Heating device

Abstract

A device includes at least a first electrically conductive contact plate, at least a second electrically conductive contact plate and a plurality of heating elements connected electrically in parallel. Each of the plurality of heating elements includes at least one resistance heating unit, respectively. Each of the heating elements is connected by means of a first connecting contact to the heating elements is connected by means of a first connecting contact to the first contact plate and by means of a second connecting contact to the second contact plate, in which both contact plates lie in a common first plane. The resistance heating units are arranged along a spiral or arched line around a center of the device. To expand the service life of the device at reduced manufacturing costs, a plurality of heating units are arranged consecutively or nested with each other along the ached or spiral line, and both the first and second contact plates comprise interlocking comb-like contact extensions.

Claims

1. A device with at least one first electrically conductive contact plate (11) and with at least one second electrically conductive contact plate (12), and with a plurality of electrically parallel-connected first heating elements (1 to 9) each with at least one resistance heating unit (1.3 to 9.3), wherein each of the heating elements (1 to 9) is connected with the first contact plate (11) by means of a first terminal contact (1.1 to 9.1), and with the second contact plate (12) by means of a second terminal contact (1.2 to 9.2), wherein the two contact plates (11, 12) lie in a shared first plane (E1), wherein the resistance heating units (1.3 to 9.3) are arranged along a spiral or circular arc line around a center of the device, characterized in that several heating units (1.3 to 9.3) are situated along the circular arc or spiral line, lying one behind the other or nestled into each other, and the two first and second contact plates (11, 12) lying in a shared first plane (E1) exhibit contact extensions (11, 12) that intermesh in a comb-like manner.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one resistance heating unit (1.3 to 9.3) is situated in a plane (E2) parallel to the shared first plane (E1) under a susceptor (21) of a process chamber (23) of a CVD reactor (24).

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized by terminal contacts (1.1 to 9.1, 1.2 to 9.2) running in a direction of a surface normal of the shared first plane, which extend at a 90 angle to the extension direction of the heating elements, wherein the resistance heating units (1.3 to 9.3) form an essentially 90 curve, or the terminal contacts (1.1 to 9.2) are formed at a 90 angle.

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the heating elements (1 to 9) are the same length, and extend over the same arc length.

5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and second contact plates (11, 12) are spaced apart from each other by a distance (13), wherein the distance (13) is comprised in particular of an air gap.

6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and second contact plates (11, 12) consist of metal and are kept a distance apart from each other by a spacer (31) formed out of an isolator, wherein a connecting element (27) is allocated to the spacer (31).

7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that a respective two adjacently arranged terminal contacts (1.2, 2.2; 2.1, 3.1; 3.2, 4.2 . . . , 8.2, 9.2) are allocated to a shared contact plate (11, 12).

8. The device according to claim 1, characterized by a support plate (15) that is arranged parallel to the first and second contact plates (11, 12) and exhibits support elements (17), with which the support plate (15) supports the at least one resistance heating unit (1.3 to 9.3).

9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that the support elements (17) fix the first heating elements (1 to 9) in place with regard to their positional distance from the support plate (15) and their distance from each other.

10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that at least a side of the support plate (15) facing the first heating elements is designed to reflect heat.

11. The device according to claim 10, characterized by a cover plate (14) that is arranged between the support plate (15) and the first and second contact plates (11, 12) and forms openings (18) through which the terminal contacts (1.1 to 9.2) extend.

12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that a central heating device (10) with first heating elements (1 to 9) is surrounded by outer heating devices (26, 29) that exhibit one or more heating elements (1 to 9), wherein the heating devices (10, 26, 29) exhibit first heating elements (1 to 9) that can be energized independently of each other.

13. The device according to claim 12, characterized in that the support plate (15) is joined with at least one of the first and second contact plates (11, 12) by means of a connecting element (27), wherein the connecting element (27) is joined with the at least one of the first and second contact plates (11, 12) with an isolating body (32, 33).

14. The device according to claim 12, characterized in that the several heating units (10, 26, 29) are arranged in a circle around each other, wherein one first central heating device (10) exhibits a circular outline contour, and at least one radially outer heating device (26, 29) exhibits an annular outline.

15. The device according to claim 14, characterized in that a radially outermost heating unit (29) exhibits a plurality of adjacently running heating elements (1 to 5), which are electrically connected with each other by means of support elements (30).

16. The device according to claim 14, characterized in that the heating elements (1 to 9) are comprised of filaments (38, 39) wound into helical turns, wherein the heating elements (1 to 9) are designed as twin filaments (38, 39).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1: is the schematic structure of a CVD reactor,

(2) FIG. 2: is a top view of a heating device according to the invention in a first exemplary embodiment,

(3) FIG. 3: is a side view of the heating device depicted on FIG. 2,

(4) FIG. 4: is a bottom view of the heating device,

(5) FIG. 5: is a perspective view of the heating device,

(6) FIG. 6: is a section along the VI-VI line on FIG. 5,

(7) FIG. 7: is a section along the VII-VI line on FIG. 2,

(8) FIG. 8: is a top view of a heating device in a second exemplary embodiment,

(9) FIG. 9: is a side view according to the IX arrow on FIG. 8,

(10) FIG. 10: is a bottom view of the exemplary embodiment depicted on FIG. 8 in a top view,

(11) FIG. 11: is a three-dimensional depiction of the section along the XI-XI line on FIG. 10,

(12) FIG. 12: is a top view of a third exemplary embodiment of the invention,

(13) FIG. 13: is a side view according to the XIII arrow on FIG. 12,

(14) FIG. 14: is a bottom view of the exemplary embodiment depicted on FIG. 12 in a top view,

(15) FIG. 15: is a section along the XV-XV line on FIG. 14,

(16) FIG. 16: is a three-dimensional depiction of the section along the XV-XV line on FIG. 14,

(17) FIG. 17: is a top view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of the invention,

(18) FIG. 18: is a side view according to the XVIII arrow on FIG. 17,

(19) FIG. 19: is another side view according to the XIX arrow on FIG. 17,

(20) FIG. 20: is a section along the XX-XX line on FIG. 17,

(21) FIG. 21: is a section along the XXI-XXI line on FIG. 17,

(22) FIG. 22: is a section along the XXII-XXII line on FIG. 21,

(23) FIG. 23: is a three-dimensional depiction of a section through a connecting element,

(24) FIG. 24: is a bottom view of three heating devices assembled into a multi-zone heater,

(25) FIG. 25: is a section along the XXV-XXV line on FIG. 24,

(26) FIG. 26: is a section along the XXVI-XXVI line on FIG. 25,

(27) FIG. 27: is a depiction of a heating element consisting of two filaments coiled around the extension direction of the heating element,

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(28) FIG. 28: is a top view of the multi-zone heater depicted on FIG. 24 in a bottom view, and

(29) FIG. 29: is a section through the heating device to illustrate a conical abutment surface of a contact pin against a conical wall of an opening of a contact plate.

(30) The heating device according to the invention is preferably a constituent of a CVD reactor of the kind schematically depicted on FIG. 1. The CVD reactor has a reactor casing 24, which incorporates a gas inlet unit 22 through which the process gas is introduced into a process chamber 23 situated under the gas inlet unit 22. The floor of the process chamber 23 consists of a susceptor 21, which carries coated substrates. Located under the susceptor 21 is a heating device 10, which exhibits several heating zones.

(31) The heating device 10 only depicted schematically on FIG. 1 is shown in detail on FIGS. 2 to 6.

(32) The heating device has a total of 9 heating units 1.3 to 9.3. The heating units 1.3 to 9.3 are arranged on a spiral line in a plane E2. The heating units 1.3 to 9.3 have essentially the same uniform length. However, the length of the heating units 1.3 to 9.3 can also differ individually if the heating units 1.3 to 9.3 are to deliver varying heat outputs.

(33) Each heating unit 1.3 to 9.3 with a circular cross section is comprised of a heating element 1 to 9. The heating units 1.3 to 9.3 are depicted as round bodies arranged on a spiral arc path on the drawings. This is one embodiment variant for the heating units 1.3 to 9.3. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, however, the heating elements 1.9 to 9.3 are each made out of one or more wires, so-called filaments. One or more wires are wound in helical turns around the center lines of the spiral lines, thereby yielding a hollow body with a circular cross section, whose jacket wall consists of the helical turns of the filaments.

(34) Heating elements 1 to 9 form heating zones nestled coaxially into each other. A central heating element 9 forms a central heating zone. A terminal contact 9.2 of the heating element 9 is located in about the center of the heating device exhibiting a circular outline. The terminal contact 9.2 is connected with a contact plate 12. Another terminal contact 9.1 is connected with a contact plate 11 radially outside the center. The contact plate 11 is a first contact plate, with which is connected a respective first contact 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, 8.1, 9.1 of the heating elements 1 to 9. The respective second terminal contacts 1.2, 2.2, 3.2, 4.2, 5.2, 6.2, 7.2, 8.2, 9.2 are connected with the second contact plate 12. The first contact plate 11 and second contact plate 12 consist of an electrically conductive material, for example a metal, and are connected with the respective terminal contacts 1.1 to 9.2 in an electrically conductive manner.

(35) Terminal contacts 1.1 to 9.2 project in the direction of the surface normal, i.e., perpendicular to the surface of the contact plates 11, 12. The first terminal contacts 1.1 to 9.1 have the same length as the second terminal contacts 1.2 to 9.3. As a consequence, the two contact plates 11, 12 lie in a shared plane E1. The heating units 1.3 to 9.3 from which the terminal contacts 1.1 to 9.1 or 1.2 to 9.2 project at a right angle lie in a second plane E2.

(36) As evident from FIGS. 2 and 4, two terminal contacts always lie one next to the other in pairs in a preferred exemplary embodiment. Involved here are either first terminal contacts connected with the first contact plate 11, or respective second terminal contacts, which are connected with the second contact plate 12.

(37) The two contact plates 11, 12 are spaced apart from each other by an isolating gap 13. The isolation gap 13 is large enough to allow the contact plates 11, 12 to move slightly while heating or cooling the heating device, without hitting each other so as to generate a short circuit or allowing an arc to form over the isolation gap 13. The spacing gap 13 runs on an arc-shaped line. This yields tongue-like contact extensions 11, 12, which engage into coves of the respective other contact plate 11, 12.

(38) The heating elements 1 can consist of metal. The terminal contacts N.1 or N.2 are integrally molded onto the respective heating unit N.3 of the respective heating element. The free end of each terminal contact N.1, N.2 has a foot 20, which is thickened and abuts against the contact plate 11, 12. A threaded section projecting from the foot 20 engages through an opening of the contact plate 11, 12. A nut 16 is screwed onto the threaded section.

(39) Provided is a support plate 15 comprised of an electrically nonconductive material, e.g., ceramic material, which is located in the space between the first plane E1 and second plane E2. The support plate 15 is situated directly under the heating unit N.3, and is connected by a plurality of support elements 17 with the individual heating units N.3. This keeps the heating units N.3 on a spiral line. The terminal contacts N.1 and N.2 penetrate through openings 19 in the support plate 15.

(40) The Y-shaped support elements can be made out of metal. Their Y-webs are inserted into fastening openings of the support plate 15. The two Y-legs project upwardly. The Y-legs can project parallel to each other. They accommodate the heating unit between them. FIG. 7 shows a section through a support element, and hence its outline contour. A spacing web extending between the heating unit and support plate 15 holds the heating unit at a defined distance to the support plate 15. The support element 17 made out of a punched part is positively inserted into an opening of the support plate 15. The heating unit 1 lies between two arms of the support element 17, wherein the free space between the two arms is adjusted to the outline contour of the heating unit. The radially outer arm is longer in design than the arm lying radially inside. Provided is a cover plate 14 consisting of molybdenum, which is located directly above the two contact plates 11, 12 lying in a shared plane E1. It is made out of a nonconductive material, e.g., a ceramic material, and has openings 18 lying at the height of the feet 20 of the terminal contacts N.1, N.2. The terminal contacts N.1 and N.2 are guided through these openings 18.

(41) In an exemplary embodiment not shown, more than two contact plates 11, 12 are provided. As a result, different heating elements 1 to 9 can be variably energized. In the heating device shown in the exemplary embodiment, the heating units N.3 of the heating elements 1 to 9 are each parallel connected to each other. The heat output emitted by the individual radial zones to the susceptor 21 essentially depends on the length of the heating unit N.3.

(42) In the exemplary embodiment, a plurality of heating elements lie on a spiral curve. However, the heating elements can also lie on circular arc lines nestled into each other. Further, the heating elements can also be arranged on several spiral curves nestled into each other.

(43) The heating device shown on FIGS. 2 to 7 can be a central heating device of a multi-zone heater. FIGS. 8 to 11 show a further exemplary embodiment for a central heating device 10 of a multi-zone heating system.

(44) The heating system has a plurality of heating elements 1 to 9 arranged one after the other on a spiral line around a center of a circular base area. In this exemplary embodiment, the individual heating elements 1 to 9 do not all extend over at least one 360 degree arc. They are shorter in design than in the first exemplary embodiment. However, the total number of heating elements in the second exemplary embodiment is higher than in the first exemplary embodiment. The heating elements 1 to 9 lie next to each other spaced essentially a constant distance apart, wherein the distance between two adjacently running heating elements is somewhat enlarged at some locations, since the respective contact plate 11, 12 here provides an opening 28 through which the plungers can pass so as to be able to lift the susceptor 21.

(45) The individual heating elements 1 to 9 are each formed by one or two filaments 38, 39. As shown on FIG. 27, the filaments are shaped into a helical run. Two filaments 38, 39 run adjacently at about a constant distance on a helical run line around the extension direction of the heating element.

(46) In the exemplary embodiment shown on FIGS. 8 to 11, all heating elements 1 to 9 lie in a shared plane extending parallel to a support plate 15. However, it can also be provided that the radially outermost heating element run on a lower level, i.e., lie closer to the plane of the contact plates 11, 12, than the heating elements lying radially inside.

(47) The heating elements 1 to 9 are held in a plane parallel to the plane of the support plate 15 by means of support elements 17. The feet of the support elements 17 are anchored in the support plate. To this end, positively locking elements are provided that grip the support plate 15 from above and below.

(48) Connecting elements 27 are used to join the support plate 15 with a plate 14. The plate 14 can be made out of metal or ceramic. The support plate 15 is preferably made out of metal, and thus functions as a shield against thermal radiation due to its reflecting action.

(49) The plate 14 is joined with the contact plates 11, 12 via isolating connecting elements. This keeps the contact plates 11, 12 spaced apart from each other, thereby yielding a gap 13 between the contact plates 11, 12 that electrically isolates the two contact plates 11, 12 from each other. A plurality of contact pins 25 project from the rear side of the contact plates 11, 12, and can have secured to them contact terminals so as to energize the heating elements 1 to 8. All heating elements 1 to 9 have the same arc length, meaning the same ohmic resistance, and are electrically parallel connected.

(50) The exemplary embodiment depicted on FIGS. 12 to 16 essentially only differs from the previous exemplary embodiments in terms of the base area. The base area is here also circular, but its center has an opening, the size of which is dimensioned in such a way that the exemplary embodiment shown on FIGS. 8 to 11 can be placed into the central free space. The heating device 26 shown on FIGS. 12 to 16 thereby forms a heating zone of a multi-zone heater. If the multi-zone heater only consists of two heating devices, e.g., the heating device shown on FIGS. 8 to 11 and on FIGS. 12 to 16, it forms an outer heating zone of a two-zone heater.

(51) Several contact plates 11, 12 are provided. Involved are two contact plates 11, 12 separated from each other by a gap 13. Several heating elements 1 to 9 extend on a single spiral arc line around the center of the base area. The heating elements 1 to 9 have the same length, and are electrically parallel connected. The contact plates 11, 12 have contact pins 25, which each project from the rear side of the contact plates 11, 12. These contact pins 25 are connected with each other using clamping terminals (not shown) or inserted into contact jacks, so as to individually supply the contact plates 11, 12 with electrical energy. As a consequence, the heating device 26 can be individually energized in relation to the heating device 10.

(52) FIGS. 15 and 16 show a special configuration of feet 20, with which the heating elements 1 to 9, i.e., the airing filaments 38, 39, are connected with the contact plate 11, 12. The contact plate 11, 12 has conical boreholes, into which the conical sections of the feet 20 enter. A nut 16 is screwed onto a threaded section of the foot 20, drawing the conical surface of the foot 20 into contact with the wall of the conical opening over a large surface. The nut 16 is secured against rotation by a locking pin. The threaded section adjoins a stub portion of a truncated cone. The locking pin can be inserted through a borehole of the threaded section. This borehole can also be brought flush with an opening in the wall of the nut 16, so that the locking pin penetrates through both the nut and threaded shank.

(53) In the exemplary embodiment shown on FIGS. 15 and 16, the radially outermost heating element runs in a plane spaced less apart from the contact plates 11, 12 than the radially inner heating elements, and thus run in a plane spaced farther apart from the plane of the contact plates 11, 12 than the plane in which the radially outermost heating element is located. For this reason, the feet 20 by means of which the filaments of the heating elements forming the outermost winding are joined with the contact plates 11, 12 have a somewhat shorter design, i.e., the feet 20 by means of which the inner heating elements are joined with the contact plates 11, 12.

(54) The exemplary embodiment depicted on FIGS. 17 to 23 exhibits a radially outermost heating zone. Several heating elements 1 to 5 here partially contact each other, running on a shared circular arc line. As opposed to the previously described exemplary embodiments, two annularly shaped contact plates 11, 12 here lie one over the other. Each contact plate 11, 12 can be energized via contact pins 25 facing away from the heating elements 1 to 5. The contact plates 11, 12 here lie in planes running parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other.

(55) As opposed to the exemplary embodiments described above, in which a support element carries only one respective heating element, a support element 30 here carries a total of five heating elements. Since the support element 30 consists of metal, the heating elements 1 to 5 are connected with each other at the supporting points.

(56) A foot 34 of the support element 30 engages through a slit 35 of the support plate 15. Webs projecting from the foot 34 are provided, and extend over the lower side and upper side of the support plate.

(57) In this exemplary embodiment, the support plate 15 consists of a nonconductive material. The support elements 30 form trough-shaped recesses, wherein each of the trough-shaped recesses exhibits a ribbed edge. The filaments 38, 39 depicted as solid bodies on FIGS. 20 to 23 for purposes of clarity are laid out on this ribbed edge.

(58) As evident from FIG. 20, the heating elements 1 to 5 do not run in a shared plane. Rather, the heating elements lie in varying planes. The heating elements 1 to 5 are each spaced a different distance apart from the support plate 15 or contact plates 11, 12. The heating element 2 that extends radially outside the heating element 1 is spaced farther apart from the support plate 15 than the heating element 1. The radially outermost heating elements 3, 4, 5 run at about the same distance from the center of the heating device 26, wherein the heating element 3 is spaced roughly the same distance away from the support plate as the heating element 1. However, the radially outermost heating elements 4, 5 are the most tightly adjacent to the support plate 15. As a consequence, the radially outermost heating elements 4, 5 lie in a deepest plane parallel to the plane of the contact plates 11 or 12.

(59) In addition, FIGS. 21 to 23 also show a connecting element 27, which connects the support plate 15 with the two contact plates 11 and 12. The connecting element 27 consists of a metal strip fastened in an opening of the support plate 15. The metal strip 27 engages through openings in the two contact plates 11, 12, and is there joined with the contact plate 11, 12 by means of a respective isolating body 32, 33. The contact plates 11, 12 are spaced apart by means of a spacer 31 made out of an insulating material. The spacer 31 is a ceramic sleeve that envelops the connecting element 27. Laterally projecting wings that can abut against the interior wall of the ceramic tube 31 are used to center the spacer 31 in relation to the connecting element 27. The isolating bodies 32, 33 are cylindrical ceramic bodies with a section having a reduced diameter. The section reduced in diameter is inserted into an opening in the contact plate 11, 12. The section with an enlarged diameter is supported against the broadside surface of the contact plate 11, 12. The center axis of the isolating body 32, 33 has a slit through which the connecting element 27 passes. As evident from FIG. 22, one step of the connecting element is supported against the isolating body 32, and the isolating head 33 is fastened to the connecting element 27 by means of a locking element 36, wherein the locking element 36 has a locking pin that is inserted through an opening in the connecting element 27.

(60) The support plate 15 is carried by laterally projecting support arms of the connecting element 27. One section of the connecting element 27 engages through an opening in the support plate 15. A pin of a locking element 36 is there also inserted into an opening.

(61) The locking elements 36 can consist of locking wafers, which exhibit a pin that can be inserted through a locking opening.

(62) FIGS. 24 and 28 show the previously described heating systems 10, 26, 29 in an arrangement where they are used as a heater under a susceptor 21. The individual heating devices 10, 26, 29 are nestled into each other. While the heating elements 1 to 9 of the heating devices 10 and 27 run in a shared plane, the heating elements 1 to 5 lie partially above this plane, but also partially below this plane. The heating elements of the radially innermost heating device 10 all lie on a shared plane. The heating elements of the central heating device 26 also run in this plane, except for the heating elements situated in the radially outermost spiral coil. These radially outermost heating elements run on a lowered level, meaning that they are spaced farther apart from the susceptor lower side than the radially inner heating elements when in use. The heating elements of the radially outermost heating device 29 partially lie on a higher level than the heating elements of the central heating device 10. However, the radially outermost heating elements of the outermost heating device 29 lie on a lower level. In particular, it is provided that the individual heating elements lie more tightly adjacent to each other in the radially outermost heating device 29 than in the radially inner heating devices 10, 26. More heating elements per unit of radial length are situated in the outermost heating device 29 than in the two radially inner heating devices 10, 26.

(63) As may also be gleaned from FIG. 13, not just a single radially outermost spiral coil runs on a lowered level. There are heating elements located on several radially outermost spiral coils that run on a lower lying level.

(64) FIGS. 25 and 26 show specially configured contact pins 25, which are connected with the contact plate 11 in an electrically conductive manner via a threaded connection. A journal 37 fastened to a threaded section by means of a nut projects into a hollow journal 25. A transverse opening in the journal 37 is here flush with a transverse slit of the hollow contact pin 25.

(65) Provided here as well is that the contact pins 25 abut against the conical walls of an opening in the contact plate 11 via a conical contact surface. This is depicted on FIG. 29, for example.

(66) The above statements serve to explain the inventions encompassed by the application as a whole, and each separately further develop prior art by way of the following feature combinations, specifically:

(67) A device, characterized in that the two contact plates lie in a shared first plane;

(68) A device, characterized in that the heating unit is situated in a plane parallel to the first plane under a susceptor of a process chamber of a CVD reactor;

(69) A device, characterized by terminal contacts 1.1 to 9.1, 1.2 to 9.2, running in the direction of the surface normal of the first plane, which extend at a 90 angle to the extension direction of the heating elements, wherein it is provided in particular that the resistance heating units 1.3 to 9.3 form an essentially 90 curve, or that the terminal contacts 1.1 to 9.2 are formed at a 90 angle;

(70) A device, characterized in that the resistance heating units are situated along a spiral or circular arc line around a center of the device and/or that several heating units 1.3 to 9.3 are situated along the circular arc or spiral line, in particular lying one behind the other or nestled into each other;

(71) A device, characterized in that the two contact plates 11, 12 are spaced apart from each other by a distance 13, wherein the distance 13 is comprised in particular of an air gap, wherein it is provided in particular that the two contact plates 11, 12 consisting of metal be kept a distance apart from each other by a spacer 31 formed out of an isolator, wherein in particular a connecting element 27 is allocated to the spacer 31;

(72) A device, characterized in that the two first and second contact plates 11, 12 lying in a shared first plane E1 exhibit contact extensions 11, 12 that intermesh in a comb-like manner;

(73) A device, characterized in that a respective two adjacently arranged terminal contacts 1.2, 2.2; 2.1, 3.1; 3.2, 4.2 . . . , 8.2, 9.2 are allocated to a shared contact plate 11, 12;

(74) A device, characterized by a support plate 15 that is arranged parallel to the contact plates 11, 12 and exhibits support elements 17, with which the support plate 15 supports the heating unit 1.3 to 9.3, wherein it is provided in particular that the support elements 17 fix the heating elements 1 to 9 in place with regard to their positional distance from the support plate 15 and their distance from each other, wherein it is provided in particular that at least the side of the support plate 15 facing the heating elements 1 be designed to reflect heat.

(75) A device, characterized by a cover plate 14 that is arranged between the support plate 15 and contact plates 11, 12 and forms openings 18 through which the terminal contacts 1.1 to 9.2 extend;

(76) A device, characterized in that a central heating device 10 with heating elements 1 to 9 is surrounded by outer heating devices 26, 29 that exhibit one or more heating elements 1 to 9, wherein the heating devices 10, 26, 29 exhibit heating elements 1 to 9 that can be energized independently of each other;

(77) A device, characterized in that the support plate 15 is joined with at least one of the contact plates 11, 12 by means of a connecting element 27, wherein the connecting element 27 is joined with the contact plate 11, 12 in particular with an isolating body 32, 33.

(78) A device, characterized in that the several heating units 10, 26, 29 are arranged in a circle around each other, wherein one first central heating device 10 exhibits a circular outline contour, and at least one radially outer heating device 26, 29 exhibits an annular outline;

(79) A device, characterized in that a radially outermost heating device exhibits a plurality of adjacently running heating elements, which are electrically connected with each other by means of support elements;

(80) A device, characterized in that the heating elements are comprised of filaments wound into helical turns, wherein the heating elements in particular are designed as twin filaments;

(81) All disclosed features are essential to the invention (taken in isolation, but also in combination with each other). The disclosure of the application hereby also includes the disclosure content of the accompanying/attached priority documents (copy of preliminary application) in its entirety, also for the purpose of also incorporating features of these documents into the claims of the present application. The features in the subclaims characterize independent inventive further developments of prior art, in particular so as to generate partial applications based upon these claims.

(82) TABLE-US-00001 Reference List 1 Heating element 2 Heating element 3 Heating element 4 Heating element 5 Heating element 6 Heating element 7 Heating element 8 Heating element 9 Heating element 1.1 Terminal contact 2.1 Terminal contact 3.1 Terminal contact 4.1 Terminal contact 5.1 Terminal contact 6.1 Terminal contact 7.1 Terminal contact 8.1 Terminal contact 9.1 Terminal contact 1.2 Terminal contact 2.2 Terminal contact 3.2 Terminal contact 4.2 Terminal contact 5.2 Terminal contact 6.2 Terminal contact 7.2 Terminal contact 8.2 Terminal contact 9.2 Terminal contact 1.3 Heating unit 2.3 Heating unit 3.3 Heating unit 4.3 Heating unit 5.3 Heating unit 6.3 Heating unit 7.3 Heating unit 8.3 Heating unit 9.3 Heating unit 10 Heating device 11 Contact plate 12 Contact plate 13 Gap 14 Cover plate 15 Support plate 16 Nut 17 Support element 18 Opening 19 Opening 20 Foot 21 Susceptor 22 Gas inlet unit 23 Process chamber 24 CVD reactor 25 Contact pin 26 Heating device 27 Connecting element 28 Opening 29 Heating device 30 Support element 31 Spacer 32 Isolating body 33 Isolating body 34 Foot 35 Slit 36 Locking element 37 Journal 38 Filament, tungsten wire 39 Filament, tungsten wire E1 First plane E2 Second plane N.1 Terminal contact N.2 Terminal contact N.3 Heating unit