Method of and apparatus for tunable gas injection in a plasma processing system
US6872259B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 23, 2002 |
| Grant date | Mar 29, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 21, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01J37/32449
- WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method of and apparatus for providing tunable gas injection in a plasma processing system (10, 10′). The apparatus includes a gas injection manifold (50) having a pressurizable plenum (150) and an array of adjustable nozzle units (250), or an array of non-adjustable nozzles (502, 602), through which gas from the plenum can flow into the interior region (40) of a plasma reactor chamber (14) capable of containing a plasma (41). The adjustable nozzle units include a nozzle plug (160) arranged within a nozzle bore (166). A variety of different nozzle units are disclosed. The nozzle plugs are axially translatable to adjust the flow of gas therethrough. In one embodiment, the nozzle plugs are attached to a plug plate (154), which is displacable relative to an injection plate (124) via displacement actuators (170) connecting the two plates. The displacement actuators are controlled by a displacement actuator control unit (180), which is in electronic communication with a plasma processing system control unit (80). The gas flow into the chamber interior region is preferably controlled by monitoring the pressure in the plenum and in the chamber and adjusting the nozzle units accordingly. …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.