substrate placed inside a reaction chamber. The layers are deposited while using a liquid or solid starting material for one of the reaction gases utilized, which are fed via a gas admission unit to the reaction chamber where they condense or epitaxially grow on the substrate. The gas admission unit comprises a multitude of buffer volumes in which the reaction gasses enter separate of one another, and exit through closely arranged outlet openings while also being spatially separate of one another. The temperature of reaction gases is moderated while passing through the gas admission unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Aixtron AG.
    Inventors: Martin Dauelsberg, Marcus Schumacher, Holger Juergensen, Gerd Strauch, Piotr Strzyzewski
  • Patent number: 6811614
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for depositing layers, particularly crystalline layers, onto substrates. Said device comprises a process chamber arranged in a reactor housing where the floor thereof, comprises at least one substrate holder which is rotatably driven by a gas flow flowing in a feed pipe associated with said floor. Said substrate holder is disposed in a bearing cavity on a gas cushion and held in place thereby. The aim of the invention is to technologically improve the design of a substrate holder which is rotatably mounted in a gas flow, particularly in a linear cross-flowing process chamber. Said bearing cavity is associated with a tray-shaped element arranged below the outflow of the feed pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Aixtron AG
    Inventors: Johannes Käppeler, Frank Wischmeyer, Rune Berge
  • Patent number: 6786973
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device for carrying out the method for depositing, in particular, crystalline layers on substrates that are also, in particular, crystalline. According to the invention, at least two process gases are introduced separate from one another into a process chamber of a reactor, whereby the first process gas flows through a central line having a central outlet opening, and the second process gas flows through a line, which is peripheral thereto and which has a peripheral outlet opening. The second process gas flows through one or more supply lines and into a mixing chamber and flows through additional means, which influence the gas stream and which are provided for homogenizing the radial flow profile of the process gas exiting the peripheral outlet opening. The aim of the invention is to obtain a homogeneous radial flow profile by using simple means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Aixtron AG
    Inventors: Gerd Strauch, Markus Reinhold
  • Patent number: 6506450
    Abstract: A reactor for coating flat substrates and particularly wafers is described which has a reaction vessel into which reaction gases can be introduced, and a substrate holder unit in which substrates are held in a holder such that the main surface of the substrates to be coated is oriented downward during the deposition operation and is aligned essentially in parallel to the flow direction of the reaction gases. The invention is characterized in that at least two spaces for substrates are provided on the substrate holder unit and in that the holder or holders is/are constructed in the manner of a template which has openings for the surfaces of the substrates to be coated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Aixtron AG
    Inventors: Holger Jürgensen, Karl Heinz Bachem
  • Patent number: 6309465
    Abstract: A CVD reactor comprising: a reactor casing with a casing cover, a heated susceptor for one wafer or several wafers, which is disposed in the reactor casing, a fluid inlet unit including a plurality of openings facing said wafer or wafers through which the CVD media, which is moderately heated, enter the reactor, and a fluid outlet disposed on the periphery of the reactor casing, through which the introduced media is discharged; wherein the fluid outlet has roughly the shape of a disk with a plurality of outlet openings for the discharge of CVD media, and is disposed between the susceptor and the reactor cover in such a way that the fluid outlet is heated by the susceptor by radiation and hence adjusts itself to a temperature between the temperature of the susceptor and the reactor cover through which the CVD media enter in a moderately heated state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Aixtron AG.
    Inventors: Holger Jürgensen, Marc Deschler, Gerd Strauch, Markus Schumacher, Johannes Käppeler