Patent ID: 6307184
Filing Date: 2001-10-23
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
An apparatus for thermally processing wafer-like objects comprising:a thermal processing chamber having a walled structure comprising a bottom and at least one side wall within which an internal chamber is defined and a transfer opening through which a wafer-like object can be inserted within the internal chamber or removed from the thermal processing chamber and which is closeable to also define the internal chamber, the walled structure including at least an insulating portion thereof comprising an inner wall portion that defines part of the internal chamber that is fixedly spaced from an outer wall portion;a platen operatively positioned within the thermal processing chamber and including a heat generation device and having a support surface for supporting a wafer-like object in heat transfer contact;a gas inlet permitting gas flow into the internal chamber; anda gas outlet open within the internal chamber through which gas can be exhausted from the internal chamber, the gas outlet having a location that is spaced from a location of the gas inlet with respect to the platen so that gas will flow at least partially about the platen when gas is exhausted from the internal chamber.