Patent · US Expired

Film removal employing a remote plasma source

US6436303B1 · kind B1 · utility

14Cited by
14References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 21, 1999
Grant dateAug 20, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 21, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/31116
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A method and device for removing film from a substrate are provided that take advantage of a remote plasma source to etch away undesired portions of films, such as dielectric films formed on a substrate. To that end, the method includes forming a plasma remotely with respect to the process chamber, from which a flow is created that is directed toward the substrate. The substrate is of a type having opposed major surfaces with a peripheral surface extending therebetween. A film, such as a dielectric film, is disposed on one of the opposed major surfaces and on the peripheral surface. The opposed major surface having the film thereon is shielded from the flow of reactive radicals while the peripheral surface is left exposed. In this fashion, the flow is maintained for a sufficient amount of time to remove film present on the peripheral surface.

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