Pressure actuated sealing diaphragm for chucks
First Claim
1. A sealing structure for forming a seal around a chuck, the sealing structure comprising:
- (a) a chuck for holding a substrate having a peripheral edge;
(b) an actuated, position-adjustable, sealing diaphragm disposed along the peripheral edge of the substrate, the diaphragm having a conformal sealing surface capable of forming a seal when pressed against the peripheral edge of the substrate; and
(c) a diaphragm actuator for actuating the sealing diaphragm from (i) a first non-sealing position in which the conformal sealing surface of the diaphragm is spaced apart from the substrate held on the chuck to form a gap therebetween, to (ii) a second sealing position in which the conformal sealing surface of the diaphragm presses against, and forms a seal with, the peripheral edge of the substrate.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sealing structure 20 for forming a seal around a chuck 30 used to hold a substrate 45 having a peripheral edge 50. An actuated, position-adjustable, sealing diaphragm 165 is disposed along the peripheral edge of the substrate. The diaphragm has a conformal sealing surface 170 capable of forming a seal when pressed against the peripheral edge of the substrate 45. A diaphragm actuator 175 actuates the sealing diaphragm from (i) a first non-sealing position 180 in which the conformal sealing surface of the diaphragm is spaced apart from the substrate held on the chuck to form a gap 190 therebetween, to (ii) a second sealing position 185 in which the conformal sealing surface of the diaphragm presses against, and forms a seal with, the peripheral edge of the substrate.
66 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A sealing structure for forming a seal around a chuck, the sealing structure comprising:
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(a) a chuck for holding a substrate having a peripheral edge; (b) an actuated, position-adjustable, sealing diaphragm disposed along the peripheral edge of the substrate, the diaphragm having a conformal sealing surface capable of forming a seal when pressed against the peripheral edge of the substrate; and (c) a diaphragm actuator for actuating the sealing diaphragm from (i) a first non-sealing position in which the conformal sealing surface of the diaphragm is spaced apart from the substrate held on the chuck to form a gap therebetween, to (ii) a second sealing position in which the conformal sealing surface of the diaphragm presses against, and forms a seal with, the peripheral edge of the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A gas pressure actuated sealing assembly for reducing corrosion of an electrostatic chuck in a corrosive gas environment, the chuck used to electrostatically hold a substrate having a peripheral edge, the sealing assembly comprising:
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(a) a compliant flat annular membrane extending below the peripheral edge of the substrate, the membrane capping one or more gas apertures; (b) a conformal sealing surface on the compliant membrane, the sealing surface extending continuously below the peripheral edge of the substrate; and (c) a gas pressure controller for regulating the pressure of gas maintained in the gas apertures below the membrane at (i) a first pressure at which the compliant membrane is in a non-sealing position in which the conformal sealing surface of the compliant membrane is spaced apart from the electrostatically held substrate to form a gap therebetween, and (ii) a second pressure at which the compliant membrane is in a sealing position in which the compliant membrane flexes and presses its conformal surface against the peripheral edge of the substrate to form a seal with the peripheral edge of the electrostatically held substrate without dislodging the substrate from the chuck. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A corrosion-resistant electrostatic chuck assembly for holding a substrate in a process chamber containing corrosive process gas, the assembly comprising:
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(a) an electrostatic chuck for electrostatically holding a substrate having a peripheral edge; (b) a compliant annular diaphragm extending around the peripheral edge of the substrate, the diaphragm having a conformal sealing surface thereon; and (c) at least one gas aperture below the diaphragm, wherein application of a gas pressure through the gas aperture causes the diaphragm to flex and press the conformal sealing surface of the diaphragm against the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of forming a seal around a chuck in a process zone, the chuck used to hold a substrate having a peripheral edge, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) positioning a gas pressure actuated sealing diaphragm along the peripheral edge of the substrate, the diaphragm capping one or more gas apertures, and the diaphragm comprising a conformal sealing surface extending continuously below the peripheral edge of the substrate; and (b) applying a gas pressure through the gas apertures below the diaphragm to cause at least a portion of the diaphragm to move and press its conformal sealing surface against the peripheral edge of the substrate to form a seal with the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of enhancing the erosion resistance of an electrostatic chuck in an erosive environment, the chuck comprising (i) an insulated electrode capable of electrostatically holding a substrate, and (ii) a support for supporting the insulated electrode, the support comprising gas apertures for providing a gas pressure, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) positioning an annular sealing diaphragm covering the gas aperture holes on the support so that the diaphragm is circumferentially disposed about the insulated electrode, the sealing diaphragm having a conformal sealing surface capable of forming a seal with a substrate; (b) placing a substrate on the insulated electrode and applying a voltage to the insulated electrode to electrostatically attract the substrate onto the insulated electrode so that a peripheral edge of the substrate is positioned above the sealing diaphragm to form a gap therebetween; and (c) regulating a pressure of gas through the gas apertures below the sealing diaphragm to cause the conformal sealing surface of the diaphragm to press against the peripheral edge of the substrate forming a seal that reduces exposure of the electrostatic chuck to the erosive environment.
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Specification