Patent ID: 6869641

Claim:
A method of depositing an Atomic Layer Deposition film on a substrate, comprising the steps of (a) passing the substrate through a first enclosure defining a first reactive zone, the first reactive zone containing a first reactive gas at a first, reactive zone pressure, the first reactive zone being in fluid communication with a first exhaust zone, the first exhaust zone further being in communication with a buffer zone defined by an outer enclosure, the outer volume containing a neutral gas at a second, buffer zone pressure, the total pressure of gas in the first exhaust zone being a third, exhaust zone pressure, the first, reactive zone pressure being greater than the third, exhaust zone pressure, the second, buffer zone pressure being greater than the third, exhaust zone pressure and the second, buffer zone pressure being greater than or equal to the first, reactive zone pressure, and (b) passing the substrate through a second enclosure defining a second reactive zone, the second reactive zone containing a second reactive gas at a fourth, reactive zone pressure, the second reactive zone being in fluid communication with a second exhaust zone, the second exhaust zone further being in communication with the buffer zone defined by the outer enclosure, the total pressure of gas in the second exhaust zone being a fifth, exhaust zone pressure, the fourth, reactive zone pressure being greater than the fifth, exhaust zone pressure, the second, buffer zone pressure being greater than the fifth, exhaust zone pressure, and the second, buffer zone pressure being greater than or equal to the fourth, reactive zone pressure.