Patent ID: 8337660
Filing Date: 2012-12-25
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A plasma reactor, for processing a workpiece, comprising: a reactor chamber; an electrostatic chuck within said chamber having a top surface for supporting a workpiece and having indentations in said top surface that form enclosed gas flow channels whenever covered by a workpiece resting on said top surface; thermal control apparatus thermally coupled to said electrostatic chuck; an RF plasma bias power generator coupled to apply RF power to said electrostatic chuck; a pressurized gas supply of a thermally conductive gas; a controllable gas valve coupling said pressurized gas supply to said indentations to facilitate filling said channels with said thermally conductive gas for heat transfer between a backside of a workpiece and said electrostatic chuck at a heat transfer rate that is a function of the pressure against the backside of the workpiece of the thermally conductive gas; a workpiece temperature control loop comprising: an electrostatic chuck temperature control loop comprising: wherein said thermal control apparatus comprises: