Abstract: An improved position control means for robotic handling systems; particularly, a system and method for determining the centerpoint of a moving object, such as a semiconductor wafer, and calibration of the object support, using an array of sensors positioned generally transverse to the arcuate path of movement of the object and its support to detect the relative positions of the object and the support to a selected destination point for the purpose of precisely positioning the object relative to the selected destination point.

Abstract: A method for preventing cross-contamination of semiconductor wafers during processing comprising covering a surface portion of a support assembly with a process compatible material, engaging a semiconductor wafer with the support assembly, processing the wafer while it is engaged with the support member, and removing the process compatible material from the support assembly after said material is considered to be contaminated. A shield particularly adapted for this process includes a shield portion made from a process compatible material and a process-compatible adhesive for attaching the shield portion to the support assembly.

Abstract: A susceptor carrying semiconductor wafers for processing is suspended from a compliant attachment at its upper end and is lowered into a reaction chamber for processing. At the completion of processing, the susceptor is withdrawn vertically to permit a robot to unload the processed wafers and load unprocessed wafers. In order to fix the position of the susceptor during the loading operations, a support carriage is moved into position to engage the lower end of the susceptor. Noxious and corrosive chloride vapors are simultaneously withdrawn from the reaction chamber by a vacuum line attached to the support carriage.

Abstract: A reflective method for monitoring the etch rate or growth rate of a material, such as a semiconductor material, that may be initially at least partly covered by another layer of a different material. An aperture in the overlying material is formed to expose a portion of the surface of the layer to be etched or grown, and a monochromatic light beam is directed at the exposed surface to form a signal which can be used to monitor the processing of the material.

Abstract: A wafer processing reactor having an input manifold to enable control of a process gas flow profile over a wafer that is being processed. Both process gas relative concentrations and flow rates can be controlled, thereby enabling an increased uniformity of processing across the wafer.

Abstract: Improved apparatus and a method for reducing polymerparticle contamination of semiconductor wafers being processed in a system for plasma-etching silicon dioxide. A quartz gas distribution plate contains a number of gas inlet holes having cross-sectional areas sufficiently small to prevent plasma from being present in the gas inlet holes to inhibit formation of polymer material and flaking of contamination particles therefrom. The gas inlet holes are formed on the surface of the quartz gas distribution plate directly over a wafer being processed. Alternatively, the gas inlet holes are formed in the quartz plate to radially extend to the peripheral edge of the quartz plate so that contamination particles, if any, fall outside the bounds of a wafer beneath the quartz plate. The method disclosed includes the step of feeding CHF.sub.

Abstract: A method for heating or cooling a semiconductor wafer in semiconductor processing apparatus is described which comprises directing into contact with a surface of the wafer at least a portion of one or more components of the process gas to transfer heat between the wafer and a wafer support positioned in the apparatus adjacent to the wafer. Method and apparatus are also described for controlling the total flow of process gas through the apparatus and for monitoring the pressure in said apparatus to maintain the desired pressure therein.

Abstract: A method of etching an oxide over a nitride with high selectivity comprising plasma etching the oxide with a carbon and fluorine-containing etchant gas in the presence of a scavenger for fluorine, thereby forming a carbon-rich polymer which passivates the nitride. This polymer is inert to the plasma etch gases and thus provides high selectivity to the etch process.

Abstract: In a thin film process system, an anti-contamination device, anti-flake shield or collimator plate, is fit to a process chamber. By maintaining a temperature differential between the chamber body and the device, or between the device and any adapter used to conform the device to the chamber apparatus, the device expands to maintain a substantially sealing press fit to the chamber body. The temperature differential can be maintained even when the process is finished until it is time to remove the device for cleaning or disposal and replacement.

Abstract: When a collimator is employed between the target and a substrate support in a physical vapor deposition chamber, since the collimator is grounded to the chamber walls, the chamber becomes divided electrically, because the collimator acts as a barrier to the passage of the plasma. Thus a two step plasma cleaning process must be performed to remove native oxide and sputtered deposits on parts of the chamber, particularly when parts of the chamber are replaced or removed. The first plasma clean step is conventional and cleans the upper portion of the chamber including the upper surface of the collimator. A positive bias source is then connected to the substrate support and a second cleaning plasma generated between the collimator and the support which cleans the parts of the chamber below the collimator, including the bottom surface of the collimator.

Abstract: Replaceable parts for a vacuum chamber including an aluminum lid and a quartz door and shield, are treated to clean and roughen their surfaces to increase adhesion of materials deposited thereon during substrate processing in said chamber, thereby reducing downtime of the equipment. The parts can be chemically cleaned, rinsed to remove the chemicals and dried in a first step; subjected to bead blasting to roughen the surface of the part and improve adhesion thereon of deposited material; in a succeeding step the part to be cleaned ultrasonically in order to remove all loose particles; and in a last step the parts rinsed and dried to remove moisture, prior to packaging or using the part. A novel single-piece machined aluminum lid has an extension wall from a first surface that fits into the door of the chamber, and an overlying portion of said first surface that sealingly engages the door when the lid is closed.

Abstract: High quality silicon nitride thin films can be deposited by plasma CVD onto large area glass substrates at high deposition rates by adjusting the spacing between the gas inlet manifold and substrate, maintaining the temperature at about 300.degree.-350.degree. C., and a pressure of at least 0.8 Torr. Subsequently deposited different thin films can also be deposited in separate chemical vapor deposition chambers which are part of a single vacuum system.

Abstract: In a method for preparing a shield and/or clamping ring prior to use in a physical vapor deposition process, the shield and/or clamping ring is first bead blasted using an abrasive powder, then is treated in an ultrasonic cleaning chamber to remove loose particles and then sputter etched or treated with a plasma. The sputtering or plasma treatment serves to loosen contamination which may form a diffusion barrier and prevent the deposits from bonding to the shield and also serves to roughen the surface of the shield and/or clamping ring, to reduce interface voids and improve adhesion of sputtered material onto the shield and/or clamping ring. The process of the invention results in improved cleaning of the shield and/or clamping ring and improved adhesion of sputtered material thereon, thereby increasing the time before the shield/clamping ring must be cleaned and reducing down-time of the physical vapor deposition chamber.

Abstract: A system for implanting ions of a prearranged chemical species into a plurality of semiconductor wafers. A beam analyzing arrangement receives an ion beam and selective separates various ion species in the beam on the basis of mass to produce an analyzed beam exiting the analyzing arrangement. A wafer scanning arrangement scans a plurality of wafers through the accelerated ion beam. The analyzing arrangement has an ion dispersion plane associated therewith and the source arrangement has an associated ion emitting envelope including an area pf substantial extension in a plane parallel to the ion dispersion plane and produces an ion beam characterized by a beam envelope which retains an area of substantial extension in a plane paralled to ion dispersion plane throughout the region between the source and the analyzing arrangement and by ions entering the analyzing arrangement travelling substantially either toward or from a common apparent line object perpendicular to the ion dispersion plane.

Abstract: Leakage current in InGaAs/InAsP/InP lattice mismatched photodetectors can be reduced by providing graded InAsP compositions having abrupt interfaces between successive layers that maintain a lattice mismatch between the layers of 0.13% or less; doping the absorption layer with high levels of sulfur and by thermal cycling of the wafers. High yields of low leakage current photodetector arrays are obtained.

Abstract: In the manufacture of high temperature deposited aluminum contacts onto silicon substrates wherein a barrier layer of titanium nitride is used, the improvement wherein the titanium nitride contains oxygen. The improved contacts are made by depositing a titanium-containing layer onto a silicon substrate, performing a first, high temperature nitrogen anneal in vacuum to form a low resistance TiSi.sub.x contact to the silicon, and performing a second, lower temperature anneal in vacuum using a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen to add oxygen to the titanium nitride layer. This oxygen-containing titanium nitride layer provides an improved barrier to a subsequently deposited high temperature deposited aluminum layer.

Abstract: A susceptor carrying semiconductor wafers for processing is suspended from a compliant attachment at its upper end and is lowered into a reaction chamber for processing. At the completion of processing, the susceptor is withdrawn vertically to permit a robot to unload the processed wafers and load unprocessed wafers. In order to fix the position of the susceptor during the loading operations, a support carriage is moved into position to engage the lower end of the susceptor. Noxious and corrosive chloride vapors are simultaneously withdrawn from the reaction chamber by a vacuum line attached to the support carriage.

Abstract: Particles and particle-generated defects during gas phase processing such as during epitaxial deposition are substantially decreased by the process of controlling the various particle transport mechanisms, for example, by applying low level radiant energy during cold purge cycles in barrel reactors.

Abstract: An improved method of filling vias and openings in semiconductor devices comprises first faceting the top of the openings, depositing in sequence a barrier layer, as of TiN, treating the barrier layer to reduce its porosity, depositing a titanium-containing wetting layer, sputter depositing a first layer of aluminum at low temperatures and sputter depositing a second layer of aluminum at high temperatures to fill the opening and planarize the layer. The improved method is carried out preferably in a multichamber sputtering system.

Abstract: A process for depositing void-free silicon oxide layers over stepped topography comprising depositing a first silicon oxide seed layer which is doped with nitrogen from a plasma of tetraethoxysilane and a nitrogen-containing gas, and depositing thereover a silicon oxide layer from a mixture of tetraethoxysilane, ozone and oxygen at low temperatures to produce a silicon oxide layer having improved properties.