Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080206900 | PULSED-PLASMA SYSTEM FOR ETCHING SEMICONDUCTOR STRUCTURES - A pulsed plasma system for etching semiconductor structures is described. In one embodiment, a portion of a sample is removed by applying a pulsed plasma process, wherein the pulsed plasma process comprises a plurality of duty cycles. The ON state of a duty cycle is of a duration sufficiently short to substantially inhibit micro-loading in a reaction region adjacent to the sample, while the OFF state of the duty cycle is of a duration sufficiently long to substantially enable removal of a set of etch by-products from the reaction region. In another embodiment, a first portion of a sample is removed by applying a continuous plasma process. The continuous plasma process is then terminated and a second portion of the sample is removed by applying a pulsed plasma process. | 08-28-2008 |
20080206901 | PULSED-PLASMA SYSTEM WITH PULSED REACTION GAS REPLENISH FOR ETCHING SEMICONDUCTOR STRUCTURES - A pulsed plasma system with pulsed reaction gas replenish for etching semiconductor structures is described. In an embodiment, a portion of a sample is removed by applying a pulsed plasma etch process. The pulsed plasma etch process comprises a plurality of duty cycles, wherein each duty cycle represents the combination of an ON state and an OFF state of a plasma. The plasma is generated from a reaction gas, wherein the reaction gas is replenished during the OFF state of the plasma, but not during the ON state. In another embodiment, a first portion of a sample is removed by applying a continuous plasma etch process. The continuous plasma etch process is then terminated and a second portion of the sample is removed by applying a pulsed plasma etch process having pulsed reaction gas replenish. | 08-28-2008 |
20080236490 | PLASMA REACTOR WITH AN OVERHEAD INDUCTIVE ANTENNA AND AN OVERHEAD GAS DISTRIBUTION SHOWERHEAD - A plasma reactor for processing a workpiece includes a gas distribution showerhead having a lid, a manifold having a top surface facing the lid and a bottom surface opposing the top surface. Top surface channels in the manifold top surface form a first set of plural paths extending from a first gas input point to plural path ends of the top surface channels. Gas distribution orifices extend axially through the manifold at respective ones of the path ends. Bottom surface channels in the manifold bottom surface form plural paths extending from locations at each of the gas distribution orifices to plural gas distribution path ends. The showerhead further includes a showerhead piece facing the manifold bottom surface and having plural gas injection orifices extending through the showerhead piece. | 10-02-2008 |
20090061544 | TRAJECTORY BASED CONTROL OF PLASMA PROCESSING - A method of controlling a plasma processing according to trajectories connecting start and stop values of parameters controlling the plasma processing, for example, gas flow and power supplied to generate the plasma. The trajectories maybe based on equations including at least time as a variable. At set times within the processing, the values of the parameters are updated according to the predetermined trajectories. Sensors associated with the chamber may also adjust the trajectories, provide variables to the equations, and/or define the trajectories. | 03-05-2009 |
20090218043 | GAS FLOW EQUALIZER PLATE SUITABLE FOR USE IN A SUBSTRATE PROCESS CHAMBER - A flow equalizer plate is provided for use in a substrate process chamber. The flow equalizer plate has an annular shape with a flow obstructing inner region, and a perforated outer region that permits the passage of a processing gas, but retains specific elements in the processing gas, such as active radicals or ions. The inner and outer regions have varying radial widths so as to balance a flow of processing gas over a surface of a substrate. In certain embodiments, the flow equalizer plate may be utilized to correct chamber flow asymmetries due to a lateral offset of an exhaust port relative to a center line of a substrate support between the process volume and the exhaust port. | 09-03-2009 |
20090218317 | METHOD TO CONTROL UNIFORMITY USING TRI-ZONE SHOWERHEAD - Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus and method for processing a substrate with increased uniformity. One embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for processing a substrate. The apparatus comprises a chamber body defining a processing volume, a substrate support disposed in the processing volume, a showerhead disposed in the processing volume opposite to the substrate support, and a plasma generation assembly configured to ignite a plasma from the processing gases in the processing gas in the processing volume. The showerhead is configured to provide one or more processing gases to the processing volume. The showerhead has two or more distribution zones each independently controllable. | 09-03-2009 |
20090236315 | SHIELDED LID HEATER ASSEMBLY - A shielded lid heater lid heater suitable for use with a plasma processing chamber, a plasma processing chamber having a shielded lid heater and a method for plasma processing are provided. The method and apparatus enhances positional control of plasma location within a plasma processing chamber, and may be utilized in etch, deposition, implant, and thermal processing systems, among other applications where the control of plasma location is desirable. In one embodiment, a shielded lid heater is provided that includes an aluminum base and RF shield sandwiching a heater element. | 09-24-2009 |
20090272492 | PLASMA REACTOR WITH CENTER-FED MULTIPLE ZONE GAS DISTRIBUTION FOR IMPROVED UNIFORMITY OF CRITICAL DIMENSION BIAS - A gas distribution assembly for the ceiling of a plasma reactor includes a center fed hub and an equal path length distribution gas manifold underlying the center fed hub. | 11-05-2009 |
20090275206 | PLASMA PROCESS EMPLOYING MULTIPLE ZONE GAS DISTRIBUTION FOR IMPROVED UNIFORMITY OF CRITICAL DIMENSION BIAS - A passivation species precursor gas is furnished to an inner zone at a first flow rate, while flowing an etchant species precursor gas an annular intermediate zone at a second flow rate. Radial distribution of etch rate is controlled by the ratio of the first and second flow rates. The radial distribution of etch critical dimension bias on the wafer is controlled by flow rate of passivation gas to the wafer edge. | 11-05-2009 |
20100025384 | FIELD ENHANCED INDUCTIVELY COUPLED PLASMA (FE-ICP) REACTOR - Embodiments of field enhanced inductively coupled plasma reactors and methods of use of same are provided herein. In some embodiments, a field enhanced inductively coupled plasma processing system may include a process chamber having a dielectric lid and a plasma source assembly disposed above the dielectric lid. The plasma source assembly includes one or more coils configured to inductively couple RF energy into the process chamber to form and maintain a plasma therein, one or more electrodes configured to capacitively couple RF energy into the process chamber to form the plasma therein, wherein the one or more electrodes are electrically coupled to one of the one or more coils, and an RF generator coupled to the one or more inductive coils and the one or more electrodes. In some embodiments, a heater element may be disposed between the dielectric lid and the plasma source assembly. | 02-04-2010 |
20100224321 | INDUCTIVELY COUPLED PLASMA REACTOR HAVING RF PHASE CONTROL AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF - Embodiments of the present invention generally provide an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) reactor having a substrate RF bias that is capable of control of the RF phase difference between the ICP source (a first RF source) and the substrate bias (a second RF source) for plasma processing reactors used in the semiconductor industry. Control of the RF phase difference provides a powerful knob for fine process tuning. For example, control of the RF phase difference may be used to control one or more of average etch rate, etch rate uniformity, etch rate skew, critical dimension (CD) uniformity, and CD skew, CD range, self DC bias control, and chamber matching. | 09-09-2010 |
20100227420 | INDUCTIVELY COUPLED PLASMA REACTOR HAVING RF PHASE CONTROL AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF - Embodiments of the present invention generally provide an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) reactor having a substrate RF bias that is capable of control of the RF phase difference between the ICP source (a first RF source) and the substrate bias (a second RF source) for plasma processing reactors used in the semiconductor industry. Control of the RF phase difference provides a powerful knob for fine process tuning. For example, control of the RF phase difference may be used to control one or more of average etch rate, etch rate uniformity, etch rate skew, critical dimension (CD) uniformity, and CD skew, CD range, self DC bias control, and chamber matching. | 09-09-2010 |
20100276391 | INDUCTIVELY COUPLED PLASMA REACTOR HAVING RF PHASE CONTROL AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF - Methods of operating inductively coupled plasma (ICP) reactors having ICP sources and substrate bias with phase control are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of operating a first plasma reactor having a source RF generator inductively coupled to the first plasma reactor on one side of a substrate support surface of a substrate support within the first plasma reactor and a bias RF generator coupled to the substrate support on an opposing side of the substrate support surface, wherein the source RF generator and the bias RF generator provide respective RF signals at a common frequency may include selecting a desired value of a process parameter for a substrate to be processed; and adjusting the phase between respective RF signals provided by the source RF generator and the bias RF generator to a desired phase based upon a predetermined relationship between the process parameter and the phase. | 11-04-2010 |
20110005685 | PLASMA REACTOR WITH UNIFORM PROCESS RATE DISTRIBUTION BY IMPROVED RF GROUND RETURN PATH - In a plasma reactor having an RF plasma source power applicator at its ceiling, an integrally formed grid liner includes a radially extending plasma confinement ring and an axially extending side wall liner. The plasma confinement ring extends radially outwardly near the plane of a workpiece support surface from a pedestal side wall, and includes an annular array of radial slots, each of the slots having a narrow width corresponding to an ion collision mean free path length of a plasma in the chamber. The side wall liner covers an interior surface of the chamber side wall and extends axially from a height near a height of said workpiece support surface to the chamber ceiling. | 01-13-2011 |
20110068082 | METHOD OF PROCESSING A WORKPIECE IN A PLASMA REACTOR WITH INDEPENDENT WAFER EDGE PROCESS GAS INJECTION - The disclosure concerns a method of processing a workpiece or in a plasma reactor chamber, using independent gas injection at the wafer edge. | 03-24-2011 |
20110094683 | RF FEED STRUCTURE FOR PLASMA PROCESSING - Apparatus for plasma processing are provided. In some embodiments, an RF feed structure includes a first RF feed to couple RF power to a plurality of symmetrically arranged stacked first RF coil elements; a second RF feed coaxially disposed about the first RF feed and electrically insulated therefrom, the second RF feed to couple RF power to a plurality of symmetrically arranged stacked second RF coil elements coaxially disposed with respect to the first RF coil elements. In some embodiments, a plasma processing apparatus includes a first RF coil; a second RF coil coaxially disposed with respect to the first RF coil; a first RF feed coupled to the first RF coil to provide RF power thereto; and a second RF feed coaxially disposed with respect to the first RF feed and electrically insulated therefrom, the second RF feed coupled to the second RF coil to provide RF power thereto. | 04-28-2011 |
20110094994 | INDUCTIVELY COUPLED PLASMA APPARATUS - Methods and apparatus for plasma processing are provided herein. In some embodiments, a plasma processing apparatus includes a process chamber having an interior processing volume; a first RF coil disposed proximate the process chamber to couple RF energy into the processing volume; and a second RF coil disposed proximate the process chamber to couple RF energy into the processing volume, the second RF coil disposed coaxially with respect to the first RF coil, wherein the first and second RF coils are configured such that RF current flowing through the first RF coil is out of phase with RF current flowing through the RF second coil. | 04-28-2011 |
20110097901 | DUAL MODE INDUCTIVELY COUPLED PLASMA REACTOR WITH ADJUSTABLE PHASE COIL ASSEMBLY - Embodiments of dual mode inductively coupled plasma reactors and methods of use of same are provided herein. In some embodiments, a dual mode inductively coupled plasma processing system may include a process chamber having a dielectric lid and a plasma source assembly disposed above the dielectric lid. The plasma source assembly includes a plurality of coils configured to inductively couple RF energy into the process chamber to form and maintain a plasma therein, a phase controller for adjusting the relative phase of the RF current applied to each coil in the plurality of coils, and an RF generator coupled to the phase controller and the plurality of coils. | 04-28-2011 |
20120097870 | APPARATUS FOR FORMING A MAGNETIC FIELD AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF - Apparatus for forming a magnetic field and methods of use thereof are provided herein. In some embodiments, a plurality of coils having substantially similar dimensions disposed about a process chamber in a symmetric pattern centered about a central axis of the process chamber, wherein the plurality of coils are configured to produce a magnetic field having a plurality of magnetic field lines that are substantially planar and substantially parallel. In some embodiments, the plurality of coils comprises eight coils disposed about the process chamber, wherein each of the eight coils is offset by an angle of about 45 degrees from respective adjacent coils of the eight coils. | 04-26-2012 |
20120104950 | METHODS FOR CALIBRATING RF POWER APPLIED TO A PLURALITY OF RF COILS IN A PLASMA PROCESSING SYSTEM - Methods for calibrating RF power applied to a plurality of RF coils are provided. In some embodiments, a method of calibrating RF power applied to a first and second RF coil of a process chamber having a power divider to control a first ratio equal to a first magnitude of RF power provided to the first RF coil divided by a second magnitude of RF power provided to the second RF coil, may include measuring a plurality of first ratios over a range of setpoint values of the power divider, comparing the plurality of measured first ratios to a plurality of reference first ratios, and adjusting an actual value of the power divider at a given setpoint value such that the first ratio of the power divider at the given setpoint matches the corresponding reference first ratio to within a first tolerance level. | 05-03-2012 |
20130118687 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STABLE PLASMA PROCESSING - A method and apparatus for etching a substrate using a spatially modified plasma is provided herein. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a process chamber having a plasma stabilizer disposed above a substrate support pedestal. A substrate is placed upon the pedestal. A process gas is introduced into the process chamber and a plasma is formed from the process gas. The substrate is etched with a plasma having an ion density to radical density ratio defined by the plasma stabilizer. | 05-16-2013 |
20130134129 | INDUCTIVELY COUPLED PLASMA APPARATUS - Methods and apparatus for plasma processing are provided herein. In some embodiments, a plasma processing apparatus includes a process chamber having an interior processing volume; a first RF coil disposed proximate the process chamber to couple RF energy into the processing volume; and a second RF coil disposed proximate the process chamber to couple RF energy into the processing volume, the second RF coil disposed coaxially with respect to the first RF coil, wherein the first and second RF coils are configured such that RF current flowing through the first RF coil is out of phase with RF current flowing through the RF second coil. | 05-30-2013 |
20130189848 | SHIELDED LID HEATER ASSEMBLY - A shielded lid heater lid heater suitable for use with a plasma processing chamber, a plasma processing chamber having a shielded lid heater and a method for plasma processing are provided. The method and apparatus enhances positional control of plasma location within a plasma processing chamber, and may be utilized in etch, deposition, implant, and thermal processing systems, among other applications where the control of plasma location is desirable. In one embodiment, a shielded lid heater is provided that includes an aluminum base and RF shield sandwiching a heater element. | 07-25-2013 |
20140151331 | DEPOSITION SHIELD FOR PLASMA ENHANCED SUBSTRATE PROCESSING - Methods and apparatus for plasma processing of substrates are provided herein. In some embodiments, a deposition shield for use in processing a substrate having a given width may include a first plate having a first plurality of holes disposed through a thickness of the first plate; and a second plate disposed below the first plate and having a second plurality of holes disposed through a thickness of the second plate, wherein individual holes in the first plurality of holes and the second plurality of holes are not aligned. | 06-05-2014 |
20140345803 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STABLE PLASMA PROCESSING - A method and apparatus for etching a substrate using a spatially modified plasma is provided herein. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a process chamber having a plasma stabilizer disposed above a substrate support pedestal. A substrate is placed upon the pedestal. A process gas is introduced into the process chamber and a plasma is formed from the process gas. The substrate is etched with a plasma having an ion density to radical density ratio defined by the plasma stabilizer. | 11-27-2014 |
20140367046 | ENHANCED PLASMA SOURCE FOR A PLASMA REACTOR - Embodiments of an apparatus having an improved coil antenna assembly that can provide enhanced plasma in a processing chamber is provided. The improved coil antenna assembly enhances positional control of plasma location within a plasma processing chamber, and may be utilized in etch, deposition, implant, and thermal processing systems, among other applications where the control of plasma location is desirable. In one embodiment, an electrode assembly configured to use in a semiconductor processing apparatus includes a RF conductive connector, and a conductive member having a first end electrically connected to the RF conductive connector, wherein the conductive member extends outward and vertically from the RF conductive connector. | 12-18-2014 |
20150068682 | POWER DEPOSITION CONTROL IN INDUCTIVELY COUPLED PLASMA (ICP) REACTORS - Embodiments of inductively coupled plasma (ICP) reactors are provided herein. In some embodiments, a dielectric window for an inductively coupled plasma reactor includes: a body including a first side, a second side opposite the first side, an edge, and a center, wherein the dielectric window has a dielectric coefficient that varies spatially. In some embodiments, an apparatus for processing a substrate includes: a process chamber having a processing volume disposed beneath a lid of the process chamber; and one or more inductive coils disposed above the lid to inductively couple RF energy into and to form a plasma in the processing volume above a substrate support disposed within the processing volume; wherein the lid is a dielectric window comprising a first side and an opposing second side that faces the processing volume, and wherein the lid has a dielectric coefficient that spatially varies to provide a varied power coupling of RF energy from the one or more inductive coils to the processing volume. | 03-12-2015 |