IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,563,991
Granted Patent B2
US 12,563,991 · App. 17/411,926 · Granted Feb 24, 2026

Thermal choke plate

Inventors: Siva Chandrasekar (Tamil, IN); Satish Radhakrishnan (San Jose, CA); Viren Kalsekar (Mountain View, CA); Vellaichamy Nagappan (Tamil, IN); Vinay K. Prabhakar (Fremont, CA)
Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
H01L21/67017H01J37/32513H01L21/6719H01L21/67196H01J37/32091H01L21/67167
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,563,991
App. No.
17/411,926
Granted
Feb 24, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Exemplary substrate processing systems may include a chamber body defining a transfer region. The systems may include a lid plate seated on the chamber body. The lid plate may define a first plurality of apertures and a second plurality of apertures. The systems may include a plurality of lid stacks equal to a number of the first plurality of apertures. Each lid stack may include a choke plate seated on the lid plate along a first surface of the choke plate. The choke plate may define a first aperture axially aligned with an associated aperture of the first plurality of apertures. The choke plate may define a second aperture axially aligned with an associated aperture of the second plurality of apertures. The choke plate may define protrusions extending from each of a top and bottom surface of the choke plate that are arranged substantially symmetrically about the first aperture.

Claims (63)

1 . A substrate processing system comprising:

a chamber body defining a transfer region;

a lid plate seated on the chamber body, wherein the lid plate defines a first plurality of apertures through the lid plate and a second plurality of apertures through the lid plate; and

a plurality of lid stacks equal to a number of apertures of the first plurality of apertures defined through the lid plate, wherein the plurality of lid stacks at least partially define a plurality of processing regions vertically offset from the transfer region, and wherein each lid stack of the plurality of lid stacks comprises:

a choke plate seated on the lid plate along a first surface of the choke plate, wherein:

the choke plate defines a first aperture axially aligned with an associated aperture of the first plurality of apertures, and wherein the choke plate defines a second aperture axially aligned with an associated aperture of the second plurality of apertures; and

the choke plate defines a first set of protrusions extending from a first surface of the choke plate, the first set of protrusions being arranged substantially symmetrically about the first aperture;

the choke plate is seated on the lid plate on the first set of protrusions;

the choke plate defines a second set of protrusions extending from a second surface of the choke plate, the second set of protrusions being arranged substantially symmetrically about the first aperture;

a pumping liner seated on the second set of protrusions of the choke plate; and

a faceplate seated on the pumping liner.

2 . The substrate processing system of claim 1 , wherein:

the choke plate comprises a rim defining the first aperture; and

the rim extends along a sidewall of the lid plate defining the associated aperture of the first plurality of apertures.

3 . The substrate processing system of claim 1 , wherein:

the associated aperture of the second plurality of apertures defined through the lid plate and the second aperture defined through the choke plate form a flow channel extending from the pumping liner.

4 . The substrate processing system of claim 1 , wherein:

the choke plate defines a first channel in the second surface of the choke plate radially inward of the second set of protrusions; and

the choke plate defines a second channel in the second surface of the choke plate radially outward of the second set of protrusions.

5 . The substrate processing system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a blocker plate seated on the faceplate.

6 . The substrate processing system of claim 5 , further comprising:

a faceplate heater seated on the faceplate and positioned radially outward of the blocker plate.

7 . The substrate processing system of claim 5 , further comprising:

a gasbox seated on the blocker plate.

8 . The substrate processing system of claim 1 , wherein:

the second aperture defined through the choke plate is laterally offset from the first aperture defined through the choke plate.

9 . The substrate processing system of claim 1 , wherein:

each protrusion of the second set of protrusions is vertically aligned with a protrusion of the first set of protrusions.

10 . The substrate processing system of claim 1 , wherein:

the first surface of the choke plate defines a step that is disposed radially outward from the first set of protrusions.

11 . The substrate processing system of claim 10 , wherein:

the step is recessed relative to the first surface by a distance of between about 0.05 mm and 0.50 mm.

12 . The substrate processing system of claim 1 , wherein:

an outer periphery of the choke plate is generally tear drop-shaped.

13 . The substrate processing system of claim 1 , wherein:

each protrusion of the first set of protrusions and the second set of protrusions has a width of between about 1 mm and 10 mm.

14 . A substrate processing chamber choke plate, comprising:

a plate defining a first aperture through the plate and a second aperture through the plate, wherein:

the second aperture is laterally offset from the first aperture;

the plate defines a first set of protrusions extending from a first surface of the plate, the first set of protrusions being arranged substantially symmetrically about the first aperture; and

the plate defines a second set of protrusions extending from a second surface of the plate opposite the first surface of the plate, the second set of protrusions being arranged substantially symmetrically about the first aperture.

15 . The substrate processing chamber choke plate of claim 14 , wherein:

the plate comprises a rim defining the first aperture, and wherein the rim extends vertically from the first surface of the plate.

16 . The substrate processing chamber choke plate of claim 14 , wherein:

the first set of protrusions are disposed at regular intervals about the first aperture; and

the second set of protrusions are disposed at regular intervals about the first aperture.

17 . The substrate processing chamber choke plate of claim 14 , wherein:

each of the first set of protrusions and the second set of protrusions has a length of between about 5 mm and 50 mm.

18 . The substrate processing chamber choke plate of claim 14 , wherein:

the plate defines a third set of protrusions extending from the first surface of the plate, the third set of protrusions being arranged substantially symmetrically about the second aperture; and

the plate defines a fourth set of protrusions extending from the second surface of the plate, the fourth set of protrusions being arranged substantially symmetrically about the second aperture.

19 . A substrate processing system comprising:

a processing chamber defining a processing region;

a pedestal configured to support a substrate within the processing region;

a choke plate defining a first aperture and a second aperture through the choke plate, wherein:

the choke plate defines a first set of protrusions extending from a first surface of the choke plate, the first set of protrusions being arranged substantially symmetrically about the first aperture; and

the choke plate defines a second set of protrusions extending from a second surface of the plate opposite the first surface of the choke plate, the second set of protrusions being arranged substantially symmetrically about the first aperture;

a pumping liner seated on the choke plate;

a faceplate seated on the pumping liner; and

a blocker plate seated on the faceplate.

20 . The substrate processing system of claim 19 , wherein:

the first set of protrusions is vertically aligned with the second set of protrusions.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 30, 2021
From: CHANDRASEKAR, SIVA; RADHAKRISHNAN, SATISH; KALSEKAR, VIREN; NAGAPPAN, VELLAICHAMY; PRABHAKAR, VINAY K.
To: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
Reel/Frame 057677/0606 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230069317A1 · Mar 2, 2023
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