Abstract: In order to eliminate a contact hole of a semiconductor substrate, a polymer dreg after ashing of all inside of a via hole is conducted, or an oxide layer on a barrier metal surface, hydrogen gas is changed to a hydrogen radical, the radical is primarily changed to a negative hydrogen ion, and the ion is introduced onto a wafer arranged in a vacuum container. In this manner, cleaning is done by assisting a negative hydrogen ion having its less generated secondary electrons without imparting plasma damage to an element.

Abstract: Because of environmental pollution prevention laws, PFC (perfluorocarbon) and HFC (hydrofluorocarbon), both etching gases for silicon oxide and silicon nitride films, are expected to be subjected to limited use or become difficult to obtain in the future. An etching gas containing fluorine atoms is introduced into a plasma chamber. In a region where plasma etching takes place, the fluorine-containing gas plasma is made to react with solid-state carbon in order to produce molecular chemical species such as CF4, CF2, CF3 and C2F4 for etching. This method assures a high etch rate and high selectivity while keeping a process window wide.

Abstract: A diamond coating formed on a bulk member used in a plasma processing chamber for processing a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer. The coating is particularly useful in a plasma etching chamber using a chlorine-based chemistry to etch metal. One class of such parts includes a dielectric chamber wall, in particular, a chamber wall through which RF or microwave energy is coupled into the chamber to support the plasma. For example, an RF inductive coil is positioned outside the chamber wall and inductively couples energy into the chamber. Exemplary substrates for the diamond coating include alumina, silicon nitride, silicon carbide, polysilicon, and a SiC/Si composite. Amorphous carbon may be substituted for diamond.

Abstract: A method for controlling the voltage distribution of the standing wave impressed upon the coil of an inductively coupled plasma generator includes the steps of impressing a radio frequency voltage across the coil to establish a standing wave thereacross. A voltage profile is selected for the standing wave so as to control the location and amount of capacitive coupling. A circuit parameter is controlled to achieve the selected voltage profile. Proper selection of the voltage profile enhances process capabilities, decreases the time between cleans, minimizes component wear, and minimizes cleaning time. An apparatus for carrying out the disclosed method is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is embodied in an RF plasma reactor for processing a semiconductor wafer, including as reactor chamber bounded by a chamber wall defining an interior region of the chamber, a gas inlet, an RF power source and an RF power applicator proximal the chamber and connected to the RF power source, and an opening in this chamber communicating with the interior region of the chamber. The invention further includes a magnet apparatus disposed adjacent said opening to resist flow of plasma ions through the opening, and the magnet apparatus comprising a first pair of magnetic poles and a second pair of magnetic poles, the first pair of magnetic poles facing the second pair of magnetic poles across the opening.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a plasma in a gas using a thermal source and a heat source in a common reaction zone. A process gas is flowed to a reaction zone and heated with a thermal energy source. Within the same reaction zone, a current is passed in the gas to generate a plasma within the gas. The plasma is directed to a substrate for treatment. The substrate may be a silicon wafer as part of an etching, ashing, wafer cleaning, and chemical vapor deposition.

Abstract: A subcritical or supercritical water is used to selectively etch a silicon nitride film against a silicon dioxide film or to selectively etch a silicon dioxide film against a crystalline silicon region. This method is applicable to a process of forming a MISFET or a charge emitting device.

Abstract: A gas feed-through 150 to provide gas to a plasma chamber 10, comprises a dielectric insert 155 having a passage 160 that allows the gas to be flowed therethrough, and a electrically conducting cup 165 around a portion of the passage. The electrically conducting cup 165 is shaped to reduce plasma formation in the gas feed-through 150.

Abstract: The invention is embodied in an RF plasma reactor for processing a semiconductor workpiece, including wall structures for containing a plasma therein, a workpiece support, a coil antenna capable of receiving a source RF power signal and being juxtaposed near the chamber, the workpiece support including a bias electrode capable of receiving a bias RF power signal, and first and second magnet structures adjacent the wall structure and in spaced relationship, with one pole of the first magnet structure facing an opposite pole of the second magnet structure, the magnet structures providing a plasma-confining static magnetic field adjacent said wall structure.

Abstract: An interconnection pattern made of an aluminum alloy, such as Al—Cu, on a semiconductor IC, is dry etched in an etching gas containing a chlorine component. A photo resist stripping process is carried out at a location down stream of the etching process using a conventional stripping gas, such as CF4+02, at room temperature. Before the resist-stripped substrate is exposed to open air, the substrate is heated in a vacuum to a temperature above 100° C., to remove residual chlorine components.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a plasma processing apparatus for processing a processing object by applying two types of high-frequency power with different frequencies to generate plasma. A first high-frequency line is provided with a first filter circuit for attenuating a high-frequency current from a second high-frequency power supply. A second high-frequency line is provided with a second filter circuit for attenuating a high-frequency current from a first high-frequency power supply. The first filter circuit is provided with a variable capacitor for changing a circuit constant. For changing the circuit constant, the variable capacitor is varied so that a resonance point becomes greater than an optimum resonance point most attenuating a high frequency in the second high-frequency power supply. Doing so decreases a sputter rate of the generated plasma affected on a wall surface of the processing chamber.

Abstract: Plasma treatment apparatus and method in which an influence on the treatment characteristics of reaction products in plasma treatment such as etching is offset, thereby enabling uniform treatment characteristics to be obtained in the plane of a substrate are provided. In a plasma treatment method of treating a substrate to be processed by using a gas plasma via a mask in a treatment chamber, plasma treatment is performed while optimizing an amount of deposition of a side wall protection layer, equalizing the optimized deposition amount in the center of the substrate and that in a peripheral part, and maintaining the uniformity in the plane of the side wall protection layer.

Abstract: A process chamber 110 capable of processing a substrate 50 in a plasma comprises a dielectric 210 covering a first electrode 220 and a second electrode 230, a conductor 250 supporting the dielectric 210, and a voltage supply 170 to supply an RF voltage to the first electrode 220 or the second electrode 230 in the dielectric 210. The first electrode 220 capacitively couples with a process electrode 225 to energize process gas in the process chamber 110 and RF voltage applied to the second electrode 230 is capacitively coupled to the conductor 250 and through a collar 260 or the second electrode 230 is directly capacitively coupled through the collar 260.

Abstract: An RF plasma reactor for processing a semiconductor wafer in a reactor chamber with a multi-radius dome-shaped ceiling and a gas inlet for supplying a process gas into the chamber includes an overhead RF signal applicator near the ceiling for applying an RF signal into the chamber through the ceiling to maintain a plasma of the process gas in the chamber, the plasma having a radial ion density distribution near the plane of the pedestal which is center-high for a greater height of the ceiling above the pedestal and is center-low for a lesser height, the height of the ceiling being intermediate the greater and lesser heights such that the radial ion density distribution is neither center-high nor center-low.

Abstract: The present invention provides a plasma reactor having a plasma source chamber capable of generating a high density plasma typically utilizing a helicon wave. The plasma is delivered to a process chamber having a workpiece. The present invention may provide a plurality of magnets, each being located longitudinally around an axis perpendicular to the plane of the workpiece to form a magnetic bucket that extends the length of the side wall of the processing chamber and across a workpiece insertion opening and a vacuum pump opening. The magnetic bucket of the present invention may be formed so that the pedestal need not be raised to be within the bucket, or may be formed by permanent magnets oriented with one pole of each magnet facing the interior of the processing chamber, or with opposite poles of adjacent magnets facing each other, thereby forming cusps around the axis perpendicular to the plane of the workpiece. Current carrying conductors may generate all or part of the magnetic bucket.

Abstract: A secondary ion detector 130 senses defects on a photomask and outputs image information. The CPU 140 then displays this image information at a monitor 150. An operator then selects a pattern corresponding to a displayed defect from defect patterns recorded in a memory 120 using an input unit 160, designates a correction region, and designates coordinates for deciding a boundary line for a normal region and a defect. The CPU 140 then automatically determines the defect region using this inputted information and sends the determination results to the focussed ion beam apparatus 110. The focussed ion beam apparatus 110 then corrects the photomask by performing etching or deposition processing on the region indicated by the determination results.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the hot bake to remove moisture from photoresist that has been deposited on semiconductor wafers prior to a dry plasma etch process. A wafer carrier containing semiconductor wafers on which a photoresist has been deposited is placed in a load lock chamber having a source of heat such as a heating plate or a high intensity light source. The source of the heat is activated and the semiconductor wafers are brought to a temperature sufficiently high and of a sufficient duration as to eliminate any moisture present in the photoresist mask. The load lock chamber is evacuated to eliminate any moisture or contaminants, filled with nitrogen to eliminate any residual of moisture or contaminants, and then evacuated to prepare the chamber to exposed to the atmosphere present in a dry plasma etch chamber. An exit lock of the load lock chamber is opened and the wafer carrier is placed in the dry plasma etch chamber for the execution of the dry plasma etch process.

Abstract: A gas delivery system for plasma treatment apparatus includes a gas inlet, a plenum, a gas delivery plate extending across the downstream end of the plenum and a separate ionizer plate adjacent the downstream face of the gas delivery plate. The ionizer plate is formed with openings which are larger than the apertures in the gas delivery plate.

Abstract: A semiconductor substrate is heated via exposure to ultraviolet radiation substantially in the absence of a halogen containing chemical and subsequently exposed to a halogen-containing gas in the absence of ultraviolet radiation to remove contaminants therefrom.

Abstract: A method for filling a trench is provided. A wafer having at least a first layer formed thereon is provided. A trench is formed in the first layer. The depth of the trench is measured. A target thickness is determined based on the depth of the trench. A second layer of the target thickness is formed over the trench. A processing line includes a trench etch tool, a first metrology tool, a trench fill tool, and an automatic process controller. The trench etch tool is adapted to form a trench in a first layer on a wafer. The first metrology tool is adapted to measure the depth of the trench. The trench fill tool is adapted to form a second layer over the first layer based on an operating recipe. An automatic process controller is adapted to determine a target thickness based on the depth of the trench and modify the operating recipe of the trench fill tool based on the target thickness.