Patent ID: 6746972
Filing Date: 2004-06-08
Classification: H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of temperature-conditioning a wafer, the method comprising:determining temperatures produced by a temperature-conditioning process at different locations across the surface of a wafer, and using the temperatures to pre-determine a distribution of surface temperatures desired for a wafer; subsequently placing a wafer in position above the upper surface of a heat transfer plate of a temperature-conditioning apparatus, which heat transfer plate produces heat used in carrying out the temperature-conditioning process; while the wafer is spaced above the upper surface of the heat transfer plate, carrying out the temperature-conditioning process by transferring heat between the heat transfer plate and the wafer; and before the temperature-conditioning process is carried out on the wafer using the heat transfer plate, determining a spacing of the wafer from the upper surface of the heat transfer plate and an inclination of the wafer relative to the upper surface of the heat transfer plate tending to produce said desired distribution of surface temperatures across the wafer when the wafer is temperature-conditioned using the heat transfer plate, and wherein said placing of the wafer in position comprises setting the wafer above the heat transfer plate with said spacing and said inclination relative to the upper surface of the heat transfer plate.