Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes: loading a substrate into a substrate processing apparatus; and processing the substrate, using the substrate processing apparatus. The processing the substrate includes: providing a process gas; generating a process etchant from the process gas, using plasma ignition, the process etchant including a first etchant and a second etchant; processing the substrate, using the process etchant; identifying a composition rate of the process etchant; and controlling the processing of the substrate based on a process result according to the composition rate of the process etchant.

Abstract: Described herein is a protective coating composition that provides erosion and corrosion resistance to a coated article (such as a chamber component) upon the article's exposure to harsh chemical environment (such as hydrogen based and/or halogen based environment) and/or upon the article's exposure to high energy plasma. Also described herein is a method of coating an article with the protective coating using electronic beam ion assisted deposition, physical vapor deposition, or plasma spray. Also described herein is a method of processing wafer, which method exhibits, on average, less than about 5 yttrium based particle defects per wafer.

Abstract: Described herein is a plasma resistant protective coating composition and bulk composition that provides enhanced erosion and corrosion resistance upon the coating composition's or the bulk composition's exposure to harsh chemical environment (such as hydrogen based and/or halogen based chemistries) and/or upon the coating composition's or the bulk composition's exposure to high energy plasma. Also described herein is a method of coating an article with a plasma resistant protective coating using electronic beam ion assisted deposition, physical vapor deposition, or plasma spray. Also described herein is a method of processing wafer, which method exhibits a reduced number of yttrium based particles.

Abstract: Described herein is a protective coating composition that provides erosion and corrosion resistance to a coated article (such as a chamber component) upon the article's exposure to harsh chemical environment (such as hydrogen based and/or halogen based environment) and/or upon the article's exposure to high energy plasma. Also described herein is a method of coating an article with the protective coating using electronic beam ion assisted deposition, physical vapor deposition, or plasma spray. Also described herein is a method of processing wafer, which method exhibits, on average, less than about 5 yttrium based particle defects per wafer.

Abstract: Described herein is a protective coating composition that provides erosion and corrosion resistance to a coated article (such as a chamber component) upon the article's exposure to harsh chemical environment (such as hydrogen based and/or halogen based environment) and/or upon the article's exposure to high energy plasma. Also described herein is a method of coating an article with the protective coating using electronic beam ion assisted deposition, physical vapor deposition, or plasma spray. Also described herein is a method of processing wafer, which method exhibits, on average, less than about 5 yttrium based particle defects per wafer.

Abstract: Described herein is a plasma resistant protective coating composition and bulk composition that provides enhanced erosion and corrosion resistance upon the coating composition's or the bulk composition's exposure to harsh chemical environment (such as hydrogen based and/or halogen based chemistries) and/or upon the coating composition's or the bulk composition's exposure to high energy plasma. Also described herein is a method of coating an article with a plasma resistant protective coating using electronic beam ion assisted deposition, physical vapor deposition, or plasma spray. Also described herein is a method of processing wafer, which method exhibits a reduced number of yttrium based particles.

Abstract: A system for verifying the operation of RF generators and resulting pulse waveforms in semiconductor processes includes a process chamber, a profile sensor, an optical sensor and a controller. A process implemented by the controller of the system for verifying the operation of RF generators and resulting pulse waveforms in semiconductor processes includes generating a pulse profile of a pulse shape of an RF generator under test, selecting a stored, representative profile of an RF generator known to be operating correctly to compare to the profile generated for the RF generator for a same pulse mode, defining a quantitative metric/control limit to identify similarities and/or differences between pulses of same pulse modes between the generated profile of the RF generator and the stored profile, comparing the generated profile and the selected stored profile, and determining if the RF generator under test is operating properly based on the comparison.

Abstract: Described herein is a protective coating composition that provides erosion and corrosion resistance to a coated article (such as a chamber component) upon the article's exposure to harsh chemical environment (such as hydrogen based and/or halogen based environment) and/or upon the article's exposure to high energy plasma. Also described herein is a method of coating an article with the protective coating using electronic beam ion assisted deposition, physical vapor deposition, or plasma spray. Also described herein is a method of processing wafer, which method exhibits, on average, less than about 5 yttrium based particle defects per wafer.

Abstract: Methods of operating and assembling a plasma chamber are disclosed. An operating method includes tuning a match network of a plasma chamber while running a non-plasma discharge recipe. A hardware impedance of the plasma chamber is calculated from the match network settings from the tuning. A match loss for the plasma chamber is also calculated according to match network settings. A radio frequency (RF) power setting for the first plasma chamber is set according to the calculated hardware impedance and the calculated match loss. Such methods can be utilized to provide chamber-to-chamber performance matching across different plasma chambers. Certain disclosed methods of operating the plasma chamber can be utilized to identify hardware faults during operation and/or assembly processes.

Abstract: A method of assigning faults to a processing chamber is described. Some embodiments include applying a radio frequency (RF) signal to a processing chamber to stimulate resonance in the chamber, measuring resonances of the applied RF signal in the chamber, extracting a fingerprint from the measured resonances, comparing the extracted fingerprint to a library of fingerprints, assigning a similarity index to combinations of the extracted fingerprint with at least one fingerprint in the fingerprint library, comparing each similarity index to a threshold, and if the similarity is greater than a threshold, then assigning a fault to the processing chamber using the library fingerprint.

Abstract: Methods of operating and assembling a plasma chamber are disclosed. An operating method includes tuning a match network of a plasma chamber while running a non-plasma discharge recipe. A hardware impedance of the plasma chamber is calculated from the match network settings from the tuning. A match loss for the plasma chamber is also calculated according to match network settings. A radio frequency (RF) power setting for the first plasma chamber is set according to the calculated hardware impedance and the calculated match loss. Such methods can be utilized to provide chamber-to-chamber performance matching across different plasma chambers. Certain disclosed methods of operating the plasma chamber can be utilized to identify hardware faults during operation and/or assembly processes.

Abstract: A system for verifying the operation of RF generators and resulting pulse waveforms in semiconductor processes includes a process chamber, a profile sensor, an optical sensor and a controller. A process implemented by the controller of the system for verifying the operation of RF generators and resulting pulse waveforms in semiconductor processes includes generating a pulse profile of a pulse shape of an RF generator under test, selecting a stored, representative profile of an RF generator known to be operating correctly to compare to the profile generated for the RF generator for a same pulse mode, defining a quantitative metric/control limit to identify similarities and/or differences between pulses of same pulse modes between the generated profile of the RF generator and the stored profile, comparing the generated profile and the selected stored profile, and determining if the RF generator under test is operating properly based on the comparison.

Abstract: A method of assigning faults to a processing chamber is described. Some embodiments include applying a radio frequency (RF) signal to a processing chamber to stimulate resonance in the chamber, measuring resonances of the applied RF signal in the chamber, extracting a fingerprint from the measured resonances, comparing the extracted fingerprint to a library of fingerprints, assigning a similarity index to combinations of the extracted fingerprint with at least one fingerprint in the fingerprint library, comparing each similarity index to a threshold, and if the similarity is greater than a threshold, then assigning a fault to the processing chamber using the library fingerprint.

Abstract: A method of assigning faults to a processing chamber is described. Some embodiments include applying a radio frequency (RF) signal to a processing chamber to stimulate resonance in the chamber, measuring resonances of the applied RF signal in the chamber, extracting a fingerprint from the measured resonances, comparing the extracted fingerprint to a library of fingerprints, assigning a similarity index to combinations of the extracted fingerprint with at least one fingerprint in the fingerprint library, comparing each similarity index to a threshold, and if the similarity is greater than a threshold, then assigning a fault to the processing chamber using the library fingerprint.

Abstract: A method of assigning faults to a processing chamber is described. Some embodiments include applying a radio frequency (RF) signal to a processing chamber to stimulate resonance in the chamber, measuring resonances of the applied RF signal in the chamber, extracting a fingerprint from the measured resonances, comparing the extracted fingerprint to a library of fingerprints, assigning a similarity index to combinations of the extracted fingerprint with at least one fingerprint in the fingerprint library, comparing each similarity index to a threshold, and if the similarity is greater than a threshold, then assigning a fault to the processing chamber using the library fingerprint.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for modulating azimuthal non-uniformity in a plasma processing chamber are disclosed. Apparatus includes a plasma processing system having a plasma processing chamber and a chamber liner. Modulating the azimuthal non-uniformity includes providing a set of conduction straps to connect the chamber liner to a ground ring whereby the number of conduction straps in the set of conduction straps is greater than 8. Alternatively or additionally, a mirror cut-out is provided for a counterpart existing cut-out or port in the chamber liner. Alternatively or additionally, a dummy structure is provided with the chamber liner for a counterpart structure that impedes at least one of a gas flow and RF return current in the chamber.

Abstract: In a plasma processing system, a method of determining a process threshold is disclosed. The method includes exposing a substrate to a plasma process, including a process start portion, a substantially steady state portion, and process end portion. The method also includes collecting a first set of data during the substantially steady state portion; creating a first statistical model comprising at least a statistical model component selected from the group consisting of a variance component and a residual component; and collecting a second set of data. The method further includes creating a second statistical model comprising the statistical model component, wherein if the statistical model component of the first statistical model is substantially different than the statistical model component of the second statistical model, the process threshold has been substantially achieved.