Patent Publication Number: US-2017358463-A1

Title: Assembling device used for semiconductor equipment

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to an assembling device, and more particularly to an automatic assembling device adaptable to semiconductor equipment. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     In a film deposition process, a wafer supported on a susceptor in a chamber is exposed to reactant gases that are injected and heated to react or decompose on the wafer to produce a thin film. 
     A ceiling opposite the susceptor is commonly adopted for guiding flow and controlling temperature. The purpose of guiding flow is to mitigate turbulence and to guide the turbulence out of a growth zone; and the purpose of controlling temperature is to prevent a by-product (e.g., unwanted particles) from adhering to the surface of the ceiling. The by-product on a ceiling with temperature improperly controlled may probably fall onto the wafer. To the contrary, a by-product has less chance of adhering to or falling from the ceiling with temperature properly controlled, thereby enhancing yield of processed wafers. 
       FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B  respectively show a perspective view and a side view of arrangement of a ceiling  110  and a chamber lid  120  for conventional semiconductor equipment  100 . The ceiling  110  is manually attached to the chamber lid  120 . Specifically, a center fastener  130  of the ceiling  110  is screwed to a center tapped hole of the chamber lid  120 . A spacer ring  140  is commonly disposed between the edge of the ceiling  110  and the chamber lid  120  to result in a gap, which needs to be adjusted to control chamber temperature according to composition and flow of reactant gases. Thickness of the spacer ring  140  determines the gap between the ceiling  110  and the chamber lid  120 . 
     However, at least two operators are required to firmly attach the ceiling  10  to the chamber lid  120 . Likewise, at least two operators are required to manually unload the ceiling  110  for cleaning. Substantial manpower is thus demanded for loading or unloading the ceiling  110 . Further, the ceiling  110  may not be securely attached to the chamber lid  120  as only the center fastener  130  is responsible for supporting the ceiling  110 . 
     A need has thus arisen to propose an automatic assembling device used for semiconductor equipment to increase efficiency and convenience of loading and unloading the ceiling. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the embodiment of the present invention to provide an automatic assembling device used for semiconductor equipment in order to reduce complexity and labor cost, and to increase use efficiency and convenience effectively. 
     According to one embodiment, an assembling device used for semiconductor equipment includes a chamber lid, a ceiling, a suspension part and a driving part. The ceiling is disposed below the chamber lid. The suspension part is inserted through the chamber lid and to be hooked to the ceiling. The driving part is disposed above the chamber lid and connected to the suspension part. The driving part is configured to drive the suspension part to join or separate the ceiling and the chamber lid. The driving part includes an elevating unit and a rotating unit. The elevating unit is configured to elevate the suspension part, and the rotating unit is configured to rotate the suspension part. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B  respectively show a perspective view and a side view of arrangement of a ceiling and a chamber lid for conventional semiconductor equipment; 
         FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B  show cross-sectional views of an assembling device adaptable to semiconductor equipment for assembling a ceiling and a chamber lid according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2C  shows a partial perspective view of the ceiling and the suspension part of the assembling device of  FIGS. 2A-2B ; 
         FIG. 2D  shows a partial cross-sectional view of the suspension part according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2E  shows a partial cross-sectional view of the ceiling and the suspension part according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2F  shows a perspective view of the driving part of the assembling device of  FIGS. 2A-2B ; 
         FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B  show cross-sectional views of the assembling device adaptable to semiconductor equipment for unloading the ceiling according to another embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 3C  and  FIG. 3D  show cross-sectional views of the assembling device adaptable to semiconductor equipment for automatically replacing the ceiling according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B  show cross-sectional views of an assembling device  200  adaptable to semiconductor equipment for assembling a ceiling  220  and a chamber lid  210  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The assembling device  200  used for semiconductor equipment may include a chamber lid  210 , a ceiling  220 , a suspension part  230  and a driving part  240 . The ceiling  220  is disposed below the chamber lid  210 . The suspension part  230  is inserted through the chamber lid  210  and to be hooked to the ceiling  220 . The driving part  240  is disposed above the chamber lid  210  and connected to the suspension part  230 , and the driving part  240  is configured to drive the suspension part  230  to join or separate the ceiling  220  and the chamber lid  210 . Specifically, the driving part  240  may include an elevating unit  241  and a rotating unit  246 . The elevating unit  241  is configured to elevate (i.e., raise or lower) the suspension part  230 , and the rotating unit  246  is configured to rotate the suspension part  230 . 
     To be more elaborate, the driving part  240  drives the suspension part  230  to join the ceiling  220  and the chamber lid  210 . Specifically, the elevating unit  241  lowers the suspension part  230  and inserts it to the ceiling  220 . The rotating unit  246  then rotates the suspension part  230  and hooks it to the ceiling  220 . Subsequently, when the elevating unit  241  raises the suspension part  230 , the suspension part  230  accordingly raises the ceiling  220  and fastens it to a bottom surface of the chamber lid  210 . 
     In the embodiment, the suspension part  230  may include a plurality of first suspension elements  231  disposed above the ceiling  220 . Each first suspension element  231  may include a first support rod  231   a  and a first hook  231   b  which is disposed at a bottom end of the first support rod  231   a . In one embodiment, the first hook  231   b  is a T-shaped hook with a top end connected to the bottom end of the first support rod  231   a  and a bottom end facing toward the ceiling  220 . 
       FIG. 2C  shows a partial perspective view of the ceiling  220  and the suspension part  230  of the assembling device  200  of  FIGS. 2A-2B . In the embodiment, the ceiling  220  has a plurality of openings  222  disposed corresponding to the first suspension elements  231 , respectively. The driving part  240  drives the suspension part  230  to join the ceiling  220  and the chamber lid  210  by the T-shaped first hook  231   b  and the opening  222  of the ceiling  220 . Specifically, the elevating unit  241  lowers the first support rod  231   a  and inserts it to the opening  222 . The rotating unit  246  then rotates the first support rod  231   a  and hooks the first hook  231   b  to the ceiling  220 . Subsequently, when the elevating unit  241  raises the first support rod  231   a , the first hook  231   b  accordingly raises the ceiling  220  and fastens it to the bottom surface of the chamber lid  210 . 
     Each opening  222  of the ceiling  220  may have a corresponding rotating groove  225 . When the rotating unit  246  rotates the first support rod  231   a , the first hook  231   b  accordingly rotates in the rotating groove  225  and finally hooks to a top surface of the rotating groove  225 . 
     When the first hook  231   b  hooks to the top surface of the rotating groove  225 , a thickness of the first hook  231   b  may be less than or equal to a depth of the rotating groove  225 . When assembling the ceiling  220  and the chamber lid  210 , the bottom surface of the first hook  231   b  is at the same level as the bottom surface of the ceiling  220 , or is at a higher level than the bottom surface of the ceiling  220 . In either case, the first hook  231   b  does not protrude from the bottom surface of the ceiling  220 . 
     In the embodiment, the ceiling  220  may include a plurality of pads  224  embedded on a top surface of the ceiling  220  and disposed corresponding to the rotating grooves  225 . In the embodiment, the pad  224  is disposed surrounding the corresponding opening  222 . Accordingly, when the driving part  240  fastens the ceiling  220  toward the bottom surface of the chamber lid  210 , a top surface of the pad  224  is in contact with the bottom surface of the chamber lid  210 , thereby resulting in a gap between the ceiling  220  and the chamber lid  210 . 
     According to design practice or process requirement, a proper thickness of the pad  224  may be chosen such that the top surface of the pad  224  may be at the same level as the top surface of the ceiling  220 , or at a higher level than the top surface of the ceiling  220 . The pads  224  and the ceiling  220  may be manufactured integrally or separately. In a case that the top surface of the pad  224  is at a higher level than the top surface of the ceiling  220 , a spacing between the top surface of the pad  224  and the top surface of the ceiling  220  may be 0.1-0.3 mm or a proper value according to process conditions or reactant gases. For example, in an arsenic phosphide (AsP) process, a spacing between the top surface of the pad  224  and the top surface of the ceiling  220  may be approximately 0.3 mm such that the spacing between the top surface of the ceiling  220  and the bottom surface of the chamber lid  210  may be maintained at 0.3 mm in the process. In a nitride process, a spacing between the top surface of the pad  224  and the top surface of the ceiling  220  may be approximately 0.1 mm such that the spacing between the top surface of the ceiling  220  and the bottom surface of the chamber lid  210  may be maintained at 0.1 mm in the process. 
     In one exemplary, but not limiting, embodiment, the assembling device  200  may include four first suspension elements  231 , four corresponding openings  222  and four corresponding pads  224 . In general, at least two first suspension elements  231 , at least two corresponding openings  222  and at least two corresponding pads  224  may be disposed in a balance manner such that the ceiling  220  would not shift laterally or rotate during elevation. 
       FIG. 2D  shows a partial cross-sectional view of the suspension part  230  according to another embodiment of the present invention. Each first suspension element  231  may further include a first buffer component  231   c  disposed at a top end of the first support rod  231   a . When the driving part  240  drives the first support rod  231   a  and the first hook  231   b  to raise the ceiling  220  and fastens it to the bottom surface of the chamber lid  210 , the first buffer component  231   c  may substantially reduce the force impacting on the ceiling  220  caused by the first hook  231   b , thereby preventing the ceiling  220  from breaking. In one embodiment, the first buffer component  231   c  may include a spring. 
       FIG. 2E  shows a partial cross-sectional view of the ceiling  220  and a second suspension element  232  of the suspension part  230  according to another embodiment of the present invention. The suspension part  230  may include a plurality of second suspension elements  232 . Each second suspension element  232  may include a second support rod  232   a  and a second hook  232   b , which as a whole are L-shaped. The second hook  232   b  is disposed at a bottom end of the second support rod  232   a , and the second hook  232   b  faces toward the ceiling  220 . Accordingly, the driving part  240  drives to lower and rotate the second suspension element  232  of the suspension part  230 , and to hook it to an edge of the ceiling  220 . Therefore, the ceiling  220  may then be raised and fastened to the bottom surface of the chamber lid  210 . The edge of the ceiling  220  may have a rotating groove  225 . When the elevating unit  241  lowers the second support rod  232   a  to the ceiling  220 , the rotating unit  246  rotates the second support rod  232   a , the second hook  232   b  accordingly rotates in the rotating groove  225  and finally hooks to a top surface of the rotating groove  225 , thereby not affecting the reaction zone. Each second suspension element  232  may further include a second buffer component disposed at a top end of the second support rod  232   a . When the ceiling  200  is raised and fastened to the bottom surface of the chamber lid  210 , the second buffer component may substantially reduce the force impacting on the ceiling  220  caused by the second hook  232   b . The suspension part  230  of the embodiment may selectively include the first suspension element  231  or the second suspension element  232  or their combination. 
       FIG. 2F  shows a perspective view of the driving part  240  of the assembling device  200  of  FIGS. 2A-2B . The elevating unit  241  is configured to elevate the first suspension element  231 . The elevating unit  241  may include an elevating plate  242 , at least two belt pulleys  243 , a drive belt  244  and a drive motor  245 . The elevating plate  242  is disposed above the chamber lid  210 , and is connected to a top end of the first support rod  231   a  of the first suspension element  231 . Specifically, the first support rod  231   a  is inserted through the chamber lid  210 , and is elevated along with the elevating plate  242 . The belt pulleys  243  are symmetrically disposed on the elevating plate  242 . In one embodiment, a center shaft  248  of the belt pulley  243  is connected to the elevating plate  242 , and a bottom end of the center shaft  248  is inserted and screwed to the chamber lid  210 . The drive belt  244  is looped over two belt pulleys  243 . The drive motor  245  is disposed on the elevating plate  242 , and is configured to elevate (i.e., raise or lower) the elevating plate  242  and the first support rod  231   a  by driving the belt pulleys  243  via the drive belt  244 . 
     The rotating unit  246  may include at least three pneumatic cylinders  247 , each of which is correspondingly disposed at a top end of the first support rod  231   a , and is configured to rotate the first support rod  231   a  and the first hook  231   b . Although the first suspension element  231  is exemplified in the embodiment as described above, the first suspension element  231  may, however, be substituted or accompanied with the second suspension  232  in other embodiments. 
       FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B  show cross-sectional views of the assembling device  200  adaptable to semiconductor equipment for unloading the ceiling  220  according to another embodiment of the present invention. The driving part  240  drives the suspension part  230  to separate the ceiling  220  from the chamber lid  210 . Specifically, the elevating unit  241  drives the belt pulleys  243  via the drive motor  245  and the drive belt  244  to lower the elevating plate  242 . The first support rod  231   a  is thus lowered, and the ceiling  210  is separated from the chamber lid  210  until the ceiling  210  rests on a top surface of a susceptor  250 . Subsequently, the pneumatic cylinder  247  of the rotating unit  246  rotates the first support rod  231   a , and the first hook  231   b  then rotates out of the rotating groove  225  corresponding to the opening  222 . The drive motor  245  of the elevating unit  241  then raises the first support rod  231   a , and the first hook  231   b  therefore gets away from the opening  222 . 
       FIG. 3C  and  FIG. 3D  show cross-sectional views of the assembling device  200  adaptable to semiconductor equipment for automatically replacing the ceiling according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figures, the assembling device  200  is disposed in a reaction zone  300 , where the chamber lid  210  is disposed at the top of a chamber  260 . The assembling device  200  may further include a first robot  270 A and a second robot  270 B. The chamber  260  may have a gate valve  262 . After the process in the chamber  260  finishes, the ceiling  220 A is unloaded onto the susceptor  250 , and the ceiling  220 A is transferred out of the reaction zone  300  through opened gate valve  262  by the first robot  270 A and is then disposed in a place zone  500  for cleaning. Subsequently, another ceiling  220 B disposed in a standby zone  400  is transferred to the susceptor  250  in the chamber  260  by the second robot  270 B. The ceiling  220 B is then fastened to the chamber lid  210  by the suspension part  230 , followed by closing the gate valve  262 , and the chamber  260  is ready for performing another process. Accordingly, the ceiling may be automatically transferred and replaced, thereby effectively reducing manpower and saving time in cooling the chamber  260 . Although the first suspension element  231  is exemplified in the embodiment regarding  FIGS. 3A-3D , the first suspension element  231  may, however, be substituted or accompanied with the second suspension  232  in other embodiments. 
     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is intended to be limited solely by the appended claims.