Patent ID: 6388263
Filing Date: 2002-05-14
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
A vacuum system for use in manufacturing semiconductor devices, comprising:a load-lock chamber having an inner wall, and an opening to the outside; a door disposed over said opening and being openable and closable to open and close the interior of the load-lock chamber to the outside; a shutter leading to a processing chamber in which semiconductor wafers are processed; at least one vacuum pump connected to said load-lock chamber to create a vacuum in the load-lock chamber; a vent gas supply apparatus, connected to said load-lock chamber, for supplying a vent gas into said load-lock chamber in preparation for the opening of said door; a first heating element integrated with said vent gas supply apparatus; a second heating element disposed on the inner wall of said load-lock chamber; and a controller operatively connected to said first and second heating elements so as to operate said first heating element to pre-heat the vent gas before the vent gas enters said load-lock chamber, and so as to operate said second heating element to regulate the temperature in said load-lock chamber after wafers are processed in the processing chamber to maintain a temperature of the wafers once the wafers are located back in said load-lock chamber after having been processed.