Patent ID: 8007275
Filing Date: 2011-08-30
Classification: F27B,H01L

Abstract:
1. A method of heating a semiconductor wafer, comprising: heating the wafer in a loading enclosure of a heat treatment system to a temperature above an ambient temperature external to the loading enclosure; heating a flow of purge gas in a purge gas line to a temperature above the ambient temperature with an in-line purge gas heater; sensing the temperature of the heated flow of purge gas in the purge gas line; introducing the flow of heated purge gas into the loading enclosure to heat the wafer above the ambient temperature; moving the heated wafer from the loading enclosure into a processing enclosure of the heat treatment system; heating a flow of process gas in a process gas line to a processing temperature with an in line process gas heater; and introducing the flow of heated process gas into the processing enclosure.