IP Library Granted Patent US 12680164
Granted Patent B2
US 12680164 · App. 18/713,532 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Distribution body for distributing a process gas for treating a substrate by means of the process gas

Inventors: Andreas Gleissner (Döbriach, AT); Marianne Kolitsch-Mataln (Villach, AT); Harald Okorn-Schmidt (Graz, AT)
Assignee: Lam Research Salzburg GmbH
C23C16/45561C23C16/45544C23C16/4584C23C16/481C23C16/52
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12680164
App. No.
18/713,532
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The disclosure relates to a distribution body for distributing a process gas relative to a substrate to treat the substrate by means of the process gas, comprising a distribution plate, at least one gas inlet channel, a plurality of gas distribution channels, and a plurality of gas extraction channels, wherein the gas inlet channel extends from a lateral surface of the distribution plate to an interior of the distribution plate, wherein the gas distribution channels branch off from the at least one gas inlet channel and extend to a substrate-facing surface of the distribution plate to supply process gas to the substrate to be treated, wherein the gas distribution channels are directed essentially perpendicular to the substrate-facing surface, and wherein the gas extraction channels extend from the substrate-facing surface to a another surface of the distribution plate to convey gas away from the substrate. Further, the disclosure relates to a deposition system an a method for distributing a process gas relative to a substrate to treat the substrate by means of the process gas.

Claims (25)

1 . A distribution body for distributing a process gas relative to a substrate to treat the substrate by means of the process gas, comprising:

a distribution plate,

at least one gas inlet channel,

a plurality of gas distribution channels, and

a plurality of gas extraction channels,

wherein the gas inlet channel extends from a lateral surface of the distribution plate to an interior of the distribution plate,

wherein the gas distribution channels branch off from the at least one gas inlet channel and extend to a substrate-facing surface of the distribution plate to supply process gas to the substrate to be treated, wherein the gas distribution channels are directed essentially perpendicular to the substrate-facing surface,

wherein the gas extraction channels extend from the substrate-facing surface to another surface of the distribution plate to convey gas away from the substrate,

wherein openings of the plurality of gas distribution channels have a diameter larger than a diameter of openings of the plurality of gas extraction channels, and

wherein a summation of cross sections of all openings of the plurality of gas distribution channels in the substrate-facing surface is essentially equal to or smaller than a summation of cross sections of all openings of the plurality of gas extraction channels in the substrate-facing surface.

2 . The distribution body according to claim 1 , wherein a single opening of a gas distribution channel in the substrate-facing surface is surrounded by several openings of gas extraction channels arranged on an imaginary circular line around the opening of the gas distribution channel as imaginary circle centre.

3 . The distribution body according to claim 1 , wherein openings of the gas distribution channels and openings of the gas extraction channels are arranged on imaginary spiral curved lines around an imaginary centre.

4 . The distribution body according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one radiation unit arranged at the substrate-facing surface of the distribution plate to radiate the substrate to be treated.

5 . The distribution body according to claim 1 , wherein the radiation unit comprises at least one LED arranged between an opening of the gas distribution channels and an opening of the gas extraction channels.

6 . The distribution body according to claim 5 , wherein, in case of several LEDs, the LEDs are arranged on imaginary spiral curved lines around an imaginary centre.

7 . The distribution body according to claim 1 , wherein the LED is tuneable to provide radiation of different wavelengths and/or wherein, in case of several LEDs, the LEDs have different wavelengths.

8 . The distribution body according to claim 1 , further comprising a temperature control unit to heat or cool the gas and/or the substrate.

9 . A deposition system for treating a substrate by a process gas, comprising:

a distribution body according to claim 1 , and

a substrate holder,

wherein the substrate holder is configured to hold the substrate to be treated.

10 . The deposition system according to claim 9 , further comprising means to adjust a pressure in a processing space(s) between the distribution body and the substrate from 0.1 Torr to at least 900 Torr.

11 . The deposition system according to claim 9 , further comprising a substrate agitation unit, wherein the substrate agitation unit is configured to agitate and/or rotate the substrate holder relative to the distribution body.

12 . The deposition system according to claim 9 , further comprising a gas cycle unit, wherein the gas cycle unit is connected to the gas extraction channels and the at least one gas inlet channel of the distribution body.

13 . The deposition system according to claim 9 , further comprising a gas reconditioning system to provide the substrate with a gas flow of constant or controlled-varying composition or constant or controlled-varying temperature.