Patent ID: 8410393

Claim:
A plasma processing system including a recirculation system useful for supplying temperature controlled liquid to a substrate support on which a semiconductor substrate subject to a multistep process is supported during processing in a semiconductor processing chamber, the system comprising: a supply line adapted to deliver liquid to an inlet of the substrate support, the substrate support including a flow passage through which the liquid is circulated for purposes of maintaining a thermal zone on a surface of the substrate support at a desired temperature; a return line adapted to return liquid from an outlet of the substrate support after the liquid is circulated through the flow passage; a first recirculator operable to supply liquid at temperature T 1 to the supply line and receive liquid from the return line, the first recirculator being in fluid communication with the supply line and the return line; a second recirculator operable to supply liquid at temperature T 2 to the supply line and receive liquid from the return line, the second recirculator in fluid communication with the supply line and the return line, wherein temperature T 2 is at least 10° C. above temperature T 1 ; a pre-cooling unit operable to supply liquid at temperature T pc to the supply line, wherein temperature T pc is at least 10° C. below T 1 ; a pre-heating unit operable to supply liquid at temperature T ph to the supply line, wherein temperature T ph is at least 10° C. above T 2 ; electronically actuated valves operable to supply liquid at T 1 , T 2 , T pc or T ph to the supply line by connecting the first recirculator or the second recirculator to the supply and return lines or circulating liquid in or through the pre-cooling unit and the pre-heating unit.