Patent ID: 6444262
Filing Date: 2002-09-03
Classification: C23C,C30B,H01L

Abstract:
A thermal processing unit comprising:a substrate-holder which can support a plurality of substrates in such a manner that the plurality of substrates are arranged in a tier-like manner at regular intervals along a vertical direction, the holder holding the plurality of substrates horizontally so as to be perpendicular to the vertical direction and in parallel with each other, a chamber vessel for housing the substrate-holder, the chamber vessel having an inside in which a vacuum can be created, a gas-introducing slit having an introducing conductance provided in one part of a peripheral area that is peripheral to the plurality of substrates held by the substrate holder, said gas-introducing slit extending in the vertical direction and supplying a processing gas for a thermal process into the chamber vessel, a gas absorbing opening having an absorbing conductance that is relatively larger than the introducing conductance, the gas absorbing opening being provided in another part of the peripheral area, the gas-absorbing opening extending in the vertical direction, and a loading mechanism for loading and unloading the substrate-holder into and out of the chamber vessel.