Patent · US Expired

Microwave plasma processing apparatus and method

US5861601A · kind A · utility

25Cited by
8References
2Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 14, 1994
Grant dateJan 19, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 14, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J37/32862
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The present invention relates to a microwave plasma processing apparatus, suited for generating a plasma by using microwaves, and a processing method. Microwaves propagated through a circular waveguide are tuned in the space thereof by a microwave tuner that is installed to match the impedance, and are introduced in a uniform and most efficient state into a discharge block having a plasma-resistant inner surface that is enlarged in a tapered form through a microwave introduction window. Then, a processing gas controlled to a predetermined pressure by a gas supplying structure and gas evacuating structure is turned into a plasma which is more uniform and is more dense by interaction of a microwave electric field that is efficiently introduced and a magnetic field produced by a solenoid coil.

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