Microchamber
First Claim
1. An apparatus for containing a process gas for use in processing a substrate, the apparatus comprising:
- a reference member; and
a stage member supporting the substrate and having a gas bearing surrounding the substrate, the gas bearing opposing the reference member and sealing the substrate and process gas in a chamber defined between the reference and stage members.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invented apparatus is a relatively small-volumed chamber useful for processing a substrate. The apparatus includes a reference member with a substantially flat surface. The apparatus also includes a stage member with a surface that supports the substrate, and that has a gas bearing surrounding this support surface. Gas flows through the bearing are regulated to generate a seal of the substrate from ambient gases upon bringing the gas bearing close to the reference member'"'"'s flat surface. The seal generated by the gas bearing can also be used to contain process gas in proximity to the substrate. Such process gas can be introduced into and exhausted from the chamber through an inlet and outlet, respectively, defined in the reference member. The apparatus can include a window fixed in the reference member. Patterned light or a particle beam can be directed through the window to the contained substrate to cause selective reactions to occur thereon. The gas bearing allows the stage member to be moved relative to the reference member without affecting their relative spacing. Therefore, patterns formed on the substrate can be stepped and repeated without the need for significant refocusing of lithography equipment used to form a pattern on the substrate. The invention also includes a related method.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. An apparatus for containing a process gas for use in processing a substrate, the apparatus comprising:
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a reference member; and a stage member supporting the substrate and having a gas bearing surrounding the substrate, the gas bearing opposing the reference member and sealing the substrate and process gas in a chamber defined between the reference and stage members. - 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, 35)
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36. A method comprising the steps of:
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a) directing a first gas flow from a first surface toward a second surface around a first ring-like channel defined in the first surface, the first channel surrounding a substrate situated on the first surface, and the first flow substantially containing a gas in proximity to the substrate; b) suctioning a second gas flow from between the first and second surfaces around a second ring-like channel defined in the first surface, the second channel surrounding the first channel; and c) directing a third gas flow from the first surface to the second surface around a third ring-like channel defined in the first surface, the third channel surrounding the second channel, and the third gas flow substantially preventing ambient gas from flowing by the third channel, the second gas flow including at least a portion of the first and third gas flows. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification