Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for plasma processing

US6910440B2 · kind B2 · utility

9Cited by
6References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 18, 2001
Grant dateJun 28, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 18, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J37/32256
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A plasma processing apparatus that generates a uniform plasma, thus allowing uniform processing of large-diameter wafers. The cylindrical apparatus includes a wafer mounting table, a silica plate providing an airtight seal, a microwave supplier for propagating a microwave in TE11 mode, and a cylindrical waveguide connected at one end to the microwave supplier. A radial waveguide box is connected between the other end of the cylindrical waveguide and the silica plate. The radial waveguide box extends radially outward from the cylindrical waveguide, forming a flange and defining an interior waveguide space. A disc-shaped slot antenna is located at the lower end of the radial waveguide box, above the silica plate. A circularly-polarized wave converter disposed in the cylindrical waveguide rotates the TE11-mode microwave about the axis of the cylindrical waveguide, and sends the rotating microwave to the radial waveguide box.

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