Atomic layer deposition apparatus
First Claim
1. An ALD apparatus for depositing a thin film on a substrate, comprising:
- a substrate support;
a reaction chamber wall formed above the substrate support and defining a reaction chamber;
a gas inflow tube connected to a source of process gas and communicating with the reaction chamber;
a showerhead assembly which defines a reaction space together with the substrate support, the assembly including a plurality of holes connected to the gas inflow tube to supply the gas to the reaction space;
a showerhead insulating plate made of an insulating material and disposed on the showerhead assembly;
a gas flow guiding plate disposed between the showerhead insulating plate and the reaction chamber wall;
a gas outlet for venting gas from the reaction chamber; and
a RF connection port connected the showerhead assembly to supply RF power, wherein gas passages are formed between the showerhead assembly and the showerhead insulating plate, between the showerhead insulating plate and the gas flow guiding plate, and between the gas flow guiding plate and the reaction chamber wall.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An atomic layer deposition (ALD) apparatus is, suitable for thermal ALD and plasma-enhanced ALD of conductive and non-conductive films. The ALD apparatus can maintain electrical insulation of a gas dispersion structure, such as a showerhead assembly, which acts as an RF electrode to generate plasma inside a reaction chamber while depositing electrically conductive films in the reaction chamber. Fine tubules of micro-feeding tube assembly prevents plasma generation in them and reactive gases each have separate flow paths through the micro-feeding tube assembly. Process gases out of the micro-feeding tube assembly enter narrow grooves of a helical flow inducing plate and form helical flows which mix well each other. Symmetrically mounted pads on showerhead assembly and flow guiding plate maintain a symmetrical gap through which an inert gas flows continuously to keep reactive gases outside the gap and unwanted film deposition in the gap. Longer operating time before maintenance (cleaning) and thus higher productivity can be achieved.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. An ALD apparatus for depositing a thin film on a substrate, comprising:
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a substrate support;
a reaction chamber wall formed above the substrate support and defining a reaction chamber;
a gas inflow tube connected to a source of process gas and communicating with the reaction chamber;
a showerhead assembly which defines a reaction space together with the substrate support, the assembly including a plurality of holes connected to the gas inflow tube to supply the gas to the reaction space;
a showerhead insulating plate made of an insulating material and disposed on the showerhead assembly;
a gas flow guiding plate disposed between the showerhead insulating plate and the reaction chamber wall;
a gas outlet for venting gas from the reaction chamber; and
a RF connection port connected the showerhead assembly to supply RF power, wherein gas passages are formed between the showerhead assembly and the showerhead insulating plate, between the showerhead insulating plate and the gas flow guiding plate, and between the gas flow guiding plate and the reaction chamber wall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An ALD apparatus for depositing a thin film on a substrate, comprising:
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a substrate support;
a reaction chamber wall formed above the substrate support and defining a reaction chamber;
a gas inflow tube having a plurality of separate gas inlets through which a plurality of reaction gases communicate with the reaction chamber;
a gas dispersion structure which defines a reaction space together with the substrate support and is connected to the gas inflow tube to supply the gas to the reaction space;
a micro-feeding tube assembly disposed between the gas inflow tube and the showerhead assembly and having a plurality of fine tubules; and
a helical flow inducing plate disposed between the micro-feeding tube assembly and the gas dispersion structure. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification