Patent ID: 6370796
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A method for cooling a heater block contained within a processing chamber of a wafer processing apparatus, comprising the steps of:providing processing chamber having a generally cylindrical shape, a top plate that covers the processing chamber during wafer processing, and a heater block positioned within the processing chamber; removing the top plate to expose an open upper end of the processing chamber; placing a cooling system across the open upper end of the processing chamber, said cooling system having a plurality of fan assemblies mounted to a frame at spaced locations therealong with at least a first one of said fan assemblies arranged to push air into the processing chamber and at least a second one of said fan assemblies arranged to pull air from the processing chamber; and operating said first fan assembly to push air into the processing chamber and said second fan assembly to pull air from the processing chamber to circulate ambient air through said processing chamber for a sufficient time to cool said heater block to a safe working temperature.