Patent ID: 7297894

Claim:
A method for controlling the temperature of a substrate in a substrate processing system, the substrate processing system including a substrate holder having a substrate support with a plurality of temperature sensors reporting at least a temperature at an inner region and an outer region of said substrate and first and second heating elements heating respectively said inner and outer regions, said substrate holder including a base support having a cooling element for cooling said inner and outer regions, said substrate holder further including a thermal insulator disposed between said substrate support and said base support, said first and second heating elements and said cooling element being controlled by a temperature control system to maintain said substrate holder at a selectable set-point temperature, the method comprising: selecting a first base temperature for said base support; selecting a second base temperature for said base support; selecting a first inner set-point temperature and a first outer set-point temperature; selecting a second inner set-point temperature and a second outer set-point temperature; setting said base support to said first base temperature using said cooling element; placing said substrate on said substrate holder; heating said inner region of said substrate to said first inner set-point temperature and said outer region of said substrate to said first outer set-point temperature; processing said substrate for a first period of time at said first inner and outer set-point temperatures; changing the base temperature for said base support from said first base temperature to said second base temperature different from the first inner set-point temperature and the first outer set-point temperature; changing the temperature of said inner and outer regions of said substrate to said second inner and outer set-point temperatures; and processing said substrate for a second period of time at said second inner and outer set-point temperatures.