Method of and apparatus for restoring a support surface in a semiconductor wafer processing system
First Claim
1. A method for restoring a support surface of a substrate support comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a surrogate substrate on the support surface;
(b) connecting the surrogate substrate to a ground; and
(c) creating a force between the support surface and the surrogate substrate to remove accumulated charges in the support surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus for restoring a support surface of a substrate support to a pre-process condition. The method comprises the steps of providing a surrogate substrate on the degraded support surface, providing the surrogate substrate with a ground connection and establishing an electric field between the support surface and the surrogate substrate to remove accumulated charges in the support surface. The apparatus comprises a process chamber having a surrogate substrate on a the support surface and connected to ground. The surrogate substrate is a semiconductor wafer or a plate or sheet of metallic material. The ground connection is established by striking a plasma that contacts the surrogate substrate and an electrical ground reference. The electric field established between the support surface and the surrogate substrate "pushes" any accumulated charges out of the support surface. Removal of the accumulated charges improves and extends the chucking ability of the support surface. The subject method also maintains the integrity of the support surface material as it is not attacked by highly energized and/or reactive species in a plasma.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for restoring a support surface of a substrate support comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a surrogate substrate on the support surface; (b) connecting the surrogate substrate to a ground; and (c) creating a force between the support surface and the surrogate substrate to remove accumulated charges in the support surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for removing accumulated charges in a support surface of an electrostatic chuck in a chamber, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing the support surface having the accumulated charges; (b) disposing a surrogate substrate on the support surface; (c) connecting the surrogate substrate to a ground; and (d) establishing an electric field between the support surface and the surrogate substrate to drive the accumulated charges off the support surface. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. Apparatus for restoring a support surface of an electrostatic chuck in a process chamber comprising:
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at least one grounded chamber component; a surrogate substrate disposed upon the support surface of the electrostatic chuck; a ground path defined between the surrogate substrate and the grounded chamber component; and a connection between the surrogate substrate and the support surface of the electrostatic chuck for removing accumulated charges in the support surface. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification