Patent ID: 8652260

Claim:
A wafer holding apparatus for processing a semiconductor wafer comprising: a heat-conductive layer disposed on a supporting base, the heat-conductive layer being coupled to a heating circuit; a plurality of holes formed through the heat-conductive layer and a first portion of each of the plurality of holes extending into the supporting base; a plurality of compressible support members disposed in first portions of respective ones of the plurality of holes, each of the plurality of compressible support members supported at a first end by a bottom surface of respective ones of the plurality of holes; and a plurality of heat-conductive lift pins each supported by a second end of respective ones of the plurality of compressible support members, each of the plurality of lift pins coupled to the heating circuit and extending through the holes and over the heat-conductive layer each of the plurality of lift pins having a top end for making direct contact with a wafer held on the heat conductive layer during wafer heating, the wafer having a first shape prior to wafer processing and having a second shape during wafer processing, and each of the plurality of lift pins configured to independently maintain direct contact with the wafer and heat the wafer when the wafer has the first and second shapes.