Plasma assisted processing chamber with separate control of species density
First Claim
1. A plasma reactor comprising:
- a) a processing chamber comprising therewith a source power applicator capable of sustaining a processing plasma within the processing chamber, the processing chamber being adapted to hold a workpiece exposed to the processing plasma, the processing chamber further comprising a separate bias power applicator capable of providing bias power to the workpiece;
b) a collateral chamber coupled to the processing chamber and comprising therewith a helicon source power applicator capable of generating a collateral plasma using a helicon wave; and
c) a filter disposed between the collateral chamber and the processing chamber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an apparatus and method, for plasma assisted processing of a workpiece, which provides for separate control of species density within a processing plasma. The present invention has a processing chamber and at least one collateral chamber. The collateral chamber is capable of generating a collateral plasma and delivering it to the processing chamber. To control the densities of the particle species within the processing chamber the present invention may have: a filter interposed between the collateral chamber and the processing chamber, primary chamber source power, several collateral chambers providing separate inputs to the processing chamber, or combinations thereof. Collateral plasma may be: filtered, combined with primary chamber generated plasma, combined with another collateral plasma, or combinations thereof to separately control the densities of the species comprising the processing plasma.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A plasma reactor comprising:
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a) a processing chamber comprising therewith a source power applicator capable of sustaining a processing plasma within the processing chamber, the processing chamber being adapted to hold a workpiece exposed to the processing plasma, the processing chamber further comprising a separate bias power applicator capable of providing bias power to the workpiece;
b) a collateral chamber coupled to the processing chamber and comprising therewith a helicon source power applicator capable of generating a collateral plasma using a helicon wave; and
c) a filter disposed between the collateral chamber and the processing chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
the processing chamber source power applicator and the collateral chamber source power applicator are adapted to be simultaneously powered. -
14. The plasma reactor of claim 1 further comprising
a processing plasma formed within the processing chamber by the application of source power to both the processing chamber source power applicator and the collateral chamber source power applicator. -
15. The plasma reactor of claim 14 wherein the processing plasma is formed from at least one process gas introduced into the collateral chamber and at least one process gas introduced into the primary chamber.
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16. The plasma reactor of claim 1, wherein the processing chamber source power applicator comprises an inductive coil antenna.
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17. The plasma reactor of claim 1 wherein the filter is adapted to admit substantially only neutral particles from the collateral chamber to the processing chamber.
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18. The plasma reactor of claim 1 wherein the filter is adapted to admit neutral particles based on mass from the collateral chamber to the processing chamber.
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19. The plasma reactor of claim 18 wherein the filter comprises a quadrupole and at least one of a neutralizing grid or a conduit.
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20. The plasma reactor of claim 1 wherein the filter is adapted to admit charged particles from the collateral chamber to the processing chamber.
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21. The plasma reactor of claim 1 wherein the filter is adapted to admit charged particles based on charge-to-mass ratio from the collateral chamber to the processing chamber.
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22. The plasma reactor of claim 1 wherein the filter comprises at least one of:
- a conduit, a neutralizing grid, a biased grid, a magnet, or a quadrupole.
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23. The plasma reactor of claim 1 wherein the collateral chamber comprises at least one of:
- a microwave discharge apparatus, an inductive discharge apparatus, or a capacitive discharge apparatus.
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24. The plasma reactor of claim 23 wherein the processing chamber source power applicator comprises an inductive coil antenna.
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Specification