Patent · US Expired

Toroidal plasma source for plasma processing

US6712020B2 · kind B2 · utility

7Cited by
45References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 12, 2002
Grant dateMar 30, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 12, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J37/321
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A toroidal plasma source (28) within a substrate processing chamber (10). The toroidal plasma source forms a poloidal plasma with theta symmetry. The poloidal plasma current is essentially parallel to a surface of the plasma generating structure, thus reducing sputtering erosion of the inner walls. The plasma current is similarly essentially parallel to a process surface (32) of a substrate (34) within the chamber. In a further embodiment, a shaped member (66) between the substrate and the plasma source controls the plasma density in a selected fashion to enhance plasma processing uniformity.

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