Abstract: A processing method for nitriding an iron group series alloy substrate, or processing subject, containing an alloy element for forming nitride by plasma nitriding treatment including a passivated membrane removing treatment step. The passivated membrane removing treatment is performed by hydrogen sputtering under reduced pressure. It is desirable that this hydrogen sputtering is initiated from a normal temperature in a process of raising a temperature of a processing subject for plasma nitriding.

Abstract: A gas jetting nozzle is used for etching an object to be etched by jetting etching gas onto the object from the gas jetting nozzle. A gas jetting pipe for jetting an etching gas and a suction pipe for discharging the jetted gas are provided to have a coaxial dual pipe structure. The etching gas is jetted from the gas jetting pipe toward the object for etching and, at the same time, excess etching gas for reaction is discharged through the suction pipe.

Abstract: A plasma processing chamber includes a substrate holder and a member of silicon carbide such as a liner, focus ring, perforated baffle or a gas distribution plate, the member having an exposed surface adjacent the substrate holder and the exposed surface being effective to minimize contamination during processing of substrates. The chamber can include an antenna which inductively couples RF energy through the gas distribution plate to energize process gas into a plasma state.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, a plasma reactor having a chamber for containing a plasma and a passageway communicating with the chamber is enhanced with a first removable plasma confinement magnet module placed adjacent the passageway including a first module housing and a first plasma confinement magnet inside the housing. It may further include a second removable plasma confinement magnet module placed adjacent the passageway including a second module housing, and a second plasma confinement magnet. Preferably, the first and second modules are located on opposite sides of the passageway. Moreover, the first and second plasma confinement magnets have magnetic orientations which tend to oppose plasma transport or leakage through the passageway. Preferably, the module housing includes a relatively non-magnetic thermal conductor such as aluminum and is in thermal contact with said chamber body.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and medium is provided for increasing the efficiency with which wafers are transferred among different processing chambers in a wafer processing facility. A multi-slot cooling chamber allows multiple wafers to be cooled while other wafers are subjected to processing steps in other chambers. Each wafer in the processing sequence is assigned a priority level depending on its processing stage, and this priority level is used to sequence the movement of wafers between chambers. A look-ahead feature prevents low-priority wafer transfers from occurring if such transfers would occur just prior to the scheduling of a high-priority wafer transfer.

Abstract: The uniformity of material removal, as well as contamination due to deposited particulate matter, has been reduced in single wafer sputter-etchers by providing an improved gas baffle. Said gas baffle presents a smooth surface to the incoming sputtering gas so that it disperses uniformly throughout the sputtering chamber, thereby avoiding local fluctuations in pressure which, in turn, can lead to local differences in material removal rate as well as to particulate contamination of the surface that is being etched. The design of the baffle is described along with a method for attaching it to the inside of the sputtering shield.

Abstract: There is provided by this invention a novel inductively coupled plasma source apparatus that utilizes a transformer to induce closed path secondary plasma currents in a hollow metal housing that is directly cooled by a fluid. This plasma source apparatus is particularly useful for generating a high charged particle density source of ions, electrons, and chemically active species to serve various plasma related processes that may require high power densities. A hollow metal vacuum chamber is coupled to and electrically insulated from a metal vacuum process chamber by means of dielectric gaps that are well shielded from direct exposure to the plasma body. Electrons, photons and excited gaseous species are generated within the metal hollow chamber and process chamber to serve a wide variety of material, surface and gas processing applications. There is also provided by this invention a means of ganging together several hollow metal vacuum chamber assemblies about a single vacuum process chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conditioning a surface of a ceramic body in a process chamber when the process chamber has a vacuum pump, an anode and a cathode. The conditioning method consists of pumping the process chamber down to a vacuum with the vacuum pump, introducing a gas into the chamber, energizing the anode and cathode with RF power to ignite the gas into a plasma, sputter etchinq the surface with ions from the plasma to remove contaminants therefrom. The method is accomplished either within a process chamber to condition, in situ, a ceramic chuck or within a cleaning chamber to condition any form of ceramic body or component.

Abstract: In the substrate treatment apparatus including substrate treatment chambers (301 and 303) and a buffer chamber (302) having an exhaust system (306b) independent of the substrate treatment chambers, connection tubes (304a and 304b) are provided between the substrate treatment chambers and the buffer chamber, and gas inlets are respectively provided for the connection tubes. A gas (308) for treating a substrate flows from the connection tube (304a) into the substrate treatment chamber (301) and the buffer chamber (302), while a gas (309) for treating a substrate flows from the connection tube (304b) into the substrate treatment chamber (303) and the buffer chamber (302). Accordingly, the gas does not move from the substrate treatment chamber to the buffer chamber against a gas flow, thereby allowing the separation between ambiences.

Abstract: The uniformity of material removal, as well as contamination due to deposited particulate matter, has been reduced in single wafer sputter-etchers by providing an improved gas baffle. Said gas baffle presents a smooth surface to the incoming sputtering gas so that it disperses uniformly throughout the sputtering chamber, thereby avoiding local fluctuations in pressure which, in turn, can lead to local differences in material removal rate as well as to particulate contamination of the surface that is being etched. The design of the baffle is described along with a method for attaching it to the inside of the sputtering shield.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conditioning a surface of a ceramic body in a process chamber when the process chamber has a vacuum pump, an anode and a cathode. The conditioning method consists of pumping the process chamber down to a vacuum with the vacuum pump, introducing a gas into the chamber, energizing the anode and cathode with RF power to ignite the gas into a plasma, sputter etching the surface with ions from the plasma to remove contaminants therefrom. The method is accomplished either within a process chamber to condition, in situ, a ceramic chuck or within a cleaning chamber to condition any form of ceramic body or component.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method for plasma etching difficult to etch materials at a high etch rate. The method is particularly useful in plasma etching silicon nitride layers more than five microns thick. The method includes a plasma formed by energy provided from two separate power sources and a gaseous mixture that includes only an etchant gas and a sputtering gas. The power levels from the separate power sources and the ratio between the flow rates of the etchant gas and a sputtering gas can be advantageously adjusted to obtain etch rates of silicon nitride greater than two microns per minute. Additionally, an embodiment of the method of the invention provides a two etch step process which combines a high etch rate process with a low etch rate process to achieve high throughput while minimizing the likelihood of damage to underlying layers. The first etch step of the two-step method provides a high etch rate of about two microns per minute to remove substantially all of a layer to be etched the.

Abstract: A process chamber 15 for processing a substrate 30, such as a semiconductor wafer, comprises a support 20 having a surface 25 for supporting the substrate 30. A gas distributor 50 in the chamber comprises a gas manifold 110 comprising at least one insert 140 having an orifice 115 for passing gas from the gas manifold 110 into the process chamber 15. Preferably, the gas manifold 110 extends about a perimeter 130 of the substrate 30 and comprises a plurality of inserts 140 made from dielectric material.

Abstract: A method and a device for manufacturing a thin film by a vacuum deposition method, and a magnetic recording medium produced thereby are disclosed. A thin film of high quality is mass-produced while introducing reaction gas to a thin film forming section from a nozzle consisting of minute tubes, so that the flow of evaporated atoms is not disturbed by the reaction gas.

Abstract: The vacuum processing apparatus of the present invention comprises a process chamber in which predetermined processing is performed on a target object in a predetermined vacuum condition, a mount stage provided in the process chamber, for mounting thereon the target object, a shower head provided so as to oppose to the mount stage, for supplying a process gas in the process chamber, an exhaust path provided in a housing forming the process chamber, and extending so as to surround the mount stage outside the mount stage, an exhaust port formed around the mount stage, for connecting the exhaust path with the process chamber, a porous member provided at the exhaust port so as to partition the exhaust path and the process chamber from each other, and having a plurality of ventilation holes for making the exhaust path communicating with the process chamber, branching means for branching a gas flowing from the process chamber through the ventilation holes of the porous member, into a plurality of directions, such t

Abstract: An apparatus, method and medium is provided for increasing the efficiency with which wafers are transferred among different processing chambers in a wafer processing facility. A multi-slot cooling chamber allows multiple wafers to be cooled while other wafers are subjected to processing steps in other chambers. Each wafer in the processing sequence is assigned a priority level depending on its processing stage, and this priority level is used to sequence the movement of wafers between chambers. A look-ahead feature prevents low-priority wafer transfers from occurring if such transfers would occur just prior to the scheduling of a high-priority wafer transfer.

Abstract: The film thickness of a thin film formed on substrate 14 is made symmetrical and uniform by eliminating currents of gas over target 9 by performing film deposition in a condition with gas supply and vacuum evacuation cut off, after adjusting the interior of vacuum chamber 1 to the predetermined pressure.