Patent ID: 9236216
Filing Date: 2016-01-12
CPC Classification: H01J,H01L

Claim Text:
1. An ion implantation system, comprising: a process chamber having a process environment associated therewith that is substantially evacuated; an ion implantation apparatus configured to provide a plurality of ions to a workpiece positioned in the process chamber; a chuck configured to support the workpiece within the process chamber during an exposure of the workpiece to the plurality of ions, wherein the chuck is configured to cool the workpiece to a processing temperature; a load lock chamber operably coupled to the process chamber, wherein the load lock chamber is configured to isolate the process environment from an external environment, and wherein the load lock chamber comprises a workpiece support configured to support the workpiece during a transfer of the workpiece between the process chamber and external environment; and a pre-chill station positioned within the process chamber, wherein the pre-chill station comprises a chilled workpiece support that is separate from the chuck and is configured to cool the workpiece to a first temperature; a chilled workpiece holding station positioned within the process chamber, wherein the chilled workpiece holding station comprises a cold workpiece support configured to receive and support the workpiece transferred thereto from the pre-chill station, and wherein the cold workpiece support is further configured to maintain the first temperature of the workpiece while the workpiece resides thereon; a post-heat station positioned within the process chamber and in continuous fluid communication with the process environment, wherein the post-heat station comprises a heated workpiece support configured to heat the workpiece to a second temperature; a heated workpiece holding station positioned within the process chamber, wherein the heated workpiece holding station comprises a hot workpiece support configured to receive and support the workpiece transferred thereto from the post-heat station, and wherein the hot workpiece support is further configured to maintain the second temperature of the workpiece while the workpiece resides thereon; and a workpiece transfer arm, wherein the workpiece transfer arm is configured to concurrently transfer two or more workpieces between two or more of the chuck, load lock chamber, chilled workpiece holding station, heated workpiece holding station, pre-chill station, and post-heat station.