Method and apparatus for producing plasma uniformity in a magnetic field-enhanced plasma reactor
First Claim
1. A magnetic field-enhanced plasma reactor comprising:
- a reaction chamber for containing a plasma proximate a substrate support;
a plurality of substantially annular electromagnets circumscribing a reaction region within the reaction chamber for forming a radially-directed magnetic field within the reaction chamber wherein at least one of said plurality of electromagnets is below the substrate support and a remaining number of electromagnets are above the substrate support, coaxially aligned, and stacked one on top of the other; and
a current generator, connected to said plurality of electromagnets, for applying a current to each electromagnet in said plurality of electromagnets, where each of the currents flow in opposite directions through adjacent electromagnets.
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Abstract
A magnetic field enhanced plasma etch reactor system for generating a radially-directed magnetic field within a reaction chamber. The reactor system comprises a reaction chamber for containing a plasma and a plurality of electromagnetic coils disposed about a reaction region within the reaction chamber. When each coil is driven with a current of similar magnitude, the electromagnetic coils produce a radially-directed magnetic field within the reaction chamber. The radially-directed magnetic field uniformly distributes the plasma throughout a bulk plasma region. Consequently, a substrate that is etched by such a uniform plasma has an improved uniformity in the etch pattern on the substrate.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A magnetic field-enhanced plasma reactor comprising:
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a reaction chamber for containing a plasma proximate a substrate support; a plurality of substantially annular electromagnets circumscribing a reaction region within the reaction chamber for forming a radially-directed magnetic field within the reaction chamber wherein at least one of said plurality of electromagnets is below the substrate support and a remaining number of electromagnets are above the substrate support, coaxially aligned, and stacked one on top of the other; and a current generator, connected to said plurality of electromagnets, for applying a current to each electromagnet in said plurality of electromagnets, where each of the currents flow in opposite directions through adjacent electromagnets. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. In a magnetic field-enhanced plasma reactor having a plurality of electromagnets circumscribing a reaction region within a reaction chamber wherein at least one of said plurality of electromagnets is below a substrate support and a remaining number of electromagnets are above the substrate support, coaxially aligned, and stacked one on top of the other, a method comprising the steps of:
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applying a current to each of said electromagnets in said plurality of electromagnets, where each of said currents flow in opposite directions through adjacent electromagnets; and generating a radially directed magnetic field within said reaction chamber. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification