Abstract:
Plasma etching or resputtering of a layer of sputtered materials including opaque metal conductor materials may be controlled in a sputter reactor system. In one embodiment, resputtering of a sputter deposited layer is performed after material has been sputtered deposited and while additional material is being sputter deposited onto a substrate. A path positioned within a chamber of the system directs light or other radiation emitted by the plasma to a chamber window or other optical view-port which is protected by a shield against deposition by the conductor material. In one embodiment, the radiation path is folded to reflect plasma light around the chamber shield and through the window to a detector positioned outside the chamber window. Although deposition material may be deposited onto portions of the folded radiation path, in many applications, the deposition material will be sufficiently reflective to permit the emission spectra to be detected by a spectrometer or other suitable detector without significant signal loss. The etching or resputtering may be terminated when the detector detects that an underlying layer has been reached or when some other suitable process point has been reached.
Abstract:
A wafer processing system includes an autoloader mounted within a load lock for providing batch, cassette-to-cassette automatic wafer transfer between the semiconductor processing chamber and cassette load and unload positions within the load lock. The system provides rapid, contamination-free loading and unloading of semiconductor wafers.
Abstract:
A wafer processing system includes an autoloader mounted within a load lock for providing batch, cassette-to-cassette automatic wafer transfer between the semiconductor processing chamber and cassette load and unload positions within the load lock. The system provides rapid, contamination-free loading and unloading of semiconductor wafers.
Abstract:
A method of a single wafer wet/dry cleaning apparatus comprising: a transfer chamber having a wafer handler contained therein; a first single wafer wet cleaning chamber directly coupled to the transfer chamber; and a first single wafer ashing chamber directly coupled to the transfer chamber.
Abstract:
A method of a single wafer wet/dry cleaning apparatus comprising: a transfer chamber having a wafer handler contained therein; a first single wafer wet cleaning chamber directly coupled to the transfer chamber; and a first single wafer ashing chamber directly coupled to the transfer chamber.
Abstract:
A method of a single wafer wet/dry cleaning apparatus comprising: a transfer chamber having a wafer handler contained therein; a first single wafer wet cleaning chamber directly coupled to the transfer chamber; and a first single wafer ashing chamber directly coupled to the transfer chamber.
Abstract:
A chemical mechanical polishing apparatus has a rotatable platen, a polishing sheet that is wider than the substrate extending between two reels, a drive mechanism to advance the polishing sheet, and a chucking mechanism to intermittently secure the polishing sheet to the platen. The platen can have a platen base that is adaptable to receive either a circular platen top or a rectangular platen top.
Abstract:
A method of a single wafer wet/dry cleaning apparatus comprising: a transfer chamber having a wafer handler contained therein; a first single wafer wet cleaning chamber directly coupled to the transfer chamber; and a first single wafer ashing chamber directly coupled to the transfer chamber.
Abstract:
A wafer processing station includes an air gap chuck and a light emitter/collector assembly configured to gather light when scattered or reflected by contaminants on the wafer. The light emitter/collector assembly is driven by an actuator so that it passes across a backside surface of a wafer when supported within the chuck during wafer inspection. The wafer processing station may also include a cleaning module configured to clean the backside surface of the wafer when contaminants are discovered during wafer inspection. A computer system may be coupled to receive one or more signals from the light emitter/collector assembly that are indicative of contaminants on the backside surface of the wafer and to provide one or more control signals to the cleaning module in accordance therewith. The cleaning module may be used independently of the light emitter/collector assembly and vice-versa.
Abstract:
A method of a single wafer wet/dry cleaning apparatus comprising: a transfer chamber having a wafer handler contained therein; a first single wafer wet cleaning chamber directly coupled to the transfer chamber; and a first single wafer ashing chamber directly coupled to the transfer chamber.