Plasma etching method
US5980769A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 6, 1997 |
| Grant date | Nov 9, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 6, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01J37/3244
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A plasma etching method and apparatus are provided in which a distance between an ejection opening (20a) in a plasma generator (2) for ejecting an active species gas and a surface of an object to be etched can be changed to thereby shorten the time required for a surface flattening operation and reduce the cost of equipment as well. To this end, the ejection opening (20a) of a predetermined diameter is disposed in confrontation with a desired convex of the object to be etched in the form of a wafer (110). The active species gas in the form of an F gas (G) is ejected from the ejection opening (20a) to the convex to thereby flatten it through etching. A distance between the ejection opening and the convex is changed by means of a Z drive mechanism (4) to provide an etching area corresponding to an area of the convex, thus performing effective flattening of the wafer (110).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.