IP Library Granted Patent US 9,240,308
Granted Patent B2
US 9,240,308 · App. 14/498,920 · Granted Jan 19, 2016

Hall effect enhanced capacitively coupled plasma source, an abatement system, and vacuum processing system

Inventors: Michael S. Cox (Gilroy, CA); Rongping Wang (Cupertino, CA); Brian T. West (San Jose, CA); Roger M. Johnson (Livermore, CA); Colin John Dickinson (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
H01J37/32669H01J37/32568H01J37/32596H01J37/32825H01J37/32844H01J2237/332H01J2237/334H01J2237/335
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,240,308
App. No.
14/498,920
Granted
Jan 19, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein include an abatement system for abating compounds produced in semiconductor processes. The abatement system includes a plasma source that has a first plate and a second plate parallel to the first plate. An electrode is disposed between the first and second plates and an outer wall is disposed between the first and second plates surrounding the electrode. The plasma source has a first plurality of magnets disposed on the first plate and a second plurality of magnets disposed on the second plate. The magnetic field created by the first and second plurality of magnets is substantially perpendicular to the electric field created between the electrode and the outer wall. In this configuration, a dense plasma is created.

Claims (24)

1. An abatement system, comprising:

a plasma source, comprising:

a body having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is configured to couple to a foreline and the second end is configured to couple to a conduit;

an electrode disposed in the body;

a first plurality of magnets disposed on a first plate of the body; and

a second plurality of magnets disposed on a second plate of the body.

2. The abatement system of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of magnets has an annular shape and the second plurality of magnets has an annular shape.

3. The abatement system of claim 1 , wherein the electrode is cylindrical and hollow, and has an inner wall.

4. The abatement system of claim 3 , wherein the plasma source further comprising a cooling jacket in contact with the inner wall of the electrode.

5. The abatement system of claim 1 , wherein the abatement system further comprising an exhaust cooling apparatus coupled to the plasma source.

6. A vacuum processing system, comprising:

a vacuum processing chamber; and

a plasma source coupled to an exhaust port of the vacuum processing port via a foreline, the plasma source comprising:

a first plate having an outer edge and an inner edge;

a second plate parallel to the first plate, wherein the second plate has an outer edge and an inner edge;

an outer wall disposed between the outer edges of the first and second plates;

an electrode disposed between the inner edges of the first and second plates;

a first plurality of magnets disposed on the first plate; and

a second plurality of magnets disposed on the second plate.

7. The vacuum processing system of claim 6 , further comprising an abatement reagent source coupled to the foreline and/or the plasma source.

8. The vacuum processing system of claim 6 , further comprising a pressure regulating module coupled to an exhaust conduit that is coupled to the plasma source.

9. The vacuum processing system of claim 6 , further comprising an exhaust cooling apparatus coupled to the plasma source.

10. The vacuum processing system of claim 9 , wherein the first plate has a surface facing the second plate and the second plate has a surface facing the first plate, and wherein the plasma source further comprising a first shield disposed adjacent to the surface of the first plate and a second shield disposed adjacent to the surface of the second plate.

11. The vacuum processing system of claim 10 , wherein each plate has a step and the outer edge is non-linear to the inner edge.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 15, 2014
From: COX, MICHAEL S.; WANG, RONGPING; WEST, BRIAN T.; JOHNSON, ROGER M.; DICKINSON, COLIN JOHN
To: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
Reel/Frame 033952/0944 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation In Part 14199974 · Mar 6, 2014
Provisional Application 62050555 · Sep 15, 2014
Related Publication 20150255256A1 · Sep 10, 2015