Abstract: The present invention provides, in one embodiment, a process for cleaning a deposition chamber (100). The process includes a step (100) of forming a reactive plasma cleaning zone by dissociating a gaseous fluorocompound introduced into a deposition chamber having an interior surface and in a presence of a plasma. The process (100) further includes a step (120) of ramping a flow rate of said gaseous fluorocompound to move the reactive plasma cleaning zone throughout the deposition chamber, thereby preventing a build-up of localized metal compound deposits on the interior surface. Other embodiments advantageously incorporate the process (100) into a system (200) for cleaning a deposition chamber (205) and a method of manufacturing semiconductor devices (300).

Abstract: A method of forming a film stack in an integrated circuit, said method comprising depositing a layer of silicon carbide adjacent a first layer of dielectric material, depositing a layer of silicon nitride adjacent the layer of silicon carbide, and depositing a second layer of dielectric material adjacent the layer of silicon nitride.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in one embodiment, a process for cleaning a deposition chamber (100). The process includes a step (100) of forming a reactive plasma cleaning zone by dissociating a gaseous fluorocompound introduced into a deposition chamber having an interior surface and in a presence of a plasma. The process (100) further includes a step (120) of ramping a flow rate of said gaseous fluorocompound to move the reactive plasma cleaning zone throughout the deposition chamber, thereby preventing a build-up of localized metal compound deposits on the interior surface. Other embodiments advantageously incorporate the process (100) into a system (200) for cleaning a deposition chamber (205) and a method of manufacturing semiconductor devices (300).

Abstract: The present invention provides, in one embodiment, a process for cleaning a deposition chamber (100). The process includes a step (100) of forming a reactive plasma cleaning zone by dissociating a gaseous fluorocompound introduced into a deposition chamber having an interior surface and in a presence of a plasma. The process (100) further includes a step (120) of ramping a flow rate of said gaseous fluorocompound to move the reactive plasma cleaning zone throughout the deposition chamber, thereby preventing a build-up of localized metal compound deposits on the interior surface. Other embodiments advantageously incorporate the process (100) into a system (200) for cleaning a deposition chamber (205) and a method of manufacturing semiconductor devices (300).

Abstract: The present invention provides, in one embodiment, a method of manufacturing semiconductor devices. The method comprises transferring one or more substrate into a deposition chamber and depositing material layers on the substrate. The chamber has an interior surface. The method further includes, between the transfers, cleaning the deposition chamber using an in situ ramped cleaning process when material layer deposits in the deposition chamber reaches a predefined thickness. The in situ ramped cleaning process comprises forming a reactive plasma cleaning zone by dissociating a gaseous fluorocompound introduced into a deposition chamber in a presence of a plasma. The cleaning process further includes ramping a flow rate of the gaseous fluorocompound in a presence of the plasma to move the reactive plasma cleaning zone throughout the deposition chamber, thereby preventing a build-up of localized metal compound deposits on the interior surface.

Abstract: A method of forming a film stack in an integrated circuit, said method comprising depositing a layer of silicon carbide adjacent a first layer of dielectric material, depositing a layer of silicon nitride adjacent the layer of silicon carbide, and depositing a second layer of dielectric material adjacent the layer of silicon nitride.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in one embodiment, a process for cleaning a deposition chamber (100). The process includes a step (100) of forming a reactive plasma cleaning zone by dissociating a gaseous fluorocompound introduced into a deposition chamber having an interior surface and in a presence of a plasma. The process (100) further includes a step (120) of ramping a flow rate of said gaseous fluorocompound to move the reactive plasma cleaning zone throughout the deposition chamber, thereby preventing a build-up of localized metal compound deposits on the interior surface. Other embodiments advantageously incorporate the process (100) into a system (200) for cleaning a deposition chamber (205) and a method of manufacturing semiconductor devices (300).

Abstract: Maintaining a reactor chamber of a chemical vapor deposition system includes depositing layers on an inner surface of the reactor chamber, where the layers form an accumulation layer. When the accumulation layer reaches a specified thickness, a plasma clean cycle is performed by introducing cleaning gas into the reactor chamber. The volume of the cleaning gas used during one or more plasma clean cycles is calculated, where the volume indicates the volume of cleaning gas introduced into the reactor chamber. A notification is provided when the volume of the cleaning gas used during the plasma clean cycles has reached a predetermined volume.