Patent ID: 6451714
Filing Date: 2002-09-17
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A method of heating an object, comprising:placing an object having a surface within a heating chamber such that the object is contained within the chamber; providing a radiation-absorptive atmosphere within the chamber, the radiation-absorptive atmosphere comprising a specifically controlled mixture of gases; regulating the level of absorptivity of the atmosphere within the heating chamber by the selection of the mixture of gases; providing a radiation source, the source emitting radiation of at least one wavelength capable of heating the object thus producing at least one wavelength of emitted radiation, the object and at least a portion of the radiation-absorptive atmosphere being in the path of the radiation being emitted; absorbing radiation of the at least one wavelength of emitted radiation in the radiation-absorptive atmosphere; and transferring heat to the object through a combination of radiant heat transfer from the at least one wavelength of emitted radiation and conductive heat transfer from the radiation-absorptive atmosphere, thereby selectively increasing the temperature of the surface of the object and increasing the thermal effect delivered to the surface in relation to the thermal effect delivered to the object.