Patent ID: 12243760

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

Hereinafter, a substrate processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings illustrate exemplary forms of the present disclosure and are provided merely to describe the present disclosure in more detail, and the drawings do not limit the technical scope of the present disclosure.

In addition, the same or similar constituent elements are assigned with the same reference numerals regardless of reference numerals, and the repetitive description thereof will be omitted. For the convenience of description, sizes and shapes of the respective illustrated constituent members may be exaggerated or reduced.

Meanwhile, the terms including ordinal numbers such as “first” and “second” may be used to describe various constituent elements, but the constituent elements should not be limited by the terms, and these terms are used only to distinguish one constituent element from another constituent element.

FIG.1is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a substrate processing apparatus according to the present disclosure is disassembled.

Referring toFIG.1, the substrate processing apparatus according to the present disclosure may include a load lock chamber100configured to accommodate a substrate, a reaction chamber200configured to accommodate the load lock chamber100, and an opening/closing member300extending toward the load lock chamber100and configured to open or close the load lock chamber100.

The load lock chamber100, the reaction chamber200, and the opening/closing member300may be made of a metallic material.

The load lock chamber100may be formed to accommodate the substrate (e.g., a sample substrate which is a processing object). The load lock chamber100includes a first casing110on which the substrate is placed, and a second casing120separably coupled to the first casing110. For example, the first casing110and the second casing120may be a lower casing and an upper casing, respectively. That is, the first casing110and the second casing120may be coupled to each other in an upward/downward direction.

The second casing120may be coupled to and separated from the first casing110by rotating. For example, a screw thread may be formed on an outer peripheral surface of the first casing110, and a screw thread may be formed on an inner peripheral surface of the second casing120, such that the second casing120may be coupled to and separated from the first casing110by rotating.

Specifically, the first casing110may have a bottom wall and a first sidewall extending from the bottom wall, and the second casing120may have an upper wall and a second sidewall extending from the upper wall. The second sidewall may be formed to surround the first sidewall. That is, the second sidewall may be disposed radially outward from the first sidewall. In other words, a diameter of the upper wall may be larger than a diameter of the bottom wall.

Further, a first screw thread may be formed on an outer surface of the sidewall of the first casing110, and a second screw thread may be formed on an inner surface of the sidewall of the second casing120and engage with the first screw thread.

The load lock chamber100may be sealed in a vacuum state as the second casing120and the first casing110are coupled. Although not illustrated, a sealing member such as a sealing ring may be provided on at least one of the first casing110and the second casing120to seal the load lock chamber100in a vacuum state.

That is, the load lock chamber100may accommodate the substrate in a state in which a vacuum is maintained in the load lock chamber100in a sealed state (i.e., in the state in which the second casing120and the first casing110are coupled). For example, the load lock chamber100accommodating the substrate may be accommodated in the reaction chamber200in the state in which a vacuum is maintained in the load lock chamber100.

For example, the load lock chamber100may be sealed in a vacuum state as the substrate is disposed in the first casing110, in a vacuum space in which the substrate manufactured, and then the second casing120and the first casing110are coupled.

The reaction chamber200may be formed to accommodate the load lock chamber100. In addition, the reaction chamber200may be connected to a supply source (not illustrated) for supplying a reactant gas (e.g., source gas) into the reaction chamber200and connected to a gas discharge unit (not illustrated) including a gas discharge line and a gas discharge pump for discharging the gas from the inside of the reaction chamber200.

The reaction chamber200includes a lower chamber part210to which the load lock chamber100is separably coupled, a chamber body220separably coupled to the lower chamber part210, and a chamber cover separably coupled to the chamber body220.

The lower chamber part210may divide a lower side of a reaction space (i.e., a lower wall of the reaction chamber), and the load lock chamber100may be separably coupled to the lower chamber part210. For example, a coupling seat211may be disposed at a central portion of the lower chamber part210and formed concavely to couple the load lock chamber100so that the load lock chamber100is separable. Further, a protruding portion111may be formed on a lower surface of the load lock chamber100(i.e., a lower surface of the first casing) and separably coupled to the coupling seat211. The first casing110may be coupled to the coupling seat211so as not to rotate.

The lower chamber part210may include: a supply hole218connected to a supply line (not illustrated) for supplying the reactant gas into the reaction chamber; and a gas discharge hole219connected to the gas discharge line (not illustrated) for discharging the gas from the inside of the reaction chamber. At least one of an on-off valve and an opening degree adjusting valve may be provided in the supply line, and at least one of an on-off valve and an opening degree adjusting valve may be provided in the gas discharge line.

The chamber body220may divide a lateral side (or sidewall) of the reaction space and be separably coupled to the lower chamber part210. In the illustrated embodiment, the chamber body220may be formed in a prismatic shape opened at upper and lower ends thereof. However, it is apparent that the shape of the chamber body220may be changed to various shapes such as a cylindrical shape. A lower end of the chamber body220may be covered by the lower chamber part210, and an upper end of the chamber body220may be covered by the chamber cover230.

The chamber cover230may be formed to cover the upper end of the chamber body220. That is, the chamber cover230may divide an upper side (or an upper wall) of the reaction space. The chamber cover230may have a first hole231and a second hole232penetrated by the opening/closing member300and a push bar400to be described below. The first hole231and the second hole232may be sealed in a state in which the opening/closing member300and the push bar400penetrate the first hole231and the second hole232.

The opening/closing member300may extend toward the load lock chamber100accommodated in the reaction chamber200. The opening/closing member300may be formed to open or close the load lock chamber100.

The load lock chamber100accommodated in the reaction chamber200may be opened or closed in the state in which the inside of the reaction chamber200is maintained in a vacuum state. That is, the load lock chamber100may be opened or closed in the reaction chamber200in a vacuum state.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent unnecessary contamination or oxidation of the substrate accommodated in the load lock chamber100.

Meanwhile, as described above, the load lock chamber100may include the first casing110and the second casing120coupled to or separated from each other by rotating. In this case, one of the first and second casings110and120may be formed so that one end of the opening/closing member300is separably coupled to one of the first and second casings110and120.

Specifically, a second coupling portion125may be formed on one of the first and second casings110and120, and a first coupling portion305formed at one end in the longitudinal direction of the opening/closing member300may be coupled to the second coupling portion125. For example, the first and second coupling portions305and125may have screw threads and be coupled to each other in a screw coupling (rotational coupling) manner.

The other end in the longitudinal direction of the opening/closing member300may be exposed to the outside of the reaction chamber200. That is, the other end of the opening/closing member300may protrude toward an upper side of the chamber cover230through the first hole231. This is to transmit a vertical movement force and a rotational force for the opening/closing member300, which are applied from the outside of the reaction chamber200, to the opening/closing member300through the other end of the opening/closing member300. That is, when the vertical movement force or rotational force is applied to the other end of the opening/closing member300by a user or a power transmission device (not illustrated), the opening/closing member300may move or rotate in the vertical direction.

Therefore, after one end of the opening/closing member300is rotated and coupled to the second coupling portion125, the first casing110and the second casing120may be easily separated by rotating one of the first and second casings110and120.

In the illustrated embodiment, the second coupling portion125may be concave formed in an upper surface of the second casing120. That is, the first coupling portion305may have an external thread, and the second coupling portion125may have an internal thread. Therefore, one end of the opening/closing member300may be coupled to the upper surface of the second casing120by being inserted into the second coupling portion125.

More specifically, the second coupling portion125may be formed at a central portion in a radial direction of the upper surface of the second casing120. Further, the opening/closing member300may be a shaft extending toward the second coupling portion125while penetrating an upper surface of the reaction chamber200(i.e., the chamber cover).

Therefore, the first coupling portion305of the opening/closing member300may be easily rotated and coupled to the second coupling portion125after the opening/closing member300is moved downward toward the second coupling portion125.

A rotation direction of the opening/closing member300for coupling the first coupling portion305of the opening/closing member300to the second coupling portion125may be identical to a rotation direction of the second casing120for separating the second casing120from the first casing110.

Specifically, the first coupling portion305of the opening/closing member (shaft)300may be coupled to the second coupling portion125of the second casing120by rotating in a first direction. In addition, the second casing120may be coupled to the first casing110by rotating in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

For example, the first direction may be a counterclockwise direction, and the second direction may be a clockwise direction.

Therefore, when the opening/closing member300rotates in the first direction in the state in which the first coupling portion305and the second coupling portion125are in contact with each other, the first coupling portion305is coupled to the second coupling portion125. When the opening/closing member300continuously rotates in the first direction, the second casing120may be separated from the first casing110.

The opening/closing member300and the load lock chamber100(e.g., the first casing110) may be made of materials having the same strength or the same hardness to prevent abrasion of coupled portions when the opening/closing member300is coupled to or separated from the first casing110.

As described above, the first casing110and the second casing120may be easily separated by the rotation of the opening/closing member300in one direction (i.e., the first direction), and the substrate accommodated in the load lock chamber100(i.e., placed in the first casing110) may be exposed to the reaction space as the second casing120fixed to one end of the opening/closing member300is moved upward together with the opening/closing member300.

When the processing is completely performed on the substrate in the reaction space, the second casing120needs to be coupled again to the first casing110in which the substrate is placed in the state in which the reaction space is maintained in a vacuum state. In this case, the second casing120may be coupled to the first casing110when the opening/closing member300is rotated in the second direction (clockwise) after the second casing120fixed to one end of the opening/closing member300is moved downward toward the first casing110together with the opening/closing member300.

The rotation of the second casing120needs to be stopped to separate the opening/closing member300from the second casing120after the second casing120is coupled to the first casing110.

The substrate processing apparatus according to the present disclosure may further include the push bar400extending toward the second casing120while penetrating the upper surface of the reaction chamber200. The push bar400may extend through the second hole232as described above.

A push groove126may be formed in the upper surface of the second casing120, and one end of the push bar400may be selectively coupled to the push groove126. The push groove126may be disposed at a position eccentric from the second coupling portion125.

In other words, a center in the radial direction of the second coupling portion125may be coincident with a center in the radial direction of the second casing120, and an extension line of an axis of the opening/closing member300may pass (in the vertical direction) through the center in the radial direction of the second casing120.

In addition, the push groove126may be disposed to be spaced apart from the second coupling portion125in a direction toward the outside of the casing120in the radial direction. That is, the center of the push groove126may be disposed between the center in the radial direction of the casing120and an outer periphery of the casing120.

One end of the push bar400may be coupled to the push groove126at the time of separating the opening/closing member300from the second casing120. For example, at the time of separating the opening/closing member300from the second casing120, the second casing120may be pressed (downward) by the push bar400in the state in which one end of the push bar400facing the push groove126is coupled to the push groove126.

The other end in the longitudinal direction of the push bar400may protrude toward an upper side of the reaction chamber200so as to be exposed to the outside of the reaction chamber200. That is, the other end of the push bar400may protrude toward the upper side of the chamber cover230through the second hole232. This is to transmit a vertical movement force for the push bar400, which is applied from the outside of the reaction chamber200, to the push bar400through the other end of the push bar400. That is, when the vertical movement force is applied to the other end of the push bar400by the user or the power transmission device (not illustrated), the push bar400may be moved in the vertical direction.

The opening/closing member300may be separated from the second casing120when the opening/closing member300is rotated in the second direction in the state in which one end of the push bar400is coupled to the push groove126.

The push bar400and the load lock chamber100(e.g., the first casing110) may be made of materials having the same strength or the same hardness to prevent abrasion of coupled portion when the push bar400is coupled to or separated from the push groove126.

According to the present disclosure described above, it is possible to more assuredly prevent the contamination and oxidation of the substrate because the load lock chamber100accommodating the substrate is accommodated in the reaction chamber200. In addition, according to the present disclosure, the load lock chamber100may be easily opened or closed in the state in which the load lock chamber100is accommodated in the reaction chamber200.

Hereinafter, a process of opening or closing the load lock chamber100in the state in which the load lock chamber100is accommodated in the reaction chamber200will be described more specifically with reference to another drawing.

FIG.2is a view illustrating a state in which the opening/closing member (shaft) is coupled to the sealed load lock chamber in the state in which the load lock chamber is accommodated in the reaction chamber.

As illustrated inFIG.1, the sealed load lock chamber100may be accommodated in the reaction chamber200in the state in which the reaction chamber200is separated.

The lower chamber part210, the chamber body220, and the chamber cover230may be coupled in the state in which the load lock chamber100is coupled to the lower chamber part210. Further, a vacuum may be made in the reaction chamber200in the state in which the opening/closing member300and the push bar400extend through the first hole231and the second hole232.

In this case, the opening/closing member300may be moved downward toward the second casing120of the load lock chamber100, and the opening/closing member300may be rotated in the first direction (counterclockwise), such that one end of the opening/closing member300and the second casing120may be coupled to each other.

The upward and downward movements and the rotation of the opening/closing member300may be performed manually by a manager or automatically by an automatic drive device disposed outside the substrate processing apparatus and including a cylinder, a motor, and the like.

In the case in which the upward and downward movements and the rotation of the opening/closing member300are performed by the automatic drive device, operations of the cylinder, the motor, and the like may be controlled by a non-illustrated control unit.

Hereinafter, a process of opening the load lock chamber100will be described with reference to another drawing.

FIG.3is a view illustrating a process in which the load lock chamber is opened by the opening/closing member (shaft) in the state in which the load lock chamber is accommodated in the reaction chamber.

Referring toFIG.3, the opening/closing member300may be continuously rotated in the first direction after one end of the opening/closing member300and the second casing120are coupled to each other by the rotation of the opening/closing member300in the first direction as illustrated inFIG.2.

As the opening/closing member300is continuously rotated in the first direction, the second casing120of the load lock chamber100may be separated from the first casing110.

That is, a rotation direction of the opening/closing member300for coupling the opening/closing member300to the second casing120may be identical to a rotation direction of the second casing120for separating the second casing120from the first casing110.

In other words, the rotation direction of the opening/closing member300for coupling the opening/closing member300to the second casing120may be opposite to the rotation direction for coupling the second casing120to the first casing110.

That is, screw threads may be formed on the first coupling portion305of the opening/closing member300and the second coupling portion125of the second casing120so that the opening/closing member300is coupled to and separated from the second casing120by the rotation of the opening/closing member300. In addition, screw threads may be formed on an inner peripheral surface of a lower end of the second casing120and an outer peripheral surface of an upper end of the first casing110so that the second casing120is coupled to or separated from the first casing110by the rotation of the opening/closing member300.

When the opening/closing member300is continuously rotated in the first direction, the second casing120of the load lock chamber100may be separated from the first casing110, and then the opening/closing member300is moved in a direction away from the first casing110(i.e., moved upward), such that the second casing120may be moved away from the first casing110. In this case, the substrate placed in the first casing110may be exposed to the reaction space in the reaction chamber200.

In this state, the reactant gas (source gas) is supplied into the reaction chamber200, such that the processing (e.g., a deposition process) may be performed on the substrate.

Hereinafter, a process of closing the load lock chamber100after the processing is completely performed on the substrate will be described with reference to another drawing.

FIG.4is a view illustrating a process in which the load lock chamber is closed by the opening/closing member (shaft) in the state in which the load lock chamber is accommodated in the reaction chamber.

When the processing is completely performed on the substrate in the reaction space, the reaction space may be maintained in a vacuum state. Further, the opening/closing member300coupled to the second casing120may be moved downward toward the first casing110.

When the lower end of the second casing120is brought into contact with the upper end of the first casing110by the downward movement of the opening/closing member300, the opening/closing member300may be rotated in the second direction (clockwise).

The second casing120may be coupled to the first casing110by the rotation of the opening/closing member300in the second direction. The inside of the load lock chamber100, in which the substrate is accommodated, may be sealed in a vacuum state as the second casing120and the first casing110are coupled.

Hereinafter, a process of separating the opening/closing member from the load lock chamber will be described with reference to another drawing.

FIG.5is a view illustrating a process in which the opening/closing member (shaft) is separated from the load lock chamber in the state in which the load lock chamber is accommodated in the reaction chamber.

Referring toFIG.5, the opening/closing member300may be separated from the second casing120when the opening/closing member300is continuously rotated in the second direction after the second casing120is coupled to the first casing110by the rotation of the opening/closing member300in the second direction as illustrated inFIG.4.

In this case, the opening/closing member300may not be easily separated from the second casing120if the load lock chamber100is also rotated in the second direction when the opening/closing member300is rotated in the second direction.

Therefore, the push bar400may move downward toward the push groove126formed in the upper surface of the second casing120before the opening/closing member300is separated from the second casing120.

Further, the opening/closing member300may be easily separated from the second casing120when the opening/closing member300is rotated in the second direction in the state in which one end of the push bar400is inserted into the push groove126.

That is, the push bar400may prevent the second casing120from rotating together with the opening/closing member300when the opening/closing member300rotates. Furthermore, the opening/closing member300may be rotated in the second direction in a state in which the push bar400presses the load lock chamber100downward. In this case, an unnecessary slip (rotational slip) of the load lock chamber100may be prevented at the time of separating the opening/closing member300from the second casing120.

After the opening/closing member300is separated from the second casing120, the opening/closing member300and the push bar400may be moved upward, and the reaction chamber200may be opened (i.e., the chamber body may be separated from the lower chamber part) (seeFIG.1). Further, the load lock chamber maintained in a vacuum sealed state and accommodated in the reaction chamber200may be transferred to the outside of the reaction chamber.

The upward and downward movements of the push bar400may be performed manually or automatically performed by the automatic drive device including the cylinder, the motor, and the like. In the case in which the upward and downward movements of the push bar400are performed automatically, the automatic drive device including the cylinder, the motor, and the like may be controlled by the non-illustrated control unit.

The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure described above may be various modified, changed, and altered within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains, and the modifications, changes, and alterations belong to the appended claims.