Patent ID: 8156892
Filing Date: 2012-04-17
Classification: C23C,H01L

Abstract:
1. A shield configured for protecting components of a vacuum process chamber from undesired deposition of a material, the shield comprising: a main portion designed or adapted to connect to an element of the vacuum process chamber, the main portion comprising an upper main surface and a lower main surface, wherein the main portion has a first average thickness; a generally perimetrically shaped edge portion connected with the main portion, wherein the edge portion has an upper edge surface connected with the upper main surface and a lower edge surface connected with the lower main surface, wherein the edge portion has a second average thickness; and a tip portion forming the terminus of the edge portion within an interior space of the chamber, and connecting the upper edge surface and a lower edge surface, wherein the tip portion has a rounded profile, such that an arc-like shape connects the upper edge surface and the lower edge surface, and wherein the distance between the upper edge surface and the lower edge surface at the tip is less than the first average thickness, wherein at least a part of the main portion of the shield has a generally concave shape, comprising a concave upper surface, and wherein the upper surface of the edge portion of the shield forms a tangent plane to the concave upper surface of the main portion of the shield.