IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,600,620
Granted Patent B2
US 10,600,620 · App. 15/384,209 · Granted Mar 24, 2020

Temperature control in RF chamber with heater and air amplifier

Inventors: Jon McChesney (Sacramento, CA); Alex Paterson (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
H01J37/32522H01J37/321H01J37/3211H01J37/32082H01J37/32119H01J37/32238H01L21/3065H01J2237/002H01J2237/334
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,600,620
App. No.
15/384,209
Granted
Mar 24, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer programs are presented for controlling the temperature of a window in a semiconductor manufacturing chamber. One apparatus includes a heater for receiving and heating a flow of air and an air amplifier coupled to pressurized gas. The air amplifier has an input that receives the flow of air from the heater, and the air amplifier having an output. A duct is coupled to the output of the air amplifier and a plenum is coupled to the duct. The plenum receives the flow of air and distributes the flow of air over a window of a plasma chamber. A temperature sensor is situated about the window of the plasma chamber and a controller is provided to control the air amplifier and the heater based on a temperature measured by the temperature sensor.

Claims (20)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a heater for receiving and heating a flow of air;

an air amplifier coupled to pressurized gas, the air amplifier having an input that receives the flow of air from the heater, the air amplifier having an output;

a duct coupled to the output of the air amplifier;

a plenum being defined by a partial enclosure having a top surface and side walls, wherein the top surface has an inlet and an open bottom, and wherein the side walls have outlets, the duct is coupled to the inlet and the open bottom of the plenum is placed over a window of a plasma chamber so that the flow of air is distributed over the window;

a temperature sensor situated about the window of the plasma chamber; and

a controller defined to control the air amplifier and the heater based on a temperature measured by the temperature sensor.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plenum includes a plurality of sections, wherein a first section is coupled to the duct receiving the flow of air from the air amplifier and other sections are coupled to respective heaters, air amplifiers, and ducts.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the controller is defined to read instructions for a recipe in a computer readable medium, the instructions defining parameters for controlling the air amplifier and the heater during operation.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further including:

an inner coil above the window of the plasma chamber; and

an outer coil above the window of the plasma chamber.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4 , wherein said partial enclosure of the plenum has a ring shape.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the partial enclosure is disposed between the inner coil and the outer coil.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said outlets of the sidewalls of the partial enclosure are disposed toward an inside the ring shape and toward the inner coil.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further including:

a heater regulator coupled to the heater and to the controller.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising,

an inner coil above the window of the plasma chamber and an outer coil above the window of the plasma chamber;

wherein the outlets of the sidewalls of the partial enclosure are oriented toward the inner coil.

Continuity (4)
Division 13851793 · Mar 27, 2013
Continuation In Part 13292649 · Nov 9, 2011
Provisional Application 61544799 · Oct 7, 2011
Related Publication 20170103875A1 · Apr 13, 2017