Patent ID: 6444480
Filing Date: 2002-09-03
Classification: C23C,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of depositing a thin film on a semiconductor substrate comprising the following sequential steps:providing a semiconductor device fabrication apparatus comprising a thermal treatment device selected from the group consisting of a chemical vapor deposition device, a sputtering device and a thermal diffusion device including an annealing furnace, the thermal treatment device being connected to a load-lock chamber with a gate valve disposed therebetween, the thermal treatment device being connected to a first oxygen monitor, the thermal treatment device also being connected to an evacuation pump with a first valve disposed therebetween, the load-lock chamber being connected to a second oxygen monitor, the load-lock chamber also being connected to the evacuation pump with a second valve disposed therebetween; closing the first and second valves; introducing a semiconductor device into the load-lock chamber; opening the second valve and evacuating the load-lock chamber with the evacuation pump; closing the second valve; measuring the density of oxygen in the load-lock chamber with the second oxygen monitor; opening the first valve and evacuating the thermal treatment device with the evacuation pump; closing the first valve; measuring the density of oxygen in the thermal treatment device with the first oxygen monitor; if the densities of oxygen in the thermal treatment device and the load lock chamber are both below an acceptable level, opening the gate valve and transferring the semiconductor device from the load-lock chamber to the thermal treatment device; closing the gate valve; operating the thermal treatment device.