摘要:
Disclosed are methods and systems for etching dielectric layers in a high density plasma etcher. A method includes providing a wafer having a photoresist mask over a dielectric layer in order to define at least one contact via hole or open area that is electrically interconnected down to the silicon substrate of the wafer. The method then proceeds to inserting the wafer into the high density plasma etcher and pulsed application a TCP power source of the high density plasma etcher. The pulsed application includes ascertaining a desired etch performance characteristic, which includes photoresist selectivity and etch rate which is associated with a continuous wave application of the TCP source. Then, selecting a duty cycle of the pulsed application of the TCP source and scaling a peak power of the pulsed application of the TCP source in order to match a cycle-averaged power that would be delivered by the continuous wave application of the TCP source. The pulsed application of the TCP power source is configured to etch through the dielectric layer to at least one contact via hole or open area while substantially reducing damage to the transistor gate oxides of the transistor devices.
摘要:
Methods and apparatus for ascertaining the end of an etch process while etching through a target layer on a substrate in a plasma processing system which employs an electrostatic chuck. The end of the etch process is ascertained by monitoring the electric potential of the substrate to detect a pattern indicative of the end of the etch process. By the way of example, changes to this potential may be observed by monitoring the current flowing to the pole of the electrostatic chuck. Upon ascertaining the pattern indicative of the end of the etch process, for example by monitoring the current signal, a control signal is produced to terminate the etch. If a bias compensation power supply is provided to keep the currents flowing to the poles of the electrostatic chuck substantially equal but opposite in sign throughout the etch, the compensation voltage output by the bias compensation power supply may be monitored for the aforementioned pattern indicative of the end of the etch process in order to terminate the etch.
摘要:
Methods and apparatus for ascertaining the end of an etch process while etching through a target layer on a substrate in a plasma processing system which employs an electrostatic chuck. The end of the etch process is ascertained by monitoring the electric potential of the substrate to detect a pattern indicative of the end of the etch process. By the way of example, changes to this potential may be observed by monitoring the current flowing to the pole of the electrostatic chuck. Upon ascertaining the pattern indicative of the end of the etch process, for example by monitoring the current signal, a control signal is produced to terminate the etch. If a bias compensation power supply is provided to keep the currents flowing to the poles of the electrostatic chuck substantially equal but opposite in sign throughout the etch, the compensation voltage output by the bias compensation power supply may be monitored for the aforementioned pattern indicative of the end of the etch process in order to terminate the etch.
摘要:
Methods of processing a substrate so as to protect an active area include positioning a substrate in an inductively coupled plasma processing chamber, supplying process gas to the chamber, generating plasma from the process gas and processing the substrate so as to protect the active area by maintaining a plasma potential of about 5 to 15 volts at the substrate surface and/or passivating the active area by using a siliane-free process gas including at least one additive effective to form a protective layer on the active area of the substrate wherein the protective layer includes at least one element from the additive which is already present in the active area.
摘要:
A system for inspecting a substrate includes a camera and a light source. The camera is oriented toward a field of view. The field of view encompasses at least a first portion of a first surface of the substrate. The light source is oriented toward the field of view at a first angle β relative to the first surface of the substrate. A method for inspecting a substrate is also included.
摘要:
A system for inspecting a substrate includes a camera and a light source. The camera is oriented toward a field of view. The field of view encompasses at least a first portion of a first surface of the substrate. The light source is oriented toward the field of view at a first angle β relative to the first surface of the substrate. A method for inspecting a substrate is also included.
摘要:
A method and apparatus for etching a silicon layer through a patterned mask formed thereon are provided. The silicon layer is placed in an etch chamber. An etch gas comprising a fluorine containing gas and an oxygen and hydrogen containing gas is provided into the etch chamber. A plasma is generated from the etch gas and features are etched into the silicon layer using the plasma. The etch gas is then stopped. The plasma may contain OH radicals.
摘要:
A method and apparatus remove photoresist from a wafer. A process gas containing sulfur (S), oxygen (O), and hydrogen (H) is provided, and a plasma is generated from the process gas in a first chamber. A radical-rich ion-poor reaction medium is flown from the first chamber to a second chamber where the wafer is placed. The patterned photoresist layer on the wafer is removed using the reaction medium, and then the reaction medium flowing into the second chamber is stopped. Water vapor may be introduced in a salvation zone provided in a passage of the reaction medium flowing down from the plasma such that the water vapor solvates the reaction medium to form solvated clusters of species before the reaction medium reaches the wafer. The photoresist is removed using the solvated reaction medium.
摘要:
A method and apparatus for etching a silicon layer through a patterned mask formed thereon are provided. The silicon layer is placed in an etch chamber. An etch gas comprising a fluorine containing gas and an oxygen and hydrogen containing gas is provided into the etch chamber. A plasma is generated from the etch gas and features are etched into the silicon layer using the plasma. The etch gas is then stopped. The plasma may contain OH radicals.
摘要:
A method for reducing erosion of a mask while etching a feature in a first layer underlying the mask is disclosed. The first layer is disposed on a substrate, with the substrate being positioned on a chuck within in a plasma processing chamber. The method includes flowing an etchant source gas into the plasma processing chamber and forming a plasma from the etchant source gas. The method further includes pulsing an RF power source at a predefined pulse frequency to provide pulsed RF power to the chuck. The pulsed RF power has a first frequency and alternates between a high power cycle and a low power cycle at the pulse frequency. The pulse frequency is selected to be sufficiently low to cause polymer to be deposited on the mask during the low power cycle.