Patent · US Expired

Cleaning a component of a process chamber

US7045020B2 · kind B2 · utility

7Cited by
10References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 22, 2003
Grant dateMay 16, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 13, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S438/905
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Process deposits formed on a component of a process chamber are cleaned. In the cleaning method, gas holes in the component are mechanically pinned to clean the process deposits therein. A ceramic portion of the component is then exposed to an acidic solution, such as a solution of hydrofluoric acid and nitric acid. Mechanical pinning of the gas holes may be repeated after the acid cleaning step. The component is then plasma stabilized in a plasma zone by introducing a non-reactive gas into the plasma zone and forming a plasma of the non-reactive gas in the plasma zone. In one version, the component comprises an electrostatic chuck comprising a ceramic covering an electrode and having the gas holes therein.

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