Abstract:
A workpiece (18) is processed with a plasma (8) in a vacuum plasma processing chamber (10) by exciting the plasma at several frequencies (51, 52, 54, 56, 58), such that the excitation of the plasma by the several frequencies simultaneously causes several different phenomena to occur in the plasma. The chamber includes top central (14, 36, 36a) and bottom electrodes (13, 16) and a peripheral top (42) and/or bottom electrode (34) arrangement that is either powered by RF or is connected to a reference potential by a filter arrangement that passes at least one of the plasma excitation ftequencies to the exclusion of other frequencies. Controller 24 is employed to direct parameter control of various motors (M), valves (V), frequencies (58), power (59), temperature control means (25, 45) and set points (50).
Abstract:
A method for forming features in an etch layer in an etch stack with an etch mask over the etch layer, wherein the etch mask has etch mask features with sidewalls, where the etch mask features have a first critical dimension, is provided. A cyclical critical dimension reduction is performed to form deposition layer features with a second critical dimension, which is less than the first critical dimension. Each cycle, comprises a depositing phase for depositing a deposition layer over the exposed surfaces, including the vertical sidewalls, of the etch mask features and an etching phase for etching back the deposition layer leaving a selective deposition on the vertical sidewalls. Features are etched into the etch layer, wherein the etch layer features have a third critical dimension, which is less than the first critical dimension.
Abstract:
A workpiece is processed with a plasma in a vacuum plasma processing chamber by exciting the plasma at several frequencies such that the excitation of the plasma by the several frequencies simultaneously causes several different phenomena to occur in the plasma. The chamber includes central top and bottom electrodes and a peripheral top and/or bottom electrode arrangement that is either powered by RF or is connected to a reference potential by a filter arrangement that passes at least one of the plasma excitation ftequencies to the exclusion of other frequencies.
Abstract:
A method for controlling a plasma etch process while etching a layer stack having a first layer disposed above an end-point generating layer is disclosed. Method includes etching through first layer and at least partially through end-point generating layer while monitoring an absorption rate of a light beam traversing an interior portion of the plasma processing chamber, wherein the end-point generating layer is selected from material that produces a detectable change in absorption rate when etched. The end-point generating layer is characterized by at least one of a first characteristic and a second characteristic. The first characteristic is an insufficient thickness to function as an etch stop layer, and the second characteristic is an insufficient selectivity to etchants employed to etch through the first layer to function as the etch stop layer. The method additionally includes generating an end-point signal upon detecting the detectable change.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for performing a dielectric etch, etch mask stripping, and etch chamber clean. A wafer is placed in an etch chamber. A dielectric etch is performed on the wafer using an in situ plasma generated by an in situ plasma device in the etch chamber. The etch mask is stripped using a remote plasma generated in a remote plasma device connected to the etch chamber. The wafer is removed from the etch chamber and either the in situ plasma or the remote plasma may be used to clean the etch chamber. In etch chambers that do not use confinement rings, a heater may be used to heat the etch chamber wall to provide improved cleaning.
Abstract:
A plurality of substrate processing devices are disposed in a separated manner within a shared ambient environment. A conveyance device is disposed within the shared ambient environment and is defined to move a substrate through and between each of the substrate processing devices in a continuous manner. Some substrate processing devices are defined to perform dry substrate processing operations in which an energized reactive environment is created in exposure to the substrate in an absence of liquid material. Some substrate processing devices are defined to perform wet substrate processing operations in which at least one material in a liquid state is applied to the substrate. In one embodiment, a complementary pair of dry and wet substrate processing devices are disposed in the shared ambient environment in a sequential manner relative to movement of the substrate by the conveyance device.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for cleaning wafer surfaces are provided, especially for cleaning surfaces of patterned wafers. The cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning head with channels on the surface facing the patterned wafer, which has a predominant pattern. Cleaning material flowing the channels exerts a shear force on the surface of a patterned wafer, which is oriented in a specific direction to the cleaning head. The shear force and the specific orientation between the patterned wafer and the cleaning head improve the removal efficiency of the surface contaminants.
Abstract:
Provided herein are methods of atomic layer etching (ALE) of metals including tungsten (W) and cobalt (Co). The methods disclosed herein provide precise etch control down to the atomic level, with etching a low as 1 Å to 10 Å per cycle in some embodiments. In some embodiments, directional control is provided without damage to the surface of interest. The methods may include cycles of a modification operation to form a reactive layer, followed by a removal operation to etch only this modified layer. The modification is performed without spontaneously etching the surface of the metal.
Abstract:
A method of processing a workpiece (18) with a plasma in a vacuum plasma processing chamber (10) having a bottom electrode (13) below the workpiece, comprising the step of exciting a plasma with electric energy at several frequencies, i.e. three or more, such that the excitation of the plasma by applying energy at the several frequencies simultaneously causes several different phenomena to occur in the plasma, wherein the phenomena affct plasma ion energy, plasma ion densityand plasma chemistry. An apparatus for carrying out this method comprises an electric energy source arrangement (51) for supplying the several frequencies (F1, F2, F3) to the bottom electrode.
Abstract:
A method for controlling a plasma etch process while etching a layer stack having a first layer disposed above an end-point generating layer is disclosed. The method includes etching through the first layer and at least partially through the end-point generating layer while monitoring an absorption rate of a light beam traversing an interior portion of the plasma processing chamber, wherein the end-point generating layer is selected from a material that produces a detectable change in the absorption rate when etched. The end-point generating layer is characterized by at least one of a first characteristic and a second characteristic. The first characteristic is an insufficient thickness to function as an etch stop layer, and the second characteristic is an insufficient selectivity to etchants employed to etch through the first layer to function as the etch stop layer. The method additionally includes generating an end-point signal upon detecting the detectable change.