Method of and apparatus for tunable gas injection in a plasma processing system
First Claim
1. A gas injection manifold apparatus for adjustably controlling the flow of gas into a vacuum chamber, comprising a plurality of adjustable nozzle units arranged in the chamber, wherein each nozzle unit has a through bore and comprises a translatable nozzle plug movably arranged within the through bore so as to alter the flow of gas through the bore and into the chamber when said nozzle plug is translated within said through bore.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of and apparatus for providing tunable gas injection in a plasma processing system (10, 10′). The apparatus includes a gas injection manifold (50) having a pressurizable plenum (150) and an array of adjustable nozzle units (250), or an array of non-adjustable nozzles (502, 602), through which gas from the plenum can flow into the interior region (40) of a plasma reactor chamber (14) capable of containing a plasma (41). The adjustable nozzle units include a nozzle plug (160) arranged within a nozzle bore (166). A variety of different nozzle units are disclosed. The nozzle plugs are axially translatable to adjust the flow of gas therethrough. In one embodiment, the nozzle plugs are attached to a plug plate (154), which is displacable relative to an injection plate (124) via displacement actuators (170) connecting the two plates. The displacement actuators are controlled by a displacement actuator control unit (180), which is in electronic communication with a plasma processing system control unit (80). The gas flow into the chamber interior region is preferably controlled by monitoring the pressure in the plenum and in the chamber and adjusting the nozzle units accordingly. Where the nozzle units are not adjustable, a portion of the nozzles are sized to a first flow condition, and another portion of the nozzles are sized to a second flow condition.
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Citations
49 Claims
- 1. A gas injection manifold apparatus for adjustably controlling the flow of gas into a vacuum chamber, comprising a plurality of adjustable nozzle units arranged in the chamber, wherein each nozzle unit has a through bore and comprises a translatable nozzle plug movably arranged within the through bore so as to alter the flow of gas through the bore and into the chamber when said nozzle plug is translated within said through bore.
Specification