Lam Research Corporation

Noah Elliot Baker

Yukinori Sakiyama

Karl Frederick Leeser

Sunil Kapoor

Liang Meng

Niraj Rana

Various embodiments herein relate to apparatuses and methods for wafer state detection. In some embodiments, an apparatus for wafer state detection is provided, the apparatus comprising: an RF blocking filter; a DC blocking filter; and a controller coupled to a plurality of electrodes associated with an electrostatic chuck (ESC) via the RF blocking filter and the DC blocking filter, wherein the controller is configured to: cause an input signal to be injected in an input side of a circuit associated with the plurality of electrodes, the RF blocking filter, and the DC blocking filter, wherein the input side corresponds to a first electrode; measure characteristics of an output signal at an output side of the circuit, wherein the output side corresponds to a second electrode; and calculate wafer state characteristics of a wafer positioned on a surface of a platen based on the characteristics of the output signal.

Wafer state detection

An apparatus to determine occurrence of an anomalous plasma event occurring at or near a process station of a multi-station integrated circuit fabrication chamber is disclosed. In particular embodiments, optical emissions generated responsive to the anomalous plasma event may be detected by at least one photosensor of a plurality of photosensors. A processor may cooperate with the plurality of photosensors to determine that the anomalous plasma event has occurred at or near by a particular process station of the multi-station integrated circuit fabrication chamber.

Detection and location of anomalous plasma events in fabrication chambers

In particular embodiments, anomalous plasma events, which may include formation of an electric arc in a semiconductor processing chamber, may be detected and mitigated. In certain embodiments, a method may include detecting an optical signal emitted by a plasma, converting the optical signal to a voltage signal, and forming an adjusted voltage signal. Responsive to determining that the changes associated with the adjusted voltage signal exceed a threshold, an output power of an RF signal coupled to the chamber may be adjusted. Such adjustment may mitigate formation of the anomalous plasma event occurring within the chamber.

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West Linn, OR, United States of America

Noah Elliot Baker