Abstract:
Embodiments of a multi-cassette carrying case are provided herein. In some embodiments a method for transporting a substrate from a first processing device to a second processing device includes docking a substrate cassette to a first chamber; pumping down pressure in the substrate cassette; transferring a substrate through the first chamber to the substrate cassette; sealing the substrate cassette and moving the substrate cassette having the substrate disposed therein from the first chamber to a second chamber; docking the substrate cassette to the second chamber; and transferring the substrate from the substrate cassette through the second chamber.
Abstract:
Embodiments of methods and apparatus for removing particles from a surface of a substrate, such as from the backside of the substrate, are provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus for removing particles from a surface of a substrate includes: a substrate handler to expose the surface of the substrate; a particle separator to separate particles from the exposed surface of the substrate; a particle transporter to transport the separated particles; and a particle collector to collect the transported particles.
Abstract:
Embodiments of substrate transfer chambers are provided herein. In some embodiments, a substrate transfer chamber includes a body having an interior volume, wherein a bottom portion of the body includes a first opening; an adapter plate coupled to the bottom portion of the body to couple the substrate transfer chamber to a load lock chamber of a substrate processing system; wherein the adapter plate includes a second opening aligned with the first opening to fluidly couple the interior volume with an inner volume of the load lock chamber; a cassette support disposed in the interior volume to support a substrate cassette; and a lift actuator coupled to the cassette support to lower or raise the substrate cassette into or out of the load lock chamber.
Abstract:
Embodiments of multi-cassette carrying cases are provided herein. In some embodiments a multi-cassette carrying case includes: a body having an inner volume; a door coupled to the body to selectively seal off the inner volume; and a plurality of cassette holders disposed in the inner volume to hold one or more substrate cassettes. In some embodiments, a method of transferring substrates includes: placing a substrate in a substrate cassette, wherein an inner volume of the substrate cassette is sealed from an environment outside of the substrate cassette; and placing the substrate cassette in a multi-cassette carrying case.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for processing a substrate and etching a nickel silicide layer are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of etching a nickel silicide film in a semiconductor device include: contacting a nickel silicide film disposed on a substrate in a process chamber with an etching gas sufficient to form one or more soluble or volatile products in order to reduce or eliminate re-deposition of products formed from the nickel silicide film upon the nickel silicide film.
Abstract:
Embodiments of substrate transfer apparatus are provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus for storing and transporting at least one substrate in a vacuum includes a carrying case for storing one or more substrates, wherein the carrying case includes a vacuum port and a plurality of holders to hold one or more substrates within an inner volume of the carrying case; and a vacuum source in fluid connection with the carrying case via the vacuum port.
Abstract:
Embodiments method and apparatus for transferring a substrate are provided herein. In some embodiments, a substrate cassette includes a body having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion and the lower portion defining an interior volume when the upper portion is coupled to the lower portion; a locking mechanism moveable between a locked position, in which the upper and lower portions are coupled, and an unlocked position, in which the lower portion can be separated from the upper portion; and a load distribution plate coupled to an upper surface of the upper portion along an edge of the upper portion to distribute a load applied to the load distribution plate.
Abstract:
Methods for etching silicon using hydrogen radicals in a hot wire chemical vapor deposition process are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of processing a substrate having a crystalline silicon layer atop the substrate and a patterned masking layer atop the crystalline silicon layer exposing portions of the crystalline silicon layer; the method may include (a) exposing the substrate to a plasma formed from an inert gas wherein ions from the plasma amorphize a first part of the exposed portions of the crystalline silicon layer; and (b) exposing the substrate to hydrogen radicals generated from a process gas comprising a hydrogen-containing gas in a hot wire chemical vapor deposition (HWCVD) process chamber to etch the amorphized first part of the exposed portion of the crystalline silicon layer.