Patent · US Active

Processing tool having a monitoring device

US10763143B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
20References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 18, 2017
Grant dateSep 1, 2020
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 18, 2037

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/6719
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Embodiments include systems, devices, and methods for monitoring etch or deposition rates, or controlling an operation of a wafer fabrication process. In an embodiment, a processing tool includes a processing chamber having a liner wall around a chamber volume, and a monitoring device having a sensor exposed to the chamber volume through a hole in the liner wall. The sensor is capable of measuring, in real-time, material deposition and removal rates occurring within the chamber volume during the wafer fabrication process. The monitoring device can be moved relative to the hole in the liner wall to selectively expose either the sensor or a blank area to the chamber volume through the hole. Accordingly, the wafer fabrication process being performed in the chamber volume may be monitored by the sensor, and the sensor may be sealed off from the chamber volume during an in-situ chamber cleaning process. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.