IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,011,356
Granted Patent B2
US 11,011,356 · App. 16/890,573 · Granted May 18, 2021

Sputtering target with backside cooling grooves

Inventors: Brian T. West (San Jose, CA); Michael S. Cox (Gilroy, CA); Jeonghoon Oh (Saratoga, CA)
Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
H01J37/3405C23C14/3407C23C14/35H01J37/347H01J37/3423H01J37/3426H01J37/3429H01J37/3435H01J37/3491H01J37/3497
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 11,011,356
App. No.
16/890,573
Granted
May 18, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Implementations of the present disclosure relate to a sputtering target for a sputtering chamber used to process a substrate. In one implementation, a sputtering target for a sputtering chamber is provided. The sputtering target comprises a sputtering plate with a backside surface having radially inner, middle and outer regions and an annular-shaped backing plate mounted to the sputtering plate. The backside surface has a plurality of circular grooves which are spaced apart from one another and at least one arcuate channel cutting through the circular grooves and extending from the radially inner region to the radially outer region of sputtering plate. The annular-shaped backing plate defines an open annulus exposing the backside surface of the sputtering plate.

Claims (41)

1. A sputtering target, comprising:

a circular sputtering plate, comprising:

a sputtering surface; and

a backside surface opposite the sputtering surface, wherein the backside surface has a radially inner region, a radially middle region, and a radially outer region, the backside surface having:

a plurality of circular grooves spaced apart from one another; and

at least one channel cutting through the circular grooves and extending from the radially inner region to the radially outer region of the circular sputtering plate;

an annular flange that extends beyond a radius of the circular sputtering plate, the annular flange comprising a peripheral circular surface having an outer footing operable to rest on a surface;

an outer peripheral wall that extends from an outer edge of the sputtering surface to the annular flange; and

an inner peripheral wall that extends from the backside surface of the circular sputtering plate to the annular flange, wherein a recess that exposes the backside surface of the circular sputtering plate is defined by the backside surface and the inner peripheral wall.

2. The sputtering target of claim 1 , wherein the circular grooves are concentric.

3. The sputtering target of claim 2 , wherein the circular grooves comprise from about 20 to about 30 grooves.

4. The sputtering target of claim 2 , wherein all of the circular grooves are located at the radially middle region of the backside surface.

5. The sputtering target of claim 1 , wherein the at least one channel is a linear channel.

6. The sputtering target of claim 5 , wherein the linear channel is a plurality of linear channels spaced apart from one another by an angle of from about 30 to about 90 degrees as measured from a center of the backside surface.

7. The sputtering target of claim 1 , wherein the at least one channel is an arcuate channel.

8. The sputtering target of claim 7 , wherein the arcuate channel is a plurality of arcuate channels spaced apart from one another by an angle of from about 30 to about 90 degrees as measured from a center of the backside surface.

9. The sputtering target of claim 1 , wherein the sputtering target comprises an alloy of copper and chrome.

10. The sputtering target of claim 1 , wherein the sputtering target comprises a material selected from Al-0.5 wt. % Cu alloy, Al-1.0 wt. % Si alloy, Al-0.5 wt. % Cu—(1.0 wt. % Si) alloy, aluminum, or a combination thereof.

11. A sputtering chamber, comprising:

a sputtering target mounted in the sputtering chamber, comprising:

a circular sputtering plate, comprising:

a sputtering surface; and

a backside surface opposite the sputtering surface, wherein the backside surface has a radially inner region, a radially middle region, and a radially outer region, the backside surface having:

a plurality of circular grooves spaced apart from one another; and

at least one channel cutting through the circular grooves and extending from the radially inner region to the radially outer region of the circular sputtering plate;

an annular flange that extends beyond a radius of the circular sputtering plate, the annular flange comprising a peripheral circular surface having an outer footing operable to rest on a surface;

an outer peripheral wall that extends from an outer edge of the sputtering surface to the annular flange; and

an inner peripheral wall that extends from the backside surface of the circular sputtering plate to the annular flange, wherein a recess that exposes the backside surface of the circular sputtering plate is defined by the backside surface and the inner peripheral wall;

a substrate support facing the sputtering target;

a gas distributor to introduce a gas into the sputtering chamber;

a gas energizer to energize the gas to form a plasma to sputter the sputtering target; and

a gas exhaust port to exhaust gas from the sputtering chamber.

12. The sputtering target of claim 11 , wherein the circular grooves are concentric.

13. The sputtering target of claim 12 , wherein the circular grooves comprise from about 20 to about 30 grooves.

14. The sputtering target of claim 12 , wherein all of the circular grooves are located at the radially middle region of the backside surface.

15. The sputtering target of claim 11 , wherein the at least one channel is a linear channel.

16. The sputtering target of claim 15 , wherein the linear channel is a plurality of linear channels spaced apart from one another by an angle of from about 30 to about 90 degrees as measured from a center of the backside surface.

17. The sputtering target of claim 11 , wherein the at least one channel is an arcuate channel.

18. The sputtering target of claim 17 , wherein the arcuate channel is a plurality of arcuate channels spaced apart from one another by an angle of from about 30 to about 90 degrees as measured from a center of the backside surface.

19. The sputtering target of claim 11 , wherein the sputtering target comprises an alloy of copper and chrome.

20. The sputtering target of claim 11 , wherein the sputtering target comprises a material selected from Al-0.5 wt. % Cu alloy, Al-1.0 wt. % Si alloy, Al-0.5 wt. % Cu—(1.0 wt. % Si) alloy, aluminum, or a combination thereof.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2020
From: WEST, BRIAN T.; COX, MICHAEL S.; OH, JEONGHOON
To: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
Reel/Frame 053177/0679 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 16048919 · Jul 30, 2018
Continuation 15715859 · Sep 26, 2017
Continuation 14456014 · Aug 11, 2014
Provisional Application 61866006 · Aug 14, 2013
Related Publication 20200294778A1 · Sep 17, 2020
Cited By (3)
US 12,198,927 US 12,583,039 US 12,727,404