Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus is provided with a processing chamber having at least a pair of opposing windows to allow observation of the interior thereof, a plasma generation unit for generating a plasma in the processing chamber, a plasma light emission monitoring unit arranged externally of the processing chamber for monitoring the light emission of the plasma through one of the pair of opposing windows, a reference light irradiation unit for irradiating a reference light to the plasma light emission monitoring unit from that window of the pair of opposing windows which is opposite to the plasma light emission monitoring unit through the pair of opposing windows, and a control for controlling a plasma processing state of the substrate to be processed by comparing the data on the light emission of the plasma monitored by the plasma light emission unit and the reference light.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus removes foreign particles in a vacuum or in a dry atmosphere before and in continuation to performing a dry process, such as a dry etching or a sputtering process. For this purpose, the foreign particles are separated from a substrate by subjecting the foreign particles to a force for separating the foreign particles from the substrate and a vibrating force for vibrating the foreign particles at the same time, and then the frequency of vibration is changed to match the resonant frequency of a vibration system formed by each of the foreign particles and the substrate, thereby applying a vibration energy to the foreign particles due to resonance. The separated foreign particles floating in a plasma are drawn to an electrode having a potential which is controlled such that a flowing-in of electrons is reduced, and the particles are discharged from the inside of the plasma.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a plasma processing chamber having a stage for placing a substrate to be plasma processed, an exhaust port and a gas introduction nozzle for plasma processing coupled therewith, and a cavity resonator for closing the plasma processing chamber in vacuum manner and coupled through a microwave introducing window through which microwaves are introduced and having slots for radiating microwaves to the plasma processing chamber. Microwaves having increased intensity of an electromagnetic field is supplied to the processing chamber to produce plasma to effect processing of the substrate. An area in which diffusion of plasma is suppressed to reduce loss is formed only in the vicinity of an inner wall of the processing chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an insulating film forming method for semiconductor device interconnection and a plasma treatment system for use in the method. The method comprises (i) a step of forming an insulating film free of void, on a substrate having an interconnection pattern, in which a mixed gas of a film forming source gas and an etching gas comprising a fluorine compound is used to perform both deposition of an insulating film by plasma CVD and reactive etching of the insulating film, simultaneously, and (ii) a step of planarizing the surface of the insulating film formed by the step (i) and comprised of, for example, silicon oxide, in which a gas of a material decomposable by a reactive gas capable of decomposing the insulating film is supplied onto the substrate so as to deposit a solid film of the material, e.g. Si(OCH.sub.3).sub.

Abstract: Disclosed is a plasma CVD apparatus and a method therefor, the apparatus comprising: a microwave generating portion; a coaxial cavity resonator for making a microwave supplied from the microwave generating portion resonate; a plurality of gas leading inlets provided in under portions of an axis of the cavity resonator and in peripheral wall portions of the cavity resonator for leading-in a supplied CVD gas; and a plasma generating chamber in which the CVD gas lead into the plasma generating chamber through the gas leading inlets and made to flow uniformly onto a surface of a substrate is subject to the microwave made intensive through resonance in the cavity resonator and radiated through a coupling plate so that uniform plasma is generated to thereby form a thin film on the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus including a microwave generator, a waveguide for supplying microwaves generated by the microwave generator, a cavity resonator for resonating the microwaves supplied by the waveguide, and a plasma processing chamber. The plasma processing chamber is coupled to the cavity resonator for receiving resonated microwaves therefrom and for generating a plasma therein. The plasma processing chamber is provided with a stage for holding a substrate for plasma processing, and apparatus for introducing a plasma processing gas to the plasma processing chamber for exhausting gas therefrom. A separation plate separates the cavity resonator and the plasma processing chamber and enables resonated microwaves to be transmitted therethrough from the cavity resonator means to the plasma processing chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring dry etching pits formed in a semiconductor device during the manufacture thereof by employing optical means. Wiring on semiconductor devices increasingly become fine or minute, i.e., the size of wiring of some devices is less than 1 .mu.m. A technical matter to be solved is to effect highly accurate dimensional measurement in such submicron region. The apparatus has a .theta. stage which is additionally provided on an XY stage, and a mechanism which provides excellent selectivity in detection of interference intensity of diffracted beam. In addition, a short wavelength laser, such as a He-Ne, He-Cd, N.sub.2 or Ar laser, is employed as a laser source. As a practical advantage, it is possible to monitor etching of a pit with a depth on the order of 10 .mu.m with respect to a pattern with a planar dimension of 0.3 .mu.m to 1.0 .mu.m.

Abstract: A plasma processing method and an apparatus for carrying out the method in which a processing gas is introduced into a processing chamber, and periodically an amplitude modulated or frequency-modulated high-frequency voltage is applied to plasma generating means, to generate a discharge plasma and to carry out predetermined processing by the plasma.

Abstract: Microwaves supplied from a magnetron through a waveguide are resonated in a cavity resonator to increase their amplitude. The resonated microwaves are emitted into a plasma production chamber through slits and a wall. Then plasma is produced in the plasma production chamber into which plasma processing gas is introduced. The plasma is employed for uniformly processing a substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a difference in level in a sample comprises a light source section which provides illumination light of a variable-wavelength. The illumination light is irradiated onto the sample. A group of filters is provided for shielding diffraction light rays of O-order or other than O-order of the light reflected from the sample. The intensity of interference light of the light rays not shielded by the filter group is detected by a light detector which in turn converts it into an electric signal. An arithmetic operation unit receives the electric signal while the wavelength of the illumination light from the light source section is continuously varied. In the arithmetic unit, wavelengths at which the electric signal or detected light intensity takes extreme values are determined, and the level difference in the sample is determined on the basis of those wavelengths.

Abstract: Dry etching is carried out in such a manner that a periodical potential is applied to an electrode having a workpiece thereon, the above potential changes substantially linearly at a first part of each period and has a reverse polarity at a second part of each period, the linear change of potential at the first part compensates for a change in surface potential of the workpiece to keep constant an ion accelerating voltage between a plasma and the surface of the workpiece, and the potential of the reverse polarity at the second part allows charged particle of the reverse polarity to impinge on the workpiece, thereby neutralizing the electric charge on the surface of the workpiece. Accordingly, the energy of ion incident on the workpiece is distributed in a narrow range around a desired value, and thus an etching rate and a selection ratio can be improved.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring in a non-contact manner the depth of pits and grooves formed by etching in periodic patterns on the surface of a substrate. The measurement is based on the detection of the intensity of a diffraction ray excluding that of the 0th order through the irradiation of a light beam with variable wave length to the sample. Whereas, the conventional measuring system is sensitive to a diffraction ray of the 0th order, i.e., the major component of the reflected light, that hampers the detection of a higher order diffraction ray carrying information of the depth.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a dry-etching apparatus used for etching an aluminum wiring film formed on a wafer, and more particularly to a dry-etching apparatus which can remove chlorides deposited on the surface of the wafer during the dry etching thereof, as well as an etching resist film, without having to take the wafer out. This dry-etching apparatus is provided with an etching chamber, a vacuum antechamber attached to the etching chamber by a gate valve, and a post-treatment chamber attached to the vacuum antechamber. The apparatus is so formed that etched wafers removed to the vacuum antechamber can be sent therefrom to the post-treatment chamber, and then the post-treated wafers can be removed to the vacuum antechamber again, and then removed therefrom to the atmosphere.

Abstract: The present invention consists in an etching method and apparatus wherein an optical image which is reflected from a region of a dicing stripe pattern on a substrate to-be-etched, such as a semiconductor wafer, is focused by a projecting optical system during selective etching. The focused pattern is converted into an image signal by an image detector, and a change of contrast in the region of the dicing stripe pattern is determined from the image signal. Based on this, an ending time for the etching can be decided from the change of contrast.

Abstract: A projecting apparatus for forming an image of a mask on a wafer by a projector of a unit magnification reflection system having a concave spherical mirror and a convex spherical mirror. The distance from the projector to the mask or the upper side of a mask holder for holding the mask and the distance from the projector to the wafer are measured. An error of the image-forming position is computed from the distance measurements. At least one of the mask, the wafer and the projector is moved along the direction of projection in a manner to eliminate the error of the image-forming position computed, thus attaining automatic focus adjustment.

Abstract: An apparatus .Iadd.and method .Iaddend.for measuring in a non-contact manner the depth of pits and grooves formed by etching in periodic patterns on the surface of a substrate. The measurement is based on the detection of the intensity of a diffraction ray excluding that of the 0th order through the irradiation of a light beam with variable wave length to the sample. Whereas, the conventional measuring system is sensitive to a diffraction ray of the 0th order, i.e., the major component of the reflected light, that hampers the detection of a higher order diffraction ray carrying information of the depth.