Patent ID: 6207006
Filing Date: 2001-03-27
Classification: C23C,H01J,H01L,Y02C,Y02P

Abstract:
A vacuum processing apparatus comprising:a process chamber in which predetermined processing is performed on a target object in a predetermined vacuum condition;a mount stage provided in the process chamber, for mounting thereon the target object;a shower head provided so as to oppose to the mount stage, for supplying a process gas in the process chamber;an exhaust path provided in a housing forming the process chamber, and extending so as to surround the mount stage outside the mount stage;an exhaust port formed around the mount stage, for connecting the exhaust path with the process chamber;a porous member provided at the exhaust port so as to partition the exhaust path and the process chamber from each other, and having a plurality of ventilation holes for making the exhaust path communicating with the process chamber;branching means, provided at a communicating portion of the exhaust path, which communicates with the process chamber, in such a way as to provide a plurality of exhaust routes in the housing, for dividing a gas flowing from the process chamber through the ventilation holes of the porous member, into gases in a plurality of directions within the housing, such that the gases flow to the exhaust path through the plurality of exhaust routes;a plurality of upper exhaust pipes extending in a region located above the process chamber and communicating with the exhaust path; anda lower exhaust pipe extending toward a region located below the process chamber and communicating with all the upper exhaust pipes,wherein the gases from the branching means flow through the upper exhaust pipes into the lower exhaust pipe, and are combined by the lower exhaust pipe, and then exhausted therefrom toward the region located below the process chamber.