Apparatus for controlling etch rate when using consumable electrodes during plasma etching
First Claim
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1. A plasma assisted chemical etching apparatus for doing etching operations on the surface of semiconductor wafers, comprising:
- a) a vacuum chamber;
b) a means for generating a plasma field between a moveable upper consumable electrode and a stationary lower non-consumable electrode within said vacuum chamber;
c) an interlock means for passing a wafer into said vacuum chamber;
d) a wafer support means contiguous to an upper surface of the lower non-consumable electrode;
e) a first port means connected to a throttle valve and to an external pumping source;
f) a second port for communicating with trifurcated ports disposed circularly and spaced equally on the underside of an annular upper electrode clamp;
g) a third port means for admission of a process gas from an external source;
h) a first manometer means connected externally to the first port to sense the vacuum chamber pressure adjacent said lower non-consumable electrode;
i) a first pressure controller implementing a pressure feedback communicated by said first manometer means;
j) a throttle valve which is actuated by said first pressure controller to equalize the vacuum chamber pressure to a preset process parameter; and
,k) a second pressure manometer mounted to said second port to communicate pressure from said trifurcated ports to a gap controller that repeatedly computes new gap counts based on pressure feedback from said second manometer.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus to improve process control during plasma etching of semiconductor substrates. Improvements are directed towards controlling the rate of etching when using consumable electrodes. Consumable electrode materials are used to increase selectivity in certain plasma etching processes as in via. contact. or in SOG etch. A consumable electrode material has a significant effect on processing time due to changing gap dimension between electrodes. This invention teaches how to adjust for process variables by using feedback from two strategically placed pressure manometers.
35 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A plasma assisted chemical etching apparatus for doing etching operations on the surface of semiconductor wafers, comprising:
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a) a vacuum chamber; b) a means for generating a plasma field between a moveable upper consumable electrode and a stationary lower non-consumable electrode within said vacuum chamber; c) an interlock means for passing a wafer into said vacuum chamber; d) a wafer support means contiguous to an upper surface of the lower non-consumable electrode; e) a first port means connected to a throttle valve and to an external pumping source; f) a second port for communicating with trifurcated ports disposed circularly and spaced equally on the underside of an annular upper electrode clamp; g) a third port means for admission of a process gas from an external source; h) a first manometer means connected externally to the first port to sense the vacuum chamber pressure adjacent said lower non-consumable electrode; i) a first pressure controller implementing a pressure feedback communicated by said first manometer means; j) a throttle valve which is actuated by said first pressure controller to equalize the vacuum chamber pressure to a preset process parameter; and
,k) a second pressure manometer mounted to said second port to communicate pressure from said trifurcated ports to a gap controller that repeatedly computes new gap counts based on pressure feedback from said second manometer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification