Entegris, Inc.
ELECTROSTATIC CHUCK WITH CHARGE DISSIPATION COATING

Abstract:

An electrostatic chuck solves the problem of wafer sticking by providing conductive paths on raised embossments that are bridged together and are connected to ground that support the wafer substrate above the surface of the electrostatic chuck. Further, laterally spaced electrode patterns and electrode elements which are spaced laterally and longitudinally away from the raised embossments reduce or eliminate electrical coupling during wafer clamping between conductively coated embossments and the electrode elements, thereby creating a low resistance path for charges remaining on the wafer after declamping to promptly travel to ground. The conductive bridge and electrode pattern configuration also substantially reduces or eliminates any charge build up on the conductive bridge(s) during clamping in order that charge build up in "islands" (worn portions of the insulator layer of the main field area) do not affect the charge dissipation from the wafer substrate through the conductive bridges to ground.