Patent US3933750A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5061359A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US5061359A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Plasma processing apparatus including three bus structures

Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1990-01-22
•
Granted: 1991-10-29
•
Expires: 2010-01-22
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A system for plasma etching predetermined portions of material on the major surfaces of a plurality of substrates. The system comprises a plurality of electrodes substantially parallel to each other and to substrates alternating therewith. Each of the electrodes is of a hollow configuration and includes a pair of flat sides, each side having a plurality of tapered apertures therein. A means for directing a reactive gas through the apertures toward the substrates is provided. A first bus structure electrically connects the substrates and may be grounded. A second bus structure electrically connects alternate ones of the electrodes and is connected to a first radio frequency power source. A third bus structure electrically connects the remaining ones of the electrodes and is connected to a second radio frequency power source adapted to operate 180 degrees out of phase with the first power source.

Inventors

  • 👤 Suryadevara V. Babu
  • 👤 Neng-hsing Lu
  • 👤 Carl-Otto Nilsen

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 08:43
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23C; C23C16/00; C23C16/44; C23C16/54; C23C14/00; C23C14/22; C23C14/56; H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/0011; H05K3/0055; H05K2203/00; H05K2203/09; H05K2203/095

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 216 words
An apparatus for plasma processing a plurality of substrates simultaneously, comprising: a) a plasma reactor chamber; b) a housing mounted within said plasma reactor chamber; c) a plurality of electrodes disposed in said housing substantially parallel to each other, each of said electrodes being of hollow configuration and including a pair of substantially flat sides each having a plurality of tapered apertures therein; d) means for supporting a substrate between each pair of electrodes and parallel thereto; e) a first bus structure for connecting said substrates electrically; f) a second bus structure for connecting alternate ones of said electrodes electrically; g) a third bus structure for connecting the remaining ones of said electrodes electrically; l) means for supplying a reactive gas to said plasma reactor chamber, said means directing said gas through said apertures within said sides of said electrodes such that said gas emerges from said apertures and is uniformity distributed across the respective surface of said substrate that said electrode faces; i) means for exhausting said plasma reactor-chamber; j) a first radio frequency power source electrically connected to said second bus structure; and k) a second radio frequency power source electrically connected to said third bus structure and adapted to operate about 180 degrees out of phase with said first radio frequency power source.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 216 words
An apparatus for plasma processing a plurality of substrates simultaneously, comprising: a) a plasma reactor chamber; b) a housing mounted within said plasma reactor chamber; c) a plurality of electrodes disposed in said housing substantially parallel to each other, each of said electrodes being of hollow configuration and including a pair of substantially flat sides each having a plurality of tapered apertures therein; d) means for supporting a substrate between each pair of electrodes and parallel thereto; e) a first bus structure for connecting said substrates electrically; f) a second bus structure for connecting alternate ones of said electrodes electrically; g) a third bus structure for connecting the remaining ones of said electrodes electrically; l) means for supplying a reactive gas to said plasma reactor chamber, said means directing said gas through said apertures within said sides of said electrodes such that said gas emerges from said apertures and is uniformity distributed across the respective surface of said substrate that said electrode faces; i) means for exhausting said plasma reactor-chamber; j) a first radio frequency power source electrically connected to said second bus structure; and k) a second radio frequency power source electrically connected to said third bus structure and adapted to operate about 180 degrees out of phase with said first radio frequency power source.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 13 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first bus structure is electrically ground.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said tapered apertures possesses a smaller diameter on the interior of said flat sides than the diameter of said aperture on the exterior of said sides.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4264393A Cited
US4297162A Cited
US4282077A Cited
US4425210A Cited
US4601807A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-10-28 1995-04-29 1995-10-29 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-10-28 1999-04-29 1999-10-29 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-10-28 2003-04-29 2003-10-29 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag