Tokyo Electron Limited

Stephen H Cabral

David L O'Meara

Cory Wajda

Gert J Leusink

Daniel Craig Burdett

John William Kostenko

A method and system are provided for monitoring status of a system component in a process chamber of a batch type processing system. The method includes exposing a system component to light from a light source and monitoring interaction of the light with the system component to determine status of the system component. The method can detect light transmission and/or light reflection from a system component during a process that can include a chamber cleaning process, a chamber conditioning process, a substrate etching process, and a substrate film formation process. The system component can be a consumable system part such as a process tube, a shield, a ring, a baffle, and a liner, and can further contain a protective coating.

Method for monitoring status of system components

A method and system for monitoring status of a system component during a process. The method includes exposing a system component to a reactant gas during a process, where the reactant gas is capable of etching the system component material to form an erosion product, and monitoring release of the erosion product during the process to determine status of the system component. Processes that can be monitored include a chamber cleaning process, a chamber conditioning process, a substrate etching process, and a substrate film formation process. The system component can be a consumable system part such as a process tube, a shield, a ring, a baffle, an injector, a substrate holder, a liner, a pedestal, a cap cover, an electrode, and a heater, any of which can further include a protective coating. The processing system includes the system component in a process chamber, a gas injection system for introducing the reactant gas, a chamber protection system for monitoring the status of the system component, and a controller for controlling the processing system in response to the status.

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Pine Plains, NY, United States of America

Stephen H Cabral