Rapid thermal furnace for semiconductor processing
First Claim
1. A semiconductor wafer processing furnace comprising:
- (a) an elongated processing chamber enclosing a first zone and a second zone extending along a first reference axis;
(b) a wafer support assembly including a support member and an associated translation means for selectively translating said support member between said zones along said first reference axis in response to an applied position signal;
(c) first temperature means, including heating means for generating heat, for controlling said first zone to be substantially at a first temperature;
(d) second temperature means for controlling said second zone to be substantially at a second temperature; and
(e) a controller including means responsive to an applied control signal for generating said position signal and for applying said position signal to said translation means, said control signal being representative of a desired temperature of a region proximal to said support member,so that, in response to said position signal, said translation means translates said support member to position said support member along said reference axis such that the temperature of said region substantially matches said desired temperature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A semiconductor wafer processing furnace includes an elongated processing chamber enclosing a first zone and a second zone extending along a first reference axis, and a wafer support assembly having a support member and associated translation elements for selectively translating the support member between the zones, along the first reference axis, in response to an applied position signal. Temperature elements control the first and second zones to have selected first and second temperatures, respectively. A controller applies the position signal to the translation elements, in response to an applied control signal representative of a desired temperature of the region surrounding the support member. Responsive to the position signal, the translation elements position the support member along the reference axis such that the temperature of the region surrounding the support member substantially matches the desired temperature.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A semiconductor wafer processing furnace comprising:
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(a) an elongated processing chamber enclosing a first zone and a second zone extending along a first reference axis; (b) a wafer support assembly including a support member and an associated translation means for selectively translating said support member between said zones along said first reference axis in response to an applied position signal; (c) first temperature means, including heating means for generating heat, for controlling said first zone to be substantially at a first temperature; (d) second temperature means for controlling said second zone to be substantially at a second temperature; and (e) a controller including means responsive to an applied control signal for generating said position signal and for applying said position signal to said translation means, said control signal being representative of a desired temperature of a region proximal to said support member, so that, in response to said position signal, said translation means translates said support member to position said support member along said reference axis such that the temperature of said region substantially matches said desired temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A semiconductor wafer processing furnace comprising:
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(a) an elongated processing chamber enclosing a first zone and a second zone extending along a first reference axis; (b) a wafer support assembly including a support member and an associated translation means for selectively translating said support member between said zones along said first reference axis in response to an applied position signal; (c) first temperature means, including heating means for generating heat, for controlling said first zone to be substantially at a first temperature; (d) sensor means for generating a temperature signal representative of the temperature of the region proximal to said support member; and (e) a controller including means responsive to said temperature signal and an applied control signal for generating said position signal and for applying said position signal to said translation means, said control signal being representative of a desired temperature of said region, and said position signal being representative of the difference between the temperature of said region and said desired temperature, so that, in response to said position signal, said translation means translates said support member to position said support member along said reference axis such that the temperature of said region substantially matches said desired temperature. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification