Patent ID: 6772827
Filing Date: 2004-08-10
Classification: C23C,H01J,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of minimizing thermal stress on a gas distribution plate through which gas is dispensed into the interior of a plasma chamber, comprising the steps of:providing a plasma chamber having an interior; mounting an inlet manifold top wall within the chamber; providing one or more inlet manifold side wall segments, wherein each side wall segment includes an upper portion, a lower flange, and a sheet extending between the upper portion of that side wall segment and the lower flange of that side wall segment; mounting the upper portion of each segment of the inlet manifold side wall to the inlet manifold top wall so as to position the segments of the inlet manifold side wall so that they collectively encircle an inlet manifold region within the plasma chamber; providing a gas distribution plate perforated by a number of gas outlet orifices; mounting the lower flange of each side wall segment to the gas distribution plate so that the gas distribution plate is spaced away from the inlet manifold top wall, wherein the inlet manifold top wall, the inlet manifold side wall segments, and the gas distribution plate collectively enclose said inlet manifold region; and supplying a gas through a gas inlet orifice in the inlet manifold top wall so that the gas flows into the inlet manifold region and then flows through the gas outlet orifices into the interior of the plasma chamber.