Method of controlling ion energy distribution using a pulse generator with a current-return output stage
First Claim
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1. A method of processing of a substrate, comprising:
- generating a plasma over a plasma facing surface of a substrate disposed on a substrate support assembly; and
biasing a biasing electrode disposed within the substrate support assembly using a bias generator that is electrically coupled to a generator end of an electrical conductor, an electrode end of the electrical conductor is electrically coupled to the biasing electrode, wherein the bias generator is used to establish a pulsed voltage waveform at the biasing electrode,wherein the pulsed voltage waveform has a series of repeating cycles, such thata waveform within each cycle has a first portion that occurs during a first time interval and a second portion that occurs during a second time interval,a positive voltage pulse is only present during the first time interval,the pulsed voltage waveform is substantially constant during at least a portion of the second time interval, andthe second time interval is longer than the first time interval.
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Abstract
Embodiments of this disclosure describe an electrode biasing scheme that enables maintaining a nearly constant sheath voltage and thus creating a mono-energetic IEDF at the surface of the substrate that consequently enables a precise control over the shape of IEDF and the profile of the features formed in the surface of the substrate.
196 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of processing of a substrate, comprising:
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generating a plasma over a plasma facing surface of a substrate disposed on a substrate support assembly; and biasing a biasing electrode disposed within the substrate support assembly using a bias generator that is electrically coupled to a generator end of an electrical conductor, an electrode end of the electrical conductor is electrically coupled to the biasing electrode, wherein the bias generator is used to establish a pulsed voltage waveform at the biasing electrode, wherein the pulsed voltage waveform has a series of repeating cycles, such that a waveform within each cycle has a first portion that occurs during a first time interval and a second portion that occurs during a second time interval, a positive voltage pulse is only present during the first time interval, the pulsed voltage waveform is substantially constant during at least a portion of the second time interval, and the second time interval is longer than the first time interval. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification