Patent ID: 7357115
Filing Date: 2008-04-15
Classification: H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A wafer clamping apparatus, comprising: a lower plate having a wafer receipt area, the wafer receipt area including a first recessed area and a number of wafer support surfaces disposed in a substantially uniform manner throughout the first recessed area such that when a wafer is supported on the number of wafer support surfaces a lower volume exists within the lower plate between the number of wafer support surfaces, the lower plate including a number of fluid inlet nozzles defined to supply a fluid to a processing volume overlying the wafer receipt area, the lower plate including a number of fluid outlet nozzles defined to remove the fluid from the processing volume overlying the wafer receipt area; an upper plate defined to interface with the lower plate, the upper plate including a second recessed area defined to overly the wafer receipt area so as to form the processing volume when the upper plate is interfaced with the lower plate; and an evacuation source in fluid communication with the lower volume such that when operated the evacuation source causes the wafer to be held in contact with the number of wafer support surfaces.