Patent ID: 6030455
Filing Date: 2000-02-29
Classification: C23C

Abstract:
A substrate holder for supporting a substrate, comprising:a base plate having an opening for receiving a substrate;at least three support claws positioned on the base plate in a manner such that each of the support claws contacts an edge of the substrate and maintains the substrate in a substantially vertical position when the substrate is loaded into the opening in the base plate, wherein at least one of the support claws is a fixed support claw which contacts a lower edge of the substrate and at least two support claws are movable support claws that can be brought into contact with and separated from the edge of the substrate, andwherein the movable support claws are positioned such that the movable support claws contact the edge of the substrate at locations above the height of the center of the substrate and wherein a generally uniform gap is present between the edge of the substrate and the base plate opening when the substrate is placed into the base plate opening the gap being sufficiently narrow to substantially prevent plasma from entering into the gap.