Patent ID: 8232538
Filing Date: 2012-07-31
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A degas station for removing halogen species from a wafer that have accumulated during processing of the wafer, said degas station comprising: a degas chamber capable of creating and maintaining a vacuum and capable of housing the wafer; a wafer holder, for holding the wafer in the degas chamber; a UV light source, for treating the wafer with UV light while the wafer is in the degas chamber; an injector, coupled with the degas chamber, for injecting a gas comprising at least one of oxygen or ozone into the degas chamber such that the gas flows over the wafer housed in the degas chamber; an exhaust system, coupled with the degas chamber, wherein the exhaust system is capable of evacuating the degas chamber to create a vacuum and wherein the exhaust system is capable of removing the gas in a manner that substantially maintains the vacuum in the degas chamber while the gas is injected into the degas chamber; a first wafer opening, in the degas chamber, for receiving the wafer from a load-locked vacuum chamber; and a plurality of vacuum seals, surrounding the first wafer opening such that the degas chamber is coupled with the vacuum chamber at the first wafer opening.