Patent ID: 8975817
Filing Date: 2015-03-10
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
1. A showerhead electrode assembly for a plasma processing chamber, comprising: a showerhead electrode; a heater plate secured to an upper surface of the showerhead electrode; a temperature control plate secured to an upper surface of the heater plate, the temperature control plate comprising at least one pressure controlled heat pipe having a heat transfer liquid contained therein, and a pressurized gas, which produces a variable internal pressure within the at least one pressure controlled heat pipe; a top plate secured to an upper surface of the temperature control plate; a plurality of vertical aligned gas passages in the showerhead electrode, the heater plate, the temperature control plate, and the top plate for delivering a plasma processing gas to the plasma processing chamber located beneath a lower surface of the showerhead electrode; and wherein the variable internal pressure within the at least one pressure controlled heat pipe during heating of the showerhead electrode by the heater plate displaces the heat transfer liquid from a thermal path between the top plate and the heater plate, and when removing excess heat from the showerhead electrode returns the heat transfer liquid to the thermal path.