Methods and systems for advanced ion control for etching processes
First Claim
1. A method for plasma etching of a target material in semiconductor device fabrication, comprising:
- (a) disposing a substrate on a substrate holder within a process module, wherein the substrate includes a mask material overlying a target material with at least one portion of the target material exposed through an opening in the mask material;
(b) generating a plasma in exposure to the substrate;
(c) for a first duration, applying a bias voltage at the substrate holder at a first bias voltage setting corresponding to a high bias voltage level and supplying a lower primary coil power to generate the plasma in exposure to the substrate;
(d) for a second duration, after completion of the first duration, applying a bias voltage at the substrate holder at a second bias voltage setting corresponding to a low bias voltage level and supplying a higher primary coil power to generate the plasma in exposure to the substrate, wherein the second bias voltage setting is greater than 0 V, and wherein the second bias voltage setting is sufficiently low to avoid ion-induced removal of the mask material; and
(e) repeating operations (c) and (d) in an alternating and successive manner for an overall period of time necessary to remove a required amount of the target material exposed on the substrate, such that when the bias voltage transitions from the low bias voltage level to the high bias voltage level, the higher primary coil power also transitions to the lower primary coil power.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A substrate is disposed on a substrate holder within a process module. The substrate includes a mask material overlying a target material with at least one portion of the target material exposed through an opening in the mask material. A plasma is generated in exposure to the substrate. For a first duration, a bias voltage is applied at the substrate holder at a first bias voltage setting corresponding to a high bias voltage level. For a second duration, after completion of the first duration, a bias voltage is applied at the substrate holder at a second bias voltage setting corresponding to a low bias voltage level. The second bias voltage setting is greater than 0 V. The first and second durations are repeated in an alternating and successive manner for an overall period of time necessary to remove a required amount of the target material exposed on the substrate.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for plasma etching of a target material in semiconductor device fabrication, comprising:
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(a) disposing a substrate on a substrate holder within a process module, wherein the substrate includes a mask material overlying a target material with at least one portion of the target material exposed through an opening in the mask material; (b) generating a plasma in exposure to the substrate; (c) for a first duration, applying a bias voltage at the substrate holder at a first bias voltage setting corresponding to a high bias voltage level and supplying a lower primary coil power to generate the plasma in exposure to the substrate; (d) for a second duration, after completion of the first duration, applying a bias voltage at the substrate holder at a second bias voltage setting corresponding to a low bias voltage level and supplying a higher primary coil power to generate the plasma in exposure to the substrate, wherein the second bias voltage setting is greater than 0 V, and wherein the second bias voltage setting is sufficiently low to avoid ion-induced removal of the mask material; and (e) repeating operations (c) and (d) in an alternating and successive manner for an overall period of time necessary to remove a required amount of the target material exposed on the substrate, such that when the bias voltage transitions from the low bias voltage level to the high bias voltage level, the higher primary coil power also transitions to the lower primary coil power. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for plasma etching of a target material in semiconductor device fabrication, comprising:
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(a) disposing a substrate on a substrate holder within a process module, wherein the substrate includes a mask material overlying a target material with at least one portion of the target material exposed through an opening in the mask material; (b) generating a plasma in exposure to the substrate; (c) for a first duration, applying a bias voltage at the substrate holder at a first bias voltage setting corresponding to a high bias voltage level and supplying a lower primary coil power to generate the plasma in exposure to the substrate; (d) for a second duration, after completion of the first duration, applying a bias voltage at the substrate holder at a second bias voltage setting corresponding to a low bias voltage level and supplying a higher primary coil power to generate the plasma in exposure to the substrate, wherein the second bias voltage setting is greater than 0 V, and wherein the second bias voltage setting is sufficiently low to avoid ion-induced removal of the mask material; (e) for a third duration, after completion of the second duration, applying zero bias voltage at the substrate holder and supplying an amount of primary coil power to generate the plasma in exposure to the substrate; and (f) repeating operations (c), (d), and (e) in a successive manner for an overall period of time necessary to remove a required amount of the target material exposed on the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification