Patent ID: 6776849
Filing Date: 2004-08-17
Classification: C23C,H01L

Abstract:
A susceptor for supporting a wafer within a reaction chamber, comprising:an inner plug having a generally horizontal top surface; a lift ring having an upper wafer support surface configured to support a bottom outer peripheral surface of a wafer, the upper wafer support surface forming an unbroken encircling portion, the lift ring having a central aperture positioned such that the lift ring contacts substantially only a peripheral portion of a wafer supported thereon, the central aperture being sized and shaped to receive the inner plug, the lift ring having a lowered position in which the wafer support surface is substantially coplanar with the top surface of the inner plug, the lift ring having an elevated position in which the wafer support surface is positioned above the top surface of the inner plug such that a wafer supported on the lift ring substantially does not contact the inner plug; and a lift device for moving the lift ring between its lowered position and its elevated position wherein the inner plug and the lift ring have interconnecting features to prevent relative rotation of the inner plug with respect to the lift ring when the lift ring is in its lowered position.