Abstract: The present invention generally comprises a heated showerhead assembly that may be used to supply processing gases into a processing chamber. The processing chamber may be an etching chamber. When processing gas is evacuated from the processing chamber, the uniform processing of the substrate may be difficult. As the processing gas is pulled away from the substrate and towards the vacuum pump, the plasma, in the case of etching, may not be uniform across the substrate. Uneven plasma may lead to uneven etching. To prevent uneven etching, the showerhead assembly may be separated into two zones each having independently controllable gas introduction and temperature control. The first zone corresponds to the perimeter of the substrate while the second zone corresponds to the center of the substrate. By independently controlling the temperature and the gas flow through the showerhead zones, etching uniformity of the substrate may be increased.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein generally relate to a lamphead assembly with an absorbing upper surface in a thermal processing chamber. In one embodiment, a processing chamber includes an upper structure, a lower structure, a base ring connecting the upper structure to the lower structure, a substrate support disposed between the upper structure and the lower structure, a lower structure disposed below the substrate support, a lamphead positioned proximate to the lower structure with one or more fixed lamphead positions formed therein, the lamphead comprising a first surface proximate the lower structure and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the first surface comprises an absorptive coating and one or more lamp assemblies each comprising a radiation generating source and positioned in connection with the one or more fixed lamphead positions.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a semiconductor substrate is described. The apparatus is a process chamber having an optically transparent upper dome and lower dome. Vacuum is maintained in the process chamber during processing. The upper dome is thermally controlled by flowing a thermal control fluid along the upper dome outside the processing region. Thermal lamps are positioned proximate the lower dome, and thermal sensors are disposed among the lamps. The lamps are powered in zones, and a controller adjusts power to the lamp zones based on data received from the thermal sensors. A reflective liner may provide for improved temperature measurement and heating of a substrate.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally relate to susceptor support shafts and process chambers containing the same. A susceptor support shaft supports a susceptor thereon, which in turn, supports a substrate during processing. The susceptor support shaft reduces variations in temperature measurement of the susceptor and/or substrate by providing a consistent path for a pyrometer focal beam directed towards the susceptor and/or substrate, even when the susceptor support shaft is rotated. The susceptor support shafts also have a relatively low thermal mass which increases the ramp up and ramp down rates of a process chamber. In some embodiments, a custom made refractive element can be removably placed on the top of the solid disc to redistribute secondary heat distributions across the susceptor and/or substrate for optimum thickness uniformity of epitaxy process.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus is provided. The substrate processing apparatus includes a vacuum chamber having a dome and a floor. A substrate support is disposed inside the vacuum chamber. A plurality of thermal lamps are arranged in a lamphead and positioned proximate the floor of the vacuum chamber. A reflector is disposed proximate the dome, where the reflector and the dome together define a thermal control space. The substrate processing apparatus further includes a plurality of power supplies coupled to the thermal lamps and a controller for adjusting the power supplies to control a temperature in the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to a base ring assembly for use in a substrate processing chamber. In one embodiment, the base ring assembly comprises a ring body sized to be received within an inner circumference of the substrate processing chamber, the ring body comprising a loading port for passage of the substrate, a gas inlet, and a gas outlet, wherein the gas inlet and the gas outlet are disposed at opposing ends of the ring body, and an upper ring configured to dispose on a top surface of the ring body, and a lower ring configured to dispose on a bottom surface of the ring body, wherein the upper ring, the lower ring, and the ring body, once assembled, are generally concentric or coaxial.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to apparatus for processing substrates. The apparatus generally include a process chamber having a substrate support therein. A plurality of lamps are positioned to provide radiant energy through an optically transparent window to a substrate positioned on the substrate support. The plurality of lamps are positioned in a lamp housing. A cooling channel is formed in the lamp housing. A surface of the lamp housing is spaced a distance from the optically transparent window to form a gap therebetween. The gap functions as a fluid channel and is adapted to contain a fluid therein to facilitate cooling of the optically transparent window. Turbulence inducing features, such as openings, formed in the surface of the lamp housing induce a turbulent flow of the cooling fluid, thus improving heat transfer between the optically transparent window and the lamp housing.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a dome assembly. The dome assembly includes an upper dome comprising a central window, and an upper peripheral flange engaging the central window at a circumference of the central window, wherein a tangent line on an inside surface of the central window that passes through an intersection of the central window and the upper peripheral flange is at an angle of about 8° to about 16° with respect to a planar upper surface of the peripheral flange, a lower dome comprising a lower peripheral flange and a bottom connecting the lower peripheral flange with a central opening, wherein a tangent line on an outside surface of the bottom that passes through an intersection of the bottom and the lower peripheral flange is at an angle of about 8° to about 16° with respect to a planar bottom surface of the lower peripheral flange.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a semiconductor substrate is described. The apparatus is a process chamber having an optically transparent upper dome and lower dome. Vacuum is maintained in the process chamber during processing. The upper dome is thermally controlled by flowing a thermal control fluid along the upper dome outside the processing region. Thermal lamps are positioned proximate the lower dome, and thermal sensors are disposed among the lamps. The lamps are powered in zones, and a controller adjusts power to the lamp zones based on data received from the thermal sensors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a semiconductor substrate is described. The apparatus is a process chamber having an optically transparent upper dome and lower dome. Vacuum is maintained in the process chamber during processing. The upper dome is thermally controlled by flowing a thermal control fluid along the upper dome outside the processing region. Thermal lamps are positioned proximate the lower dome, and thermal sensors are disposed among the lamps. The lamps are powered in zones, and a controller adjusts power to the lamp zones based on data received from the thermal sensors.

Abstract: Exhaust systems for substrate process chambers are provided herein. In some embodiments, an exhaust for a process chamber configured to process a substrate having a given width may include a body having an internal cavity and an opening disposed in a first side of the body, the opening fluidly coupled to the internal cavity; a plurality of through holes disposed through a second side of the body, the plurality of through holes fluidly coupled to the internal cavity, wherein the plurality of through holes are disposed symmetrically about the body with respect to a central axis of the body such that the plurality of through holes provide an equal length and pressure drop from the opening to each respective through hole; and a plurality of conduits, each having a first open end respectively coupled to the plurality of through holes.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the temperature of a substrate support may include a first heat transfer loop and a second heat transfer loop. The first heat transfer loop may have a first bath with a first heat transfer fluid at a first temperature. The second heat transfer loop may have a second bath with a second heat transfer fluid at a second temperature. The first and second temperatures may be the same or different. First and second flow controllers may be provided for respectively providing the first and second heat transfer fluids to a substrate support. One or more return lines may couple one or more outlets of the substrate support to the first and second baths for returning the first and second heat transfer fluids to the first and second baths.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing a substrate are provided herein. In some embodiments, a lamphead for use in substrate processing includes a monolithic member having a contoured surface; a plurality of reflector cavities disposed in the contoured surface, wherein each reflector cavity is shaped to act as a reflector or to receive a replaceable reflector for a lamp; and a plurality of lamp passages, wherein each lamp passage extends into the monolithic member from one of the plurality of reflector cavities.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to chambers and methods of processing substrates therein. The chambers generally include separate process gas and purge gas regions. The process gas region and purge gas region each have a respective gas inlet and gas outlet. The methods generally include positioning a substrate on a substrate support within the chamber. The plane of the substrate support defines the boundary between a process gas region and purge gas region. Purge gas is introduced into the purge gas region through at least one purge gas inlet, and removed from the purge gas region using at least one purge gas outlet. The process gas is introduced into the process gas region through at least one process gas inlet, and removed from the process gas region through at least one process gas outlet. The process gas is thermally decomposed to deposit a material on the substrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing flow into a processing chamber are provided. In one embodiment, a vacuum processing chamber is provided that includes a chamber body having an interior volume, a substrate support disposed in the interior volume and a gas distribution assembly having an asymmetrical distribution of gas injection ports. In another embodiment, a method for vacuum processing a substrate is provided that includes disposing a substrate on a substrate support within in a processing chamber, flowing process gas into laterally into a space defined above a gas distribution plate positioned in the processing chamber over the substrate, and processing the substrate in the presence of the processing gas.

Abstract: The present invention generally comprises an electrostatic chuck base, an electrostatic chuck assembly, and a puck for the electrostatic chuck assembly. Precisely etching a substrate within a plasma chamber may be a challenge because the plasma within the chamber may cause the temperature across the substrate to be non-uniform. A temperature gradient may exist across the substrate such that the edge of the substrate is at a different temperature compared to the center of the substrate. When the temperature of the substrate is not uniform, features may not be uniformly etched into the various layers of the structure disposed above the substrate. A dual zone electrostatic chuck assembly may compensate for temperature gradients across a substrate surface.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling the temperature of a substrate support are provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus for controlling the temperature of a substrate support may include a first heat transfer loop and a second heat transfer loop. The first heat transfer loop may have a first bath with a first heat transfer fluid at a first temperature. The second heat transfer loop may have a second bath with a second heat transfer fluid at a second temperature. The first and second temperatures may be the same or different. First and second flow controllers may be provided for respectively providing the first and second heat transfer fluids to a substrate support. One or more return lines may couple one or more outlets of the substrate support to the first and second baths for returning the first and second heat transfer fluids to the first and second baths.

Abstract: The present invention generally comprises a heated showerhead assembly that may be used to supply processing gases into a processing chamber. The processing chamber may be an etching chamber. When processing gas is evacuated from the processing chamber, the uniform processing of the substrate may be difficult. As the processing gas is pulled away from the substrate and towards the vacuum pump, the plasma, in the case of etching, may not be uniform across the substrate. Uneven plasma may lead to uneven etching. To prevent uneven etching, the showerhead assembly may be separated into two zones each having independently controllable gas introduction and temperature control. The first zone corresponds to the perimeter of the substrate while the second zone corresponds to the center of the substrate. By independently controlling the temperature and the gas flow through the showerhead zones, etching uniformity of the substrate may be increased.