Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for processing a substrate are herein described. For example, a processing chamber for processing a substrate includes a chamber body defining a processing volume; a radio frequency (RF) power source configured to deliver RF energy to the processing volume for processing a substrate; a substrate support comprising an electrode; an AC power supply configured to supply power to the processing chamber; an RF filter circuit connected between the electrode and the AC power supply; and a controller configured to monitor an RF voltage at the RF filter circuit that is indirectly induced into the electrode by the RF power source during operation, and to determine a processing state in the processing volume based on the monitored RF voltage
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for substrate etching are described herein. A processing chamber described herein includes a source module, a process module, a flow module, and an exhaust module. An RF source may be coupled to the chamber and a remote plasma may be generated in the source module and a direct plasma may be generated in the process module. Cyclic etching processes described may use alternating radical and direct plasmas to etch a substrate.
Abstract:
A method, system, and apparatus for reducing particle generation on a showerhead during an ion bombarding process in a process chamber are provided. First and second RF signals are supplied from an RF generator to an electrode embedded in a substrate support in the process chamber. The second RF signal is adjusted relative to the first RF signal in response to a measurement of a first RF amplitude, a second RF amplitude, a first RF phase, and a second RF phase. Ion bombardment on a substrate is maximized and the quantity of particles generated on the showerhead is minimized. Methods and systems described herein provide for improved ion etching characteristics while reducing the amount of debris particles generated from the showerhead.
Abstract:
Implementations of the present disclosure relate to a plasma chamber having an optical device for measuring emission intensity of plasma species. In one implementation, the plasma chamber includes a chamber body defining a substrate processing region therein, the chamber body having a sidewall, a viewing window disposed in the sidewall, and a plasma monitoring device coupled to the viewing window. The plasma monitoring device includes an objective lens and an aperture member having a pinhole, wherein the aperture member is movable relative to the objective lens by an actuator to adjust the focal point in the plasma using principles of optics, allowing only the light rays from the focal point in the plasma to reach the pinhole. The plasma monitoring device therefore enables an existing OES (coupled to the plasma monitoring device through an optical fiber) to monitor emission intensity of the species at any specific locations of the plasma.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a processing system. The processing system has an upper chamber body and a lower chamber body defining a processing environment. An upper heater is moveably disposed in the upper chamber body. The upper heater has a moveable support and an upper step formed along an outer perimeter. A lower showerhead is fixedly disposed in the lower chamber body. The lower showerhead includes a top surface configured to support a substrate, a lower step disposed along an outer perimeter wherein the substrate is configured to extend from the top surface partially over the lower step. Lift pins are disposed in the lower showerhead and configured to extend through the top surface and support the substrate thereon. Gas holes are disposed in a first zone along the top surface and a second zone on the step and configured to independently flow both a process and non-process gas.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for substrate etching are described herein. A processing chamber described herein includes a source module, a process module, a flow module, and an exhaust module. An RF source may be coupled to the chamber and a remote plasma may be generated in the source module and a direct plasma may be generated in the process module. Cyclic etching processes described may use alternating radical and direct plasmas to etch a substrate.