Apparatus and methods for rapid thermal processing

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus and methods for performing rapid thermal processing. One embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for processing a substrate. The apparatus includes a heating source disposed outside a chamber body and configured to provide thermal energy towards a processing volume. The substrate support defines a substrate supporting plane, and the substrate support is configured to support the substrate in the substrate supporting plane. The heating source includes a frame member having an inner wall surrounding an area large enough to encompass a surface area of the substrate, and a plurality of diode laser tiles mounted on the inner wall of the frame member. Each of the plurality of diode laser tiles is directed towards a corresponding area in the processing volume.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.