RF impedance matching network
First Claim
1. An RF impedance matching network comprising:
- an RF input configured to operably couple to an RF source, the RF source having a fixed RF source impedance;
an RF output configured to operably couple to a plasma chamber, the plasma chamber having a variable plasma impedance;
a first electronically variable capacitor (“
first EVC”
) having a first variable capacitance, the first EVC electrically coupled between the RF input and the RF output;
a second electronically variable capacitor (“
second EVC”
) having a second variable capacitance, the second EVC electrically coupled between a ground and one of the RF input and the RF output;
an RF input sensor operably coupled to the RF input, the RF input sensor configured to detect an RF input parameter at the RF input; and
a control circuit operatively coupled to the first EVC and to the second EVC to control the first variable capacitance and the second variable capacitance, wherein the control circuit is configured to;
determine an input impedance at the RF input, the input impedance determination based on the RF input parameter;
calculate the plasma impedance based on the RF input impedance;
determine a first capacitance value for the first variable capacitance and a second capacitance value for the second variable capacitance, the determination of the first capacitance value and the second capacitance value based on the calculated plasma impedance and the RF source impedance; and
generate a control signal to alter at least one of the first variable capacitance and the second variable capacitance to the first capacitance value and the second capacitance value, respectively.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An RF impedance matching network includes an RF input configured to operably couple to an RF source, the RF source having a fixed RF source impedance; an RF output configured to operably couple to a plasma chamber, the plasma chamber having a variable plasma impedance; a series EVC; a shunt EVC; an RF input sensor; and a control circuit configured to: determine an input impedance; determine the plasma impedance; determine a first capacitance value for the series variable capacitance and a second capacitance value for the shunt variable capacitance, the determination of the first capacitance value and the second capacitance value based on the plasma impedance and the RF source impedance; generate a control signal to alter at least one of the series variable capacitance and the shunt variable capacitance to the first capacitance value and the second capacitance value, respectively.
216 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An RF impedance matching network comprising:
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an RF input configured to operably couple to an RF source, the RF source having a fixed RF source impedance; an RF output configured to operably couple to a plasma chamber, the plasma chamber having a variable plasma impedance; a first electronically variable capacitor (“
first EVC”
) having a first variable capacitance, the first EVC electrically coupled between the RF input and the RF output;a second electronically variable capacitor (“
second EVC”
) having a second variable capacitance, the second EVC electrically coupled between a ground and one of the RF input and the RF output;an RF input sensor operably coupled to the RF input, the RF input sensor configured to detect an RF input parameter at the RF input; and a control circuit operatively coupled to the first EVC and to the second EVC to control the first variable capacitance and the second variable capacitance, wherein the control circuit is configured to; determine an input impedance at the RF input, the input impedance determination based on the RF input parameter; calculate the plasma impedance based on the RF input impedance; determine a first capacitance value for the first variable capacitance and a second capacitance value for the second variable capacitance, the determination of the first capacitance value and the second capacitance value based on the calculated plasma impedance and the RF source impedance; and generate a control signal to alter at least one of the first variable capacitance and the second variable capacitance to the first capacitance value and the second capacitance value, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of matching an impedance comprising:
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operably coupling an RF input to an RF source, the RF source having a fixed RF source impedance; operably coupling an RF output to a plasma chamber, the plasma chamber having a variable plasma impedance; operably coupling a first electronically variable capacitor (“
first EVC”
) between the RF input and the RF output, the first EVC having a first variable capacitance;operably coupling a second electronically variable capacitor (“
second EVC”
) between the RF input and the RF output, the second EVC having a second variable capacitance;operably coupling an RF input sensor to the RF input, the RF input sensor configured to detect an RF input parameter at the RF input; and determining an input impedance at the RF input, the input impedance determination based on the RF input parameter; calculating the plasma impedance based on the RF input impedance; determining a first capacitance value for the first variable capacitance and a second capacitance value for the second variable capacitance, the determination of the first capacitance value and the second capacitance value based on the calculated plasma impedance and the RF source impedance; and altering at least one of the first variable capacitance and the second variable capacitance to the first capacitance value and the second capacitance value, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor comprising:
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placing a substrate in a plasma chamber configured to deposit a material layer onto the substrate or etch a material layer from the substrate; and energizing plasma within the plasma chamber by coupling RF power from an RF source into the plasma chamber to perform a deposition or etching, and while energizing the plasma; providing an RF matching network between the plasma chamber and the RF source, the RF matching network comprising; an RF input; an RF output; a first electronically variable capacitor (“
first EVC”
) having a first variable capacitance, the first EVC electrically coupled between the RF input and the RF output; anda second electronically variable capacitor (“
second EVC”
) having a second variable capacitance, the second EVC electrically coupled between the RF input and the RF output;operably coupling the RF input to the RF source, the RF source having a fixed RF source impedance; operably coupling the RF output to a plasma chamber, the plasma chamber having a variable plasma impedance; operably coupling an RF input sensor to the RF input, the RF input sensor configured to detect a RF input parameter at the RF input; and determining an input impedance at the RF input, the input impedance determination based on the RF input parameter; calculating the plasma impedance based on the RF input impedance; determining a first capacitance value for the first variable capacitance and a second capacitance value for the second variable capacitance, the determination of the first capacitance value and the second capacitance value based on the calculated plasma impedance and the RF source impedance; and altering at least one of the first variable capacitance and the second variable capacitance to the first capacitance value and the second capacitance value, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification