Patent ID: 6176929
Filing Date: 2001-01-23
Classification: C23C

Abstract:
A thin-film deposition apparatus comprising:a substrate holding device for holding a substrate;a vacuum-tight deposition chamber enclosing said substrate holding device;an elevator device to raise or lower said substrate holding device between a deposition position and a transport position;a gas showering head for sending a film forming gas towards said substrate;a transport opening provided on a wall section of said deposition chamber at a height corresponding to said transport position;an exhaust opening provided on said wall section at a height between said deposition position and said transport position; anda flow guiding member provided within said deposition chamber, said flow guiding member comprising:an inner flow guiding member having a cylindrical member surrounding an elevating path of said substrate holding device and a first ring member vertically dividing a chamber space at a height between said exhaust opening and said transport opening;an outer flow guiding member disposed between said inner flow guiding member and an inner surface of said wall section of said deposition chamber to form an exhaust passage for gas together with said inner flow guiding member wherein said exhaust passage comprises an annular flow path to guide gas to said exhaust opening, said annular flow path being defined by said inner flow guiding member and said outer flow guiding member; anda second ring member disposed above said first ring member for dividing said annular flow path vertically so as to form a circumferential slit channel in said annular flow path.