Tokyo Electron Limited

Martin Kent

Eric J Strang

Jay R Wallace

Thomas Hamelin

Arthur H Laflamme, Jr

Stephen N Golovato

Abron S Toure

A dry non-plasma treatment system for removing material is described. The treatment system is configured to provide chemical treatment of one or more substrates, wherein each substrate is exposed to a gaseous chemistry under controlled conditions including surface temperature and gas pressure. Furthermore, the treatment system is configured to provide thermal treatment of each substrate, wherein each substrate is thermally treated to remove the chemically treated surfaces on each substrate.

Dry non-plasma treatment system

A dry non-plasma treatment system and method for removing oxide material is described. The treatment system is configured to provide chemical treatment of one or more substrates, wherein each substrate is exposed to a gaseous chemistry under controlled conditions including surface temperature and gas pressure. Furthermore, the treatment system is configured to provide thermal treatment of each substrate, wherein each substrate is thermally treated to remove the chemically treated surfaces on each substrate.

Dry non-plasma treatment system and method of using

A dry non-plasma treatment system and method for removing oxide material is described. The treatment system is configured to provide chemical treatment of one or more substrates, wherein each substrate is exposed to a gaseous chemistry, including HF and optionally NH, under controlled conditions including surface temperature and gas pressure. Furthermore, the treatment system is configured to provide thermal treatment of each substrate, wherein each substrate is thermally treated to remove the chemically treated surfaces on each substrate.

A processing system and method for chemical oxide removal, wherein the processing system includes a process chamber having a lower chamber portion configured to chemically treat a substrate and an upper chamber portion configured to thermally treat the substrate, and a substrate lifting assembly configured to transport the substrate between the lower chamber portion and the upper chamber portion. The lower chamber portion includes a chemical treatment environment that provides a temperature controlled substrate holder for supporting the substrate for chemical treatment. The substrate is exposed to a gaseous chemistry, such as HF/NH, under controlled conditions including surface temperature and gas pressure. The upper chamber portion includes a thermal treatment environment that provides a heating assembly configured to elevate the temperature of the substrate.

Processing system and method for treating a substrate

An electrical coupling is provided between chamber parts of electronic device processing equipment (e.g., equipment used for processing semiconductor wafers) to reduce differences in the electrical potential between such parts. The coupling prevents or at least reduces the presence of plasma or excited gases in undesired regions of the process chamber. In illustrated embodiments, the coupling extends from a cover of a vertically movable electrode assembly to the liner of the chamber wall. Although these parts are each respectively coupled to ground, it is believed that differences in the ground path impedances result in these parts having different electrical potentials, and the potential differences can cause plasma or excited gases to be present in undesirable regions of the chamber. These electrical potential differences are suppressed by electrically coupling the parts to thereby prevent or reduce the presence of plasma or excited gases in undesired regions of the chamber. Although in the illustrated embodiments the cover of the electrode assembly is coupled to the chamber liner, the coupling could be utilized to suppress potential differences between other chamber parts.

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Andover, MA, United States of America

Martin Kent