Abstract: A chuck for a plasma processor comprises a temperature-controlled base, a thermal insulator, a flat support, and a heater. The temperature-controlled base is controlled in operation a temperature below the desired temperature of a workpiece. The thermal insulator is disposed over at least a portion of the temperature-controlled base. The flat support holds a workpiece and is disposed over the thermal insulator. A heater is embedded within the flat support and/or mounted to an underside of the flat support. The heater includes a plurality of heating elements that heat a plurality of corresponding heating zones. The power supplied and/or temperature of each heating element is controlled independently. The heater and flat support have a combined temperature rate change of at least 1° C. per second.

Abstract: Drying a microelectronic topography. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods that include placing a microelectronic topography inside a process chamber, providing a non-aqueous liquid to the process chamber until at least 90% of the volume of the process chamber contains the non-aqueous liquid, pressurizing the process chamber by way of a fluid different than the non-aqueous liquid, ceasing activity with respect to the process chamber until the non-aqueous liquid and fluid form a mixture that is substantially homogenous, venting the process chamber while simultaneously providing the fluid to the process chamber, and venting the process chamber in a manner which prevents formation of liquid in the process chamber.

Abstract: To achieve the foregoing and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, a method for forming copper filled through silicon via features in a silicon wafer is provided. Through silicon vias are etched in the wafer. An insulation layer is formed within the through silicon vias. A barrier layer is formed within the through silicon vias. An oxide free silicon, germanium, or SiGe adhesion layer is deposited over the barrier layer. A seed layer is deposited over the adhesion layer then the wafers is annealed. The features are filled with copper or copper alloy. The stack is annealed.

Abstract: A plasma processing device may include a plasma processing chamber, a plasma electrode assembly, a wafer stage, a plasma producing gas inlet, a plurality of vacuum ports, at least one vacuum pump, and a multi-port valve assembly. The multi-port valve assembly may comprise a movable seal plate positioned in the plasma processing chamber. The movable seal plate may comprise a transverse port sealing surface that is shaped and sized to completely overlap the plurality of vacuum ports in a closed state, to partially overlap the plurality of vacuum ports in a partially open state, and to avoid substantial overlap of the plurality of vacuum ports in an open state. The multi-port valve assembly may comprise a transverse actuator coupled to the movable seal plate and a sealing actuator coupled to the movable seal plate.

Abstract: In a spin-chuck with plural collector levels, a separate exhaust controller is provided for each level. This permits selectively varying gas flow conditions among the collector levels, so that the ambient pressure at one level does not adversely affect device performance in an adjacent level.

Abstract: An apparatus used for rapid removal of polymer films from plasma confinement rings while minimizing erosion of other plasma etch chamber components is disclosed. The apparatus includes a center assembly, an electrode plate, a confinement ring stack, a first plasma source, and a second plasma source. The electrode plate is affixed to a surface of the center assembly with a channel defined along the external circumference therein. A first plasma source is disposed within the channel and along the external circumference of the center assembly, wherein the first plasma source is configured to direct a plasma to the inner circumferential surface of the confinement ring stack. A second plasma source located away from the first plasma source is configured to perform processing operations on a substrate within the etch chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for plasma processing a wafer is provided. A bottom plate is provided. A tubular chamber wall with a wafer aperture is adjacent to the bottom plate. A bottom removable seal provides a vacuum seal between the bottom plate and the tubular chamber wall at a first end of the tubular wall. A top plate is adjacent to the tubular chamber wall. A top removable seal provides a vacuum seal between a second end of the tubular wall and the top plate. A vertical seal is provided, where a vertical movement of the tubular wall allows the vertical seal to create a seal around the wafer aperture. A bottom alignment guide aligns the tubular chamber wall with the bottom plate. A top alignment guide aligns the top plate with the tubular chamber wall. A wafer chuck is disposed between the bottom plate and the top plate.

Abstract: A method of forming a silicon containing confinement ring for a plasma processing apparatus useful for processing a semiconductor substrate comprises inserting silicon containing vanes into grooves formed in a grooved surface of an annular carbon template wherein the grooved surface of the annular carbon template includes an upwardly projecting step at an inner perimeter thereof wherein each groove extends from the inner perimeter to an outer perimeter of the grooved surface. The step of the grooved surface and a projection at an end of each silicon containing vane is surrounded with an annular carbon member wherein the annular carbon member covers an upper surface of each silicon containing vane in each respective groove. Silicon containing material is deposited on the annular carbon template, the annular carbon member, and exposed portions of each silicon containing vane thereby forming a silicon containing shell of a predetermined thickness.

Abstract: A method for cleaning a substrate is provided. The method initiates with disposing a fluid layer having solid components therein to a surface of the substrate. A shear force directed substantially parallel to the surface of the substrate and toward an outer edge of the substrate is then created. The shear force may result from a normal or tangential component of a force applied to a solid body in contact with the fluid layer in one embodiment. The surface of the substrate is rinsed to remove the fluid layer. A cleaning system and apparatus are also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a substrate is disclosed. The apparatus having a first head unit and a second head unit. The first head unit is positioned proximate to the surface of the substrate and has a first row of channels defined within configured to supply a foam to the surface of the substrate. The second head unit is positioned substantially adjacent to the first head unit and proximate to the surface of the substrate. A second and a third row of channels are defined within the second head unit. The second row of channels is configured to supply a fluid to the surface of the substrate. The third row of channels is configured to apply a vacuum to the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A method for calibrating alignment of an end effector with respect to a chuck in a plasma processing system is disclosed. The method includes providing a first light beam from the end effector to said chuck, moving the end effector along a predefined calibration path such that the first light beam traverses a surface of the chuck, receiving a set of reflected light signals being generated at least when the surface reflects the first light beam during the moving, and analyzing the set of reflected light signals to identify three or more discontinuities, generated when the first light beam encounters an edge of the chuck. The method also includes determining three or more coordinate data points representing three or more points on the edge of the chuck, and determining a center of the chuck based on the three or more coordinate data points.

Abstract: A method for etching features into an etch layer in a stack disposed below a patterned mask with mask features is provided. Coating providing molecules are provided. The coating providing molecules are pyrolyzed, which only produces a first set of byproducts and a second set of byproducts, wherein the first set of byproducts have a sticking coefficient between 10?6 to 5×10?3 and wherein the second set of byproducts includes all remaining byproducts from the pyrolysis wherein all remaining byproducts from the pyrolysis have sticking coefficients less than 10?6. The stack is exposed to the first set of byproducts, causing the first set of byproducts to deposit a coating. The etch layer is etched.

Abstract: A method and device for wet treatment of a plate-like article comprises a spin chuck for holding and rotating the plate-like article. Gas supply nozzles open on a surface of the spin chuck facing a first side of the plate-like article. The spin chuck is configured to direct gas discharged from the gas supply nozzles radially outwardly through a gap defined between an upper surface of the spin chuck and a downwardly facing surface of a plate-like article positioned on the spin chuck. Liquid supply nozzles open on the surface of the spin chuck facing a first side of the plate-like article and positioned radially outwardly of the gas supply nozzles. The liquid supply nozzles are positioned beneath a peripheral region of a plate-like article positioned on the spin chuck.

Abstract: A method for etching features in an etch layer is provided. An organic mask layer is etched, using a hard mask as an etch mask. The hard mask is removed, by selectively etching the hard mask with respect to the organic mask and etch layer. Features are etched in the etch layer, using the organic mask as an etch mask.

Abstract: An injector cleaning apparatus with a concentric dual flow introducer and a flow-dispersing injector seat along with a method of cleaning an injector. The concentric dual flow introducer has concentric cleaning fluid flowpaths configured to communicate with a central passage and a plurality of peripheral passages of a gas injector. The input-side injector engaging interface of the concentric dual flow introducer and the flow-dispersing injector seat each have a compressible sealing portion having compressibility sufficient to yield under fluid cleaning surges attributable to initiation and termination of cleaning fluid flow through the injector cleaning apparatus along with resiliency sufficient to prevent abutment of the gas injector and a rigid facing portion of the input-side injector engaging interface and output-side injector engaging interface respectively.

Abstract: A method for providing metal filled features in a layer is provided. A metal seed layer is deposited on tops and bottoms of the features. Metal seed layer on tops of the features and overhangs is removed without removing metal seed layer on bottoms of features. An electroless deposition of metal is provided to fill the features, wherein the electroless deposition first deposits on the metal seed layer on bottoms of the features.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a voltage and current measured at an output of an RF generator of a first plasma system and calculating a first model etch rate based on the voltage and current, and a power. The method further includes receiving a voltage and current measured at an output of the RF generator of a second plasma system, determining a second model etch rate based on the voltage and current at the output of the RF generator of the second plasma system, and comparing the second model etch rate with the first model etch rate. The method includes adjusting a power at the output of the RF generator of the second plasma system to achieve the first model etch rate associated with the first plasma system upon determining that the second model etch rate does not match the first model etch rate. The method is executed by a processor.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of depositing layers of material on multiple semiconductor substrates at multiple processing stations within one or more reaction chambers. The methods may include dosing a first substrate with film precursor at a first processing station and dosing a second substrate with film precursor at a second processing station with precursor flowing from a common source, wherein the timing of said dosing is staggered such that the first substrate is dosed during a first dosing phase during which the second substrate is not substantially dosed, and the second substrate is dosed during a second dosing phase during which the first substrate is not substantially dosed. Also disclosed herein are apparatuses having a plurality of processing stations contained within one or more reaction chambers and a controller with machine-readable instructions for staggering the dosing of first and second substrates at first and second processing stations.

Abstract: A plasma etch processing chamber configured to clean a bevel edge of a substrate is provided. The chamber includes a bottom edge electrode and a top edge electrode defined over the bottom edge electrode. The top edge electrode and the bottom edge electrode are configured to generate a cleaning plasma to clean the bevel edge of the substrate. The chamber includes a gas feed defined through a top surface of the processing chamber. The gas feed introduces a processing gas for striking the cleaning plasma at a location in the processing chamber that is between an axis of the substrate and the top edge electrode. A pump out port is defined through the top surface of the chamber and the pump out port located along a center axis of the substrate. A method for cleaning a bevel edge of a substrate is also provided.

Abstract: A lower electrode plate receives radiofrequency power. A first upper plate is positioned parallel to and spaced apart from the lower electrode plate. A grounded second upper plate is positioned next to the first upper plate. A dielectric support provides support of a workpiece within a region between the lower electrode plate and the first upper plate. A purge gas is supplied at a central location of the first upper plate. A process gas is supplied to a periphery of the first upper plate. The dielectric support positions the workpiece proximate and parallel to the first upper plate, such that the purge gas flows over a top surface of the workpiece so as to prevent the process gas from flowing over the top surface of the workpiece, and so as to cause the process gas to flow around a peripheral edge of the workpiece and below the workpiece.