Patent ID: 6875279

Claim:
An apparatus for forming at least a portion of a semiconductor device, said apparatus comprising: a reaction chamber for heating a substrate on which the semiconductor device is to be formed; a load lock chamber for transferring said substrate between said reaction chamber and an external ambient; a flange having a first end connected to said reaction chamber and a second end connected to said load lock chamber; a first source for supplying a first treating gas to said reaction chamber; a first pumping system connected to said flange for maintaining said reaction chamber at a first vacuum pressure during the supplying of said first treating gas; a second source for supplying a second treating gas to said reaction chamber; a second pumping system connected to said flange for maintaining said reaction chamber at a second vacuum pressure during the supplying of said treating gas, said second vacuum pressure being lower than said first vacuum pressure; a third pumping system for transitioning said reaction chamber between said first vacuum pressure and said second vacuum pressure; and a valve connected to said second end of said flange for isolating said lock chamber from said first, second and third pumping systems.