IP Library Granted Patent US 8,703,000
Granted Patent B2
US 8,703,000 · App. 13/330,004 · Granted Apr 22, 2014

Slimming method of carbon-containing thin film and oxidation apparatus

Inventors: Jun Sato (Nirasaki, JP); Masayuki Hasegawa (Oshu, JP)
Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,703,000
App. No.
13/330,004
Granted
Apr 22, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A slimming method includes transferring an object to be processed on which a patterned carbon-containing thin film is formed into a process chamber in an oxidation apparatus; and oxidizing and removing the surface of the carbon-containing thin film by an oxidizing gas while supplying moisture into the process chamber, to reduce widths of the protruded portions on the pattern of the carbon-containing thin film.

Claims (15)

1. A slimming method of a carbon-containing thin film, the slimming method comprising:

transferring an object to be processed on which a patterned carbon-containing thin film is formed into a process chamber in an oxidation apparatus; and

oxidizing and removing a surface of the carbon-containing thin film by an oxidizing gas while supplying an excessive amount of moisture more than an amount of moisture contained in the object or generated as a byproduct into the process chamber, to reduce widths of protruded portions on the pattern of the carbon-containing thin film.

2. A slimming method of a carbon-containing thin film, the slimming method comprising:

transferring an object to be processed on which a patterned carbon-containing thin film is formed into a process chamber in an oxidation apparatus;

supplying an excessive amount of moisture more than an amount of moisture contained in the object or generated as a byproduct into the process chamber; and

oxidizing and removing a surface of the carbon-containing thin film by an oxidizing gas, to reduce widths of protruded portions on the pattern of the carbon-containing thin film.

3. A slimming method of a carbon-containing thin film, the slimming method comprising:

transferring an object to be processed on which a patterned carbon-containing thin film is formed into a process chamber in an oxidation apparatus;

supplying an excessive amount of moisture more than an amount of moisture contained in the object or generated as a byproduct into the process chamber; and

oxidizing and removing a surface of the carbon-containing thin film by an oxidizing gas while supplying the excessive amount of moisture into the process chamber, to reduce widths of protruded portions on the pattern of the carbon-containing thin film.

4. The slimming method of claim 1 , wherein the carbon-containing thin film is a film selected from the group including a resist film, a carbon film, and an anti-reflection film.

5. The slimming method of claim 1 , wherein the oxidizing gas is an oxygen containing gas.

6. The slimming method of claim 5 , wherein the oxidizing is a plasma oxidation process in an oxygen atmosphere.

7. The slimming method of claim 5 , wherein the oxidizing is a thermal oxidation process in an oxygen atmosphere or a thermal oxidation process in an ozone atmosphere.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2012
From: SATO, JUN; HASEGAWA, MASAYUKI
To: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
Reel/Frame 027576/0741 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2010-282675 · Dec 20, 2010 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120156888A1 · Jun 21, 2012