Electromagnetic wave treatment of a substrate at microwave frequencies using a wave resonator
First Claim
1. A processing system for electromagnetic (EM) wave treatment of a substrate, comprising:
- an EM wave generation circuit including an EM wave generator configured to generate an EM wave at a prescribed output power and a prescribed wave mode, and a first waveguide coupled with the EM wave generator;
a standing wave circuit (SWC) coupled to the EM wave generation circuit and configured to reflect back or allow an EM wave to pass through, the standing wave circuit including an impedance matcher coupled to the first waveguide and configured to allow an EM wave proceeding in one direction from the EM wave generator and from the first waveguide to pass through and to reflect back an EM wave proceeding in another direction opposite the one direction;
a travelling wave circuit (TWC) coupled to the standing wave circuit and including;
a circulator configured to redirect a flow of the travelling EM wave and generate a travelling EM wave, the circulator coupled with the standing wave circuit;
a process chamber coupled with the circulator to receive the traveling EM wave and configured to house a substrate for exposure of a surface of the substrate to the travelling EM wave;
a waveguide configuration for directing the traveling EM wave into and out of the process chamber and back through the circulator;
a phase shifter coupled within the waveguide configuration and configured and positioned to affect the traveling EM wave and maintain an integer number of wavelengths in the traveling wave circuit;
the standing wave circuit configured for reflecting back an EM wave from the circulator in the traveling wave circuit that is directed toward the standing wave circuit;
wherein the travelling EM wave is recirculated through the travelling wave circuit (TWC) and the process chamber thereby reducing the power usage and eliminating the need for a resistive load device to unload the travelling EM wave.
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Abstract
A processing system is disclosed, having a process chamber that houses a substrate for exposure of a surface of the substrate to a travelling electromagnetic (EM) wave. The processing system also includes an EM wave transmission antenna configured to launch the travelling EM wave into the process chamber for the travelling EM wave to propagate in a direction substantially parallel to the surface of the substrate. The processing system also includes a power coupling system configured to supply EM energy into the EM wave transmission antenna to generate the travelling EM wave at a prescribed output power and in a prescribed EM wave mode during treatment of the substrate. The EM wave is recycled in the processing system in order to increase the efficiency of the microwave power use and eliminate the complexity of the resistive load cooling.
29 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A processing system for electromagnetic (EM) wave treatment of a substrate, comprising:
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an EM wave generation circuit including an EM wave generator configured to generate an EM wave at a prescribed output power and a prescribed wave mode, and a first waveguide coupled with the EM wave generator; a standing wave circuit (SWC) coupled to the EM wave generation circuit and configured to reflect back or allow an EM wave to pass through, the standing wave circuit including an impedance matcher coupled to the first waveguide and configured to allow an EM wave proceeding in one direction from the EM wave generator and from the first waveguide to pass through and to reflect back an EM wave proceeding in another direction opposite the one direction; a travelling wave circuit (TWC) coupled to the standing wave circuit and including; a circulator configured to redirect a flow of the travelling EM wave and generate a travelling EM wave, the circulator coupled with the standing wave circuit; a process chamber coupled with the circulator to receive the traveling EM wave and configured to house a substrate for exposure of a surface of the substrate to the travelling EM wave; a waveguide configuration for directing the traveling EM wave into and out of the process chamber and back through the circulator; a phase shifter coupled within the waveguide configuration and configured and positioned to affect the traveling EM wave and maintain an integer number of wavelengths in the traveling wave circuit; the standing wave circuit configured for reflecting back an EM wave from the circulator in the traveling wave circuit that is directed toward the standing wave circuit; wherein the travelling EM wave is recirculated through the travelling wave circuit (TWC) and the process chamber thereby reducing the power usage and eliminating the need for a resistive load device to unload the travelling EM wave. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A processing system for electromagnetic (EM) wave treatment of a substrate, the processing system comprising:
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an EM wave generation circuit including an EM wave generator configured to generate an EM wave at a prescribed output power and a prescribed wave mode, and a first waveguide coupled with the EM wave generator; a standing wave circuit coupled to the EM wave generation circuit and configured to reflect back or allow an EM wave to pass through, the standing wave circuit including a first impedance matcher coupled to the EM wave generation circuit and configured to allow an EM wave proceeding in one direction from the EM wave generation circuit to pass through and to reflect back an EM wave proceeding in another direction opposite the one direction; a standing wave resonator coupled to the standing wave circuit, the standing wave resonator configured to generate a travelling EM wave and recirculate the travelling EM wave, the standing wave resonator including; a circulator configured to redirect a flow of the travelling EM wave, the circulator coupled with the standing wave circuit; a slot wave antenna coupled with the circulator and configured to propagate a travelling EM wave; and a first phase shifter coupled with the circulator and configured to affect the traveling EM wave and maintain an integer number of wavelengths in the standing wave resonator; the standing wave circuit configured for reflecting back an EM wave from the circulator in the traveling wave circuit that is directed toward the standing wave circuit; and a loop-back travelling wave circuit coupled to the standing wave resonator and including; a process chamber coupled to the slot wave antenna to receive the traveling EM wave and configured to house a substrate for exposure of a surface of the substrate to the travelling EM wave; a waveguide configuration for directing the traveling EM wave out of the process chamber and back through the standing wave resonator; a second impedance matcher coupled with the waveguide configuration and configured to reflect back or allow an EM wave to pass through; a second phase shifter coupled with the waveguide configuration and configured to affect the traveling EM wave and maintain an integer number of wavelengths exist in the loop-back travelling wave circuit; wherein the travelling EM wave is transmitted through the standing wave circuit and into the standing wave resonator and wherein the travelling EM wave propagates in a direction substantially parallel to a surface of the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification