IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,460,945
Granted Patent B2
US 8,460,945 · App. 10/673,513 · Granted Jun 11, 2013

Method for monitoring status of system components

Inventors: David L. O'Meara (Poughkeepsie, NY); Daniel Craig Burdett (West Park, NY); Stephen H. Cabral (Pine Plains, NY); Gert Leusink (Saltpoint, NY); John William Kostenko (LaGrangeville, NY); Cory Wajda (Hopewell Junction, NY)
Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,460,945
App. No.
10/673,513
Granted
Jun 11, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and system are provided for monitoring status of a system component in a process chamber of a batch type processing system. The method includes exposing a system component to light from a light source and monitoring interaction of the light with the system component to determine status of the system component. The method can detect light transmission and/or light reflection from a system component during a process that can include a chamber cleaning process, a chamber conditioning process, a substrate etching process, and a substrate film formation process. The system component can be a consumable system part such as a process tube, a shield, a ring, a baffle, and a liner, and can further contain a protective coating.

Claims (16)

1. A method of monitoring status of a system component in a process chamber of a batch type processing system, comprising:

exposing a system component of the batch type processing system to light from a light source; and

monitoring interaction of the light with the system component to monitor a state of a material deposit on the system component in order to determine a status of the system component, and further comprising performing a process in the process chamber wherein the performing comprises:

flowing a process gas including at least one of DCS and NH 3 during a chamber conditioning process.

2. A method of monitoring status of a system component in a process chamber of a batch type processing system, comprising:

exposing a system component of the batch type processing system to light from a light source; and

monitoring interaction of the light with the system component to monitor a state of a material deposit on the system component in order to determine a status of the system component, and further comprising performing a process in the process chamber, wherein the performing comprises:

flowing a process gas including at least one of NO and TEOS during a substrate film formation process.

3. A method of monitoring status of a system component in a process chamber of a batch type processing system, comprising:

exposing a system component of the batch type processing system to light from a light source; and

monitoring interaction of the light with the system component to monitor a state of a material deposit on the system component in order to determine a status of the system component, and further comprising performing a process in the process chamber wherein the performing comprises:

exposing a quartz system component to chamber pressure of about 200 mTorr and a temperature of about 300° C. during a chamber cleaning process.

4. A method of monitoring status of a system component in a process chamber of a batch type processing system, comprising:

exposing a system component of the batch type processing system to light from a light source; and

monitoring interaction of the light with the system component to monitor a state of a material deposit on the system component in order to determine a status of the system component, and further comprising performing a process in the process chamber wherein the exposing comprises:

exposing a quartz system component including a SiN protective coating and a metal oxide material deposit to the light during a chamber cleaning process.

Assignments (2)
RECORD TO CORRECT ASSIGNOR #1'S NAME ON AN ASSIGNMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL/FRAME 014999/0625. Recorded Sep 24, 2004
From: O'MEARA, DAVID L.; BURDETT, DANIEL CRAIG; CABRAL, STEPHEN H.; LEUSINK, GERT; KOSTENKO, JOHN WILLIAM; WAJDA, CORY
To: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
Reel/Frame 015827/0537 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 23, 2004
From: O'MEARA, DAVID; BURDETT, DANIEL CRAIG; CABRAL, STEPHEN H.; LEUSINK, GERT; KOSTENKO, JOHN WILLIAM; WAJDA, CORY
To: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
Reel/Frame 014999/0625 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20050068519A1 · Mar 31, 2005