Abstract:
The present invention provides a soft X-ray anti-static apparatus for a vacuum chamber, including: a high voltage generation unit for generating a high voltage for generating a soft X-ray; a soft X-ray generation unit for generating the soft X-ray by using the high voltage, and outputting the generated soft X-ray to the outside; a flexible connection unit for connecting the high voltage generation unit with the soft X-ray generation unit and transmitting the high voltage to the soft X-ray generation unit; and a fastening unit provided on the soft X-ray generation unit so as to be fastened to a predetermined target object.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0122604, filed on Oct. 15, 2013, in Korean Intellectual Property Office, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to a soft X-ray anti-static apparatus for a vacuum chamber to efficiently remove static electricity generated in the vacuum chamber during a process. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Generally, large scale integrated circuits such as memory devices, planar-type devices such as TFTs, or ICs are manufactured through a variety of reaction chambers (or process chambers) through which predetermined manufacturing processes are carried out. 
         [0006]    The reaction chambers for manufacturing such semiconductor devices are generally maintained in a vacuum state. For example, when a target wafer is loaded, a reaction chamber formed with a quartz boat for carrying out a dry etching process is vacuumized. 
         [0007]    During sequential manufacturing processes, large scale integrated circuits such as memory devices, planar-type devices such as TFTs, or ICs are sequentially transferred to respective corresponding reaction chambers by using transfer chambers arranged between reaction chambers for manufacturing processes. However, a great amount of static electricity exists in the transfer chambers. 
         [0008]    In particular, when products or semi-products produced via respective reaction chambers are conveyed from respective reaction chambers to the transfer chamber, products or semi-products are subjected to a great quantity of static electricity accumulated in the transfer chamber. 
         [0009]    Thus, unless static electricity accumulated in the transfer chamber is appropriately removed, quality of products or semi-products may be negatively affected during conveyance. 
         [0010]    That is, in the case of flat-display products, for example, if static electricity accumulated in reaction chambers is not appropriately removed, the static electricity may cause problems of various operation errors, such as touch-perception errors, abnormal screen driving, linear defects, screen flickering, or glass breakage. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
       [0011]    Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the related art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a soft X-ray anti-static apparatus capable of irradiating a soft X-ray toward the inside of a vacuum chamber to remove static electricity. 
         [0012]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a soft X-ray anti-static apparatus capable of detachably attaching a soft X-ray generator to a vacuum chamber to irradiate a soft X-ray. 
         [0013]    A still another object of the present invention is to provide a soft X-ray anti-static apparatus capable of variably controlling locations of a soft X-ray to be generated, without direct attachment to the inside of a vacuum chamber. 
       Technical Solution 
       [0014]    In order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a soft X-ray anti-static apparatus for a vacuum chamber, including: a high voltage generation unit generating a high voltage for generating a soft X-ray; a soft X-ray generation unit generating the soft X-ray by using the high voltage, and outputting the generated soft X-ray to the outside; a flexible connection unit connecting the high voltage generation unit with the soft X-ray generation unit and transmitting the high voltage to the soft X-ray generation unit; and a fastening unit provided onto the soft X-ray generation unit so as to be fastened to a predetermined target object. 
         [0015]    The target object may be a vacuum chamber capable of forming a vacuum state. 
         [0016]    The soft X-ray generation unit may penetrate through the vacuum chamber so as to be exposed to an internal space thereof, and the fastening unit may fasten the soft X-ray generation unit onto an outer wall part of the vacuum chamber. 
         [0017]    The fastening unit may include: a fastening member provided around the soft X-ray generation unit, a coupling means having a plurality of coupling holes provided onto the fastening member so as to be spaced apart at specified intervals, and a plurality of coupling members fastened to an outer wall part of the vacuum chamber through the coupling holes. 
         [0018]    A silicone gasket may be further provided between the fastening member and the outer wall part of the vacuum chamber to assist the vacuum chamber in maintaining a vacuum state. 
         [0019]    The soft X-ray generation unit may be provided with respect to the vacuum chamber such that an end portion thereof protrudes into the internal space of the vacuum chamber based on an inner wall part of the vacuum chamber. 
         [0020]    The end portion of the soft X-ray generation unit may be disposed so as to be flush with the inner wall part of the vacuum chamber. 
         [0021]    The vacuum chamber may be provided with a through-hole through which the soft X-ray generation unit is inserted and fitted. 
         [0022]    The through-hole may be provided, on an inner circumference thereof, with a sealing member formed of silicone to be closely fitted around an outer circumference of the soft X-ray generation unit so as to maintain the vacuum state of the vacuum chamber. 
         [0023]    The soft X-ray generation unit may have a cylindrical shape and is coupled to the through-hole in a screw-coupled manner. 
         [0024]    The soft X-ray generation unit and the through-hole may have at least one stepped part to assist close fitting therebetween. 
         [0025]    The end portion of the soft X-ray generation unit may be horizontally rotated while being exposed to the internal space of the vacuum chamber. 
         [0026]    The soft X-ray generation unit may further include a rotary unit to rotate the end portion of the soft X-ray generation unit to adjust a rotation position of the end portion in response to reception of an external control signal. 
         [0027]    The soft X-ray anti-static apparatus may further include an anti-static control unit. 
         [0028]    The anti-static control unit may include a measuring device to measure a level of static electricity in the internal space of the vacuum chamber, and a controller to control the drive of the high voltage generation unit to generate a predetermined amount of soft X-rays in response to the measured level of static electricity. 
       Advantageous Effects 
       [0029]    The present invention has an effect of providing a soft X-ray for anti-static in the vacuum chamber. 
         [0030]    In addition, the present invention has an effect of detachably installing the soft X-ray generation unit for generating a soft X-ray onto the vacuum chamber. 
         [0031]    Further, the present invention has an effect of variably controlling locations of a soft X-ray to be generated, without direct attachment to the inside of a vacuum chamber. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0032]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a soft X-ray anti-static apparatus for a vacuum chamber according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 2  is a view illustrating a high voltage generation unit of the soft X-ray anti-static apparatus; 
           [0034]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the high voltage generation unit; 
           [0035]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the high voltage generation unit of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 5  is a cross-section view illustrating an example of the soft X-ray anti-static apparatus being installed in a vacuum chamber; 
           [0037]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a body of a soft X-ray generation unit being fitted through a through-hole; 
           [0038]      FIG. 7  is a view illustrating an example of an end portion of the soft X-ray generation unit being configured to be rotatable; and 
           [0039]      FIG. 8  is a view illustrating the soft X-ray anti-static apparatus having an anti-static control unit. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0040]    An exemplary embodiment of a soft X-ray anti-static apparatus for a vacuum chamber will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0041]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a soft X-ray anti-static apparatus for a vacuum chamber according to an embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 2  is a view illustrating a high voltage generation unit of the soft X-ray anti-static apparatus. 
         [0042]    The soft X-ray anti-static apparatus  200  is detachably installed onto a vacuum chamber. 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the soft X-ray anti-static apparatus includes a high voltage generation unit  100 , a soft X-ray generation unit  200 , a flexible connection unit  230 , and a fastening unit  400 . 
         [0044]    The high voltage generation unit  100  serves to generate a high voltage for producing a soft X-ray. 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the high voltage generation unit  100  is provided with a casing  111  having a power source (not shown) therein. 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the flexible connection unit  300  has a tube body formed in a certain length from a flexible material. A silicone layer (not shown) may be further provided to the connection unit in order to prevent leakage of a soft X-ray to the outside. 
         [0047]    One end of the flexible connection unit  300  may be coupled to a fitting part  113   a  by means of a nut. A sealing ring (not shown) may be further installed onto a coupled section. 
         [0048]    The other end of the flexible connection unit  300  may be coupled to the soft X-ray generation unit  200 . The connection unit  300  serves to transfer a high voltage generated from the high voltage generation unit  100  to the soft X-ray generation unit  220 . 
         [0049]    The soft X-ray generation unit  200  includes a body part  210 , a soft X-ray tube part  220  installed in the body part  210  and through which a soft X-ray is irradiated to the outside, a silicone molding part  230  surrounding the soft X-ray tube part  220  to prevent leakage of a soft X-ray to the outside, and a head cap part  240  coupled to a distal end of the body part  210 . 
         [0050]    Here, the body part  210  may preferably have a cylindrical shape. 
         [0051]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the fastening unit  400  includes a fastening member  410  and a coupling means  420 . 
         [0052]    The fastening member  410  has a cylindrical body with a specified thickness, which is provided around the body part  210  of the soft X-ray generation unit. 
         [0053]    Here, the fastening member  410  is coaxially provided around the body part  210  of the soft X-ray generation unit. 
         [0054]    The fastening member  410  may preferably be integrated with the body part  210  of the soft X-ray generation unit. 
         [0055]    Alternatively, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the fastening member  410  may be installed onto the body part  210  such that the fastening member is forwardly and inversely rotated about the body part  210  so that the fastening member moves back and forth along the body part  210  in the longitudinal direction thereof. 
         [0056]    In this case, the fastening member  410  may preferably be coupled onto an outer circumference of the body part  210  of the soft X-ray generation unit in a screw-coupling manner. 
         [0057]    The coupling means  420  includes a plurality of coupling holes  420   a  provided on the fastening member  410  so as to be spaced apart at specified intervals, and a plurality of coupling members  420   b  coupled to an outer wall part of the vacuum chamber through the coupling holes  420   a.    
         [0058]    The coupling members  420   b  may be coupling bolts to be fitted through the coupling holes  420   a  in a screw-coupling manner. 
         [0059]    The coupling members  420   b  may be screw-coupled through the outer wall part of the vacuum chamber along with coupling through the coupling holes  420   a.    
         [0060]    In the meantime, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the outer wall part of the vacuum chamber  1  is provided with a through-hole h into which the body part  210  of the soft X-ray generation unit is fitted. 
         [0061]    The through-hole h may have a solid inner circumference or a threaded inner circumference to be screw-coupled with an outer circumference of the body part  210  of the soft X-ray generation unit. 
         [0062]    Here, an end portion of the body part  210  fitted into the through-hole h may be positioned so as to be substantially flush with an inner wall part of the vacuum chamber  1 . 
         [0063]    In this case, although not illustrated in the drawings, a cap (not shown) may be further installed around the through-hole h on the side of the inner wall part of the vacuum chamber  1 . 
         [0064]    Here, one side of the fastening member  410  provided around the body part  210  of the soft X-ray generation unit is arranged so as to come into contact with the outer wall part of the vacuum chamber  1 . 
         [0065]    The coupling holes  420   a  formed on the fastening member  410  and fastening holes hl formed on the outer wall part of the vacuum chamber  1  are provided at corresponding positions. 
         [0066]    The plurality of coupling members  420   b  are fitted through the coupling holes  420   a  and the fastening holes hl. 
         [0067]    Thus, the body part  210  of the soft X-ray generation unit may be fixed while being fitted through the through-hole h of the outer wall part of the vacuum chamber  1 . 
         [0068]    In addition, a silicone gasket (not shown) may be further installed between the outer wall part of the vacuum chamber  1  and one side of the fastening member  410 . 
         [0069]    The silicone gasket serves to protect the soft X-ray tube part  220  in front of the silicone gasket and to fix or protect a connection part of the X-ray tube part  220 . 
         [0070]    Here, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , when the body part  210  is screw-coupled through the through-hole h, a sealing member (not shown) formed of a silicone material may preferably be provided on the inner circumference of the through-hole h as a coat. 
         [0071]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the end portion of the body part  210  of the soft X-ray generation unit may be fixedly installed so as to protrude into an internal space  1   a  of the vacuum chamber  1 . 
         [0072]    This can be realized in a case where the fastening member  410  is variably fastened onto the body part  210  along the longitudinal direction as described before. 
         [0073]    In this case, the end portion of the body part  210  of the soft X-ray generation unit moves back and forth relative to the internal space  1   a  of the vacuum chamber  1 , so that the irradiating location of a soft X-ray can be controlled. 
         [0074]    In this case, the fastening member  410  is screw-coupled with the body part  221  of the soft X-ray generation unit. 
         [0075]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of the body part of the soft X-ray generation unit being fitted through the through-hole. 
         [0076]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the soft X-ray generation unit  200  and the through-hole h′ may have at least one stepped part S. 
         [0077]    The stepped part S serves to prevent a motion of the body part  210  at a fastened position and also to more effectively prevent leakage of a vacuum since the stepped part S forms multiple layers. 
         [0078]      FIG. 7  is a view illustrating an example of the end portion of the soft X-ray generation unit being configured to be rotatable. 
         [0079]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , the end portion of the body part  210  may be formed as a rotatable body  221   a  that is horizontally rotatable in a state of being exposed to the internal space  1   a  of the vacuum chamber  1 . 
         [0080]    Thus, a flexible outer tube  210   b  may be installed between the body part  210  of the soft X-ray generation unit and the rotatable body  210   a.    
         [0081]    The flexible outer tube  210   b  is provided with a rotation end section H to cause the rotatable body  210   a  to be rotated. The rotation end section H is connected to a rotary device  600 . 
         [0082]    The rotary device  600  may rotate the rotatable body  210   a  so that a position of the end portion of the soft X-ray generation unit  200  is rotated, in response to reception of an external control signal. 
         [0083]    Since a direction in which the end portion of the body part of the soft X-ray generation unit, from which a soft X-ray is output, faces is regulated through control action of the rotary device, the end portion may be regulated so as to direct towards a wide side of the vacuum chamber by taking account of a spatial area of the internal space of the vacuum chamber. 
         [0084]      FIG. 8  is a view illustrating the soft X-ray anti-static apparatus having an anti-static control unit. 
         [0085]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , the soft X-ray anti-static apparatus further includes the anti-static control unit  500 . 
         [0086]    The anti-static control unit  500  includes a measuring device  510  to measure a level of static electricity in the internal space  1   a  of the vacuum chamber  1 , and a controller  520  to control the drive of the high voltage generation unit  510  to generate a predetermined amount of soft X-rays in response to the measured level of static electricity. 
         [0087]    The measuring device  510  may be installed on the side of the inner wall part of the vacuum chamber  1 , or otherwise may be installed so as to protrude from the end portion of the body part  210  of the soft X-ray generation unit. 
         [0088]    The measuring device  510  measures a level of static electricity in the internal space  1   a  of the vacuum chamber  1  and transmits a measured value to the controller  520 . 
         [0089]    The controller  520  is set to generate a predetermined amount of static electricity in response to the level of static electricity. 
         [0090]    Thus, the controller  520  can control the drive of the high voltage generation unit  100  to generate a predetermined amount of soft X-rays in response to the measured level of static electricity. 
         [0091]    According to the configuration and the operation described in the foregoing description, the embodiment of the present invention can provide a soft X-ray for anti-static in the vacuum chamber. 
         [0092]    In addition, the embodiment of the present invention is configured to realize detachable installation of the soft X-ray generation unit for generating a soft X-ray onto the vacuum chamber. 
         [0093]    Further, the present invention can variably control locations of a soft X-ray to be generated, without direct attachment to the inside of a vacuum chamber. 
         [0094]    Furthermore, the embodiment of the present invention can efficiently remove static electricity in an internal space of a vacuum chamber, thereby solving problems of flat panel displays manufactured in a vacuum chamber, such glass breakage or various operation errors including touch-perception errors, abnormal screen driving, linear defects, and screen flickering. 
         [0095]    Although exemplary embodiments of manufacturing equipment for flat panel displays, including a soft X-ray anti-static apparatus, have been described, it is apparent that various modification can be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. 
         [0096]    Thus, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the disclosed embodiments, and should be defined by features of following claims and equivalent features thereof. 
         [0097]    That is, it should be construed that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary examples in all aspects and the scope of the invention is defined by following claims, rather than the detailed description, and all of changes and modifications derived from the meaning, scope, and equivalent concepts of the claims are included in the scope of the invention. 
         [0098]    Industrial Applicability: The present invention is applicable to means for removing static electricity generated in a vacuum chamber.