Patent ID: 7651570
Filing Date: 2010-01-26
Classification: C23C

Abstract:
1. A film precursor vaporization system configured to be coupled to a thin film deposition system comprising: a container comprising an outer wall and a bottom; a lid configured to be sealably coupled to said container, said lid comprising an outlet configured to be sealably coupled to said thin film deposition system; a gas distribution plate having a plurality of openings formed there-through, positioned in said container substantially near said bottom of said container to form a plenum with said outer wall and said bottom of said container, wherein said plenum is coupled to a carrier gas supply system configured to supply a carrier gas to said container; and two or more hollow cylindrical solid precursor elements, each element including a cylindrical body having an inner cylindrical surface and an outer cylindrical surface, comprising a solid precursor supported by said gas distribution plate, and positioned concentrically to each other within said container to form cylindrical spaces between and surrounding said two or more hollow cylindrical solid precursor elements, wherein said cylindrical spaces are in general alignment with said plurality of openings in said gas distribution plate through which said carrier gas can flow from said plenum concurrently through said cylindrical spaces to said outlet in said lid, wherein a first direction of flow of said carrier gas from said plenum concurrently through a first cylindrical space is limited to a direction that is (i) substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of said two or more hollow cylindrical solid precursor elements while being (ii) between and substantially parallel to both said inner cylindrical surface of a first hollow cylindrical solid precursor element and said outer cylindrical surface of a second hollow cylindrical solid precursor element, and wherein said film precursor vaporization system is configured to heat said solid precursor to a vaporization temperature to form a film precursor vapor and to transport said film precursor vapor in said carrier gas through said outlet to the thin film deposition system.