In situ monitoring of wafer charge distribution in plasma processing
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A processing system, comprising:
- a processing tool;
an electrostatic chuck (ESC) arranged within the processing tool; and
a system that;
detects an ESC bias spike and an ESC current spike of the ESC; and
determines when an ESC bias voltage is zero or exceeds a threshold value, whereinthe processing tool comprises a plasma processing apparatus,the processing system is a wafer processing system,the processing system;
measures at least one of ESC voltage, ESC current, and ESC bias of a wafer,is structured and arranged to detect the ESC bias spike and the ESC current spike during processing, and compares at least one of;
the ESC bias spike and/or the ESC current spike to predetermined values or ranges and determines when a statistical process control violation has occurred, andthe ESC bias voltage to zero or the threshold value and determines when a statistical process control violation has occurred,evaluates at least one of;
the ESC bias spike, the ESC bias voltage and the ESC current spike, and determines when a statistical process control violation has occurred, and diverts production away from the processing tool when the statistical process control violation has occurred and identifies the processing tool as requiring inspection, maintenance, and/or repair.
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Abstract
A processing system and method. The processing system includes a processing tool, an electrostatic chuck (ESC) arranged within the processing tool, and a system that at least one of detects at least one of an ESC bias spike and an ESC current spike of the ESC and determines when an ESC bias voltage is zero or exceeds a threshold value. The method includes at least one of detecting at least one of an ESC bias spike and an ESC current spike of the ESC, and determining when an ESC bias voltage is zero or exceeds a threshold value. The system and method can be used in real time ESC and plasma processing diagnostics to minimize yield loss and wafer scrap.
26 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A processing system, comprising:
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a processing tool; an electrostatic chuck (ESC) arranged within the processing tool; and a system that; detects an ESC bias spike and an ESC current spike of the ESC; and determines when an ESC bias voltage is zero or exceeds a threshold value, wherein the processing tool comprises a plasma processing apparatus, the processing system is a wafer processing system, the processing system; measures at least one of ESC voltage, ESC current, and ESC bias of a wafer, is structured and arranged to detect the ESC bias spike and the ESC current spike during processing, and compares at least one of; the ESC bias spike and/or the ESC current spike to predetermined values or ranges and determines when a statistical process control violation has occurred, and the ESC bias voltage to zero or the threshold value and determines when a statistical process control violation has occurred, evaluates at least one of;
the ESC bias spike, the ESC bias voltage and the ESC current spike, and determines when a statistical process control violation has occurred, and diverts production away from the processing tool when the statistical process control violation has occurred and identifies the processing tool as requiring inspection, maintenance, and/or repair.
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2. A method of processing wafers in a processing tool comprising an electrostatic chuck (ESC), the method comprising:
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at least one of; detecting an ESC bias spike and an ESC current spike of the ESC; and determining when an ESC bias voltage is zero or exceeds a threshold value; comparing the ESC bias voltage to zero or the threshold value; evaluating at least one of ESC bias voltage, the ESC bias spike and the ESC current spike; determining when a statistical process control violation has occurred; diverting production away from the processing tool when the statistical process control violation has occurred; and identifying the processing tool as requiring inspection, maintenance, and/or repair.
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3. A processing system, comprising:
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a processing tool; an electrostatic chuck (ESC) arranged within the processing tool; and a system that at least one of; detects an ESC bias spike and/or an ESC current spike of the ESC; and determines when an ESC bias voltage is zero or exceeds a threshold value, wherein the system compares the ESC bias spike and/or the ESC current spike to predetermined values or ranges and determines when a statistical process control violation has occurred and diverts production away from the processing tool when the statistical process control violation has occurred. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A processing system, comprising:
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a processing tool; an electrostatic chuck (ESC) arranged within the processing tool; and a system that determines when an ESC bias voltage of the ESC and/or of a wafer arranged on the ESC is zero or exceeds a threshold value, wherein the system compares the ESC bias spike and/or the ESC current spike to predetermined values or ranges and determines when a statistical process control violation has occurred. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A processing system, comprising:
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a processing tool; an electrostatic chuck (ESC) arranged within the processing tool; and a system that detects at least one of an ESC current spike and an ESC bias spike of at least one of a wafer and the ESC, and determines when an ESC bias voltage is zero or exceeds a threshold value.
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24. A method of processing wafers in a processing tool comprising an electrostatic chuck (ESC), the method comprising:
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at least one of; detecting an ESC bias spike and/or an ESC current spike of the ESC; and determining when an ESC bias voltage is zero or exceeds a threshold value; and evaluating the ESC bias voltage; determining when a statistical process control violation has occurred; and diverting production away from the processing tool when the statistical process control violation has occurred. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification