Plasma processing system with locally-efficient inductive plasma coupling
US7273533B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 19, 2003 |
| Grant date | Sep 25, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 15, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01J37/321
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An inductively coupled plasma source is provided with a peripheral ionization source for producing a high-density plasma in a vacuum chamber for semiconductor wafer coating or etching. The source includes a segmented configuration having high and low radiation segments and produces a generally ring-shaped array of energy concentrations in the plasma around the periphery of the chamber. Energy is coupled from a segmented low inductance antenna through a dielectric window or array of windows and through a segmented shield or baffle. The antenna has concentrated conductor segments through which current flows in one or more small cross-section conductors to produce high magnetic fields that couple through the high-transparency shield segments into the chamber, while alternating distributed conductor segments, formed of large cross-section conductor portions or diverging small conductor sections, permit magnetic fields to pass through or between the conductors and deliver only weak fields, which are aligned with opaque shield sections and couple insignificant energy to the plasma. The source provides spatial control of plasma energy distribution, which aids in control of the uniformity …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.