Method of reducing residue accumulation in CVD chamber using ceramic lining
First Claim
1. A processing apparatus, comprising:
- a processing chamber including a body with an upper surface, a lower surface and side surfaces extending from said lower surface, terminating proximate to said upper surface, spaced-apart therefrom defining an annular slot;
a pedestal disposed in said processing chamber between said upper and lower surfaces, with said body further defining an exhaust outlet having an interior surface in fluid communication with said annular slot, with said annular slot positioned between said side surfaces and said exhaust outlet; and
a ceramic body covering a portion of said interior surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for limiting residue build-up by lining with a ceramic material the exhaust plenun and exhaust manifold of a processing chamber. In another aspect of the invention, the inventors have used an air gap between the ceramic liner and the processing chamber walls to increase the dielectric value of the ceramic liner, and further inhibit the build-up of residues. In another aspect, the ceramic liner has been found to retain sufficient heat to allow the elimination of heaters typically used to heat the aluminum walls during a clean operation, if the clean operation is commenced immediately after a process step so that the ceramic retains the necessary heat from the previous processing step. The provision of an air gap aids in this heating, preventing the ceramic heat from being drawn off by direct contact with the aluminum walls. In a preferred embodiment, the ceramic liners are attached to the chamber walls with TEFLON® (polytetrafluoroethylene) screws.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A processing apparatus, comprising:
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a processing chamber including a body with an upper surface, a lower surface and side surfaces extending from said lower surface, terminating proximate to said upper surface, spaced-apart therefrom defining an annular slot; a pedestal disposed in said processing chamber between said upper and lower surfaces, with said body further defining an exhaust outlet having an interior surface in fluid communication with said annular slot, with said annular slot positioned between said side surfaces and said exhaust outlet; and a ceramic body covering a portion of said interior surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A processing apparatus, comprising:
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a processing chamber including a body with an upper surface, a lower surface and side surfaces extending from said lower surface terminating proximate to said upper surface; a pedestal disposed in said processing chamber between said upper and lower surfaces, a ceramic layer positioned between said pedestal and said side surfaces and having a major surface a first portion of which is in abutting relation with said side surfaces with a second portion being spaced apart therefrom, said second portion defining a gap. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A processing apparatus, comprising:
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a processing chamber including a body with an upper surface, a lower surface and side surfaces extending from said lower surface terminating proximate to said upper surface; and a pedestal disposed in said processing chamber between said upper and lower surfaces, with said pedestal and said upper and side surfaces defining a reaction region boundary, a portion of which, disposed proximate to said pedestal, has a lower dielectric constant than the remaining regions of said reaction region boundary. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition processing apparatus, comprising:
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a processing chamber including a body with an upper surface, a lower surface and side surfaces extending from said lower surface, terminating proximate to said upper surface, spaced-apart therefrom defining an annular slot; and a pedestal disposed in said processing chamber between said upper and lower surfaces, with said body further defining an exhaust outlet having an interior surface in fluid communication with said annular slot; and
,a first ceramic liner covering a portion of said side surfaces, said first ceramic liner having a major surface a first portion in abutting relation with said side surfaces and a second portion, spaced apart therefrom, said second portion defining a gap; and a second ceramic liner covering said interior surface. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A method for operating a processing chamber including a body with an upper surface, a lower surface and side surfaces extending from said lower surface terminating proximate to said upper surface and a pedestal disposed within said processing chamber said method comprising steps of:
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positioning said pedestal a predetermined distance from said upper surface, with said pedestal and said upper and side surfaces defining a reaction region boundary; coupling, within said reaction region boundary, a plasma; and varying an electrical impedance between said side surfaces and said plasma to be greater than an electrical impedance between said pedestal and said plasma. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification