Abstract: Embodiments of a gas diffuser plate for distributing gas in a processing chamber are provided. The gas distribution plate includes a diffuser plate having an upstream side and a downstream side, and a plurality of gas passages passing between the upstream and downstream sides of the diffuser plate. The gas passages include hollow cathode cavities at the downstream side to enhance plasma ionization. The depths, the diameters, the surface area and density of hollow cathode cavities of the gas passages that extend to the downstream end can be gradually increased from the center to the edge of the diffuser plate to improve the film thickness and property uniformity across the substrate. The increasing diameters, depths and surface areas from the center to the edge of the diffuser plate can be created by bending the diffuser plate toward downstream side, followed by machining out the convex downstream side. Bending the diffuser plate can be accomplished by a thermal process or a vacuum process.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for supporting a substantial center portion of a gas distribution plate is disclosed. At least one support member is capable of engaging and disengaging the diffuser with a mating connection without prohibiting flow of a gas or gases through the diffuser and is designed to provide vertical suspension to a diffuser that is supported at its perimeter, or capable of supporting the diffuser without a perimeter support. In one aspect, the at least one support member is a portion of a gas delivery conduit and in another embodiment is a plurality of support members separated from the gas delivery conduit. The at least one support member is capable of translating vertical lift, or vertical compression to a center area of the diffuser. A method and apparatus for controlling gas flow from the gas delivery conduit to the gas distribution plate is also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments of a gas distribution plate for distributing gas in a processing chamber are provided. In one embodiment, a gas distribution assembly for a plasma processing chamber comprises a diffuser plate with gas passages passing between its upstream and downstream sides and hollow cathode cavities at the downstream side of the gas passages. The downstream side of the diffuser plate has a curvature to improve the thickness uniformity and film property uniformity of thin films deposited by PECVD, particularly SiN and amorphous silicon films. The curvature is preferably described by an arc of a circle or ellipse, the apex thereof located at the center point of the diffuser plate. In one aspect, the hollow cathode cavity volume density, surface area density, or the cavity density of the diffuser increases from the center of the diffuser to the outer edge. Methods for manufacturing such a diffuser plate are also provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of a gas diffuser plate for distributing gas in a processing chamber are provided. The gas distribution plate includes a diffuser plate having an upstream side and a downstream side, and a plurality of gas passages passing between the upstream and downstream sides of the diffuser plate. The gas passages include hollow cathode cavities at the downstream side to enhance plasma ionization. The depths, the diameters, the surface area and density of hollow cathode cavities of the gas passages that extend to the downstream end can be gradually increased from the center to the edge of the diffuser plate to improve the film thickness and property uniformity across the substrate. The increasing diameters, depths and surface areas from the center to the edge of the diffuser plate can be created by bending the diffuser plate toward downstream side, followed by machining out the convex downstream side. Bending the diffuser plate can be accomplished by a thermal process or a vacuum process.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a gas distribution showerhead having insulated corner regions to reduce arcing and improve deposition uniformity control. In one embodiment, the gas distribution showerhead is formed of a conductive material with material from the corner regions removed. Corner members formed substantially in the shape of the removed portion of corner regions are attached to the conductive showerhead. The corner members may be made of a material having electrical insulating properties, such as a ceramic or insulating polymer.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to an apparatus having an anodized gas distribution showerhead. In large area, parallel plate RF processing chambers, mastering the RF return path can be challenging. Arcing is a frequent problem encountered in RF processing chambers. To reduce arcing in RF processing chambers, straps may be coupled to the susceptor to shorten the RF return path, a ceramic or insulating or anodized shadow frame may be coupled to the susceptor during processing, and an anodized coating may be deposited onto the edge of the showerhead that is nearest the chamber walls. The anodized coating may reduce arcing between the showerhead and the chamber walls and therefore enhance film properties and increase deposition rate.

Abstract: For coupling RF power from an RF input of a plasma chamber to the interior of a plasma chamber, an RF bus conductor is connected between the RF input and a plasma chamber electrode. In one embodiment, an RF return bus conductor is connected to an electrically grounded wall of the chamber, and the RF bus conductor and the RF return bus conductor have respective surfaces that are parallel and face each other. In another embodiment, the RF bus conductor has a transverse cross section having a longest dimension oriented perpendicular to the surface of the plasma chamber electrode that is closest to the RF bus conductor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing an electrically symmetrical ground or return path for electrical current between two electrodes is described. The apparatus includes at least on radio frequency (RF) device coupled to one of the electrodes and between a sidewall and/or a bottom of a processing chamber. The method includes moving one electrode relative to another and realizing a ground return path based on the position of the displaced electrode using one or both of a RF device coupled to a sidewall and the electrode, a RF device coupled to a bottom of the chamber and the electrode, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Embodiments of gas distribution apparatus comprise a diffuser support member coupled to a diffuser and movably disposed through a backing plate. Embodiments of methods of processing a substrate on a substrate receiving surface of a substrate support comprise providing a diffuser in which a diffuser support member supports the diffuser and is movably disposed through the backing plate.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to an apparatus and a method for placing a substrate substantially flush against a substrate support in a processing chamber. When a large area substrate is placed onto a substrate support, the substrate may not be perfectly flush against the substrate support due to gas pockets that may be present between the substrate and the substrate support. The gas pockets can lead to uneven deposition on the substrate. Therefore, pulling the gas from between the substrate and the support may pull the substrate substantially flush against the support. During deposition, an electrostatic charge can build up and cause the substrate to stick to the substrate support. By introducing a gas between the substrate and the substrate support, the electrostatic forces may be overcome so that the substrate can be separated from the susceptor with less or no plasma support which takes extra time and gas.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein generally include an alignment assembly for aligning a shadow frame on a susceptor. For producing large area flat panel displays or solar panels, the shadow frame that protects the areas of the susceptor not covered by the substrate from deposition may be so large that the shadow frame bends and doesn't properly align. By utilizing an alignment assembly having one or more ball bearings, the shadow frame may roll on the susceptor to a proper alignment position. Thus, the shadow frame may be prevented from bending and also align on the susceptor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus having a RF return path with low impedance coupling a substrate support to a chamber wall in a plasma processing system is provided. In one embodiment, a processing chamber includes a chamber body having a chamber sidewall, a bottom and a lid assembly supported by the chamber sidewall defining a processing region, a substrate support disposed in the processing region of the chamber body, a shadow frame disposed on an edge of the substrate support assembly, and a RF return path having a first end coupled to the shadow frame and a second end coupled to the chamber sidewall.

Abstract: The present invention generally includes a coupling between components. When igniting a plasma remote from a processing chamber, the reactive gas ions may travel to the processing chamber through numerous components. The reactive gas ions may be quite hot and cause the various components to become very hot and thus, the seals between apparatus components may fail. Therefore, it may be beneficial to cool any metallic components through which the reactive gas ions may travel. However, at the interface between the cooled metallic component and a ceramic component, the ceramic component may experience a temperature gradient sufficient to crack the ceramic material due to the heat of the reactive gas ions and the coolness of the metallic component. Therefore, extending a flange of the metallic component into the ceramic component may lessen the temperature gradient at the interface and reduce cracking of the ceramic component.

Abstract: The present invention generally includes a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) processing chamber having an RF power source coupled to the backing plate at a location separate from the gas source. By feeding the gas into the processing chamber at a location separate from the RF power, parasitic plasma formation in the gas tubes leading to the processing chamber may be reduced. The gas may be fed to the chamber at a plurality of locations. At each location, the gas may be fed to the processing chamber from the gas source by passing through a remote plasma source as well as an RF choke or RF resistor.