Highly durable noncontaminating surround materials for plasma etching
First Claim
1. A positioning and supporting apparatus for positioning and supporting an article in a plasma etching process employing a plasma tool, wherein the plasma etching process effects removal of surface material from the article, said positioning and supporting apparatus comprising:
- a support area for accepting the article;
a surround adjacent the support area, said surround defining at least one surround component having an outer surface comprised of a magnesium material such that as the plasma tool employed in the plasma etching process traverses an edge portion of the article, chemically reactive and excited species generated by a feed gas from the plasma tool impinge upon the surround component.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A support and positioning apparatus (10) for supporting and positioning a wafer (12), substrate or the like in a plasma assisted chemical etching process. Surround components (14, 16, 18, 20) positioned around the substrate (12) are comprised of substantially pure magnesium or are aluminum coated with a magnesium fluoride coating such that as a plasma tool associated with the plasma etching process traverses the edge of the substrate (12), the plasma etching environment generated from a fluorine containing feed gas emitted from the plasma tool does not significantly erode the surround components (14, 16, 18, 20) or cause contamination of the substrate (12).
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A positioning and supporting apparatus for positioning and supporting an article in a plasma etching process employing a plasma tool, wherein the plasma etching process effects removal of surface material from the article, said positioning and supporting apparatus comprising:
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a support area for accepting the article; a surround adjacent the support area, said surround defining at least one surround component having an outer surface comprised of a magnesium material such that as the plasma tool employed in the plasma etching process traverses an edge portion of the article, chemically reactive and excited species generated by a feed gas from the plasma tool impinge upon the surround component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A positioning and supporting apparatus for positioning and supporting a wafer in a plasma etching process employing a plasma tool, wherein the plasma etching process effects removal of surface material from the wafer, said positioning and supporting apparatus comprising:
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a base plate for accepting the wafer, said base plate including an outer surface comprised of a magnesium material; and a plurality of wafer positioning mechanisms adaptable to secure the wafer to the base plate, said plurality of wafer supporting mechanisms including an outer surface comprised of a magnesium material such that as the plasma tool employed in the plasma etching process traverses an edge portion of the wafer, chemically reactive and excited species generated by a feed gas from the plasma tool impinge upon the magnesium surface of the base plate and the positioning mechanisms. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of positioning and supporting an article in a plasma etching process employing a plasma tool, wherein the plasma etching process effects removal of surface material from the article, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a support for accepting the article; and providing a surround adjacent the support, said surround defining at least one surround component having an outer surface comprised of a magnesium material such that as the plasma tool employed in the plasma etching process traverses an edge portion of the article, chemically reactive and excited species generated by a feed gas from the plasma tool impinge upon the surround component. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification