Shield to prevent cryopump charcoal array from shedding during cryo-regeneration
First Claim
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1. A vacuum system having a regeneration shield, comprising:
- a) a processing chamber;
b) at least one vacuum pump connected to the processing chamber comprising a first stage array forming an internal volume and a second stage array disposed substantially within the internal volume of the first stage array, at least a portion of the first stage array being disposed between an inlet of the pump and the second stage array;
c) a dislocatable material attached to the second stage array and disposed at least partially toward the first stage array; and
d) a mechanical regeneration shield interposed between the second stage array and the first stage array, the shield adapted to shield the second stage array from gases produced during regeneration of the pump.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a regeneration shield 22 for a vacuum system, typically used in the processing of integrated circuits. The regeneration shield protects fragile arrays 13, having a dislocatable material 16, such as charcoal, in a high vacuum pump 4 from volatile regeneration gases, which impinge the fragile material on the array and dislocate that material to cause pumping inefficiencies and scrap. The shield may be planar, concave, or convex and may have sides. The shield may also have inwardly and outwardly extending flanges.
148 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A vacuum system having a regeneration shield, comprising:
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a) a processing chamber; b) at least one vacuum pump connected to the processing chamber comprising a first stage array forming an internal volume and a second stage array disposed substantially within the internal volume of the first stage array, at least a portion of the first stage array being disposed between an inlet of the pump and the second stage array; c) a dislocatable material attached to the second stage array and disposed at least partially toward the first stage array; and d) a mechanical regeneration shield interposed between the second stage array and the first stage array, the shield adapted to shield the second stage array from gases produced during regeneration of the pump. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 21)
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14. A method of protecting a processing chamber from a dislocatable material, comprising:
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a) at least partially evacuating the processing chamber utilizing a vacuum pump having at least a first stage array and a second stage array disposed within an internal volume formed by the first stage array, the second stage array having dislocatable material attached thereto and disposed at least partially toward the first stage array; b) flowing gases into the vacuum pump; c) creating a restriction in the vacuum pump; d) regenerating the vacuum pump; and e) shielding the dislocatable material on the second stage array from regeneration gases produced during regenerating the vacuum pump. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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15. A method of protecting a processing chamber from a dislocatable material, comprising:
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a) at least partially evacuating the processing chamber utilizing a vacuum pump having at least one array having dislocatable material; b) flowing gases into the vacuum pump; c) creating a restriction in the vacuum pump; d) regenerating the vacuum pump; g) shielding the dislocatable material on the array from regeneration gases produced during regenerating the vacuum pump; and f) reducing an amount of the dislocatable material from entering the chamber by utilizing the shield.
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16. A method of protecting a processing chamber from a dislocatable material, comprising:
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a) at least partially evacuating the processing chamber utilizing a vacuum pump having at least one array having dislocatable material; b) flowing gases into the vacuum pump; c) creating a restriction in the vacuum pump; d) regenerating the vacuum pump; e) shielding the dislocatable material on the array from regeneration gases produced during regenerating the vacuum pump; and f) allowing a portion of the dislocatable material to the dislocated from the array and collecting a dislocated portion of the dislocatable material in the shield.
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20. A cryogenic vacuum pump for a substrate processing system, the pump having a regeneration shields comprising:
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a) a first stage array forming an internal volume and a second stage array disposed at least partially within the internal volume of the first stage array, at least a portion of the first stage array disposed between an inlet of the pump and the second stage array; b) a dislocatable material attached to the second array and disposed at least partially toward the first array; and c) a mechanical regeneration shield interposed between the first stage array and the second stage array wherein the regeneration shield is adapted to shield the dislocatable material from regeneration gases produced during regeneration of the pump.
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Specification