Patent · US Active

Plasma processing method and apparatus

US8277673B2 · kind B2 · utility

5Cited by
2References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 31, 2009
Grant dateOct 2, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 17, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J2237/0206
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In a plasma processing method, a conductor of an electrostatic chuck (ESC) and an electrode are electrically grounded prior to starting the plasma processing. A DC voltage with a polarity is applied to the conductor at a first time point after loading a substrate on the electrode. Then, the electrode is switched from an electrically grounded state to an electrically floating state at a second time point. A RF power is then applied to the electrode at a third time point. The application of the RF power is stopped at a fourth time point after a specified time has lapsed from the third time point. Then, the electrode is switched from the electrically floating state to the electrically grounded state at a fifth time point. Thereafter, the application of the DC voltage is stopped and the conductor is restored to a ground potential at a sixth time point.

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