A processing system is provided, including a vacuum enclosure having a plurality of process windows and a continuous track positioned therein; a plurality of processing chambers attached sidewalls of the vacuum enclosures, each processing chamber about one of the process windows; a loadlock attached at one end of the vacuum enclosure and having a loading track positioned therein; at least one gate valve separating the loadlock from the vacuum enclosure; a plurality of substrate carriers configured to travel on the continuous track and the loading track; at least one track exchanger positioned within the vacuum enclosure, the track exchangers movable between a first position, wherein substrate carriers are made to continuously move on the continuous track, and a second position wherein the substrate carriers are made to transfer between the continuous track and the loading track.

Electrostatic chucks and methods of forming electrostatic chucks are disclosed. Exemplary electrostatic chucks include a ceramic body, a device embedded within the ceramic body, and an interface layer formed overlying the device. Exemplary methods include providing ceramic precursor material within a mold, providing a device, coating the device with an interface material to form a coated device, placing the coated device on or within the ceramic precursor material, and sintering the ceramic precursor material to form the electrostatic chuck and an interface layer between the device and ceramic material formed during the step of sintering.

Methods and apparatus for processing a substrate using improved shield configurations are provided herein. For example, a process kit for use in a physical vapor deposition chamber includes a shield comprising an inner wall with an innermost diameter configured to surround a target when disposed in the physical vapor deposition chamber, wherein a ratio of a surface area of the shield to a planar area of the inner diameter is about 3 to about 10.

Methods and apparatus for processing a substrate using improved shield configurations are provided herein. For example, a process kit for use in a physical vapor deposition chamber includes a shield comprising an inner wall with an innermost diameter configured to surround a target when disposed in the physical vapor deposition chamber, wherein a ratio of a surface area of the shield to a planar area of the inner diameter is about 3 to about 10.

The present disclosure is a wafer support, which includes a heating unit, an insulating-and-heat-conducting unit and a conduct portion, wherein the insulating-and-heat-conducting unit is positioned between the conduct portion and the heating unit. During a deposition process, an AC bias is formed on the conduct portion to attract a plasma disposed thereabove. The heating unit includes at least one heating coil, wherein the heating coil heats the wafer supported by the wafer support via the insulating-and-heat-conducting unit and the conduct portion. The insulating-and-heat-conducting unit electrically insulates the heating unit and the conduct portion to prevent the AC flowing in the heating coil and the AC bias on the conduct portion from conducting each other, so the wafer support can generate a stable AC bias and temperature to facilitate forming an evenly-distributed thin film on the wafer supported by the wafer support.

A vapor deposition method and a vapor deposition apparatus that, when a vapor deposition material is deposited on a substrate, make it possible to form deposition layer pattern precisely so that the deposition layer pattern is formed uniformly without a gap formed between a deposition mask and the substrate. A deposition mask is disposed with its periphery held by a frame. A substrate on which a vapor deposition layer is to be formed is mounted over the deposition mask. A vapor deposition source is disposed facing the deposition mask and evaporates a vapor deposition material. The vapor deposition is performed while the substrate is pressed vertically at a position of a center of deflection of the deposition mask and on an upper surface of the substrate until that a length of the substrate substantially becomes identical to a length of the deposition mask being bowed down and expanded.

Apparatus and methods for forming and using internally divisible physical vapor deposition (PVD) process chambers using shutter disks are provided herein. In some embodiments, an internally divisible process chamber may include an upper chamber portion having a conical shield, a conical adaptor, a cover ring, and a target, a lower chamber portion having a substrate support having inner and outer deposition rings, and wherein the substrate support is vertically movable, and a shutter disk assembly configured to internally divide the process chamber and create a separate sealed deposition cavity and a separate sealed oxidation cavity, wherein the shutter disk assembly includes one or more seals disposed along its outer edges and configured to contact at least one of the conical shield, the conical adaptor, or the deposition rings to form the separate sealed deposition and oxidation cavities.

Apparatus and methods for forming and using internally divisible physical vapor deposition (PVD) process chambers using shutter disks are provided herein. In some embodiments, an internally divisible process chamber may include an upper chamber portion having a conical shield, a conical adaptor, a cover ring, and a target, a lower chamber portion having a substrate support having inner and outer deposition rings, and wherein the substrate support is vertically movable, and a shutter disk assembly configured to internally divide the process chamber and create a separate sealed deposition cavity and a separate sealed oxidation cavity, wherein the shutter disk assembly includes one or more seals disposed along its outer edges and configured to contact at least one of the conical shield, the conical adaptor, or the deposition rings to form the separate sealed deposition and oxidation cavities.

A method and apparatus for substrate processing and a cluster tool including a transfer chamber assembly and a plurality of processing assemblies. Processing chamber volumes are sealed from the transfer chamber volume using a support chuck on which a substrate is disposed. A seal ring assembly is coupled to the support chuck. The seal ring assembly includes an inner assembly, an assembly bellows circumscribing the inner assembly, and a bellows disposed between the inner and outer platform. An inner ring is disposed between inner assembly of the seal ring assembly and the bottom surface of the support chuck. An outer ring disposed between the seal ring assembly and the lower sealing surface of the process chamber wall. The support chuck is raised to form an isolation seal between the processing chamber volume and the transfer chamber volume using the bellows, the inner ring, and the outer ring.

A method and apparatus for substrate processing and a cluster tool including a transfer chamber assembly and a plurality of processing assemblies. Processing chamber volumes are sealed from the transfer chamber volume using a support chuck on which a substrate is disposed. A seal ring assembly is coupled to the support chuck. The seal ring assembly includes an inner assembly, an assembly bellows circumscribing the inner assembly, and a bellows disposed between the inner and outer platform. An inner ring is disposed between inner assembly of the seal ring assembly and the bottom surface of the support chuck. An outer ring disposed between the seal ring assembly and the lower sealing surface of the process chamber wall. The support chuck is raised to form an isolation seal between the processing chamber volume and the transfer chamber volume using the bellows, the inner ring, and the outer ring.