IP Library Granted Patent US 8,591,752
Granted Patent B2
US 8,591,752 · App. 13/399,030 · Granted Nov 26, 2013

Plasma processing method

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 8,591,752
App. No.
13/399,030
Granted
Nov 26, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for plasma-etching a magnetic film and plasma-cleaning, in which deposits in an etching processing chamber are efficiently removed while corrosion of a wafer is suppressed, is provided. A plasma processing method for plasma-etching a to-be-processed substrate having a magnetic film in an etching processing chamber includes the steps of plasma-etching the magnetic film using a first gas not containing chlorine, transferring out the to-be-processed substrate from the etching processing chamber, first plasma-cleaning of the etching processing chamber using a second gas containing chlorine, and second plasma-cleaning using a third gas containing hydrogen after the first plasma cleaning.

Claims (22)

1. A plasma processing method for plasma-etching a to-be-processed substrate having a magnetic film in an etching processing chamber, comprising the steps of:

plasma-etching said magnetic film using a first gas not comprising chlorine;

transferring out said to-be-processed substrate having said magnetic film plasma-etched from said etching processing chamber; and

plasma-cleaning said etching processing chamber, said plasma-cleaning further comprising the steps of:

first plasma-cleaning to plasma-clean using a second gas comprising chlorine; and

second plasma-cleaning to plasma-clean using a third gas comprising hydrogen after said first plasma-cleaning.

2. The plasma processing method according to claim 1 , wherein said plasma-cleaning further comprises a step of third plasma-cleaning to plasma-clean using an oxygen gas before said first plasma-cleaning.

3. The plasma processing method according to claim 1 , wherein said second gas is any one of a chlorine gas, a boron trichloride gas, and a mixed gas of a chlorine gas and a boron trichloride gas.

4. The plasma processing method according to claim 1 , wherein said third gas comprising hydrogen is a methanol gas.

5. The plasma processing method according to claim 1 , wherein said magnetic film is a film containing at least one of iron, cobalt, and nickel.

6. A plasma processing method for plasma-etching a to-be-processed substrate having a magnetic film in an etching processing chamber using an inductively coupled plasma etching apparatus having a Faraday shield, comprising the steps of:

plasma-etching said magnetic film using a first gas not comprising chlorine;

transferring out said to-be-processed substrate having said magnetic film plasma-etched from said etching processing chamber; and

plasma-cleaning said etching processing chamber, said plasma-cleaning further comprising the steps of:

first plasma-cleaning to plasma-clean using a second gas comprising chlorine; and

second plasma-cleaning to plasma-clean using a third gas comprising hydrogen after said first plasma-cleaning, said second plasma-cleaning being performed while applying to said Faraday shield a voltage lower than a voltage applied to said Faraday shield during said first plasma-cleaning.

7. An etching processing method of a magnetic film material comprising:

a first step of etching a to-be-processed substrate of a magnetic film material by a first gas not comprising chlorine;

a second step of transferring out said to-be-processed substrate;

a third step of producing plasma by a second gas comprising chlorine in an etching processing chamber; and

a fourth step of producing plasma by a third gas comprising hydrogen in an etching processing chamber;

wherein each of said first to fourth steps is performed in a described sequence or, after said first and second steps are repeatedly performed, said third and fourth steps are performed.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME AND ADDRESS Recorded Mar 30, 2020
From: HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 052259/0227 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 17, 2012
From: ABE, TAKAHIRO; SHIMADA, TAKESHI; YOSHIDA, ATSUSHI; YAMADA, KENTARO; FUJITA, DAISUKE
To: HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 027722/0387 →