A discharge method includes discharging discharge products including a first discharge gas and solid by-products from a process chamber, in which a substrate processing process is performed in a vacuum state, into an inside of a collection device, collecting the solid by-products in the collection device, introducing a portion of a second discharge gas discharged from a load lock chamber into the collection device, and vaporizing the solid by-products in the collection device and discharging vaporized solid by-products to an outside of the collection device.

Methods and apparatus for depositing material on a continuous substrate are provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus for processing a continuous substrate includes: a first chamber having a first volume; a second chamber having a second volume fluidly coupled to the first volume; and a plurality of process chambers, each having a process volume defining a processing path between the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the process volume of each process chamber is fluidly coupled to each other, to the first volume, and to the second volume, and wherein the first chamber, the second chamber, and the plurality of process chambers are configured to process a continuous substrate that extends from the first chamber, through the plurality of process chambers, and to the second chamber.

An exclusion ring for semiconductor wafer processing includes an outer circumferential segment having a first thickness and an inner circumferential segment having a second thickness, with the first thickness being greater than the second thickness. The top surface of an inner circumferential segment and the top surface of the outer circumferential segment define a common top surface for the exclusion ring. A plurality of flow paths is formed within the outer circumferential segment, with each of the flow paths extending radially through the plurality of flow paths provides for exhaust of a wafer edge gas from the pocket where a wafer has an edge thereof disposed below part of the inner circumferential portion. The exhausting of the wafer edge gas from the pocket prevents up-and-down movement of the exclusion ring when bowed wafers are processed.

A film forming apparatus for forming a thin film on a flexible substrate. The film forming apparatus forms a thin film on a flexible substrate under vacuum. The film forming apparatus includes a first zone into which a first gas is introduced and a second zone into which a second gas is introduced in a vacuum chamber. Zone separators have openings through which the flexible substrate passes. The film forming apparatus includes a mechanism that reciprocates the flexible substrate between the zones. Further, the film forming apparatus includes a mechanism that supplies a raw material gas containing metal or silicon to the first zone, and a mechanism that performs sputtering of a material containing metal or silicon as a target material in the second zone.

An installation having a housing, a substrate support (20) received in the housing, diffuser (42) for diffusing an inert gas towards the substrate support, and at least one head (30) defining an inner volume (V) opened opposite to the top, the head being provided with at least two electrodes (8, 8′, 8″) for creating an electric discharge and with an injector (7, 7′, 7″) for injecting a gaseous mixture towards the substrate. The injector has at least one injection tube (7, 7′, 7″) placed between two adjacent electrodes or between one electrode and a peripheral wall, the tube being provided with injection holes facing the substrate support, for injecting the gaseous mixture on the substrate, whereas diffuser is provided inside the head, the injection tube being placed between the substrate support and the diffuser so that, in use, the gaseous mixture is urged against the substrate by the inert gas.

Disclosed are methods of depositing films of material on multiple semiconductor substrates in a multi-station processing chamber. The methods may include loading a first set of one or more substrates into the processing chamber at a first set of one or more process stations and depositing film material onto the first set of substrates by performing N cycles of film deposition. Thereafter, the methods may further include transferring the first set of substrates from the first set of process stations to a second set of one or more process stations, loading a second set of one or more substrates at the first set of process stations, and depositing film material onto the first and second sets of substrates by performing N′ cycles of film deposition, wherein N′ is not equal to N. Also disclosed are apparatuses and computer-readable media which may be used to perform similar operations.

Disclosed are methods of depositing films of material on multiple semiconductor substrates in a multi-station processing chamber. The methods may include loading a first set of one or more substrates into the processing chamber at a first set of one or more process stations and depositing film material onto the first set of substrates by performing N cycles of film deposition. Thereafter, the methods may further include transferring the first set of substrates from the first set of process stations to a second set of one or more process stations, loading a second set of one or more substrates at the first set of process stations, and depositing film material onto the first and second sets of substrates by performing N′ cycles of film deposition, wherein N′ is not equal to N. Also disclosed are apparatuses and computer-readable media which may be used to perform similar operations.

So as to perform a vacuum surface treatment on a workpiece at a predetermined temperature, which is different from a temperature to which the surface is exposed during the vacuum surface treatment, the workpiece is conveyed in a conveyance direction along one or more than one station group including one or more than one tempering station and of a single treatment station.

The invention relates to a holding system (1) for holding substrates (12) for use in a surface processing system having a covering area (20), comprising a plurality of fixing elements (2), a body (24) arranged within the covering area (20) for receiving the fixing elements (2), and a positioning element (26) for adjusting the covering and a machining area (20, 22), wherein a plurality of substrates (12) can be fixed by the fixing elements (2) and processed within the machining area (22).

A vapor deposition device is provided that can correct a positional offset of a carrier in a rotation direction relative to a wafer when the vapor deposition device is viewed in a plan view. The vapor deposition device includes a load-lock chamber provided with a holder for supporting the carrier, and the carrier and the holder are provided with a correction mechanism that corrects a position of the carrier in a rotation direction when the vapor deposition device is viewed in a plan view.