Patent · US Active

System and methods for VHF plasma processing

US11515122B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
11References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 19, 2019
Grant dateNov 29, 2022
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 21, 2039

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J2237/334
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a plasma processing system for VHF plasma processing using a transmission antenna designed to enable a resonant VHF standing wave inside a plasma process chamber used to manufacture semiconductor devices. The system includes a transmission element capable of being electromagnetically coupled to incoming power lines connected to a power source. The transmission element, power transmission lines, and power source form a resonant circuit capable of enabling a VHF standing wave on the transmission element. The transmission element is folded back on itself to reduce the footprint of the antenna, such that the transmission element(s) can be located inside the plasma process chamber. The transmission antenna has three portions, with the first being electromagnetically coupled to the power transmission line, the second being coupled to plasma, and the third being a folded portion that reduces the transmission element's footprint.

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