A method for adjusting a height of an edge ring arranged around an outer portion of a substrate support includes receiving at least one input indicative of one or more erosion rates of the edge ring. The at least one input includes a plurality of erosion rates for respective usage periods of a substrate processing system. The method further includes determining at least one erosion rate of the edge ring using the plurality of erosion rates for the respective usage periods, monitoring an overall usage of the edge ring and storing the overall usage of the edge ring in a memory, calculating an amount of erosion of the edge ring based on the determined at least one erosion rate and the overall usage of the edge ring, and adjusting the height of the edge ring based on the calculated amount of erosion to compensate for the calculated amount of erosion.

A subring for holding tape connected to semiconductor dies and spanning a passage in a frame having a first diameter includes a base. An opening extends through the base and has a second diameter at least as large as the first diameter. A projection extends from the base to ends positioned on opposite sides of the base. The projection is adapted to clamp the tape to the frame and adapted to prevent relative movement between the tape, the subring, and the frame.

A bonding apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a first holder and a second holder. The first holder holds a first substrate. The second holder sucks a second substrate, opposes the second substrate to the first substrate, and bonds the second substrate to the first substrate. A first ring stage is provided on an outer circumference of the first holder and allows a first ring member provided on an outer edge of the first substrate to be mounted thereon. A second ring stage is provided on an outer circumference of the second holder and allows a second ring member provided on an outer edge of the second substrate to be mounted thereon. A first heater is provided in the first ring stage. A second heater is provided in the second ring stage.

According to one embodiment, a mold includes a substrate clamping surface, a cavity, a suction part, a vent, an intermediate cavity, and an opening/closing part. The substrate clamping surface contacts a surface of a processing substrate. The cavity is recessed from the substrate clamping surface. The suction part is recessed from the substrate clamping surface. The vent is provided on a path between the cavity and the suction part, communicates with the cavity, is recessed from the substrate clamping surface to a vent depth. The intermediate cavity is provided between the vent and the suction part on the path, communicates with the vent, and is recessed from the substrate clamping surface to an intermediate cavity depth deeper than the vent depth. The opening/closing part opens and closes the path and is provided between the intermediate cavity and the suction part on the path.

Improved edge rings with wafer-centering roller mechanisms are disclosed. The roller mechanisms of these apparatuses are equipped with spring-biased rollers that are urged radially inward such that the rollers may move radially inward or outward to compensate for differential temperature expansion between wafers and the edge ring over a large temperature range while still maintaining high placement accuracy at both high and low temperatures.

Apparatuses and methods are described. An apparatus may include a processing chamber including chamber walls, a chamber heater configured to heat the walls, a pedestal positioned within the chamber and including a substrate heater having a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) configured to emit light with wavelengths in the range of 400 nanometers (nm) and 800 nm, a window positioned above the heater and having a material transparent to light with wavelengths in the range of 400 nm and 800 nm, and three or more substrate supports, each having a substrate support surface vertically offset from the window and configured to support a substrate such that the window and the substrate are offset by a nonzero distance.

A chuck for heating and clamping a workpiece, such as a semiconductor workpiece, is disclosed. The chuck is configured to allow the workpiece to be heated to temperatures in excess of 600° C. Further, while the workpiece is heating, the components that make up the chuck may be maintained at a much lower temperature, such as room temperature. The chuck includes a housing, formed as a hollow cylinder with sidewalls and an open end. Electrodes are disposed at the top surface of the sidewalls to clamp the workpiece. A heat source is disposed in the cavity and emits radiated heat toward the workpiece. A clamp ring may be used to secure the workpiece. In some embodiments, a thermal sensor is used to monitor the temperature of the workpiece.

A retaining ring is provided by fitting several parts. The parts comprises a fixing ring, a grinding ring, and an adhesive part. The fixing ring has a first fixing part, a second fixing part, and an abutting surface. The grinding ring has a first retaining part, a second retaining part, and a corresponding abutting surface. After assembling the first retaining part and first fixing part and assembling the second retaining part and second fixing part, a gap is separately formed between the first retaining part and first fixing part and between the second retaining part and second fixing part. When the adhesive part is adhered between the abutting surface and corresponding abutting surface, the gaps are tightly closed. Thus, the fixing ring and grinding ring are easy to be assembled and solidly combined, and obtain reinforced structural strength.

A substrate processing apparatus includes a rotation driving device configured to rotate a rotary table holding a substrate; an electric heater provided at the rotary table and configured to heat the substrate; a power receiving electrode provided at the rotary table and electrically connected to the electric heater; a power feeding electrode configured to be contacted with the power receiving electrode to supply a power to the electric heater via the power receiving electrode; an electrode moving device configured to connect and disconnect the power feeding electrode and the power receiving electrode relatively; a power feeder configured to supply the power to the power feeding electrode; a processing cup disposed to surround the rotary table; at least one processing liquid nozzle configured to supply a processing liquid onto the substrate; a processing liquid supply device configured to supply the processing liquid to the processing liquid nozzle; and a controller.

In an embodiment, a system includes: a gas distributor assembly configured to dispense gas into a chamber; and a chuck assembly configured to secure a wafer within the chamber, wherein at least one of the gas distributor assembly and the chuck assembly includes: a first portion comprising a convex protrusion, and a second portion comprising a concave opening, wherein the convex protrusion is configured to engage the concave opening.