Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reducing leakage of microwaves at a slit valve of a process chamber. A multi-frequency resonant choke around the slit valve prevents microwave energy from a band of frequencies from escaping from the slit valve. The multi-frequency resonant choke may have a sloping bottom surface or a serrated bottom surface to enable multiple frequencies to resonant in the choke, canceling a range of microwave frequencies at gaps formed by a slit valve gate.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reducing leakage of microwaves at a slit valve of a process chamber. A multi-frequency resonant choke around the slit valve prevents microwave energy from a band of frequencies from escaping from the slit valve. The multi-frequency resonant choke may have a sloping bottom surface or a serrated bottom surface to enable multiple frequencies to resonant in the choke, canceling a range of microwave frequencies at gaps formed by a slit valve gate.