IP Library Patent Application 13934251
Patent Application
App. No. 13/934,251

ENHANCED SELENIUM SUPPLY IN COPPER INDIUM GALLIUM SELENIDE PROCESSES

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
13/934,251
Abstract

A system for depositing selenium on a substrate comprises includes a substrate carrier including a body, means for holding the substrate, and a plurality of selenium vapor outlets formed in the body to direct a flux of selenium vapor onto the substrate. A selenium supply container provides selenium vapor to the selenium vapor outlets. At least one temperature sensor is coupled to the substrate carrier to sense temperature of the substrate. A heat source is positioned to heat the substrate. A controller is coupled to the temperature sensor and the heat source.

Claims (39)

1 . A substrate carrier, which comprises:

a body including a back plate and a pair of spaced apart, substantially parallel, side rails on the back plate, each side rail including an inwardly facing surface extending outwardly of the back plate; and,

a longitudinally extending engagement slot formed in the inwardly facing surface of each side rail adjacent the back plate to engage and hold the substrate in proximity to the back plate.

2 . The substrate carrier as claimed in claim 1 , including:

a longitudinally extending selenium vapor bore formed in each of the side rails; and,

a plurality of inwardly directed selenium vapor outlets formed in each side rail outwardly of the engagement slot and in communication with the selenium vapor bore and the inwardly facing surface.

3 . The substrate carrier as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the selenium vapor outlets include a first outlet conduit in communication with the bore and a second outlet conduit in communication with the first outlet conduit and the inwardly facing surface.

4 . The substrate carrier as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the second outlet conduit is larger than the first outlet conduit.

5 . The substrate carrier as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the outlet conduits each have a circular cross section and are concentric with each other.

6 . The substrate carrier as claimed in claim 2 , including:

a longitudinally extending selenium vapor channel formed in the inwardly facing surface of each side rail outwardly of the engagement slot; and,

a plurality of inwardly directed selenium vapor outlets formed in each side rail and in communication with the selenium vapor bore and the selenium vapor channel.

7 . The substrate carrier as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the selenium vapor outlets are substantially uniformly spaced apart along the inwardly facing surface of each side rail.

8 . The substrate carrier as claimed in claim 1 , including a temperature sensor holder formed in the back plate.

9 . The substrate carrier as claimed in claim 1 , including a plurality of temperature sensor holders formed in the back plate.

10 . The substrate carrier as claimed in claim 1 , including:

a selenium supply container formed in an end of the body adjacent the back plate and the side rails, the selenium supply container including a shelf portion extending between the side rails outwardly of the engagement slot, the shelf portion having formed therein a plurality of selenium vapor ports.

11 . The substrate carrier as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the body is substantially rectangular.

12 . The substrate carrier as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the rails are positioned on opposite sides of the back plate.

13 . The substrate carrier as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the body comprises graphite.

14 . A system for depositing selenium on a substrate, which comprises:

a substrate carrier including a body, means for holding the substrate, and a plurality of selenium vapor outlets formed in the body to direct a flux of selenium vapor onto the substrate;

a selenium supply container coupled to provide selenium vapor to the selenium vapor outlets;

at least one temperature sensor coupled to the substrate carrier to sense temperature of the substrate;

a heat source positioned to heat the substrate; and,

a controller coupled to the temperature sensor and the heat source.

15 . The system as claimed in claim 14 , wherein:

the carrier includes a back plate;

the means for holding the substrate includes a pair of spaced apart, substantially parallel, side rails on the back plate, each side rail including an inwardly facing surface extending outwardly of the back plate, a longitudinally extending engagement slot formed in the inwardly facing surface of each side rail adjacent the back plate to engage and hold the substrate in proximity to the back plate; and,

the plurality selenium vapor outlets are formed in each side rail outwardly of the engagement slot.

16 . The system as claimed in claim 15 , wherein each selenium vapor outlet is in communication with a selenium vapor bore formed in the side rail and the inwardly facing surface of the side rail.

17 . The system as claimed in claim 16 , wherein each selenium vapor bore is coupled to the selenium supply container by a tube.

18 . The system as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the selenium supply container is integral with the body, and the selenium supply container includes a shelf positioned above the means for holding the substrate, and the shelf portion has formed therein the plurality of selenium vapor outlets.

19 . The system as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the body comprises graphite.

20 . A process of depositing selenium on a substrate, which comprises:

placing a substrate in a carrier, the carrier carrying at least one temperature sensor, and the carrier having a plurality of selenium vapor outlets positioned to direct selenium vapor on to the substrate;

vaporizing solid selenium to form a selenium vapor flux;

coupling the selenium vapor flux to the selenium vapor outlets; and,

monitoring temperature sensed by the at least one temperature sensor.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Jun 16, 2016
From: TSMC SOLAR LTD.
To: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 039050/0299 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 3, 2013
From: LU, WEI-LUN; WU, JYH-LIH; YEN, WEN-TSAI
To: TSMC SOLAR LTD.
Reel/Frame 030732/0287 →