Patent ID: 7604042
Filing Date: 2009-10-20
Classification: C23C,H01L

Abstract:
1. A cooling mechanism for cooling an objective member heatable to an elevated temperature by a heater, said cooling mechanism comprising: a main flow line for a cooling liquid, including a cooling passage extending through the objective member; a bypass flow line connected to the main flow line so as to bypass the objective member; and a cooling liquid control system controlling a flow of the cooling liquid such that: (i) the cooling liquid is caused to flow through only the bypass flow line while the objective member is being heated to the elevated temperature, and (ii) the cooling liquid is caused to flow through both the cooling passage and the bypass flow line while the objective member is being cooled to a reduced temperature, wherein the cooling liquid control system includes: an inlet shutoff valve placed between an upstream junction of the main flow line and the bypass flow line, and an inlet side of the cooling passage, in the main flow line; an outlet shutoff valve placed between a downstream junction of the main flow line and the bypass flow line, and an outlet side of the cooling passage, in the main flow line; a bypass shutoff valve placed in the bypass flow line; and a valve controller controlling the inlet shutoff valve, the outlet shutoff valve and the bypass shutoff valve.