Patent · US Expired

Photo-assisted remote plasma apparatus and method

US6576564B2 · kind B2 · utility

453Cited by
15References
51Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 7, 2000
Grant dateJun 10, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 7, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/67069
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The present invention provides a plasma processing system comprising a remote plasma activation region for formation of active gas species, a transparent transfer tube coupled between the remote activation region and a semiconductor processing chamber, and a source of photo energy for maintaining activation of the active species during transfer from the remote plasma activation region to the processing chamber. The source of photo energy preferably includes an array of UV lamps. Additional UV lamps may also be used to further sustain active species and assist plasma processes by providing additional in-situ energy through a transparent window of the processing chamber. The system can be utilized for annealing.

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