Patent ID: 7184657

Claim:
A method for thermal processing of at least one wafer-shaped workpiece having opposing first and second major surfaces surrounded by a peripheral edge which defines a workpiece diameter such that the first and second opposing surfaces cooperate with said peripheral edge to define a peripheral edge region, said method comprising: moving the workpiece into a chamber interior that is defined by a processing chamber; using a heating arrangement in thermal communication with said chamber interior and in a confronting relationship with said first major surface for emitting an illumination energy such that a first portion of the illumination energy is directly incident upon said first major surface of the workpiece and a second portion of the illumination energy is directed so that, at least initially, the second portion would miss the first major surface; and reflecting at least some of said second portion of the illumination energy onto the peripheral edge region of said workpiece using a reflector that is supported in said chamber interior having an at least generally annular configuration thereby defining a central opening with an opening width, for any given measurement thereof, that is greater than said workpiece diameter, and said reflector is arranged, at least generally, in a concentric relationship with said peripheral edge.