Abstract:
A method and apparatus for providing an electrically symmetrical ground or return path for electrical current between two electrodes is described. The apparatus includes at least on radio frequency (RF) device coupled to one of the electrodes and between a sidewall and/or a bottom of a processing chamber. The method includes moving one electrode relative to another and realizing a ground return path based on the position of the displaced electrode using one or both of a RF device coupled to a sidewall and the electrode, a RF device coupled to a bottom of the chamber and the electrode, or a combination thereof.
Abstract:
A process chamber and a method for controlling the temperature of a substrate positioned on a substrate support assembly within the process chamber are provided. The substrate support assembly includes a thermally conductive body, a substrate support surface on the surface of the thermally conductive body and adapted to support a large area substrate thereon, one or more heating elements embedded within the thermally conductive body, and two or more cooling channels embedded within the thermally conductive body to be coplanar with the one or more heating elements. The cooling channels may be branched into two or more equal-length cooling passages being extended from a single point inlet and into a single point outlet to provide equal resistance cooling.
Abstract:
Embodiments described herein generally relate to a substrate support assembly having a shield cover. In one embodiment, a substrate support assembly is disclosed herein. The substrate support assembly includes a support plate, a plurality of RF return straps, at least one shield cover, and a stem. The support plate is configured to support a substrate. The plurality of RF return straps are coupled to a bottom surface of the support plate. At least one shield cover is coupled to the bottom surface of the support plate, between the plurality of RF return straps and the bottom surface. The stem is coupled to the support plate.
Abstract:
In one embodiment, a diffuser for a deposition chamber includes a plate having edge regions and a center region, and plurality of gas passages comprising an upstream bore and an orifice hole fluidly coupled to the upstream bore that are formed between an upstream side and a downstream side of the plate, and a plurality of grooves surrounding the gas passages, wherein a depth of the grooves varies from the edge regions to the center region of the plate.
Abstract:
A process chamber for processing a plurality of substrates is provided. The process chamber includes a chamber body having a single substrate transfer opening, a first substrate support mesa disposed in the chamber body, and a second substrate support mesa disposed in the chamber body. Each substrate support mesa is configured to support a substrate during processing. The centers of the first substrate support mesa, the second substrate support mesa, and the opening are linearly aligned.
Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to a gas confiner assembly designed to reduce the non-uniform deposition rates by confining the gas flow and changing the local gas flow distribution near the edge regions of the substrate. The material, size, shape and other features of the gas confiner assembly can be varied based on the processing requirements and associated deposition rates. In one embodiment, a gas confiner assembly for a processing chamber comprises a gas confiner configured to decrease gas flow and compensate for high deposition rates on edge regions of substrates. The gas confiner assembly also comprises a cover disposed below the gas confiner. The cover is configured to prevent a substrate support from being exposed to plasma.
Abstract:
A plasma processing chamber includes a chamber body and a lid assembly coupled to the chamber body to define a processing volume. The lid assembly includes a backing plate coupled to the chamber body, a diffuser with a plurality of openings formed therethrough, and a heat conductive spacer disposed between and coupled to the backing plate and the diffuser to transfer heat from the diffuser to the backing plate. The plasma processing chamber further includes a substrate support disposed within the processing volume.
Abstract:
A substrate support and method of forming a substrate support are described herein. In one example, a substrate support includes an aluminum body having an upper surface configured to support a large area substrate, a heater element, and a filler material. The aluminum body has a groove formed therein. The heater element is disposed in the groove. The filler material is in contact with the heater element and fills the groove. The contact between the filler material and the perimeter of the heater element is the only material interface within the groove, and the filler material has a larger grain size than a grain size of the aluminum body.
Abstract:
Embodiments of a gas diffuser plate for distributing gas in a processing chamber are provided. The gas distribution plate includes a diffuser plate having an upstream side and a downstream side, and a plurality of gas passages passing between the upstream and downstream sides of the diffuser plate. The gas passages include hollow cathode cavities at the downstream side to enhance plasma ionization. The depths, the diameters, the surface area and density of hollow cathode cavities of the gas passages that extend to the downstream end can be gradually increased from the center to the edge of the diffuser plate to improve the film thickness and property uniformity across the substrate. The increasing diameters, depths and surface areas from the center to the edge of the diffuser plate can be created by bending the diffuser plate toward downstream side, followed by machining out the convex downstream side. Bending the diffuser plate can be accomplished by a thermal process or a vacuum process. The increasing diameters, depths and surface areas from the center to the edge of the diffuser plate can also be created computer numerically controlled machining. Diffuser plates with gradually increasing diameters, depths and surface areas of the hollow cathode cavities from the center to the edge of the diffuser plate have been shown to produce improved uniformities of film thickness and film properties.
Abstract:
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus having a remote plasma clean source in which the remote plasma clean source delivers radicals from the remotely generated plasma to the chamber at a location disposed between a backing plate and a diffuser.