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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 22, 1999
Filed:
May. 18, 1995
Saburo Kanai, Hikari, JP;
Yoshinao Kawasaki, Yamaguchi-ken, JP;
Kazuaki Ichihashi, Kudamatsu, JP;
Seiichi Watanabe, Kudamatsu, JP;
Makoto Nawata, Kudamatsu, JP;
Hitachi, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A microwave plasma processing method and apparatus of the type wherein a waveguide section includes electric discharge means isolated from a waveguide for the propagation of microwaves and having a plasma generation region therein, which method and apparatus are well suited for subjecting samples, such as semiconductor device substrates, to an etching process, a film forming process, etc. The microwaves are introduced into the electric discharge means in correspondence with only the traveling direction thereof, whereby uniformity in a plasma density distribution corresponding to the surface to-be-processed of the sample can be sharply enhanced, so that the sample processed by utilizing such plasma can attain an enhanced processing homogeneity within the surface to-be-processed. The temperature of the electric discharge block is controlled to decrease an amount of plasma polymers deposited on the electric discharge block, increase an amount existing in the plasma and increase an amount deposited on the sample to improve a selection ratio.