Patent ID: 8388755
Filing Date: 2013-03-05
Classification: C23C,C30B,H01L

Abstract:
1. A thermalization apparatus for use within a heated longitudinally-elongated CVD reactor chamber, the CVD reactor chamber having two longitudinal ends that are structured so that one or more process gases enter the chamber at one longitudinal end, flow along a longitudinal path to a susceptor where they react and then exit the chamber at the opposite longitudinal end, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of modular and planar heat transfer structures arranged within the chamber so as to define a single, elongated plane comprised of such modular structures, wherein, during flow of the process gases, the defined plane is parallel to and transversely spaced apart from the susceptor so that the heat transfer structures can receive heat from one or more chamber heat sources and can deliver the received heat to the one or more process gases flowing within the chamber between the planar heat transfer structures and the susceptor, at least part of the heat being delivered to the flowing process gases prior to their arrival at the susceptor, wherein the heat transfer structures are freely individually removable from and replaceable within the CVD reactor chamber so that different configurations and arrangements of the heat transfer structures can be assembled in the reactor chamber.