Circuit and apparatus for verifying a chamber seal, and method of depositing a material onto a substrate using the same
First Claim
1. An apparatus for determining closure of a door, comprising:
- a chamber having first and second apertures extending into the chamber;
a pressure delivery unit coupled to the first aperture; and
a pressure monitor coupled in gaseous communication with the pressure delivery unit and configured to generate a signal indicating sealed closure of said door over the second aperture when a pressure reading within the pressure monitor varies from a pre-defined amount.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved door closure indicator is provided. The indicator operates on pressure levels read within a pressurized chamber rather than from proximity switches coupled between the chamber and the door. If the door seals to the chamber, pressure within the chamber will quickly change, and the change will be read on a pressure sensor indicative of the door closure. According to one example, the chamber can comprise a vacuum chamber and the pressure sensor can be a vacuum monitor. Once vacuum is detected, it is determined with more absolutism that the door is actually closed rather than having to rely upon switch operation and/or alignment of the door activation mechanism to proximity switches arranged on the chamber housing. The processing tool which embodies the chamber includes a chamber controller which incorporates various switches and relays which channel pressure readings taken from the chamber to a load controller, and also delays pressure readings after opening a half-gate valve operably coupled between a vacuum pump and the chamber.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for determining closure of a door, comprising:
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a chamber having first and second apertures extending into the chamber; a pressure delivery unit coupled to the first aperture; and a pressure monitor coupled in gaseous communication with the pressure delivery unit and configured to generate a signal indicating sealed closure of said door over the second aperture when a pressure reading within the pressure monitor varies from a pre-defined amount. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15, 16)
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9. A method for verifying closure of a vacuum sealed door across an aperture extending into a semiconductor fabrication chamber, comprising:
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driving the door into a position across the aperture; applying a first vacuum to the chamber; and verifying sealed closure of the door across the aperture if a pressure monitor coupled in gaseous communication with a pressure delivery unit coupled to a first aperture of the chamber reads a pressure that varies from a pre-defined amount and thereafter generates a signal indicating sealed closure of the door over the aperture. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification