IP Library Granted Patent US 10,927,461
Granted Patent B2
US 10,927,461 · App. 16/119,505 · Granted Feb 23, 2021

Gas diffuser support structure for reduced particle generation

Inventors: Allen K. Lau (Cupertino, CA); Robin L. Tiner (Santa Cruz, CA); Lai Zhao (Campbell, CA); Soo Young Choi (Fremont, CA)
Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
C23C16/45591
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,927,461
App. No.
16/119,505
Granted
Feb 23, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally provide apparatus and methods for gas diffuser support structure for a vacuum chamber. The gas diffuser support structure comprises a backing plate having a central bore formed therethrough, an integrated cross structure formed in the central bore, and a gas deflector coupled to the cross structure by a single fastener.

Claims (30)

1. A gas diffuser support structure for a vacuum chamber, the gas diffuser support structure comprising:

a backing plate made of a material;

a central bore formed in the backing plate;

a cross structure formed in the material of the backing plate and positioned at a bottom of the central bore; and

a gas deflector coupled to the cross structure by a single fastener coupled to a threaded hole formed in the cross structure.

2. The gas diffuser support structure of claim 1 , wherein the cross structure comprises a plurality of spokes.

3. The gas diffuser support structure of claim 2 , wherein openings are formed between the spokes.

4. The gas diffuser support structure of claim 3 , wherein the openings include an open area of about 7 square inches.

5. The gas diffuser support structure of claim 2 , wherein each of the spokes intersects at a hub.

6. The gas diffuser support structure of claim 5 , wherein the hub is positioned at a geometric center of the backing plate.

7. The gas diffuser support structure of claim 5 , wherein the single fastener is coupled to the threaded hole at the hub.

8. The gas diffuser support structure of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of spokes are positioned at 90 degree intervals.

9. A gas diffuser support structure for a vacuum chamber, the gas diffuser support structure comprising:

a backing plate having a central bore formed therein; and

an integrated cross structure formed in a bottom of the central bore, wherein the cross structure comprises a plurality of spokes that separate a plurality of openings, and wherein a threaded hole is formed in the cross structure at an intersection of each of the plurality of spokes.

10. The gas diffuser support structure of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of spokes are positioned at 90 degree intervals.

11. The gas diffuser support structure of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of openings includes an open area of about 7 square inches.

12. The gas diffuser support structure of claim 9 , wherein each of the spokes intersect at a hub, and the threaded hole is formed in the hub.

13. The gas diffuser support structure of claim 12 , wherein the hub is positioned at a geometric center of the backing plate.

14. The gas diffuser support structure of claim 9 , further comprising:

a gas deflector coupled to the cross structure by a single fastener disposed in the threaded hole.

15. The gas diffuser support structure of claim 14 , wherein the single fastener is coupled to the cross structure at a geometric center of the backing plate.

16. A gas diffuser support structure for a vacuum chamber, the gas diffuser support structure comprising:

a backing plate made of an aluminum material and having a central bore formed therein;

a cross structure positioned in the central bore, wherein the cross structure comprises a plurality of spokes made of the aluminum material of the backing plate that separate a plurality of openings that are in fluid communication with the central bore; and

a gas deflector coupled to the cross structure by a single threaded fastener.

17. The gas diffuser support structure of claim 16 , wherein each of the spokes intersects at a hub.

18. The gas diffuser support structure of claim 17 , wherein the hub is positioned at a geometric center of the backing plate.

19. The gas diffuser support structure of claim 17 , wherein the single fastener is coupled to a threaded hole formed in the hub.

20. The gas diffuser support structure of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of spokes are positioned at 90 degree intervals.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 22, 2019
From: LAU, ALLEN K.; TINER, ROBIN L.; ZHAO, LAI; CHOI, SOO YOUNG
To: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
Reel/Frame 048417/0219 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200071833A1 · Mar 5, 2020