Patent · US Active

Apparatus and method for controlling plasma density profile

US7683289B2 · kind B2 · utility

27Cited by
3References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 16, 2005
Grant dateMar 23, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 7, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J37/32174
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A number of RF power transmission paths are defined to extend from an RF power source through a matching network, through a transmit electrode, through a plasma to a number of return electrodes. A number of tuning elements are respectively disposed within the number of RF power transmission paths. Each tuning element is defined to adjust an amount of RF power to be transmitted through the RF power transmission path within which the tuning element is disposed. A plasma density within a vicinity of a particular RF power transmission path is directly proportional to the amount of RF power transmitted through the particular RF power transmission path. Therefore, adjustment of RF power transmitted through the RF power transmission paths, as afforded by the tuning element, enables control of a plasma density profile across a substrate.

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