Automated single slice powered load lock plasma reactor
First Claim
1. An apparatus for the manufacturing of semiconductor devices from semiconductor wafers having a plurality of semiconductor circuit patterns on at least a first surface of the semiconductor wafer, the apparatus comprises:
- first means for providing a stream of reacting gases to react with the semiconductor wafer to create circuit elements according to the semiconductor circuit pattern thereby;
second means for handling the wafers and includes a third means for bringing the wafers into contact with the reacting gas, fourth means for prereacting with a second group of reactant gases of the semiconductor wafers, fifth means for preventing the contamination of the third means and to provide a port for the transfer of the semiconductor wafers from the fourth means to the third means;
sixth means for isolating the semiconductor wafers and the circuit elements from the third means and to perform a post reactant with a third group of reactant gases, seventh means for providing a port for the transfer of the semiconductor wafer between the third means and the sixth means, and eighth means for transferring the semiconductor wafer from the fourth means to the third means and from the third means to the sixth;
means andninth means for controlling the operation of the apparatus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A plasma reactor for the manufacturing of semiconductor devices has powered loadlocks and a main process chamber where slices can be processed one slice at a time with pre-etch plasma treatments before the main etching processing and afterwards receive a post etch treatment. The system comprises powered loadlocks, a main chamber, vacuum pumps radio frequency power supplier, radio frequency matching networks, heat exchangers and throttle valve and pressure controllers, gas flow distribution and microprocessor controllers. The semiconductor wafers are automatically fed one at a time from storage cassettes through isolation gates with articulated mechanical arms to a powered entry loadlock for pre-etching processes. At the completion of the pre-etching processing, the semiconductor wafer is transferred to the main chamber automatically for the main etch process and then to the powered exit loadlock for post etch treatment and finally to an output cassette.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. An apparatus for the manufacturing of semiconductor devices from semiconductor wafers having a plurality of semiconductor circuit patterns on at least a first surface of the semiconductor wafer, the apparatus comprises:
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first means for providing a stream of reacting gases to react with the semiconductor wafer to create circuit elements according to the semiconductor circuit pattern thereby; second means for handling the wafers and includes a third means for bringing the wafers into contact with the reacting gas, fourth means for prereacting with a second group of reactant gases of the semiconductor wafers, fifth means for preventing the contamination of the third means and to provide a port for the transfer of the semiconductor wafers from the fourth means to the third means;
sixth means for isolating the semiconductor wafers and the circuit elements from the third means and to perform a post reactant with a third group of reactant gases, seventh means for providing a port for the transfer of the semiconductor wafer between the third means and the sixth means, and eighth means for transferring the semiconductor wafer from the fourth means to the third means and from the third means to the sixth;
means andninth means for controlling the operation of the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification