Patent · US Expired

Semiconductor-processing device provided with a remote plasma source for self-cleaning

US6736147B2 · kind B2 · utility

118Cited by
7References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 18, 2001
Grant dateMay 18, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 14, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J37/32862
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A plasma CVD device includes a reaction chamber, a remote plasma discharge chamber that is provided remotely from the reaction chamber, and piping that links the reaction chamber and the remote plasma discharge chamber. The remote plasma discharge chamber activates cleaning gas by plasma discharge energy, and the activated cleaning gas is introduced into the inside of the reaction chamber through the piping and changes solid substances that adhere to the inside of the reaction chamber in consequence of film formation, to gaseous substances, thereby cleaning the inside of the reaction chamber. The device is characterized by at least one of the following: (a) the remote plasma discharge chamber generates active species using radio frequency oscillating output energy of a preselected frequency; (b) the piping is made of materials that are not corroded by the active species; or (c) the piping is provided with a through-flow type valve.

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