Patent ID: 6423947
Filing Date: 2002-07-23
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A method of thermally processing a wafer-like object within a thermal processing chamber having an internal chamber, a transfer opening through which a wafer-like object can be insert or removed from the internal chamber and 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, the method including the steps of:providing a wafer-like object in heat transfer contact with the support surface of the platen within the internal chamber of the thermal processing chamber; heating the wafer-like object by heat generated by the heat generation device; moving the wafer-like object from heat transfer contact with the support surface of the platen by a displacement mechanism operatively provided with the thermal processing chamber thus moving the wafer-like object to a cooling position above the support surface; circulating cooling gas through the internal chamber from a gas inlet, over at least a portion of the wafer-like object while in the cooling position and thus cooling at least the portion of the wafer-like object and through a gas outlet.