Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Electric charge generating or conducting means – Use of forces of electric charge or field
Reissue Patent
1999-03-18
2002-03-12
Sherry, Michael J. (Department: 2836)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Electric charge generating or conducting means
Use of forces of electric charge or field
Reissue Patent
active
RE037580
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The field of the invention is that of electrostatic chucks for holding a workpiece by electrostatic attraction between the workpiece and one or more electrodes in the chuck.
BACKGROUND ART
Extensive work has been done in electrostatic chucks within the last ten years. An example is the chuck illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,055,964, issued to the International Business Machines Corporation.
A chuck adapted to avoid a problem in the prior art of excessive retention of clamping force after power is removed is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,367. That chuck uses an alternating current to avoid polarization of the dielectric.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an electrostatic chuck that suppresses the formation of vacuum arcs between the back of the wafer being processed and the body of the chuck by the interposition of a conductive guard ring that floats close to the self-bias potential induced by the plasma on the wafer, thereby defining an equipotential area between the closest electrode and the wafer and capacitively dividing the voltage between the wafer and the closest electrode.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5400209 (1995-03-01), Moslehi
patent: 5436790 (1995-07-01), Blake et al.
patent: 5444597 (1995-08-01), Blake et al.
patent: 5463525 (1995-10-01), Barnes et al.
patent: 5467249 (1995-11-01), Barnes et al.
patent: 5535507 (1996-07-01), Barnes et al.
patent: 5561585 (1996-10-01), Barnes et al.
Barnes Michael Scott
Keller John Howard
Logan Joseph S.
Tompkins Robert E.
Westerfield, Jr. Robert Peter
Dorsey Gage Co., Inc.
Petraske Eric W.
Sherry Michael J.
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