Detecting a process endpoint from a change in reflectivity
First Claim
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1. A substrate processing apparatus comprising:
- a process chamber capable of processing a substrate comprising a first material formed as a layer covering a plug and having a first reflectivity coefficient, and a second material about the plug that has a second reflectivity coefficient;
a radiation source capable of emitting radiation that is reflected from the substrate during processing;
a radiation detector to detect the reflected radiation and generate a signal trace; and
a controller adapted to receive the signal trace and determine (i) an endpoint of processing the layer of first material and a startpoint of processing the plug of the first material from a change in the signal trace that is distinctive of an exposure of the plug of the first material and the second material having the second different reflectivity coefficient, and (ii) a depth of etching into the plug from periodic variations of the signal trace that correspond to maxima and minima interference peaks of the reflected radiation.
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Abstract
A substrate processing apparatus comprises a process chamber capable of processing a first material on the substrate. A radiation source is capable of emitting radiation that is reflected from the substrate during processing. A radiation detector is provided to detect the reflected radiation and generate a signal trace. A controller is adapted to receive the signal trace and evaluate an endpoint of processing the first material from a change in the signal trace that is distinctive of an exposure of a second material having a different reflectivity coefficient than the first material.
69 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A substrate processing apparatus comprising:
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a process chamber capable of processing a substrate comprising a first material formed as a layer covering a plug and having a first reflectivity coefficient, and a second material about the plug that has a second reflectivity coefficient;
a radiation source capable of emitting radiation that is reflected from the substrate during processing;
a radiation detector to detect the reflected radiation and generate a signal trace; and
a controller adapted to receive the signal trace and determine (i) an endpoint of processing the layer of first material and a startpoint of processing the plug of the first material from a change in the signal trace that is distinctive of an exposure of the plug of the first material and the second material having the second different reflectivity coefficient, and (ii) a depth of etching into the plug from periodic variations of the signal trace that correspond to maxima and minima interference peaks of the reflected radiation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 29, 33)
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9. A substrate processing apparatus comprising:
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(a) a chamber capable of processing a substrate comprising a first material formed as a layer covering a plug and having a first reflectivity coefficient, and a second material about the plug that has a second reflectivity coefficient;
(b) a radiation source capable of emitting non-polarized radiation that is reflected from the substrate during processing;
(c) a radiation detector to detect the reflected radiation and generate a signal trace; and
(d) a computer having a memory capable of operating a computer-readable program embodied on a computer-readable medium, the computer readable program including program code to receive the signal trace and detect (i) an endpoint of processing the layer of first material and a startpoint of processing the plug of first material from a change in the signal trace that is distinctive of exposure of the plug of the first material and the second material having the second reflectivity coefficient, and (ii) a depth of etching into the plug from periodic variations of the signal trace that correspond to maxima and minima interference peaks of the reflected radiation. - View Dependent Claims (10, 34)
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11. A method of processing a substrate in a process zone, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) placing the substrate in the process zone, the substrate comprising a first material formed as a layer covering a plug and having a first reflectivity coefficient, and a second material about the plug that has a second reflectivity coefficient;
(b) setting process conditions in the process zone to process the first material on the substrate;
(c) detecting radiation reflected from the substrate during processing and generating a signal trace; and
(d) determining (i) an endpoint of processing the layer of the first material and a startpoint of processing the plug from a change in intensity of reflected radiation that is distinctive of exposure of the plug of the first material and the second material having the second different reflectivity coefficient, and (ii) a depth of etching into the plug from periodic variations of the signal trace that correspond to maxima and minima interference peaks of the reflected radiation. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 30)
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16. A substrate processing apparatus comprising:
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a process chamber capable of sustaining a plasma to process a first material on the substrate;
a first radiation detector to detect a radiation emission from the plasma and generate a first signal;
a second radiation detector to detect a reflected radiation from the substrate and generate a second signal; and
a controller adapted to receive the first and second signals and determine an endpoint of processing of the first material on the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 31)
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21. A substrate processing apparatus comprising:
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a process chamber capable of sustaining a plasma to process a first material on the substrate;
a first radiation detector to detect a radiation emission from the plasma and generate a first signal;
a second radiation detector to detect a reflected radiation from the substrate and generate a second signal; and
a computer having a memory capable of operating a computer-readable program embodied on a computer-readable medium, the computer readable program including program code to receive the first and second signals and determine an endpoint of processing the first material on the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (22, 32)
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23. A method of processing a substrate in a process zone, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) placing the substrate in the process zone;
(b) forming a plasma of process gas in the process zone to process a first material on the substrate;
(c) detecting radiation emitted by the plasma;
(d) detecting radiation reflected from the substrate; and
(e) determining an endpoint of processing the material from a change in the radiation emitted by the plasma and a change in the radiation reflected from the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification