Patent · US Expired

Plasma processor with electrode responsive to multiple RF frequencies

US7169256B2 · kind B2 · utility

49Cited by
10References
63Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 28, 2004
Grant dateJan 30, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 29, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J37/3299
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A plasma processor processing a workpiece includes sources having frequencies 2 MHz, 27 MHz, and 60 MHz, applied by three matching networks to an electrode in a vacuum chamber including the workpiece. Alternatively 60 MHz is applied to a second electrode by a fourth matching network. The matching networks, substantially tuned to the frequencies of the sources driving them, include series inductances so the 2 MHz inductance exceeds the 27 MHz network inductance, and the 27 MHz network inductance exceeds the inductances of the 60 MHz networks. The matching networks attenuate by at least 26 DB the frequencies of the sources that do not drive them. Shunt inductors between the 27 and 60 MHz sources decouple 2 MHz from the 27 and 60 MHz sources. A series resonant circuit (resonant to about 5 MHz) shunts the 2 MHz network and the electrode to help match the 2 MHz source to the electrode.

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