IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,387,085
Granted Patent B2
US 11,387,085 · App. 16/536,641 · Granted Jul 12, 2022

Multicathode deposition system

Inventors: Sanjay Bhat (Bangalore, IN); Vibhu Jindal (San Jose, CA); Kamatchigobinath Manoharan (Tamilnadu, IN)
Assignee: Applied Materials Inc.
H01J37/3441C23C14/14C23C14/3464
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,387,085
App. No.
16/536,641
Granted
Jul 12, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A physical vapor deposition (PVD) chamber and a method of operation thereof are disclosed. Chambers and methods are described that provide a chamber comprising one or more of contours that reduce particle defects, temperature control and or measurement and and/or voltage particle traps to reduce processing defects.

Claims (24)

1. A physical vapor deposition (PVD) chamber comprising:

a plurality of cathode assemblies;

an upper shield below the plurality of cathode assemblies having a shield hole to expose one of the plurality of cathode assemblies; and

a lower shield below the upper shield, the lower shield having an upper end in contact with the upper shield, a lower end opposite the upper end, and a lower shield wall comprising a height “H” extending from the upper end to the lower end and a lower shield wall inner surface, wherein the lower shield wall inner surface has a substantially straight region extending from the upper end to about 0.8H wherein the substantially straight region has a first bend adjacent the upper end defining a first angle that is not in a range of from about 0.1 degrees to about 120 degrees and the lower shield wall inner surface has a second bend adjacent the lower end defining a second angle, the lower shield wall inner surface having a contour that minimizes accumulation of particles on the lower shield.

2. The PVD chamber of claim 1 , wherein the lower shield is surrounded by a modular chamber body comprising at least two body portions.

3. The PVD chamber of claim 2 , wherein the at least two body portions comprise an intermediate chamber body and a lower chamber body, the intermediate chamber body disposed above the lower chamber body.

4. The PVD chamber of claim 3 , further comprising a top adapter disposed above the intermediate chamber body and surrounding the upper shield and a lower shield liner disposed between a) one or more of the intermediate chamber body and the lower chamber body and b) the lower shield.

5. The PVD chamber of claim 1 , further comprising a heating element adjacent to the lower shield.

6. The PVD chamber of claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of heating elements.

7. The PVD chamber of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of heating elements comprises heating lamps.

8. The PVD chamber of claim 5 , wherein the heating element comprises a ring heater disposed adjacent to the lower end.

9. The PVD chamber of claim 1 , further comprising a cover ring disposed below the lower shield, the cover ring comprising a peripheral lip defining a sidewall that faces away from the upper shield.

10. The PVD chamber of claim 1 , further comprising a voltage particle trap adjacent to the lower shield, the voltage particle trap configured to trap particles.

11. The PVD chamber of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor disposed above the upper shield.

12. The PVD chamber of claim 11 , wherein the temperature sensor comprises an infrared sensor and a shield.

13. A physical vapor deposition (PVD) chamber comprising:

a plurality of cathode assemblies;

an upper shield below the plurality of cathode assemblies having a shield hole to expose one of the plurality of cathode assemblies; and

a lower shield below the upper shield, the lower shield having an upper end in contact with the upper shield, a lower end opposite the upper end, and a lower shield wall comprising a height “H” extending from the upper end to the lower end and a lower shield wall inner surface, wherein the lower shield wall inner surface has a substantially straight region extending from the upper end to a range of 0.85H to 0.90H, wherein the substantially straight region has a first bend adjacent the upper end defining a first angle that is not in a range of from about 0.1 degrees to about 120 degrees and the lower shield wall inner surface has a second bend adjacent the lower end defining a second angle, the lower shield wall inner surface having a contour that minimizes accumulation of particles on the lower shield; and

one or more heating elements adjacent to the lower shield.

14. The PVD chamber of claim 13 , wherein the one or more heating elements comprises a plurality of lamps circumferentially arranged around the lower shield.

15. The PVD chamber of claim 13 , wherein the one or more heating elements comprises a ring heater disposed adjacent to the lower end.

16. The PVD chamber of claim 13 , further comprising a voltage particle trap adjacent to the lower shield configured to trap particles on the lower shield.

17. The PVD chamber of claim 13 , further comprising a temperature sensor disposed above the upper shield, the temperature sensor comprises an infrared sensor and a shield.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2020
From: BHAT, SANJAY; JINDAL, VIBHU; MANOHARAN, KAMATCHIGOBINATH
To: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
Reel/Frame 052272/0837 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62717294 · Aug 10, 2018
Related Publication 20200051797A1 · Feb 13, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,278,096