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US5244556A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for depositing thin film on substrate by sputtering process

Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Ltd
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Filing: 1991-09-19
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Granted: 1993-09-14
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Expires: 2011-09-19
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Abstract

Abstract There is disclosed a method for depositing a thin film on a substrate placed in a chamber by a sputtering process in which a target mounted on a cathode assembly is sputtered under predetermined ambient conditions in the chamber. The method includes the steps of: mounting a target, which is formed of a backing plate and a target plate directly connected to the backing plate, on the cathode assembly, the backing plate having a heat conductivity greater than that of the target plate; heating the target at a predetermined temperature at which residual gases absorbed on the target plate are removed therefrom; and activating the cathode assembly so that the target plate is sputtered. The target can also be formed of a backing plate, a spacer directly connected to the backing plate, and a target plate directly connected to the spacer, the spacer having a melting point greater than that of the target plate.

Inventors

  • 👤 Minoru Inoue

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 03:08
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23C; C23C14/00; C23C14/22; C23C14/54; C23C14/542; C23C14/34; C23C14/3407; C23C14/3414; C23C14/3421; H; H01; H01J; H01J37/00; H01J37/32; H01J37/34; H01J37/3402

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim 132 words
A method for depositing a thin film on a substrate placed in a chamber by a sputtering process in which a target mounted on a cathode assembly is sputtered under a predetermined ambient condition in the chamber, said method comprising: (a) mounting the target, which is formed of a backing plate and target plate directly connected to said backing plate, on the cathode assembly, said backing plate having a heat conductivity greater than that of said target plate; (b) evacuating the chamber and conducting heat through the backing plate of the target to the target plate thereof thereby to heat said target plate to a predetermined temperature at which residual gases absorbed on said target plate are removed therefrom; and then (c) activating said cathode assembly to thereby sputter said target plate.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 132 words
A method for depositing a thin film on a substrate placed in a chamber by a sputtering process in which a target mounted on a cathode assembly is sputtered under a predetermined ambient condition in the chamber, said method comprising: (a) mounting the target, which is formed of a backing plate and target plate directly connected to said backing plate, on the cathode assembly, said backing plate having a heat conductivity greater than that of said target plate; (b) evacuating the chamber and conducting heat through the backing plate of the target to the target plate thereof thereby to heat said target plate to a predetermined temperature at which residual gases absorbed on said target plate are removed therefrom; and then (c) activating said cathode assembly to thereby sputter said target plate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 19 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: heating said target to a temperature greater than 150° C.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 25 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: heating said target to a temperature less than the melting point temperature of said target plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 33 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step (c) further comprises: supplying power from said cathode assembly to said target at a power density of at least 28 W/cm 2 .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 36 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step (c) further comprises activating said cathode assembly to thereby sputter said target plate at a temperature less than the melting point temperature of said target plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 38 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: (d) supplying a reactive gas to said chamber during the sputtering process thereby to deposit the thin film including a component derived from said reactive gas on said substrate.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 143 words
A method for depositing a thin film on a substrate placed in a chamber by a sputtering process in which a target mounted on a cathode assembly is sputtered under a predetermined ambient condition in the chamber, said method comprising: (a) mounting the target, which is formed of a backing plate, a spacer directly connected to said backing plate and a target plate directly connected to said spacer, on the cathode assembly, said spacer having a melting point temperature greater than the melting point temperature of said target plate; (b) evacuating the chamber and conducting heat through the backing plate of the target to the target plate thereof thereby to heat said target plate to a predetermined temperature at which residual gases absorbed on said target plate are removed therefrom; and then (c) activating said cathode assembly to thereby sputter said target plate.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 143 words
A method for depositing a thin film on a substrate placed in a chamber by a sputtering process in which a target mounted on a cathode assembly is sputtered under a predetermined ambient condition in the chamber, said method comprising: (a) mounting the target, which is formed of a backing plate, a spacer directly connected to said backing plate and a target plate directly connected to said spacer, on the cathode assembly, said spacer having a melting point temperature greater than the melting point temperature of said target plate; (b) evacuating the chamber and conducting heat through the backing plate of the target to the target plate thereof thereby to heat said target plate to a predetermined temperature at which residual gases absorbed on said target plate are removed therefrom; and then (c) activating said cathode assembly to thereby sputter said target plate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 19 words
A method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising: heating said target to a temperature greater than 150° C.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 25 words
A method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising: heating said target to a temperature less than the melting point temperature of said target plate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 33 words
A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said step (c) further comprises: supplying power from said cathode assembly to said target at a power density of at least 28 W/cm 2 .
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 36 words
A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said step (c) further comprises activating said cathode assembly to thereby sputter said target plate at a temperature less than the melting point temperature of said target plate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 38 words
A method as claimed in claim 7 further comprising: (d) supplying a reactive gas to said chamber during the sputtering process thereby to deposit the thin film including a component derived from said reactive gas on said substrate.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4049523A Cited
US4324631A Cited
JPS6345368A Cited
JPS63270459A Cited
JPH01132760A Cited
JPH01283367A Cited
JPH01283368A Cited
JPH02166274A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1996-09-13 1997-03-15 1997-09-14 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-09-13 2001-03-15 2001-09-14 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-09-13 2005-03-15 2005-09-14 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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