IP Library Patent Application 18359953
Patent Application
App. No. 18/359,953

FOCUS RING AND PLASMA ETCHING APPARATUS COMPRISING THE SAME

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
18/359,953
Abstract

A plasma etching apparatus includes a chamber configured to generate plasma, an electrostatic chuck disposed in the chamber, and a focus ring placed on the electrostatic chuck and configured to support an object to be etched. The focus ring includes a seating part and a body part. A seating surface is provided on at least a portion of the seating part configured to seat the object to be etched thereon. The focus ring further includes a step provided between the seating part and the body part. The body part includes a body area and a chucking reinforcement area. The body area includes a first corrosion resistant layer, and the chucking reinforcement area includes a second corrosion resistant layer. The second corrosion resistant layer is thinner than the first corrosion resistant layer, and has a minimum thickness of 1 mm or more.

Claims (44)

1 . A plasma etching apparatus, comprising:

a chamber configured to generate plasma;

an electrostatic chuck disposed in the chamber; and

a focus ring placed on the electrostatic chuck and configured to support an object to be etched,

wherein the focus ring comprises a seating part and a body part,

wherein a seating surface is provided on at least a portion of the seating part configured to seat the object to be etched thereon,

wherein a step is provided between the seating part and the body part,

wherein the body part comprises a body area and a chucking reinforcement area,

wherein the body area comprises a first corrosion resistant layer, and the chucking reinforcement area comprises a second corrosion resistant layer,

wherein the second corrosion resistant layer is thinner than the first corrosion resistant layer, and

wherein the second corrosion resistant layer has a minimum thickness of 1 mm or more.

2 . The plasma etching apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the focus ring is configured to increase a chucking force by 30% or more compared to a focus ring not using the chucking reinforcement area.

3 . The plasma etching apparatus of claim 1 , further comprises a gas layer positioned between the focus ring and the electrostatic chuck,

wherein the gas layer is configured to flow an inert gas at a flow rate of 3 sccm to 20 sccm.

4 . A focus ring comprising:

a seating part and a body part,

wherein a seating surface is provided on at least a portion of the seating part configured to seat an object to be etched,

wherein a step is provided between the seating part and the body part,

wherein the body part comprises a body area and a chucking reinforcement area,

wherein the body area comprises a first corrosion resistant layer, and the chucking reinforcement area comprises a second corrosion resistant layer,

wherein the second corrosion resistant layer is thinner than the first corrosion resistant layer, and

wherein the second corrosion resistant layer has a minimum thickness of 1 mm or more.

5 . The focus ring of claim 4 , wherein the chucking reinforcement area further comprises a chucking enhancement layer on the second corrosion resistant layer, and

wherein the chucking enhancement layer comprises a material having a dielectric constant lower than that of the second corrosion resistant layer.

6 . The focus ring of claim 5 , wherein the chucking enhancement layer comprises an air layer or a vacuum layer.

7 . The focus ring of claim 4 , wherein the second corrosion resistant layer has a flexural strength of 300 MPa or greater.

8 . The focus ring of claim 4 , wherein the first corrosion resistant layer and the second corrosion resistant layer each independently comprise one selected from the group consisting of silicon, silicon carbide, boron carbide, and a combination thereof.

9 . The focus ring of claim 4 , wherein the first corrosion resistant layer has an average thickness of 3.6 mm or less.

10 . The focus ring of claim 5 , wherein when V 1 represents a volume of the focus ring including the chucking enhancement layer and V 2 represents a volume of the chucking enhancement layer, a ratio of V 2 to V 1 is at least 15% when V 1 is 100%.

11 . The focus ring of claim 5 , wherein the focus ring and the chucking reinforcement area each are in a form of a ring, and

wherein when W represents a length from an inner diameter of the seating part to an outer diameter of the body part, D represents a distance from an upper surface of the body part to a bottom surface of the body part opposite to the upper surface of the body part, and A represents a cross-sectional area of the chucking enhancement layer when viewed from a cross section of the focus ring in a thickness direction, a ratio of A is 20% or greater when the product of W and D is 100%.

12 . A manufacturing method of a substrate, the method comprising:

etching a substrate by applying a plasma etching apparatus,

wherein the plasma etching apparatus comprises:

a chamber configured to generate plasma;

an electrostatic chuck disposed in the chamber; and

a focus ring placed on the electrostatic chuck and configured to support an object to be etched,

wherein the focus ring comprises a seating part and a body part,

wherein a seating surface is provided on at least a portion of the seating part configured to seat the object to be etched thereon,

wherein a step is provided between the seating part and the body part,

wherein the body part comprises a body area and a chucking reinforcement area,

wherein the body area comprises a first corrosion resistant layer, and the chucking reinforcement area comprises a second corrosion resistant layer,

wherein the second corrosion resistant layer is thinner than the first corrosion resistant layer, and

wherein the second corrosion resistant layer has a minimum thickness of 1 mm or more.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE ASSIGNOR'S NAME FROM SK ENPULSE CO. TO SK ENPULSE CO., LTD PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 67502 FRAME: 481. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded May 28, 2024
From: SK ENPULSE CO., LTD.
To: SOLMICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 067555/0822 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 23, 2024
From: SK ENPULSE CO.
To: SOLMICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 067502/0481 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 27, 2023
From: MIN, KYUNGYEOL; CHOI, YONGSOO; HWANG, SUNGSIC; KIM, KYUNGIN; KANG, JUNGKUN; CHAE, SU MAN
To: SK ENPULSE CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 064398/0970 →