Overview

The AG Associates Heatpulse 4100S rapid thermal anneal system contains a subsystem for each of the following: • Electronics (including a dedicated microprocessor) • Mass-flow-controlled gas handling • Cooling • ULPA filtration • Mechanical assemblies Software programs, called recipes, specify the details for each process. The AG Associates Heatpulse 4100S system includes a 3-1/2-inch floppy disk drive for process recipe storage. A three-axis industrial robot automates processing by transporting wafers into and out of the process chamber. It uses closed-loop feedback for precise motion control and accurate positioning. To provide cold-wall processing, water is circulated through the process-chamber walls. The quartz isolation tube is cooled with nitrogen or compressed air.