Wafer clamp assembly for holding a wafer during a deposition process

1. A wafer clamp for holding a wafer during a semiconductor fabrication process, said wafer clamp comprising:

a wafer clamp assembly having a step that defines a depression with a substantially flat, exposed surface, wherein the wafer clamp assembly is annular and the step is also annular;

a plurality of substantially flat finger members mounted in the depression on the substantially flat, exposed surface, each substantially flat finger member having:

a) a first portion with an essentially rectangular cross-section; and

b) a second portion, the second portion having a free end that includes a contact portion, the second portion having a rounded tip;

an outer annular member coupled to:

a) each of the plurality of finger members and

b) the wafer clamp assembly,

the outer annular member having:

a) a first annular projection, and

b) a second annular projection;

and a central recess defined by the first annular projection,

wherein the central recess has a diameter that is greater than d, the diameter of the wafer, wherein the wafer can be clamped so that the wafer is not contacted by the outer annular member during a deposition process,

wherein the contact portion of each finger member overhangs the wafer to be clamped only at selected areas, and

wherein the finger members contact the wafer only at the selected areas where the finger members overhang the wafer, thereby reducing an edge exclusion of the wafer,

wherein the contact portion has a hemispherical shape thereby establishing a point contact surface with the wafer, wherein the contact portion is immobile relative to the finger; and

a first screw within the first annular projection and a second screw in the second annular projection.

2. The wafer clamp of claim 1 wherein the wafer clamp assembly is a heated wafer clamp assembly.

3. The wafer clamp of claim 1 , wherein said outer annular member has radially-spaced first and second annular projections directed downwardly therefrom.

4. The wafer clamp of claim 1 , wherein said outer annular member has radially-spaced first and second annular projections directed downwardly therefrom; and said finger members are screw-mounted at said first and second annular projections.

5. A method of holding a wafer during a semiconductor process, said method comprising:

providing a plurality of substantially flat planar finger member mounted in an annular step defining a depression of a wafer clamp assembly;

providing an outer annular member, coupled to the plurality of finger members and the wafer clamp assembly, the outer annular member having

a) a first annular projection, and

b) a second annular projection;

contacting said wafer during the semiconductor fabrication process with the plurality of substantially flat finger members, wherein each of the finger members include:

a) a first portion with an essentially rectangular cross-section; and

b) a second portion, the second portion having a free end that includes a contact portion, the second portion having a rounded tip;

a central recess defined by the first annular projection,

wherein the central recess has a diameter that is greater than d, the diameter of the wafer, and

wherein the wafer can be clamped so that the wafer is not contacted by the outer annular member during a deposition process of the semiconductor,

wherein the contact portion overhangs the wafer to be clamped;

wherein the contact portion of each finger member overhangs the wafer to be clamped only at selected areas,

wherein the finger members contact the wafer only at the selected areas where the finger members overhang the wafer, thereby reducing an edge exclusion of the wafer, and

wherein the contact portion has a hemispherical shape thereby establishing a point contact surface with the wafer,

wherein said outer annular member has radially-spaced first and second annular projections directed downwardly therefrom; and said finger members are screw-mounted at said first and second annular projections.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said contact portion is downwardly directed.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said second portion has a horizontal cross-section that decreases radially inwardly from a first width value which matches a width value of a corresponding essentially rectangular horizontal cross-section of said first portion, down to a second width value which is zero.

8. A wafer clamp for holding a wafer during a semiconductor fabrication process, said wafer clamp comprising:

a wafer clamp assembly having an annular step thereby defining an annular depression,

a plurality of substantially flat finger members mounted in the step, each finger member having

a) a first portion with an essentially rectangular cross-section; and

b) a second portion, the second portion having a free end that includes a contact portion, the second portion having a rounded tip;

an outer annular member coupled to the finger members and the wafer clamp assembly, the outer annular member having

a) a first annular projection, and

b) a second annular projection;

a central recess defined by the contact portion of the plurality of finger members,

wherein the central recess has a diameter that is greater than d, the diameter of the wafer, wherein the wafer can be clamped so that the wafer is not contacted by the outer annular member during a deposition process; and

wherein said outer annular member has said first and second annular projections radially-spaced and directed downwardly therefrom;

wherein said finger members are screw-mounted at said first and second annular projections;

wherein the contact portion of finger member overhangs the wafer to be clamped only at selected areas, and

wherein the finger members contact the wafer only at the selected areas where the finger members overhang the wafer, thereby reducing an edge exclusion of the wafer,

wherein the contact portion has a hemispherical shape thereby establishing a point contact surface with the wafer.

9. The wafer clamp of claim 8 , wherein said contact portion is downwardly directed.

10. The wafer clamp of claim 8 , wherein said second portion has a horizontal cross-section that decreases radially inwardly from a first width value which matches a width value of a corresponding essentially rectangular horizontal cross-section of said first portion, down to a second width value which is zero.