IP Library Granted Patent US 12689013
Granted Patent B2
US 12689013 · App. 18/655,368 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Measuring device, measuring method, and vacuum processing apparatus

Inventors: Atsushi Sawachi (Miyagi, JP); Ichiro Sone (Miyagi, JP); Takuya Nishijima (Miyagi, JP); Suguru Sato (Miyagi, JP)
Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
H01J37/32972G01J3/443H01J37/32733
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12689013
App. No.
18/655,368
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A measuring device for a vacuum processing apparatus including a processing chamber having a first gate for loading and unloading a substrate and a second gate different from the first gate is provided. The measuring device includes a case having an opening that is sized to correspond to the second gate of the processing chamber and is airtightly attachable to the second gate, a decompressing mechanism configured to reduce a pressure in the case, and a measuring mechanism accommodated in the case and configured to measure a state in the processing chamber through the opening in a state where the pressure in the case is reduced by the decompressing mechanism.

Claims (33)

1 . A measuring device for measuring a state of a consumable member disposed in a plasma processing chamber of a plasma processing apparatus, the measuring device comprising:

a first case having a depressurizable internal space;

a measuring mechanism disposed in the first case and configured to measure a state of the consumable member under a reduced pressure environment; and

a second case communicating with the first case through an openable shutter member, having an opening for connecting with a gate of the plasma processing chamber, being located between the first case and the plasma processing chamber, and having a depressurizable internal space,

wherein the measuring mechanism includes a first arm that is configured to move into the plasma processing chamber through the opening and that is detachably provided within the first case.

2 . The measuring device of claim 1 , wherein the measuring mechanism includes:

a sensor configured to measure the state of the consumable member.

3 . The measuring device of claim 2 , wherein the first arm is configured to move the sensor into the plasma processing chamber from the opening after the shutter member and the gate are open under the reduced pressure environment.

4 . The measuring device of claim 1 , wherein the consumable member is a ring disposed around a substrate in the plasma processing chamber.

5 . The measuring device of claim 4 , wherein the measuring mechanism includes:

a sensor configured to measure the state of the ring; and

a first arm configured to move the sensor above the ring through the opening.

6 . The measuring device of claim 5 , wherein the sensor is configured to measure a consumption amount of the ring.

7 . The measuring device of claim 5 , wherein the sensor is configured to measure the position of the ring.

8 . The measuring device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a removing unit configured to remove a lid for closing the gate of the plasma processing chamber from the gate.

9 . The measuring device of claim 8 , wherein the removing unit includes:

a second arm provided in the first case; and

a robot hand provided at a tip end of the second arm.

10 . A measuring device, comprising: a first case having a depressurizable internal space; a second case located between the first case and a plasma processing chamber, the second case having a depressurizable internal space; and a measuring mechanism disposed in the first case and configured to measure a state of a consumable member disposed in the plasma processing chamber through the second case under a reduced pressure environment, wherein the measuring mechanism includes a first arm that is configured to move into the plasma processing chamber through an opening and that is detachably provided within the first case.

11 . The measuring device of claim 10 , wherein the measuring mechanism includes:

a sensor configured to measure the state of the consumable member; and

a first arm configured to move the sensor into the plasma processing chamber through the second case.

12 . The measuring device of claim 10 , wherein the consumable member is a ring disposed around a substrate in the plasma processing chamber.

13 . The measuring device of claim 12 , wherein the measuring mechanism includes:

a sensor configured to measure the state of the ring; and

a first arm configured to move the sensor above the ring through the second case.

14 . The measuring device of claim 13 , wherein the sensor is configured to measure a consumption amount of the ring.

15 . The measuring device of claim 13 , wherein the sensor is configured to measure the position of the ring.

16 . The measuring device of claim 10 , further comprising:

a removing unit configured to remove a lid for closing a gate of the plasma processing chamber from the gate.

17 . A measuring device detachably attached to a plasma processing chamber, comprising: a first case having a depressurizable internal space; a second case communicating with the first case through an openable shutter member, having an opening for connecting with a gate of the plasma processing chamber, being located between the first case and the plasma processing chamber, and having a depressurizable internal space; a robot arm disposed in the first case; and a sensor attached to the robot arm, wherein the robot arm is detachably provided within the first case and configured to move the sensor into the plasma processing chamber under a reduced pressure environment, and wherein the sensor is configured to measure a consumption amount and/or a position of a ring disposed in the plasma processing chamber under the reduced pressure environment.

18 . The measuring device of claim 17 , wherein a consumable member is the ring disposed around a substrate in the plasma processing chamber.