Patent · US Expired

Microfeature workpiece processing apparatus and methods for controlling deposition of materials on microfeature workpieces

US7279398B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
278References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 6, 2006
Grant dateOct 9, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 6, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC23C16/45546
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

The present disclosure provides methods and apparatus useful in depositing materials on batches of microfeature workpieces. One implementation provides a method in which a quantity of a first precursor gas is introduced to an enclosure at a first enclosure pressure. The pressure within the enclosure is reduced to a second enclosure pressure while introducing a purge gas at a first flow rate. The second enclosure pressure may approach or be equal to a steady-state base pressure of the processing system at the first flow rate. After reducing the pressure, the purge gas flow may be increased to a second flow rate and the enclosure pressure may be increased to a third enclosure pressure. Thereafter, a flow of a second precursor gas may be introduced with a pressure within the enclosure at a fourth enclosure pressure; the third enclosure pressure is desirably within about 10 percent of the fourth enclosure pressure.

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