Patent · US Expired

Dual frequency excitation of plasma for film deposition

US6024044A · kind A · utility

88Cited by
14References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 9, 1997
Grant dateFeb 15, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 9, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC23C16/517
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

An apparatus deposits a high quality film onto a transparent substrate in a reactor. The transparent substrate may be made of glass, quartz or a polymer such as plastic. The transparent substrate is heated in a process chamber and a process gas stream is introduced into the process chamber. The apparatus generates a high frequency power output and a low frequency power output from a high frequency power supply and a low frequency power supply, respectively. The high frequency power output is generated at a frequency of about thirteen megahertz or more, and at a power from about one to five kilowatts, while the low frequency power output is generated at a frequency of about two megahertz or less, and at a power from about 300 to two kilowatts. The high frequency power output and the low frequency power output are superimposed and used to excite a plasma from the process gas stream at a pressure between about 0.4 Torr and 3 Torr, and at a temperature between about 250.degree. C. and 450.degree. C. to deposit a smooth thin film onto the transparent substrate.

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