Patent · US Expired

Methods and apparatus for reducing charging during plasma processing

US5904571A · kind A · utility

5Cited by
1References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 28, 1996
Grant dateMay 18, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 28, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J2237/004
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus and method in a plasma processing chamber for reducing charging of a wafer is described. A plasma generating element is configured to cause a plasma including ions and free radicals to be formed in a plasma generating region. A plasma diffusion region is configured so that plasma generated in the plasma generating region can diffuse through the plasma diffusion region. A conductive grid is positioned within the plasma diffusion region between the wafer and the plasma generating region. The conductive grid includes a mesh which is configured to trap a portion of the ions so that a portion of the ions are prevented from diffusing through the diffusion region to reach the wafer.

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