Method and apparatus for an improved upper electrode plate with deposition shield in a plasma processing system
First Claim
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1. An upper electrode assembly for a plasma processing system, comprising:
- an electrode plate comprising a first surface for coupling said upper electrode to an upper assembly, a second surface comprising a plasma surface and a mating surface for mating said electrode plate with said plasma processing system, a peripheral edge, and a plurality of gas injection orifices coupled to said first surface and said second surface;
a deposition shield attached said electrode plate, said deposition shield comprising a cylindrical wall having an inner surface contiguous with said plasma surface, an outer surface contiguous with said mating surface, and a distal end surface, wherein said distal end surface comprises;
a distal end mating surface extending radially inward from said outer surface, anda protrusion adjacent to said inner surface and protruding from said distal end mating surface, said protrusion having a distal end lip surface thereon; and
a protective barrier provided on exposed surfaces of said upper electrode assembly, said exposed surfaces comprising said plasma surface, said inner surface, and said distal end lip surface.
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Abstract
The present invention presents an improved upper electrode for a plasma processing system, wherein the design and fabrication of an electrode plate with a deposition shield coupled to the upper electrode advantageously provides gas injection of a process gas with substantially minimal erosion of the upper electrode while providing protection to a chamber interior.
188 Citations
78 Claims
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1. An upper electrode assembly for a plasma processing system, comprising:
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an electrode plate comprising a first surface for coupling said upper electrode to an upper assembly, a second surface comprising a plasma surface and a mating surface for mating said electrode plate with said plasma processing system, a peripheral edge, and a plurality of gas injection orifices coupled to said first surface and said second surface; a deposition shield attached said electrode plate, said deposition shield comprising a cylindrical wall having an inner surface contiguous with said plasma surface, an outer surface contiguous with said mating surface, and a distal end surface, wherein said distal end surface comprises; a distal end mating surface extending radially inward from said outer surface, and a protrusion adjacent to said inner surface and protruding from said distal end mating surface, said protrusion having a distal end lip surface thereon; and a protective barrier provided on exposed surfaces of said upper electrode assembly, said exposed surfaces comprising said plasma surface, said inner surface, and said distal end lip surface. - 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, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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24. An upper electrode assembly for a plasma processing chamber comprising:
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a cylindrical element having a first surface, a mating surface, a peripheral edge coupled to said first surface and said mating surface, an outer surface coupled to said mating surface, an inner surface coupled to said outer surface by a distal end surface, and a plasma surface coupled to said inner surface, wherein; said first surface comprises a coupling surface for coupling said upper electrode to said plasma processing chamber and a plenum cavity formed in said first surface and said distal end surface comprises a first surface extending radially inward from said outer surface, and a protrusion adjacent to said inner surface and protruding from said first surface, said protrusion having a distal end lip surface thereon, and said cylindrical element further comprising a plurality of gas injection orifices coupled to said plenum cavity and said plasma surface; and a protective barrier coupled to exposed surfaces of said upper electrode, said exposed surfaces comprising said plasma surface, said inner surface, and said distal end lip surface. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 77)
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65. An upper electrode assembly for a plasma processing system comprising:
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an electrode plate comprising a first surface for coupling said upper electrode assembly to an upper assembly, a second surface comprising a plasma surface and a mating surface for mating said electrode plate with said plasma processing system, a peripheral edge, and a plurality of gas injection orifices coupled to said first surface and said second surface; a deposition shield attached to said electrode plate, said deposition shield comprising a cylindrical wall having an inner surface contiguous with said plasma surface, an outer surface contiguous with said mating surface, a distal end surface, and an opening formed in said cylindrical wall and having an opening surface extending from said inner surface to said outer surface; and a protective barrier provided on said plasma surface, said inner surface, and only a portion of said opening surface, wherein said opening surface comprises; a first opening surface extending radially inward from said outer surface, a second opening surface extending radially outward from said inner surface, a mating surface coupling said first opening surface to said second opening surface, at least one tapped hole in said mating surface, and a fastening surface coupled to said at least one tapped through-hole. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 75, 76, 78)
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72. An upper electrode assembly for a plasma processing system comprising:
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an electrode plate comprising a first surface for coupling said upper electrode assembly to an upper assembly, a second surface comprising a plasma surface and a mating surface for mating said electrode plate with said plasma processing system, a peripheral edge, and a plurality of gas injection orifices coupled to said first surface and said second surface; a deposition shield attached to said electrode plate, said deposition shield comprising a cylindrical wall having an inner surface contiguous with said plasma surface, an outer surface contiguous with said mating surface, a distal end surface, and an opening formed in said cylindrical wall and having an opening surface extending from said inner surface to said outer surface; and a protective barrier provided on said plasma surface, said inner surface, and only a portion of said opening surface, wherein said distal end surface comprises; a distal end mating surface extending radially inward from said outer surface, and a protrusion adjacent to said inner surface and protruding from said distal end mating surface, said protrusion having a distal end lip surface thereon. - View Dependent Claims (73, 74)
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Specification