Chamber isolation valve RF grounding
First Claim
1. A method of grounding a chamber isolation valve for a plasma processing system during plasma processing of substrates, wherein the chamber isolation valve contains a door and a vacuum seal, comprising:
- moving the door to a position adjacent a first opening in a first chamber and an opposing second opening in a second chambercompressing the vacuum seal between the second opening and the door; and
establishing electrical contact between the door and at least one electrically grounded component of the plasma processing system using at least one electrically conductive member disposed between the door and the second opening.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for grounding a chamber isolation valve are provided. Generally, the method makes use of an electrically conductive elastomeric member or members to effectively ground a chamber isolation valve and/or isolation valve door while avoiding metal-to-metal contact between moving parts in the processing system. In one embodiment, the elastomeric member is attached to and in electrical communication with the door of the chamber isolation valve. The elastomeric member is brought into contact with a grounded component of the plasma processing system when the door is in the closed position. In another embodiment, the conductive elastomeric member is attached to a bracing member of the isolation valve and is brought into contact with a grounded component of the plasma processing system when the bracing member is deployed to hold the isolation valve door in place during substrate processing. Other configurations are also provided.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method of grounding a chamber isolation valve for a plasma processing system during plasma processing of substrates, wherein the chamber isolation valve contains a door and a vacuum seal, comprising:
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moving the door to a position adjacent a first opening in a first chamber and an opposing second opening in a second chamber compressing the vacuum seal between the second opening and the door; and establishing electrical contact between the door and at least one electrically grounded component of the plasma processing system using at least one electrically conductive member disposed between the door and the second opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 33, 34, 35)
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17. A method of grounding a chamber isolation valve for a plasma processing system during plasma processing of substrates, wherein the chamber isolation valve contains a door, a bracing member, and a vacuum seal, comprising:
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moving the door and the bracing member to a position adjacent a first opening in a first chamber and an opposing second opening in a second chamber; moving the door and the bracing member away from each other such that the vacuum seal is compressed between the second opening and the door; and contacting at least one electrically grounded component of the plasma-processing system with at least one electrically conductive elastomeric member, the at least one elastomeric member disposed between the door and the second opening along an external periphery of the vacuum seal. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 36)
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25. A method of grounding a chamber isolation valve for a plasma processing system during plasma processing of substrates, wherein the chamber isolation valve contains a door, a bracing member, and a vacuum seal comprising:
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moving the door and the bracing member to a position adjacent a first opening in a first chamber and an opposing second opening in a second chamber; and establishing electrical communication between the first opening and the second opening by moving the door and the bracing member away from each other such that the vacuum seal is compressed between the second opening and the door and the bracing member is in electrical communication with the first opening, wherein one or both of the door and bracing member includes at least one electrically conductive member disposed along an external periphery of the respective opening. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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37. A method, comprising:
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moving a door from a first position spaced from a chamber to a second position sealing the chamber; and electrically coupling the door to the chamber.
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Specification