摘要:
An improved sputter target and shield eliminate redeposition of sputtered material onto the target and prevents the formation of deposits on the electrically insulative member between the target and enclosure wall. The sputter target is designed to allow the plasma to sputter the entire sidewall of the target while the a narrow passage between the target, backing plate and shield protects the insulative member from line-of-sight deposition, prevents formation of a plasma within the passage without causing arcing between the backing plate and shield. The target of the present invention is generally disk-shaped with a sloped or frustoconical sidewall surface around the perimeter edge.
摘要:
A method for controlling the operation of a magnetron source for sputtering a surface of a target in a vacuum chamber, the method including the steps of: during a low pressure phase of sputtering, causing a magnetic field generated by a the magnetron source to be confined primarily to an inner region of the surface of the target so as to reduce leakage of electrons away from the target during sputtering; and during a subsequent high pressure phase of sputtering, causing the magnetic field generated by the magnet assembly to extend into the outer region of the surface of the target so as to sputter material from the outer region of the surface of the target. The pressure of the high pressure phase of sputtering is higher than the pressure of the low pressure phase of sputtering.
摘要:
Methods for baking-out and for cooling a vacuum chamber are provided. In a first aspect, an inert gas which conducts heat from the vacuum chamber's bake-out lamps to the shield and from the shield to the other parts within the vacuum chamber is introduced to the chamber during chamber bake-out. The inert gas preferably comprises argon, helium or nitrogen and preferably raises the chamber pressure to about 500 Torr during chamber bake-out. A semiconductor processing apparatus also is provided having a controller programmed to perform the inventive bake-out method. In a second aspect, a process chamber is provided having at least one source of a cooling gas. The cooling gas is input to the chamber and is allowed to thermally communicate with the chamber body and components. The cooling gas may reside in the chamber for a period of time or may be continuously flowed through the chamber. Once the chamber reaches a target temperature the cooling gas is evacuated.
摘要:
An improved sputter target and shield eliminate redeposition of sputtered material onto the target and prevents the formation of deposits on the electrically insulative member between the target and enclosure wall. The sputter target is designed to allow the plasma to sputter the entire sidewall of the target while the a narrow passage between the target, backing plate and shield protects the insulative member from line-of-sight deposition, prevents formation of a plasma within the passage without causing arcing between the backing plate and shield. The target of the present invention is generally disk-shaped with a sloped or frustoconical sidewall surface around the perimeter edge.
摘要:
A method for controlling the operation of a magnetron source for sputtering a surface of a target in a vacuum chamber, the method including the steps of: during a low pressure phase of sputtering, causing a magnetic field generated by a the magnetron source to be confined primarily to an inner region of the surface of the target so as to reduce leakage of electrons away from the target during sputtering; and during a subseguent high pressure phase of sputtering, causing the magnetic field generated by the magnet assembly to extend into the outer region of the surface of the target so as to sputter material from the outer region of the surface of the target. The pressure of the high pressure phase of sputtering is higher than the pressure of the low pressure phase of sputtering.
摘要:
Capacitances in an impedance-matching box for an RF coil, in a plasma deposition system for depositing a film of sputtered target material on a substrate, can be varied during the deposition process so that the RF coil and substrate heating, and the film deposition, are more uniform due to “time-averaging” of the RF voltage distributions along the RF coil.
摘要:
A magnetron for use in a DC magnetron sputtering reactor that can rotate at a smaller diameter during a deposition phase and at a larger diameter during a cleaning phase, whereby sputter material redeposited outside of the deposition sputtering track is removed during the cleaning phase. An embodiment for a two-diameter magnetron includes a swing arm fixed on one end to the magnetron rotation motor shaft and on the other end to a pivot shaft, pivotably coupled to the magnetron. When the magnetron is rotated in different directions, hydrodynamic forces between the magnetron and the chilling water bath cause magnetron to pivot about the pivot shaft. Two mechanical detents fix the limits of the pivoting and hence establish the two diameters of rotation.
摘要:
A method and apparatus for pre-heating a coil used to generate a plasma field in a processing chamber in a semiconductor fabrication system. The coil is pre-heated in the chamber prior to sputter depositing material onto a substrate and workpiece. The coil is pre-heated to a predetermined temperature, which is preferably equal to or greater than the equilibrium temperature attained by the coil during sputter deposition processes. Pre-heating may be effected with a preheating current having a frequency lower than the minimum frequency required to ignite a plasma, or when the processing chamber contains an atmosphere which prevents formation of a plasma. The coil may pre-heated for a predetermined time period.
摘要:
An exclusion ring system for depositing a film with multiple exclusion zones on a substrate in a deposition apparatus having a pedestal for supporting the substrate at different positions. A first exclusion ring is positioned above the substrate and pedestal and extends over a first zone overlying the perimeter of the substrate up to a first inner periphery. A second ring is positioned between the first ring and the substrate and extends over a second zone overlying the perimeter of the substrate outwardly of the first zone to a second inner periphery lying outwardly of the first inner periphery. When the pedestal is in a raised position, it supports the rings. When the pedestal is in a lowered position, the rings are supported by legs resting on a stationary wall, the legs of the first ring being effectively longer than the legs of the second ring so that the rings are sequentially moved away from the substrate as the pedestal is lowered. Initially, the first ring is in a position proximate the substrate to prevent deposition of the first film over the first zone. Then the pedestal is lowered to a position where the first ring is moved away from the substrate by its leg being supported. This leaves the second ring as an effective exclusion ring at the second position so that the second film is deposited over the first and over the second zone and also extends outwardly to cover and protect the edge of the first film.