MERIE plasma reactor with overhead RF electrode tuned to the plasma with arcing suppression
First Claim
1. A plasma reactor for processing a semiconductor workpiece, comprising:
- a reactor chamber having a chamber wall;
a workpiece support within said chamber for holding the semiconductor workpiece;
an overhead electrode overlying said workpiece support;
a VHF power generator of RF power at a VHF frequency, said VHF power generator being coupled between said workpiece support and said overhead electrode; and
a fixed impedance match element comprising;
a larger area ground conductor coupled to a return terminal of said VHF power generator and having a cylindrical portion terminated on said chamber wall;
a generally elongate smaller area RF conductor adjacent and spaced from said larger area ground conductor and terminated on said overhead electrode;
an RF tap at a location on said generally elongate smaller area RF conductor, said location corresponding to at least a near match between an output impedance of said VHF power generator and a characteristic impedance of said fixed impedance match element, said RF tap comprising a coupling between an RF output terminal of said VHF power generator and said generally elongate smaller area RF conductor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A plasma reactor for processing a semiconductor workpiece, includes reactor chamber having a chamber wall and containing a workpiece support for holding the semiconductor support, the electrode comprising a portion of the chamber wall, an RF power generator for supplying power at a frequency of the generator to the overhead electrode and capable of maintaining a plasma within the chamber at a desired plasma ion density level. The overhead electrode has a capacitance such that the overhead electrode and the plasma formed in the chamber at the desired plasma ion density resonate together at an electrode-plasma resonant frequency, the frequency of the generator being at least near the electrode-plasma resonant frequency. The reactor further includes a set of MERIE magnets surrounding the plasma process area overlying the wafer surface that produce a slowly circulating magnetic field which stirs the plasma to improve plasma ion density distribution uniformity.
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Citations
35 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;
a workpiece support within said chamber for holding the semiconductor workpiece;
an overhead electrode overlying said workpiece support;
a VHF power generator of RF power at a VHF frequency, said VHF power generator being coupled between said workpiece support and said overhead electrode; and
a fixed impedance match element comprising;
a larger area ground conductor coupled to a return terminal of said VHF power generator and having a cylindrical portion terminated on said chamber wall;
a generally elongate smaller area RF conductor adjacent and spaced from said larger area ground conductor and terminated on said overhead electrode;
an RF tap at a location on said generally elongate smaller area RF conductor, said location corresponding to at least a near match between an output impedance of said VHF power generator and a characteristic impedance of said fixed impedance match element, said RF tap comprising a coupling between an RF output terminal of said VHF power generator and said generally elongate smaller area RF conductor. - 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, 25)
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26. A plasma reactor for processing a semiconductor workpiece, comprising:
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a reactor chamber having a chamber wall;
a workpiece support within said chamber for holding the semiconductor workpiece;
an overhead electrode overlying said workpiece support;
a first RF power generator for producing RF power at a first frequency and having an output terminal coupled to said overhead electrode;
a second RF power generator for producing RF power at a second frequency different from said first frequency and having an output terminal coupled to said workpiece support pedestal;
a magnetic field generator for producing a rotating magnetic field in said reactor chamber that rotates over time across a top surface of said workpiece. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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- 29. The reactor of claim 29 wherein a return terminal of said second RF power generator is coupled to said overhead electrode.
Specification