Patent · US Expired

Focus ring for semiconductor wafer processing in a plasma reactor

US5685914A · kind A · utility

446Cited by
5References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 5, 1994
Grant dateNov 11, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 5, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S156/916
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In one aspect, the invention is embodied in a plasma reactor for processing a semiconductor wafer, the reactor having a pedestal focus ring surrounding the periphery of the wafer for reducing the process etch rate near the wafer periphery, and plural openings through the pedestal focus ring which permit passage therethrough of particulate contamination, thereby reducing accumulation of particulate contamination near the wafer periphery. In another aspect, in order to reduce corrosive wear of the chamber walls, a removable gas distribution focus ring shields the side walls of the plasma reactor from reactive gases associated with processing of the semiconductor wafer.

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