Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling the temperature of a process surface and for conditioning of a process surface are provided. A temperature controller is described within a CMP system. The temperature controller includes an array of thermal elements. Each of the thermal elements of the array is independently controlled. The array of thermal elements is positioned to contact a back surface of the processing surface to manage and control processing surface temperature in defined processing zones. A process surface conditioner includes an array of conditioning pucks for conditioning an outer preparation surface. Each of the conditioning pucks of the array is independently controlled.

Abstract: One of many embodiments of a substrate preparation system is provided which includes a head having a head surface where the head surface is proximate to a surface of the substrate. The system also includes a first conduit for delivering a first fluid to the surface of the substrate through the head, and a second conduit for delivering a second fluid to the surface of the substrate through the head, where the second fluid is different than the first fluid. The system also includes a third conduit for removing each of the first fluid and the second fluid from the surface of the substrate where the first conduit, the second conduit and the third conduit act substantially simultaneously.

Abstract: A method for processing a substrate is provided that includes generating a fluid meniscus on a surface of the substrate and applying acoustic energy to the fluid meniscus. The method also includes moving the fluid meniscus over the surface the substrate to process the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A method for reducing wafer damage during an etching process is provided. In one of the many embodiments, the method includes assigning a bias voltage to each of at least one etching process, and generating the assigned bias voltage before initiation of one of the at least one etching process. The method further includes applying the assigned bias voltage to an electrostatic chuck before initiation of one of the at least one etching processes. The assigned bias voltage level reduces wafer arcing.

Abstract: A method for processing a substrate is provided which includes generating a fluid meniscus on the surface of the vertically oriented substrate, and moving the fluid meniscus over the surface of the vertically oriented substrate to process the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: An invention for detecting an endpoint during a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process is provided. A reflected spectrum data sample is received that corresponds to a plurality of spectrums of light reflected from an illuminated portion of the surface of a wafer. The reflected spectrum data sample is normalized using a normalization reference comprising a first reflected spectrum data sample obtained earlier during the CMP process. In addition, the normalization reference is updated during the process using a second reflected spectrum data sample obtained earlier during the CMP process. The second reflected spectrum data sample is obtained after the first reflected spectrum data sample. In this manner, an endpoint is determined based on optical interference occurring in the reflected spectrum data.

Abstract: An invention is provided for a carrier head that includes a metal plate having an opening formed in a central location. The metal plate has a wafer side, which faces the backside of a wafer during a CMP operation, and a non-wafer side. Positioned above the non-wafer side of the metal plate, and located above the opening in the metal plate, is a bladder or membrane. To facilitate uniformity during polishing, an inflating pressure is applied to the bladder, or membrane, that is substantially equivalent to a polishing pressure utilized during the CMP operation. To facilitate transporting the wafer, a vacuum can be applied to the opening in the metal plate to adhere the wafer to the carrier head. Further, to release the wafer from the carrier head, the bladder, or membrane, can be inflated such that it protrudes through the opening in the metal plate.

Abstract: A temperature controlling system for use in a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) system having a linear polishing belt, a carrier capable of applying a substrate over a preparation location over the linear polishing belt is provided. The temperature controlling system includes a platen having a plurality of zones. The temperature controlling system further includes a temperature sensor configured determine a temperature of the linear polishing belt at a location that is after the preparation location. The system also includes a controller for adjusting a flow of temperature conditioned fluid to selected zones of the plurality of zones of the platen in response to output received from the temperature sensor.

Abstract: In a linear chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) system, a surface of each roller of a pair of rollers is disclosed which includes a first set of grooves covering a first portion of the surface of the roller where the first set of grooves has a first pitch that angles outwardly toward a first outer edge of the roller. The surface also includes a second set of grooves covering a second portion of the surface of the roller where the second set of grooves has a second pitch that angles outwardly toward a second outer edge of the roller with the second pitch angling away from the first pitch. The surface further includes a first set of lateral channels arranged along the first portion, and a second set of lateral channels arranged along the second portion. The first set of lateral channels crosses the first set of grooves, and the second set of lateral channels crosses the second set of grooves.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) apparatus is provided. The CMP apparatus includes a first roller situated at a first point and a second roller situated at a second point. The first point is separate from the second point. Also included in the apparatus is a polishing pad strip having a first end secured to the first roller and a second end secured to the second roller. The first roller and the second roller are configured to reciprocate so that the polishing pad strip oscillates at least partially between the first point and the second point.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling the temperature of a process surface and for conditioning of a process surface are provided. In one example, a temperature controller is described within a CMP system. The CMP system has a first roller and a second roller and a linear belt circulating around the first and second rollers. The linear belt has a width that spans between a first edge and a second edge. The temperature controller includes an array of thermal elements. Each of the thermal elements of the array is independently controlled. The array of thermal elements is positioned between the first roller and the second roller and configured to contact a back surface of the linear belt. The array of thermal elements extends between the first edge and the second edge of the linear belt width.

Abstract: A method for polishing a semiconductor wafer is provided. The method includes providing a polishing pad strip connected between a first point and a second point and applying a controlled tension to the polishing pad strip. The method also includes oscillating the polishing pad strip between the first point and the second point while applying the controlled tension. Also included in the method is applying the semiconductor wafer to the oscillating polishing pad strip.

Abstract: A seamless polishing apparatus for utilization in chemical mechanical polishing is disclosed. The seamless polishing apparatus includes a base belt that has a reinforcement layer and a cushioning layer. The seamless polishing apparatus also includes a polishing pad that is attached to the base belt as a result of a direct casting of a polymeric precursor on a top surface of the cushioning layer. In addition, the cushioning layer is an intermediary layer between the polishing belt pad and the base belt.

Abstract: A method for creating a reduced particle environment in a localized area of a mechanically active transport interface is provided. The augmentation of the air flow results in a sweeping air flow to remove particles in and around the desired area. The augmented air, flow will eliminate static or turbulent air flow regions and assist in removing potential particles from the vicinity of the substrate. This will prevent particles from being deposited on substrates thus fostering higher yields and improved quality.

Abstract: Methods for etching a trench into a dielectric layer are provided. One exemplary method controls an ion-to-neutral flux ratio during etching so as to achieve a neutral limited regime in an ion assisted etch mechanism where the neutral limited regime causes bottom rounding. The method includes modulating physical sputtering causing microtrenching to offset the bottom rounding so as to produce a substantially flat bottom trench profile. Some notable advantages of the discussed methods of etching a trench into a dielectric layer includes the ability to eliminate the intermediate etch stop layer. Elimination of the etch stop layer will decrease fabrication cost and process time. Additionally, the elimination of the intermediate stop layer will improve device performance.

Abstract: Provided is a method for increasing an etching selectivity of photoresist material. The method initiates with providing a substrate with a developed photoresist layer. The developed photoresist layer on the substrate is formulated to contain a hardening agent. Next, the substrate is exposed to a gas, where the gas is formulated to interact with the hardening agent. A portion of the developed photoresist layer is then converted to a hardened layer where the hardened layer is created by an interaction of the hardening agent with the gas. Some notable advantages of the discussed methods of increasing the selectivity of a photoresist include improved etch profile control. Additionally, by combining fabrication steps such as the hardening of the photoresist in an etch chamber, downstream etching processes may be performed without having to transfer the wafer to an additional chamber, thereby improving wafer throughput while minimizing handling.

Abstract: A cover to be disposed over a substrate processing apparatus is provided. The cover includes a material capable of being tuned between an opaque state and a transparent state. Being tuned closer to the opaque state limits an amount of light capable of passing through the tunable cover and into the substrate processing apparatus during substrate processing. Being tuned closer to the transparent state allows viewing into the substrate processing apparatus without removing the cover.

Abstract: An inductively coupled plasma etching apparatus includes a chamber for generating a plasma therein. The chamber is defined by walls of a housing. A coil for receiving high frequency (RF) power is disposed adjacent to and outside of one of the walls of the housing. A metal plate is disposed adjacent to and outside of the wall of the housing that the coil is disposed adjacent to. The metal plate is positioned in a spaced apart relationship between the coil and the wall of the housing and has radial slits formed therein that extend transversely to the coil. A connector electrically connects the metal plate to the coil. A method for controlling an inner surface of a wall defining a chamber in which a plasma is generated is also described.

Abstract: A fluid delivery module for use in preparing a substrate is provided. The fluid delivery module includes a process bowl designed to contain a substrate to be prepared. The process bowl has a bottom wall and a sidewall. The fluid delivery module further includes a fluid delivery ring configured to be attached to the sidewall of the process bowl. The fluid delivery ring includes a plurality of inlet and outlet pairs. Each of the plurality of inlet and outlet pairs is defined in the fluid ring and is designed to receive a respective supply tube. Each respective supply tube has an end that terminates at each of the outlets of the fluid delivery ring and is configured to direct fluid onto a surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A plasma reactor system with controlled DC bias for manufacturing semiconductor wafers and the like. The reactor system includes a plasma chamber, a plasma generating coil and a chuck including a chuck electrode. The chuck supports a workpiece within the chamber. The plasma reactor system further includes a pair of generators, one of which supplies a radio frequency signal to the plasma generating coil. The second generator delivers a RF signal which to the chuck electrode and acts to control DC bias at the workpiece. Peak voltage sensor circuitry and set point signal circuitry controls the power output of the generator, and a matching network coupled between the generator and the first electrode matches the impedance of the RF signal with the load applied by the plasma. DC bias determines the energy with which plasma particles impact the surface of a workpiece and thereby determines the rate at which the process is performed.