Patent · US Expired

Method for plasma processing using magnetically enhanced plasma chemical vapor deposition

US5312778A · kind A · utility

53Cited by
15References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 23, 1990
Grant dateMay 17, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 23, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH05H1/46
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for plasma processing characterized by the steps of disposing a wafer proximate to a cathode within a process chamber, releasing a gas into the chamber, applying R.F. power in the VHF/UHF frequency range to the cathode to form a plasma within the chamber, developing a magnetic field within the chamber having flux lines substantially perpendicular to the surface of the wafer, and varying the strength of the magnetic field until a desired cathode sheath voltage is attained. The apparatus includes a chamber, a wafer-supporting cathode disposed within the chamber, a mechanism for introducing gas into the chamber, an R.F. power source coupled to the cathode operating in the frequency from about 50-800 megahertz, an electromagnetic coil disposed around the chamber adapted to develop a magnetic field within the chamber which is substantially perpendicular to the wafer and a variable output power supply coupled to the coil to vary the magnetic field strength and therefore the cathode sheath voltage within the chamber.

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