Abstract: Implementations described herein provide a pixelated substrate support assembly which enables both lateral and azimuthal tuning of the heat transfer between an electrostatic chuck and a cooling base comprising the substrate support assembly, which in turn, allows both lateral and azimuthal tuning of a substrate processed on the substrate support assembly. A processing chamber having a pixelated substrate support assembly and method for processing a substrate using a pixelated substrate support assembly are also provided.

Abstract: A film formation apparatus of forming a thin film by stacking a molecular layer of an oxide on a surface of a substrate in a vacuum atmosphere formed within a vacuum chamber includes: a source gas supply unit supplying a source gas containing a source to the substrate; an atmosphere gas supply unit supplying an atmosphere gas to the vacuum chamber; an energy supply unit supplying energy to the ozone atmosphere; a control unit configured to output a control signal for repeatedly performing a cycle including a supply of the source gas, a supply of the atmosphere gas, and a supply of energy plural times; a buffer region connected to the vacuum chamber, an inert gas being supplied to the buffer region; and a partition unit partitioning the buffer region with respect to the vacuum chamber and making the buffer region communicate with the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A mounting table includes an electrostatic chuck having a mounting surface and a backside opposite to the mounting surface, a first through hole being formed in the mounting table; a base joined to the backside of the electrostatic chuck and having a second through hole in communication with the first through hole; a lifter pin which is received in a pin hole formed by the first through hole and the second through hole, the lifter pin being movable up and down to protrude beyond and retract below the mounting surface. An upper end portion of the lifter pin has a shape in which a diameter decreases toward a lower end of the lifter pin to correspond to a shape of the upper end portion of the pin hole. The upper end portion of the lifter pin is in surface contact with the upper end portion of the pin hole.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of measuring and controlling the gap between a susceptor assembly and a gas distribution assembly are described. Apparatus and methods for positional control and temperature control for wafer transfer purposes are also described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition to an interior region of a hollow, tubular, high aspect ratio workpiece are disclosed. A plurality of anodes are disposed in axially spaced apart arrangement, to the interior of the workpiece. A process gas is introduced into the region. A respective individualized DC or pulsed DC bias is applied to each of the anodes. The bias excites the process gas into a plasma. The workpiece is biased in a hollow cathode arrangement. Pressure is controlled in the interior region to maintain the plasma. An elongated support tube arranges the anodes, and receives a process gas tube. A current splitter provides a respective selected proportion of a total current to each anode. One or more notch diffusers or chamber diffusers may diffuse the process gas or a plasma moderating gas. Plasma impedance and distribution may be controlled using various means.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hot plate and substrate processing equipment using the same, wherein the hot plate comprises a central sub hot plate and at least one outer ring sub hot plate located around the central sub hot plate; thermal insulation parts are provided between the central sub hot plate and the outer ring sub hot plate and between two adjacent outer ring sub hot plates, so that the heat conduction between the adjacent sub hot plates can be effectively prevented or reduced by means of the thermal insulation parts. The hot plate and the substrate processing equipment using the same provided in the present invention can effectively compensate for the heat losses in the edge region of the substrate, so as to keep the heating rate the same in each region of the substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus for large area plasma processing according to the invention comprises at least one plane antenna (A) having a plurality of interconnected elementary resonant meshes (M1, M2, M3), each mesh (M1, M2, M3) comprising at least two conductive legs (1, 2) and at least two capacitors (5, 6). A radiofrequency generator excites said antenna (A) to at least one of its resonant frequencies. A process chamber is in proximity of said antenna (A). Said antenna (A) produces an electromagnetic field pattern with a very well defined spatial structure, which allows a great control on the excitation of the plasma.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes an electrostatic chuck which is made up of a base, a dielectric plate on the base, a chuck electrode in the dielectric plate, and a first heater section in the dielectric plate between the chuck electrode and the base. The first heater section includes first heaters that are separated from each other in a first direction, and respective first upper plate electrodes disposed between the first heaters and the base. The first upper plate electrodes are separated from each other in the first direction and respectively connected to the first heaters.

Abstract: There is provided a substrate processing apparatus for processing a substrate by supplying a processing gas to the substrate while revolving the substrate, the substrate processing apparatus including: a rotary table installed within a processing container; a rotating mechanism configured to rotate the rotary table; a support part installed in a rotary shaft of the rotary table below the rotary table; an opening portion formed in the rotary table to correspond to a mounting position where the substrate is mounted; a mounting part rotatably supported by the support part through the opening portion, and configured to mount the substrate thereon such that a height level of an upper surface of the substrate coincides with a height level of an upper surface of the rotary table; and a rotating mechanism configured to rotate the mounting part.

Abstract: A system for extending the life of insulating components disposed within a housing, such as an ion implanter, is disclosed. The system includes one or more insulating components, disposed in the housing, which are coated with a diamond like carbon (DLC) coating. The insulating components may be bushings or any insulating component used to electrically isolate two components having different voltage potentials, such as electrodes. This DLC coating retards the deposition of metals, such as those contained in the ion source, on the insulating components. This reduces the likelihood or electrical arcing or other phenomenon that affect the useful life of these insulating component.

Abstract: A film formation device includes: a processing vessel; a mounting stand installed within the processing vessel and configured to mount a substrate thereon; an elevating shaft installed so as to extend in an up-down direction while supporting the mounting stand and connected to an external elevator mechanism through a through-hole formed in the processing vessel; a bellows installed between the processing vessel and the elevator mechanism and configured to cover a periphery of the elevating shaft at a lateral side of the elevating shaft; a lid member disposed so as to surround the elevating shaft with a gap left between a lateral circumferential surface of the elevating shaft and the lid member; and a purge gas supply part configured to supply a purge gas into the bellows so that a gas flow from the bellows toward the processing vessel through the gap is formed.

Abstract: A plasma processor, including a first gas supplier to supply first gas to the inside of a vacuum vessel, a stage on which a wafer is placed, an electromagnetic wave supplier to supply electromagnetic waves for generating first plasma, a susceptor provided to an outer peripheral portion of the stage, a second high frequency power source connected to the susceptor, and a second gas supplier to supply second gas to the inside of the susceptor. The inside of the susceptor is provided with a high frequency electrode connected to the second high frequency power source and a first earth electrode disposed opposite to the high frequency electrode. The second high frequency power source supplies high frequency power while the second gas supplier supplies the second gas, thereby generating second plasma inside the susceptor.

Abstract: A dry etching apparatus plasma processes a wafer held by a carrier having a frame and a holding sheet. An electrode unit of a stage includes an electrostatic chuck. An area of an upper surface of the electrostatic chuck onto which the wafer is placed via the holding sheet is a flat portion and is not subject to backside gas cooling. A first groove structure is formed in the area onto which the wafer is placed via the holding sheet as well as in an area onto which a holding sheet between the wafer and the frame is placed. To a minute space defined by the first groove structure and the carrier, a heat transfer gas is supplied from a first heat transfer gas supply section through a heat transfer gas supply hole (backside gas cooling).

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a process chamber, and a turntable provided in the process chamber and including a substrate holding region formed in a top surface along a circumferential direction of the turntable. A surface area increasing region is provided in the top surface of the turntable around the substrate holding region and is configured to increase a surface area of the top surface of the turntable to an area larger than a surface area of a flat surface by including a concavo-convex pattern in its top surface. A process gas supply unit is configured to supply a process gas to the top surface of the turntable.

Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatuses for extinguishing electrical arcs in a plasma processing chamber. Once an arc is detected, the steady state voltage provided to the plasma processing chamber can be reduced, and the current being provided to the chamber decays below a steady state value as the arc is extinguished. When the current falls to or below a current threshold, the voltage can be ramped back up bringing the voltage and current back to steady state values. This technique enables power to return to a steady state level faster than traditional arc mitigation techniques.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a substrate processing apparatus including a housing is provided. The housing having an internal atmosphere of a reduced oxygen concentration includes a box structure configured to accommodate a substrate holder which receives a plurality of substrates therein and including a first gap and a second gap. Further, the housing includes an inert gas pipe connected to the box structure, and configured to supply an inert gas to the box structure, a cover member mounted in the box structure, and a buffer space formed between an internal space of the box structure and the cover member.

Abstract: A process chamber is provided including a sidewall, a substrate support having an outer ledge, and a gas inlet beneath the substrate support. The process chamber further includes a first liner disposed around a bottom surface of the outer ledge of the substrate support. The first liner has an inner surface separated from the outer ledge of the substrate support by a first gap. The process chamber further includes a flow isolator ring having an inner bottom surface disposed on the outer ledge of the substrate support and an outer bottom surface extending outwardly relative to the inner bottom surface, the outer bottom surface overlying the first gap.

Abstract: Variable geometry process kits for use in semiconductor process chambers have been provided herein. In some embodiments, a process kit for use in a semiconductor process chamber includes: an annular body configured to rest about a periphery of a substrate support; a first ring positioned coaxially with the annular body and supported by the annular body; a second ring positioned coaxially with the first ring and supported by the first ring; and an annular shield comprising a horizontal leg positioned coaxially with the second ring such that a portion of the horizontal leg is aligned with and below portions of the first ring and second ring.

Abstract: A film forming apparatus includes a rotary table having a loading area at a first surface side thereof and revolving a substrate loaded on the loading area, a rotation mechanism rotating the loading area such that the substrate rotates around its axis, a processing gas supply mechanism supplying a processing gas to a processing gas supply area so that a thin film is formed on the substrate which repeatedly passes through the processing gas supply area the revolution of the substrate, and a control part configured to perform a calculation of a rotation speed of the substrate based on a parameter including a rotation speed of the rotary table to allow an orientation of the substrate to be changed whenever the substrate is positioned in the processing gas supply area, and to output a control signal for rotating the substrate at a calculated rotation speed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an improved apparatus and methods for nitridation of stacks of materials. In one embodiment, a remote plasma system includes a remote plasma chamber defining a first region for generating a plasma comprising ions and radicals, a process chamber defining a second region for processing a semiconductor device, the process chamber comprising an inlet port formed in a sidewall of the process chamber, the inlet port being in fluid communication with the second region, and a delivery member disposed between the remote plasma chamber and the process chamber and having a passageway in fluid communication with the first region and the inlet port, wherein the delivery member is configured such that a longitudinal axis of the passageway intersects at an angle of about 20 degrees to about 80 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the inlet port.