A positioning apparatus comprises a base element provided for fastening to a robot, a base movably supported at the base element, and a piezoactuator by which the base is movable in a direction relative to the base element. A second piezoactuator is provided by which a counterweight is simultaneously movable in an opposite direction.

A charge volume configuration for use in delivery of gas to a reactor for processing semiconductor wafers is provided. A charge volume includes a chamber that extends between a proximal end and a distal end. A base connected to the proximal end of the chamber, and the base includes an inlet port and an outlet port. A tube is disposed within the chamber. The tube has a tube diameter that is less than a chamber diameter. The tube has a connection end coupled to the inlet port at the proximal end of the chamber and an output end disposed at the distal end of the chamber.

A controller for a substrate processing chamber includes a film thickness estimating module configured to while a first RF power is provided to generate plasma in the substrate processing chamber, receive a first measurement of a second RF power supplied to a probe, receive a second measurement of a DC self-bias voltage associated with the probe, wherein the second measurement is indicative of a thickness of a film deposited within the substrate processing chamber, and calculate a thickness of the film using the first measurement of the second RF power and the second measurement of the DC self-bias voltage. An operating parameter adjustment module is configured to adjust at least one operating parameter of the substrate processing chamber based on the thickness of the film as calculated by the film thickness estimating module.

Disclosed herein is a ceramic article or coating useful in semiconductor processing, which is resistant to erosion by halogen-containing plasmas. The ceramic article or coating is formed from a combination of yttrium oxide and zirconium oxide.

An apparatus for processing a substrate includes a reaction tube, a side cover, a heater, a first gas supplier, a second gas supplier and a controller. The reaction tube is configured to receive a substrate boat in which a plurality of the substrate is received to process the substrate. The side cover is configured to receive the reaction tube. The heater lines the interior of the side cover. The first gas supplier is provided to an upper portion of the side cover to supply a cooling gas at a first supplying rate to a space between the side cover and the reaction tube. The second gas supplier is provided to a lower portion of the side cover to supply the cooling gas at a second supplying rate different from the first supplying rate to the space between the side cover and the reaction tube. The controller controls the reaction tube.

A system includes a chamber, an inlet valve, and a control device. The chamber is configured to perform a semiconductor process. The inlet valve is coupled to the chamber and a facility water source. The control device is coupled to the inlet valve, and configured to at least partially close the inlet valve when the chamber is idle.

Embodiments described herein relate to methods and apparatus for performing immersion field guided post exposure bake processes. Embodiments of apparatus described herein include a chamber body defining a processing volume. Electrodes may be disposed adjacent the process volume and process fluid is provided to the process volume via a plurality of fluid conduits to facilitate immersion field guided post exposure bake processes. A post process chamber for rinsing, developing, and drying a substrate is also provided.

Disclosed herein is a ceramic article or coating useful in semiconductor processing, which is resistant to erosion by halogen-containing plasmas. The ceramic article or coating is formed from a combination of yttrium oxide and zirconium oxide.

A plasma processing apparatus includes a stage having a placing surface on which a workpiece is accommodated; a heater provided in the stage and configured to adjust a temperature of the placing surface of the stage; and a controller. The controller is configured to control a supply power to the heater; measure the supply power in a transient state where the supply power to the heater increases and in a second steady state where the supply power to the heater is stable in an extinguished state of plasma; calculate a heat input amount and a heat resistance by performing a fitting on a calculation model that calculates the supply power in the transient state using the heat input amount from the plasma and the heat resistance between the workpiece and the heater as parameters; and calculate a temperature of the workpiece in the first steady state.

A substrate support for use in a plasma processing chamber includes a substrate support body, a lifter pin and a lift mechanism. The substrate support body has a pin through-hole and the pin through-hole has a female-threaded inner wall. The lifter pin has a base segment, an intermediate segment, and a leading segment. The lifter pin is inserted into the pin through-hole, the intermediate segment is male-threaded, and the male-threaded intermediate segment is screwable to the female-threaded inner wall. The lift mechanism is configured to vertically move the lifter pin relative to the substrate support body.