Patent · US Expired

Isolation substrate ring for plasma reactor

US4891087A · kind A · utility

23Cited by
7References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 25, 1987
Grant dateJan 2, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 25, 2007

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S156/915
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A radio frequency (RF) glow discharge plasma etch electrode design is disclosed which is capable of creating high power density plasma with uniform etch rates, while providing access for automatic loading semiconductor wafers from outside of the plasma region. The electrode assembly comprises of an electrode to which RF energy is applied surrounded by an insulator, which in turn surrounded a grounded surface all of which have cylindrical symmetry. When placed a small distance from a flat, grounded substrate, the electrode assembly creates a volume which can effectively combine a high power density plasma, while maintaining a sufficient channel for pumping a gas flow and for observing the plasma optically. The same channel is widened for automatic transport of semiconductor wafers from outside of the plasma reactor chamber. Such confined high power density plasma are important for high rate, uniform, anisotropic etching, especially for silicon dioxide.

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