Patent ID: 7682670
Filing Date: 2010-03-23
Classification: C23C,C30B

Abstract:
1. A method for controlling the volume of a molecular beam used in forming a thin film on a substrate, comprising the steps of: providing a crucible containing a thin-film element-forming material; heating said crucible with a heater to generate molecules of the thin-film element-forming material; discharging the molecules of the thin-film element-forming material from the crucible through a molecule discharge passage towards a film-forming surface of the substrate; providing a vacuum container having a hermetically sealed structure for receiving the crucible, the heater and the molecule discharge passage therein; adjusting the volume of the molecules of the thin-film element-forming material discharged from the crucible by a first valve provided at the molecule discharge passage; detecting the volume of the molecules of the thin-film element-forming material directed towards the film-forming surface; providing a first controller means configured to adjust the opening of the first valve based on feed-back information of the detected volume of the molecules of the thin-film element-forming material; providing an electric power source for supplying electric power to the heater; providing a second controller means configured to adjust the electric power supplied to the heater based on the feed-back information of the detected volume of the molecules of the thin-film element-forming material and first valve opening information; and adjusting the electric power supplied to the heater when a value corresponding to the opening of the first valve exceeds a predetermined upper limit or is less than a predetermined lower limit.