Composite heater and chill plate
First Claim
1. A system for chilling wafers, comprising:
- a low thermal mass wafer support for providing support to a bottom surface of a wafer;
a chill plate coupled to said low thermal mass wafer support for cooling said wafer; and
wherein said low thermal mass wafer support has a higher thermal conductivity in the plane parallel to said bottom surface of the wafer than in the direction perpendicular to said bottom surface of the wafer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated system for baking and chilling wafers includes a heater for heating a wafer to an elevated temperature, a chiller for cooling the wafer, and a shuttle operatively connected to the heater and the chiller for transferring the wafer between the heater and the chiller. The chiller further includes a low thermal mass wafer support for providing support to a bottom surface of a wafer and a chill plate coupled to the low thermal mass wafer support for cooling the wafer. The low thermal mass wafer support has a higher thermal conductivity in the plane parallel to the bottom surface of the wafer than in the direction perpendicular to the bottom surface of the wafer. The low thermal mass wafer support can further include a plurality of proximity pins for supporting the wafer.
352 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A system for chilling wafers, comprising:
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a low thermal mass wafer support for providing support to a bottom surface of a wafer;
a chill plate coupled to said low thermal mass wafer support for cooling said wafer; and
wherein said low thermal mass wafer support has a higher thermal conductivity in the plane parallel to said bottom surface of the wafer than in the direction perpendicular to said bottom surface of the wafer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for chilling wafers, comprising:
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a low thermal mass wafer support for providing support to a bottom surface of a wafer;
a chill plate coupled to said low thermal mass wafer support for cooling said wafer;
wherein said low thermal mass wafer support has a higher thermal conductivity in the plane parallel to said bottom surface of the wafer than in the direction perpendicular to said bottom surface of the wafer; and
wherein said low thermal mass wafer support further comprises a plurality of proximity pins for supporting said wafer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for heating wafers, comprising:
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a low thermal mass wafer support for providing support to a bottom surface of a wafer;
a heat plate coupled to said low thermal mass wafer support for heating said wafer; and
wherein said low thermal mass wafer support has a higher thermal conductivity in the plane parallel to said bottom surface of the wafer than in the direction perpendicular to said bottom surface of the wafer. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A system for chilling wafers, comprising:
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a chill plate for cooling a wafer;
a low thermal mass wafer support for supporting said wafer while said wafer is cooled with said chill plate, said low thermal wafer support further comprising at least one resistive element to heat said wafer and to provide an electrostatic force to said wafer during heating;
a bendable support positioned between said low thermal mass wafer support and said chill plate for regulating motion generated by activation of said electrostatic chuck;
wherein said low thermal mass wafer support has a higher thermal conductivity in the plane parallel to said bottom surface of the wafer than in the direction perpendicular to said bottom surface of the wafer; and
wherein said low thermal mass wafer support further comprises a plurality of proximity pins for supporting said wafer.
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24. An integrated system for baking and chilling wafers, comprising:
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a heater for heating a wafer to an elevated temperature;
a chiller for cooling said wafer;
a shuttle operatively connected to said heater and said chiller for transferring said wafer between said heater and said chiller;
wherein said chiller further comprises;
a low thermal mass wafer support for providing support to a bottom surface of a wafer;
a chill plate coupled to said low thermal mass wafer support for cooling said wafer; and
wherein said low thermal mass wafer support has a higher thermal conductivity in the plane parallel to said bottom surface of the wafer than in the direction perpendicular to said bottom surface of the wafer. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. An integrated system for baking and chilling wafers, comprising:
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a heater for heating a wafer to an elevated temperature;
a chiller for cooling said wafer;
a shuttle operatively connected to said heater and said chiller for transferring said wafer between said heater and said chiller;
wherein said heater further comprises;
a low thermal mass wafer support for providing support to a bottom surface of a wafer;
a heat plate coupled to said low thermal mass wafer support for supporting said low thermal mass wafer support and for heating said wafer; and
wherein said low thermal mass wafer support has a higher thermal conductivity in the plane parallel to said bottom surface of the wafer than in the direction perpendicular to said bottom surface of the wafer. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. An integrated system for baking and chilling wafers, comprising:
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a heater for heating a wafer to an elevated temperature;
a chiller for cooling said wafer;
a shuttle operatively connected to said heater and said chiller for transferring said wafer between said heater and said chiller;
wherein said heater further comprises;
a first low thermal mass wafer support for providing support to a bottom surface of a wafer;
a heat plate coupled to said first low thermal mass wafer support for supporting said first low thermal mass wafer support and for heating said wafer; and
wherein said first low thermal mass wafer support has a higher thermal conductivity in the plane parallel to said bottom surface of the wafer than in the direction perpendicular to said bottom surface of the wafer; and
wherein said chiller further comprises;
a second low thermal mass wafer support for providing support to a bottom surface of a wafer;
a chill plate coupled to said second low thermal mass wafer support for supporting said second low thermal mass wafer support and for cooling said wafer; and
wherein said second low thermal mass wafer support has a higher thermal conductivity in the plane parallel to said bottom surface of the wafer than in the direction perpendicular to said bottom surface of the wafer. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification