IP Library Granted Patent US 9,433,966
Granted Patent B2
US 9,433,966 · App. 14/186,002 · Granted Sep 6, 2016

Method and system of chemical bath deposition

Inventor: Pei-Chen Tsai (Shuishang Township, TW)
Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
B05C11/1002B05C3/005B05C3/02H01L31/1828Y02E10/50Y02P70/521
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,433,966
App. No.
14/186,002
Granted
Sep 6, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus for chemical bath deposition includes a housing defining a chemical tank, a circulation pipe, and at least one flow adjustment device disposed inside the chemical tank. The chemical tank has an opening on a top surface and is configured to accept and hold at least one substrate inside the chemical tank. The circulation pipe has at least one portion inside the chemical tank, and is configured to supply at least one chemical to the chemical tank. The at least one flowing adjustment device includes any one of a turbine, a diffuser and a bubbler, or a combination thereof.

Claims (34)

1. An apparatus for chemical bath deposition, comprising:

a housing defining a chemical tank, the chemical tank having an opening on a top surface and configured to accept and hold at least one substrate therein;

a circulation pipe, having at least one horizontal portion inside the chemical tank, and configured to supply at least one chemical to the chemical tank; and

at least one flow adjustment device disposed inside the chemical tank, the at least one flowing adjustment device comprising a turbine or a diffuser,

wherein the at least one horizontal portion of the circulation pipe inside the chemical tank has a plurality of vent holes configured to provide the chemical from the circulation pipe to the chemical tank;

wherein the turbine is a reversible turbine disposed adjacent to one side wall of the chemical tank, the one side wall being a vertical wall.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one horizontal portion of the circulation pipe inside the chemical tank is disposed above and adjacent to a bottom wall of the chemical tank.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of vent holes on the portion of the circulation pipe is configured to provide the chemical substantially downward from the circulation pipe.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the turbine has a center, and at least one blade disposed radially from the center and substantially parallel to the one side wall of the chemical tank, and the at least one blade is configured to selectively rotate around the center in one of a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one flow adjustment device comprises a diffuser disposed above the circulation pipe, the diffuser comprising a plate having a plurality of holes and configured to diffuse the chemical from the circulation pipe upward through the plate.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the diffuser and the circulation pipe are disposed adjacent to and above a bottom wall of the chemical tank, and below the at least one substrate inside the chemical tank.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one flow adjustment device further comprises a bubbler disposed adjacent to and above a bottom wall of the chemical tank, and configured to provide gas bubbles inside the chemical tank.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one flow adjustment device comprises a combination of two or more selected from the group consisting of a turbine, a diffuser and a bubbler.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a heater disposed inside the chemical tank and configured to adjust a temperature of the chemical inside the chemical tank.

10. An apparatus for chemical bath deposition, comprising:

a housing defining a chemical tank, the chemical tank having an opening on a top surface and configured to accept and hold at least one substrate therein;

a circulation pipe, having at least one horizontal portion inside the chemical tank, and configured to supply at least one chemical to the chemical tank; and

at least one flow adjustment device disposed inside the chemical tank, the at least one flowing adjustment device comprising

a turbine disposed adjacent to one side wall of the chemical tank, and

a diffuser disposed above the circulation pipe,

wherein the at least one horizontal portion of the circulation pipe inside the chemical tank has a plurality of vent holes configured to provide the chemical from the circulation pipe to the chemical tank;

wherein the turbine is a reversible turbine disposed adjacent to one side wall of the chemical tank, the one side wall being a vertical wall.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the diffuser comprises a plate having a plurality of holes and configured to diffuse the chemical from the circulation pipe upward through the plate.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the at least one flowing adjustment device comprises a bubbler disposed adjacent to and above a bottom wall of the chemical tank, and configured to provide gas bubbles inside the chemical tank.

13. An apparatus for chemical bath deposition, comprising:

a housing defining a chemical tank, the chemical tank having an opening on a top surface and configured to accept and hold at least one substrate therein;

a circulation pipe, having at least one horizontal portion inside the chemical tank, and configured to supply at least one chemical to the chemical tank; and

at least one flow adjustment device disposed inside the chemical tank, wherein the at least one flow adjustment device comprises a combination of two or more selected from the group consisting of a turbine, a diffuser and a bubbler,

wherein the at least one horizontal portion of the circulation pipe inside the chemical tank has a plurality of vent holes configured to provide the chemical from the circulation pipe to the chemical tank;

wherein the turbine is a reversible turbine disposed adjacent to one side wall of the chemical tank, the one side wall being a vertical wall.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the turbine has a center, and at least one blade disposed radially from the center and substantially parallel to the one side wall of the chemical tank, and the at least one blade is configured to selectively rotate around the center in one of a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the diffuser is disposed above the circulation pipe, the diffuser comprising a plate having a plurality of holes and configured to diffuse the chemical from the circulation pipe upward through the plate.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the bubbler is disposed adjacent to and above a bottom wall of the chemical tank, and configured to provide gas bubbles inside the chemical tank.

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 Feb 21, 2014
From: TSAI, PEI-CHEN
To: TSMC SOLAR LTD.
Reel/Frame 032262/0394 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150239001A1 · Aug 27, 2015