Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.

Mst Technology Gmbh

Jeffrey W Neuner

Frank DiMeo, Jr

Ing-Shin Barry Chen

Philip S H Chen

James J Welch

Jeffrey F Roeder

Thomas H Baum

Mackenzie E King

Michele Stawasz

Jose I Arno

W Karl Olander

Robert E Kaim

James A Dietz

Steven E Bishop

Bryan Clark Hendrix

Joseph D Sweeney

Oleg Byl

Sharad N Yedave

Gregory T Stauf

Richard Kramer

Paul J Marganski

David James Eldridge

Michele Stawacz

A method and apparatus for cleaning residue from components of semiconductor processing systems used in the fabrication of microelectronic devices. To effectively remove residue, the components are contacted with a gas-phase reactive material for sufficient time and under sufficient conditions to at least partially remove the residue. When the residue and the material from which the components are constructed are different, the gas-phase reactive material is selectively reactive with the residue and minimally reactive with the materials from which the components of the ion implanter are constructed. When the residue and the material from which the components are constructed is the same, then the gas-phase reactive material may be reactive with both the residue and the component part. Particularly preferred gas-phase reactive materials utilized comprise gaseous compounds such as XeF, XeF, XeF, NF, IF, IF, SF, CF, F, CF, KrF, Cl, HCl, ClF, ClO, NF, NF, NF, NFH, NHF, HOBr, Br, CF, CF, CF, CHF, CHF, CHF, COF, HF, CHF, CHF, CHF, CHF, CHF, CF, and organochlorides such as COCl, CCl, CHCl, CHCland CHCl.

Cleaning of semiconductor processing systems

A gas detector and process for detecting a fluorine-containing species in a gas containing same, e.g., an effluent of a semiconductor processing tool undergoing etch cleaning with HF, NF, etc. The detector in a preferred structural arrangement employs a microelectromechanical system (MEMS)-based device structure and/or a free-standing metal element that functions as a sensing component and optionally as a heat source when elevated temperature sensing is required. The free-standing metal element can be fabricated directly onto a standard chip carrier/device package so that the package becomes a platform of the detector.

Apparatus and process for sensing fluoro species in semiconductor processing systems

A method and apparatus for cleaning residue from components of an ion source region of an ion implanter used in the fabrication of microelectronic devices. To effectively remove residue, the components are contacted with a gas-phase reactive halide composition for sufficient time and under sufficient conditions to at least partially remove the residue. The gas-phase reactive halide composition is chosen to react selectively with the residue, while not reacting with the components of the ion source region or the vacuum chamber.

Methods for cleaning ion implanter components

A system and method for controlling electrical heating of an element to maintain a constant electrical resistance, by adjusting electrical power supplied to such element according to an adaptive feedback control algorithm, in which all the parameters are (1) arbitrarily selected; (2) pre-determined by the physical properties of the controlled element; or (3) measured in real time. Unlike the conventional proportion-integral-derivative (PID) control mechanism, the system and method of the present invention do not require re-tuning of proportionality constants when used in connection with a different controlled element or under different operating conditions, and are therefore adaptive to changes in the controlled element and the operating conditions.

Feedback control system and method for maintaining constant resistance operation of electrically heated elements

A sensor with an attenuated drift characteristic, including a layer structure in which a sensing layer has a layer of diffusional barrier material on at least one of its faces. The sensor may for example be constituted as a hydrogen gas sensor including a palladium/yttrium layer structure formed on a micro-hotplate base, with a chromium barrier layer between the yttrium layer and the micro-hotplate, and with a tantalum barrier layer between the yttrium layer and an overlying palladium protective layer. The gas sensor is useful for detection of a target gas in environments susceptible to generation or incursion of such gas, and achieves substantial (e.g., &#x3e;90%) reduction of signal drift from the gas sensor in extended operation, relative to a corresponding gas sensor lacking the diffusional barrier structure of the invention.

Gas sensor with attenuated drift characteristic

A (MEMS)-based gas sensor assembly for detecting a fluorine-containing species in a gas containing same, e.g., an effluent of a semiconductor processing tool undergoing etch cleaning with HF, NF, etc. Such gas sensor assembly in a preferred embodiment comprises a free-standing silicon carbide support structure having a layer of a gas sensing material, preferably nickel or nickel alloy, coated thereon. Such gas sensor assembly is preferably fabricated by micro-molding techniques employing sacrificial molds that are subsequently removable for forming structure layers.

Nickel-coated free-standing silicon carbide structure for sensing fluoro or halogen species in semiconductor processing systems, and processes of making and using same

A gas detector for detecting a fluoro gas species in a gaseous environment containing same, e.g., an effluent from a semiconductor processing tool that employs corrosive fluoro species such as HF, NF, etc. for etch cleaning. The gas detector preferably employs an elongated nickel-containing gas sensor element that can be vertically mounted on a fluoro-resistant support structure. Since the nickel-containing gas sensor element is sensitive to the fluoro species and is also electrically conductive, it can function both as a sensing component and a heat source when elevated temperature sensing is required. Vertical mounting of such elongated gas sensor element on the support structure significantly improves the signal strength, reduces the response time, minimizes the footprint of the gas detector, and provides structural flexibility for accommodating thermal expansion/contraction of the elongated gas sensor element.

Apparatus and process for sensing target gas species in semiconductor processing systems

The present invention relates to a system and method for controlling electrical heating of an element to maintain a constant electrical resistance, by adjusting electrical power supplied to such element according to an adaptive feedback control algorithm, in which all the parameters are (1) arbitrarily selected; (2) pre-determined by the physical properties of the controlled element; or (3) measured in real time. Unlike the conventional proportion-integral-derivative (PID) control mechanism, the system and method of the present invention do not require re-tuning of proportionality constants when used in connection with a different controlled element or under different operating conditions, and are therefore adaptive to changes in the controlled element and the operating conditions.

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Bethel, CT, United States of America

Jeffrey W Neuner