Patent · US Active

Plasma processing apparatus and method of suppressing abnormal discharge therein

US7974067B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
7References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 1, 2006
Grant dateJul 5, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 8, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J2237/0206
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In a plasma processing apparatus having an electrostatic chuck for holding a semiconductor wafer by an electrostatic adsorption force and a DC power supply for applying an electrostatic adsorption voltage to the electrostatic chuck, abnormal discharge in plasma is suppressed by providing the apparatus with a signal detector that detects a foresee signal that foresees occurrence of abnormal discharge in plasma, and a controller that controls ESC leakage current based upon the foresee signal. If the foresee signal is outside a prescribed range, control is exercised so as to reduce the absolute value of the electrostatic adsorption voltage, thereby suppressing the occurrence of an abnormal discharge.

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