Patent ID: 6406925
Filing Date: 2002-06-18
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A reactor for processing a semiconductor wafer including:a reactor chamber; a monopolar chuck with a single electrostatic clamp electrode, said monopolar chuck being adapted to accept a wafer for processing that has a first side facing away from the monopolar chuck and a second side facing the monopolar chuck; a power supply associated with the reactor chamber, said power supply capable of generating a first voltage at the first side of the wafer during the processing of the wafer in the reactor; and a control mechanism that can control a second voltage that the monopolar chuck applies to the second side of the wafer in order to hold the wafer to the monopolar chuck during wafer processing, said control mechanism controlling the second voltage so the difference between the first voltage and the second voltage is kept below a threshold in order to minimize arcing between the first side and the second side of the wafer.