Patent ID: 6547559
Filing Date: 2003-04-15
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
An apparatus for supporting a semiconductor wafer for vacuum processing comprising:a heat transfer body having an upwardly facing heat transfer surface approximately corresponding in size to that of a semiconductor wafer to be processed, and an upwardly facing annular outer sealing surface; a substrate seat member configured to support an upwardly facing semiconductor wafer to be processed thereon by contacting the backside of the wafer around its edge, the seat member being attached to the heat transfer body so as to move vertically thereon between a lower processing position spaced by a narrow gap from the heat transfer surface and an upper wafer exchange position, the seat member being resiliently biased toward the upper wafer exchange position; an inner seal adapted to contact and form a gas tight seal against the wafer around the edge of the wafer; a clamp ring vertically moveably supported above the substrate seat member adapted to contact the frontside of the wafer around the edge thereof and to force the wafer and seat member downward against the resilient bias to the lower processing position of the seat member and to form a gas tight seal between the wafer and the inner seal; an annular outer seal between the outer sealing surface of the heat transfer body and the clamp ring positioned to form a gas seal between the annular outer sealing surface and the clamp ring when the seat member is forced to its lower processing position by the clamp ring; the heat transfer body, the clamp ring and the seals enclosing a gas tight cavity that includes the gap.