Patent · US Expired

Magnetic barrier for plasma in chamber exhaust

US6773544B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
28References
17Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 31, 2001
Grant dateAug 10, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 6, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J37/3266
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The invention concerns a plasma reactor employing a chamber enclosure including a process gas inlet and defining a plasma processing region. A workpiece support pedestal capable of supporting a workpiece at processing location faces the plasma processing region, the pedestal and enclosure being spaced from one another to define a pumping annulus therebetween having facing walls in order to permit the process of gas to be evacuated therethrough from the process region. A pair of opposing plasma confinement magnetic poles within one of the facing walls of the annulus, the opposing magnetic poles being axially displaced from one another. The magnetic poles are axially displaced below the processing location by a distance which exceeds a substantial fraction of a spacing between the facing walls of the annulus.

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