Plasma generating method and apparatus and plasma processing method and apparatus
US5580420A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 16, 1994 |
| Grant date | Dec 3, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 16, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01J37/32678
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A microwave penetrating window and a cavity which are substantially equal in diameter to a plasma generating chamber are successively connected to the plasma generating chamber and microwaves are introduced via the cavity into the plasma generating chamber. A processing gas in the plasma generating chamber is converted into a plasma by means of the microwaves introduced into the plasma generating chamber and the microwaves in specific modes are resonated in between a microwave reflective interface with the plasma generated in the plasma generating chamber and the reflective edge face of the cavity. The microwaves in the specific modes are thus formed in the cavity and the energy of the microwaves in the specific modes is increased by resonance. The boosted energy is added to the plasma and the plasma is densified accordingly. Moreover, a plasma excellent in uniformity and stability can be generated by resonating the microwaves in the specific modes in the presence of a uniform electromagnetic field.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.