Patent ID: 6135052
Filing Date: 2000-10-24
Classification: C23C,H01H,H01L

Abstract:
A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus comprising:an evacuatable plasma processing chamber comprising a reaction chamber disposed vertically above a vacuum chamber, the reaction chamber being connected to the vacuum chamber by sealing bellows;a lower block electrode disposed in said reaction chamber having an upper surface including an optical fiber thermometer disposed in a central portion of the upper surface and positioned to make direct contact with a semiconductor wafer placed on the upper surface for etching or other plasma processing, the lower electrode being supported by an open end of the vacuum chamber;an upper electrode disposed in the reaction chamber and vertically above the lower electrode and facing the lower electrode, the upper electrode being connected to a reaction gas supply pipe;a coolant flow circuit including a coolant flow pipe passing through the lower block electrode and through the vacuum chamber and fluidly connected to a flowable source of refrigerated coolant, an electrically controlled flow control valve disposed in said flow pipe and an electronically controlled by-pass valve .extending across supply and return portions of said flow pipe;an electronically controlled ceramic heater disposed against the block electrode opposite the upper surface; andan electronic controller operably connected to said thermometer, flow control valve, by-pass valve and heater, said electronic controller maintaining a desired wafer temperature for processing by opening or closing the flow control valve and by-pass valve and by turning on and off the ceramic heater, as may be required, in response to a temperature of a wafer detected by said thermometer, whereby a wafer processing temperature with improved stability is provided and an improved response to changes in set temperature is provided thereby providing an improved quality product.