Plasma reactor with overhead RF electrode tuned to the plasma
First Claim
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1. A plasma reactor for processing a semiconductor workpiece, comprising:
- a reactor chamber having a chamber wall and containing a workpiece support for holding the semiconductor workpiece;
an overhead electrode overlying said workpiece support;
an RE power generator for supplying power at a VHF frequency;
a fixed impedance match element coupled to said RF power generator and said overhead electrode;
a bias power generator; and
, an impedance match circuit coupled to said bias power generator and said wafer support.
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Abstract
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a plasma reactor has a capacitive electrode driven by an RF power source, and the electrode capacitance is matched at the desired plasma density and RF source frequency to the negative capacitance of the plasma, to provide an electrode plasma resonance supportive of a broad process window within which the plasma may be sustained.
113 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A plasma reactor for processing a semiconductor workpiece, comprising:
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a reactor chamber having a chamber wall and containing a workpiece support for holding the semiconductor workpiece;
an overhead electrode overlying said workpiece support;
an RE power generator for supplying power at a VHF frequency;
a fixed impedance match element coupled to said RF power generator and said overhead electrode;
a bias power generator; and
,an impedance match circuit coupled to said bias power generator and said wafer support. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A plasma reactor for processing a semiconductor workpiece, comprising:
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a reactor chamber having a chamber wall and containing a workpiece support for holding the semiconductor workpiece;
an overhead electrode overlying said workpiece support;
an RF power generator for supplying power at a VHF frequency to said overhead electrode;
a bias power generator;
an impedance match circuit coupled to said bias power generator and to said wafer support;
a semiconductive annular ring surrounding the periphery of said wafer, said ring extending an effective return electrode area presented to VHF power coupled into said chamber from said overhead electrode; and
an insulating annulus supporting said ring and electrically insulating said ring from said chamber wall, the dielectric constant of said ring determining apportionment of VHF power return current between said workpiece support and said semiconductor ring. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A plasma reactor for processing a semiconductor workpiece, comprising:
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a reactor chamber having a chamber wall and containing a workpiece support for holding the semiconductor workpiece;
an overhead electrode overlying said workpiece support;
an RF power generator;
a fixed impedance match element coupled to said RF power generator and said overhead electrode;
a bias power generator; and
,an impedance match circuit coupled to said bias power generator and said wafer support. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification