The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Feb. 10, 1998

Filed:

May. 11, 1995
Applicant:
Inventors:

Greg Blackburn, San Jose, CA (US);

Joseph Kava, San Jose, CA (US);

Richard McGovern, San Jose, CA (US);

Yan Rozenzon, San Jose, CA (US);

Assignee:

Applied Materials, Inc., Santa Clara, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
C23F / ; C23C / ; C23C / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
156345 ; 20429807 ; 20429832 ; 20429833 ; 1187 / ; 118715 ;
Abstract

A plasma etch chamber includes a modified focus ring which is used in conjunction with chamber pressure throttling to eject contaminants in the focus ring away from the substrate just before the etching cycle is completed. Additionally, process gas is directed against the inner wall of the chamber to create a swirling flow of plasma within the chamber and thus disturb any contaminant-generating field adjacent the chamber wall. A process gas, or a non-reactive purge gas, may also be supplied from a diffuser atop the cathode, to direct a gas layer along the top and sides of the chamber to reduce contaminant build-up on the chamber surfaces.


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