阅读说明：本技术 真空泵送 (Vacuum pumping ) 是由 G·R·雪莱 P·G·斯塔默斯 B·S·B·罗伯茨 于 2020-02-20 设计创作，主要内容包括：公开了一种真空泵送装置(10)和方法。该真空泵送装置包括：公共泵送管线(90A-C),所述公共泵送管线具有泵送管线出口和多个泵送管线入口,每个泵送管线入口被构造成与相关联的多个真空处理室(30)的出口联接；至少一个初级真空泵(100),所述初级真空泵与所述泵送管线出口流体连通以从每个真空处理室泵送气体；以及控制逻辑(120),其可操作以响应于多个真空处理室的操作状态的指示而控制初级真空泵的操作。这样,可以调节初级真空泵的性能以匹配由处理室提供的负载,并且当存在过剩的容量时(意味着初级真空泵利用不足),则可以降低初级真空泵的性能,这可以导致显著的能量节省并且减少泵的磨损。(A vacuum pumping apparatus (10) and method are disclosed. The vacuum pumping apparatus includes: a common pumping line (90A-C) having a pumping line outlet and a plurality of pumping line inlets, each pumping line inlet configured to couple with an outlet of an associated plurality of vacuum processing chambers (30); at least one primary vacuum pump (100) in fluid communication with the pumping line outlet to pump gases from each vacuum processing chamber; and control logic (120) operable to control operation of the primary vacuum pump in response to an indication of an operational status of the plurality of vacuum processing chambers. In this way, the performance of the primary vacuum pump can be adjusted to match the load provided by the process chamber, and when there is excess capacity (meaning that the primary vacuum pump is under-utilized), the performance of the primary vacuum pump can be reduced, which can result in significant energy savings and reduced pump wear.)

1. A vacuum pumping apparatus comprising:

a common pumping line having a pumping line outlet and a plurality of pumping line inlets, each pumping line inlet configured to couple with an outlet of an associated plurality of vacuum processing chambers;

at least one primary vacuum pump in fluid communication with the pumping line outlet to pump gases from each vacuum processing chamber; and

control logic operable to control operation of the primary vacuum pump in response to an indication of an operational status of the plurality of vacuum processing chambers.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control logic is operable to vary an operating speed of the primary vacuum pump in response to the indication.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the control logic is operable to vary the operating speed to match a gas pumping rate of the vacuum pump to an indicated gas flow rate from the plurality of vacuum processing chambers.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a plurality of primary vacuum pumps, and wherein the control logic is operable to deactivate at least one of the primary vacuum pumps in response to the indication.

5. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the operable control logic is operable to control operation of a downstream device in response to the indication.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the downstream apparatus comprises an abatement device.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the operable control logic is operable to vary the amount of energy supplied to the emission abatement device in response to the indication.

8. The device of claim 6 or 7, wherein the operable control logic is operable to vary an amount of dilution gas supplied to at least one of the primary vacuum pump, the secondary vacuum pump, and the abatement device in response to the indication.

9. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the indication is provided by at least one of the plurality of vacuum processing chambers and a device supplying the plurality of vacuum processing chambers.

10. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the indication is indicative of a gas flow rate through the plurality of vacuum processing chambers.

11. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the indication is provided by at least one of a pressure sensor and a flow control valve coupled with the respective pumping line inlet.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a secondary vacuum pump coupled between the inlet and the chamber, and the indication is provided by one of a power consumption and a speed of the secondary vacuum pump.

13. The apparatus of any preceding claim, comprising: at least one further common pumping line, each further common pumping line having a pumping line outlet and a plurality of pumping line inlets, each pumping line inlet configured to couple with an outlet of an associated plurality of vacuum processing chambers; and at least one additional primary vacuum pump in fluid communication with the pumping line outlet to pump gas from each vacuum processing chamber.

14. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, comprising a manifold operable to selectively couple each vacuum processing chamber with the common pumping line, and wherein the indication provides an indication of the configuration of the manifold.

15. A method, comprising:

coupling a plurality of pumping line inlets of a common pumping line with outlets of an associated plurality of vacuum processing chambers;

coupling a pumping line outlet of the common pumping line with at least one primary vacuum pump to pump gases from each vacuum processing chamber; and

controlling operation of the primary vacuum pump in response to an indication of an operational status of the plurality of vacuum processing chambers.

Technical Field

The field of the invention relates to a vacuum pumping device and method.

Background

Vacuum pumping apparatus are widely used in vacuum processing, particularly in semiconductor manufacturing facilities. The processing tools of the manufacturing facility require a vacuum pressure in the presence of selected gases, and the vacuum pumping system provides evacuation of these gases at the required vacuum pressure.

Despite the presence of vacuum pumping devices, they each have their own drawbacks. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an improved vacuum pumping apparatus.

Disclosure of Invention

According to a first aspect, there is provided a vacuum pumping apparatus comprising: a common pumping line having a pumping line outlet and a plurality of pumping line inlets, each pumping line inlet configured to couple with an outlet of an associated plurality of vacuum processing chambers; at least one primary vacuum pump in fluid communication with the pumping line outlet to pump gases from each vacuum processing chamber; and control logic operable to control operation of the primary vacuum pump in response to an indication of an operational status of the plurality of vacuum processing chambers.

The first aspect recognises that a vacuum pumping arrangement may serve a plurality of process chambers connected via a common pumping line. To meet the maximum processing requirements of the process chamber, the apparatus will typically be oversized compared to the average processing requirements. Accordingly, a vacuum pumping apparatus or system is provided. The apparatus may comprise a pumping line having more than one inlet and at least one outlet. Each of the pumping line inlets may be coupled to an outlet of an associated one of the plurality of vacuum processing chambers. That is, multiple vacuum processing chambers may be coupled to the common or single pumping line. The apparatus may include one or more vacuum pumps connectable to the pumping line outlets of the common pumping line for pumping gas from the vacuum processing chamber. The apparatus may include control logic that may control operation of the primary vacuum pump based on an operating state of the process chamber. In this way, the performance of the primary vacuum pump can be adjusted to match the load provided by the process chamber, and when there is excess capacity (meaning that the primary vacuum pump is under-utilized), the performance of the primary vacuum pump can be reduced, which can result in significant energy savings and reduced pump wear.

In one embodiment, the control logic is operable to vary the operating speed of the primary vacuum pump in response to the indication. Thus, the speed of the vacuum pump may be reduced or increased based on the load generated by the process tool.

In one embodiment, the control logic is operable to vary the operating speed to match the gas pumping rate of the vacuum pump to the indicated gas flow rate from the plurality of vacuum processing chambers. Thus, the speed of the vacuum pump may be changed or adjusted to match the load generated by the processing tool.

In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a plurality of primary vacuum pumps.

In one embodiment, the control logic is operable to disable the at least one primary vacuum pump in response to the indication. Thus, one or more primary vacuum pumps may be turned off or deactivated when not needed.

In one embodiment, the operable control logic is operable to control operation of the downstream device in response to the indication. Thus, the performance of other devices downstream of the common pumping line may be adjusted to match the expected load, providing further efficiency savings.

In one embodiment, the downstream device comprises an emission abatement device.

In one embodiment, the operable control logic is operable to vary the amount of energy supplied to the emission abatement device in response to the indication. Thus, depending on the output of the process chamber, the energy supplied to the abatement device, and its operating temperature resulting from the use of that energy, may be adjusted.

In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a plurality of emission abatement devices, and wherein the operable control logic is operable to deactivate at least one of the plurality of emission abatement devices.

In one embodiment, the operational control logic is operable to vary the amount of dilution gas supplied to at least one of the primary vacuum pump, the secondary vacuum pump and the abatement device in response to the indication.

In one embodiment, the indication is provided by a plurality of vacuum processing chambers. Thus, the flow rate discharged by the process chamber may be provided by the process chamber itself.

In one embodiment, the indication is provided by an apparatus that supplies a plurality of vacuum processing chambers. Accordingly, an indication of the flow rate of the gas supplied to the process chamber may be provided to the control logic.

In one embodiment, the indication indicates a gas flow rate through the plurality of vacuum processing chambers.

In one embodiment, the indication is provided by at least one of a pressure sensor and a flow sensor coupled to the respective pumping line inlet.

In one embodiment, the indication is provided by a flow control valve coupled to the respective pumping line inlet.

In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a secondary vacuum pump coupled between the inlet and the chamber, and the indication is provided by one of a power consumption and a speed of the secondary vacuum pump.

In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises: at least one further common pumping line, each further common pumping line having a pumping line outlet and a plurality of pumping line inlets, each pumping line inlet configured to couple with an outlet of an associated plurality of vacuum processing chambers; and at least one additional primary vacuum pump in fluid communication with the pumping line outlet to pump gas from each vacuum processing chamber.

In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a manifold operable to selectively couple each vacuum processing chamber with a common pumping line, and wherein the indication provides an indication of a configuration of the manifold.

According to a second aspect, there is provided a method comprising: coupling a plurality of pumping line inlets of a common pumping line with outlets of an associated plurality of vacuum processing chambers; coupling a pumping line outlet of the common pumping line with at least one primary vacuum pump to pump gases from each vacuum processing chamber; and controlling operation of the primary vacuum pump in response to the indication of the operational status of the plurality of vacuum processing chambers.

In one embodiment, the controlling includes changing an operating speed of the primary vacuum pump in response to the indication.

In one embodiment, controlling includes varying the operating speed to match the gas pumping rate of the vacuum pump to the indicated gas flow rate from the plurality of vacuum processing chambers.

In one embodiment, the coupling includes coupling to a plurality of primary vacuum pumps.

In one embodiment, the controlling comprises deactivating at least one primary vacuum pump in response to the indication.

In one embodiment, the controlling includes controlling operation of a downstream device in response to the indication.

In one embodiment, the downstream device comprises an emission abatement device.

In one embodiment, the controlling comprises varying the amount of energy supplied to the emission abatement device in response to the indication.

In one embodiment, the downstream device comprises a plurality of emission abatement devices, and wherein controlling comprises deactivating at least one of the plurality of emission abatement devices.

In one embodiment, the controlling comprises varying the amount of dilution gas supplied to at least one of the primary vacuum pump, the secondary vacuum pump and the emission abatement device in response to the indication.

In one embodiment, the indication is provided by a plurality of vacuum processing chambers.

In one embodiment, the indication is provided by an apparatus that supplies a plurality of vacuum processing chambers.

In one embodiment, the indication indicates a gas flow rate through the plurality of vacuum processing chambers.

In one embodiment, the indication is provided by at least one of a pressure sensor and a flow sensor coupled to the respective pumping line inlet.

In one embodiment, the indication is provided by a flow control valve coupled to the respective pumping line inlet.

In one embodiment, the method includes providing a secondary vacuum pump coupled between the inlet and the chamber, and providing the indication by one of a power consumption and a speed of the secondary vacuum pump.

In one embodiment, the method includes providing at least one additional common pumping line, each additional common pumping line having a pumping line outlet and a plurality of pumping line inlets, each pumping line inlet configured to couple with an outlet of an associated plurality of vacuum processing chambers, and at least one additional primary vacuum pump in fluid communication with the pumping line outlet to pump gas from each vacuum processing chamber.

In one embodiment, the method includes providing a manifold operable to selectively couple each vacuum processing chamber with a common pumping line, and wherein the indication provides an indication of a configuration of the manifold.

Further particular and preferred aspects are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. Features of the dependent claims may be combined with those of the independent claims as appropriate and in combinations other than those explicitly set out in the claims.

Where a device feature is described as being operable to provide a function, it will be appreciated that this includes a device feature that provides the function or is adapted or configured to provide the function.

Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a vacuum pumping arrangement according to one embodiment.

Detailed Description

Before discussing the embodiments in any more detail, an overview will first be provided. Embodiments provide an arrangement in which one or more primary vacuum pumps and/or other downstream processing equipment coupled with vacuum processing chambers can have their operation optimized to match their performance to the load or output from those vacuum processing chambers. In particular, the vacuum pump will generally be sized to be able to handle the maximum load provided when the process chambers are all operating at their peak and producing the maximum output load, such as during chamber roughing or evacuation. However, since some process chambers may not be used or may have a lower than expected output, it will generally be the case that the actual load produced will be lower. This means that the vacuum pump and/or other downstream equipment may be over-supplied, providing a capacity greater than that required. Accordingly, the operation of these devices is controlled to match the operating state of the process chamber, thereby reducing energy consumption and extending lifetime.

FIG. 1 illustrates a vacuum pumping arrangement 10 according to one embodiment. In this example, the vacuum processing apparatus 10 is coupled with four processing tools 20A. Each process tool 20 has a plurality of process chambers; for example, one processing tool 20 has four processing chambers 30. It will be appreciated that the number of processing tools and processing chambers may be varied as desired, and that a single arrangement is also contemplated.

Each process chamber is coupled to a pump such as a turbo pump 40. Although a turbo pump 40 is provided in this example, it will be appreciated that other forms of secondary pump and arrangements without a secondary pump are possible. Also, while the turbo pump 40 forms part of the vacuum pumping arrangement 10 in this example, it will be appreciated that it may alternatively be provided by the provider of the process tool 30. Each turbo pump 40 is coupled to a booster pump 70 via a gate valve 50 and a foreline (for-line) 60.

Each booster pump 70 is connected to a multi-way valve 80. In this example, each multi-way valve is a four-port multi-way valve, meaning that its inlet coupled to the booster pump 70 may be coupled to any one of the three outputs. Each output of valve 80 is coupled to a respective common pumping line 90A-90C.

Thus, it can be seen that each common pumping line 90A-90C has multiple pumping line inlets coupled to respective outlets of the valve 80. In the example shown in fig. 1, each common pumping line 90A-90C has 14 pumping line inlets, each of which is coupled with an associated process chamber 30 via a booster pump 70, a foreline 60, a gate valve 50 and a turbo pump 40. Each common pumping line 90A-90C has at least one pumping line outlet coupled to one or more primary vacuum pumps 100, such as roots-type mechanical pumps.

In the example shown in fig. 1, each common pumping line is coupled with three primary vacuum pumps 100, but more or fewer primary vacuum pumps than this may be provided. The primary vacuum pump 100 is in turn coupled to a downstream emission abatement device (abatements device) 110.

The presence of multiple common pumping lines 90A-90C helps to ensure that incompatible chemicals provided from different process chambers 30 do not interact and cause adverse reactions. In other arrangements, only a single common pumping line may be utilized.

Control logic 120 is provided that receives signals providing an indication of operating conditions and effluent flow produced by each of the process chambers 30, as well as the configuration of each of the valves 80, in order to evaluate the expected effluent flow rate through each common pumping line 90A-90C. Typically, this indication is provided by one or more pressure sensors on the valve 80 (manifold). With this information, an assessment can be made as to how much pumping capacity or abatement capacity is required from the backing pump 100 and/or the abatement device 110 and/or the plasma device 130 or other foreline abatement device.

For example, if it is determined that no effluent stream is currently flowing through the common pumping line, the downstream equipment may be placed in an idle mode or even shut down. Similarly, if the effluent flow through the common pumping line is reduced, the downstream equipment may degrade its performance to match. For example, each secondary pump 100 may have their speed reduced to match the expected load, or some pumps may be completely shut down while others remain running at a higher speed. Likewise, the operational performance of the abatement device 110 or plasma device 130 may be varied to match the expected load by varying the power supplied to them. Similarly, the amount of dilution gas supplied to the abatement device 110 may also be varied. Also, the amount of other utilities such as cooling water, oxidant or other gas, make-up water may also be varied to match expected loads or operating conditions.

It will be appreciated that the flow rate of the effluent stream provided by each process chamber 30 may be determined in a variety of different ways. The flow rate may be provided by control valves (not shown) supplying the chambers, as these valves typically control flow to maintain pressure, and flow is obtained by controlling the valve positions. Alternatively, or in addition, the flow rate may be determined by measuring the power consumption and/or speed of the turbo pump 40 and/or the booster pump 70. Alternatively, or additionally, the flow rate may be determined from a pressure sensor on the valve 80.

One embodiment provides a regional vacuum and abatement system that services multiple process modules of a pumping and abatement system having a common manifold connection. To meet the maximum process requirements, such systems must be oversized compared to the average system requirements. Thus, there is excess capacity representing a utility savings opportunity. One embodiment allows for dynamic utility savings with or without signals from each tool.

During processing, the tool is designed to expect full vacuum performance at any one time. To support the possibility that all process modules are located on any single branch of the manifold, vacuum and abatement must be over-provided on all branches of the system. Since a single process module is connected to only one branch at a time in the overall system, this over-provisioning will potentially consume an excessive amount of utilities including power, cooling water, and nitrogen.

In one embodiment, the monitoring system maintains a dynamic image of the gas load on each branch of the manifold based on the sum of the gas flows exiting from all connected process modules (chambers). The aggregate flow rate is used to determine the demand on the zone pumping and abatement system. The demand value is used to optimize how many pump cylinders are operating and at what speed, and to optimize the fuel and gas mixture within the abatement system. The gas flow from each tool may be derived by combining data from multiple sources: a tool signal directly or indirectly to a system tool interface; position information of a pressure control device such as a tool butterfly valve; electrical loads on tool pumps such as turbo pumps and booster pumps.

One embodiment performs management of an abatement provisioning/abatement system for vacuum/zone vacuum by combining chamber requirements with wiring through a manifold system to minimize utility consumption.

Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Reference numerals

Vacuum pumping apparatus 10

Processing tool 20

Processing chamber 30

Turbo pump 40

Gate valve 50

Foreline 60

Booster pump 70

Valve 80

Common pumping lines 90A-C

Primary vacuum pump 100

Abatement device 110

Control logic 120

A plasma device 130.