JP2009231676A - Heat processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a heat processing apparatus which can surely discharge particles, by eliminating the portions where the particles staying inside a chamber. <P>SOLUTION: In a heat processing apparatus 1, a flash lamp FL is arranged on the upper side of a chamber 6, and a halogen lamp HL is arranged on the lower side. Nitrogen gas is supplied to an annealing space 65, from all around an annular slit 81 formed between an upper chamber window 63 and the upper end of the inner wall of the chamber 6, and the gas in the chamber 6 is discharged from all around an annular slit 86, formed between a lower chamber window 64 and the lower end of the inner wall of the chamber 6. Since the nitrogen gas supplied from the uppermost portion of the annealing space 65 in the chamber 6 flows downward for discharge from the lowermost portion, the nitrogen gas flows as a whole, through the annealing space 65 and eliminates the portions where the particles stay in a chamber 6, thereby particles are discharged surely and quickly. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a heat treatment apparatus for heating a substrate by irradiating light onto a semiconductor wafer, a glass substrate or the like (hereinafter simply referred to as “substrate”).

  Conventionally, a lamp annealing apparatus using a halogen lamp has been generally used in an ion activation process of a semiconductor wafer after ion implantation. In such a lamp annealing apparatus, ion activation of a semiconductor wafer is performed by heating (annealing) the semiconductor wafer to a temperature of about 1000 ° C. to 1100 ° C., for example. In such a heat treatment apparatus, the temperature of the substrate is raised at a rate of several hundred degrees per second by using the energy of light irradiated from the halogen lamp.

  On the other hand, in recent years, as semiconductor devices have been highly integrated, it is desired to reduce the junction depth as the gate length becomes shorter. However, even when ion activation of a semiconductor wafer is performed using the above-described lamp annealing apparatus that raises the temperature of the semiconductor wafer at a speed of several hundred degrees per second, ions such as boron and phosphorus implanted in the semiconductor wafer are heated. It was found that the phenomenon of deep diffusion occurs. When such a phenomenon occurs, there is a concern that the junction depth becomes deeper than required, which hinders good device formation.

  For this reason, only the surface of the semiconductor wafer into which ions have been implanted by irradiating the surface of the semiconductor wafer with flash light using a xenon flash lamp (hereinafter simply referred to as “xenon flash lamp”). There has been proposed a technique for raising the temperature of the material in an extremely short time (several milliseconds or less). The radiation spectral distribution of a xenon flash lamp ranges from the ultraviolet region to the near infrared region, has a shorter wavelength than the conventional halogen lamp, and almost coincides with the fundamental absorption band of a silicon semiconductor wafer. Therefore, when the semiconductor wafer is irradiated with flash light from the xenon flash lamp, the semiconductor wafer can be rapidly heated with little transmitted light. It has also been found that if the flash irradiation is performed for a very short time of several milliseconds or less, only the vicinity of the surface of the semiconductor wafer can be selectively heated. For this reason, if the temperature is raised for a very short time by a xenon flash lamp, only the ion activation can be performed without diffusing ions deeply.

  As a heat treatment apparatus using such a xenon flash lamp, in Patent Documents 1 and 2, a pulse emitting lamp such as a flash lamp is arranged on the front side of a semiconductor wafer, and a continuous lighting lamp such as a halogen lamp is arranged on the back side. And what performs desired heat processing by those combination is disclosed. In the heat treatment apparatuses disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the semiconductor wafer is heated to a certain temperature by a halogen lamp or the like, and then heated to a desired processing temperature by pulse heating from a flash lamp.

JP-A-60-258928 JP 2005-527972 A

  However, as in the heat treatment apparatus disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, in a structure in which heating is performed by light irradiation from both sides of a semiconductor wafer, quartz windows are provided on each of the front surface side and the back surface side, and the semiconductor wafer A space is created above and below, and this space becomes a stagnant part, making it difficult for particles in the chamber to be discharged. Particles remaining in the chamber adhere to the semiconductor wafer and cause processing defects.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said subject, and it aims at providing the heat processing apparatus which can eliminate the stay part in a chamber and can discharge | emit a particle reliably.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a first aspect of the present invention is a heat treatment apparatus for heating a substrate by irradiating the substrate with light, a chamber having a cylindrical inner wall surface open at the top and bottom, and the chamber A holding means for holding the substrate in a horizontal position, a first light irradiating means for irradiating light to the substrate held by the holding means, and a lower side of the chamber. A second light irradiating means for irradiating light onto the substrate held by the holding means; a first chamber for closing the upper opening of the chamber and transmitting the light emitted from the first light irradiating means into the chamber; A window, a second chamber window that closes the lower opening of the chamber, and transmits the light irradiated from the second light irradiation means into the chamber; the first chamber window; and A first air supply / exhaust mechanism for supplying and exhausting air into the chamber through a gap formed annularly between the upper end of the wall and an annular shape formed between the second chamber window and the lower end of the inner wall of the chamber. And a second supply / exhaust mechanism for supplying / exhausting air to / from the chamber through a gap.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the heat treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first supply / discharge mechanism is formed by a gap formed annularly between the first chamber window and the upper end of the inner wall of the chamber. Includes a first buffer space having a small fluid resistance, and the second supply / discharge mechanism has a second buffer having a smaller fluid resistance than a gap formed in an annular shape between the second chamber window and the lower end of the inner wall of the chamber. It is characterized by including space.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the furnace for exhausting the gas in the chamber through the transfer opening for carrying the substrate in and out of the chamber in the heat treatment apparatus according to the invention of claim 1 or 2. A mouth exhaust mechanism is further provided.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the heat treatment apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, a transfer mechanism that transfers the substrate to the holding means, and a drive unit of the transfer mechanism And a drive unit exhaust mechanism that exhausts the gas in the chamber through the periphery.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the heat treatment apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein gas is supplied from the first supply / discharge mechanism into the chamber and the second supply / discharge mechanism. The gas in the chamber is exhausted.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the heat treatment apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein gas is supplied from the second supply / discharge mechanism into the chamber and the first supply / discharge mechanism. The gas in the chamber is exhausted.

  The invention of claim 7 is the heat treatment apparatus according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein gas is supplied into the chamber from the first supply / discharge mechanism and the second supply / discharge mechanism. To do.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the heat treatment apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the first light irradiation means includes a flash lamp, and the second light irradiation means includes a halogen lamp. It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention, air is supplied to and exhausted from the inside of the chamber through a gap formed annularly between the first chamber window that closes the upper opening of the chamber and the upper end of the inner wall of the chamber, and the lower opening of the chamber is Air supply / exhaust to the inside of the chamber is performed through a gap formed in an annular shape between the second chamber window to be closed and the lower end of the inner wall of the chamber, so that an air flow is formed in the entire chamber and the staying part in the chamber is eliminated. Thus, the particles can be reliably discharged.

  In particular, according to the invention of claim 2, the first supply / exhaust mechanism includes the first buffer space having a smaller fluid resistance than the gap formed in an annular shape between the first chamber window and the upper end of the inner wall of the chamber, Since the 2 supply / discharge mechanism includes the second buffer space having a smaller fluid resistance than the gap formed annularly between the second chamber window and the lower end of the inner wall of the chamber, uniform supply / exhaust can be performed from the entire circumference of the annular gap. This can be performed, and the staying portion in the chamber can be more reliably eliminated.

  In particular, according to the invention of claim 3, since the furnace opening exhaust mechanism for exhausting the gas in the chamber through the transfer opening for carrying the substrate in and out of the chamber is provided, it enters the chamber from the transfer opening. Particles can be discharged.

  In particular, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the drive unit exhaust mechanism that exhausts the gas in the chamber through the periphery of the drive unit of the transfer mechanism is provided, particles generated from the drive unit can also be discharged. .

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a configuration of a heat treatment apparatus 1 according to the present invention. The heat treatment apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is a flash lamp annealing apparatus that heats a semiconductor wafer W by irradiating flash light (flash light) onto a disk-shaped semiconductor wafer W having a diameter of 300 mm as a substrate.

  The heat treatment apparatus 1 includes a chamber 6 that accommodates a semiconductor wafer W, a flash heating unit 5 that houses a plurality of flash lamps FL, a halogen heating unit 4 that houses a plurality of halogen lamps HL, and a shutter mechanism 2. . A flash heating unit 5 is provided on the upper side of the chamber 6, and a halogen heating unit 4 is provided on the lower side. Further, the heat treatment apparatus 1 includes a control unit 3 that controls each operation mechanism provided in the shutter mechanism 2, the halogen heating unit 4, the flash heating unit 5, and the chamber 6 to perform the heat treatment of the semiconductor wafer W.

  The chamber 6 is configured by mounting quartz chamber windows above and below a cylindrical chamber side portion 61. The chamber side portion 61 has a substantially cylindrical shape with upper and lower openings. The upper opening is closed by an upper chamber window 63 and the lower opening is closed by a lower chamber window 64. ing. An inner side wall 62 is attached to a part of the inner wall surface of the chamber side portion 61. The inner wall surface of the inner side wall 62 has a cylindrical shape. That is, the chamber 6 has a cylindrical inner wall surface that is open at the top and bottom, and an upper chamber window 63 and a lower chamber window 64 are attached to the upper and lower openings, respectively. A space surrounded by the upper chamber window 63, the lower chamber window 64, and the chamber side portion 61 is defined as a heat treatment space 65.

  The upper chamber window 63 constituting the ceiling portion of the chamber 6 is a disk-shaped member made of quartz, and functions as a quartz window that transmits the light emitted from the flash heating unit 5 to the heat treatment space 65. The lower chamber window 64 that constitutes the floor of the chamber 6 is also a disk-shaped member made of quartz, and functions as a quartz window that transmits light from the halogen heating unit 4 to the heat treatment space 65.

  The chamber side portion 61 and the inner side wall 62 are formed of a metal material (for example, stainless steel) having excellent strength and heat resistance. A portion of the inner wall of the chamber 6 where the inner side wall 62 is not mounted is exposed by the chamber side portion 61 to form a recess. The semiconductor wafer W is held at the height position of the recess. Further, the inner wall surface of the inner side wall 62 is nickel-plated to increase the reflectance.

  A transfer opening (furnace port) 66 for carrying in and out the semiconductor wafer W is formed in the chamber side portion 61. The transfer opening 66 can be opened and closed by a gate valve 185. With the gate valve 185 opening the transfer opening 66, the semiconductor wafer W is transferred into and out of the apparatus via the transfer opening 66. Further, when the gate valve 185 closes the transfer opening 66, the heat treatment space 65 in the chamber 6 becomes a sealed space. In addition, the site | part in which the conveyance opening part 66 is formed is the same height position as the said recessed part, and the inner side wall 62 is not mounted | worn.

Further, the chamber 6 is configured to supply a processing gas (nitrogen gas (N ₂ ) in the present embodiment) from the upper part of the heat treatment space 65 and exhaust from the lower part. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the upper edge of the chamber 6. In the upper part of the chamber 6, the upper chamber window 63 mounted on the chamber side portion 61 and the inner side wall 62 are not in close contact with each other, and a gap is formed between them. Since the upper chamber window 63 has a disc shape and the inner side wall 62 has an annular shape, the gap formed between the upper chamber window 63 and the upper end surface of the inner side wall 62 also becomes an annular slit 81. Further, a buffer space 82 is formed between the chamber side portion 61 and the inner side wall 62. The buffer space 82 is also formed in an annular shape. The buffer space 82 communicates with the slit 81.

  A gas pipe 83 is connected to the buffer space 82 in communication. The base end of the gas pipe 83 is connected to a nitrogen gas supply source 85 (FIG. 1). A valve 84 is inserted in the middle of the path of the gas pipe 83. When the valve 84 is opened, nitrogen gas is supplied from the nitrogen gas supply source 85 to the buffer space 82. Nitrogen gas flowing into the buffer space 82 passes through the slit 81 and is supplied to the heat treatment space 65 in the chamber 6.

  FIG. 3 is a plan view showing gas supply to the heat treatment space 65. In the gas passage route from the buffer space 82 to the slit 81, the cross-sectional area of the surface perpendicular to the gas traveling direction is larger in the buffer space 82 than in the slit 81. In other words, the buffer space 82 has a smaller fluid resistance than the slit 81. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 3, although a part of the nitrogen gas flowing into the buffer space 82 from the gas pipe 83 immediately flows into the slit 81, most of the nitrogen gas flows so as to expand in the buffer space 82 having a smaller resistance. Then, nitrogen gas filled in the buffer space 82 is supplied to the heat treatment space 65 through the slit 81. Therefore, nitrogen gas is uniformly supplied over the entire circumference of the annular slit 81.

  On the other hand, the lower chamber window 64 and the inner side wall 62 are not in close contact with each other at the bottom of the chamber 6 like the upper portion, and a gap is formed between them. A gap formed between the lower chamber window 64 and the lower end surface of the inner side wall 62 becomes an annular slit 86. In addition, an annular buffer space 87 formed between the chamber side portion 61 and the inner side wall 62 communicates with the slit 86. A gas pipe 88 is connected to the buffer space 87 in communication. A proximal end portion of the gas pipe 88 is connected to the exhaust portion 90. A valve 89 is inserted midway along the gas pipe 88. When the valve 89 is opened, the gas in the heat treatment space 65 is discharged from the slit 86 through the buffer space 87 to the gas pipe 88.

  Also in the gas passage route from the slit 86 to the buffer space 87, the buffer space 87 is larger in the cross-sectional area of the surface perpendicular to the gas traveling direction than the slit 86. In other words, the buffer space 87 has a smaller fluid resistance than the slit 86. For this reason, the gas is uniformly exhausted over the entire circumference of the annular slit 86. The gas pipes 83 and 88 connected to the buffer spaces 82 and 87 are not limited to one, and a plurality of gas pipes may be used. If a plurality of gas pipes 83, 88 are evenly connected to the buffer spaces 82, 87, more uniform air supply / exhaust can be performed from the annular slits 81, 86.

  As described above, the heat treatment apparatus 1 is provided with a supply / exhaust mechanism substantially symmetrically with respect to the semiconductor wafer W held in the chamber 6. That is, the heat treatment space in the chamber 6 from the slit 81 which is a gap formed annularly between the upper chamber window 63 and the inner wall upper end of the chamber 6 by the air supply mechanism having the valve 84, the gas pipe 83 and the buffer space 82. Process gas (nitrogen gas) is supplied to 65. At the same time, the gas in the chamber 6 from the slit 86 which is a gap formed between the lower chamber window 64 and the lower end of the inner wall of the chamber 6 by the exhaust mechanism having the valve 89, the gas pipe 88 and the buffer space 87. Exhaust. The nitrogen gas supply source 85 and the exhaust unit 90 may be a mechanism provided in the heat treatment apparatus 1 or may be a utility of a factory where the heat treatment apparatus 1 is installed.

  The chamber 6 includes a holding unit 7 that holds the semiconductor wafer W in a horizontal posture inside the heat treatment space 65, and a transfer mechanism 10 that transfers the semiconductor wafer W between the holding unit 7 and the outside of the apparatus. Is provided. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the chamber 6 as seen from the holding position of the semiconductor wafer W. FIG. The holding unit 7 includes a susceptor 70 and a soaking ring 75. The susceptor 70 is made of quartz, and is configured such that a plurality of claw portions 72 (four in this embodiment) are erected on an annular ring portion 71. The susceptor 70 is attached to the chamber 6 by placing the ring portion 71 on an annular shelf formed by the chamber side portion 61 and the inner side wall 62.

  The soaking ring 75 is a ring-shaped member made of silicon carbide (SiC), and is supported by a support pin provided on the claw portion 72 of the susceptor 70. A plurality of claws (not shown) project from the inner circumference of the heat equalizing ring 75, and the peripheral edge portion of the semiconductor wafer W is supported by the plurality of claws to hold the semiconductor wafer W in a horizontal posture. Instead of the plurality of claws, a ridge may be provided along the inner periphery of the soaking ring 75 so that the semiconductor wafer W is held.

  FIG. 5 is a plan view of the transfer mechanism 10. FIG. 6 is a side view of the transfer mechanism 10. The transfer mechanism 10 includes two transfer arms 11. The transfer arm 11 has an arc shape that substantially follows the outer periphery of the semiconductor wafer W. Two lift pins 12 are erected on each transfer arm 11. Each transfer arm 11 is rotatable by an opening / closing mechanism 13. The pair of transfer arms 11 are opened / closed by an opening / closing mechanism 13 between a position indicated by a solid line and a position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG.

  The pair of transfer arms 11 are moved up and down together with the opening and closing mechanism 13 by the lifting mechanism 14. When the pair of transfer arms 11 are closed and raised, a total of four lift pins 12 pass through the inside of the soaking ring 75, and the upper end of the lift pin 12 protrudes above the soaking ring 75. On the other hand, when the pair of transfer arms 11 are lowered and opened, the transfer arms 11 are retracted immediately above the ring portion 71 of the susceptor 70. The retracting position of the transfer arm 11 is inside the concave portion of the inner wall of the chamber 6.

  As shown in FIG. 4, an exhaust pipe 93 is connected to a portion of the chamber side portion 61 where the drive unit (opening / closing mechanism 13 and elevating mechanism 14) of the transfer mechanism 10 is provided. The exhaust pipe 93 is connected to the exhaust unit 90. A valve 94 is inserted in the course of the exhaust pipe 93. By opening the valve 94, the gas in the chamber 6 is exhausted through the periphery of the drive unit of the transfer mechanism 10. Further, an exhaust pipe 91 that exhausts the gas in the heat treatment space 65 is also connected to the tip of the transfer opening 66. The exhaust pipe 91 is connected to the exhaust unit 90 via a valve 92. By opening the valve 92, the gas in the chamber 6 is exhausted through the transfer opening 66.

  As described above, the heat treatment apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes the three systems of exhaust mechanisms that exhaust the gas in the chamber 6 to the one system of air supply mechanism that supplies the processing gas into the chamber 6. In the present embodiment, the exhaust units 90 of the three exhaust mechanisms are common, but they may be separate.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the heat treatment apparatus 1 includes probes 78 and 79 for measuring the temperature of the semiconductor wafer W. A probe 78 of a contact thermometer using a thermocouple contacts the back surface of the semiconductor wafer W held by the soaking ring 75, and measures the temperature of the semiconductor wafer W with a separate detector. On the other hand, the probe 79 of the radiation thermometer receives radiated light (infrared rays) radiated from the back surface of the semiconductor wafer W held by the soaking ring 75 and measures the temperature of the semiconductor wafer W by a separate detector. Both the contact thermometer probe 78 and the radiation thermometer probe 79 are installed in the inner wall recess of the chamber 6.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the heat treatment apparatus 1 includes a radiation thermometer probe 49 in the halogen heating unit 4. Similarly to the probe 79, the probe 49 receives the radiated light emitted from the back surface of the semiconductor wafer W held by the soaking ring 75, and measures the temperature of the semiconductor wafer W by a separate detector. The probe 79 receives the radiated light from an oblique lower side of the semiconductor wafer W held by the holding unit 7 and measures the wafer temperature, whereas the probe 49 receives the radiated light from directly below the semiconductor wafer W and measures the wafer temperature. Warm up. However, the distance from the semiconductor wafer W is longer for the probe 49 immediately below. As described above, the heat treatment apparatus 1 includes the three probes 78, 79, and 49 and reliably measures the temperature of the semiconductor wafer W.

  The flash heating unit 5 provided above the chamber 6 is provided inside the housing 51 so as to cover a light source composed of a plurality of (30 in this embodiment) xenon flash lamps FL and the light source. And the reflector 52 formed. A lamp light emission window 53 is mounted on the bottom of the casing 51 of the flash heating unit 5. The lamp light emission window 53 constituting the floor of the flash heating unit 5 is a plate-like member made of quartz. By installing the flash heating unit 5 above the chamber 6, the lamp light emission window 53 faces the upper chamber window 63. The flash lamp FL irradiates the heat treatment space 65 with flash light from above the chamber 6 through the lamp light emission window 53 and the upper chamber window 63.

  Each of the plurality of flash lamps FL is a rod-shaped lamp having a long cylindrical shape, and the longitudinal direction of each of the flash lamps FL is along the main surface of the semiconductor wafer W held by the holding unit 7 (that is, along the horizontal direction). They are arranged in a plane so as to be parallel to each other. Therefore, the plane formed by the arrangement of the flash lamps FL is also a horizontal plane.

  The xenon flash lamp FL has a rod-shaped glass tube (discharge tube) in which xenon gas is sealed and an anode and a cathode connected to a capacitor at both ends thereof, and an outer peripheral surface of the glass tube. And a triggered electrode. Since xenon gas is an electrical insulator, electricity does not flow into the glass tube under normal conditions even if electric charges are accumulated in the capacitor. However, if the insulation is broken by applying a high voltage to the trigger electrode, the electricity stored in the capacitor instantaneously flows into the glass tube, and the xenon gas is heated by Joule heat at that time, and light is emitted. . In such a xenon flash lamp FL, the electrostatic energy previously stored in the capacitor is converted into an extremely short light pulse of 0.1 to 10 milliseconds, so that the continuous lighting such as the halogen lamp HL is possible. It has the characteristic that it can irradiate extremely strong light compared with a light source.

  In addition, the reflector 52 is provided above the plurality of flash lamps FL so as to cover all of them. The basic function of the reflector 52 is to reflect flash light emitted from the plurality of flash lamps FL toward the holding unit 7. The reflector 52 is formed of an aluminum alloy plate, and the surface (the surface facing the flash lamp FL) is roughened by blasting to exhibit a satin pattern.

  A plurality of halogen lamps HL (40 in this embodiment) are built in the halogen heating unit 4 provided below the chamber 6. The plurality of halogen lamps HL irradiate the heat treatment space 65 from below the chamber 6 through the lower chamber window 64. In the present embodiment, 20 halogen lamps HL are arranged in two upper and lower stages. The halogen lamp HL is a rod-shaped lamp having a long cylindrical shape. The 20 halogen lamps HL in both the upper and lower stages are arranged so that their longitudinal directions are parallel to each other along the main surface of the semiconductor wafer W held by the holding unit 7 (that is, along the horizontal direction). Yes. Further, the arrangement density in the region facing the peripheral portion is higher than the region facing the central portion of the semiconductor wafer W held by the holding portion 7 in both the upper stage and the lower stage.

  Further, the upper halogen lamp HL and the lower halogen lamp HL are configured to cross like a cross. That is, a total of 40 halogen lamps HL are arranged so that the longitudinal direction of the upper halogen lamp HL and the longitudinal direction of the lower halogen lamp HL are orthogonal to each other.

  The halogen lamp HL is a filament-type light source that emits light by making the filament incandescent by energizing the filament disposed inside the glass tube. Inside the glass tube, a gas obtained by introducing a trace amount of a halogen element (iodine, bromine, etc.) into an inert gas such as nitrogen or argon is enclosed. By introducing a halogen element, it is possible to set the filament temperature to a high temperature while suppressing breakage of the filament. Therefore, the halogen lamp HL has a characteristic that it has a longer life than a normal incandescent bulb and can continuously radiate strong light.

  Further, the heat treatment apparatus 1 includes a shutter mechanism 2 on the side of the halogen heating unit 4 and the chamber 6. The shutter mechanism 2 includes a shutter plate 21 and a slide drive mechanism 22. The slide drive mechanism 22 slides the shutter plate 21 along the horizontal direction. When the slide drive mechanism 22 moves the shutter plate 21 forward, the shutter plate 21 is inserted into the gap between the chamber 6 and the halogen heating unit 4 to shut off the lower chamber window 64 and the plurality of halogen lamps HL. As a result, light traveling from the plurality of halogen lamps HL toward the heat treatment space 65 is shielded. Conversely, when the slide drive mechanism 22 retracts the shutter plate 21, the shutter plate 21 is retracted from between the chamber 6 and the halogen heating unit 4 and the lower portion of the lower chamber window 64 is opened.

  The shutter plate 21 has a small hole (not shown) penetrating therethrough. When the shutter plate 21 moves forward and covers the entire lower chamber window 64, the small hole is located immediately above the probe 49. Therefore, even if the shutter plate 21 blocks the lower chamber window 64 and the plurality of halogen lamps HL, the temperature of the semiconductor wafer W can be measured by the probe 49.

  Further, the control unit 3 controls the various operation mechanisms provided in the heat treatment apparatus 1. The configuration of the control unit 3 as hardware is the same as that of a general computer. That is, the control unit 3 stores a CPU that performs various arithmetic processes, a ROM that is a read-only memory that stores basic programs, a RAM that is a readable and writable memory that stores various information, control software, data, and the like. It has a magnetic disk.

  In addition to the above configuration, the heat treatment apparatus 1 prevents an excessive temperature rise in the halogen heating unit 4, the flash heating unit 5, and the chamber 6 due to thermal energy generated from the halogen lamp HL and the flash lamp FL during the heat treatment of the semiconductor wafer W. Therefore, various cooling structures are provided. For example, the wall of the chamber 6 is provided with a water-cooled tube (not shown). Further, the halogen heating unit 4 and the flash heating unit 5 have an air cooling structure in which a gas flow is formed inside to exhaust heat. Air is also supplied to the gap between the upper chamber window 63 and the lamp light emission window 53 to cool the flash heating unit 5 and the upper chamber window 63.

  Next, a processing procedure of the semiconductor wafer W in the heat treatment apparatus 1 will be briefly described. Here, the semiconductor wafer W to be processed is a semiconductor substrate to which an impurity (ion) is added by an ion implantation method, and the activation of the added impurity is performed by a flash heating process by the heat treatment apparatus 1. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for the semiconductor wafer W in the heat treatment apparatus 1. The processing procedure of the semiconductor wafer W shown below is executed by the control unit 3 controlling each operation mechanism of the heat treatment apparatus 1.

  First, the air supply valve 84 is opened, and the exhaust valves 89, 92, and 94 are opened, and supply / exhaust into the chamber 6 is started (step S1). When the valve 84 is opened, nitrogen gas is uniformly supplied to the heat treatment space 65 from the entire circumference of the annular slit 81 formed between the upper chamber window 63 and the upper end of the inner wall of the chamber 6. When the valve 89 is opened, the gas in the chamber 6 is uniformly exhausted from the entire circumference of the annular slit 86 formed between the lower chamber window 64 and the lower end of the inner wall of the chamber 6. Thereby, as indicated by an arrow AR1 in FIG. 1, the nitrogen gas supplied from the uppermost part of the heat treatment space 65 in the chamber 6 flows downward through the side of the semiconductor wafer W held in the holding part 7. The air is exhausted from the lowermost part of the heat treatment space 65. In addition, on the side of the semiconductor wafer W, a gap between the claw portions 72 is largely opened, and nitrogen gas flows downward therefrom.

  Further, when the valves 92 and 94 are opened, the gas in the chamber 6 is exhausted through the transport opening 66 and the periphery of the drive unit of the transfer mechanism 10. Thereby, the nitrogen gas supplied from the uppermost part of the heat treatment space 65 in the chamber 6 flows around the transfer opening 66 and the drive unit of the transfer mechanism 10 and is exhausted. Note that nitrogen gas is continuously supplied to the heat treatment space 65 during the heat treatment of the semiconductor wafer W in the heat treatment apparatus 1, and the supply amount is appropriately changed according to the processing steps of FIG. 7.

  Subsequently, the gate valve 185 is opened to open the transfer opening 66, and the semiconductor wafer W after the ion implantation is transferred into the heat treatment space 65 in the chamber 6 through the transfer opening 66 by a transfer robot outside the apparatus ( Step S2). The semiconductor wafer W carried in by the carrying robot advances to a position directly above the holding unit 7 and stops. Then, when the pair of transfer arms 11 of the transfer mechanism 10 is lifted in a closed state as shown by the solid line in FIG. 5, the lift pins 12 protrude upward through the inside of the heat equalizing ring 75 and the semiconductor wafer W. Receive.

  After the semiconductor wafer W is placed on the lift pins 12, the transfer robot leaves the heat treatment space 65 and the transfer opening 66 is closed by the gate valve 185. When the pair of transfer arms 11 are lowered, the semiconductor wafer W is transferred from the transfer mechanism 10 to the heat equalizing ring 75 of the holding unit 7 and held in a horizontal posture. The pair of transfer arms 11 lowered to the lower side of the heat equalizing ring 75 opens as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG.

  After the semiconductor wafer W is held by the soaking ring 75 of the holding unit 7, the 40 halogen lamps HL are turned on all at once and preheating (assist heating) is started (step S3). The halogen light emitted from the halogen lamp HL passes through the lower chamber window 64 made of quartz and is irradiated from the back surface of the semiconductor wafer W. By receiving light from the halogen lamp HL, the semiconductor wafer W is preheated and the temperature rises.

  In the preheating stage, the temperature of the peripheral portion of the semiconductor wafer W, which is more likely to radiate heat, tends to be lower than that of the central portion. The in-plane temperature distribution is kept uniform. In addition, the arrangement density of the halogen lamps HL in the halogen heating unit 4 is higher in the region facing the peripheral portion than in the region facing the central portion of the semiconductor wafer W, so that the semiconductor wafer W is likely to generate heat. The amount of light irradiated on the peripheral edge of the semiconductor wafer increases, and the in-plane temperature distribution of the semiconductor wafer W in the preheating stage can be made more uniform. Since the transfer arm 11 of the transfer mechanism 10 is retracted in the inner wall recess of the chamber 6, there is no obstacle to uniform preheating by the halogen lamp HL.

  When preheating is performed, the temperature of the semiconductor wafer W is measured by a contact thermometer and a radiation thermometer. That is, the contact thermometer probe 78 contacts the back surface of the semiconductor wafer W, and the radiation thermometer probes 49 and 79 receive light emitted from the back surface of the semiconductor wafer W. It is monitored by these three probes 49, 78, 79 whether or not the semiconductor wafer W has reached a predetermined preheating temperature T1 (step S4).

  In the present embodiment, the preheating temperature T1 is 800 ° C. Then, as soon as it is detected that the temperature of the semiconductor wafer W has reached the preheating temperature T1, flash light is emitted from the flash lamp FL of the flash heating unit 5 toward the semiconductor wafer W (step S5). At this time, a part of the flash light emitted from the flash lamp FL goes directly to the holding part 7 in the heat treatment space 65, and another part is once reflected by the reflector 52 and then goes into the heat treatment space 65. The flash heating of the semiconductor wafer W is performed by the irradiation of the flash light. Since the flash heating is performed by flash irradiation from the flash lamp FL, the surface temperature of the semiconductor wafer W can be increased in a short time.

  That is, the flash light irradiated from the flash lamp FL of the flash heating unit 5 has an irradiation time of about 0.1 to 10 milliseconds, in which the electrostatic energy stored in advance is converted into an extremely short light pulse. It is a very short and strong flash. Then, the surface temperature of the semiconductor wafer W flash-heated by flash irradiation from the flash lamp FL instantaneously rises to a processing temperature T2 of about 1000 ° C. to 1100 ° C., and the impurities added to the semiconductor wafer W are activated. After being done, the surface temperature drops rapidly. As described above, in the heat treatment apparatus 1, the surface temperature of the semiconductor wafer W can be raised and lowered in a very short time, so that the impurities are activated while suppressing diffusion of impurities added to the semiconductor wafer W due to heat. Can do. Since the time required for activation of the added impurity is extremely short compared to the time required for thermal diffusion, activation is possible even for a short time when no diffusion of about 0.1 millisecond to 10 millisecond occurs. Is completed.

  In the heat treatment apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the semiconductor wafer W is preheated to the preheating temperature T1 (800 ° C.) by the halogen lamp HL, and then flash heating is performed by flash irradiation from the flash lamp FL. When the temperature of the semiconductor wafer W reaches 600 ° C. or higher, thermal diffusion of the added impurities may occur, but the halogen lamp HL can raise the temperature of the semiconductor wafer W to 800 ° C. relatively quickly. Impurity diffusion can be minimized. Further, the surface temperature of the semiconductor wafer W can be rapidly raised to the processing temperature T2 by performing flash irradiation from the flash lamp FL after the temperature of the semiconductor wafer W is raised to the preheating temperature T1. Further, since the temperature increase range by the flash heating from the preheating temperature T1 to the processing temperature T2 is relatively small, the energy of the flash light emitted from the flash lamp FL can be made relatively small. The thermal shock given to the can be reduced.

  After the flash heating is finished, the plurality of halogen lamps HL are turned off all at once, and the temperature of the semiconductor wafer W is rapidly lowered (step S6). At the same time as the halogen lamp HL is turned off, the shutter mechanism 2 inserts the shutter plate 21 between the halogen heating unit 4 and the chamber 6 (step S7). Even if the halogen lamp HL is turned off, the temperature of the filament and the tube wall does not decrease immediately, but radiation heat continues to be radiated from the filament and tube wall that are hot for a while, which prevents the temperature of the semiconductor wafer W from falling. By inserting the shutter plate 21, the radiant heat radiated from the halogen lamp HL immediately after the light is turned off to the heat treatment space 65 is cut off, and the temperature drop rate of the semiconductor wafer W can be increased.

  Even at the temperature lowering stage of the semiconductor wafer W, the temperature of the semiconductor wafer W is measured by the three probes 49, 78 and 79. As described above, since the small holes are formed in the shutter plate 21, the temperature can be measured by the probe 49 even when the shutter plate 21 is inserted. Moreover, since the radiant heat radiated from the halogen lamp HL immediately after being turned off is cut off by inserting the shutter plate 21, the disturbance received by the probe 79 of the radiation thermometer is reduced, and the accuracy of temperature measurement can be improved. it can.

  Thereafter, after the temperature of the semiconductor wafer W is lowered to a predetermined temperature or less, the pair of transfer arms 11 of the transfer mechanism 10 are raised in a closed state, so that the lift pins 12 protrude from the inside of the heat equalizing ring 75. The semiconductor wafer W after the heat treatment is received from the holding unit 7. Subsequently, the transfer opening 66 closed by the gate valve 185 is opened, and the semiconductor wafer W placed on the lift pins 12 is unloaded by the transfer robot outside the apparatus (step S8), and the semiconductor wafer in the heat treatment apparatus 1 is transferred. The W flash heat treatment is completed.

  The heat treatment apparatus 1 of the present embodiment has a structure in which the flash heating unit 5 is disposed above the chamber 6 and the halogen heating unit 4 is disposed below, and heating is performed by light irradiation from both sides of the semiconductor wafer W. Yes. Therefore, the chamber 6 is provided with an upper chamber window 63 that transmits light on the upper surface side of the semiconductor wafer W held by the holding unit 7 and a lower chamber window 64 on the lower surface side. Spaces are formed above and below.

  The heat treatment apparatus 1 of the present embodiment supplies nitrogen gas to the heat treatment space 65 from the entire circumference of the annular slit 81 formed between the upper chamber window 63 and the upper end of the inner wall of the chamber 6, and the lower chamber window 64. And the gas in the chamber 6 is exhausted from the entire circumference of the annular slit 86 formed between the lower end of the inner wall of the chamber 6. For this reason, an air flow is formed in which the nitrogen gas supplied from the uppermost part of the heat treatment space 65 in the chamber 6 flows downward and is exhausted from the lowermost part of the heat treatment space 65. As a result, an air flow of nitrogen gas flows through the entire heat treatment space 65, the staying portion in the chamber 6 is eliminated, and the particles are reliably and promptly discharged. Accordingly, there are almost no particles remaining in the chamber 6, and adhesion of particles to the semiconductor wafer W to be processed can be prevented. For example, even when maintenance is performed in the chamber 6, the number of particles can be quickly reduced by purging nitrogen gas into the chamber 6 after the maintenance.

  In particular, the heat treatment apparatus 1 supplies nitrogen gas from the slit 81 through the buffer space 82 having a small fluid resistance, and exhausts the gas in the chamber 6 from the slit 86 through the buffer space 87. For this reason, nitrogen gas can be uniformly supplied from the entire circumference of the annular slit 81 and the exhaust gas can be exhausted uniformly from the entire circumference of the slit 86, and the staying portion in the chamber 6 can be eliminated more reliably.

  Further, due to the characteristics of the shape of the chamber 6, the transfer opening 66 is likely to be a staying portion, and particles are likely to enter from the outside when the gate valve 185 is open. For this reason, the heat treatment apparatus 1 is provided with a dedicated exhaust mechanism in the transfer opening 66 to prevent the transfer opening 66 from becoming a staying portion and to reliably discharge particles that have entered from the outside. ing.

  In addition, the drive unit (opening / closing mechanism 13 and elevating mechanism 14) of the transfer mechanism 10 may become a particle generation source, but the heat treatment apparatus 1 is provided with a dedicated exhaust mechanism in the drive unit of the transfer mechanism 10. Yes. Therefore, even if particles are generated from the drive unit of the transfer mechanism 10, they can be reliably discharged from the chamber 6.

  While the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention can be modified in various ways other than those described above without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, while supplying nitrogen gas from the upper part of the chamber 6 and exhausting from the lower part of the chamber 6, the transfer opening 66 and the driving part of the transfer mechanism 10, the staying part is eliminated. The mode of supply / exhaust is not limited to this. For example, the nitrogen gas supply source 85 may be connected to the slit 86 through the buffer space 87, and the exhaust unit 90 may be connected to the slit 81 through the buffer space 82. In this way, nitrogen gas is supplied from the lower part of the chamber 6, and exhaust is performed from the upper part of the chamber 6, the transfer opening 66 and the driving unit of the transfer mechanism 10. Even in this case, similarly to the above-described embodiment, the staying portion in the chamber 6 can be eliminated and the particles can be discharged reliably and promptly.

  Further, the nitrogen gas supply source 85 may be connected to the slit 81 via the buffer space 82 and may be connected to the slit 86 via the buffer space 87. In this way, nitrogen gas is supplied from above and below the chamber 6, and exhaust is performed from the transfer opening 66 and the drive unit of the transfer mechanism 10. Even in this case, the staying portion in the chamber 6 can be eliminated and the particles can be discharged reliably and promptly.

In the above embodiment, the processing gas supplied to the heat treatment space 65 is nitrogen gas (N ₂ ). However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, helium (He) gas, argon (Ar) gas, etc. Inert gas, or oxygen (0 ₂ ) gas or clean air may be used. However, since the semiconductor wafer W heated in the heat treatment space 65 is heated to a high temperature of several hundred to 1000 ° C., an inert gas such as nitrogen, helium, or argon is preferable as the processing gas. In terms of surface, inexpensive nitrogen gas is preferable.

  In the above embodiment, when the temperature of the semiconductor wafer W reaches the preheating temperature T1, the flash lamp FL is irradiated with the flash lamp FL while the halogen lamp HL is turned on. It is not limited to this. For example, when the temperature of the semiconductor wafer W is raised above the preheating temperature T1 by the halogen lamp HL, the halogen lamp HL is turned off, the shutter plate 21 is inserted, and the temperature of the semiconductor wafer W is lowered to the preheating temperature T1. You may make it perform flash irradiation.

  In the above embodiment, the flash heating unit 5 is provided with 30 flash lamps FL. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of flash lamps FL can be any number. . The flash lamp FL is not limited to a xenon flash lamp, and may be a krypton flash lamp. Further, the number of halogen lamps HL provided in the halogen heating unit 4 is not limited to 40, and may be an arbitrary number.

  In the above embodiment, the flash lamp FL is disposed above the chamber 6 and the halogen lamp HL is disposed below. However, the present invention includes chamber windows above and below the chamber and allows light from both sides of the semiconductor wafer W to be emitted. Any apparatus that performs irradiation can be applied. For example, the present invention can be applied to a heat treatment apparatus in which the halogen lamps HL are arranged on both the upper and lower sides of the chamber 6.

  In the above embodiment, the semiconductor wafer is irradiated with light to perform the ion activation process. However, the substrate to be processed by the heat treatment apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the semiconductor wafer. . For example, the glass substrate on which various silicon films such as a silicon nitride film and a polycrystalline silicon film are formed may be processed by the heat treatment apparatus according to the present invention. As an example, an amorphous silicon film made amorphous by ion implantation of silicon into a polycrystalline silicon film formed on a glass substrate by a CVD method is formed, and a silicon oxide film serving as an antireflection film is further formed thereon. Form. In this state, the entire surface of the amorphous silicon film is irradiated with light by the heat treatment apparatus according to the present invention, so that a polycrystalline silicon film obtained by polycrystallizing the amorphous silicon film can be formed.

  Further, a heat treatment according to the present invention is applied to a TFT substrate having a structure in which a base silicon oxide film and a polysilicon film obtained by crystallizing amorphous silicon are formed on a glass substrate, and the polysilicon film is doped with impurities such as phosphorus and boron. It is also possible to activate the impurities implanted in the doping process by irradiating light with an apparatus.

It is a sectional side view which shows the structure of the heat processing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is the figure which expanded the upper edge vicinity of the chamber. It is a top view which shows the gas supply to heat processing space. It is the top view of the chamber seen from the holding position of the semiconductor wafer. It is a top view of a transfer mechanism. It is a side view of a transfer mechanism. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the semiconductor wafer in the heat processing apparatus of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Heat processing apparatus 2 Shutter mechanism 3 Control part 4 Halogen heating part 5 Flash heating part 6 Chamber 7 Holding part 10 Transfer mechanism 11 Transfer arm 13 Opening / closing mechanism 14 Lifting mechanism 21 Shutter plate 22 Slide drive mechanism 49,78,79 Probe 61 Chamber side portion 62 Inner side wall 63 Upper chamber window 64 Lower chamber window 65 Heat treatment space 66 Transfer opening 70 Susceptor 75 Heat equalizing ring 81,86 Slit 82,87 Buffer space 83,88 Gas piping 91,93 Exhaust pipes 84,89 , 92, 94 Bulb FL Flash lamp HL Halogen lamp W Semiconductor wafer

Claims (8)

A heat treatment apparatus for heating a substrate by irradiating the substrate with light,
A chamber having a cylindrical inner wall surface open at the top and bottom;
Holding means for holding the substrate in a horizontal position in the chamber;
A first light irradiating means for irradiating light to a substrate provided on the chamber and held by the holding means;
A second light irradiation means for irradiating light to a substrate provided on the lower side of the chamber and held by the holding means;
A first chamber window that closes the upper opening of the chamber and transmits the light irradiated from the first light irradiation means into the chamber;
A second chamber window that closes the lower opening of the chamber and transmits the light irradiated from the second light irradiation means into the chamber;
A first supply / exhaust mechanism for supplying and exhausting the inside of the chamber through a gap formed in an annular shape between the first chamber window and the upper end of the inner wall of the chamber;
A second supply / exhaust mechanism for supplying / exhausting the interior of the chamber through a gap formed annularly between the second chamber window and the lower end of the inner wall of the chamber;
A heat treatment apparatus comprising: The heat treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The first supply / discharge mechanism includes a first buffer space having a smaller fluid resistance than a gap formed annularly between the first chamber window and an upper end of the inner wall of the chamber,
The heat treatment apparatus, wherein the second supply / discharge mechanism includes a second buffer space having a smaller fluid resistance than a gap formed in an annular shape between the second chamber window and a lower end of the inner wall of the chamber. In the heat treatment apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
A heat treatment apparatus, further comprising: a furnace port exhaust mechanism that exhausts the gas in the chamber through a transfer opening for carrying the substrate in and out of the chamber. In the heat processing apparatus in any one of Claims 1-3,
A transfer mechanism for delivering the substrate to the holding means;
A drive unit exhaust mechanism for exhausting the gas in the chamber through the periphery of the drive unit of the transfer mechanism;
A heat treatment apparatus further comprising: In the heat processing apparatus in any one of Claims 1-4,
A heat treatment apparatus characterized in that a gas is supplied into the chamber from the first supply / discharge mechanism and a gas in the chamber is exhausted from the second supply / discharge mechanism. In the heat processing apparatus in any one of Claims 1-4,
A heat treatment apparatus, wherein gas is supplied into the chamber from the second supply / discharge mechanism and gas in the chamber is exhausted from the first supply / discharge mechanism. In the heat treatment apparatus according to claim 3 or 4,
A heat treatment apparatus that supplies gas into the chamber from the first supply / discharge mechanism and the second supply / discharge mechanism. In the heat treatment apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The first light irradiation means includes a flash lamp,
The heat treatment apparatus, wherein the second light irradiation means includes a halogen lamp.

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