Patent ID: 6861321

Claim:
A method of loading a wafer onto a wafer holder within a reaction chamber, the wafer holder initially having a higher temperature than the wafer, at least a portion of the wafer holder having a lowered position and a raised position, an upper surface of the at least a portion of the wafer holder having a surface area greater than 25% of the surface area of a lower surface of the wafer, the method comprising: providing a flow of heat-conductive gas within the reaction chamber; moving said portion of the wafer holder to its raised position; inserting the wafer into the reaction chamber; holding the wafer spaced above said portion of the wafer holder in its raised position while the heat-conductive gas flows within the reaction chamber, for a time period sufficient to permit the wafer temperature to increase to a level sufficient to substantially reduce the likelihood that the wafer will curl or pop if the wafer is lowered onto the at least a portion of the wafer holder; after said time period, lowering said portion to its lowered position and lowering the wafer onto said wafer holder; and processing the wafer on the wafer holder while in its lowered position.