Patent ID: 9673025
Date: 2017-06-06
CPC Classifications: H01J,H01L

Claim:
1. An electrostatic chuck, comprising: a base plate formed of an electrically conductive material; a ceramic layer attached to a top surface of the base plate using a bond layer disposed between the base plate and the ceramic layer, the ceramic layer having a top surface including an area configured to support a substrate; at least one clamp electrode positioned within the ceramic layer in an orientation substantially parallel to the top surface of the ceramic layer and at an upper location within the ceramic layer such that a region of the ceramic layer between the at least one clamp electrode and the top surface of the ceramic layer is substantially free of other electrically conductive material; a primary radiofrequency (RF) power delivery electrode positioned within the ceramic layer in an orientation substantially parallel to the top surface of the ceramic layer and at a location vertically below the at least one clamp electrode such that a region of the ceramic layer between primary RF power delivery electrode and the at least one clamp electrode is substantially free of other electrically conductive material, and wherein the primary RF power delivery electrode is configured to extend horizontally through the ceramic layer to at least span an area underlying the area of the top surface of the ceramic layer that is configured to support the substrate; and a plurality of RF power delivery connection modules distributed in a substantially uniform manner about a perimeter of the ceramic layer, each of the plurality of RF power delivery connection modules configured to form an electrical connection from the base plate to the primary RF power delivery electrode at its respective location so as to form an RF power transmission path from the base plate to the primary RF power delivery electrode at its respective location, wherein the base plate, the plurality of RF power delivery connection modules, and the primary RF power delivery electrode together form a Faraday cage to direct RF power transmission around an internal volume of the electrostatic chuck present between the top surface of the base plate and the primary RF power delivery electrode and within a circumference about the ceramic layer along which the plurality of RF power delivery connection modules is located.