Intermolecular, Inc.

Applied Materials, Inc.

Mks Instruments, Inc.

Applied Science & Technology, Inc.

Shouqian Shao

Jianhua Zhou

Chi-I Lang

Tae Kyung Won

Jinhong Tong

Jay DeDontney

Jason Wright

Chien-Teh Kao

Xing Chen

William M Holber

Matthew Mark Besen

Hong Sheng Yang

Susan C Trulli

Andrew Cowe

Kent Riley Child

Ronald W Collins, Jr

Frederick Carlos Fulgenico

Tony P Chiang

Shinichi Kurita

Suhail Anwar

Xiangxin Rui

Zheng John Ye

Jrjyan Jerry Chen

Sanjay D Yadav

James Tsung

Sandip Niyogi

Jun Li

Jingang Su

Jeffrey A Kho

Guangwei Sun

Lipyeow Yap

Surendra Kanimihally Setty

Andrew B Cowe

Jr Ronald W Collins

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a lid suitable for use in a semiconductor processing chamber. The lid includes a plurality of dielectric windows coupled to a perforated faceplate. The lid also includes a plurality of support members coupled to the perforated faceplate and positioned between adjacent dielectric windows. The lid further includes a plurality inductive couplers. One or more of the inductive couplers includes a first lower portion, a second lower portion, and a bridge. The bridge is disposed over at least one of the plurality of support members. The first lower portion is positioned on a first dielectric window of the plurality of dielectric windows. The second lower portion is positioned on a second dielectric window of the plurality of dielectric windows. The second dielectric window is adjacent to the first dielectric window.

Multi-antenna unit for large area inductively coupled plasma processing apparatus

The present disclosure is directed to a showerhead for distributing plasma. The showerhead includes a perforated tile coupled to a support structure. A dielectric window is disposed over the perforated tile. An electrode is coupled to the dielectric window. An inductive coupler is disposed over the dielectric window. At least a portion of the inductive coupler is angled relative to at least a portion of the electrode.

High density plasma enhanced process chamber

Embodiments of the disclosure include methods and apparatus for electrostatically coupling a mask to a substrate support in a deposition chamber. In one embodiment, a substrate support is disclosed that includes a substrate receiving surface, a recessed portion disposed about a periphery of the substrate receiving surface, an electrostatic chuck disposed below the substrate receiving surface, and a plurality of compressible buttons disposed within a respective opening formed in the recessed portion that form an electrical circuit with the electrostatic chuck.

Substrate support for chucking of mask for deposition processes

Embodiments described herein relate to methods of tuning within semiconductor processes to improve plasma stability. In these embodiments, multiple matching networks are provided. Each of the matching networks couple a radio frequency (RF) source to one of multiple connection points located on an electrode. Based on tuning parameter information and physical geometry information, a controller determines a tuning sequence for the multiple matching networks. As such, some of the matching networks are tuned while the other matching networks are locked. Using multiple matching networks leads to a more uniform plasma within the process volume of the process chamber. Improved plasma uniformity leads to less substrate defects and better device performance. Additionally, in these embodiments, the ability to tune each of the matching networks in a sequence decreases or prevents interference from occurring between the matching networks.

Methods of tuning to improve plasma stability

Embodiments described herein provide a chamber having a gas flow inlet guide to uniformly deliver process gas and a gas flow outlet guide to effectively purge process gasses and reduce purge time. The chamber includes a chamber body having a process gas inlet and a process gas outlet, a lid assembly, a process gas inlet and a process gas outlet configured to be in fluid communication with a processing region in the chamber, a gas flow inlet guide disposed in the process gas inlet, and a gas flow outlet guide disposed in the process gas outlet. The gas flow inlet guide includes a flow modulator and at least two first inlet guide channels having first inlet guide channel areas that are different. The gas flow outlet guide includes at least two first outlet guide channels having first outlet guide channel areas that are different.

Gas flow guide design for uniform flow distribution and efficient purge

A method is disclosed for the selective etching of a multi-layer metal oxide stack comprising a platinum layer on a TiN layer on an HfOor ZrOlayer on a substrate. In some embodiments, the method comprises a physical sputter process to selectively etch the platinum layer, followed by a plasma etch process comprises CHFand oxygen to selectively etch the TiN, HfOor ZrOlayers with respect to the substrate.

Methods for selective etching of a multi-layer substrate

In one aspect of the invention, a process chamber is provided. The chamber includes a plurality of sputter guns with a target affixed to one end of each of the sputter guns. Each of the plurality of sputter guns is coupled to a first power source. The first power source is operable to provide a pulsed power supply to each of the plurality of sputter guns. The pulsed power supply has a duty cycle that is less than 30%. A substrate support disposed at a distance from the plurality of sputter guns is included. The substrate support is coupled to a second power source. The second power source is operable to bias a substrate disposed on the substrate support, wherein the duty cycle of the second power source is synchronized with a duty cycle of the first power source. A method of performing a deposition process is also included.

High metal ionization sputter gun

Apparatus and methods for depositing materials on a plurality of site-isolated regions on a substrate are provided. The deposition uses PECVD or PEALD. The apparatus include an inner chamber with an aperture and barrier that can be used to isolate the regions during the deposition and prevent the remaining portions of the substrate from being exposed to the deposition process. The process parameters for the deposition process are varied among the site-isolate regions in a combinatorial manner.

Methods and apparatus for combinatorial PECVD or PEALD

In some embodiments of the present invention, a shield is provided wherein the shield comprises a ceramic insulation material. The ceramic insulation material fills the space between the shield and the substrate surface and maintains a gap of less than about 2 mm and advantageously, less than about 1 mm. The shield may further be connected to ground through a low-pass filter operable to prevent the loss of high frequency RF power through the shield to ground but allow the dissipation of charge from the shield to ground through a low frequency or DC signal. In some embodiments, the ceramic insulating material further comprises a removable ceramic insert. The ceramic insert may be used to select the size of the aperture. The ceramic insert further comprises a slot operable to isolate the bottom lip of the ceramic insert from the upper portion for a PVD deposition.

Combinatorial RF bias method for PVD

Systems and methods to determine ozone concentration in a gas mixture of ozone and oxygen, based on measurements of a total mass flow and a corresponding change in a chamber pressure accepting the mixture flow, can enable the measurements of ozone concentration at low pressure settings. The ozone concentration determination can be applied to a vacuum processing chamber, enabling precision semiconductor processing.

Systems and methods for measuring, monitoring and controlling ozone concentration

Systems and methods to determine ozone concentration in a gas mixture of ozone and oxygen, based on measurements of the total gas mixture properties, can enable the measurements of ozone concentration at low pressure settings. The ozone concentration determination can be applied to vacuum processing chamber, using either novel ozone sensor or existing mass flow meter or controller.

Methods and apparatuses for combinatorial processing are disclosed. Methods include introducing a substrate into a processing chamber. Methods further include forming a first film on a surface of a first site-isolated region on the substrate and forming a second film on a surface of a second site-isolated region on the substrate. The methods further include exposing the first film to a plasma having a first source gas to form a first treated film on the substrate and exposing the second film to a plasma having a second source gas to form a second treated film on the substrate without etching the first treated film in the processing chamber. In addition, methods include evaluating results of the treated films post processing.

Method and apparatus for high-K gate performance improvement and combinatorial processing

A top assembly for a processing chamber having a back plate and a hub is provided. The back plate has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is connected to the second portion through a central region of the back plate, wherein a gap is defined between opposing surfaces of the first and second portions outside the central region. The first portion includes an embedded heating element. The hub is affixed to a top surface of the second portion of the back plate over the central region. The hub has a top surface with a plurality of channel openings defined within a central region of the hub and a bottom surface having a central extension with a plurality of channels defined therethrough. The bottom surface includes an annular extension spaced apart from the central extension.

Showerhead for processing chamber

A method is disclosed for the selective etching of a multi-layer metal oxide stack comprising a platinum or tungsten layer on a TiN layer on an HfOor ZrOlayer on a silicon substrate. In some embodiments, the method comprises a physical sputter process to selectively etch the platinum layer, followed by a first wet etch using a mixture of NHOH and HOto selectively etch the TiN layer, and a second wet etch using a dilute mixture of HF and HCl to selectively etch the HfOor ZrOlayer.

Plasma ignition and cooling apparatus and methods for plasma systems are described. An apparatus can include a vessel and at least one ignition electrode adjacent to the vessel. A total length of a dimension of the at least one ignition electrode is greater than 10% of a length of the vessel's channel. The apparatus can include a dielectric toroidal vessel, a heat sink having multiple segments urged toward the vessel by a spring-loaded mechanism, and a thermal interface between the vessel and the heat sink. A method can include providing a gas having a flow rate and a pressure and directing a portion of the flow rate of the gas into a vessel channel. The gas is ignited in the channel while the remaining portion of the flow rate is directed away from the channel.

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Fremont, CA, United States of America

Shouqian Shao