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US5688382A
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Microwave plasma deposition source and method of filling high aspect-ratio features on a substrate
Assignee: MKS Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1995-08-31
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Granted: 1997-11-18
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Expires: 2015-08-31
Abstract
Abstract A microwave plasma deposition source including a vacuum chamber for containing a substance to be energized in a plasma with microwave energy, a coaxial microwave feed ending in the chamber, a sputter target in the chamber and electrically isolated from the coaxial feed, and a second substrate spaced from the sputter target for defining a plasma volume between the substrates.
Inventors
- 👤 Matthew M. Besen
- 👤 Lawrence Bourget
- 👤 William M. Holber
- 👤 Donald K. Smith
- 👤 Richard S. Post
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 03:10
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J37/00; H01J37/32; H01J37/32009; H01J37/32192; H01J37/32211; H01J37/32229; C; C23; C23C; C23C14/00; C23C14/22; C23C14/34; C23C14/35; C23C14/354; C23C14/357; C23C16/00; C23C16/44; C23C16/50; C23C16/511; H01J37/32431; H01J37/3266; H01J37/32678; H01J37/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A microwave plasma deposition source, comprising: a vacuum chamber for containing a substance to be energized in a plasma with microwave energy; a coaxial microwave feed having an inner conductor and a dielectric window shielded from the plasma for passing microwave radiation substantially unimpeded ending in the chamber; a target positioned in the chamber at the end of the coaxial feed; a substrate positioned in the chamber and spaced from the target for receiving target material; and a first magnet positioned between the target and the substrate and having a magnetic field extending a volume between the target and the substrate for magnetizing a dense plasma throughout the volume between the target and the substrate, thereby increasing the probability of ionizing material sputtered from the target and traversing the plasma volume.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
A microwave plasma deposition source, comprising: a vacuum chamber for containing a substance to be energized in a plasma with microwave energy; a coaxial microwave feed having an inner conductor and a dielectric window shielded from the plasma for passing microwave radiation substantially unimpeded ending in the chamber; a target positioned in the chamber at the end of the coaxial feed; a substrate positioned in the chamber and spaced from the target for receiving target material; and a first magnet positioned between the target and the substrate and having a magnetic field extending a volume between the target and the substrate for magnetizing a dense plasma throughout the volume between the target and the substrate, thereby increasing the probability of ionizing material sputtered from the target and traversing the plasma volume.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The microwave plasma deposition source of claim 1 further comprising a target bias voltage source electrically coupled to the target through the inner conductor for controlling the energy of gas ions impacting the target.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The microwave plasma deposition source of claim 1 further comprising a substrate bias voltage source electrically coupled to the substrate for controlling the energy of ionized materials impacting the substrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The microwave plasma deposition source of claim 1 wherein the first magnet creates an electron cyclotron resonance condition between the target and the substrate within the chamber, wherein the electron cyclotron resonance condition is displaced from the target.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The microwave plasma deposition source of claim 1 further comprising an injector for injecting a substance proximate the target.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The microwave plasma deposition source of claim 1 further comprising a second magnet positioned between the target and the substrate and spaced apart from the first magnet for controlling the ion flux traversing from the target to the substrate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The microwave plasma deposition source of claim 1 further comprising a second target spaced from the first target.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The microwave plasma deposition source of claim 1 wherein the target includes a plurality of elements for depositing complex materials.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The microwave plasma deposition source of claim 1 wherein the target includes a plurality of independently-biased target areas and the inner conductor includes a plurality of electrically isolated conductors which are electrically connected to the independently-based target areas.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The microwave plasma deposition source of claim 1 further comprising a processing chamber communicating with the vacuum chamber wherein the substrate is positioned in the process chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The microwave plasma deposition source of claim 1 wherein the end of the coaxial feed is positioned between the target and the window to inhibit sputter deposition on the window.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The microwave plasma deposition source of claim 1 wherein the window is annular and is positioned between the target and the vacuum chamber.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of filling high aspect-ratio features on a substrate with a microwave plasma deposition source, comprising: containing in a vacuum chamber a substance to be energized in a plasma with microwave energy; feeding a microwave signal into the chamber with a coaxial microwave feed having a microwave passing window shielded from the plasma; providing a target in the chamber positioned at an end of the coaxial feed and electrically connected to an inner conductor of the coaxial feed; separating a substrate containing high aspect-ratio features from the target in the chamber; biasing the target by energizing the inner conductor; forming a dense plasma throughout a volume extending between the target and the substrate by magnetizing a magnet positioned between the target and the substrate, thereby creating a high fraction of ionized target material; and filling the high-aspect ratio features with the ionized target material.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of filling high aspect-ratio features on a substrate with a microwave plasma deposition source, comprising: containing in a vacuum chamber a substance to be energized in a plasma with microwave energy; feeding a microwave signal into the chamber with a coaxial microwave feed having a microwave passing window shielded from the plasma; providing a target in the chamber positioned at an end of the coaxial feed and electrically connected to an inner conductor of the coaxial feed; separating a substrate containing high aspect-ratio features from the target in the chamber; biasing the target by energizing the inner conductor; forming a dense plasma throughout a volume extending between the target and the substrate by magnetizing a magnet positioned between the target and the substrate, thereby creating a high fraction of ionized target material; and filling the high-aspect ratio features with the ionized target material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the microwave signal comprises multiple frequencies.
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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) | 2000-11-17 | 2001-05-19 | 2001-11-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-11-17 | 2005-05-19 | 2005-11-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-11-17 | 2009-05-19 | 2009-11-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |