Plasma etching method and plasma etching system for carrying out the same
First Claim
1. A plasma etching method of removing a relatively thick portion from a surface of an article of concern to realize flatness thereof through an etching process by ejecting a gas of activated species onto to said relatively thick portion from a jet nozzle of a plasma generating means disposed substantially in opposition to said relatively thick portion,said method comprising:
- measuring an actual etched quantity of said relatively thick portion by using a laser light beam; and
terminating the etching process for said relatively thick portion when said actual etch quantity has attained a desired value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Plasma etching method and apparatus for removing relatively thick portions from wafers by etching while measuring an actual etch quantity to thereby manufacture the wafers excellent in flatness quality on a mass-production basis. A conduit 20 of a plasma generator 2 is positioned above a relatively thick portion 111 of the wafer 110 to etch away a wafer material from the relatively thick portion 111 by ejecting a fluorine gas G. A laser beam L0 is emitted from a laser displacement meter 30 of a measuring apparatus 3 to detect an interference state between a reflected light beam L1 from the relatively thick portion 111 and a reflected light beam L2 form a reflecting plate 32 and count periodical changes of the interference state. When the count value m coincides with an integral value derived by dividing a desired etch quantity by a half wavelength of the laser beam L0, etching of the relatively thick portion 111 by the fluorine gas G is terminated.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A plasma etching method of removing a relatively thick portion from a surface of an article of concern to realize flatness thereof through an etching process by ejecting a gas of activated species onto to said relatively thick portion from a jet nozzle of a plasma generating means disposed substantially in opposition to said relatively thick portion,
said method comprising: -
measuring an actual etched quantity of said relatively thick portion by using a laser light beam; and terminating the etching process for said relatively thick portion when said actual etch quantity has attained a desired value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A plasma etching system, comprising:
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plasma generating means including a jet nozzle for ejecting a gas of activated species produced through excitation to a plasma state onto a relatively thick portion of an article of concern; measuring means for measuring an actual etch quantity of said relatively thick portion by using a laser light beam; and control means for comparing said actual etch quantity as measured by said measuring means with a set value and terminating the etching process for said relatively thick portion when said actual etch quantity coincides with said set value. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for planarizing a surface of an article comprising:
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a plasma generator including a conduit, said conduit configured to direct a gas toward a portion of the article; a measuring apparatus including a laser displacement meter having a laser beam, said apparatus configured to direct said laser beam toward the portion through said conduit and receive said laser beam from the portion through said conduit. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method of planarizing a surface of an article, said method comprising the steps of:
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measuring the thickness of a film at a plurality of locations on the surface of the article; determining relatively thick portions of said film; storing said thickness information for said relatively thick portions and corresponding position information on a recording medium; placing a first thick portion proximate a plasma etch source, wherein said etch source includes a jet nozzle; and etching said first thick portion while simultaneously measuring a thickness of said film by directing a light beam through said jet nozzle. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification