Method of oxidizing work pieces and oxidation system
First Claim
1. A method of oxidizing work pieces comprising the steps of:
- containing a plurality of work pieces in a processing vessel which has a predetermined length and is capable of forming a vacuum therein, and oxidizing surfaces of the work pieces in an atmosphere including active oxygen species or active hydroxyl species which are generated by supplying an oxidative gas and a reductive gas into the processing vessel to interact the gases, the oxidative gas and the reductive gas being respectively supplied in the vessel in the longitudinal direction, wherein the reductive gas is supplied additionally from at least two or more independently controlled gas nozzles located at separate locations in the longitudinal direction of the processing vessel; and
the gas flow rate through each nozzle is set depending on any combination of the work pieces consisted of product wafers and dummy wafers or monitor wafers in the processing vessel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of oxidizing work pieces according to the present invention comprises the steps of: containing a plurality of work pieces W in a processing vessel 22 which has a predetermined length and is capable forming a vacuum therein, oxidizing surfaces of the work pieces in an atmosphere including active oxygen species and active hydroxyl species which are generated by supplying an oxidative gas and a reductive gas into the processing vessel to interact the gases. The oxidative gas and the reductive gas are respectively supplied into the processing vessel in the longitudinal direction. Parts of the reductive gas are additionally supplied from at least two or more independently controlled gas nozzles located at separate locations in the longitudinal direction of the processing vessel. The gas flow rate through each nozzle is set depending on any combination of the work pieces composed of product wafers, dummy wafers, and monitor wafers in the processing vessel.
41 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method of oxidizing work pieces comprising the steps of:
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containing a plurality of work pieces in a processing vessel which has a predetermined length and is capable of forming a vacuum therein, and oxidizing surfaces of the work pieces in an atmosphere including active oxygen species or active hydroxyl species which are generated by supplying an oxidative gas and a reductive gas into the processing vessel to interact the gases, the oxidative gas and the reductive gas being respectively supplied in the vessel in the longitudinal direction, wherein the reductive gas is supplied additionally from at least two or more independently controlled gas nozzles located at separate locations in the longitudinal direction of the processing vessel; and
the gas flow rate through each nozzle is set depending on any combination of the work pieces consisted of product wafers and dummy wafers or monitor wafers in the processing vessel. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5)
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2. A method of oxidizing work pieces comprising the steps of:
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containing a plurality of work pieces in a processing vessel which has a predetermined length and is capable of forming a vacuum therein, and oxidizing surfaces of the work pieces in an atmosphere including active oxygen species or active hydroxyl species which are generated by supplying an oxidative gas and a reductive gas into the processing vessel to interact the gases, the oxidative gas and the reductive gas being respectively supplied in the vessel in the longitudinal direction, wherein supplying at least three independently controlled reductive gas nozzles are located at separate locations in the longitudinal direction of the processing vessel; and
controlling the gas flow rates through each nozzle is set depending on any combination of the work pieces consisted of product wafers and dummy wafers or monitor wafers in the processing vessel.
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6. An oxidation system comprising:
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a holding means which holds a plurality of work pieces at predetermined pitches;
a processsing vessel which has a predetermined length for containing the holding means, and is capable of forming a vacuum therein;
a heating means which heats the work pieces;
an oxidative gas supply means which supplies an oxidative gas into the processing vessel;
a reductive gas supply means which supplies a reductive gas into the processing vessel including at least three independently controlled reductive gas nozzles for supplying the reductive gas to separate locations along the longitudinal direction of the processing vessel; and
a system controller controlling the individual gas flow rate of the reductive gas supplied from the reductive gas nozzles. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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Specification