Patent · US Active

Methods and apparatus for controlling plasma in a plasma processing system

US9114666B2 · kind B2 · utility

34Cited by
69References
29Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 22, 2012
Grant dateAug 25, 2015
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 30, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH05H2242/26
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for processing a substrate in a multi-frequency plasma processing chamber are disclosed. The base RF signal pulses between a high power level and a low power level. Each of the non-base RF generators, responsive to a control signal, proactively switches between a first predefined power level and a second predefined power level as the base RF signal pulses. Alternatively or additionally, each of the non-base RF generators, responsive to a control signal, proactively switches between a first predefined RF frequency and a second predefined RF frequency as the base RF signal pulses. Techniques are disclosed for ascertaining in advance of production time the first and second predefined power levels and/or the first and second predefined RF frequencies for the non-base RF signals.

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