Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16J—PISTONS; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS
  • F16J15/00—Sealings
  • F16J15/16—Sealings between relatively-moving surfaces
  • F16J15/32—Sealings between relatively-moving surfaces with elastic sealings, e.g. O-rings
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B08—CLEANING
  • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
  • B08B9/00—Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto
  • B08B9/08—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16J—PISTONS; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS
  • F16J15/00—Sealings
  • F16J15/002—Sealings comprising at least two sealings in succession
  • F16J15/004—Sealings comprising at least two sealings in succession forming of recuperation chamber for the leaking fluid
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16J—PISTONS; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS
  • F16J15/00—Sealings
  • F16J15/002—Sealings comprising at least two sealings in succession
  • F16J15/006—Sealings comprising at least two sealings in succession with division of the pressure
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16J—PISTONS; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS
  • F16J15/00—Sealings
  • F16J15/16—Sealings between relatively-moving surfaces
  • F16J15/26—Sealings between relatively-moving surfaces with stuffing-boxes for rigid sealing rings
  • F16J15/30—Sealings between relatively-moving surfaces with stuffing-boxes for rigid sealing rings with sealing rings made of carbon
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H10P—GENERIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10
  • H10P72/00—Handling or holding of wafers, substrates or devices during manufacture or treatment thereof
  • H10P72/04—Apparatus for manufacture or treatment
  • H10P72/0402—Apparatus for fluid treatment
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H10P—GENERIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10
  • H10P72/00—Handling or holding of wafers, substrates or devices during manufacture or treatment thereof
  • H10P72/04—Apparatus for manufacture or treatment
  • H10P72/0441—Apparatus for sealing, encapsulating, glassing, decapsulating or the like
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H10P—GENERIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10
  • H10P72/00—Handling or holding of wafers, substrates or devices during manufacture or treatment thereof
  • H10P72/04—Apparatus for manufacture or treatment
  • H10P72/0451—Apparatus for manufacturing or treating in a plurality of work-stations
  • H10P72/0462—Apparatus for manufacturing or treating in a plurality of work-stations characterised by the construction of the processing chambers, e.g. modular processing chambers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B08—CLEANING
  • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
  • B08B2209/00—Details of machines or methods for cleaning hollow articles
  • B08B2209/08—Details of machines or methods for cleaning containers, e.g. tanks
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
  • G03F—PHOTOMECHANICAL PRODUCTION OF TEXTURED OR PATTERNED SURFACES, e.g. FOR PRINTING, FOR PROCESSING OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; MATERIALS THEREFOR; ORIGINALS THEREFOR; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED THEREFOR
  • G03F7/00—Photomechanical, e.g. photolithographic, production of textured or patterned surfaces, e.g. printing surfaces; Materials therefor, e.g. comprising photoresists; Apparatus specially adapted therefor
  • G03F7/70—Microphotolithographic exposure; Apparatus therefor
  • G03F7/70483—Information management; Active and passive control; Testing; Wafer monitoring, e.g. pattern monitoring
  • G03F7/70591—Testing optical components
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
  • G03F—PHOTOMECHANICAL PRODUCTION OF TEXTURED OR PATTERNED SURFACES, e.g. FOR PRINTING, FOR PROCESSING OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; MATERIALS THEREFOR; ORIGINALS THEREFOR; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED THEREFOR
  • G03F7/00—Photomechanical, e.g. photolithographic, production of textured or patterned surfaces, e.g. printing surfaces; Materials therefor, e.g. comprising photoresists; Apparatus specially adapted therefor
  • G03F7/70—Microphotolithographic exposure; Apparatus therefor
  • G03F7/708—Construction of apparatus, e.g. environment aspects, hygiene aspects or materials
  • G03F7/70858—Environment aspects, e.g. pressure of beam-path gas, temperature
  • G03F7/70883—Environment aspects, e.g. pressure of beam-path gas, temperature of optical system

Definitions

• This disclosure relates to vacuum systems, and more specifically to vacuum seals.
• vacuum sealing is established between a flange (e.g., a door) and a wall of the vacuum chamber by placing O-rings made from identical material into inner and outer grooves for the flange.
• O-rings may be referred to as a seal.
• the O- rings are separated by a gap, which is evacuated to reduce pressure on the inner O-ring.
• the O-rings should provide low leakage and permeation to allow the vacuum chamber to maintain a high vacuum. But the O-rings should also be stable, such that they are resistant to a gas used to clean the interior of the vacuum chamber, for example. A lack of resistance to the gas can cause the inner O-ring to degrade due to exposure to the gas, resulting in a leak and in emission of particles from the inner O-ring into the vacuum chamber. These requirements can conflict.
• a vacuum system includes a wall of a vacuum chamber, a flange of the vacuum chamber, an outer seal disposed between the wall and the flange, and an inner seal disposed between the wall and the flange.
• the outer seal includes a first material and the inner seal includes a second material that is distinct from the first material.
• the inner seal is closer to the interior of the vacuum chamber than the outer seal.
• the outer seal is separated from the inner seal by a gap.
• the outer seal is capable of providing tighter vacuum sealing between the wall and the flange than the inner seal.
• the vacuum system also includes a path to couple the gap to a first vacuum pump, to evacuate the gap.
• a method includes disposing an outer seal and an inner seal between a wall of a vacuum chamber and a flange of the vacuum chamber.
• the outer seal includes a first material and the inner seal includes a second material that is distinct from the first material.
• the inner seal is closer to the interior of the vacuum chamber than the outer seal.
• the outer seal is separated from the inner seal by a gap.
• the outer seal is capable of providing tighter vacuum sealing between the wall and the flange than the inner seal.
• the method also includes evacuating the gap using a first vacuum pump and, while evacuating the gap using the first vacuum pump, evacuating the interior of the vacuum chamber using a second vacuum pump.
• a vacuum system includes a wall of a vacuum chamber, a flange of the vacuum chamber, an outer seal disposed between the wall and the flange, and an inner seal disposed between the wall and the flange.
• the outer seal includes a first material and the inner seal includes a second material that is distinct from the first material.
• the inner seal is closer to the interior of the vacuum chamber than the outer seal.
• the outer seal is separated from the inner seal by a gap.
• the inner seal is more resistant than the outer seal to a gas to be used to clean the interior of the vacuum chamber.
• the vacuum system also includes a path to couple the gap to a first vacuum pump, to evacuate the gap.
• Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a vacuum chamber in accordance with some embodiments.
• Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a vacuum system that includes the vacuum chamber of Figure 1, a first vacuum pump, and a second vacuum pump, in accordance with some embodiments.
• Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a vacuum system that is an example of the vacuum system of Figure 2, in accordance with some embodiments.
• Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a vacuum system, in accordance with some embodiments.
• FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a vacuum chamber 100 in accordance with some embodiments.
• the vacuum chamber 100 includes a wall 102 and a flange 104. (Only a portion of the wall 102 and flange 104 are shown in Figure 1 for simplicity.)
• the term flange as used herein refers to a cover for an opening in the vacuum chamber 100.
• the flange 104 may be a door that opens and closes to allow materials to be placed in and removed from the vacuum chamber 100.
• the flange 104 is fixedly attached to the wall 102 but may be removed to perform maintenance on the vacuum chamber 100.
• the wall 102, flange 104, and/or other components of the vacuum chamber 100 enclose an interior 106 of the vacuum chamber 100.
• a vacuum e.g., an ultra-high vacuum (UHV)
• UHV is a standard, well-known technical term that refers to vacuums with pressure on the order of 10 9 torr or lower.
• the exterior of the vacuum chamber 100 may be at atmosphere 108 (i.e., at atmospheric pressure).
• a portion of the flange 104 is adjacent to the wall 102, as shown for example in
• an outer seal 110 and an inner seal 112 are disposed between the wall 102 and the flange 104 (i.e., between the wall 102 and the portion of the flange 104 that is adjacent to the wall 102).
• the outer seal 110 and/or inner seal 112 are disposed in respective grooves in the surface of the wall 102 adjacent to the flange 104, as shown in Figure 1.
• the outer seal 110 and/or inner seal 112 are disposed in respective grooves in the surface of the flange 104 adjacent to the wall 102.
• the outer seal 110 and/or inner seal 112 are disposed in respective pairs of grooves in the wall 102 and flange 104, such that both the wall 102 and the flange 104 have grooves to seat the outer seal 110 and/or the inner seal 112. At least one of the wall 102 and the flange 104 thus may have a first groove to seat the outer seal 110 and a second groove to seat the inner seal 112.
• the inner seal 112 is closer to the interior 106 of the vacuum chamber 100 than the outer seal 110.
• the outer seal 110 and inner seal 112 as disposed between the wall 102 and the flange 104 are concentric, with the outer seal 110 having a larger equivalent diameter (i.e., total length) than the inner seal 112.
• the outer seal 110 and the inner seal 112 as disposed between the wall 102 and the flange 104 are compressed.
• outer seal 110 and inner seal 112 are separated from each other by a gap 114.
• the gap 114 is situated between the flange 104 and the wall 102 as well as between the inner seal 112 and the outer seal 110.
• a path 116 leading from the gap 114 allows the gap 114 to be coupled to a first vacuum pump, to evacuate the gap 114 (and the path 116).
• the path 116 may pass through the wall 102 (e.g., as shown in Figure 1) or through the flange 104.
• the vacuum achieved in the gap 114 has a higher pressure than (i.e., is a lower vacuum than) the vacuum achieved in the interior 106 of the vacuum chamber 100.
• the vacuum achieved in the gap 114 is a rough vacuum (i.e., a vacuum with a pressure of 10 3 torr or above), whereas the pressure for the vacuum in the interior 106 is lower than 10 3 torr (e.g., is UHV).
• Evacuating the gap 114 reduces the pressure on the inner seal 112 by reducing the pressure differential between the gap 114 and the interior 106 of the vacuum chamber 100.
• the outer seal 110 is capable of providing tighter vacuum sealing (i.e., better sealing, with lower leakage through the seal) between the wall 102 and the flange 104 than the inner seal 112.
• the outer seal 110 includes (e.g., is made of) a first material.
• the inner seal 112 includes (e.g., is made of) a second material that is distinct from the first material. In some embodiments, the inner seal 112 is stiffer than the outer seal 110, because the second material is stiffer than the first material.
• outer seal 110 is less stiff than the inner seal 112 allows the outer seal 110 to form a tighter fit with the wall 102 and flange 104 than the inner seal 112, and therefore to provide tighter vacuum sealing between the wall 102 and flange 104 than the inner seal 112.
• the outer seal 110 and the inner seal 112 are both elastomeric seals (e.g., O-rings), with the first material and the second material being respective elastomers.
• the inner seal 112 thus may be an inner elastomeric seal (e.g., an inner O-ring) and the outer seal 110 may be an outer elastomeric seal (e.g., an outer O-ring).
• the second material i.e., the elastomer of the inner seal 112 may be stiffer than the first material (i.e., the elastomer of the outer seal 110).
• the first material may be a fluoroelastomer (i.e., FKM/FPM) (e.g., as sold under the trademark VITONTM) and the second material may be a perfluoroelastomer (i.e., FFKM) (e.g., as sold under the trademark PERFREZ®).
• FKM/FPM fluoroelastomer
• FFKM perfluoroelastomer
• Perfluoroelastomer is stiffer than fluoroelastomer, while a fluoroelastomer seal provides tighter vacuum sealing than a perfluoroelastomer seal.
• the interior 106 of the vacuum chamber 100 may be cleaned by introducing a gas into the interior 106.
• the gas is (or includes) a reducing gas.
• the gas is (or includes) ozone or atomic oxygen.
• the interior 106 of the vacuum chamber 100 has a high partial pressure for the gas and thus does not have the vacuum that is maintained in the interior 106 during operation of the vacuum chamber 100.
• the interior 106 is pumped back down to the vacuum level used during operation (e.g., to UHV) and operation of the vacuum chamber 100 resumes.
• the inner seal 112 may be more resistant to the gas (e.g., ozone or atomic oxygen) used to clean the interior 106 of the vacuum chamber 100 than the outer seal 110 (i.e., more resistant to chemical and/or physical changes caused by contact with the gas). This increased resistance results, for example, from the inner seal 112 being stiffer than the outer seal 110.
• the inner seal 112 is an elastomeric seal (e.g., O-ring) that is more resistant to the gas than the outer seal 110, which is also an elastomeric seal (e.g., O-ring).
• the inner seal 112 is a perfluoroelastomer while the outer seal 110 is a fluoroelastomer; perfluoroelastomers are more resistant to gases used for vacuum-chamber cleaning than fluoroelastomers.
• the higher resistance to the gas of the inner seal 112 reduces degradation of the inner seal 112 due to exposure to the gas, thereby reducing leakage through the inner seal 112 and emission of particles from the inner seal 112 into the interior 106 of the vacuum chamber 100 caused by degradation of the inner seal 112. Such particles can contaminate the interior 106 (e.g., components disposed in the interior 106, for example, optics).
• the higher resistance to the gas of the inner seal 112 thus reduces contamination in the interior 106 of the vacuum chamber (e.g., contamination of the components disposed in the interior 106).
• the outer seal 110 and the inner seal 112 operate under static conditions, with the position of the flange 104 statically fixed with respect to the wall 102 during operation of the vacuum chamber 100.
• the outer seal 110 and the inner seal 112 may operate under dynamic conditions, such that the flange 104 can move with respect to the wall 102 during operation of the vacuum chamber 100.
• the flange 104 moves with respect to the wall 102 for self-alignment, to maintain its alignment with the vacuum chamber 100.
• the outer seal 110 and the inner seal 112 can accommodate the movement of the flange 104 with respect to the wall 102 while collectively maintaining vacuum sealing between the wall 102 and the flange 104: the outer seal 110 and inner seal 112 together maintain the vacuum sealing despite the movement of the flange 104.
• Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a vacuum system 200 that includes the vacuum chamber 100 ( Figure 1), a first vacuum pump 118, and a second vacuum pump 122, in accordance with some embodiments.
• the first vacuum pump 118 is coupled to the gap 114 through the path 116 and is used to evacuate the gap 114 and thus to provide a vacuum in the gap 114.
• a tube 120 connects the first vacuum pump 118 to the path 116, thereby coupling the first vacuum pump 118 to the gap 114 through the path 116. (Equivalently, the tube 120 may be considered part of the path 116.)
• the first vacuum pump 118 is a roughing pump that provides a rough vacuum in the gap 114.
• the second vacuum pump 122 is used to provide a vacuum in the interior 106 of the vacuum chamber 100.
• the second vacuum pump 122 may provide this vacuum alone or in conjunction with one or more other vacuum pumps.
• a separate roughing pump e.g., the first vacuum pump 118, through a connection with the interior 106 not shown in Figure 2
• the second vacuum pump 122 pumps the interior down to a higher vacuum (e.g., to UHV), either alone or in conjunction with the one or more other vacuum pumps.
• Example of the second vacuum pump 122 include, without limitation, a turbopump or a cryopump.
• the second vacuum pump 122 is used to provide a higher (i.e., lower-pressure) vacuum in the interior 106 than the first vacuum pump 118 provides or is capable of providing in the gap 114.
• the second vacuum pump 122 may be a UHV pump whereas the first vacuum pump 118 cannot provide an ultra-high vacuum in the gap 114 (e.g., the first vacuum pump 118 may be a roughing pump that provides a rough vacuum in the gap 114).
• Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a vacuum system 300 that is an example of the vacuum system 200 ( Figure 2) in accordance with some embodiments.
• the first vacuum pump 118 is coupled to the second vacuum pump 122 to exhaust the second vacuum pump 122.
• a tube 124 couples the exhaust of the second vacuum pump 122 to the first vacuum pump 118.
• the tube 124 may connect with the tube 120.
• a vacuum system (e.g., the vacuum system 200, Figure 2, such as the vacuum system 300, Figure 3) that includes the vacuum chamber 100 may be used in numerous different applications.
• the vacuum chamber 100 is used in a metrology or inspection tool (e.g., a semiconductor metrology or inspection tool).
• the vacuum chamber 100 may be used in a tool for inspecting reticles (i.e., photomasks) or semiconductor wafers for defects.
• the vacuum chamber 100 may contain optics in its interior 106; cleaning the interior 106 using a gas may include cleaning the optics.
• the optics may be extreme ultraviolet (EUV) optics (e.g., 13.5 nm optics). Numerous other examples are possible.
• EUV extreme ultraviolet
• Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method 400 of operating a vacuum system
• an outer seal e.g., outer seal 110, Figures 1-3
• an inner seal e.g., inner seal 112, Figures 1-3
• the outer seal is a first material.
• the inner seal is a second material distinct from the first material.
• the inner seal and the outer seal are disposed such that the inner seal is closer to the interior of the vacuum chamber (e.g., interior 106, Figures 1-3) than the outer seal.
• the outer seal is separated from the inner seal by a gap (e.g., gap 114, Figures 1-3).
• the outer seal is capable (404) of providing tighter vacuum sealing between the wall and the flange than the inner seal.
• the inner seal is (406) stiffer than the outer seal, with the second material being stiffer than the first material.
• the outer seal is capable of providing tighter vacuum sealing between the wall and the flange than the inner seal because it is less stiff than the inner seal and thus can form a better fit against the wall and the flange.
• the inner seal and the outer seal are (408) elastomeric seals
• the second material i.e., the material of the inner elastomeric seal
• the first material i.e., the material of the outer elastomeric seal
• the first material is a fluoroelastomer
• the second material is a perfluoroelastomer.
• the gap is evacuated (410) using a first vacuum pump (e.g., first vacuum pump
• the first vacuum pump thus provides a vacuum in the gap. While evacuating the gap using the first vacuum pump (i.e., while using the first vacuum pump to provide a vacuum in the gap), the interior of the vacuum chamber is evacuated (414) using a second vacuum pump (e.g., second vacuum pump 122, Figures 2-3).
• a second vacuum pump e.g., second vacuum pump 122, Figures 2-3.
• an ultra-high vacuum is provided (416) in the interior of the vacuum chamber, while a vacuum with a higher pressure than ultra-high vacuum is provided (412) in the gap.
• the second vacuum pump may provide the vacuum in the interior of the vacuum chamber by itself or in conjunction with one or more other pumps (e.g., one or more other turbopumps or cryopump s).
• the outer seal and the inner seal may be used to accommodate movement of the flange with respect to the wall while maintaining vacuum sealing between the wall and the flange. This movement occurs, for example, to allow self-alignment of the flange. This movement, and its accommodation by the outer and inner seals, occurs while evacuating the gap using the first vacuum pump and evacuating the interior of the vacuum chamber using the second vacuum pump. Alternatively, the flange is held static with respect to the wall while evacuating the gap using the first vacuum pump and evacuating the interior of the vacuum chamber using the second vacuum pump. [0031]
• the vacuum chamber may need cleaning (e.g., periodic cleaning). The method
• 400 thus may further include ceasing to evacuate (418) the interior of the vacuum chamber.
• the interior of the vacuum chamber is cleaned (420) using a gas (e.g., a reducing gas).
• a gas e.g., a reducing gas
• the gas is (or includes) ozone or atomic oxygen.
• the inner seal may be (422) more resistant than the outer seal to the gas.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
• Toxicology (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Atmospheric Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Compressors, Vaccum Pumps And Other Relevant Systems (AREA)
• Gasket Seals (AREA)
• Pressure Vessels And Lids Thereof (AREA)
• Sealing Devices (AREA)
• Drying Of Semiconductors (AREA)

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• 2021
  • 2021-12-31 US US17/567,071 patent/US12044313B2/en active Active
• 2022
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  • 2022-02-07 KR KR1020237028658A patent/KR20230145085A/ko not_active Ceased
  • 2022-02-07 JP JP2023545919A patent/JP7675831B2/ja active Active
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