In the following, embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As shown in
The vacuum container 12 is formed of a metal material such as stainless steel. One end of the vacuum container 12 is an open end and the open end is the inlet 12a of the vacuum chamber 30. In addition, the other end of the vacuum container 12 is an open end 12b and the open end 12b is secured to a flange of a power unit 21.
The cryogenic cooler 20 is a GM (Gifford-McMahon) type two-stage cryogenic cooler and includes a first cooling section 22, a second cooling section 23, and a compressor 28 which generates a compressed working fluid. In the first cooling section 22 and the second cooling section 23, there are an expander (not shown) which cools the working fluid supplied from the compressor 28 via a supply tube 29a (a collection tube 29b) by adiabatic expansion and a refrigerator (not shown). A first cooling stage 24 which can cool to 80 K or less is provided at the tip of the first cooling section 22. A second cooling stage 25 which can cool to 20 K or less, for example, 10 K to 20 K, is provided at the tip of the second cooling section 23. In addition, the cryogenic cooler 20 provides the power unit 21 for operating a displacer (not shown) which supplies and discharges the working fluid. Further, the cryogenic cooler 20 can be an M-Solvay (modified Solvay) type two-stage cryogenic cooler instead of the GM type two-stage cryogenic cooler. The first cooling stage 24 and the second cooling stage 25 can be formed of a metal material such as stainless steel.
The shielding section 14 includes a cylinder-shaped member 14a and a flange 14b. The cylinder-shaped member 14a is disposed on almost the same axle as the second cooling section 23 of the cryogenic cooler 20, and the flange 14b is formed of the end of the cylinder-shaped member 14a by bending the end toward the inside to the first cooling stage 24. The inner rim of the flange 14b is secured to the first cooling stage 24. The flange 14b and the cylinder-shaped member 14a are cooled to almost the same temperature as the first cooling stage 24 by contact between the flange 14b and the first cooling stage 24.
The baffle 15 is disposed inside the shielding section 14 near the inlet 12a. The baffle 15 is formed of concentric trapezoidal-cone members whose inner diameters are different from each other each of which members has a cavity. The trapezoidal-cone member is formed by cutting off the top of the cone. Then, the top and the end of the baffle 15 are open. Each trapezoidal-cone member is disposed on almost the same axle as the center axle of the second cooling section 23. The side surface of the baffle 15 has a predetermined angle, for example, 35 with the side surface of the cylinder-shaped member 14a.
The baffle 15 is combined with the shielding section 14 by a member such as a beam (not shown) so that heat conduction exists between the baffle 15 and the shielding section 14. Since the heat conduction exists between the shielding section 14 and the first cooling stage 24, the heat of the baffle 15 is transferred to the first cooling stage 24 and the baffle 15 is cooled to approximately 80 K. The baffle 15 adjusts the direction of gas flowing into the cryopump main body 11 and cools the gas. The baffle 15 decreases heat transfer to the first cryopanel 16 and the second cryopanels 16′ by mainly condensing steam contained in the gas. In this, the shape of the baffle 15 is not limited to that shown in
The shielding section 14 and the baffle 15 are formed of a metal material whose heat conductivity is high, for example, copper or aluminum. In addition, it is preferable that a Ni plated film be formed on the surfaces of the shielding section 14 and the baffle 15 so as to increase corrosion resistance.
The top section 16a of the first cryopanel 16 is secured to the upper surface of the second cooling stage 25. The first cryopanel 16 and the second cryopanels 16′ provide a cylinder-shaped section 16b extending downward. Plural umbrella-shaped metal plates are disposed at the top section 16a and on the surface of the cylinder-shaped section 16b so that the plural umbrella-shaped metal plates are isolated. The first cryopanel 16 and the second cryopanels 16′ are formed of a metal material whose heat conductivity is high, for example, copper or aluminum. Since heat conduction exists between the top section 16a of the first cryopanel 16 and the second cooling stage 25, the temperature of the first cryopanel 16 can be maintained to be the same temperature as that of the second cooling stage 25, for example, 10 K to 20 K. In this, a Ni plated film can be formed on the surfaces of the first cryopanel 16 and the second cryopanels 16′ so as to increase corrosion resistance.
An absorption panel 18 is formed on the rear surface of the metal plate of each of the first cryopanel 16 and the second cryopanels 16′. The absorption panel 18 is made of epoxy resin having heat conductivity by adhering absorbent material such as activated carbon on the epoxy resin which absorbs gas such as hydrogen gas, neon gas, and helium gas which gas is not condensed by the first cryopanel 16 and the second cryopanels 16′. In this, the position where the absorption panel 18 is formed is not limited to the rear surface of the metal plate of each of the first cryopanel 16 and the second cryopanels 16′.
As shown in
In
In the cryopump 10, the top surface 16a-1 of the first cryopanel 16 is disposed at a position nearest to the baffle 15 almost parallel to the baffle surface BS. That is, the top surface 16a-1 forms a flat surface with a distance L1 from the baffle surface BS.
As shown in
In the cryopump 10, when the cryogenic cooler 20 is operated, gas flows from the vacuum chamber 30 to the vacuum container 12. The baffle 15 condenses steam contained in the gas. The absorption panel 18 absorbs helium gas, neon gas, and hydrogen gas in the gas in which the steam is removed. Nitrogen gas, oxygen gas, and argon gas from the gas in which the steam, the helium gas, the neon gas, and the hydrogen gas are removed form frost 31 on the surface of the first cryopanel 16 by being condensed by the first cryopanel 16.
Since the top surface 16a-1 of the first cryopanel 16 is flat and is at the position nearest to the baffle 15, the frost 31 is uniformly formed with the greatest thickness on the top surface 16a-1. Therefore, in the first embodiment of the present invention, a problem in which the frost 112 is selectively deposited on the head surfaces 109a of bolts 109 and the deposited frost contacts the lower end of the baffle 104 shown in
As described above, in the cryopump 10, the top surface 16a-1 of the first cryopanel 16 located at the position nearest to the baffle 15 is formed as a flat surface almost parallel to the baffle surface BS. The top section 16a of the first cryopanel 16 is secured to the second cooling stage 25 of the cryogenic cooler 20 by the screws 19, and the heads of the screws 19 do not protrude from the top surface 16a-1. Therefore, gas flowing from the baffle 15 is uniformly condensed on the top surface 16a-1, and the frost 31 is deposited on the top surface 16a-1 with almost the same thickness. Consequently, the surface temperature of the frost 31 becomes almost uniform and the frost 31 is prevented from contacting the baffle 15. That is, since the frost 31 is not excessively deposited on a part of the top surface 16a-1, the frost 31 does not contact the baffle 15. Therefore, the cryopump 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention can increase the gas discharge amount without making the size of the cryopump 10 large.
As the securing method of the top section 16a to the second cooling stage 25, the following method can be used. That is, threaded screws are formed in the top section 16a, screws are inserted from the lower surface of the second cooling stage 25, and the tips of the screws do not protrude from the top surface 16a-1.
Next, a first modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention is described. In the first modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention, the shape of the first cryopanel is different from that shown in
As shown in
The top section 41a of the first cryopanel 41 has a structure similar to the top section 16a shown in
In addition, the top surface 41a-1 and the flat surface 41c are formed almost parallel to the baffle surface BS, that is, with almost the same distance from the baffle surface BS. In addition to the top surface 41a-1, the flat surface 41c is nearest to the baffle surface BS. Therefore, the area of the surface of the first cryopanel 41 located nearest to the baffle surface BS is larger than that of the first cryopanel 16 in the first embodiment. Consequently, the discharge amount of the cryopump 40 can be larger than that of the cryopump 10 in the first embodiment.
The flat surface 41c is formed of a metal plate. As described above, the rim part of the flat surface 41c is bent in the downward direction. When the rim part of the flat surface 41c is formed with the same surface as the top surface 41a-1, the frost 31 is likely to be deposited at the rim part and the thickness of the frost 31 at the rim part becomes larger than that at the other parts. Consequently, the surface temperature of the frost 31 becomes non-uniform, the frost 31 contacts the baffle 15 and the shielding section 14, and the discharge cannot be executed. In order to solve the above problem, the metal plate of the rim part of the flat surface 41c is bent. The operations of the cryopump 40 are the same as those of the cryopump 10. Therefore, the same description is omitted.
As described above, in the cryopump 40 of the first modified example of the first embodiment, the top surface 41a-1 and the flat surface 41c of the first cryopanel 41 located at the position nearest to the baffle 15 are formed almost parallel to the baffle surface BS. Therefore, the frost 31 is deposited on the top surface 41a-1 and the flat surface 41c with an almost uniform thickness. Accordingly, similar to the cryopump 10, the cryopump 40 can increase the discharge amount without making the size large. Since the area of the top surface 41a-1 and the flat surface 41c in the cryopump 40 is larger than the area of the top surface 16a-1 in the cryopump 10, the discharge amount can be further increased from that of the cryopump 10 in the first embodiment.
It is preferable that the top surface 41a-1 and the flat surface 41c be formed on the same level. However, it is possible for a step to be formed between the top surface 41a-1 and the flat surface 41c and one of them is formed at a position nearest to the baffle 15. In this case, it is preferable that the larger area surface of them be at the position nearest to the baffle 15.
Next, a second modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention is described. In the second modified example, the shape of a first cryopanel located at a position nearest to the baffle surface BS is different from that shown in
As shown in
The flat surface 51c is disposed almost parallel to the baffle surface BS with a distance L2 from the baffle surface BS. The flat surface 51c is located at the position nearest to the baffle surface BS.
The top section 51a is secured to the second cooling stage 25 by bolts 52 and nuts 53, and the head of the bolt 52 is disposed lower than the flat surface 51c. In this, as the securing method of the first cryopanel 51 to the second cooling stage 25 is not limited to the above. That is, as long as the head of the bolt 52 does not protrude from the level of the flat surface 51c, for example, the securing method using screws shown in
The thickness of the top section 51a is less than that of the top section 16a shown in
In the recovery operations of the cryopump 50, the normal operation of the cryopump 50 is stopped, the cryopump 50 is purged under nitrogen gas, the temperature is raised to room temperature, then gas in the cryopump 50 is discharged.
As described above, the rim part of the flat surface 51c is bent in the downward direction. As described in the first cryopanel 41 shown in
As shown in
As described above, in the cryopump 50, the flat surface 51c of the first cryopanel 51 disposed at the position nearest to the baffle 15 is almost parallel to the baffle surface BS. The top section 51a is secured to the second cooling stage 25 of the cryogenic cooler 20 by the bolts 52 and the nuts 53 so that the head surfaces of the bolts 52 do not protrude upward from the level of the flat surface 51c. Therefore, the frost 31 is uniformly deposited on the flat surface 51c which frost 31 is formed by condensing the gas flowing from the baffle 15. Consequently, the surface temperature of the frost 31 becomes almost uniform and the frost 31 is prevented from contacting the baffle 15 without being excessively deposited on a part of the flat surface 51c. Therefore, the cryopump 50 according to the second modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention can increase the discharge amount without making the size large.
Result of Experiment
Next, an experiment to measure the discharge amount is described. In the experiment, an eight-inch size cryopump having the structure shown in
As shown in
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention is described. In the second embodiment of the present invention, a semiconductor device manufacturing apparatus using a cryopump is described. In the following, the cryopump according to the first embodiment of the present invention is used in the semiconductor device manufacturing apparatus.
As shown in
In the second embodiment, the cryopump 10 shown in
In
The semiconductor device manufacturing apparatus 60 discharges gas in the vacuum chamber 62 by using the roughing pump 69 and the cryopump 10 so that a predetermined vacuum can be obtained in the vacuum chamber 62. Next, for example, argon gas is supplied in the vacuum chamber 62, and electric discharge is generated by supplying power to the magnetron electrodes 65, while the cryopump 10 is operated. With this, atoms and particles of the target film forming material are deposited on the surface of the wafer 64 by sputtering the target film forming material by using ions of the argon gas.
According to the second embodiment, since the cryopump 10 can increase the discharge amount without making the size large, the working time of the semiconductor device manufacturing apparatus 60 can be decreased while the size of the semiconductor device manufacturing apparatus 60 is maintained. Consequently, the productivity of the semiconductor device manufacturing apparatus 60 can be increased. With this, cost of a semiconductor device manufactured by the semiconductor device manufacturing apparatus 60 can be reduced.
In the above, as the semiconductor device manufacturing apparatus 60, a sputtering apparatus is described. However, the cryopump in the embodiment of present invention can be applied to semiconductor device manufacturing apparatuses such as an impurity injection apparatus, a heat treatment apparatus, a chemical vapor deposition apparatus, and an etching apparatus. Further, the cryopump in the embodiment of present invention can be applied to a load lock chamber which carries wafers among plural semiconductor device manufacturing apparatuses under vacuum.
In the above embodiments, the shape of the metal plates of the second cryopanels 16′, 41′, or 51′ is not limited to any specific shape. For example, the metal plates of second cryopanels 16′, 41′, or 51′ can be fins fixed to the corresponding cylinder-shaped section 16b, 41b, or 51b.
In the above embodiments, the vertical type cryopumps 10, 40 and 50 are described. However, the embodiments of the present invention can be applied to a horizontal type cryopump. In the horizontal type cryopump, the long length direction of the cryogenic cooler 20 is almost orthogonal to the gas inputting direction from the vacuum chamber 30; however, the positional relationship between the baffle 15 and the first cryopanel 16, 41, or 51 are the same as that in the vertical type cryopump. Therefore, the embodiments of the present invention can be applied to the horizontal type cryopump.
In addition, the cryopumps according to the embodiments of the present invention can be further applied to a manufacturing apparatus which is used under vacuum such as a recording medium manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a hard disk and an evaporation type magnetic tape, and a flat display manufacturing apparatus.
Further, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, but variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The present invention is based on Japanese Priority Patent Application No. 2006-158619, filed on Jun. 7, 2006, with the Japanese patent Office, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2006-158619 | Jun 2006 | JP | national |