Abstract: A heating device for controllably heating an article defines a processing chamber to hold the article and includes a housing and an EMF generator. The housing includes a susceptor portion surrounding at least a portion of the processing chamber, and a conductor portion interposed between the susceptor portion and the processing chamber. The EMF generator is operable to induce eddy currents within the susceptor portion such that substantially no eddy currents are induced in the conductor portion. The conductor portion is operative to conduct heat from the susceptor portion to the processing chamber. The heating device may further include a platter and an opening defined in the conductor portion, wherein the opening is interposed between the susceptor portion and the platter.

Abstract: New and improved microwave plasma assisted reactors, for example chemical vapor deposition (MPCVD) reactors, are disclosed. The disclosed microwave plasma assisted reactors operate at pressures ranging from about 10 Torr to about 760 Torr. The disclosed microwave plasma assisted reactors include a movable lower sliding short and/or a reduced diameter conductive stage in a coaxial cavity of a plasma chamber. For a particular application, the lower sliding short position and/or the conductive stage diameter can be variably selected such that, relative to conventional reactors, the reactors can be tuned to operate over larger substrate areas, operate at higher pressures, and discharge absorbed power densities with increased diamond synthesis rates (carats per hour) and increased deposition uniformity.

Abstract: A shower plate of a processing gas supply unit disposed in a processing chamber of a substrate processing apparatus to supply a processing gas into a processing space in the processing chamber. The shower plate is interposed between a processing gas introduction space formed in the processing gas supply unit for introduction of the processing gas and the processing space. The shower plate includes processing gas supply passageways which allow the processing gas introduction space to communicate with the processing space. The processing gas supply passageways include gas holes formed toward the processing gas introduction space and gas grooves formed toward the processing space, the gas holes and gas grooves communicating with each other. A total flow path cross sectional area of all the gas grooves is larger than a total flow path cross sectional area of all the gas holes.

Abstract: Internal components of plasma reactors are composed of a toleratable, ceramic filled plasma-useful polymer such as a high temperature engineering thermoplastic, preferably a polyamideimide. The parts exhibit a low erosion rate upon exposure to plasma at low pressure.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing a substrate is disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a substrate support may include a substrate support having a support surface for supporting a substrate the substrate support having a central axis; a first electrode disposed within the substrate support to provide RF power to a substrate when disposed on the support surface; an inner conductor coupled to the first electrode about a center of a surface of the first electrode opposing the support surface, wherein the inner conductor is tubular and extends from the first electrode parallel to and about the central axis in a direction away from the support surface of the substrate support; an outer conductor disposed about the inner conductor; and an outer dielectric layer disposed between the inner and outer conductors, the outer dielectric layer electrically isolating the outer conductor from the inner conductor. The outer conductor may be coupled to electrical ground.

Abstract: There is provided a plasma processing apparatus for performing a process on a substrate by generating inductively coupled plasma. The plasma processing apparatus includes an upper lid, provided to cover a top opening of the processing chamber, having a dielectric window; multiple gas inlets provided at the upper lid; a high frequency coil positioned above the dielectric window at an outside of the processing chamber; and a gas supply device supported by the upper lid and provided under the dielectric window. Here, the gas supply device includes a single sheet of plate having through holes, multiple groove-shaped gas paths are formed between the plate and the dielectric window, end portions of the groove-shaped gas paths are opened to edges of the through holes and communicate with the gas inlets, and the gas supply device is configured to supply the processing gas into the processing chamber via the through holes.

Abstract: An antenna unit for generating a plasma includes: a first antenna including a first incoming portion and a plurality of first sub-antennas divided from the first incoming portion; and a second antenna including a second incoming portion and a plurality of second sub-antennas divided from the second incoming portion, the first and second incoming portions constituting a coaxial line.

Abstract: The invention provides a plurality of resonator subsystems. The resonator subsystems can comprise one or more resonant cavities configured to couple electromagnetic (EM) energy in a desired EM wave mode to plasma by generating resonant microwave energy in a resonant cavity adjacent the plasma. The resonator subsystem can be coupled to a process chamber using one or more interface subsystems and can comprise one or more resonant cavities, and each resonant cavity can have a plurality of plasma tuning rods coupled thereto. Some of the plasma tuning rods can be configured to couple the EM-energy from one or more of the resonant cavities to the process space within the process chamber.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a processing chamber, a stage, a dielectric member, a microwave introduction device, an injector, and an electric field shield. The processing chamber has a processing space therein. The stage is provided within the processing chamber. The dielectric member has a through hole and is provided to face the stage. The microwave introduction device is configured to introduce microwave into the processing space via the dielectric member. The injector has at least one through hole and is made of a dielectric material, e.g., a bulk dielectric material. The injector is provided within the dielectric member. The injector and the through hole of the dielectric member form a path for supplying a processing gas into the processing space. The electric field shield encloses the injector.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus performs generating plasma only with the carrier gas without the supply of the processing gas after the end of processing to the substrate.

Abstract: In a film deposition apparatus, a first separation gas is discharged from a separation gas supplying portion to a separation area between a first process area to which a first reaction gas is supplied and a second process area to which a second reaction gas is supplied. A heater is provided to heat the turntable by radiation heat. An outer sidewall member is provided in a bottom part of a vacuum chamber to surround the turntable in an area where the heater is provided. A space forming member is provided between the separation areas adjacent to each other in a rotating direction of the turntable and extending from the outer sidewall member to form a narrow space between the turntable. A purge gas flows from a lower side of the turntable to an area outside the turntable in a radial direction through the narrow space.

Abstract: A microwave plasma processing apparatus includes: a processing container wherein a gas is excited by microwaves and a substrate is plasma-processed; a microwave source which outputs microwaves; a transmission line through which the microwaves output from the microwave source are transmitted; a plurality of dielectric plates which are arranged on an inner surface of the processing container and emit the microwaves into the processing container; a plurality of first coaxial waveguides which are adjacent to the dielectric plates and through which the microwaves are transmitted to the dielectric plates; and a coaxial waveguide distributor which distributes and transmits the microwaves transmitted through the transmission line to the first coaxial waveguides. The coaxial waveguide distributor includes a second coaxial waveguide which has an input portion and 2 types of branched structures which are connected to the first coaxial waveguides and have different configurations.

Abstract: Provided is a heat treatment apparatus that can form films having a uniform thickness on a plurality of substrates. The heat treatment apparatus comprises a process chamber configured to grow silicon carbide (SiC) films on wafers, a boat configured to hold a plurality of wafers in a state where the wafers are vertically arranged and approximately horizontally oriented so as to hold the wafers in the process chamber, a heating unit installed in the process chamber, and a gas supply nozzle configured to supply a reaction gas. The heating unit comprises a susceptor configured to cover at least a part of the boat, and a susceptor wall disposed between the boat and the susceptor.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ashing apparatus and its method of manufacture wherein decrease in processing efficiency is suppressed. Specifically, a shower plate is arranged to face a substrate stage on which a substrate is placed, and diffuses oxygen radicals supplied into a chamber. A metal blocking plate is arranged between the shower plate and the substrate stage and has a through hole through which oxygen radicals pass. In addition, the metal blocking plate has a first layer, which is made of a metal same as the one exposed in the substrate, on the surface facing the substrate.

Abstract: A direct drive arrangement for controlling pressure volume within a confinement region of a processing chamber of a plasma processing system during substrate processing is provided. The confinement region is a chamber volume surrounded by confinement rings is provided. The arrangement includes plunger assemblies configured for changing the pressure of motor assemblies configured for vertically moving the plunger assemblies, and recording set point position values for the plunger assemblies. The arrangement further includes a set of circuits configured for driving the motor assemblies to move the plunger assemblies to change the pressure volume within the confinement region. The set of circuits is also configured for providing power to the motor assemblies. The set of circuits is further configured for receiving the set point position values from the motor assemblies.

Abstract: In accordance with example embodiments, a plasma processing apparatus includes a chamber configured to perform a plasma process, an upper plate on the chamber, an antenna under the upper plate and the antenna is configured to generate plasma in the chamber, an upper insulator between the upper plate and the antenna and the upper insulator covers a top of the antenna, a lower insulator covering a bottom of the antenna, an antenna support ring configured to fix the antenna to the upper plate, and a metal gasket adhered to the antenna support ring.

Abstract: An optical monitor device of the present microwave plasma etching device has: a monitor head located in a position more radially inward than the edge of a semiconductor wafer W mounted on a susceptor, more radially outward than a coaxial pipe, and above a cover plate; an optical waveguide for monitoring provided vertically below the monitor head, and longitudinally traversing the cooling plate, a dielectric plate, and a dielectric window; and a monitor main body optically connected to the monitor head via an optical fiber.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus 31 includes a processing chamber 32; a gas supply unit 33 for supplying a plasma processing gas into a processing chamber 32; a mounting table 34 configured to hold the target substrate W thereon; a plasma generating device 39 configured to generate plasma within the processing chamber 32; and a gas supply device 61. The gas supply device 61 includes a head unit 62 configured to move between a first position above the mounting table 34 and a second position different from the first position and to supply a gas, and the head unit 62 is configured to supply a film forming gas to a small-volume region formed between the mounting table 34 and the head unit 62 when the head unit 62 is positioned at the first position and to adsorb the film forming gas on the target substrate W.

Abstract: An intensity distribution of an electric field of a high frequency power used for generating plasma is controlled by using an electrode made of a homogeneous material and a moving body. There is provided a plasma processing apparatus for introducing a processing gas into an evacuable processing chamber 100 and generating plasma by a high frequency power and performing a plasma process on a wafer W by the plasma. The plasma processing apparatus includes a dielectric base 105a having a multiple number of fine holes A; a varying member 200 as the moving body provided with a multiple number of rod-shaped members B capable of being inserted into and separated from the fine holes A; and a driving mechanism 215 configured to drive the varying member 200 to allow the rod-shaped members B to be inserted into and separated from the fine holes A.

Abstract: A plasma generation chamber of a plasma processing apparatus is closed by a top plate 3. The top plate 3 has recesses 3A on its surface facing the plasma generation chamber and a central recess 3B on an opposite surface. The top plate 3 is coupled to an antenna thereon. If a microwave is supplied to the antenna, the microwave is radiated through slots of the antenna. The microwave is propagated through the top plate 3 such that the microwave has a plane of polarization and the microwave forms a circularly polarized wave as a whole. Here, resonance absorption of the microwave occurs at a side surface of recesses 3A and the microwave is propagated within the recesses 3A in a single mode. Strong plasma can be generated within each of the recesses 3A, so that a stable plasma mode can be generated in the top plate 3.