IP Library Granted Patent US 11,062,886
Granted Patent B2
US 11,062,886 · App. 15/904,053 · Granted Jul 13, 2021

Apparatus and method for controlling wafer uniformity

Inventors: Hsiao-Hua Peng (Hsinchu, TW); Hann-Ru Chen (Hsinchu, TW)
Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
H01J37/32724C23C16/46H01J37/32798H01L21/67103H01L21/67248H01L22/20H01L22/26H01L22/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,062,886
App. No.
15/904,053
Granted
Jul 13, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus for controlling wafer uniformity is disclosed. In one example, the apparatus includes: a plurality of temperature control elements and a processor. Each of the temperature control elements corresponds to a different portion of a wafer respectively such that the temperature control elements correspond to different portions of the wafer. Each of the temperature control elements is configured to individually control temperature of a corresponding portion of the wafer. The processor determines at least one portion of the wafer for temperature uniformity control, and instruct at least one of the temperature control elements, corresponding to the at least one portion, to adjust temperature of the at least one portion for controlling temperature uniformity of the wafer.

Claims (47)

1. An apparatus for controlling wafer uniformity, comprising:

a plurality of temperature control elements, wherein

each of the temperature control elements corresponds to a different portion of a wafer respectively such that the temperature control elements correspond to different portions of the wafer,

each of the temperature control elements is configured to individually control temperature of a corresponding portion of the wafer,

at least one of the temperature control elements is configured to adjust, based on an instruction from a processor, temperature of at least one portion of the wafer for controlling temperature uniformity of the wafer,

the at least one of the temperature control elements corresponds to the at least one portion of the wafer, and

each of the temperature control elements comprises:

a heating element configured to increase temperature of the corresponding portion of the wafer,

a cooling element configured to decrease temperature of the corresponding portion of the wafer, and

a sensing element configured to detect temperature of the corresponding portion of the wafer, wherein each of the temperature control elements is an electromagnetic coil configured to individually control temperature of the corresponding portion of the wafer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the different portions corresponding to the temperature control elements have a same size.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the different portions corresponding to the temperature control elements are evenly distributed on the wafer.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the different portions corresponding to the temperature control elements has a shape different from an annulus.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein

a group of temperature control elements, among the plurality of temperature control elements, corresponds to a group of portions of the wafer and is configured to adjust temperature of the group of portions together for controlling temperature uniformity of the wafer.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a platform holding the plurality of temperature control elements, wherein the platform is above the wafer during the temperature uniformity control.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a platform holding the plurality of temperature control elements, wherein the platform is under the wafer during the temperature uniformity control.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one portion of the wafer is determined based on a critical dimension (CD) map of the wafer, wherein the CD map represents CD performance of the wafer in at least one of the following plasma enhanced processes: etching, deposition, and polishing.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the temperature of the at least one portion is adjusted to minimize a non-uniformity in the CD map of the wafer.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the non-uniformity in the CD map is minimized by minimizing at least one of: a plasma density variation among the different portions of the wafer, a chemical reaction rate variation among the different portions of the wafer, and a CD performance difference between center and edge of the wafer.

11. A wafer process chamber comprising:

a support configured to support a wafer when the wafer is placed on the support and processed;

a plurality of temperature control elements coupled to the support, wherein

each of the temperature control elements corresponds to a different portion of the wafer respectively such that the temperature control elements correspond to different portions of the wafer,

each of the temperature control elements is configured to individually control temperature of a corresponding portion of the wafer,

at least one of the temperature control elements is configured to adjust, based on an instruction from a processor, temperature of at least one portion of the wafer for controlling temperature uniformity of the wafer,

the at least one of the temperature control elements corresponds to the at least one portion of the wafer, and

each of the temperature control elements comprises:

a heating element configured to increase temperature of the corresponding portion of the wafer,

a cooling element configured to decrease temperature of the corresponding portion of the wafer, and

a sensing element configured to detect temperature of the corresponding portion of the wafer, wherein each of the temperature control elements is an electromagnetic coil configured to individually control temperature of the corresponding portion of the wafer.

12. The wafer process chamber of claim 11 , wherein the different portions corresponding to the temperature control elements have a same size.

13. The wafer process chamber of claim 11 , wherein the different portions corresponding to the temperature control elements are evenly distributed on the wafer.

14. The wafer process chamber of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the different portions corresponding to the temperature control elements has a shape different from an annulus.

15. The wafer process chamber of claim 11 , wherein:

the at least one portion of the wafer is determined based on a critical dimension (CD) map of the wafer;

the CD map represents CD performance of the wafer in at least one of the following plasma enhanced processes: etching, deposition, and polishing; and

the temperature of the at least one portion is adjusted to minimize a non-uniformity in the CD map of the wafer.

16. The wafer process chamber of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of temperature control elements is above the wafer during the temperature uniformity control.

17. The wafer process chamber of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of temperature control elements is under the wafer during the temperature uniformity control.

18. A method for controlling wafer uniformity, comprising:

corresponding each of a plurality of temperature control elements to a different portion of a wafer respectively;

configuring each of the temperature control elements to individually control temperature of a corresponding portion of the wafer, wherein each of the temperature control elements is an electromagnetic coil configured to individually control temperature of the corresponding portion of the wafer;

detecting temperature of each portion of the wafer;

determining, based on the detecting, at least one portion of the wafer for temperature uniformity control of the wafer;

selecting at least one temperature control element, among the plurality of temperature control elements, corresponding to the at least one portion; and

adjusting, during an inline plasma enhanced process of the wafer, temperature of the at least one portion for controlling temperature uniformity of the wafer.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 17, 2018
From: PENG, HSIAO-HUA; CHEN, HANN-RU
To: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 045834/0391 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62591310 · Nov 28, 2017
Related Publication 20190164730A1 · May 30, 2019
Cited By (1)
US 12,384,624