Abstract:
A vacuum chamber for processing a substrate includes: a chamber body; and a chamber lid combined with the chamber body, wherein the chamber lid comprises: a frame having a plurality of openings; and a plurality of plates combined with the plurality of openings.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2008-0059527, filed on Jun. 24, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by a reference in its entirety. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a vacuum chamber for processing a substrate, and more particularly, to a vacuum chamber having a chamber lid and an apparatus including the vacuum chamber. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    In general, a fabrication process for a semiconductor device such as a flat panel display device and a solar cell includes repetition of a step of depositing a thin film, a photolithographic step of patterning a photoresist (PR) layer and a step of etching the thin film for a pattern. The deposition step and the etch step may be performed in a chamber of an apparatus having a reaction space separated from exterior. For example, a cluster type apparatus including a load-lock chamber, a transfer chamber and a process chamber may be used for the deposition step and the etch step, and the load-lock chamber, the transfer chamber and the process chamber may have a vacuum state during the deposition step and the etch step. Specifically, since a substrate is inputted from an exterior having an atmospheric state into the load-lock chamber and the substrate is transferred from the load-lock chamber to the transfer chamber having a vacuum state, the load-lock chamber alternately have the atmospheric state and the vacuum state. 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a view showing a cluster type apparatus according to the related art. 
         [0005]    In  FIG. 1 , a cluster type apparatus  10  includes a substrate loader/unloader  18 , a load-lock chamber  12 , a transfer chamber  14  and a plurality of process chambers  16 . A plurality of substrates  20  are inputted into the substrate loader/unloader  18  for a process, and the plurality of substrates  20  are outputted from the substrate loader/unloader  18  after finishing the process. The load-lock chamber  12  is disposed between the substrate loader/unloader  18  and the transfer chamber  14 . Accordingly, the plurality of substrates  20  are transferred from the substrate loader/unloader  18  to the transfer chamber  14  through the load-lock chamber  12 . The substrate loader/unloader  18  includes a first robot  24  for transferring the plurality of substrates  20  from the substrate loader/unloader  18  to the load-lock chamber  12 , and the transfer chamber  14  includes a second robot  22  for transferring the plurality of substrates  20  from the load-lock chamber  12  to the plurality of process chambers  16 . 
         [0006]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view showing a load-lock chamber of a cluster type apparatus according to the related art. 
         [0007]    In  FIG. 2 , a load-lock chamber  12  includes a chamber body  28  and a chamber lid  29 . The chamber body  28  includes first to fourth sidewalls  30 ,  32 ,  34  and  36 . The first and second sidewalls  30  and  32  have first and second slot valves  31  and  33 , respectively, for substrate transfer, and the third and fourth sidewalls  34  and  35  are disposed between the first and second sidewalls  30  and  32 . As a result, the substrate  20  (of  FIG. 1 ) is inputted from the substrate loader/unloader  18  (of  FIG. 1 ) to the load-lock chamber  12  through the first slot valve  31 , and the substrate  20  is outputted from the load-lock chamber  12  to the transfer chamber  14  (of  FIG. 1 ) through the second slot valve  33 . Each of third and fourth sidewalls  36  and  38  has a view port  38  for inspecting the inside of the load-lock chamber  12 . The view port  38  may be opened for inspection and may be closed after inspection. The chamber body  28  and the chamber lid  29  may be formed of a metallic material such as aluminum (Al). 
         [0008]    Further, a diffuser  40  is formed on one of the third and fourth sidewalls  36  and  38 . The load-lock chamber  12  of a vacuum state is ventilated by a gas injected through the diffuser  40  to have an atmospheric state. For example, a nitrogen gas (N2) may be diffused into the load-lock chamber  12  through the diffuser  40 . A vacuum pump (not shown) is connected to the load-lock chamber  12  for obtaining the vacuum state. In addition, a plurality of substrate supporters  42  spaced apart from each other are formed in the load-lock chamber  12 . The substrate  20  is loaded on the plurality of substrate supporters  42  and arms of the second robot  22  of the transfer chamber  14  are inserted into the spaces between the substrate supporters  42 . Accordingly, the substrate  20  is transferred from the load-lock chamber  12  to the transfer chamber  14  using the second robot  22  through the second slot valve  33 . The plurality of substrate supporters  42  may include a heating means (not shown) for heating up the substrate  20 . 
         [0009]    The load-lock chamber  12  is evacuated for conversion from the atmospheric state to the vacuum state and is ventilated for conversion from the vacuum state to the atmospheric state. Accordingly, evacuation and ventilation are repeatedly performed for the load-lock chamber  12 . In addition, the substrate  20  is heated up to have a process temperature in the load-lock chamber  12 . Since the load-lock chamber  12  is formed of a metallic material such as aluminum (Al) having a relatively low strength, the chamber body  28  and the chamber lid  29  of the load-lock chamber  12  may be deformed due to the repetition of evacuation and ventilation under a relatively high temperature. As a result, the lifetime of the load-lock chamber  12  is reduced. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a vacuum chamber for processing a substrate and an apparatus including the vacuum chamber that substantially obviate one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. 
         [0011]    An object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum chamber where deformation is prevented due to an improved strength. 
         [0012]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a chamber lid for a vacuum chamber including a frame and a plurality of plates. 
         [0013]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a chamber lid for a vacuum chamber including a flow channel for cooling. 
         [0014]    A vacuum chamber for processing a substrate includes: a chamber body; and a chamber lid combined with the chamber body, wherein the chamber lid comprises: a frame having a plurality of openings; and a plurality of plates combined with the plurality of openings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a view showing a cluster type apparatus according to the related art; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view showing a load-lock chamber of a cluster type apparatus according to the related art; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a view showing a cluster type apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view showing a load-lock chamber of a cluster type apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view showing a chamber lid of a load-lock chamber of a cluster type apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along a line VI-VI of  FIG. 5 ; and 
           [0022]      FIGS. 7 and 8  are magnified views of portions A and B, respectively, of  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, similar reference numbers will be used to refer to the same or similar parts. 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a view showing a cluster type apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0025]    In  FIG. 3 , a cluster type apparatus  10  includes a substrate loader/unloader  118 , a load-lock chamber  112 , a transfer chamber  114  and a plurality of process chambers  116 . A plurality of substrates  120  are inputted into the substrate loader/unloader  118  for a process, and the plurality of substrates  120  are outputted from the substrate loader/unloader  118  after finishing the process. The load-lock chamber  112  is disposed between the substrate loader/unloader  118  and the transfer chamber  114 . Accordingly, the plurality of substrates  120  are transferred from the substrate loader/unloader  118  to the transfer chamber  114  through the load-lock chamber  112 . The substrate loader/unloader  118  includes a first robot  124  for transferring the plurality of substrates  120  from the substrate loader/unloader  118  to the load-lock chamber  112 , and the transfer chamber  114  includes a second robot  122  for transferring the plurality of substrates  120  from the load-lock chamber  112  to the plurality of process chambers  116 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view showing a load-lock chamber of a cluster type apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0027]    In  FIG. 4 , a load-lock chamber  112  includes a chamber body  128  and a chamber lid  129 . The chamber lid  129  includes a frame  152  and a plurality of plates  154 . The frame  152  includes a first metallic material and each of the plurality of plates  154  includes a second metallic material having a lower strength and a higher heat conductivity than the first metallic material. In addition, the chamber body  124  includes the first metallic material. For example, the first metallic material may have stainless steel and the second metallic material may have aluminum (Al). Since the frame  152  and the chamber body  128  include the first metallic material having a relatively high strength, deformation of the load-lock chamber  112  is prevented. Further, since the plurality of plates  154  includes the second metallic material having a relatively high heat conductivity, the load-lock chamber  112  is effectively cooled down. 
         [0028]    The chamber body  128  includes first to fourth sidewalls  130 ,  132 ,  134  and  136 . The first and second sidewalls  130  and  132  have first and second slot valves  131  and  133 , respectively, for transfer of the substrate  120  (of  FIG. 3 ), and the third and fourth sidewalls  134  and  135  are disposed between the first and second sidewalls  130  and  132 . As a result, the substrate  120  is inputted from the substrate loader/unloader  118  (of  FIG. 3 ) into the load-lock chamber  112  through the first slot valve  131 , and the substrate  120  is outputted from the load-lock chamber  12  to the transfer chamber  114  (of  FIG. 3 ) through the second slot valve  133 . Each of third and fourth sidewalls  136  and  138  has a view port  138  for inspecting the inside of the load-lock chamber  112 . The view port  138  may be opened for inspection and may be closed after inspection. 
         [0029]    Further, a diffuser  140  is formed on one of the third and fourth sidewalls  136  and  138 . The load-lock chamber  112  of a vacuum state is ventilated by an inactive gas injected through the diffuser  140  to have an atmospheric state. For example, one of a nitrogen gas (N2) and an inert gas of helium (IIe), neon (Ne) or argon (Ar) may be diffused into the load-lock chamber  112  through the diffuser  140 . A vacuum pump (not shown) is connected to the load-lock chamber  12  for obtaining the vacuum state. In addition, a plurality of substrate supporters  142  spaced apart from each other are formed in the load-lock chamber  112 . The substrate  120  is loaded on the plurality of substrate supporters  142  and arms of the second robot  122  of the transfer chamber  114  are inserted into the spaces between the adjacent substrate supporters  142 . Accordingly, the substrate  120  is transferred from the load-lock chamber  112  to the transfer chamber  114  using the second robot  122  through the second slot valve  133 . The plurality of substrate supporters  142  may include a heating means (not shown) for heating up the substrate  120 . While the substrate  120  is heated up, the load-lock chamber  112  is also heated up by the heating means. 
         [0030]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view showing a chamber lid of a load-lock chamber of a cluster type apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along a line VI-VI of  FIG. 5 . 
         [0031]    In  FIGS. 4 to 6 , the chamber lid  129  combined with the first to fourth sidewalls  130 ,  132 ,  134  and  136  of the chamber body  128  includes the frame  152  and the plurality of plates  154 . The frame  152  includes a plurality of openings  150 , and the plurality of plates  154  are disposed in the plurality of openings  150 , respectively. The frame  152  includes the first metallic material, e.g., stainless steel, having a relatively high strength and each of the plurality of plates  154  includes the second metallic material, e.g., aluminum (Al) having a relatively high heat conductivity. 
         [0032]    The frame  152  further includes an edge portion  162  and a central portion  196  where the plurality of openings  150  are formed. The edge portion  162  is combined with the first to fourth sidewalls  130 ,  132 ,  134  and  136  of the chamber body  128 , and the central portion  196  is inserted into a space constituted by the first to fourth sidewalls  130 ,  132 ,  134  and  136 . As a result, the edge portion  162  contacts the first to fourth sidewalls  130 ,  132 ,  134  and  136  of the chamber body  128 , and the plurality of plates  154  are spaced apart from the first to fourth sidewalls  130 ,  132 ,  134  and  136  of the chamber body  128 . 
         [0033]    The load-lock chamber  112  is evacuated for conversion from the atmospheric state to the vacuum state and is ventilated for conversion from the vacuum state to the atmospheric state. Accordingly, evacuation and ventilation are repeatedly performed for the load-lock chamber  112 . Since the first to fourth sidewalls  130 ,  132 ,  134  and  136  and the frame  152  of the chamber lid  129  include the first metallic material having a relatively high strength, deformation of the load-lock chamber  112  is prevented even when evacuation and ventilation are repeated. 
         [0034]    Each of the plurality of plates  154  includes a first flow channel  156  and the frame  152  includes through a second flow channel  158 . When the plurality of plates  154  are combined with the frame  152 , the first flow channel  156  in each of the plurality of plates  154  may be connected to the second flow channel  158  in the frame  152  using a connecting means such as a VCR fitting or a Swagelok fitting, and a refrigerant such as a cooling water flows through the first and second flow channels  156  and  158 . Alternatively, the first and second flow channels  156  and  158  may not be connected to each other and a refrigerant may flow through the first and second flow channels  156  and  158  independently. Since each of the plurality of plates  154  includes the second metallic material having a relatively high heat conductivity, the heat of the load-lock chamber  112  is effectively transmitted to the refrigerant. As a result, the load-lock chamber  112  is effectively cooled down and deformation of the load-lock chamber  112  due to the heat is prevented even when the load-lock chamber  112  is heated up by the heating means. 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the edge portion  162  of the chamber lid  126  is combined with a top portion  160  of the first sidewall  130  of the chamber body  128 . The top portion  160  and the edge portion  162  include first and second protrusions, respectively, and the second protrusion of the edge portion  162  is supported by the first protrusion of the top portion  160 . In another embodiment, additional load-lock chambers may be disposed on the load-lock chamber so that a plurality of substrates can be transferred through the plurality of load-lock chambers at the same time. 
         [0036]      FIGS. 7 and 8  are magnified views of portions A and B, respectively, of  FIG. 6 . 
         [0037]    In  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a first pad  164  and a first sealing means  166  are disposed between the first protrusion of the top portion  160  and the second protrusion of the edge portion  162 . In addition, the top portion  160  of the first sidewall  130  is combined with the edge portion  162  of the frame  152  using a coupling means such as a bolt. Since the load-lock chamber  112  experiences the vacuum state and the atmospheric state repeatedly, particles may be generated due to friction between the chamber body  128  and the chamber lid  129 . The friction between the first protrusion of the top portion  160  and the second protrusion of the edge portion  162  is mitigated by the first pad  164  and generation of the particles is prevented. The first pad  164  may include an engineering plastic such as Teflon. In addition, the air path between the first protrusion of the top portion  160  and the second protrusion of the edge portion  162  is sealed with the first sealing means  166  such as an O-ring. 
         [0038]    The first protrusion of the top portion  160  includes a first groove  170  and the second protrusion of the edge portion  162  includes a second groove  168 . As a result, the first groove  170  is formed on the top portions  160  of the first to fourth sidewalls  130 ,  132 ,  134  and  136  as a rectangular ring shape, and the second groove  168  is formed on the edge portion  162  of the frame  152  as a rectangular ring shape. The first sealing means  166  is inserted into the first groove  170 , and the first pad  164  is inserted into the second groove  168 . In a cross-sectional view, the first groove  170  may have an inverted trapezoid shape and the second groove  168  may have a rectangular shape. Further, the first protrusion of the top portion  160  may have a first rounded surface  171  by a chamfering method. The side surface of the top portion  160  of the first sidewall  130  is spaced apart from the side surface of the edge portion  162  of the frame  152  by a first gap distance C for effectively coupling the chamber body  128  and the chamber lid  129  without abrasion and providing a space accommodating thermal expansion of the chamber body  128  and the chamber lid  129 . For example, the first gap distance C may be within a range of about 5 mm to about 15 mm, preferably, about 10 mm. 
         [0039]    In  FIGS. 6 and 8 , each of the plurality of openings  150  includes a hanging portion  172  and an open portion  174 , and each of the plurality of plates  154  includes an upper portion  176  and a lower portion  178 . The upper portion  176  is supported by the hanging portion  172  and the lower portion  178  is inserted into the open portion  174 . The hanging portion  172  and the upper portion  176  may be combined with each other by a plurality of coupling means  180  such as a bolt. Further, a plurality of through holes  182  are formed at a perimeter of the upper portion  176 , and a plurality of coupling holes  184  are formed in the hanging portion  172 . 
         [0040]    A second pad  188  and a second sealing means  192  are disposed between the upper portion  176  and the hanging portion  172 . For example, the second pad  188  may be disposed outside the plurality of coupling means  184  and the second sealing means  192  may be disposed inside the plurality of coupling means  184 . In addition, the upper portion  176  includes a third groove  186  and the hanging portion  172  includes a fourth groove  190 . The second pad  188  is inserted into the third groove  186 , and the second sealing means  192  is inserted into the fourth groove  190 . In a cross-sectional view, the third groove  186  may have a rectangular shape and the fourth groove  190  may have an inverted trapezoid shape. Further, the hanging portion  172  may have a second rounded surface  194  by a chamfering method. 
         [0041]    The friction between the upper portion  176  and the hanging portion  172  is mitigated by the second pad  188  and generation of particles due to the friction is prevented. The second pad  188  may include an engineering plastic such as Teflon. Further, the air path between the upper portion  176  of each plate  154  and the hanging portion  172  of each opening  150  is sealed with the second scaling means  192  such as an O-ring. 
         [0042]    The side surface of the upper portion  176  is spaced apart from the boundary side surface of each opening  150  by a second gap distance D for coupling each plate  154  and the frame  152  effectively and reducing the weight of the chamber lid  129 . For example, the second gap distance D may be within a range of about 50 mm to about 150 mm, preferably, about 100 mm. In addition, the side surface of the hanging portion  172  is spaced apart from the side surface of the lower portion  178  by a third gap distance E for effectively coupling the chamber body  128  and the chamber lid  129  without abrasion and providing a space accommodating thermal expansion of the chamber body  128  and the chamber lid  129 . For example, the first gap distance C may be within a range of about 5 mm to about 15 mm, preferably, about 10 mm. 
         [0043]    Although the plurality of plates are combined with the frame using the coupling means in  FIGS. 4 to 8 , the plurality of plates may be welded into the frame without the second pad and the second sealing means in another embodiment. Furthermore, the chamber lid may be applied to the process chamber for preventing deformation in another embodiment. 
         [0044]    In a cluster type apparatus according to the present invention, consequently, since the chamber lid includes the frame of the first metallic material having a relatively high strength and the plurality of plates of the second metallic material having a relatively high heat conductivity, deformation of the chamber lid due to repetition of the vacuum state and the atmospheric state is prevented. In addition, since the frame and the plurality of plates include flow channels for the refrigerant, deformation of the chamber lid due to the heat is prevented. 
         [0045]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in a vacuum chamber for processing a substrate and an apparatus including the vacuum chamber of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.