IP Library Granted Patent US 12697691
Granted Patent B2
US 12697691 · App. 18/121,647 · Granted Aug 4, 2026

Electrostatic chuck

Inventors: Akihito Ono (Kitakyushu, JP); Masafumi Ikeguchi (Kitakyushu, JP); Tomoki Umetsu (Kitakyushu, JP); Jumpei Uefuji (Kitakyushu, JP)
Assignee: Toto Ltd.
B23Q3/15H10P72/722
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12697691
App. No.
18/121,647
Granted
Aug 4, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electrostatic chuck includes a ceramic dielectric substrate and a base plate. The base plate includes a communicating path configured to allow a coolant to pass. The communicating path includes a first flow path part having a pair of side surfaces along a first direction. The first direction is along a flow of the coolant. When viewed along a stacking direction, one side surface of the pair of side surfaces includes a plurality of convex portions and a plurality of concave portions. The plurality of convex portions is convex in a second direction. The second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. The second direction is from the other side surface toward the one side surface of the pair of side surfaces. The plurality of concave portions is convex in an opposite direction of the second direction.

Claims (74)

1 . An electrostatic chuck, comprising:

a ceramic dielectric substrate having a placement surface configured to have a process object placed thereon; and

a base plate supporting the ceramic dielectric substrate,

the base plate having an upper surface at the ceramic dielectric substrate side, and a lower surface opposite to the upper surface,

the base plate including a communicating path located between the upper surface and the lower surface, the communicating path being configured to allow a coolant to pass,

the communicating path having a spiral shape when viewed along a stacking direction of the base plate and the ceramic dielectric substrate, the communicating path including a first flow path part, the first flow path part being a portion of an outermost circumference of the spiral shape and having a pair of side surfaces along a first direction, the first direction being along a flow of the coolant,

when viewed along the stacking direction of the base plate and the ceramic dielectric substrate, one side surface of the pair of side surfaces including

a plurality of convex portions that is convex in a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction from the other side surface toward the one side surface of the pair of side surfaces, and

a plurality of concave portions that is convex in an opposite direction of the second direction,

the plurality of convex portions and the plurality of concave portions being alternately arranged;

the chuck further comprising:

a heater unit located inside the ceramic dielectric substrate or between the ceramic dielectric substrate and the base plate,

the heater unit heating the ceramic dielectric substrate,

the heater unit including a heater line,

the heater line having a pair of sides extending along an extension direction of the heater line,

at least a portion of one of the pair of sides overlapping the first flow path part in the stacking direction.

2 . The chuck according to claim 1 , wherein

when viewed along the stacking direction, the other side surface of the pair of side surfaces includes:

a plurality of convex portions that is convex in the second direction; and

a plurality of concave portions that is convex in an opposite direction of the second direction, and

the plurality of convex portions of the other side surface and the plurality of concave portions of the other side surface are alternately arranged.

3 . The chuck according to claim 1 , wherein

the first direction is a circumferential direction of the base plate,

the plurality of convex portions of the one side surface includes a first convex portion,

the plurality of concave portions of the one side surface includes a first concave portion adjacent to the first convex portion,

a first virtual circle is centered on a center of the base plate and contacts the first convex portion, and

a second virtual circle is centered on the center of the base plate and contacts the first concave portion, and

a first distance between the first virtual circle and the second virtual circle is greater than a shortest distance between the one side surface and the other side surface.

4 . The chuck according to claim 3 , wherein

the first distance is not less than 5 millimeters.

5 . The chuck according to claim 3 , wherein

the communicating path includes a second flow path part having a pair of side surfaces arranged in a radial direction of the base plate,

when viewed along the stacking direction, one side surface of the pair of side surfaces of the second flow path part includes:

a plurality of convex portions that is convex in the second direction; and

a plurality of concave portions that is convex in an opposite direction of the second direction,

the plurality of convex portions of the second flow path part and the plurality of concave portions of the second flow path part are alternately arranged,

the second flow path part is positioned radially inward of the first flow path part in the base plate,

the plurality of convex portions of the second flow path part includes a second convex portion,

the plurality of concave portions of the second flow path part includes a second concave portion,

a fourth virtual circle is centered on the center of the base plate and contacts the second convex portion,

a fifth virtual circle is centered on the center of the base plate and contacts the second concave portion,

a third distance is a distance between the fourth virtual circle and the fifth virtual circle, and

the first distance is greater than the third distance.

6 . The chuck according to claim 1 , wherein

the first direction is a circumferential direction of the base plate,

the plurality of convex portions of the one side surface includes a first convex portion,

the plurality of concave portions of the one side surface includes a first concave portion adjacent to the first convex portion,

a first virtual circle is centered on a center of the base plate and contacts the first convex portion,

a second virtual circle is centered on the center of the base plate and contacts the first concave portion,

a third virtual circle is equidistant from the first virtual circle and the second virtual circle,

a first radial line is a straight line connecting the first convex portion and the center of the base plate,

a second radial line is a straight line connecting the first concave portion and the center of the base plate, and

a second distance along the circumferential direction between an intersection between the first radial line and the third virtual circle and an intersection between the second radial line and the third virtual circle is not less than 30 millimeters and not more than 140 millimeters.

7 . The chuck according to claim 6 , wherein

the communicating path includes a second flow path part having a pair of side surfaces arranged in a radial direction of the base plate,

when viewed along the stacking direction, one side surface of the pair of side surfaces of the second flow path part includes:

a plurality of convex portions that is convex in the second direction; and

a plurality of concave portions that is convex in an opposite direction of the second direction,

the plurality of convex portions of the second flow path part and the plurality of concave portions of the second flow path part are alternately arranged,

the second flow path part is positioned radially inward of the first flow path part in the base plate,

the plurality of convex portions of the second flow path part includes a second convex portion,

the plurality of concave portions of the second flow path part includes a second concave portion,

a fourth virtual circle is centered on the center of the base plate and contacts the second convex portion,

a fifth virtual circle is centered on the center of the base plate and contacts the first concave portion,

a sixth virtual circle is equidistant from the fourth virtual circle and the fifth virtual circle,

a third radial line is a straight line connecting the second convex portion and the center of the base plate,

a fourth radial line is a straight line connecting the second concave portion and the center of the base plate,

a fourth distance is a distance along the circumferential direction between an intersection between the third radial line and a sixth virtual circle and an intersection between a fourth radial line and the sixth virtual circle, and

the second distance is less than the fourth distance.

8 . The chuck according to claim 1 , wherein

the first direction is a circumferential direction of the base plate, and

the one side surface is positioned radially outward of the other side surface in the base plate.

9 . The chuck according to claim 1 , wherein

the extension direction is a same direction as the first direction.