Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a microwave introduction device which introduces a microwave into a process chamber. The microwave introduction device includes a plurality of microwave transmitting plates which is fitted into a plurality of openings of a ceiling. The microwave transmitting plates are arranged on one virtual plane parallel to a mounting surface of a mounting table, with the microwave transmitting plates fitted into the respective openings. The microwave transmitting plates includes first to third microwave transmitting plates. The first to third microwave transmitting plates are arranged in such a manner that a distance between the center point of the first microwave transmitting window and the center point of the second microwave transmitting window becomes equal or approximately equal to a distance between the center point of the first microwave transmitting window and the center point of the third microwave transmitting window.

Abstract: Apparatus for atomic layer deposition on a surface of a sheeted substrate, comprising: an injector head comprising a deposition space provided with a precursor supply and a precursor drain; said supply and drain arranged for providing a precursor gas flow from the precursor supply via the deposition space to the precursor drain; the deposition space in use being bounded by the injector head and the substrate surface; a gas bearing comprising a bearing gas injector, arranged for injecting a bearing gas between the injector head and the substrate surface, the bearing gas thus forming a gas-bearing; a conveying system providing relative movement of the substrate and the injector head along a plane of the substrate to form a conveying plane along which the substrate is conveyed.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a processing chamber that converts a processing gas introduced from a gas supply source into plasma and performs plasma processing on a target object, an exhaust chamber that communicates with the inside of the processing chamber to exhaust a gas converted into plasma from the processing chamber, and a blocking cover that is provided in the exhaust chamber to block communication between the inside of the processing chamber and the inside of the exhaust chamber.

Abstract: A surface wave plasma generating antenna serves to generate a surface wave plasma in a chamber by radiating into the chamber a microwave transmitted from a microwave output section through a coaxial waveguide including an outer conductor and an inner conductor. The surface wave plasma generating antenna is formed in a planar shape and has a plurality of slots arranged in a circumferential direction, and each joint portion between two adjacent slots in the circumferential direction is overlapped with at least one of the slots in a diametrical direction.

Abstract: There is provided a plasma processing apparatus including a processing chamber 100 configured to perform a plasma process on a wafer W; an upper electrode 105 and a lower electrode 110 arranged to face each other in the processing chamber 100 and configured to form a processing space therebetween; and a high frequency power supply 150 connected with at least one of the upper electrode 105 and the lower electrode 110 and configured to output a high frequency power into the processing chamber 100. The upper electrode 105 includes an upper base 105a made of a dielectric material, and a plurality of fine holes A having a diameter equal to or less than twice a thickness of a sheath are formed in the upper base 105a.

Abstract: A processing system for and a method of producing ions inside a process chamber and shielding the ions from a magnetic field by directing the magnetic field through a magnet keeper is described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing multiple substrates simultaneously is provided. Each substrate may have two major active surfaces to be processed. The apparatus has a substrate handling module and a substrate processing module. The substrate handling module has a loader assembly, a flipper assembly, and a factory interface. Substrates are disposed on a substrate carrier at the loader assembly. The flipper assembly is used to flip all the substrates on a substrate carrier in the event two-sided processing is required. The factory interface positions substrate carriers holding substrates for entry into and exit from the substrate processing module. The substrate processing module comprises a load-lock, a transfer chamber, and a plurality of processing chambers, each configured to process multiple substrates disposed on a substrate carrier.

Abstract: A continuously variable microwave circuit capable of being tuned to operate under a plurality of distinct operating conditions, comprising: a waveguide comprising an adjustable tuning element having a core configured to protrude into the waveguide; an actuator in operative communication with the adjustable tuning element, wherein the actuator is operable to selectively vary a length of the core that is protruding into the waveguide so as to minimize reflected microwave power in the plasma asher; and a controller in operative communication with the actuator, wherein the controller is configured to selectively activate the actuator upon a change in the plurality of operating conditions.

Abstract: A gas supply unit, for supplying a gas into a processing chamber in which a substrate is processed, includes a plurality of gas supply sources, a mixing line for mixing a plurality of gases supplied from the gas supply sources to make a gaseous mixture, a multiplicity of branch lines for branching the gaseous mixture to be supplied to a multiplicity of places in the processing chamber, and an additional gas supply unit for supplying a specified additional gas to a gaseous mixture flowing in at least one branch line. The gas supply unit also includes pressure gauges and valves for adjusting gas flow rates in the branch lines, respectively, and a pressure ratio controller for controlling that gaseous mixtures branched into the branch lines to have a specified pressure ratio by adjusting opening degrees of the valves based on measurement results obtained by using the pressure gauges.

Abstract: A tubular electrode (215) and a tubular magnet (216) are installed on an external section of a processing furnace (202) for an MMT device. A susceptor (217) for holding a wafer (200) is installed inside a processing chamber (201) of the processing furnace. A gate valve (244) for conveying the wafer into and out of the processing chamber; and a shower head (236) for spraying processing gas in a shower onto the wafer, are installed inside the processing furnace. A high frequency electrode (2) and a heater (3) are installed inside the susceptor (217) with a clearance between them and the walls forming the space. The clearances formed between the walls forming the space in the susceptor and the high frequency electrode and the heater prevent damage to the high frequency electrode and the heater even if a thermal expansion differential occurs between the high frequency electrode, the heater and the susceptor.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus that simultaneously forms thin films on a plurality of substrates and performs heat treatment includes: a plurality of substrate holders, each including a substrate support that supports a substrate and a first gas pipe having one or a plurality of injection holes; a boat where the plurality of substrate holders are stacked and including a second gas pipe connected with the first gas pipe of each of the substrate holders; a process chamber providing a space in which the substrates stacked in the boat are processed; a conveying unit that carries the boat into/out of the process chamber; a first heating unit disposed outside the process chamber; and a gas supply unit including a third gas pipe connected with the second gas pipe and supplying a heated or cooled gas into the second gas pipe.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a vacuum evacuable processing chamber; a lower electrode for mounting a target substrate in the processing chamber; a focus ring attached to the lower electrode to cover at least a portion of a peripheral portion of the lower electrode; an upper electrode disposed to face the lower electrode in parallel in the processing chamber; a processing gas supply unit for supplying a processing gas to a processing space; and a radio frequency (RF) power supply for outputting an RF power. Further, the plasma processing apparatus includes a plasma generating RF power supply section for supplying the RF power to a first load for generating a plasma of the processing gas; and a focus ring heating RF power supply section for supplying the RF power to a second load for heating the focus ring.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a processing chamber that plasma processes a target object therein, first and second electrodes that are provided in the processing chamber to face each other and have a processing space therebetween, and a high frequency power source that is connected to at least one of the first and second electrodes to supply high frequency power to the processing chamber. At least one of the first and second electrodes includes a base formed of a metal, a dielectric material provided at a central portion of a plasma side of the base, and a first resistor provided between the dielectric material and plasma, and formed of a metal with a predetermined pattern.

Abstract: Provided is a plasma processing apparatus wherein an electrode embedded in a mounting table is supplied with high frequency power for biasing. A surface, which is exposed to plasma and is of an aluminum cover functioning as an opposite electrode to the electrode of the mounting table, is coated with a protection film, preferably a Y2O3 film. A second portion forming an upper side portion of the processing chamber and a first portion forming a lower side portion of the processing container are provided with an insulating upper liner and an insulating lower liner thicker than the upper liner, respectively. Thus, undesirable short-circuits and abnormal electrical discharge are prevented and stable high-frequency current path is formed.

Abstract: An internal member of a plasma processing vessel includes a base material and a film formed by thermal spraying of ceramic on a surface of the base material. The film is formed of ceramic which includes at least one kind of element selected from the group consisting of B, Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Cr, Y, Zr, Ta, Ce and Nd. In addition, at least a portion of the film is sealed by a resin.

Abstract: A dielectric plate 20 is provided at a ceiling surface facing a susceptor 3 of a processing chamber 2, and a slot antenna 30 having a multiple number of microwave transmissive slots 33 is provided on a top surface of the dielectric plate 20. A protrusion member 21 configured as a separate member from the dielectric plate 20 is provided on a peripheral portion of a bottom surface of the dielectric plate 20 so as to prevent an abnormal electric discharge. Electric field intensity in the vicinity of the dielectric plate 20 is controlled by adjusting a gap between an outer peripheral surface 22 of a cylindrical part of the protrusion member 21 and an inner peripheral surface 5a of a sidewall of the processing chamber 2 or by adjusting a thickness of the cylindrical part of the protrusion member 21.

Abstract: Before a substrate is processed in a plasma processing apparatus that inhibits an increase in the temperature of an upper electrode attributable to DC voltage application as well as an increase in the upper electrode temperature attributable to high-frequency power application, a heating medium target temperature to be achieved by a heating medium in order to adjust the upper electrode temperature to a predetermined temperature setting is calculated based upon the levels of the high-frequency power to be applied to the upper electrode and a susceptor (lower electrode) and the DC voltage to be applied to the upper electrode. During the substrate processing, the heating medium, the temperature of which is controlled based upon the target temperature, circulates through a flow passage formed at the upper electrode so as to control the temperature of the upper electrode.

Abstract: Embodiments of a plasma generator apparatus for ashing a work piece are provided. The apparatus includes a container adapted for continuous gas flow there through from an inlet end to an outlet end thereof. The container is fabricated of a dielectric material and adapted for ionization therein of a portion of at least one component of gas flowing therethrough. A gas flow distributor is configured to direct gas flow to a region within the container and a coil surrounds at least a portion of side walls of the container adjacent the region of the container to which the gas flow distributor directs gas flow. A radio frequency generator is coupled to the coil.

Abstract: In a vacuum processing apparatus, a substrate chuck mechanism member is attached to a substrate holder provided in a vacuum processing chamber, includes a shaft member, first and second coil springs that are provided at the two ends, respectively, of the shaft member, and a substrate chuck plate provided at the end of the shaft member, and is additionally attached to the substrate holder using the substrate chuck plate by elastic biasing of the first coil spring. The holding state of the substrate on the substrate holder is changed by the expansion/contraction actions of the first and second coil springs in accordance with the reciprocal movement of the substrate holder.

Abstract: An electrode for use in a plasma processing apparatus is provided above a lower electrode within a processing chamber so as to face the lower electrode serving as a mounting table configured to mount thereon a processing target substrate. The electrode includes an upper member provided with a plurality of gas passage holes through which a processing gas is supplied; and a lower member positioned below the upper member and provided with multiple sets of gas discharge holes through which the processing gas is discharged. Here, each gas passage hole may have a diameter larger than that of each gas discharge hole, each set of the gas discharge holes may communicate with corresponding one of the gas passage holes, and each set of the gas discharge holes may be arranged outside the rim of the corresponding one of the gas passage holes when viewed from a top thereof.