Single wafer plasma etch reactor
First Claim
1. Apparatus for plasma etching a semiconductor wafer comprising:
- a fluid cooled lower electrode for supporting said wafer;
a fluid cooled upper electrode substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said lower electrode a distance such that the aspect ratio is greater than about 25, said upper electrode including means for distributing a reactive gas uniformly over said wafer;
means for coupling RF power to one or both of said electrodes; and
means for confining a plasma between said upper and lower electrodes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A high pressure, high etch rate single wafer plasma reactor having a fluid cooled upper electrode including a plurality of small diameter holes or passages therethrough to provide uniform reactive gas distribution over the surface of a wafer to be etched. A fluid cooled lower electrode is spaced from the upper electrode to provide an aspect ratio (wafer diameter: spacing) greater than about 25, and includes an insulating ring at its upper surface. The insulating ring protrudes above the exposed surface of the lower electrode to control the electrode spacing and to provide a plasma confinement region whereby substantially all of the RF power is dissipated by the wafer. A plurality of spaced apart, radially extending passages through the insulating ring provide a means of uniformly exhausting the reactive gas from the plasma confinement region. Affixed to the upper electrode is a first housing which supplies reactive gas and cooling fluid, and a baffle affixed to the first housing intermediate the upper electrode and a gas inlet forms a plenum above the upper electrode and ensures uniform reactive gas distribution thereover. The first housing and upper electrode are contained within a second housing with an insulating housing therebetween. The upper and lower electrodes are electrically isolated from each other and from ground, so that either or both electrodes may be powered.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. Apparatus for plasma etching a semiconductor wafer comprising:
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a fluid cooled lower electrode for supporting said wafer; a fluid cooled upper electrode substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said lower electrode a distance such that the aspect ratio is greater than about 25, said upper electrode including means for distributing a reactive gas uniformly over said wafer; means for coupling RF power to one or both of said electrodes; and means for confining a plasma between said upper and lower electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. Apparatus for plasma etching a semiconductor wafer comprising:
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a fluid cooled lower electrode for supporting said wafer; a fluid cooled upper electrode substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said lower electrode, said upper electrode including means for distributing a reactive gas uniformly over said wafer; means for coupling RF power to one or both of said electrodes; and an insulating ring surrounding a raised portion of said lower electrode, said insulating ring having an upper portion extending above the upper surface of said lower electrode, and a channel formed into its inner surface such that the inner surface of said insulating ring is horizontally and vertically spaced apart from the upper exposed surface of said lower electrode, the upper portion of said insulating ring further including a plurality of radially extending passages therethrough for exhausting said reactive gas, wherein the inner surface of said insulating ring and the facing surfaces of said upper and lower electrodes form a plasma confinement region. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. Apparatus for plasma etching a semiconductor wafer comprising:
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a lower electrode for supporting said wafer, said lower electrode having an insulated lower portion and an internal cooling passage to uniformly distribute a cooling fluid therethrough; an upper electrode substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said lower electrode, said upper electrode having an internal cooling passage to uniformly distribute a cooling fluid therethrough and a plurality of vertical passageways therethrough for distributing a reactive gas uniformly over said wafer, wherein the width of each of said vertical passageways decreases from the upper surface to the lower surface of said upper electrode; means for coupling RF power to one or both of said electrodes; and an insulating ring surrounding a raised portion of said lower electrode, said insulating ring having an upper portion extending above the upper surface of said lower electrode, and a channel formed into its inner surface such that the inner surface of said insulating ring is horizontally and vertically spaced apart from the upper exposed surface of said lower electrode, the upper portion of said insulating ring further including a plurality of radially extending passages therethrough for exhausting said reactive gas, wherein the inner surface of said insulating ring and the facing surfaces of said upper and lower electrodes form a plasma confinement region. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification