Abstract: The various embodiments of the invention provide for relative movement of the substrate and a process head to access the entire wafer in a minimal space to conduct combinatorial processing on various regions of the substrate. The heads enable site isolated processing within the chamber described and method of using the same are described.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for cleaning a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) chamber using cleaning gas energized to a plasma in a gas mixing volume separated by an electrode from a reaction volume of the chamber. In one embodiment, a source of RF power is coupled to a lid of the chamber, while a switch is used to couple a showerhead to ground terminals or the source of RF power.

Abstract: A combinatorial processing chamber is provided. The combinatorial processing chamber is configured to isolate a radial portion of a rotatable substrate support, which in turn is configured to support a substrate. The chamber includes a plurality of clusters process heads in one embodiment. An insert having a base plate disposed between the substrate support and the process heads defines a confinement region for a deposition process in one embodiment. The base plate has an opening to enable access of the deposition material to the substrate. Through rotation of the substrate and movement of the opening, multiple regions of the substrate are accessible for performing combinatorial processing on a single substrate.

Abstract: A combinatorial processing chamber is provided. The combinatorial processing chamber is configured to isolate a radial portion of a rotatable substrate support, which in turn is configured to support a substrate. The chamber includes a plurality of clusters process heads in one embodiment. An insert having a base plate disposed between the substrate support and the process heads defines a confinement region for a deposition process in one embodiment. The base plate has an opening to enable access of the deposition material to the substrate. Through rotation of the substrate and movement of the opening, multiple regions of the substrate are accessible for performing combinatorial processing on a single substrate.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for cleaning a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) chamber using cleaning gas energized to a plasma in a gas mixing volume separated by an electrode from a reaction volume of the chamber. In one embodiment, a source of RF power is coupled to a lid of the chamber, while a switch is used to couple a showerhead to ground terminals or the source of RF power.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for cleaning a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) chamber using cleaning gas energized to a plasma in a gas mixing volume separated by an electrode from a reaction volume of the chamber. In one embodiment, a source of RF power is coupled to a lid of the chamber, while a switch is used to couple a showerhead to ground terminals or the source of RF power.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for cleaning a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) chamber using cleaning gas energized to a plasma in a gas mixing volume separated by an electrode from a reaction volume of the chamber. In one embodiment, a source of RF power is coupled to a lid of the chamber, while a switch is used to couple a showerhead to ground terminals or the source of RF power.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for cleaning a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) chamber using cleaning gas energized to a plasma in a gas mixing volume separated by an electrode from a reaction volume of the chamber. In one embodiment, a source of RF power is coupled to a lid of the chamber, while a switch is used to couple a showerhead to ground terminals or the source of RF power.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a blocker for a gas distribution system for use in semiconductor deposition apparatus. The gas distribution system includes a faceplate having a plurality of faceplate apertures to distribute a gas flow onto a surface of a substrate disposed downstream of the faceplate for film deposition on the substrate; and a blocker disposed upstream of the faceplate. The blocker includes a generally planar blocker surface facing the faceplate and a side wall disposed around a periphery of the blocker surface. The blocker surface includes a plurality of blocker holes to permit gas flow therethrough to the faceplate. The side wall is disposed near an edge of the faceplate and includes a plurality of side apertures to permit gas flow therethrough to the faceplate.

Abstract: An apparatus for distributing gas in a processing system. In one embodiment, the system includes a gas distribution assembly having a gas distribution plate. The gas distribution plate defines a plurality of holes through which gases are transmitted. The assembly further includes a gas box coupled to the gas distribution plate, in which the gas box is configured to supply the gases into the plurality of holes. The assembly further includes a means for reducing heat transfer from the gas box to the gas distribution plate.

Abstract: A method for cleaning a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition chamber. The method includes introducing a cleaning gas into the plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition chamber, forming a plasma using a very high frequency (VHF) power having a frequency in a range from about 20 MHz to about 100 MHz, and reacting the cleaning gas with deposits within the chamber in the presence of the plasma.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning a processing chamber are provided. The cleaning method includes the use of a remote plasma source to generate reactive species and an in situ RF power to generate or regenerate reactive species. The reactive species are generated from a carbon and fluorine-containing gas and an oxygen source.

Abstract: A method for depositing a low dielectric constant film on a substrate. The method includes depositing a low dielectric constant film comprising silicon, carbon, oxygen and hydrogen on the substrate disposed in a chemical vapor deposition chamber, introducing a gas mixture comprising a hydrogen-containing gas to the chemical vapor deposition chamber, forming a plasma of the gas mixture proximate the low dielectric constant film using a radio frequency power, and applying a direct current bias to at least one of the substrate or a gas distribution plate to cure the low dielectric constant film.

Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the present invention relate to apparatuses and methods distributing processing gases over a workpiece surface. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, process gases are flowed to a surface of a semiconductor wafer through a substantially circular gas distribution showerhead defining a plurality of holes. A first set of holes located at the center of the faceplate, are arranged in a non-concentric manner not exhibiting radial symmetry. This asymmetric arrangement achieves maximum density of holes and gases distributed therefrom. To compensate for nonuniform exposure of the wafer edges to gases flowed from the first hole set, the faceplate periphery defines a second set of holes arranged concentrically and exhibiting radial symmetry. Processing substrates with gases flowed through the first and second sets of holes results in formation of films exhibiting enhanced uniformity across center-to-edge regions.

Abstract: A method of depositing a low dielectric constant film on a substrate. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of positioning the substrate in a deposition chamber, providing a gas mixture to the deposition chamber, in which the gas mixture is comprised of one or more cyclic organosilicon compounds, one or more aliphatic compounds and one or more oxidizing gases. The method further includes reacting the gas mixture in the presence of an electric field to form the low dielectric constant film on the semiconductor substrate. The electric field is generated using a very high frequency power having a frequency in a range of about 20 MHz to about 100 MHz.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for cleaning a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) chamber using cleaning gas energized to a plasma in a gas mixing volume separated by an electrode from a reaction volume of the chamber. In one embodiment, a source of RF power is coupled to a lid of the chamber, while a switch is used to couple a showerhead to ground terminals or the source of RF power.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning a processing chamber are provided. The cleaning method includes the use of a remote plasma source to generate reactive species and an in situ RF power to generate or regenerate reactive species. The reactive species are generated from a carbon and fluorine-containing gas and an oxygen source.

Abstract: A method for depositing a low dielectric constant film on a substrate. The method includes depositing a low dielectric constant film comprising silicon, carbon, oxygen and hydrogen on the substrate disposed in a chemical vapor deposition chamber, introducing a gas mixture comprising a hydrogen-containing gas to the chemical vapor deposition chamber, forming a plasma of the gas mixture proximate the low dielectric constant film using a radio frequency power, and applying a direct current bias to at least one of the substrate or a gas distribution plate to cure the low dielectric constant film.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributing gases into a processing chamber. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a gas distribution plate defining a plurality of holes disposed therethrough, a blocker plate defining a plurality of holes disposed therethrough, a first gas pathway configured to deliver a first gas through the blocker plate and the gas distribution plate, and a second gas pathway configured to deliver a second gas around the blocker plate and through the gas distribution plate.

Abstract: A method for cleaning a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition chamber. The method includes introducing a cleaning gas into the plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition chamber, forming a plasma using a very high frequency (VHF) power having a frequency in a range from about 20 MHz to about 100 MHz, and reacting the cleaning gas with deposits within the chamber in the presence of the plasma.