IP Library Granted Patent US 9,820,372
Granted Patent B2
US 9,820,372 · App. 14/371,412 · Granted Nov 14, 2017

Segmented antenna assembly

Inventor: Benjamin M. Johnston (Los Gatos, CA)
Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
H05H1/46C23C16/511H01J37/3222H01J37/32192
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,820,372
App. No.
14/371,412
Granted
Nov 14, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A segmented antenna assembly for use in a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) apparatus. One embodiment provides an apparatus comprising a chamber body having a top surface and a bottom surface, an antenna comprising a first segment, a second segment electrically coupled to the first segment and extending through an interior volume of the chamber, and a third segment electrically coupled to the second segment, and a dielectric layer disposed around an outer diameter of the second segment.

Claims (27)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a chamber body having a top and a bottom opposite the top;

a linear antenna comprising:

a first segment extending through the top;

a second segment coupled to the first segment at a location within the top of the chamber body and extending through an interior volume of the chamber body; and

a third segment extending through the bottom, wherein the third segment is coupled to the second segment at a location within the bottom of the chamber body, wherein each of the first segment and the third segment is able to disconnect from the second segment;

at least two gas introduction tubes extending vertically from the bottom to the top, wherein the at least two gas introduction tubes are parallel to the antenna; and

a dielectric layer disposed around an outer diameter of the second segment.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the antenna comprises a hollow electrically conductive tube adapted to transport a cooling fluid, wherein the hollow electrically conductive tube comprises a hollow copper tube.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the hollow electrically conductive tube has an outer diameter of about 0.3 inches to 0.5 inches.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the dielectric layer is disposed around the outer diameter of the second segment, and spacers are coupled between the outer diameter of the antenna and an inner diameter of the dielectric layer.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the spacers are configured to form a fluid channel between an outside diameter of the antenna and an inside diameter of the dielectric layer, the fluid channel extending along a length of the dielectric layer.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first coupling body connecting the second segment to the first segment; and

a second coupling body connecting the second segment to the third segment.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and third segments have a length of at least 0.5 meters, and the second segment has a length of at least 2 meters.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a first microwave launcher assembly disposed on the top of the chamber body and electrically coupled to the first segment of the antenna.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a second microwave launcher assembly disposed on the bottom of the chamber body and electrically coupled to the third segment of the antenna.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the dielectric layer comprises alumina.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

a chamber body having a top and a bottom opposite the top;

a linear antenna comprising:

a first segment;

a second segment coupled to the first segment at a location within the top of the chamber body and extending through an interior volume of the chamber body; and

a third segment coupled to the second segment at a location within the bottom of the chamber body, wherein each of the first segment and the third segment is able to disconnect from the second segment;

at least two gas introduction tubes extending vertically from the bottom to the top, wherein the at least two gas introduction tubes are parallel to the antenna; and

a dielectric layer disposed around an outer diameter of the second segment, wherein the first segment extends through the top surface of the chamber body, and the third segment extends through the bottom surface of the chamber body, and the antenna comprises a hollow electrically conductive tube adapted to transport a cooling fluid.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 9, 2014
From: JOHNSTON, BENJAMIN M.
To: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
Reel/Frame 033279/0441 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61591725 · Jan 27, 2012
Related Publication 20150173166A1 · Jun 18, 2015