IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,859,284
Granted Patent B2
US 11,859,284 · App. 16/548,845 · Granted Jan 2, 2024

Shower head structure and plasma processing apparatus using the same

Inventors: Huan-Chieh Chen (Taichung, TW); Jhih-Ren Lin (New Taipei, TW); Tai-Pin Liu (Hsinchu County, TW); Shyue-Shin Tsai (Tainan, TW); Keith Kuang-Kuo Koai (Hsinchu County, TW)
Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
C23C16/45565B05B1/185C23C16/46C23C16/50
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 11,859,284
App. No.
16/548,845
Granted
Jan 2, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A shower head structure and a plasma processing apparatus are provided. The shower head structure includes a plate body with a first zone and a second zone on a first surface. A plurality of first through holes are in the first zone, each of the first through holes having a diameter uniform with others of the first through holes. A plurality of second through holes are in the second zone. The first zone is in connection with the second zone, and the diameter of each of the first through holes is greater than a diameter of each of the second through holes. A plasma processing apparatus includes the shower head structure is also provided.

Claims (36)

1. A shower head structure, comprising:

a plate body having a first surface with a first zone and a second zone;

a plurality of first through holes in the first zone, each of the first through holes having a diameter uniform with others of the first through holes; and

a plurality of second through holes in the second zone;

wherein the first zone is in connection with the second zone, the first zone is at the central region of the plate body, the second zone is at the peripheral region of the plate body, the diameter of each of the first through holes is greater than a diameter of each of the second through holes, and the diameter of each of the second through holes is less than 2 times of a thickness of a Debye sheath layer;

wherein the plurality of second through holes are arranged in at least a first band and a second band concentrically, and the second through holes in the second band is staggerly disposed with respect to the second through holes in the first band;

wherein an amount of gas flow through the plurality of first through holes in the first zone per unit area is substantially equal to an amount of gas flow through the plurality of second through holes in the second zone per unit area; and

wherein an area of the first through holes per unit area is equal to an area of the second through holes per unit area, and an amount of the first through holes per unit area is less than an amount of the second through holes per unit area.

2. The shower head structure of claim 1 , wherein a ratio between a diameter of the first zone and a diameter of the plate body is in a range of from about 0.7:1 to about 0.8:1.

3. The shower head structure of claim 1 , wherein the diameter of each of the second through holes is less than 0.6 mm.

4. The shower head structure of claim 1 , wherein the diameter of each of the second through holes is less than 90% of the diameter of each of the first through holes.

5. A shower head structure, comprising:

a plate body having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the plate body comprising a first zone and a second zone, wherein gas flows through the plate body from the first surface toward the second surface during operation, the first zone is surrounded by the second zone, and an amount of gas flow through the plate body in the first zone per unit area is substantially equal to an amount of gas flow through the plate body in the second zone per unit area;

a plurality of first holes open at the first surface and in the first zone;

a plurality of second holes open at the first surface and in the second zone;

a plurality of third holes open at the second surface, in the first zone, and each of the third holes being in connection with each of the first holes;

a plurality of fourth holes open at the second surface, in the second zone, and each of the fourth holes being in connection with each of the second holes;

wherein a diameter of each of the second holes is less than 2 times of a thickness of a Debye sheath layer; and

wherein an area of the first holes per unit area at the first surface is equal to an area of the second holes per unit area at the first surface, and an amount of the first holes per unit area is less than an amount of the second holes per unit area.

6. The shower head structure of claim 5 , wherein the diameter of the third hole is substantially equal to or greater than the diameter of the first hole.

7. The shower head structure of claim 5 , wherein the second zone is a band region from about 0.7 times of a radius of the shower head structure to an edge of the shower head structure.

8. The shower head structure of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of second holes being arranged in at least a first band and a second band concentrically.

9. The shower head structure of claim 5 , wherein a narrowest diameter of the third hole is greater than a narrowest diameter of the fourth hole.

10. The shower head structure of claim 5 , wherein a length of the fourth hole is greater than a length of the second hole.

11. The shower head structure of claim 5 , wherein the diameter of the second hole is less than 0.5 mm.

12. A plasma processing apparatus, comprising: a chamber; a radio frequency (RF) power source coupled to the chamber; a shower head in the chamber and coupled to the RF power source, wherein the shower head is configured to provide a uniform amount of gas flow per unit area across the entire shower head; and a susceptor below the shower head, and a first surface of the shower head facing the susceptor; wherein the first surface of the shower head having a plurality of first through holes in a first zone, and a plurality of second through holes in a second zone, the first zone is surrounded by the second zone; wherein first diameters of the first through holes are substantially equal, second diameters of the second through holes are substantially equal, the first diameter is greater than the second diameter and the second diameter of each of the second through holes is less than 2 times of a thickness of a Debye sheath layer; wherein a percentage of a total area of the second through holes to a total area of the second zone at the first surface is substantially equal to a percentage of a total area of the first through holes to a total area of the first zone at the first surface; and wherein an area of the first through holes per unit area is equal to an area of the second through holes per unit area, and an amount of the first through holes per unit area is less than an amount of the second through holes per unit area.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first zone is from a center to about 0.7 time of a radius of the shower head.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein an amount of the first through holes per unit area is less than or equal to an amount of the second through holes per unit area.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein an edge of the shower head is physically connected to the RF power source.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising:

a blocker plate over the shower head in the chamber; and

a heater below the susceptor.

17. The shower head structure of claim 1 , wherein the second zone is a band region surrounding the first zone.

18. The shower head structure of claim 1 , wherein respective diameters of the second through holes are uniform.

19. The shower head structure of claim 5 , wherein respective diameters of the first holes are uniform, respective diameters of the second holes are uniform, respective diameters of the third holes are uniform, and respective diameters of the fourth holes are uniform.

20. The shower head structure of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of second through holes are arranged in at least a first band and a second band concentrically, and the second through holes in the second band is staggerly disposed with respect to the second through holes in the first band.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 8, 2021
From: CHEN, HUAN-CHIEH; LIN, JHIH-REN; LIU, TAI-PIN; TSAI, SHYUE-SHIN; KOAI, KEITH KUANG-KUO
To: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
Reel/Frame 054851/0635 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210054506A1 · Feb 25, 2021
Cited By (1)
US 12,564,008