Patent Publication Number: US-2023136985-A1

Title: Anti freeze valve apparatus and semiconductor processing device including the same and manufacturing method thereof

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0150676 filed on Nov. 4, 2021 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, and all the benefits accruing therefrom under 35 U.S.C. 119, the contents of which in its entirety are herein incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to an anti-freeze valve apparatus and a semiconductor processing device including the same and a manufacturing method thereof. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A valve apparatus installed in a supercritical liquefier may control the flow rate of the cryogenic liquid fluid. When the liquid fluid controlled by the valve apparatus falls below zero, moisture in the atmosphere surrounding the valve apparatus may freeze, which may lead to defects in the valve apparatus. In addition, when the valve apparatus introduces or discharges air, a heat insulating material surrounding the valve apparatus may be damaged due to air pressure. 
     Therefore, when the liquid fluid controlled by the valve apparatus falls below zero, there is a need to prevent defects in the valve apparatus and damage to the heat insulating material surrounding the valve apparatus. 
     SUMMARY 
     Aspects of the present disclosure provide a valve apparatus that prevents defects in the valve apparatus due to a cryogenic liquid fluid and damage to a heat insulating material. 
     Aspects of the present disclosure also provide a semiconductor processing device including a valve apparatus that prevents defects in the valve apparatus due to a cryogenic liquid fluid and damage to a heat insulating material. 
     Aspects of the present disclosure also provide a method for manufacturing a semiconductor processing device including a valve apparatus that prevents defects in the valve apparatus due to a cryogenic liquid fluid and damage to a heat insulating material. 
     The technical aspects of the present disclosure are not restricted to those set forth herein, and other unmentioned technical aspects will be clearly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains by referencing the detailed description of the present disclosure given below. 
     Technical Solution 
     According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a semiconductor processing device comprising a supercritical liquefier and a valve apparatus installed in a lower part of the supercritical liquefier, wherein the valve apparatus comprises: an adjusting member; a spring configured to contract or relax through the adjusting member; a safety valve body configured to contract or relax with the spring; a valve piston pressurized by a movement of the safety valve body; a piston ring configured to surround the valve piston; a valve housing configured to surround the adjusting member, the spring, the safety valve body, the valve piston, and the piston ring; an airtight member configured to form a sealed space that blocks the penetration of external substances by surrounding the valve housing; and a heat insulating material configured to surround the airtight member. 
     In some embodiments, the airtight member of the semiconductor processing device is made up of resin. 
     In some embodiments, the airtight member of the semiconductor processing device is made up of plastic. 
     In some embodiments, the heat insulating material of the semiconductor processing device is made up of Styrofoam. 
     In some embodiments, the semiconductor processing device further a first gas supplier configured to supply gas and a second gas supplier configured to receive the gas, and the gas is controlled by the valve apparatus. 
     In some embodiments, according to the semiconductor processing device, the heat insulating material surrounds the first gas supplier and the second gas supplier. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a valve apparatus, comprising: an adjusting member; a spring configured to contract or relax through the adjusting member; a safety valve body configured to contract or relax with the spring; a valve piston pressurized by a movement of the safety valve body; a piston ring configured to surround the valve piston; a valve housing configured to surround the adjusting member, the spring, the safety valve body, the valve piston, and the piston ring; an airtight member configured to form a sealed space that blocks the penetration of external materials by surrounding the valve housing, and a heat insulating material configured to surround the airtight member. 
     In some embodiments, the airtight member of the valve apparatus is made up of resin. 
     In some embodiments, the airtight member of the valve apparatus is made up of plastic. 
     In some embodiments, the heat insulating material of the valve apparatus is made up of Styrofoam. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for manufacturing a semiconductor processing device, the method comprising: mounting an adjusting member, a spring configured to contract or relax through the adjusting member, a safety valve body configured to contract or relax with the spring, a valve piston f by a movement of the safety valve body, a piston ring configured to surround the valve piston, a valve housing configured to surround the adjusting member, the spring, the safety valve body, the valve piston, and the piston ring, and an airtight member configured to form a sealed space that blocks the penetration of external materials by surrounding the valve housing; forming a valve apparatus by packing a heat insulating material surrounding the airtight member; and installing the valve apparatus in a lower part of a supercritical liquefier. 
     In some embodiments, according to the method for manufacturing a semiconductor processing device, the airtight member is made up of resin. 
     In some embodiments, according to the method for manufacturing a semiconductor processing device, the airtight member is made up of plastic. 
     In some embodiments, according to the method for manufacturing a semiconductor processing device, the heat insulating material is made up of Styrofoam. 
     In some embodiments, the method for manufacturing a semiconductor processing device further comprise installing a first gas supplier configured to control gas to be supplied through the valve apparatus and supply the gas, and a second gas supplier configured to receive the gas. 
     In some embodiments, according to the method for manufacturing a semiconductor processing device, the heat insulating material surrounds the first gas supplier and the second gas supplier. 
     Specific details of other embodiments are included in the detailed description and the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other aspects and features of the present disclosure will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which: 
         FIG.  1    is an exemplary perspective view illustrating a semiconductor processing device according to some embodiments; 
         FIG.  2    is an exemplary sectional view illustrating a valve apparatus according to some embodiments; and 
         FIG.  3    is an exemplary flowchart illustrating a method for manufacturing the semiconductor processing device according to some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the attached drawings. The merits and characteristics of the present disclosure and a method for achieving the merits and characteristics will become more apparent from the embodiments described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but may be implemented in various different ways. The embodiments are provided to only complete the disclosure of the present disclosure and to allow those skilled in the art to understand the category of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is defined by the category of the claims. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description of the figures. 
     When it is stated that an element or a layer is “on” another element or layer, not only being directly on another element or layer but also interposing another layer or element therebetween are included. On the other hand, when it is stated that an element is “directly on” another, there is no other element or layer interposed therebetween. 
     The spatially relative terms “below,” “beneath,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” may be used to easily describe the correlation of a device or components with other devices or components. Spatially relative terms are to be understood as including terms in different directions of the device in use or operation in addition to the directions shown in the figures. For example, when flipping a device shown in the figure, a device described as “below” or “beneath” of another device may be placed “above” of another device. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device can also be oriented in other directions, so that spatially relative terms can be interpreted according to orientation. 
     Although the first, second, etc. are used to describe various elements, components and/or sections, these elements, components and/or sections are of course not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component or section from another element, component or section. Therefore, the first device, the first component, or the first section mentioned below may be a second device, a second component, or a second section within the technical spirit of the present disclosure. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. In this specification, the singular also includes the plural unless specifically stated otherwise in the phrase. As used herein, “comprises” and/or “comprising” refers to the presence of one or more other components, steps, operations and/or elements. Or does not exclude additions. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in the present specification may be used in a sense that can be commonly understood by those skilled in the art. In addition, the terms defined in the commonly used dictionaries are not ideally or excessively interpreted unless they are specifically defined clearly. 
     Hereinafter, preferred embodiments according to the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same or similar elements are assigned the same reference numerals irrespective of their reference numerals, and a redundant description thereof is omitted. 
       FIG.  1    is an exemplary perspective view illustrating a semiconductor processing device according to some embodiments. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , a semiconductor processing device  10  according to some embodiments includes a valve apparatus  100  and a supercritical liquefier  200 . 
     The semiconductor processing device  10  may be, for example, a portion of an atomic layer deposition (ALD) device, a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) device, or an atomic layer chemical vapor deposition (ALCVD) device. The present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the semiconductor processing device  10  may illustrate, for example, a portion of a semiconductor processing device that performs production of other semiconductors configured to execute a thin film deposition process, an oxidation or nitriding process, an etching process, a polishing process, or a lithography process performed to produce semiconductor elements on a substrate such as silicon wafers or glass plates. 
     The valve apparatus  100  may be installed in a lower part of the supercritical liquefier  200 . The valve apparatus  100  may control the flow of fluid supplied to the supercritical liquefier  200  or received from the supercritical liquefier  200 . A detailed configuration and operation of the valve apparatus  100  will be described in detail with reference to  FIG.  2   . 
     The supercritical liquefier  200  may make liquid to be used in a process of processing a semiconductor. For example, the supercritical liquefier  200  may liquefy the gas supplied through the valve apparatus  100  into liquid. 
     In the process of liquefying gas into liquid, the supercritical liquefier  200  may reduce the temperature of atmosphere and/or moisture around the supercritical liquefier  200 , resulting in freezing of the atmosphere and/or moisture. 
     For example, the valve apparatus  100  disposed in the lower part of the supercritical liquefier  200  may be affected by the freezing caused by the supercritical liquefier  200 , which may cause defects in the valve apparatus  100 . 
     Therefore, as described below, an airtight member can be mounted on the valve apparatus  100 , thus in advance preventing defects caused by the supercritical liquefier  200 . Hereinafter, the valve apparatus  100  and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor processing device including the valve apparatus  100  according to some embodiments will be described in detail. 
       FIG.  2    is an exemplary sectional view illustrating a valve apparatus according to some embodiments. 
     Referring to  FIG.  2   , the valve apparatus  100  according to some embodiments may include a heat insulating material  190 , an airtight member  180 , a spring  102 , a force introduction cap  104 , a valve housing  105 , an adjusting member  106 , safety valve outlets  108   a  and  108   b,  a safety valve body  110 , a valve piston  112 , a piston ring  114 , a pneumatic passage  116 , a valve inlet  118 , a first gas supplier  120 , and a second gas supplier  122 . 
     The configuration of the valve apparatus  100  is not limited thereto, and may further include other components. 
     The valve apparatus  100  may have a frame formed by the valve housing  105  including the valve inlet  118 . In addition, the valve housing  105  may include the safety valve outlets  108   a  and  108   b.  The valve piston  112  may be inserted into the valve housing  105 , and the valve piston  112  may include the piston ring  114 . 
     In the perimeter of the valve inlet  118 , the valve housing  105  may further include a protrusion in which the piston ring  114  is stopped. 
     The valve piston  112  includes the pneumatic passage  116 , and the pneumatic passage  116  may be formed by a through bore penetrating the valve piston  112 . The through bore may be coaxial with an axis of the valve piston  112 . 
     Pressure is applied to the valve piston  112  through the adjusting member  106  and through the spring  102  as contracted or relaxed. The spring  102  may apply a spring load to the valve piston  112  by an elastic force of the spring  102 , and the spring  102  can be configured to ensure that the safety valve body  110  is not in contact with the piston ring  114 , by the elastic force of the spring  102 . 
     The spring  102  may be disposed in a lower part of the force introduction cap  104 . The adjusting member  106  is disposed on the force introduction cap  104 , and according to the movement of the adjusting member  106 , force can be transmitted to the spring  102  to contract or relax the spring  102 . 
     The air injected into the valve apparatus  100  may be moved along the pneumatic passage  116  via an air path. 
     The valve apparatus  100  may control the flow of gas, purge gas, or process gas supplied from the first gas supplier  120  and transmitted to the second gas supplier  122 . In what follows, it is collectively referred to as gas. 
     More specifically, the gas supplied from the first gas supplier  120  may be controlled to be supplied to the second gas supplier  122  through the valve piston  112  along a first path. When the valve piston  112  is opened so that the gas can be supplied to the second gas supplier  122 , the gas may be transmitted to the second gas supplier  122  along a second path. However, when the valve piston  112  is closed, the gas supplied from the first gas supplier  120  may not be transmitted to the second gas supplier  122 . 
     The supply path of the gas is not limited to the present drawings, and the gas supplied from the second gas supplier  122  may be controlled to be supplied to the first gas supplier  120  through the valve piston  112  along the second path. When the valve piston  112  is opened so that the gas can be supplied to the first gas supplier  120 , the gas may be transmitted to the first gas supplier  120  along the first path. However, when the valve piston  112  is closed, the gas supplied from the second gas supplier  122  may not be transmitted to the first gas supplier  120 . 
     At this time, the valve apparatus  100  according to some embodiments includes the airtight member  180  that surrounds the valve housing  105  to block the penetration of external substances (e.g., water vapor frozen by the supercritical liquefier  200 ). 
     The airtight member  180  may be made up of, for example, a material containing resin. More specifically, the airtight member  180  may be made up of plastic. 
     The valve apparatus  100  according to some embodiments may include the airtight member  180  to form a sealed space between the airtight member  180  and the valve housing  105 , thus preventing the penetration of the external materials (e.g., water vapor frozen by the supercritical liquefier  200 ) into the valve housing  105 , which can prevent the defects of the valve apparatus  100 . 
     The valve apparatus  100  according to some embodiments includes the heat insulating material  190  surrounding the airtight member  180 . The heat insulating material  190  may surround the first gas supplier  120  and the second gas supplier  122 . 
     The heat insulating material  190  may be made up of, for example, Styrofoam. For another example, the heat insulating material  190  may be made up of sponge. 
     The valve apparatus  100  according to some embodiments includes the airtight member  180 , thus preventing damage to the insulation material  190  due to the air pressure generated when the gas is introduced and/or discharged through the valve inlet  118  and/or the safety valve outlets  108   a  and  108   b.    
       FIG.  3    is an exemplary flowchart illustrating a method for manufacturing the semiconductor processing device according to some embodiments. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1  to  3   , the adjusting member  106 , the spring  102  that contracts or relaxes through the adjusting member  106 , the safety valve body  110  that contracts or relaxes with the spring  102 , the valve piston  112  to which pressure is applied according to the movement of the safety valve body  110 , the piston ring  114  that surrounds the valve piston  112 , the valve housing  105  that surrounds the adjusting member  106 , the spring  102 , the safety valve body  110 , the valve piston  112  and the piston ring  114 , and the airtight member  180  that forms a sealed space that blocks the penetration of the external substances (e.g., water vapor frozen by the supercritical liquefier  200 ) by surrounding the valve housing  105 , are mounted (S 100 ). 
     Then, the heat insulating material  190  surrounding the airtight member  180  is packed (S 110 ). 
     Then, the valve apparatus  100  according to some embodiments, including the airtight member  180  and the heat insulating material  190 , is installed in the lower part of the supercritical liquefier  200  (S 120 ). 
     Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but may be implemented in various different ways, and the present disclosure may be embodied in many different forms without changing technical subject matters and essential features as will be understood by those skilled in the art. Therefore, embodiments set forth herein are exemplary only and not to be construed as a limitation.