Patent ID: 6468918
Filing Date: 2002-10-22
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A method for in situ hot bake comprising the steps of:a) loading a load lock chamber with a wafer carrier containing at least one semiconductor wafer having a photoresist mask deposited upon each semiconductor wafer; b) heating of the semiconductor wafers within said load lock chamber to a temperature of approximately of 120Â° C. by a heating source selected from a group of heating sources consisting of heater plate and a high intensity lighting source through a transparent material section of the load lock chamber to eliminate any moisture present in the photoresist mask; c) evacuating the load lock chamber to eliminate moisture or contaminants from the chamber; d) filling the chamber with nitrogen to eliminate any residual moisture and contaminants; e) evacuating the chamber to eliminate the nitrogen from the atmosphere of the chamber; f) opening the exit lock to transport the wafer carrier to the dry plasma etch chamber, and g) executing the dry plasma etch process.