Patent · US Expired

Plasma density controller for semiconductor device processing equipment

US5082517A · kind A · utility

461Cited by
5References
50Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 23, 1990
Grant dateJan 21, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 23, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S438/935
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A semiconductor fabrication plasma property controller (100) for controlling physical properties of a fabrication process plasma medium (144) under the influence of electromagnetic gas discharge energy from a power source (38) comprises a control volume (130) disposed between the process plasma (144) and the electromagnetic gas discharge energy source (38). A control gas (128) flowing within the control volume prohibits a predetermined portion of the emitted electromagnetic energy from influencing the fabrication process plasma (144). The flow rate and/or pressure of the control gas (128) within control volume 130 is used to adjust the fraction of electromagnetic energy absorbed within process plasma (144) and to prohibit influence of a controlled fraction of the plasma-generating electromagnetic energy on the process gas, plasma stream (144). The control volume (130) absorbs the excess electromagnetic energy emitted by the power source (38).

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