Patent ID: 11944988
Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
Field: Chemical engineering (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC B  C  H | IPC B  H

Claim 0:
1. A multi-zone showerhead, comprising:
a showerhead body including a top plate, a bottom plate, and two intermediate plates disposed between the top plate and the bottom plate;
a plurality of fluidly independent plenums including a first plenum defined between the top plate and a first intermediate plate of the two intermediate plates, a second plenum defined between the first intermediate plate and a second intermediate plate of the two intermediate plates, and a third plenum defined between the second intermediate plate and the bottom plate;
a plurality of holes formed through the bottom plate and the two intermediate plates, wherein each hole in the bottom plate is aligned with corresponding holes in the two intermediate plates; and
a plurality of gas distribution plugs, each gas distribution plug disposed in a corresponding hole of the plurality of holes formed through the bottom plate and extending through the corresponding holes of the two intermediate plates, wherein at least one gas distribution plug comprises a plug body that includes a first internal gas passageway coupling the first plenum to an outer surface of the showerhead body, a second internal gas passageway coupling the second plenum to the outer surface of the showerhead body, and a third internal gas passageway coupling the third plenum to the outer surface of the showerhead body,
wherein at least one gas distribution plug body comprises:
a bottom portion, a middle portion, and a top portion, wherein a lowermost portion of the bottom portion is threaded to facilitate threading into the bottom plate;
a radial flange disposed between the bottom portion and the middle portion to facilitate sealing between the third plenum and the second plenum; and
a shoulder disposed between the middle portion and the top portion to facilitate sealing between the second plenum and the first plenum.