Abstract: The temperature of a wafer in a vacuum chamber is measured by way of a tube, containing a thermocouple, extending through a wall of the chamber. The tube is sealed at one end to an aperture in the wall of the system and sealed at the other end with removable sealant.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for reducing lateral encroachment and silicon consumption in LPCVD of tungsten. The process comprises a low temperature deposition of a thin layer of tungsten, followed by annealing in nitrogen at high temperature, follows by deposition of a thick layer of tungsten.

Abstract: A disk boat assembly for holding workpieces to be processed within a chemical reaction processing apparatus during the chemical vapor process. The boat assembly includes a pair of electrically conductive rail members held rigidly and radially apart between two dielectric end holding members that electrically isolate the two rail members. A plurality of disk like plates are connected respectively to the two rail members and are interleaved such that adjacent disk plates are electrically isolated. Each disk plate includes pairs of bores formed therein with each pair extending radially outward from the center of the disk. Insertable pins are placed in a respective pair of bores, the distance therebetween of which can be extended by insertion in an additional pair of bores lying further from the center of the disk so that variable diameter workpieces can be held on the broad surfaces of each disk plate.

Abstract: A method for deposition of thin conductive layers of low resistivity titanium silicide. The method comprises the co-deposition of titanium and silicon by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition at a low temperature. An anneal above the deposition temperature reduces the layer resistivity, making the layer especially suitable for microelectronic applications.

Abstract: An improved spacer means for separating and inhibiting the shorting together of conductive plates in an RF plasma reactor used in Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) processing of semiconductor devices. The improved spacer means inhibits the accumulation of conductive films on the surface of the separating means by substantially precluding the plasma field, and hence, inhibiting depositions in areas where recessed grooves are in the surface of the separating means. Accordingly, a direct electrical path on the spacer means between the multiple conductive plates of the RF plasma reactor is inhibited. As a result, the reactors can run for longer periods of time and deposit greater thicknesses of conductive films without the conductive plates shorting together causing shutdown of the process.

Abstract: Method for plasma deposition of silicon from a silicon source gas. By inclusion of a halogen species in the gas flow stream, thermally induced deposition is inhibited so that plasma decomposition predominates. The silicon gas source may comprise the halogen species, which may alternatively be under separate control. The suppression of thermally induced deposition leads to improved thickness uniformity across the workpieces for significantly increased lifetime or runtime without the conductive plates shorting together.

Abstract: A reduced pressure induction heated reactor and method for the deposition, especially epitaxial deposition, onto workpieces placed in the reactor. The workpieces are positioned within a hollow susceptor which is, in turn, positioned within a reactor tube. The ends of the reactor tube are sealed by end caps which provide for input and exhaust of reactant species. The workpieces are inductively heated by an RF induction coil which surrounds the reactor tube and which inductively couples with the susceptor. A vacuum pump maintains a low pressure within the reactor tube. Low pressure deposition is made possible without arcing by shorting together the susceptor and end caps and by having the shorted together combination electrically floating.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for depositing materials such as Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 and SiO.sub.2 on semiconductor wafers in a hot-wall reactor. A perforated distribution tube is positioned in the reaction chamber, and the wafers are placed inside the tube. Reactant gases are introduced into the chamber outside the tube and pass to the wafers through the openings in the tube.