Abstract: Methods of etching a patterned substrate may include flowing an oxygen-containing precursor into a first remote plasma region fluidly coupled with a substrate processing region. The oxygen-containing precursor may be flowed into the region while forming a plasma in the first remote plasma region to produce oxygen-containing plasma effluents. The methods may also include flowing a fluorine-containing precursor into a second remote plasma region fluidly coupled with the substrate processing region while forming a plasma in the second remote plasma region to produce fluorine-containing plasma effluents. The methods may include flowing the oxygen-containing plasma effluents and fluorine-containing plasma effluents into the processing region, and using the effluents to etch a patterned substrate housed in the substrate processing region.

Abstract: Precursors, such as interhalogens and/or compounds formed of noble gases and halogens, may be supplied in a gaseous form to a semiconductor processing chamber at a predetermined amount, flow rate, pressure, and/or temperature in a cyclic manner such that atomic layer etching of select semiconductor materials may be achieved in each cycle. In the etching process, the element of the precursor that has a relatively higher electronegativity may react with select semiconductor materials to form volatile etching byproducts. The element of the precursor that has a relatively lower electronegativity may form a gas that may be recycled to re-form an precursor with one or more halogen-containing materials using a plasma process.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to selectively deposit metal films (e.g., titanium films) are described. One of the precursors is energized to form ions and radicals of the precursor. The precursors flow through separate channels of a dual channel gas distribution assembly to react in a processing region above a substrate.

Abstract: An electronic device manufacturing system includes a mass flow controller (MFC) that has a thermal flow sensor. The thermal flow sensor may measure a mass flow rate and may include a sensor tube having an inner surface coated with a material to form an inner barrier layer. The inner barrier layer may prevent or substantially reduce the likelihood of a corrosive reaction from occurring on the inner surface, which may prevent or reduce the likelihood of the MFC drifting beyond the MFC's mass flow rate accuracy specifications. This may improve the repeatability of flow detection by the MFC. Methods of measuring and controlling a mass flow rate in an electronic device manufacturing system are also provided, as are other aspects.

Abstract: Processing methods comprising selectively orthogonally growing a first material through a mask to provide an expanded first material are described. The mask can be removed leaving the expanded first material extending orthogonally from the surface of the first material. Further processing can create a self-aligned via.

Abstract: A gas injection system includes (a) a side gas plenum, (b) a plurality of N gas inlets coupled to said side gas plenum, (c) plural side gas outlets extending radially inwardly from said plenum, (d) an N-way gas flow ratio controller having N outputs coupled to said N gas inlets respectively, and (e) an M-way gas flow ratio controller having M outputs, respective ones of said M outputs coupled to said tunable gas nozzle and a gas input of said N-way gas flow ratio controller.

Abstract: Embodiments include a plasma processing method for cleaning polymer byproducts from interior surfaces of the plasma chamber. In an embodiment the plasma process may include processing a workpiece in a plasma processing chamber. Thereafter, the method may include removing the workpiece from the processing chamber. After the workpiece is removed, embodiments may include cleaning the plasma processing chamber with a cleaning process that includes a high pressure cleaning process, a first low pressure cleaning process, and a second low pressure cleaning process, wherein the second low pressure cleaning process includes applying a pulsed bias.

Abstract: Implementations disclosed herein relate to methods and apparatus for zoned temperature control during a film forming process. In one implementation, a substrate processing apparatus is provided. The substrate processing apparatus comprises a vacuum chamber, a plurality of power supplies coupled with the plurality of thermal laps and a controller that adjusts the power supplies based on input from radiation sensors. The chamber includes a sidewall defining a processing region. A plurality of thermal lamps is positioned external to the processing region. A window is positioned between the plurality of thermal lamps and the processing region. A radiation source is disposed within the sidewall and oriented to direct radiation toward an area proximate a substrate support. A radiation sensor is disposed on the side of the substrate support opposite the plurality of thermal lamps to receive emitted radiation from the radiation source.

Abstract: Precision screen printing is described that is capable of sub-micron uniformity of the metallization materials that are printed on green sheet ceramic. In some examples, puck is formed with electrical traces by screen printing a paste that contains metal on a ceramic green sheet in a pattern of electrical traces and processing the printed green sheet to form a puck of a workpiece carrier. In some example, the printing includes applying a squeegee of a screen printer to the printed green sheet in a squeegeeing direction while the green sheet is on a printer bed of the screen printer. The method further includes mapping the printer bed at multiple locations along the squeegeeing direction, identifying non-uniformities in the printer bed mapping, and modifying a printer controller of the screen printer to compensate for mapped non-uniformities in the printer bed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present technology may include a method of etching. The method may include mixing plasma effluents with a gas in a first section of a chamber to form a first mixture. The method may also include flowing the first mixture to a substrate in a second section of the chamber. The first section and the second section may include nickel plated material. The method may further include reacting the first mixture with the substrate to etch a first layer selectively over a second layer. In addition, the method may include forming a second mixture including products from reacting the first mixture with the substrate.

Abstract: Exemplary magnetic induction plasma systems for generating plasma products are provided. The magnetic induction plasma system may include a first plasma source including a plurality of first sections and a plurality of second sections arranged in an alternating manner and fluidly coupled with each other such that at least a portion of plasma products generated inside the first plasma source may circulate through at least one of the plurality of first sections and at least one of the plurality of second sections inside the first plasma source. Each of the plurality of second sections may include a dielectric material. The system may further include a plurality of first magnetic elements each of which may define a closed loop. Each of the plurality of second sections may define a plurality of recesses for receiving one of the plurality of first magnetic elements therein.

Abstract: Processing methods may be performed to form recesses in a semiconductor substrate. The methods may include oxidizing an exposed silicon surface on a semiconductor substrate within a processing region of a semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include forming an inert plasma within the processing region of the processing chamber. Effluents of the inert plasma may be utilized to modify the oxidized silicon. A remote plasma may be formed from a fluorine-containing precursor to produce plasma effluents. The methods may include flowing the plasma effluents to the processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may also include removing the modified oxidized silicon from the semiconductor substrate. The methods may include isotropically etching a silicon-containing material from the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, apparatus, and methods for chemical polishing a substrate using a fluid network platen assembly that includes a pad having a plurality of fluid openings; a network of a plurality of fluid channels, each channel in fluid communication with at least one fluid opening; a plurality of inlets, each inlet coupled to a different fluid channel; and an outlet coupled to one of the fluid channels not coupled to an inlet. Numerous additional aspects are disclosed.

Abstract: A retaining ring and a chemical mechanical planarization system (CMP) are disclosed. In one embodiment, a retaining ring for a polishing system includes a ring-shaped body having a polished inner diameter. The body has a bottom surface having grooves formed therein, an outer diameter wall, and an inner diameter wall, wherein the inner diameter wall is polished to a roughness average (Ra) of less than about 30 microinches (?in).

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, apparatus, and methods for a shielding and reflective optical polarizer. The polarizer includes a fine wire array of optically reflective and electrically conductive lines; and a coarse grid of optically reflective and electrically conductive lines. The fine wire array and the coarse grid are electrically coupled each other and to a grounding terminal. Numerous additional aspects are disclosed.

Abstract: A substrate heater for a substrate processing chamber which includes a substrate support for a substrate processing chamber which includes a body having a top plate with a substrate receiving surface, and a movable heater disposed in the body, the heater being movable relative to the top plate.

Abstract: In a plasma enhanced physical vapor deposition of a material onto workpiece, a metal target faces the workpiece across a target-to-workpiece gap less than a diameter of the workpiece. A carrier gas is introduced into the chamber and gas pressure in the chamber is maintained above a threshold pressure at which mean free path is less than 5% of the gap. RF plasma source power from a VHF generator is applied to the target to generate a capacitively coupled plasma at the target, the VHF generator having a frequency exceeding 30 MHz. The plasma is extended across the gap to the workpiece by providing through the workpiece a first VHF ground return path at the frequency of the VHF generator.

Abstract: Exemplary etching methods may include flowing a fluorine-containing precursor into a substrate processing region of a semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include flowing a hydrogen-containing precursor into the substrate processing region. The methods may include contacting a substrate housed in the substrate processing region with the fluorine-containing precursor and the hydrogen-containing precursor. The substrate may include a trench or recessed feature, and a spacer may be formed along a sidewall of the trench or feature. The spacer may include a plurality of layers including a first layer of a carbon-containing or nitrogen-containing material, a second layer of an oxygen-containing material, and a third layer of a carbon-containing or nitrogen-containing material. The second layer of the spacer may be disposed between the first layer and third layer of the spacer. The methods may also include removing the oxygen-containing material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for measuring the thermal performance of a wafer chuck, such as an electrostatic chuck. In one example, the apparatus ha a chamber, a base to support a wafer chuck in the chamber, a heater to heat the chuck, a window through the exterior of the chamber, and an infrared imaging system to measure the temperature of the chuck while the chuck is heated.

Abstract: Plural sensors on an interior surface of a reactor chamber are linked by respective RF communication channels to a hub inside the reactor chamber, which in turn is linked to a process controller outside of the chamber.