TW201309840A - Deposition systems having access gates at desirable locations, and related methods - Google Patents

Abstract

Deposition systems include a reaction chamber, and a substrate support structure disposed at least partially within the reaction chamber. The systems further include at least one gas injection device and at least one vacuum device, which together are used to flow process gases through the reaction chamber. The systems also include at least one access gate through which a workpiece substrate may be loaded into the reaction chamber and unloaded out from the reaction chamber. The at least one access gate is located remote from the gas injection device. Methods of depositing semiconductor material may be performed using such deposition systems. Methods of fabricating such deposition systems may include coupling an access gate to a reaction chamber at a location remote from a gas injection device.

Description

Deposition system with access gates at desired locations and associated fabrication methods

In general, embodiments of the present invention relate to systems for depositing materials on substrates, and methods of making and using such systems. In particular, embodiments of the present invention relate to atomic layer deposition (ALD) methods for depositing tri-five semiconductor materials on substrates, and methods of making and using such systems.

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is a chemical process for depositing solid materials on a substrate and is commonly used in the fabrication of semiconductor components. In a chemical vapor deposition process, a substrate is exposed to one or more reagent gases which react, decompose, or react and decompose to deposit solid material on the surface of the substrate.

There is a particular type of CVD process known in the art to which the present invention pertains, referred to as vapor phase epitaxy (VPE). In a VPE process, a substrate is exposed to one or more reagent vapors in a reaction chamber that react, decompose, or react in a manner that causes epitaxial deposition of a solid material on the surface of the substrate. And decomposition. VPE processes are often used to deposit tri-five semiconductor materials. In a VPE process, when one of the reagent vapors includes hydride vapor, the process can be referred to as a hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE) process.

The HVPE process is commonly used to form three or five semiconductor materials such as gallium nitride (GaN). In these processes, the GaN epitaxial growth on the substrate is caused by a gas phase reaction between gallium chloride (GaCl) and ammonia (NH ₃ ), and the gas phase reaction is in a temperature increase to about It is carried out in a reaction chamber between 500 ° C and 1,000 ° C. NH ₃ can be supplied from a standard source of ammonia.

In some methods, GaCl vapor is provided by passing hydrogen chloride (HCl) gas (which can be supplied from a standard source of HCl gas) over heated liquid gallium to form GaCl in situ within the reaction chamber. The liquid gallium can be heated to a temperature between about 750 ° C and about 850 ° C. GaCl and NH ₃ can be directed to the surface of a heated substrate (such as a wafer of semiconductor material), such as above it. A gas injection system for use in such systems and methods is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6,179,913, issued toS.

In such systems, to supplement the source of liquid gallium, the reaction chamber may have to be opened to contact the surrounding environment. In addition, in such systems, the reaction chamber may not be cleaned in situ.

In order to solve such problems, a method and system for using an external source of a precursor, GaCl ₃ , have been developed to directly inject the precursor GaCl ₃ into the reaction chamber. Examples of such methods and systems are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2009/0223442 A1, issued Sep. 10, 2009, the disclosure of The disclosure is hereby incorporated by reference.

Previously known deposition systems typically include an access gate through which the workpiece substrate can be loaded into the reaction chamber and unloaded from the reaction chamber after processing. In the deposition system, such inlet and outlet gates are often located in the gas injection manifold prior to injecting the precursor gas into the reaction chamber.

The Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form, which are further described in the exemplary embodiments of the invention. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, and is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In some embodiments, the present invention includes a deposition system including a reaction chamber and a substrate support structure disposed at least partially within the reaction chamber, the substrate support structure being configured to support a workpiece bottom of the reaction chamber material. The reaction chamber may be defined by a top wall, a bottom wall, and at least one side wall. The system further includes at least one gas injection device and a vacuum device for injecting one or more process gases containing at least one precursor gas into the reaction chamber at a first location, the vacuum device being used for The one or more process gases are drawn from the first location through the reaction chamber to a second location, and the one or more process gases are evacuated from the reaction chamber at the second location. The systems also include at least one access gate through which a workpiece substrate can be loaded into the reaction chamber and loaded onto the substrate support structure and unloaded from the substrate support structure exiting the reaction chamber. The at least one access gate is located away from the first position, that is, the at least one gas injection device injects one or more process gases into the reaction chamber.

In other embodiments, the invention includes a method of depositing a semiconductor material onto a workpiece substrate using a deposition system. In accordance with such methods, a workpiece substrate can be loaded into a reaction chamber via at least one access gate and loaded onto a substrate support structure. One or more process gases may flow into the reaction chamber via at least one gas injection device remote from the at least one inlet and outlet gate. The one or more process gases can include at least one precursor gas. The one or more process gases may be evacuated from the reaction chamber via at least one vacuum device located opposite one side of the at least one gas injection device with respect to the substrate support structure. When the one or more process gases flow from the at least one gas injection device to the at least one vacuum device, one surface of the workpiece substrate is exposed to the one or more process gases, and the semiconductor material is deposited The surface of the workpiece substrate. The workpiece substrate can be unloaded from the reaction chamber via the at least one access gate.

In still other embodiments, the invention includes a method of making a deposition system. For example, a reaction chamber is formed to include a top wall, a bottom wall, and at least one side wall. A substrate support structure is provided that is at least partially disposed within the reaction chamber and supports at least one workpiece substrate. At least one gas injection device is coupled to the reaction chamber at a first location. The at least one gas injection device can be configured to inject one or more process gases containing at least one precursor gas from the first location into the reaction chamber. At least one vacuum device can be coupled to the reaction chamber at a second location. The at least one vacuum device can be configured to draw the one or more process gases from the first location to the second location via the reaction chamber, and to discharge the one or more process gases from the reaction chamber at the second location air. At least one access gate can be coupled to the reaction chamber away from the first position. The at least one access gate may be configured such that a workpiece substrate is loaded into the reaction chamber via the at least one access gate and loaded onto the substrate support structure, and unloaded from the substrate support structure exiting the reaction chamber.

The descriptions of the present specification are not intended to be an actual description of any particular system, component or device, but are merely intended to describe an idealized representation of an embodiment of the invention.

In the present specification, "three-five semiconductor materials" means and includes at least one or more elements of Group IIIA (boron, aluminum, gallium, indium, titanium) and one or more VA elements (nitrogen, mainly in the periodic table). Any semiconductor material of phosphorus, arsenic, antimony or antimony. For example, three or five semiconductor materials include, but are not limited to, gallium nitride (GaN), gallium phosphide (GaP), gallium arsenide (GaAs), and nitrogen. Indium, InP, InAs, AlN, AlP, AlAs, InGaN, Phosphorus Indium gallium (InGaP), indium gallium phosphide (InGaNP), and the like.

Recently, improved gas injectors have been developed for use with methods and systems for the external source of the precursor GaCl ₃ for injecting it into the reaction chamber. The methods and systems are disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2009/0223442 A1. By. An example of such a gas injector is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 61/157,112, filed on March 3, 2009, in the name of This specification is incorporated into this specification. In this specification, the term gas includes gas (a fluid that does not have a separate shape or volume) and steam (a gas in which a liquid or solid substance is dispersed), and the words "gas" and "steam" are used in this specification. Synonyms are used.

Embodiments of the present invention include and use a deposition system that includes an access gate to load a workpiece substrate into a reaction chamber and/or to unload it from the reaction chamber. The entry and exit gates are located away from one or more process gases (which may include one or more precursor gases) into the reaction chamber.

1 presents a deposition system 100 that includes at least one of the reaction chambers 102 that is substantially closed. In some embodiments, the deposition system 100 can include a CVD system and can include a VPE deposition system (eg, an HVPE deposition system).

The reaction chamber 102 can be defined by a top wall 104, a bottom wall 106, and one or more side walls. One or more of the side walls may be defined by one or more elements of the secondary component of the deposition system. For example, a first sidewall 108A can include an element of a gas injection device 110 for injecting one or more process gases into the reaction chamber 102, and a second sidewall 108B can include an exhaust. And an element of the loading subassembly 112, the exhaust and loading subassembly For discharging process gas out of the reaction chamber 102, and loading the substrate into the reaction chamber 102 and unloading the substrate from the reaction chamber 102. In other words, the gas injection device 110 can be configured to inject one or more process gases through the first sidewall 108A of the reaction chamber 102.

In some embodiments, the reaction chamber 102 can have the geometry of an elongated rectangular prism, as shown in FIG. In such embodiments, the gas injection device 110 can be located at a first end of the reaction chamber 102, and the exhaust and loading subassembly 112 can be located at an opposite second end of the reaction chamber 102. In other embodiments, the reaction chamber 102 can have other geometries.

The deposition system 100 includes a substrate support structure 114 (e.g., a pedestal) that is configured to support one or more workpiece substrates 116 for depositing semiconductor material within the deposition system 100. Or otherwise provided on the workpiece substrates. For example, the workpiece substrates 116 can comprise dies or wafers. The deposition system 100 further includes a heating element 118 that can be used to selectively heat the deposition system 100 such that the average temperature within the reaction chamber 102 can be controlled within a desired temperature range during deposition. The heating elements 118 can include, for example, resistive heating elements or radiant heating elements (eg, heating lamps).

As shown in FIG. 1, the substrate support structure 114 can be coupled to a spindle 119 that can be coupled (eg, directly coupled, magnetically coupled, etc.) to a drive component (not shown), such as a An electric motor is configured to drive rotation of the spindle 119 to rotate the substrate support structure 114 within the reaction chamber 102.

In some embodiments, the top wall 104, the bottom wall 106, the substrate support structure 114, the spindle 119, and any other components located within the reaction chamber 102 may comprise at least one substantially Ceramic materials, such as ceramic oxides (such as ceria (quartz), alumina, zirconia, etc.), carbides (such as tantalum carbide, boron carbide, etc.), nitrides (eg Such as tantalum nitride, boron nitride, etc., or graphite coated with tantalum carbide. As a non-limiting example, the top wall 104, the bottom wall 106, the substrate support structure 114, and the main shaft 119 may include transparent quartz to allow the heat energy radiated by the heating elements 118 to pass through and heat the reaction chamber. Process gas in 102.

The deposition system 100 further includes a gas flow system that allows process gas to flow through the reaction chamber 102. For example, the deposition system 100 can include at least one gas injection device 110 to inject one or more process gases into the reaction chamber 102 at a first location 103A, and a vacuum device 113 to treat the one or more process gases From the first location 103A, the reaction chamber 102 is drawn to a second location 103B, and the one or more process gases are evacuated from the reaction chamber 102 at the second location 103B. The gas injection device 110 can include, for example, a gas injection manifold that is configured to couple with a conduit that carries one or more process gases from a process gas source.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, the deposition system 100 can include five gas inflow conduits 120A-120E that carry gas from the individual process gas sources 122A-122E to the gas injection device 110. As an option, the gas valves (121A-121E) can be used to selectively control the gases flowing through the gas inflow conduits 120A-120E, respectively.

In some embodiments, the plurality of gas sources 122A ~ 122E can be at least one as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0223442 A1 said containing GaCl _3, wherein an external source of at least one of InCl ₃ or AlCl _3. GaCl ₃ , InCl ₃ , and AlCl ₃ may exist in the form of a dimer such as Ga ₂ Cl ₆ , In ₂ Cl ₆ , and Al ₂ Cl ₆ . Therefore, at least one of the gas sources 122A-122E may comprise a dimer such as Ga ₂ Cl ₆ , In ₂ Cl ₆ or Al ₂ Cl ₆ .

In the plurality of gas sources 122A ~ 122E wherein the one or more sources of GaCl ₃ or GaCl ₃ comprises a source of embodiments, the source may comprise a liquid GaCl ₃ GaCl one reservoir _3, GaCl ₃ the liquid is maintained at at least 100 ℃ The temperature (e.g., about 130 ° C), and the source of GaCl ₃ may comprise a physical means for increasing the evaporation rate of the liquid GaCl ₃ . Such physical means may include, for example, a device configured to agitate the liquid GaCl ₃ , a device configured to spray the liquid GaCl ₃ , and configured to rapidly flow the carrier gas over the liquid GaCl ₃ . A device, a device configured to foam a carrier gas through the liquid GaCl ₃ , and a device configured to superimpose the liquid GaCl ₃ in an ultrasonic manner, such as a piezoelectric device, and the like. As an example of a non-limiting property, when the liquid GaCl _{3 is} maintained at a temperature of at least 100 ° C, a carrier gas such as He, N ₂ , H ₂ or Ar may be bubbled through the liquid GaCl ₃ such that The source gas may comprise one or more carrier gases that carry the precursor gas.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the precursor gas (e.g., GaCl ₃₎ steam enters 120A ~ 120E wherein one or more of the plurality of flux of the gas inflow conduit (Flux) may be controlled. For example, in an embodiment, when a carrier gas is bubbled through the liquid GaCl ₃ , the GaCl ₃ flux from the gas sources 122A-122E depends on one or more factors including, for example, the GaCl ₃ of the temperature, the pressure of GaCl3 ₃ above, and the bubbling of the carrier gas flow GaCl3 through _3. Although the mass flux of GaCl ₃ can in principle be controlled by any of the foregoing parameters, in some embodiments, a mass flow controller can be used to vary the flow of the carrier gas to subject the mass flux of the GaCl ₃ to control.

In some embodiments, the plurality of gas sources 122A ~ 122E wherein the one or more can be stored for about 25 kilograms or more GaCl ₃ ,, about 35 kilograms or _{more. 3} GaCl, or even 50 kg or more GaCl ₃ . For example, the GaCl ₃ source can hold between about 50 and 100 kilograms of GaCl ₃ (eg, between about 60 and 70 kilograms). In addition, multiple sources of GaCl ₃ may be connected together using manifolds to form a single gas source 122A-122E to allow switching from one gas source to another without disrupting the operation and/or use of the deposition system 100. Where the deposition system 100 is maintained, the source of gas from the crucible can be removed and replaced with a new, full source of gas.

In some embodiments, the temperature of the gas inflow conduits 120A-120E can be controlled between the temperatures of the gas sources 122A-122E and the temperature of the reaction chamber 102. The temperatures of the gas inflow conduits 120A-120E and associated mass flux sensors, controllers, etc. may be gradually increased by a first temperature (e.g., about 100 ° C or higher) at one of the individual outlets of the gas sources 122A-122E. A second temperature (e.g., about 150 ° C or lower) to the inlet of the reaction chamber 102 prevents the gases (e.g., GaCl ₃ vapor) from condensing within the gas inflow conduits 120A - 120E. As an option, the individual gas inflow conduits 120A-120E between the gas sources 122A-122E and the reaction chamber 102 can be about 3 feet or less, about 2 feet or less, or even about 1 foot in length. Or shorter. The pressure of the source gases can be controlled using one or more pressure control systems.

In other embodiments, the deposition system 100 can include less than five (eg, one to four) gas inflow conduits and their individual gas sources, or the deposition system 100 can include more than five (eg, six, Seven, etc.) gas flows into the conduit and its individual gas sources.

One or more of the gas inflow conduits 120A-120E extend to the gas injection device 110. The gas injection device 110 can include one or more blocks of material that are transported into the reaction chamber 102 via the blocks of material. One or more cooling conduits 111 can extend through the blocks of material. A cooling fluid can flow through the one or more cooling conduits 111 to flow through the gas injection conduits 120A-120E during operation of the deposition system 100. The gas at 110 is maintained within a desired temperature range. For example, during operation of the deposition system, the gas flowing through the gas injection devices 110 via the gas inflow conduits 120A-120E is preferably maintained at a temperature below about 200 °C (eg, about 150 °C).

2 is a perspective view of an outer surface of one of the gas injection devices 110. As shown in FIG. 8, the gas injection device 110 can include a plurality of connectors 117 that are configured to be coupled to the gas inflow conduits 120A-120E. In some embodiments, the gas injection device 110 can include a plurality of columns 115A-115E of the connectors 117. Each of the columns 115A-115E can be grouped to inject individual process gases into the reaction chamber 102. For example, the connector 117 of the bottom first column 115A can be used to inject a flush gas into the reaction chamber 102, and the connector 117 of the second column 115B can be used to inject a precursor gas (eg, GaCl ₃ ) into the reaction chamber 102. , column 115C of the third connector 117 can be used to another precursor gas (e.g. NH ₃₎ is injected into the reaction chamber 102, the fourth column 117 of the connector 115D may be used to further process gas (e.g., SiH ₄₎ is injected into the reaction chamber 102, the fifth column 115E of the header connector 117 can be used to rinse one kind of gas or a carrier gas (e.g. N ₂₎ is injected into the reaction chamber 102. The connectors 117 can be divided into connectors 117 of different zones 119A-119C, and each zone 119A-119C includes a connector 117 from each column 115A-115E. The connectors 117 of each of the zones 119A-119C can be used to transfer process gases to different regions within the reaction chamber 102 to introduce different process gas compositions and/or concentrations into the reaction chamber 102 above the workpiece substrates 116. Different areas.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the exhaust and loading subassembly 112 can include a vacuum chamber 184 that allows gas flowing through the reaction chamber 102 to be drawn from the reaction chamber 102 by vacuum. The vacuum in the vacuum chamber 184 is generated by the vacuum device 113. As shown in FIG. 1, the vacuum chamber 184 can be located below the reaction chamber 102.

The exhaust and loading subassembly 112 further includes a flush gas curtain assembly 184 that is configured and oriented to provide a flow of flushing gas that is substantially a planar curtain. From the flushing gas curtain device 184, it flows out and flows into the vacuum chamber 184. The exhaust and loading subassembly 112 can also include an access gate 188 that can be selectively opened to load and/or unload the workpiece substrates 116 from the substrate support structure 114 and can be selectively closed to The workpiece substrates 116 are processed using the deposition system 100. In some embodiments, the access gate 188 can include at least one panel that is configured to move between a first position of the closure and a second position of the closure. The access gate 188 can extend through a sidewall of the reaction chamber 102 that is remote from the sidewall through which the one or more process gases are injected.

The reaction chamber 102 is at least substantially closed, and the substrate support structure 114 cannot be accessed via the access gate 188 when the plate of the access gate 188 is in the closed first position. When the plate of the access gate 188 is in the second position of opening, the substrate support structure 114 can be accessed via the access gate 188.

The flushing gas curtain emitted by the flushing gas curtain device 184 can reduce or prevent gas from escaping from the reaction chamber 102 during loading and/or unloading of the workpiece substrate 116.

Gas byproducts, carrier gas, and any excess precursor gases may be withdrawn from the reaction chamber 102 via the exhaust and loading subassembly 112.

The access gate 188 can be injected into the first location 103A of the reaction chamber 102 away from one or more process gases. In some embodiments, the first position 103A can be disposed on a first side of the substrate support structure 114, and the second position 103B, that is, a position at which the process gas is discharged from the reaction chamber 102 via the vacuum device 113, It can then be placed on the opposite second side of the substrate support structure 114, as shown in FIG. Moreover, the process gas is discharged from the reaction chamber 102. The second position 103B can be disposed between the substrate support structure 114 and the access gate 188. As previously described, the purge gas curtain assembly 186 can be configured to form a flow purge gas curtain for flow between the purge gas injection device and the vacuum device 113. The flow purge gas curtain may be disposed between the workpiece support structure 114 and the access gate 188 to form a flow purge gas barrier separating the workpiece substrate 116 from the inlet and outlet gates 188. Such a flow flushing gas barrier can reduce or prevent process gases from escaping from the reaction chamber 102 when the inlet and outlet gates 188 are open.

In some embodiments, the gas injection system 110 can include at least one internal precursor gas furnace 130 disposed within the reaction chamber 102. The internal precursor gas furnace 130 can be configured to heat at least one precursor gas and transport the at least one precursor gas within the reaction chamber 102 from the gas injection device 110 to a location proximate to the substrate support structure 114.

Figure 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the gas flooding furnace 130 of Figure 1 . The gas flooding furnace 130 of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 comprises five substantially plate-like structures 132A-132E which are attached to each other and whose size and configuration are used to define one or more precursors. Gas flow paths that pass through the gas furnace 130 in a chamber defined between the generally plate-like structures 132A-132E. For example, the substantially plate-like structures 132A-132E may include transparent quartz to allow the radiant energy emitted by the heating elements 118 to pass through the structures 132A-132E and heat the gas in the gas furnace 130. .

As shown in FIG. 3, the first plate-like structure 132A and the second plate-like structure 132B can be coupled together to define a chamber 134 therebetween. The plurality of constituent ridges 136 on the first plate-like structure 132A can subdivide the chamber 134 into one or more flow paths that extend from the inlet 138 into one of the chambers 134 to exit the chamber One of the outlets 134 is 140.

4 is a top plan view of the first plate-like structure 132 showing the ridge-like protrusion of the structure 136, and a flow path defined by the structure within the chamber 134. As shown in Figure 4, the projections 136 define a section through the gas furnace 130 (Fig. 3) having a flow path for the coil winding configuration. The protrusions 136 may include alternately arranged walls having openings 138 extending through the protrusions 136 at the side ends and at the center of the protrusions 136, as shown in FIG. Therefore, in this configuration, the gas can enter the chamber 134 from a central region near the chamber 134 as shown in FIG. 4, and flow outward toward the side of the gas furnace 130, with one of the protrusions 136 The side end passes through the opening 138, flows back toward the central region of the chamber 134, and then passes through the other slit 138 in the center of the other projection 136. This flow pattern is repeated until the gases flow back and forth within the chamber 134 in a coiled manner to the opposite side of the inlet 138 from the plate 132A.

By causing one or more precursor gases to flow through this section of the flow path through the gas furnace 130, the residence time of the one or more precursor gases within the gas furnace 130 can be selectively increased.

Referring again to FIG. 1, an inlet 138 leading to the chamber 134, for example, may be defined by a tubular member 142. The gas flows into one of the conduits 120A-120E, such as the gas inflow conduit 120B, which can extend to and couple with the tubular member 142, as shown in FIG. A sealing member 144, such as a polymeric O-ring, can be used to form a hermetic seal between the gas inflow conduit 120B and the tubular member 142. For example, the tubular member 142 can include an opaque quartz material to prevent the sealing member 144 from being thermally warmed by the thermal energy emitted by the heating elements 118, causing the sealing member 144 to deteriorate. Further, cooling the gas injection device 110 by the cooling fluid flowing through the cooling ducts 111 prevents excessive heating and avoids deterioration of the sealing member 144. When the gas inflow conduit comprises a metal or metal alloy (e.g., steel) and the tubular member 142 comprises a refractory material such as quartz, the temperature of the sealing member 144 is maintained at about 200 °C. Hereinafter, a sufficient seal can be maintained between the one of the gas inflow conduits 120A to 120E and the tubular member 142 by the sealing member 144. The tubular member 142 and the first plate-like structure 132A can be joined together to form a single and integrated quartz body.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the plate-like structures 132A, 132B may include auxiliary sealing portions 147A, 147B (eg, a ridge portion and a corresponding one of the grooves) along the plate-like structures 132A, 132B. The periphery extends and at least substantially seals the chamber 134 between the plate-like structures 132A, 132B. Thus, gas within the chamber 134 cannot flow laterally out of the chamber 134 and will be forced to flow from the chamber 134 through the outlet 140 (Fig. 3).

As an option, the protrusions 136 can be grouped to have a height that is slightly smaller than the surface 152 of the first plate-like structure 132A where the protrusions 136 are located and the opposite surface 154 of the second plate-like structure 132B. The distance. Thus, there is a small gap between the protrusions 136 and the surface 154 of the second plate-like structure 132B. Although a small amount of gas may leak through these gaps, this small amount of leakage does not adversely affect the average residence time of the precursor gas molecules within the chamber 134. By arranging the protrusions 136 in this manner, the height difference of the protrusions 136 caused by the tolerances during the manufacture of the plate-like structures 132A, 132B is explained, even if the protrusions 136 are formed. The accidental height is too high to affect the adequate sealing of the auxiliary sealing portions 147A, 147B between the plate-like structures 132A, 132B.

As shown in FIG. 3, the outlet 140 of the chamber 134 between the plate-like structures 132A, 132B leads to the entrance of the chamber 150 between the third plate-like structure 132C and the fourth plate-like structure 132D. 148. The chamber 150 can be configured such that gas therein flows from the inlet 148 to the outlet 156 in a substantially linear manner. For example, the chamber 150 can have a cross-sectional shape that is generally rectangular and has a uniform size between the inlet 148 and the outlet 156. Thus, the chamber 150 It can be grouped to allow the gas to flow in a laminar flow rather than a turbulent flow.

The plate-like structures 132C, 132D may include auxiliary sealing portions 158A, 158B (eg, a ridge and a corresponding one of the grooves) extending along the periphery of the plate-like structures 132C, 132D, and at least substantially The chamber 150 between the plate-like structures 132C, 132D is sealed. Thus, gas within the chamber 150 cannot flow laterally out of the chamber 150 and will be forced to flow from the chamber 150 through the outlet 156.

The outlet 156 can include an elongated slit (e.g., a slit) that passes through the plate-like structure 132D opposite the one end of the inlet 148 with respect to the plate-like structure 132D.

With continued reference to FIG. 3, the outlet 156 of the chamber 150 between the plate-like structures 132C, 132D leads to the inlet 160 of the chamber 162 between the fourth plate-like structure 132D and the fifth plate-like structure 132E. . The chamber 162 can be configured such that gas therein flows from the inlet 160 to the outlet 164 in a substantially linear manner. For example, the chamber 162 can have a cross-sectional shape that is generally rectangular and has a uniform size between the inlet 160 and the outlet 164. Thus, the chambers 162 can be configured to flow in a laminar, rather than turbulent, manner as previously described with reference to the chamber 150.

The plate-like structures 132D, 132E may include auxiliary sealing portions 166A, 166B (eg, a ridge and a corresponding one of the grooves) extending along the periphery of the plate-like structures 132D, 132E, and in addition to the plate-like shapes Out of one side of the structures 132D, 132E, the auxiliary sealing portions seal the chamber 162 between the plate-like structures 132D, 132E. There is a gap between the plate-like structures 132D, 132E and opposite one side of the inlet 160, the gap defining an outlet 164 of the chamber 162. Thus, the gas enters the chamber 162 through the inlet 160, and flows through the chamber 162 to the outlet 164 (because of the relationship of the auxiliary sealing portions 166A, 166B, it does not from the side The chamber 162) flows out of the chamber and exits the chamber 162 from the outlet 164. Within the gas furnace 130, the sections of the gas flow path defined by the chamber 150 and the chamber 162 are grouped to form a flow path for one or more precursor gases to flow through the gas furnace 130. It flows in a laminar flow and reduces turbulence in the sections.

The outlet 164 is configured to output one or more precursor gases from the gas furnace 130 to an interior region of the reaction chamber 102. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the gas furnace 130 showing the outlet 164. As shown in FIG. 5, the outlet 164 may have a rectangular cross-sectional shape that helps maintain the gas flow from the gas furnace 130 into the inner region of the reaction chamber 102 in a laminar flow. The outlet 164 is sized and configured to laterally output a flow of precursor gas above the upper surface 168 of one of the substrate support structures 114. As shown in FIG. 5, a gap between the end surface 180 of the fourth plate-like structure 132D and the end surface 182 of the fifth plate-like structure 132E is as defined above, and an outlet 164 of the chamber 162 is defined. The shape will generally match the shape of one of the workpiece substrates 116 supported by the substrate support structure 114, and a material can be deposited on the workpiece substrate 116 by the gas flowing out of the gas furnace 130. For example, in an embodiment, when a workpiece substrate 116 includes substantially peripherally shaped dies or wafers, the end surfaces 180, 182 can have substantially the outer contour of the workpiece substrate 116 to be processed. The arc shape. In such a configuration, the distance between any of the outlets 164 and the outer edge of the workpiece substrate 116 is substantially constant. Such a configuration prevents pre-exhaustion of the outlet 164 from mixing with other precursor gases in the reaction chamber 102 before it is near the surface of the workpiece substrate 116 of the material to be deposited, while avoiding contamination in the deposition system 100. Unnecessary material deposition occurs on the component.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the deposition system 100 can include a heating element 118. Heating element 118 can include a resistive heater, an induction heater, or a radiant heater. In some embodiments, the heating elements Piece 118 includes a heating fixture that is configured to radiate infrared thermal energy. For example, the heating elements 118 can include a first set of heating elements 170 and a second set of heating elements 172. The first set 170 of heater elements 118 is positioned and configured to provide radiant energy to the gas furnace 130 and to heat the gas in the furnace. For example, the first set 170 of heating elements 118 can be disposed under the reaction chamber 102, under the gas furnace 130, as shown in FIG. In other embodiments, the first group 170 of the heating elements 118 may be disposed on the reaction chamber 102, above the gas furnace 130, or the first group 170 of the heating elements 118 may be included in the gas furnace at the same time. The heating elements 118 are under the 130 and above the gas furnace 130. The second set 172 of the plurality of heating elements 118 is positioned and configured to provide thermal energy to the substrate support structure 114 and any workpiece substrates supported thereon. For example, a second set 172 of the heating elements 118 can be disposed under the reaction chamber 102 underneath the substrate support structure 114, as shown in FIG. In other embodiments, the second set 172 of the heating elements 118 can be disposed above the reaction chamber 102, above the substrate support structure 114, or the second set 172 of the heating elements 118 can be included at the same time. The heating elements 118 are beneath the substrate support structure 114 and above the substrate support structure 114.

The first set 170 of heater elements 118 and the second set 172 of heater elements 118 may be separated by a heat shield or thermal insulation barrier 174. As an example of non-limiting properties, such barrier 174 can include a gold plated metal plate between the first set 170 of heating elements 118 and the second set 172 of the heating elements 118. The orientation of the metal sheet allows heating of the gas furnace 130 (heated by the first set 170 of heating elements 118) and heating of the substrate support structure 114 (heated by the first set 172 of the heating elements 118) Subject to independence. In other words, the position and orientation of the barrier 174 is to reduce or prevent the heating element 118. A set 170 heats the substrate support structure 114 and reduces or prevents the first set 172 of the heating elements 118 from heating the gas furnace 130.

The first set 170 of heater elements 118 can include a plurality of rows of heating elements 118 that can be independently controlled between the columns. In other words, the thermal energy emitted by each column of heating elements 118 can be independently controlled. The orientation of the rows of heating elements may be in a transverse direction perpendicular to the direction in which the gas flows through the reaction chamber 102, from the perspective of Figure 1 from left to right. Thus, if desired, each column of heating elements 118 that are independently controlled can be used to provide a selected one of the thermal gradients in the gas furnace 130. Similarly, the second set 172 of heater elements 118 can also include multiple rows of heating elements 118 that can be independently controlled between the columns. Thus, a selected one of the thermal gradients can also be provided in the substrate support structure 114 if desired.

As an option, a passive heat transfer configuration (eg, a configuration comprising a material that behaves like a black body) can be placed in close proximity to or near at least a portion of the gas flooding furnace 130 within the reaction chamber 102 to enhance the gas furnace 130. The heat transfer of the precursor gases.

A passive heat transfer structure (e.g., a structure comprising a material that behaves like a black body) can be used, for example, in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2009/0214785 A1, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety in The manner of disclosure is provided in the reaction chamber 102, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

As an example of a non-limiting nature, the deposition system 100 can include one or more passive heat transfer plates 177 within the reaction chamber 102, as shown in FIG. The passive heat transfer plates 177 are generally planar and are oriented generally parallel to the top wall 104 and the bottom wall 106. In some embodiments, the passive heat transfer plates 177 may be closer to the top wall 104 than the bottom wall 106 such that the plane in the longitudinal direction is higher than the workpiece substrate 116 in the reaction chamber. The plane in which 102 is located. Some of these The heat transfer plate 177 may span only a portion of the interior of the reaction chamber 102, as shown in FIG. 1, or the passive heat transfer plates 177 may substantially span the entire space within the reaction chamber 102. In some embodiments, a purge gas may flow through the space between the top wall 104 and the one or more passive heat transfer plates 177 in the reaction chamber 102 to prevent the top wall 104 in the reaction chamber 102. There is an unnecessary deposition of material on the inner surface. For example, such purge gas may be provided by the gas inflow conduit 120A. Of course, in other embodiments, the reaction chamber 102 can also incorporate a passive heat transfer plate assembly different from the configuration of the passive heat transfer plate 177 of FIG. 1, and the positions of the heat transfer plates can be passive with FIG. The heat transfer plates 177 are located at different positions.

As a non-limiting example, the precursor gas furnace 130 can include a passive heat transfer plate 178 that can be disposed between the second plate structure 132B and the third plate structure 132C, as shown in FIG. . Such passive heat transfer plates 178 can improve the heat transfer provided by the heating elements 118 to the precursor gases within the gas furnace 130 and can improve the uniformity and uniformity of temperature within the gas furnace 130. The material contained in the passive heat transfer plate 178 can have a high emissivity value (near full emission) (black body material) and withstand the high temperatures and corrosive environments that may be encountered within the reaction chamber 102. For example, such materials may include aluminum nitride (AlN), tantalum carbide (SiC), and boron carbide (B ₄ C), etc., having emissivity values of 0.98, 0.92, and 0.92, respectively. Thus, the passive heat transfer plate 178 can absorb the heat energy emitted by the heating elements 118, and then dissipate the heat energy to the gas furnace 130 and the pre-drive gas in the furnace.

6 is a schematic diagram showing a plan view of another embodiment of a deposition system 200 similar to the deposition system 100 of FIG. 1, but including three precursor gas furnaces 130A, 130B, 130C in the deposition system 200, A gas furnace is disposed in an interior region of the reaction chamber 102. Thus, each of the precursor gas furnaces 130A, 130B, 130C can be used to inject different precursor gases into the reaction chamber 102. As a non-limiting example, the precursor gas furnace 130B can be used to inject GaCl ₃ into the reaction chamber 102. The precursor gas furnace 130A can be used to inject InCl ₃ into the reaction chamber 102. The precursor gas furnace 130C can be used to transfer AlCl _{3 .} The reaction chamber 102 is injected. As an option, a precursor gas of a group III element can be injected into the reaction chamber 102 by the precursor gas 130B to deposit a tri-five semiconductor material, and the precursor gas furnaces 130A, 130C can be used to inject one or more precursor gases. And depositing one or more dopant elements in the tri-five semiconductor material.

Embodiments of the deposition system described herein, such as deposition system 100 of FIG. 1 and deposition system 200 of FIG. 6, can introduce a significant amount of high temperature precursor gas into the reaction chamber 102 while allowing the precursor gases to spatially each other Separation until the gases are very close to the workpiece substrate 116 of the material to be deposited, thus improving the utilization efficiency of the precursor gases.

Previously known deposition systems (e.g., HVPE deposition systems) often form a reaction product on the surface of the reaction chamber 102 in addition to forming a reaction product on the surface of the workpiece substrate 116 where the material is to be deposited. Such non-essential material deposition over a period of time causes an increase in the particulate content of the reaction chamber 102, thereby reducing the quality of the material deposited on the workpiece substrate 116 and reducing the heating element 118 to the reaction chamber 102. Heating efficiency. For example, GaCl ₃ will condense from the gas phase at temperatures below about 500 ° C. If the surface in contact with GaCl ₃ vapor is not maintained above the evaporation temperature, gallium in GaCl ₃ will deposit. In addition, GaCl _{3 is} generally converted to GaCl in the reaction chamber, while Ga is deposited from GaCl vapor. At temperatures above about 730 ° C, the GaCl species is energetically more favorable than the GaCl ₃ species. Thus, the precursor gas furnace 130 can be used to heat the precursor gas therein to a temperature above about 730 ° C, and then inject the precursor gas over the surface of the workpiece substrate 116 of the material to be deposited.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view schematically showing another exemplary embodiment of a deposition system 200. The deposition system 200 is similar to the deposition system 100 of FIG. 1 and includes an access gate 188 (in the open position in FIG. 6) that is remote from where the process gas is injected into the reaction chamber 102. However, the deposition system 200 does not include an internal precursor gas furnace 130, but includes an external precursor gas injector 230 located outside of the reaction chamber 102. The external precursor gas injector 230 can be configured to heat at least one precursor gas and transfer the at least one precursor gas from a precursor gas source to a gas injection device 210, the gas injection device 210 being substantially similar to FIG. The gas injection device 110.

By way of non-limiting example, the external precursor gas injector 230 can comprise a precursor gas injector as described in any of the following U.S. patent applications or publications: filed on November 23, 2010, entitled "Methods of Forming Bulk U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 61/416,525, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety in its entirety in 0223442 A1; published on September 10, 2009, entitled "Gas Injectors for CVD Systems with the Same", International Patent Application Publication No. WO 2010/101715 A1; September 30, 2010, in the name of Bertra Patent Application No. 12/894,724; and U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 12/895,311, filed on Sep. 30, 2010, in the name of Werkhoven, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. .

The gas injector 230 can include a heated gas injector having an elongated conduit, the conduit can have a spiral configuration, a coil winding configuration, etc., when one or more process gases (eg, a precursor gas) flow through The elongated catheter is heated by the structure. External heating elements are available at The process gas is used to heat the process gas as it flows through the extension conduit. As an option, the gas injector 230 can incorporate one or more passive heating structures (such as those previously described) to improve heating of the process gas flowing through the gas injector 230.

As an option, the gas injector 230 can further include a reservoir that can be configured to contain a liquid reagent for reacting with a process gas (or a decomposition or reaction product of a process gas). For example, the reservoir can be configured to hold a liquid metal or other element, such as liquid gallium, liquid aluminum or liquid indium. In a further embodiment of the invention, the reservoir may be configured to contain a solid reagent for reacting with a process gas (or a decomposition or reaction product of a process gas). For example, the reservoir can be grouped to hold a solid volume of one or more materials, such as solid or solid magnesium.

With continued reference to FIG. 6, process gas injected into the reaction chamber 102 from the external precursor gas injector 230 can be carried within an enclosure 140 through an interior region of the reaction chamber 102 and brought into proximity to one of the substrate support structures 114. The location is such that such process gases are mixed with other process gases prior to reaching the substrate support structure 114 on the workpiece substrate 116.

In other embodiments, the deposition system can include one of the internal precursor gas furnaces 130 described with reference to FIG. 1, and one of the external precursor gas furnaces 230 described with reference to FIG. For example, the enclosure 240 shown in FIG. 6 can be replaced with the internal precursor gas furnace 130 of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, the reaction chamber 102 further includes structural support ribs 240 for providing structural rigidity to the reaction chamber 102. Such support ribs 240 may comprise a refractory material such as the material used for the top wall 104 and the bottom wall 106 of the reaction chamber 102. In other embodiments, the reaction chamber 102 of FIG. 1 can also include such structural support ribs 240.

FIG. 7 is a schematic top plan view of another exemplary embodiment of a deposition system 300 of the present invention. The deposition system 300 can be substantially similar to the deposition system 100 of FIG. 1 or the deposition system 200 of FIG. 6, with the exception that the access gate 188 is located on the side of the reaction chamber 102 and is interposed between the reaction chambers in a longitudinal direction. Between the first longitudinal end of the chamber 102 and the second longitudinal end of the reaction chamber 102, wherein the first lengthwise end is adjacent to the position 103A of the one or more process gases entering the reaction chamber 102, the second longitudinal end The position of the process gas is discharged to the position 103B of the reaction chamber 102. In other words, in the deposition system 300 of FIG. 7, the workpiece substrates 116 can be loaded and unloaded in a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the general direction in which the gas flows through the reaction chamber 102. Thus, the entry and exit gate 188 is located away from the location of the process gas into the reaction chamber 102, as in the inlet and outlet gates 188 of the embodiments of Figures 1 and 6.

As shown in FIG. 7, the deposition system 300 further includes at least one robot arm device 310, which is configured to automatically load the workpiece substrate 116 into the reaction chamber 102 via the access gate 188. And unloading the workpiece substrate 116 from the reaction chamber 102 via the access gate 188. Such a robotic arm device is known in the art to which the present invention pertains. Although not shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the deposition system 100 of FIG. 1 and the deposition system 200 of FIG. 6 may also include at least one such robotic arm assembly 310 that is configured to be automated. The workpiece substrate 116 is loaded into the reaction chamber 102 via the inlet and outlet gates 188, and the workpiece substrate 116 is unloaded from the reaction chamber 102 via the inlet and outlet gates 188.

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a deposition system 400 of the present invention. The deposition system 400 can be substantially similar to the deposition system 100 of FIG. 1 or the deposition system 200 of FIG. 6, with the exception that the reaction chamber 102 can be divided into two or more channels. In some embodiments, the two or more channels may be arranged in an overlapping manner in the longitudinal direction. For example, the two or more channels can include a loading/unloading channel 402 and an injection/exhaust channel 404. The load The unloading channel 402 can be located in the reaction chamber 102 between a rear intermediate frame 406 and the bottom wall 106. The injection/exhaust channel 404 can be located in the reaction chamber 102 between the rear intermediate frame 406 and Between the top walls 104.

The injection/exhaust passage 404 is in fluid communication with the vacuum device 113 through the vacuum chamber 184 to exhaust gaseous byproducts, carrier gases, and any excess precursor gases from the reaction chamber 102.

The loading/unloading passage 402 can extend to the access gate 188, the access gate 188 being selectively openable to load the workpiece substrate 116 to the substrate support structure 114 via the loading/unloading passage 402 and/or from the The substrate support structure 114 is unloaded. The access gate 188 can be selectively closed to process the workpiece substrates 116 using the deposition system 400. In addition, the loading/unloading channel 402 can be fluidly coupled to the first column 115A of the bottom of the connectors 117 to inject process gases. In this configuration, a purge gas can be injected into the loading/unloading passage 402 to prevent gaseous byproducts, carrier gases, and any excess precursor gases from entering the loading/unloading passage 402, thereby reducing (e.g., preventing) material parasitic deposition. On the entry and exit gate 188.

In the case of a loading/unloading process, at least one robotic arm assembly (not shown in FIG. 8) can be configured to traverse laterally along the loading/unloading passage 402 to allow the workpiece substrate 116 (and/or a substrate support structure) 114) The reaction chamber 102 can be loaded via the access gate 188 in an automated mechanical manner, and the workpiece substrate 116 (and/or the substrate support structure 114) can be automated from the reaction chamber via the access gate 188. 102 uninstalled. Such mechanical arm devices are known in the art to which the present invention pertains.

The substrate support structure 114 and the workpiece substrate 116 thereon can be raised and lowered along one of the rotational axes 408 of the substrate support structure 114. A driver (not shown) can be coupled to the spindle 119 such that the substrate support structure 114 and the workpiece substrates 116 thereon are disposed about the axis of rotation 408. In addition to the rotation, it is also movable along the axis of rotation 408.

Within the reaction chamber 102, the substrate support structure 114 and the workpiece substrate 116 thereon can be raised to a deposition location and lowered to a loading/unloading position for deposition and loading/unloading processes, respectively. In the case of a deposition process, the substrate support structure 114 can be raised to a deposition location such that the substrate support structure 114 is located within the injection/exhaust passage 404 or at least proximate to the injection/exhaust passage 404, more specifically In this regard, the substrate support structure 114 is substantially coplanar with the rear intermediate frame 406. In the case of a loading/unloading process, the substrate support structure 114 can be lowered to a loading/unloading position such that the substrate support structure 114 is located within the loading/unloading channel 402, and more particularly, close to the Bottom wall 106.

In accordance with additional embodiments of the present invention, embodiments of the deposition system described herein, such as deposition system 100 of FIG. 1, deposition system 200 of FIG. 6, deposition system 300 of FIG. 7, and deposition system 400 of FIG. It can be used to deposit semiconductor material on the workpiece substrate 116.

Referring to FIG. 1, a workpiece substrate 116 can be loaded into a reaction chamber 102 via at least one access gate 188 and loaded onto a substrate support structure 114. One or more process gases, which may include one or more precursor gases, may flow into the reaction chamber 102 via at least one gas injection device 110 remote from the at least one inlet and outlet gate 188. One or more process gases may be evacuated from the reaction chamber 102 via at least one vacuum device 113, which may be disposed opposite one of the at least one gas injection device 110 with respect to the substrate support structure 114 side. When one or more process gases flow from the at least one gas injection device 110 to the at least one vacuum device 113, one surface of the workpiece substrate 116 may be exposed to the one or more process gases, and the semiconductor material may be deposited thereon. The surface of the workpiece substrate 114.

In some embodiments, the loading and unloading gate 188 through which the workpiece substrate 116 passes is loaded and unloaded. As described above, it is disposed opposite to one side of the at least one gas injection device 110 as far as the vacuum device 113 is concerned.

In addition, a flow flushing gas curtain can be formed using the flushing gas curtain device 186 as previously described. The flow flushing gas curtain can be disposed between the substrate support structure 114 and the access gate 188.

In some embodiments, the process gases can include at least some precursor gases selected to include a tri-group element precursor gas and a group C element precursor gas. In such embodiments, the semiconductor material to be deposited on the workpiece substrate 114 may comprise a tri-five semiconductor material. The Group III element precursor gas is selectively circulated through at least one precursor gas flow path through a forward gas furnace 130 disposed within the reaction chamber 102 to heat the Group III element precursor gas.

The Group III element precursor gas may comprise one or more of GaCl ₃ , InCl ₃ and AlCl ₃ . In such embodiments, heating the tri-group element precursor gas may cause at least one of GaCl ₃ , InCl _{3 ,} and AlCl _{3 to} decompose to form at least one of GaCl, InCl, AlCl, and a chlorinated species (eg, HCl).

After heating the tri-group element precursor gas in the gas furnace 130, the group C element precursor gas and the group III element precursor gas may be mixed together over the workpiece substrate 116 in the reaction chamber 102. The surface of the workpiece substrate 116 may be exposed to a mixture of the Group 5 element precursor gas and the Group III element precursor gas to form a Group III-5 semiconductor material on the surface of the workpiece substrate 116.

A similar method consistent with the present invention can be implemented using the deposition system 200 of FIG.

The method of the present invention also includes a method of fabricating the deposition system of the present specification, such as FIG. Deposition system 100 and deposition system 200 of FIG. A reaction chamber 102 is formed to include a top wall 104, a bottom wall 106, and at least one side wall 108A, 108B. A substrate support structure 114 is provided that is at least partially disposed within the reaction chamber 102 and supports at least one workpiece substrate 116. At least one gas injection device 110 can be coupled to the reaction chamber at a first location 103A. The gas injection device can be configured to inject one or more process gases into the reaction chamber 102 at the first location 103A. The one or more process gases can include at least one precursor gas. At least one vacuum device 113 can be coupled to the reaction chamber 102 in a second position. The vacuum device 103 can be configured to extract the one or more process gases from the first location 103A via the reaction chamber 102 to the second location 103B, and at the second location 103B the one or more process gases are from the The reaction chamber 102 is evacuated.

At least one access gate 188 can be coupled to the reaction chamber 102 at a location remote from the first location 103A, wherein the gas injection device 110 is coupled to the reaction chamber 102 at the first location 103A. The at least one access gate 188 can be configured such that a workpiece substrate 116 can be loaded into the reaction chamber 102 via the at least one access gate 188 and loaded onto the substrate support structure 114, and from the reaction chamber 102. The substrate support structure 114 is unloaded.

Exemplary embodiments of other non-limiting properties of the invention are described below.

Embodiment 1: A deposition system comprising: a reaction chamber defined by a top wall, a bottom wall and at least one side wall; at least partially disposed in the reaction chamber, a substrate support structure, the substrate support structure Formed to support one of the workpiece substrates in the reaction chamber; at least one gas injection device for injecting one or more process gases containing at least one precursor gas into the reaction chamber at a first location; a vacuum device, And for extracting the one or more process gases from the first location to the second location via the reaction chamber, and evacuating the one or more process gases from the reaction chamber at the second location; and at least one access gate Through the gate, a workpiece substrate The reaction chamber can be loaded and loaded onto the substrate support structure and unloaded from the substrate support structure exiting the reaction chamber, the at least one access gate being remote from the first location.

Embodiment 2: The deposition system of Embodiment 1, wherein the first location is disposed on a first side of the substrate support structure and the second location is disposed on an opposite second side of the substrate support structure.

Embodiment 3: The deposition system of Embodiment 2, wherein the second location is disposed between the substrate support structure and the at least one access gate.

Embodiment 4: The deposition system of any one of embodiments 1 to 3, further comprising at least one flush gas injection device configured to form one of a flow between the at least one flush gas injection device and the vacuum device A flushing gas curtain is disposed between the workpiece support structure and the at least one inlet and outlet gate.

Embodiment 5: The deposition system of Embodiment 1, wherein the second location is disposed between the substrate support structure and the at least one access gate.

The deposition system of any one of embodiments 1 to 4, wherein the at least one gas injection device is located at a first end of the reaction chamber, and the at least one inlet and outlet gate is located at an opposite second end of the reaction chamber.

The deposition system of any one of embodiments 1 to 4, wherein the at least one gas injection device is located at a first end of the reaction chamber, and the at least one inlet and outlet gate is located at a side of the reaction chamber.

Embodiment 8: The deposition system of any one of embodiments 1 to 7, wherein the at least one access gate comprises at least one plate body, the at least one plate body being grouped in a first position of closing and one of opening one Moving between positions, wherein the reaction chamber is at least substantially closed, and when the at least one plate is in the closed first position, the at least one access gate cannot be accessed via the at least one access gate The substrate support structure is adapted to contact the substrate support structure via the at least one access gate when the at least one plate is in the open second position.

Embodiment 9. The deposition system of any of embodiments 1 to 8, wherein the at least one gas injection device comprises a gas injection manifold.

Embodiment 10: The deposition system of any one of embodiments 1 to 9, further comprising at least one internal precursor gas furnace disposed in the reaction chamber, the at least one internal precursor gas furnace being configured to be used for the reaction chamber At least one of the precursor gases is heated and transports the at least one precursor gas from the at least one gas injection device to a location adjacent the substrate support structure.

Embodiment 11: The deposition system of any of embodiments 1 to 10, further comprising at least one external precursor gas injector located outside the reaction chamber, the at least one external precursor gas injector being configured to heat at least one a precursor gas and transporting the at least one precursor gas from a precursor gas source to the at least one gas injection device.

Embodiment 12: The deposition system of any of embodiments 1 to 11, further comprising at least one robotic arm device configured to automatically load the workpiece substrate through the at least one access gate To the reaction chamber, and unloading the workpiece substrate from the reaction chamber via the at least one inlet and outlet gate.

Embodiment 13: The deposition system of any one of embodiments 1 to 12, wherein the at least one gas injection device for injecting one or more process gases is configured to pass through at least one sidewall of the reaction chamber to inject the one or a plurality of process gases, and wherein the at least one inlet and outlet gate extends through the other sidewall, the other sidewall being remote from the at least one sidewall through which the one or more process gases are injected.

Embodiment 14: The deposition system of Embodiment 13, wherein the one or more process gas injections The at least one side wall and the other side wall that pass through are located at opposite ends of the reaction chamber.

Embodiment 15: A method for depositing a semiconductor material on a workpiece substrate using a deposition system, comprising: loading a workpiece substrate into a reaction chamber via at least one access gate and loading onto a substrate support structure; Flowing one or more process gases into the reaction chamber via at least one gas injection device, the at least one gas injection device being located remotely from the at least one access gate, the one or more process gases comprising at least one precursor gas; causing the one or more Process gas is evacuated from the reaction chamber via at least one vacuum device located opposite one side of the at least one gas injection device with respect to the substrate support structure; when the one or more process gases are from And flowing at least one gas injection device to the at least one vacuum device, exposing one surface of the workpiece substrate to the one or more process gases, and depositing a semiconductor material on the surface of the workpiece substrate; and the workpiece The substrate is unloaded from the reaction chamber via the at least one access gate.

Embodiment 16: The method of Embodiment 15, further comprising selecting the at least one precursor gas to include a Group III element precursor gas and a Group 5 element precursor gas.

The method of embodiment 15 or embodiment 16, wherein depositing a semiconductor material on the surface of the workpiece substrate comprises depositing a tri-five semiconductor material on the surface of the workpiece substrate.

The method of any one of embodiments 15 to 17, wherein loading the workpiece substrate into the reaction chamber via the at least one inlet and outlet gate and loading onto the substrate support structure comprises passing the workpiece substrate through the At least one access gate is located on one side of the at least one gas injection device for the at least one vacuum device and is loaded into the reaction chamber.

Embodiment 19: The method of any one of embodiments 15 to 18, further comprising forming the The workpiece support structure and one of the at least one inlet and outlet gates flow a flushing gas curtain.

Embodiment 20: A method of fabricating a deposition system, comprising: forming a reaction chamber including a top wall, a bottom wall, and at least one side wall; providing a substrate support structure for supporting at least one workpiece substrate, Having at least partially disposed within the reaction chamber; coupling at least one gas injection device to the reaction chamber at a first location, the at least one gas injection device being configured to comprise at least one precursor gas at the first location Or a plurality of process gases are injected into the reaction chamber; at least one vacuum device is coupled to the reaction chamber in a second position, the at least one vacuum device being configured to draw the one or more process gases from the first location via the reaction chamber Up to the second position, and evacuating the one or more process gases from the reaction chamber at the second position; and coupling at least one access gate to the reaction chamber at a location remote from the first position, the at least one The access gates are configured to enable a workpiece substrate to be loaded into the reaction chamber via the at least one access gate and loaded to the substrate support structure And unloading the substrate from leaving the reaction chamber of the support structure.

Embodiment 21: The method of embodiment 20, further comprising disposing the at least one gas injection device on a first side of the substrate support structure and disposing the at least one vacuum device on the opposite side of the substrate support structure The second side.

Embodiment 22: The method of Embodiment 20 or Embodiment 21, further comprising disposing the at least one vacuum device between the substrate support structure and the at least one access gate.

The method of any one of embodiments 20 to 22, further comprising coupling at least one flush gas injection device to the reaction chamber adjacent to the at least one vacuum device, the at least one flush gas injection device being The group is configured to form a flushing gas curtain from the at least one flushing gas injection device to be interposed between the substrate supporting structure and the at least one inlet and outlet gate The at least one vacuum device.

The method of any one of embodiments 20 to 23, further comprising disposing the at least one vacuum device between the substrate support structure and the at least one access gate.

The method of any one of embodiments 20 to 24, further comprising: disposing the at least one gas injection device at one of the first ends of the reaction chamber, and disposing the at least one inlet and outlet gate in the reaction chamber Opposite the second end.

The above-described exemplary embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as these embodiments are only examples of the embodiments of the invention, and the invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Any equivalent embodiments are within the scope of the invention. In fact, various modifications of the invention, such as a substitute for a useful combination of the elements, in addition to those shown and described herein, will be apparent from the description of the specification. Become obvious. Such modifications are also considered to fall within the scope of the appended patent application.

100, 200, 300, 400‧‧‧ deposition systems

102‧‧‧Reaction chamber

103A‧‧‧First position

103B‧‧‧second position

104‧‧‧ top wall

106‧‧‧ bottom wall

108A‧‧‧First side wall

108B‧‧‧second side wall

110‧‧‧ device

111‧‧‧Cooling duct

112‧‧‧Load subassembly

113‧‧‧Vacuum device

114‧‧‧Substrate support structure

116‧‧‧Workpiece substrate

115A~115E‧‧‧Multiple columns

117‧‧‧Connector

118‧‧‧ heating element

119‧‧‧ Spindle

119A~119C‧‧‧Every district

120A~120E‧‧‧ catheter

121A~121E‧‧‧ gas valve

122A~122E‧‧‧ gas source

130‧‧‧Internal precursor gas furnace

132A~132E‧‧‧ plate-like structure

134‧‧‧ chamber

136‧‧‧ ridges

138, 148, 160‧‧‧ entrance

142‧‧‧Tubular components

144‧‧‧ Sealing member

147A, 147B, 166A, 166B, 158A, 158B‧‧‧Auxiliary seals

150, 162‧‧ ‧ chamber

140, 156, 164‧‧ exports

168‧‧‧one upper surface of the support structure

170‧‧‧First Group

172‧‧‧ second group

174‧‧ ‧ barrier

177, 178‧‧‧ Passive heat transfer plates

180‧‧‧End face of the fourth plate structure

182‧‧‧End of the fifth plate-like structure

184‧‧‧vacuum room

186‧‧‧ flushing gas curtain device

188‧‧‧In and out gates

210‧‧‧ gas injection device

230‧‧‧External precursor gas injector

240‧‧‧Closed

310‧‧‧Mechanical arm device

402‧‧‧Loading/unloading channels

404‧‧‧Injection/exhaust passage

406‧‧‧ rear intermediate frame

408‧‧‧Rotation axis

The invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. In an exemplary embodiment, the deposition system includes an inlet and outlet gate for inserting and removing a workpiece substrate from a reaction chamber, where the inlet and outlet gates are located away from the process gas injection into the reaction chamber; FIG. 2 is the deposition system of FIG. A perspective view of the outer surface of the front end of the first gas injection device; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an internal precursor gas furnace in the deposition system of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a view of the plate-like structure of the gas-driven furnace of FIG. 1 and FIG. One of the planes Figure 5 is a perspective view of an internal precursor gas furnace in the deposition system of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view schematically showing another exemplary embodiment of a deposition system including an access gate, Where it is located away from the location where the process gas is injected into the reaction chamber, but the deposition system includes an external precursor gas injector instead of an internal precursor gas furnace; FIG. 7 is a top plan view schematically showing a deposition system of the present invention In another exemplary embodiment, the deposition system includes an access gate that is remote from the location where the process gas is injected into the reaction chamber; and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional perspective view that schematically illustrates another demonstration of a deposition system. In an embodiment, the deposition system includes an entry and exit gate that is located away from the process gas injection into the reaction chamber, wherein the reaction chamber contains more than one gas flow passage.

100‧‧‧Deposition system

102‧‧‧Reaction chamber

103A‧‧‧First position

103B‧‧‧second position

104‧‧‧ top wall

106‧‧‧ bottom wall

108A‧‧‧First side wall

108B‧‧‧second side wall

110‧‧‧ device

111‧‧‧Cooling duct

112‧‧‧Load subassembly

113‧‧‧Vacuum device

114‧‧‧Substrate support structure

116‧‧‧Workpiece substrate

115A~115E‧‧‧Multiple columns

117‧‧‧Connector

118‧‧‧ heating element

119‧‧‧ Spindle

120A~120E‧‧‧ catheter

121A~121E‧‧‧ gas valve

122A~122E‧‧‧ gas source

130‧‧‧Internal precursor gas furnace

168‧‧‧one upper surface of the support structure

170‧‧‧First Group

172‧‧‧ second group

174‧‧ ‧ barrier

177‧‧‧ Passive heat transfer plates

184‧‧‧vacuum room

186‧‧‧ flushing gas curtain device

188‧‧‧In and out gates

Claims (19)

A deposition system comprising: a reaction chamber defined by a top wall, a bottom wall and at least one side wall; a substrate support structure at least partially disposed in the reaction chamber and configured to support a workpiece substrate in the reaction chamber; at least one gas injection device for injecting one or more process gases containing at least one precursor gas into the reaction chamber at a first location; a vacuum device to process the one or more processes Gas is drawn from the first location to the second location via the reaction chamber, and the one or more process gases are evacuated from the reaction chamber at the second location; and at least one access gate through which a workpiece substrate can pass At least one access gate is loaded into the reaction chamber and loaded onto the substrate support structure and unloaded from the substrate support structure exiting the reaction chamber, the at least one access gate being remote from the first position. The deposition system of claim 1, wherein the first location is disposed on a first side of the substrate support structure and the second location is disposed on an opposite second side of the substrate support structure. The deposition system of claim 2, wherein the second location is disposed between the substrate support structure and the at least one access gate. The deposition system of claim 3, further comprising at least one flushing gas injection device configured to form a flushing gas curtain between the at least one flushing gas injection device and the vacuum device, A flow flushing gas curtain is disposed between the workpiece support structure and the at least one inlet and outlet gate. The deposition system of claim 1, wherein the second location is disposed on the substrate a support structure and the at least one entry and exit gate. The deposition system of claim 1, wherein the at least one gas injection device is located at a first end of the reaction chamber, and the at least one inlet and outlet gate is located at an opposite second end of the reaction chamber. The deposition system of claim 1, wherein the at least one gas injection device is located at a first end of the reaction chamber, and the at least one inlet and outlet gate is located at a side of the reaction chamber. The deposition system of claim 1, wherein the at least one access gate comprises at least one plate body, the at least one plate body being configured to move between a first position of closing and a second position of opening, wherein the The reaction chamber is at least substantially closed, and when the at least one plate is in the closed first position, the substrate support structure cannot be contacted via the at least one access gate when the at least one plate is in the open second position The substrate support structure can be accessed via the at least one access gate. The deposition system of claim 1, wherein the at least one gas injection device comprises a gas injection manifold. The deposition system of claim 1, further comprising at least one internal precursor gas furnace disposed in the reaction chamber, the at least one internal precursor gas furnace being configured to heat at least one precursor gas in the reaction chamber And transporting the at least one precursor gas from the at least one gas injection device to a location adjacent to the substrate support structure. The deposition system of claim 1, further comprising at least one external precursor gas injector located outside the reaction chamber, the at least one external precursor gas injector being configured to heat at least one precursor gas, and At least one precursor gas is delivered from a source of precursor gas to the at least one gas injection device. The deposition system of claim 1, further comprising at least one robot arm device, the at least one robot arm device being configured to automatically load a workpiece substrate to the reaction chamber via the at least one access gate, and The workpiece substrate is unloaded from the reaction chamber via the at least one inlet and outlet gate. The deposition system of claim 1, wherein the at least one gas injection device for injecting one or more process gases is configured to pass through at least one sidewall of the reaction chamber to inject the one or more process gases, and wherein The at least one access gate extends through another sidewall that is remote from the at least one sidewall through which the one or more process gases are injected. The deposition system of claim 13, wherein the at least one sidewall through which the one or more process gases are injected and the other sidewall are located at opposite ends of the reaction chamber. A method of depositing a semiconductor material on a workpiece substrate using a deposition system, comprising: loading a workpiece substrate into a reaction chamber via at least one access gate and loading onto a substrate support structure; Process gas flows into the reaction chamber via at least one gas injection device, the at least one gas injection device being remote from the at least one inlet and outlet gate, the one or more process gases comprising at least one precursor gas; passing the one or more process gases via at least a vacuum device is emptied from the reaction chamber, the at least one vacuum device being located opposite one side of the at least one gas injection device with respect to the substrate support structure; when the one or more process gases are injected from the at least one gas Exposing a surface of one of the workpiece substrates to the one or more processes when flowing the device to the at least one vacuum device And depositing a semiconductor material on the surface of the workpiece substrate; and unloading the workpiece substrate from the reaction chamber via the at least one access gate. The method of claim 15, further comprising selecting the at least one precursor gas to include a tri-group element precursor gas and a group C element precursor gas. The method of claim 16, wherein depositing a semiconductor material on the surface of the workpiece substrate comprises depositing a tri-five semiconductor material on the surface of the workpiece substrate. The method of claim 15, wherein loading the workpiece substrate into the reaction chamber via the at least one access gate and loading onto the substrate support structure comprises accessing the at least one via the at least one access gate The vacuum device loads the workpiece substrate into the reaction chamber opposite to one side of the at least one gas injection device. The method of claim 15, further comprising forming a flow flushing gas curtain disposed between the workpiece support structure and the at least one access gate.