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US 10,215,317 B2Granted
Additively manufactured gas distribution manifold
AssigneeLam Research Corporation
InventorsChristopher William Burkhart, Andrew C. Lee, David J. Hemker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for additively manufactured tubular passages, additively manufactured manifolds, and additively manufactured heaters are provided.
Claims24
An apparatus for use with a semiconductor processing chamber, the apparatus comprising:
- a manifold constructed by additive manufacturing and including:
- a mixing chamber, and
- portions of a plurality of flow paths, each flow path including:
- a first fluid flow component interface including a first fluid flow component interface inlet and a first fluid flow component interface outlet,
- a first tubular passage fluidically connecting the first mixing chamber with the first fluid flow component interface outlet of that flow path, and
- a second tubular passage fluidically connected to the first fluid flow component interface inlet of that flow path, wherein:
- the first fluid flow component interface, the first tubular passage, and the second tubular passage of each flow path are a unitary body,
- one or more of the first tubular passage and the second tubular passage for at least one of the flow paths follows a respective pathway and has an exterior surface that includes a first runway,
- the pathway is a three-dimensional path, and
- for each runway:
- that first runway includes a surface defined by a respective first profile that is swept along the respective pathway,
- the respective first profile is in a plane perpendicular to the respective pathway, and
- the respective first profile is substantially linear.
10 more elements
An apparatus for use with a semiconductor processing chamber, the apparatus comprising:
- a manifold constructed by additive manufacturing and including:
- a mixing chamber,
- a resistive heating element layer, and
- portions of a plurality of flow paths, each flow path including:
- a first fluid flow component interface including a first fluid flow component interface inlet and a first fluid flow component interface outlet,
- a first tubular passage fluidically connecting the first mixing chamber with the first fluid flow component interface outlet of that flow path, and
- a second tubular passage fluidically connected to the first fluid flow component interface inlet of that flow path, wherein:
- the first fluid flow component interface, the first tubular passage, and the second tubular passage of each flow path are a unitary body,
- one or more of the first tubular passage and the second tubular passage for at least one of the flow paths follows a respective pathway, and
- for the at least one flow path that follows a respective pathway, the resistive heating element layer is positioned on one or more of the first tubular passage and the second tubular passage, and extends along the respective pathway of one or more of the first tubular passage and the second tubular passage.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.