Showerhead-type Patents (Class 156/345.34)
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Patent number: 7922863Abstract: An apparatus for photo-assisted or photo-induced processes is disclosed, comprising a process chamber having an integrated gas and radiation distribution plate. In one embodiment, the plate has one set of apertures for distributing one or more process gases, and another set of apertures for distributing radiation to a process region in the chamber.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2006Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Martin John Ripley, Sean M. Seutter
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Patent number: 7918938Abstract: A system and method for distributing one or more gases to an atomic layer deposition (ALD) reactor. An integrated inlet manifold block mounted over a showerhead assembly includes high temperature (up to 200° C.) rated valves mounted directly thereto, and short, easily purged reactant lines. Integral passageways and metal seals avoid o-rings and attendant dead zones along flow paths.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2007Date of Patent: April 5, 2011Assignee: ASM America, Inc.Inventors: Timothy J. Provencher, Craig B. Hickson
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Publication number: 20110067815Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a shower head that is installed within a processing chamber for processing a substrate therein so as to face a mounting table for mounting the substrate thereon and supplies a gas toward the substrate in a shower pattern through a plurality of gas discharge holes provided in a facing surface of the shower head facing the mounting table; a plurality of gas exhaust holes formed through the shower head to be extended from the facing surface of the shower head to an opposite surface from the facing surface; a multiple number of rod-shaped magnet pillars standing upright in a gas exhaust space communicating with the gas exhaust holes on the side of the opposite surface; and a driving unit that varies a distance between the magnet pillars and the gas exhaust holes by moving at least a part of the magnet pillars.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2010Publication date: March 24, 2011Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Hachishiro Iizuka, Jun Abe, Yuki Mochizuki
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Patent number: 7909961Abstract: A method and apparatus for etching photomasks are provided herein. The apparatus includes a process chamber with a shield above a substrate support. The shield comprises a plate with apertures, and the plate has two zones with at least one characteristic, such as material or potential bias, that is different from each other. The method provides for etching a photomask substrate with a distribution of ions and neutral species that pass through the shield.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2006Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Ajay Kumar, Madhavi R. Chandrachood, Richard Lewington, Darin Bivens, Amitabh Sabharwal, Sheeba J. Panayil, Alan Hiroshi Ouye
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Publication number: 20110061813Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a shower head that supplies a gas toward a substrate in a shower pattern through a plurality of gas discharge holes provided in a facing surface of the shower head facing a mounting table; a multiple number of gas exhaust holes provided in the facing surface of the shower head; a vertically movable ring-shaped member that is installed along a circumference of the mounting table and is configured to form, at a raised position, a processing space surrounded by the mounting table, the shower head and the ring-shaped member; a multiplicity of gas supply holes opened in an inner wall of the ring-shaped member to supply a gas into the processing space; and a plurality of gas exhaust holes opened in an inner wall of the ring-shaped member to evacuate the processing space.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2010Publication date: March 17, 2011Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Hachishiro Iizuka, Yuki Mochizuki, Jun Abe
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Publication number: 20110061812Abstract: Apparatus and methods for the manufacture of semiconductor devices suitable for narrow pitch applications and methods of fabrication thereof are described herein. Disclosed are various single chambers configured to form and/or shape a material layer by oxidizing a surface of a material layer to form an oxide layer; removing at least some of the oxide layer by an etching process; and cyclically repeating the oxidizing and removing processes until the material layer is formed to a desired shape. In some embodiments, the material layer may be a floating gate of a semiconductor device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2010Publication date: March 17, 2011Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Udayan Ganguly, Yoshitaka Yokota, Christopher S. Olsen, Matthew D. Scotney-Castle, Vicky Nguyen, Swaminathan Srinivasan, Wei Liu, Johanes F. Swenberg, Jose A. Marin, Aijit Balakrishna, Jacob Newman, Stephen C. Hickerson
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Patent number: 7905959Abstract: A lid assembly for a semiconductor processing system is provided. The lid assembly generally includes a lid having first and second opposed surfaces, a plurality of controllable flow channels extending from the first and second opposed surfaces and a gas control system disposed on the first surface and operably opening and closing the channels. The gas control system includes a gas manifold disposed on the lid, at least one valve coupled to the gas manifold and adapted to control a flow through one of the flow channels, a reservoir fluidly connected to the gas manifold, and a precursor source fluidly connected to the reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2004Date of Patent: March 15, 2011Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Gwo-Chuan Tzu, Salvador P. Umotoy
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Publication number: 20110048642Abstract: In a plasma processing apparatus for processing a substrate by plasmatizing a process gas introduced into a processing container, an introducing unit which introduces the process gas is formed on a ceiling surface of the processing container; a gas retention portion which gathers the process gas supplied from the outside of the processing container through a supply passage, and a plurality of gas ejection holes which allow communication between the gas retention portion and the inside of the processing container are formed in the introducing unit; a gas ejection hole is not formed in a location of the gas retention portion that faces an opening of the supply passage; and a cross section of each of the gas ejection holes has a flat shape.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2010Publication date: March 3, 2011Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Naoki MIHARA, Naoki MATSUMOTO, Jun YOSHIKAWA, Kazuo MURAKAMI
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Patent number: 7892358Abstract: A system for introducing a precursor vapor to a processing chamber configured for forming a thin metal on a substrate is described. The vapor delivery system includes means for introducing a dilution gas to the precursor vapor and adjusting the spatial distribution of the dilution gas addition in order to affect improvements to the properties of the deposited film.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2006Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Kenji Suzuki, Atsushi Gomi
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Patent number: 7887670Abstract: The present invention provides a gas introducing mechanism and a processing apparatus for processing an object to be processed, which can supply a gas uniformly over the whole region of a processing space so as to enhance uniformity of a process in the surface of the object to be processed. The gas introducing mechanism 50, which is adapted to provide a process to the object W to be processed, by using the gas, in a processing vessel 4, includes a gas introducing ring member 54 for introducing the gas from the exterior of the processing vessel 4, a disk-like rotary base 56 provided rotatably below a top plate 48 in the processing vessel 4, and a ring-shaped gas injection ring member 60 provided around a rotary base 56 so as to be closer and opposed to the gas introducing ring member 54. A gas injecting slit 58 is provided in the ring-shaped gas injection ring member 60, the slit 58 being formed along the circumferential direction of the rotary base.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2007Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Kenjiro Koizumi, Naoki Yoshii
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Patent number: 7879182Abstract: A system for processing a substrate uniformly by increasing the number of gas discharge holes being arranged per unit area of a shower plate as receding from the center of the shower plate or increasing the radii of the gas discharge holes as receding from the center of the shower plate thereby making the plasma excitation gas flow uniform.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2004Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Foundation for Advancement of International ScienceInventors: Tadahiro Ohmi, Masaki Hirayama, Tetsuya Goto
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Patent number: 7879183Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus and method for front side protection while processing side and backside of a substrate. One embodiment of the present invention provides a showerhead configured to provide a purge gas to a front side of a substrate during a backside etch processing. The showerhead comprises a body configured to be disposed over the front side of the substrate. The body has a process surface configured to face the front side of the substrate. The process surface has an outer circular region, a central region, a middle region between the outer central region and the central region. The first plurality of holes are distributed in the outer circular region and configured to direct the purge gas towards an edge area of the front side of the substrate. No gas delivery hole is distributed within a substantial portion of the middle region.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2008Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Imad Yousif, Ying Rui, Nancy Fung, Martin Jeffrey Salinas, Ajit Balakrishna, Anchel Sheyner, Shahid Rauf, Walter R. Merry
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Patent number: 7875824Abstract: An electrode assembly and method of centering an outer ring around an electrode assembly in a plasma reaction chamber used in semiconductor substrate processing. The method includes positioning the outer ring around an outer surface of a backing member of the electrode assembly, and inserting at least one centering element between the outer ring and the backing member. The centering element can be a plurality of spring-loaded centering elements received in a cavity on the outer surface of the backing member, the centering elements having a first end adapted to contact the outer ring and a second end adapted to receive a spring. The outer ring surrounds an outer surface of the backing member, such that the plurality of spring-loaded centering elements are positioned between the outer surface of the backing member and an inner surface of the outer ring.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2007Date of Patent: January 25, 2011Assignee: Lam Research CorporationInventors: Dean J. Larson, Daniel Brown, Keith Comendant, Victor Wang
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Publication number: 20110005682Abstract: Apparatus and method for plasma-based processing well suited for deposition, etching, or treatment of semiconductor, conductor or insulating films. Plasma generating units include one or more elongated electrodes on the processing side of a substrate and a neutral electrode proximate the opposite side of the substrate. Gases may be injected proximate a powered electrode which break down electrically and produce activated species that flow toward the substrate area. This gas then flows into an extended process region between powered electrodes and substrate, providing controlled and continuous reactivity with the substrate at high rates with efficient utilization of reactant feedstock. Gases are exhausted via passages between powered electrodes or electrode and divider.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2010Publication date: January 13, 2011Inventors: Stephen Edward Savas, Carl Galewski, Allan B. Wiesnoski, Sai Mantripragada, Sooyun Joh
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Patent number: 7862683Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving the chamber dry cleaning of a PECVD system. The apparatus includes an annular gas ring with multiple outlets for introducing a cleaning gas into the process chamber, and the method includes using the gas ring to introduce a cleaning species from a remote plasma source into the processing chamber.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2005Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventor: Noriaki Fukiage
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Patent number: 7862682Abstract: Showerhead electrode assemblies are disclosed, which include a showerhead electrode adapted to be mounted in an interior of a vacuum chamber; an optional backing plate attached to the showerhead electrode; a thermal control plate attached to the backing plate or to the showerhead electrode at multiple contact points across the backing plate; and at least one thermally and electrically conductive gasket separating the backing plate and the thermal control plate, or the backing plate and showerhead electrode, at the contact points. Methods of processing semiconductor substrates using the showerhead electrode assemblies are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2007Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: Lam Research CorporationInventors: Thomas R. Stevenson, Anthony de le Llera, Saurabh Ullal
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Publication number: 20100319855Abstract: Disclosed are a substrate supporting unit, a substrate processing apparatus, and a method of manufacturing the substrate supporting unit. The substrate supporting unit includes a susceptor (12) provided with heaters (15a, 16b) to heat a substrate placed on the susceptor (12), and including a first temperature region and a second temperature region having a higher temperature than that of the first temperature region; and a heat dissipating member (20) including a contact surface (21) being in thermal contact with the second temperature region. The heat dissipating member (20) further includes an opening (23) corresponding to the first temperature region. The heat dissipating member (20) formed in a ring shape, in which the opening (23) is surrounded with the contact surface (21), and the contact surface (21) of the heat dissipating member (20) makes thermal contact with the lower surface of the susceptor (12).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2009Publication date: December 23, 2010Applicant: EUGENE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Dong-Keun Lee, Kyung-Jin Chu, Sung-Tae Je, Il-Kwang Yang
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Publication number: 20100319854Abstract: In a plasma processing apparatus conducting surface processing on a sample to be processed with plasma, an upper electrode includes a shower plate having first gas holes bored through it, a conductor plate disposed at back of the shower plate and having second gas holes bored through it, an insulation plate disposed in a center part of the conductor plate and having third gas holes bored through it, and an antenna basic member unit disposed at back of the conductor plate and having a temperature control function unit and a gass distribution unit. First and second minute gaps are formed in a radial direction at an interface between the shower plate and the insulation plate, and at an interface between the insulation plate and the conductor plate, respectively. Centers of the first gas holes are shifted from centers of the third gas holes in a circumference or radial direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2009Publication date: December 23, 2010Inventors: Kenetsu YOKOGAWA, Kenji Maeda, Tomoyuki Tamura
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Patent number: 7854820Abstract: Components of a plasma processing apparatus includes a backing member with gas passages attached to an upper electrode with gas passages. To compensate for the differences in coefficient of thermal expansion between the metallic backing member and upper electrode, the gas passages are positioned and sized such that they are misaligned at ambient temperature and substantially concentric at an elevated processing temperature. Non-uniform shear stresses can be generated in the elastomeric bonding material, due to the thermal expansion. Shear stresses can either be accommodated by applying an elastomeric bonding material of varying thickness or using a backing member comprising of multiple pieces.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2006Date of Patent: December 21, 2010Assignee: Lam Research CorporationInventors: Anthony De La Llera, Allan K. Ronne, Jaehyun Kim, Jason Augustino, Rajinder Dhindsa, Yen-Kun Wang, Saurabh J. Ullal, Anthony J. Norell, Keith Comendant, William M. Denty, Jr.
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Patent number: 7850779Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus configured to form a material during an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process, such as a plasma-enhanced ALD (PE-ALD) process. In one embodiment, a lid assembly for conducting a vapor deposition process within a process chamber is provided which includes an insulation cap and a plasma screen. In one example, the insulation cap has a centralized channel configured to flow a first process gas from an upper surface to an expanded channel and an outer channel configured to flow a second process gas from an upper surface to a groove which is encircling the expanded channel. In one example, the plasma screen has an upper surface containing an inner area with a plurality of holes and an outer area with a plurality of slots. The insulation cap may be positioned on top of the plasma screen to form a centralized gas region with the expanded channel and a circular gas region with the groove.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2006Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Applied Materisals, Inc.Inventors: Paul Ma, Kavita Shah, Dien-Yeh Wu, Seshadri Ganguli, Christophe Marcadal, Frederick C. Wu, Schubert S. Chu
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Patent number: 7850819Abstract: The invention relates to a plasma reactor with high productivity for surface coating or modification of objects and/or substrates by plasma processes in a processing chamber, preferably as vacuum processes at reduced pressure, having an entrance lock to the processing chamber and an exit lock. The invention is to create a plasma reactor of high productivity, which, with uniformly high productivity, will make possible a rapid simple and selective cleaning of the plasma sources and adjacent parts of the processing chamber. According to the invention, two plasma sources (1, 2) are provided, each alternately couplable to a reaction chamber (7) or a re-etching chamber (8). The plasma sources (1, 2) are fixed for this purpose to an alternating means (6) in such manner that the plasma sources (1, 2) are positionable by a rotatory motion of the alternating means (6) in the reaction chamber (7) or the re-etching chamber (8).Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2005Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Centrotherm Photovoltaics AGInventors: Harald Wanka, Johann Georg Reichart, Hans-Peter Voelk
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Publication number: 20100307686Abstract: Provided is a substrate processing apparatus capable of effectively heating each component without generating an abnormal electric discharge. The substrate processing apparatus 10 includes: a depressurizable processing chamber 11; a susceptor 12 provided within the processing chamber 11; a shower head 27 provided at a ceiling portion of the processing chamber 11 so as to face the susceptor 12; a focus ring 24 provided at an outer peripheral portion of a top surface of the susceptor 12; and a ring-shaped infrared radiant heater 26 provided in a vicinity of the focus ring 24. The heater 26 includes an infrared radiator 26a and a quartz ring 26b for sealing the infrared radiator 26a therein.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2010Publication date: December 9, 2010Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Hachishiro Iizuka, Yuki Mochizuki
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Publication number: 20100307687Abstract: An internal member of a plasma processing vessel includes a base material and a film formed by thermal spraying of ceramic on a surface of the base material. The film is formed of ceramic which includes at least one kind of element selected from the group consisting of B, Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Cr, Y, Zr, Ta, Ce and Nd. In addition, at least a portion of the film is sealed by a resin.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2010Publication date: December 9, 2010Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Kouji MITSUHASHI, Hiroyuki Nakayama, Nobuyuki Nagayama, Tsuyoshi Moriya, Hiroshi Nagaike
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Patent number: 7833350Abstract: An apparatus for treating a substrate includes a stage adapted to receive the substrate; a gas shield facing the substrate and having a retention space, the gas shield including: a top plate; a bottom plate facing the substrate and having pump holes around the retention space; and a middle plate between the top and bottom plates and having a first gas path communicating with the retention space and a second gas path communicating with the pump holes; an energy source facing the top plate such that light emitted therefrom irradiates a part of the substrate through the retention space; a reaction gas supplier connected to the first gas path; and a pressure adjusting device connected to the second gas path.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2005Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: LG. Display Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jong-Chul Lee, Je-Sup Lee, Sang-Hyuck Park
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Patent number: 7827931Abstract: A plasma processor electrode includes a support member disposed to face to an electrode that holds a substrate to be treated, an electrode plate fixed to the support member and equipped with gas injection holes and a screw hole open and facing to the support member to supply a processing gas through the gas discharge hole into a processing space formed between the electrode plate and the electrode to generate a plasma in the processing space, and a fastening unit that clamps the electrode plate on the support member by fastening the electrode plate to the support member with a screw driven into the screw hole from the support member.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2003Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Keiichi Matsushima, Takashi Suzuki, Hajime Furuya
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Patent number: 7829815Abstract: A adjustable upper coil or electrode for a reaction chamber apparatus useable in semiconductor processing, is constructed so that its shape may be selectively changed or so at least two portions thereof may be selectively driven at different power and/or frequencies. The adjustable upper coil or electrode, therefore, enables the plasma density distribution in the reaction chamber apparatus to be selectively controlled.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2006Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ying-Lin Chen, Chi-An Kao, Po-Zen Chen, Yi-Li Hsiao, Chen-Hua Yu, Jean Wang, Lawrance Sheu
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Publication number: 20100276084Abstract: A gas distribution apparatus for a plasma processing equipment is provided. The gas distribution apparatus includes a support plate (3) and a showerhead electrode (5) that are secured together parallelly to define a chamber for gas distribution. A first gas distribution plate (4) is arranged in the chamber horizontally. On an upper surface of the gas distribution plate (4), at least one circumferential gas-flow groove (41) around its axis and a plurality of radial gas-flow grooves (42) communicating with the at least one circumferential gas-flow groove (41) is arranged. A plurality of axial viahole (43) are formed in the at least one circumferential gas-flow groove (41) and the plurality of radial gas-flow grooves (42). The gas distribution apparatus can achieve a uniform gas distribution in the plasma processing equipment.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2009Publication date: November 4, 2010Inventor: Liqiang Yao
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Patent number: 7819082Abstract: In a microwave plasma processing apparatus, a metal made lattice-like shower plate 111 is provided between a dielectric material shower plate 103, and a plasma excitation gas mainly an inert gas and a process gas are discharged form different locations. High energy ions can be incident on a surface of the substrate 114 by grounding the lattice-like shower plate. The thickness of each of the dielectric material separation wall 102 and the dielectric material at a microwave introducing part is optimized so as to maximize the plasma excitation efficiency, and, at the same time, the distance between the slot antenna 110 and the dielectric material separation wall 102 and a thickness of the dielectric material shower plate 103 are optimized so as to be capable of supplying a microwave having a large power.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2009Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignees: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Tadahiro Ohmi, Masaki Hirayama
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Publication number: 20100261354Abstract: An electrode assembly for a plasma reaction chamber used in semiconductor substrate processing. The assembly includes an upper showerhead electrode which is mechanically attached to a backing plate by a series of spaced apart cam locks. A thermally and electrically conductive gasket with projections thereon is compressed between the showerhead electrode and the backing plate at a location three to four inches from the center of the showerhead electrode. A guard ring surrounds the backing plate and is movable to positions at which openings in the guard ring align with openings in the backing plate so that the cam locks can be rotated with a tool to release locking pins extending from the upper face of the electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2009Publication date: October 14, 2010Applicant: Lam Research CorporationInventors: GREGORY R. BETTENCOURT, Gautam Bhattacharyya, Simon Gosselin Eng, Sandy Chao
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Patent number: 7811409Abstract: Bare aluminum baffles are adapted for resist stripping chambers and include an outer aluminum oxide layer, which can be a native aluminum oxide layer or a layer formed by chemically treating a new or used bare aluminum baffle to form a thin outer aluminum oxide layer.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2007Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: Lam Research CorporationInventors: Fred D. Egley, Michael S. Kang, Anthony L. Chen, Jack Kuo, Hong Shih, Duane Outka, Bruno Morel
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Publication number: 20100252197Abstract: A showerhead electrode includes inner and outer steps at an outer periphery thereof, the outer step cooperating with a clamp ring which mechanically attaches the electrode to a backing plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2009Publication date: October 7, 2010Applicant: Lam Reseach CorporationInventors: BABAK KADKHODAYAN, Anthony de la Llera
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Publication number: 20100243166Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes: a depressurizable processing chamber 11; a shaft 26 supporting a facing electrode 24 provided within the processing chamber 11 while allowing the facing electrode 24 to be movable with respect to a mounting electrode 12; a first ring-shaped bellows 31 concentrically installed at an outer peripheral portion of the shaft 26; and a second bellows 32 concentrically installed at an outer peripheral portion of the first bellows 31. The first bellows 31 absorbs a displacement of the facing electrode 24 with respect to a wall surface 13 at a penetration portion where the shaft 26 penetrates the wall surface 13 of the processing chamber 11, and seals the inside of the processing chamber 11 against the ambient atmosphere around the shaft 26. A ring-shaped gas flow path 35 is formed by the first bellows 31 and the second bellows 32.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2010Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventor: Daisuke Hayashi
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Publication number: 20100243165Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for surface-treating a wafer using high-frequency inductively-coupled plasma, including a process chamber including a plasma generation unit into which a reaction gas is introduced and which generates plasma, and a wafer treatment unit in which any one or more selected from among plasma treatment, thin film formation and etching is performed; and a pressure control unit including a vacuum plate, and a pumping port, a two-stage valve, a turbo pump and an APC valve which are organically connected with the vacuum plate, to control a pressure in the process chamber and a pumping rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2007Publication date: September 30, 2010Inventor: Pyung-yong Um
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Patent number: 7803246Abstract: An etching system. An etching chamber includes an exhaust port. A gas input pipe is connected to the etching chamber, inputting etching process gas thereinto. A top RF electrode is disposed above the etching chamber. A bottom RF electrode is disposed under the etching chamber and opposite the top RF electrode. The etching process gas is transformed into plasma by operation of the top and bottom RF electrodes. An exhaust pump is connected to the exhaust port, expelling the plasma from the etching chamber. A base is disposed in the etching chamber. A focus ring is disposed on the base, accommodating a wafer. The wafer is etched by the plasma. A barricade is disposed on the focus ring and corresponds to the exhaust port, regulating the plasma flowing through the wafer.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2007Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tu-Yen Huang, Yi-Hong Chen, Ta Chin Lee, Shang-Sheng Wu, Chiun-Tong Su
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Patent number: 7802539Abstract: A ceramic part having a surface exposed to the interior space, the surface having been shaped and plasma conditioned to reduce particles thereon by contacting the shaped surface with a high intensity plasma. The ceramic part can be made by sintering or machining a chemically deposited material. During processing of semiconductor substrates, particle contamination can be minimized by the ceramic part as a result of the plasma conditioning treatment. The ceramic part can be made of various materials such as alumina, silicon dioxide, quartz, carbon, silicon, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, boron nitride, boron carbide, aluminum nitride or titanium carbide.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2005Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignee: Lam Research CorporationInventor: William Frederick Bosch
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Patent number: 7799134Abstract: A shower plate 122 has protrusions 22 formed on the front face used with a first electrode in a plasma CVD apparatus. A plane-surface portion 23 is left around apertures of gas inlet holes 21 formed in the shower plate 122. With protrusions 22 being formed, a surface area of the first electrode is increased.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2005Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: ASM Japan K.K.Inventors: Naoto Tsuji, Hideaki Fukuda, Hiroki Arai, Yoshinori Morisada, Tamihiro Kobayashi
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Publication number: 20100230051Abstract: A shower head is provided, in a processing chamber in which a substrate is processed, to face a mounting table for mounting the substrate thereon. The shower head includes: a facing surface that faces the mounting table to supply a gas to the substrate in a form of shower through a plurality of gas injection holes formed on the facing surface; an opposing surface provided opposite to the facing surface; and a plurality of bar-shaped heat transfer columns standing on the opposing surface. Here, the heat transfer columns have varying lengths and/or thicknesses to adjust heat capacities thereof. The heat transfer columns are made of one of aluminum, stainless steel, and copper.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2010Publication date: September 16, 2010Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventor: Hachishiro IIZUKA
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Publication number: 20100230052Abstract: A shower head is provided, in a processing chamber in which a substrate is processed, to face a mounting table for mounting the substrate thereon. The shower head includes: a facing surface that faces the mounting table to supply a gas to the substrate in a form of shower through a plurality of gas injection holes formed on the facing surface; an opposing surface provided opposite to the facing surface; a plurality of gas exhaust holes extending between the facing surface and the opposing surface to perform gas exhaust from the facing surface toward the opposing surface; and a plurality of electrodes provided on the opposing surface, an ion-confining voltage being applied to the electrodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2010Publication date: September 16, 2010Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventor: Hachishiro IIZUKA
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Publication number: 20100230387Abstract: Occurrence of a back-flow of plasma or ignition of gas for plasma excitation in a longitudinal hole portion can be prevented more completely, and a shower plate in which efficient plasma excitation is possible is provided. In shower plate 105, which is arranged in processing chamber 102 of a plasma processing apparatus and discharges gas for plasma excitation into processing chamber, porous-gas passing body 114 having a pore that communicates in the gas flow direction is fixed onto longitudinal hole 112 used as a discharging path of gas for plasma excitation. The pore diameter of a narrow path in a gas flowing path formed of a pore, which communicates to porous-gas passing body 114, is 10 ?m or lower.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2007Publication date: September 16, 2010Applicants: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION TOHOKU UNIVERSITYInventors: Masahiro Okesaku, Tetsuya Goto, Tadahiro Ohmi, Kiyotaka Ishibashi
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Patent number: 7789961Abstract: A process for depositing a thin film material on a substrate is disclosed, comprising simultaneously directing a series of gas flows from the output face of a delivery head of a thin film deposition system toward the surface of a substrate, and wherein the series of gas flows comprises at least a first reactive gaseous material, an inert purge gas, and a second reactive gaseous material, wherein the first reactive gaseous material is capable of reacting with a substrate surface treated with the second reactive gaseous material. A system capable of carrying out such a process is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2007Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Shelby F. Nelson, David H. Levy, Roger S. Kerr
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Patent number: 7785417Abstract: A plasma processing system for plasma processing of substrates such as semiconductor wafers. The system includes a plasma processing chamber, a substrate support for supporting a substrate within the processing chamber, a dielectric member having an interior surface facing the substrate support, the dielectric member forming a wall of the processing chamber, a gas injector fixed to, part of or removably mounted in an opening in the dielectric window, the gas injector including a plurality of gas outlets supplying process gas into the chamber, and an RF energy source such as a planar or non-planar spiral coil which inductively couples RF energy through the dielectric member and into the chamber to energize the process gas into a plasma state. The arrangement permits modification of gas delivery arrangements to meet the needs of a particular processing regime. In addition, compared to consumable showerhead arrangements, the use of a removably mounted gas injector can be replaced more easily and economically.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2001Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Lam Research CorporationInventors: Tuqiang Ni, Alex Demos
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Patent number: 7780790Abstract: Disclosed is a vacuum processing apparatus in which a conducive partition having a plurality of through holes is formed inside a vacuum processing vessel, and an internal space of the vacuum processing vessel is partitioned into a plasma generating space in which a high-frequency electrode is installed to function as a counter electrode with respect to the partition, and a substrate processing space in which a substrate is set. This vacuum processing apparatus includes a gas reservoir formed on a sidewall of the vacuum processing vessel and communicating with the plasma generating space, and a gas supply system connected to the gas reservoir to supply a gas to the gas reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2009Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: Canon Anelva CorporationInventor: Hiroshi Nogami
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Publication number: 20100206483Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2010Publication date: August 19, 2010Inventors: Carl A. Sorensen, Jozef Kudela, Robin L. Tiner, Suhail Anwar, John M. White
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Patent number: 7776178Abstract: Stress within a suspension wall for suspending a showerhead in a process chamber is ameliorated by one or more of: (1) Openings in the suspension wall that reduce exposure of the suspension wall to process gas or ambient atmosphere when the chamber lid is opened. (2) A substantially vertical arrangement of one or more rifts in the suspension wall which facilitate horizontal buckling or flexing of the suspension wall. (3) A plurality of suspension walls whose respective central portions are coplanar. (4) A gas sealing skirt that helps protect the suspension wall from direct contact with process gas. The gas sealing skirt is connected to either the chamber wall or the showerhead but is not connected to both.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2006Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventor: Ernst Keller
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Publication number: 20100184298Abstract: A showerhead electrode for a plasma processing apparatus includes an interface gel between facing surfaces of an electrode plate and a backing plate. The interface gel maintains thermal conductivity during lateral displacements generated during temperature cycling due to mismatch in coefficients of thermal expansion. The interface gel comprises, for example, a silicone based composite filled with aluminum oxide microspheres. The interface gel can conform to irregularly shaped features and maximize surface contact area between mating surfaces. The interface gel can be pre-applied to a consumable upper electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2008Publication date: July 22, 2010Applicant: Lam Research CorporationInventor: Rajinder Dhindsa
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Patent number: 7758698Abstract: A gas distributor for use in a semiconductor process chamber comprises a body. The body includes a first channel formed within the body and adapted to pass a first fluid from a first fluid supply line through the first channel to a first opening. A second channel is formed within the body and adapted to pass a second fluid from a second fluid supply line through the second channel to a second opening. The first and second openings are arranged to mix the fluids outside the body after the fluids pass through the openings.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2006Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Won B. Bang, Srivivas D. Nemani, Phong Pham, Ellie Y. Yieh
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Publication number: 20100178774Abstract: Plasma confinement rings are adapted to reach sufficiently high temperatures on plasma-exposed surfaces of the rings to substantially reduce polymer deposition on those surfaces. The plasma confinement rings include an RF lossy material effective to enhance heating at portions of the rings. A low-emissivity material can be provided on a portion of the plasma confinement ring assembly to enhance heating effects.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2010Publication date: July 15, 2010Applicant: Lam Research CorporationInventor: James H. Rogers
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Publication number: 20100178775Abstract: A shower plate is disposed in a processing chamber in a plasma processing apparatus, and plasma excitation gas is released into the processing chamber so as to generate plasma. A ceramic member having a plurality of gas release holes having a diameter of 20 ?m to 70 ?m, and/or a porous gas-communicating body having pores having a maximum diameter of not more than 75 ?m communicating in the gas-communicating direction are sintered and bonded integrally with the inside of each of a plurality of vertical holes which act as release paths for the plasma excitation gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2007Publication date: July 15, 2010Applicants: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION TOHOKU UNIVERSITYInventors: Masahiro Okesaku, Tadahiro Ohmi, Tetsuya Goto, Takaaki Matsuoka, Toshihisa Nozawa, Atsutoshi Inokuchi, Kiyotaka Ishibashi
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Publication number: 20100163187Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a vacuum chamber, a sample table that places the sample in the vacuum chamber, and a gas supply unit faced to the sample table and having a gas supply surface with a diameter larger than that of the sample, wherein gas injection holes each having identical diameter are provided concentrically on the gas supply surface, a hole number density of the gas injection holes present in an outer diameter position of the sample or in an outside of the outer diameter position is made higher than that of the gas injection holes present inside the outer diameter position of the sample, and a diameter of the gas injection holes present in the outer diameter position of the sample or in the outside from the outer diameter position is larger than that of the gas injection holes present inside the diameter of the sample.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2009Publication date: July 1, 2010Inventors: Kenetsu Yokogawa, Takamasa Ichino, Kazuyuki Hirozane, Tadamitsu Kanekiyo
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Patent number: 7743730Abstract: An electrode assembly configured to provide a ground path for a plasma processing chamber of a plasma processing system is disclosed. The apparatus includes an electrode configured to be exposed to a plasma. The apparatus also includes a heater plate disposed above the electrode, wherein the heater plate is configured to heat the electrode. The apparatus further includes a cooling plate disposed above the heater plate, wherein the cooling plate is configured to cool the electrode. The apparatus also includes a plasma chamber lid configured to confine the plasma in the plasma chamber, wherein the plasma chamber lid includes a ground. The apparatus further includes a clamp ring configured to secure the electrode, the heater plate, and the cooling plate to the plasma chamber lid, the clamp ring is further configured to provide the ground path from the electrode to the chamber lid.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2005Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Assignee: Lam Research CorporationInventors: Arnold Kholodenko, Anwar Husain