Abstract: Methods for fabricating a semiconductor device having a lanthanum-family-based oxide layer are described. A gate stack having a lanthanum-family-based oxide layer is provided above a substrate. At least a portion of the lanthanum-family-based oxide layer is modified to form a lanthanum-family-based halide portion. The lanthanum-family-based halide portion is removed with a water vapor treatment.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) of a wafer employing a device for determining, in-situ, during the CMP process, an endpoint where the process is to be terminated. This device includes a laser interferometer capable of generating a laser beam directed towards the wafer and detecting light reflected from the wafer, and a window disposed adjacent to a hole formed through a platen. The window provides a pathway for the laser beam during at least part of the time the wafer overlies the window.

Abstract: In a first aspect, a small lot size lithography bay is provided. The small lot size lithography bay includes (1) a plurality of lithography tools; and (2) a small lot size transport system adapted to transport small lot size substrate carriers to the lithography tools. Each small lot size substrate carrier is adapted to hold fewer than 13 substrates. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: An RF blocking filter isolates a two-phase AC power supply from at least 2 kV p-p of power of an HF frequency that is reactively coupled to a resistive heating element, while conducting several kW of 60 Hz AC power from the two-phase AC power supply to the resistive heating element without overheating, the two-phase AC power supply having a pair of terminals and the resistive heating element having a pair of terminals. The filter includes a pair of cylindrical non-conductive envelopes each having an interior diameter between about one and two inches and respective pluralities of fused iron powder toroids of magnetic permeability on the order of about 10 stacked coaxially within respective ones of the pair of cylindrical envelopes, the exterior diameter of the toroids being about the same as the interior diameter of each of the envelopes. A pair of wire conductors of diameter between 3 mm and 3.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering gases to a semiconductor processing system are provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus for delivering gases to a semiconductor processing system includes a plurality of gas input and output lines having inlet and outlet ports. Connecting lines couple respective pairs of the gas input and gas output lines. Connecting valves are arranged to control flow through the respective connecting lines. Mass gas flow controllers are arranged to control flow into respective inlet ports. In another embodiment, a method includes providing a manifold having at least a plurality of inlet that may be selectively coupled to at least one of a plurality of outlets, flowing one or more gases through the manifold to a vacuum environment by-passing the processing chamber prior to processing or to a calibration circuit, and flowing the one or more gases into the processing chamber during substrate processing.

Abstract: Stress within a suspension wall for suspending a showerhead in a process chamber is ameliorated by one or more of: (1) Openings in the suspension wall that reduce exposure of the suspension wall to process gas or ambient atmosphere when the chamber lid is opened. (2) A substantially vertical arrangement of one or more rifts in the suspension wall which facilitate horizontal buckling or flexing of the suspension wall. (3) A plurality of suspension walls whose respective central portions are coplanar. (4) A gas sealing skirt that helps protect the suspension wall from direct contact with process gas. The gas sealing skirt is connected to either the chamber wall or the showerhead but is not connected to both.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficiently exhausting harmful vapors and fumes from a substrate processing chamber is described. The processing chamber includes a lower volume configured as a liquid atmosphere, and an upper volume configured as a gaseous atmosphere to at least partially contain vapors or fumes above the liquid. The apparatus includes a lid member configured to seal the processing chamber and a lid assembly adapted to provide processing liquids while exhausting the vapors or fumes from the processing chamber. Switchable valves and/or a variable source of negative pressure may be coupled to the lid assembly to provide a controlled exhaust. A method of preventing or minimizing the escape of fumes or vapors is also described.

Abstract: Methods for formation of epitaxial layers containing n-doped silicon are disclosed, including methods for the formation and treatment of epitaxial layers in semiconductor devices, for example, Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET) devices. Formation of the n-doped epitaxial layer involves exposing a substrate in a process chamber to deposition gases including a silicon source, a carbon source and an n-dopant source at a first temperature and pressure and then exposing the substrate to an etchant at a second higher temperature and a higher pressure than during deposition.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention contemplate high efficiency emitters in solar cells and novel methods for forming the same. One embodiment of the improved emitter structure, called a high-low type emitter, optimizes the solar cell performance by equally providing low contact resistance to minimize ohmic losses and isolation of the high surface recombination metal-semiconductor interface from the junction to maximize cell voltage. Another embodiment, called an alternating doping type emitter, provides regions of alternating doping type for use with point contacts in the back-contact solar cells. One embodiment of the methods includes depositing and patterning a doped or undoped dielectric layer on a surface of a substrate, implanting a fast-diffusing dopant and/or a slow-diffusing dopant into the substrate either simultaneously or sequentially, and annealing the substrate to drive in the dopants.

Abstract: A RF plasma generation and temperature control system for an inductively coupled plasma process chamber. The plasma generation system includes a heater that includes an elongated upper heating element substantially parallel to an elongated lower heating element, where the upper and lower heating elements are joined by one or more posts substantially perpendicular to the upper and lower heating elements. The system also including one or more RF coils featuring a crease at points of overlap with the posts. Also, a RF plasma generation system for an inductively coupled plasma process chamber, where the plasma generation system includes a heater thermally coupled to the chamber, and one or more RF coils coupled to the chamber, where the RF coils include a hollow tube having at least one flat side.

Abstract: A high-k silicate atomic layer deposition method is disclosed. To produce a hafnium silicate layer, a substrate may be exposed to a pulse of a hafnium precursor, a pulse of an oxidizer, a pulse of a silicon precursor, and a pulse of another oxidizer. A catalyst may additionally be co-flowed with one or more reactants into the chamber through a separate inlet. Alternatively, the catalyst may be flowed to the chamber before the reactant is introduced in a soaking procedure. By either co-flowing the catalyst through separate inlets or by performing a catalyst soak, hafnium silicate formation may proceed at a fast rate and/or at a low temperature.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to an ultraviolet (UV) cure chamber for curing a dielectric material disposed on a substrate and to methods of curing dielectric materials using UV radiation. A substrate processing tool according to one embodiment comprises a body defining a substrate processing region; a substrate support adapted to support a substrate within the substrate processing region; an ultraviolet radiation lamp spaced apart from the substrate support, the lamp configured to transmit ultraviolet radiation to a substrate positioned on the substrate support; and a motor operatively coupled to rotate at least one of the ultraviolet radiation lamp or substrate support at least 180 degrees relative to each other.

Abstract: A scrubber box is provided that includes a tank adapted to receive a substrate for cleaning, supports outside of the tank and adapted to couple to ends of scrubber brushes disposed within the tank, a motor mounted to each of the supports and adapted to rotate the scrubber brushes, a base to which the supports are pivotally mounted via spherical bearings adapted to permit toe-in of the scrubber brushes, a brush gap actuator adapted, via a crank and rocker mechanism, to substantially simultaneously pivot the supports toward or away from each other so as to permit the scrubber brushes to substantially simultaneously achieve or break contact with the substrate, and a toe-in actuator adapted to move two of the spherical bearings toward or away from each other so as to adjust a toe-in angle between the scrubber brushes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for measuring the thickness of a test object. The apparatus includes an eddy current sensor having first and second sensor heads. The sensor heads are positioned to have a predetermined gap therebetween for passage by at least a portion of the test object through the gap. The sensor heads make measurements at given sampling locations on the test object as the test object is moved through the gap. The apparatus also includes a position sensing mechanism to determine positions of the sampling locations on the test object. The apparatus also includes an evaluation circuit in communication with the eddy current sensor and to the position sensing mechanism for determining the thickness of the test object at the sampling locations.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling characteristics of a plasma, such as the spatial distribution of RF power and plasma uniformity, are provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus for controlling characteristics of a plasma includes a resonator for use in conjunction with a plasma reactor, the resonator including a source resonator for receiving an RF signal having a first frequency; a return path resonator disposed substantially coaxially with, and at least partially within, the source resonator; and an outer conductor having the source resonator and the return path resonator disposed substantially coaxially with, and at least partially within, the outer conductor, the outer conductor for providing an RF ground connection.

Abstract: During fabrication, a rotating semiconductor substrate is radiated in accordance with a thermal recipe. Temperature measurements of the semiconductor substrate are obtained along with the position of the semiconductor substrate at the time of each temperature measurement. It is then determined for the position of the semiconductor substrate whether at least one particular temperature measurement of the temperature measurements should be filtered. If so, at least one filtered temperature measurement is obtained. The radiation of the semiconductor substrate is subsequently controlled based on the temperature measurements, the at least one filtered temperature measurement, and the thermal recipe.

Abstract: A method of forming a device using a graded anti-reflective coating is provided. One or more amorphous carbon layers are formed on a substrate. An anti-reflective coating (ARC) is formed on the one or more amorphous carbon layers wherein the ARC layer has an absorption coefficient that varies across the thickness of the ARC layer. An energy sensitive resist material is formed on the ARC layer. An image of a pattern is introduced into the layer of energy sensitive resist material by exposing the energy sensitive resist material to patterned radiation. The image of the pattern introduced into the layer of energy sensitive resist material is developed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a precursor to a process chamber is described. The apparatus comprises an ampoule capable of receiving either a liquid precursor source material or a solid precursor source material. The ampoule is capable of delivering either a liquid precursor material to a vaporizer coupled to the process chamber, or a vaporized or gaseous precursor material to the process chamber. The ampoule also includes a continuous level sensor to accurately monitor the level of precursor source material within the ampoule.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention describe a method for reclaiming a substrate by removing surface films with media blasting. A substrate is provided having a surface film. Media blasting is performed on the substrate to remove the surface film from the surface. In one embodiment media blasting removes a film from the substrate top surface. In another embodiment media blasting removes a film from the substrate top surface and side surface.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for electron beam treatment of a substrate are provided. An electron beam apparatus that includes a vacuum chamber, at least one thermocouple assembly in communication with the vacuum chamber, a heating device in communication with the vacuum chamber, and combinations thereof are provided. In one embodiment, the vacuum chamber comprises an electron source wherein the electron source comprises a cathode connected to a high voltage source, an anode connected to a low voltage source, and a substrate support. In another embodiment, the vacuum chamber comprises a grid located between the anode and the substrate support. In one embodiment the heating device comprises a first parallel light array and a second light array positioned such that the first parallel light array and the second light array intersect. In one embodiment the thermocouple assembly comprises a temperature sensor made of aluminum nitride.