US5304279A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Radio frequency induction/multipole plasma processing tool
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1992-09-28
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Granted: 1994-04-19
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Expires: 2012-09-28
Abstract
Abstract A dry processing apparatus for plasma etching or deposition includes a chamber for plasma processing having an external wall for housing a work piece with a surface to be plasma processed. A source of an induction field is located outside the chamber on its opposite side from the work piece. A radio frequency induction field applied to the chamber generates a plasma. The plasma is confined within the external wall in the chamber by magnetic dipoles providing a surface magnetic field for confining the plasma. The surface magnetic field is confined to the space adjacent to the external wall. An R.F. generator provides an R.F. generated bias to the work piece. The chamber is lined with a material inert to a plasma or noncontaminating to the work piece, and the induction source in the form of a spiral or involute shaped induction coil is located on the exterior of the liner material on the opposite side of the chamber from the work piece. Distribution of gas to the chamber is uniform because a manifold located about the periphery of the chamber and an orifice formed by the surface of the chamber and the manifold admits gas from the manifold into the chamber at a uniform pressure about the periphery of the cover of the chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 Dennis K. Coultas
- 👤 John H. Keller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 17:10
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J37/00; H01J37/32; H01J37/32009; H01J37/32082; H01J37/321; C; C23; C23C; C23C16/00; C23C16/44; C23C16/4401; C23C16/4404; C23C16/50; C23C16/505; C23C16/507; H01J37/32431; H01J37/3266; H01J37/32688
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
A plasma dry processing apparatus comprising a) a chamber for plasma processing having an external wall, said chamber containing at least one work piece having a surface to be processed in a plasma, b) induction means for providing a radio frequency induction field within said chamber for generating a plasma within said chamber, said induction means comprising a planar induction coil located at an end of said chamber spaced from said work piece, and c) confining means for providing a surface magnetic field for confining said plasma within said chamber, i) said confining means comprising multiple magnetic dipoles with their fields directed inwardly towards the interior of said chamber with alternating north and south poles in a magnetic confinement cylindrical pattern with their fields directed at right angles towards the vertical axis of said chamber, and ii) said surface magnetic field being substantially confined to the space adjacent to said external wall with said surface magnetic field extending from the exterior of said chamber to provide magnetic field cusps proximate to the periphery of the interior of said external wall, whereby said induction coil generates a plasma in said chamber and electrons are repelled to the interior of said chamber from motion towards the walls thereof to produce greater uniformity of said plasma near said work piece.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
217 words
A plasma dry processing apparatus comprising a) a chamber for plasma processing having an external wall, said chamber containing at least one work piece having a surface to be processed in a plasma, b) induction means for providing a radio frequency induction field within said chamber for generating a plasma within said chamber, said induction means comprising a planar induction coil located at an end of said chamber spaced from said work piece, and c) confining means for providing a surface magnetic field for confining said plasma within said chamber, i) said confining means comprising multiple magnetic dipoles with their fields directed inwardly towards the interior of said chamber with alternating north and south poles in a magnetic confinement cylindrical pattern with their fields directed at right angles towards the vertical axis of said chamber, and ii) said surface magnetic field being substantially confined to the space adjacent to said external wall with said surface magnetic field extending from the exterior of said chamber to provide magnetic field cusps proximate to the periphery of the interior of said external wall, whereby said induction coil generates a plasma in said chamber and electrons are repelled to the interior of said chamber from motion towards the walls thereof to produce greater uniformity of said plasma near said work piece.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said induction means is located on the exterior of said chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said work piece is located at the opposite end of said chamber from said induction means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 including means for providing a surface magnetic field positioned adjacent to said induction means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including radio frequency energization means for providing a R.F. generated bias to said work piece.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said chamber is lined with a liner material substantially inert to a plasma or substantially noncontaminating to said work piece and said induction means is located on the exterior of said liner material with said work piece being on the opposite end of said chamber from said induction means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
91 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein means are provided for uniformly admitting a gas to said chamber comprising a) manifold means located about the periphery of said chamber at the opposite end of said chamber from said work piece, and b) orifice means located between the surface of said chamber and said manifold means for admitting said gas from said manifold into said chamber, whereby said gas is admitted to said chamber from said manifold with a substantially uniform pressure so that said plasma will be uniform within said chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including reactance means connected in series with said induction means, whereby one can produce and adjust a radio frequency generated bias.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said coil comprises an involute spiral coil, said coil including a larger cross section between the end windings thereof, whereby more uniform plasma is produced adjacent to said larger cross section windings than with a winding of uniform cross section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
101 words
A plasma dry processing apparatus comprising a) a chamber for plasma processing, at least one work piece having a surface to be processed in a plasma, b) means comprising an involute, planar, spiral, induction coil at the other end of said chamber for providing a radio frequency induced magnetic field to generate a plasma within said chamber, and c) confining means for providing a distributed magnetic confinement field about the periphery of said chamber, whereby electrons are repelled to the interior of said chamber from motion towards the walls thereof to produce greater uniformity of the plasma near said work piece.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
101 words
A plasma dry processing apparatus comprising a) a chamber for plasma processing, at least one work piece having a surface to be processed in a plasma, b) means comprising an involute, planar, spiral, induction coil at the other end of said chamber for providing a radio frequency induced magnetic field to generate a plasma within said chamber, and c) confining means for providing a distributed magnetic confinement field about the periphery of said chamber, whereby electrons are repelled to the interior of said chamber from motion towards the walls thereof to produce greater uniformity of the plasma near said work piece.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein said induction means is located on the exterior of said chamber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said work piece is located on the opposite end of said chamber from said induction means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 including means for providing a surface magnetic field positioned adjacent to said induction means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 including radio frequency energization means for providing a R.F. generated bias to said work piece.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
82 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein said chamber is lined with a liner material substantially inert to said plasma or substantially noncontaminating to said work piece, and said induction means is located on the exterior of said liner material with said work piece being on the opposite end of said chamber from said induction means, whereby said gas is admitted to said chamber from said manifold with a substantially uniform pressure, so that said plasma will be uniform within said chamber.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein means are provided for uniformly admitting a gas to said chamber comprising a) manifold means located about the periphery of said chamber, and b) orifice means located between the surface of said chamber and said manifold means for admitting said gas from said manifold into said chamber, whereby said gas is admitted to said chamber from said manifold with a substantially uniform pressure so that said plasma will be uniform within the chamber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 including reactance means connected in series with said induction means, whereby one can produce and adjust a radio frequency generated bias.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein said involute spiral coil includes a larger cross section between the end windings thereof, whereby more uniform plasma is produced adjacent to said larger cross section windings than with a winding of uniform cross section.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
119 words
A reactive ion etching system comprising a) a cylindrical etching chamber formed by an electrode structure, a chamber top and chamber sidewalls, b) an R.F. electrically, biased structure for supporting the workpieces to be processed, and c) induction means for applying an R.F. induction field to produce in the active plasma etching portion of the chamber a glow region which is separated from the internal chamber surfaces by means for providing a distributed magnetic confinement field about the periphery of said chamber, and d) said induction means comprising a spiral, planar, induction coil disposed at the other end of said chamber from said workpieces for providing a radio frequency induced magnetic field to generate a plasma within said chamber.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
119 words
A reactive ion etching system comprising a) a cylindrical etching chamber formed by an electrode structure, a chamber top and chamber sidewalls, b) an R.F. electrically, biased structure for supporting the workpieces to be processed, and c) induction means for applying an R.F. induction field to produce in the active plasma etching portion of the chamber a glow region which is separated from the internal chamber surfaces by means for providing a distributed magnetic confinement field about the periphery of said chamber, and d) said induction means comprising a spiral, planar, induction coil disposed at the other end of said chamber from said workpieces for providing a radio frequency induced magnetic field to generate a plasma within said chamber.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 19 including reactance means connected in series with said induction means, whereby one can adjust said R.F. generated bias.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 19 wherein said chamber is lined with a liner material substantially inert to a plasma or substantially noncontaminating to said work piece and said induction means is located on the exterior of said liner material on the opposite end of said chamber from said work piece.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 19 wherein said involute spiral coil includes a larger cross section between the end windings thereof, whereby more uniform plasma is produced adjacent to said larger cross section windings than with a winding of uniform cross section.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
216 words
A plasma dry processing apparatus comprising a) a chamber for plasma processing having an external wall, a base and a cover, said chamber containing within said wall at least one work piece having a surface to be processed in a plasma, said work piece being located on said base in said chamber, b) induction means for providing a radio frequency induction field within said chamber for generating a plasma within said chamber, said induction means comprising a planar involute spiral coil juxtaposed with said cover at the other end of said chamber from said work piece, and c) confining means for providing a surface magnetic field for confining said plasma within said chamber, said confining means comprising multiple magnetic dipoles with their fields directed inwardly towards the interior of said chamber with alternating north and south poles in a magnetic confinement cylindrical arrangement with their fields directed at right angles towards said axis, said surface magnetic field being substantially confined to the space adjacent to said external wall with said surface magnetic field extending from the exterior of said chamber to provide magnetic field cusps proximate to the periphery of the interior of said external wall, whereby electrons are repelled to the interior of said chamber so that said plasma will be uniform within said chamber.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
216 words
A plasma dry processing apparatus comprising a) a chamber for plasma processing having an external wall, a base and a cover, said chamber containing within said wall at least one work piece having a surface to be processed in a plasma, said work piece being located on said base in said chamber, b) induction means for providing a radio frequency induction field within said chamber for generating a plasma within said chamber, said induction means comprising a planar involute spiral coil juxtaposed with said cover at the other end of said chamber from said work piece, and c) confining means for providing a surface magnetic field for confining said plasma within said chamber, said confining means comprising multiple magnetic dipoles with their fields directed inwardly towards the interior of said chamber with alternating north and south poles in a magnetic confinement cylindrical arrangement with their fields directed at right angles towards said axis, said surface magnetic field being substantially confined to the space adjacent to said external wall with said surface magnetic field extending from the exterior of said chamber to provide magnetic field cusps proximate to the periphery of the interior of said external wall, whereby electrons are repelled to the interior of said chamber so that said plasma will be uniform within said chamber.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 23 wherein said involute spiral coil includes a larger cross section between the end windings thereof, whereby more uniform plasma is produced adjacent to said larger cross section windings than with a winding of uniform cross section.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
121 words
A plasma dry processing apparatus comprising a) a chamber for plasma processing, said chamber having an external wall, said chamber containing at least one work piece having a surface to be processed in a plasma, b) means for providing a radio frequency induction field within said chamber for generating a plasma within said chamber, c) means for providing a distributed magnetic confinement field about the periphery of said chamber, d) said induction means comprising an involute, planar spiral coil, and e) said confining means comprising multiple magnetic dipoles with their fields directed inwardly towards the interior of said chamber with alternating north and south poles in a magnetic confinement cylindrical arrangement, whereby electrons are repelled to the interior of said chamber.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
121 words
A plasma dry processing apparatus comprising a) a chamber for plasma processing, said chamber having an external wall, said chamber containing at least one work piece having a surface to be processed in a plasma, b) means for providing a radio frequency induction field within said chamber for generating a plasma within said chamber, c) means for providing a distributed magnetic confinement field about the periphery of said chamber, d) said induction means comprising an involute, planar spiral coil, and e) said confining means comprising multiple magnetic dipoles with their fields directed inwardly towards the interior of said chamber with alternating north and south poles in a magnetic confinement cylindrical arrangement, whereby electrons are repelled to the interior of said chamber.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-04-18 | 1997-10-18 | 1998-04-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-04-18 | 2001-10-18 | 2002-04-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-04-18 | 2005-10-18 | 2006-04-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |