IP Library Granted Patent US 12,176,187
Granted Patent B2
US 12,176,187 · App. 18/238,522 · Granted Dec 24, 2024

Cleaning method and plasma processing apparatus

Inventor: Chishio Koshimizu (Miyagi, JP)
Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
H01J37/32862H01J37/3244H01J37/32568H01J37/32642H01J37/32715H01J2237/1502H01J2237/334
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,176,187
App. No.
18/238,522
Granted
Dec 24, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A plasma processing apparatus includes: a plasma processing chamber; a substrate support disposed in the plasma processing chamber; an edge ring disposed on the substrate support to surround a substrate on the substrate support; an actuator configured to vertically move the edge ring; a gas supply configured to supply a cleaning gas into the plasma processing chamber; a power source configured to supply a power to the substrate support; and a controller configured to: (a) maintain the edge ring at a first position spaced apart from the substrate support; and (b) supply a power to the substrate support while supplying the cleaning gas into the plasma processing chamber to generate a local plasma in a gap between the edge ring maintained at the first position and the substrate support, thereby cleaning the edge ring and the substrate support.

Claims (52)

1. A plasma processing apparatus comprising:

a plasma processing chamber;

a substrate support disposed in the plasma processing chamber, the substrate support including:

a lower electrode;

a first electrostatic chuck;

and a second electrostatic chuck;

an edge ring disposed that surrounds a substrate on the substrate support;

an actuator configured to vertically move the edge ring between an upper position and a lower position, wherein in the upper position, a gap is formed between the edge ring and the second electrostatic chuck;

a gas supply configured to supply a cleaning gas into the plasma processing chamber during a cleaning operation;

the second electrostatic chuck having at least one ring electrode and the second electrostatic chuck being disposed below the edge ring in the substrate support, wherein the second electrostatic chuck is disposed between the edge ring and the lower electrode, such that the edge ring overlaps the second electrostatic chuck and the lower electrode in a vertical direction;

a first RF generator configured to supply a first RF signal to the at least one ring electrode of the second electrostatic chuck; and

a controller configured to control the gas supply to supply the cleaning gas into the plasma processing chamber and control the first RF generator to supply the first RF signal to the at least one ring electrode of the second electrostatic chuck to generate a plasma from the cleaning gas in the gap while the edge ring is maintained at the upper position to cause the edge ring and the second electrostatic chuck to be cleaned by the plasma, wherein during the cleaning operation, RF signals are not supplied to the lower electrode or the first electrostatic chuck.

2. The plasma processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second electrostatic chuck further includes:

at least one adsorption electrode disposed below the edge ring in the substrate support; and

at least one DC power supply connected to the at least one adsorption electrode.

3. The plasma processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

the at least one adsorption electrode of the second electrostatic chuck includes first and second adsorption electrodes, and

the at least one DC power supply of the second electrostatic chuck includes a first DC power supply connected to the first adsorption electrode and a second DC power supply connected to the second adsorption electrode.

4. The plasma processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the first and second adsorption electrodes are disposed above the at least one ring electrode.

5. The plasma processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one ring electrode includes first and second ring electrodes.

6. The plasma processing apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising:

a first DC power supply connected to the first ring electrode;

a second DC power supply connected to the second ring electrode;

a first blocking element connected between the first ring electrode and the first RF generator; and

a second blocking element connected between the second ring electrode and the first RF generator.

7. The plasma processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the first electrostatic chuck is disposed on the lower electrode and has a substrate placing surface; and

the substrate support includes a substrate electrode disposed below the substrate placing surface in the first electrostatic chuck.

8. The plasma processing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the second electrostatic chuck is disposed on the lower electrode and surrounds the first electrostatic chuck.

9. The plasma processing apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising a second RF generator connected to the substrate electrode.

10. The plasma processing apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising a third RF generator connected to the lower electrode.

11. The plasma processing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the first RF generator is connected to the at least one ring electrode and the substrate electrode.

12. The plasma processing apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising a first switch connected between the first RF generator and the at least one ring electrode.

13. The plasma processing apparatus according to claim 12 , further comprising a second switch connected between the first RF generator and the substrate electrode.

14. The plasma processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the first electrostatic chuck is disposed on the lower electrode and has a substrate placing surface.

15. The plasma processing apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the second electrostatic chuck is disposed on the lower electrode and surrounds the first electrostatic chuck, and the at least one ring electrode is disposed in the second electrostatic chuck.

16. The plasma processing apparatus according to claim 14 , further comprising a second RF generator connected to the lower electrode.

17. The plasma processing apparatus according to claim 16 , further comprising a third RF generator connected to the lower electrode.

18. A plasma processing apparatus comprising:

a plasma processing chamber;

a substrate support disposed in the plasma processing chamber, the substrate support including:

a lower electrode;

a first electrostatic chuck; and

a second electrostatic chuck;

an edge ring disposed that surrounds a substrate on the substrate support;

an actuator configured to vertically move the edge ring between an upper position and a lower position,

wherein in the upper position, a gap is formed between the edge ring and the second electrostatic chuck;

a gas supply configured to supply a cleaning gas into the plasma processing chamber during a cleaning operation;

the second electrostatic chuck having at least one ring electrode and the second electrostatic chuck being disposed below the edge ring in the substrate support, wherein the second electrostatic chuck is disposed between the edge ring and the lower electrode, such that the edge ring overlaps the second electrostatic chuck and the lower electrode in a vertical direction;

a first RF generator configured to supply a first RF signal to the at least one ring electrode of the second electrostatic chuck; and

a controller configured to control the gas supply to supply the cleaning gas into the plasma processing chamber and control the first RF generator to supply the first RF signal to the at least one ring electrode of the second electrostatic chuck to generate a plasma from the cleaning gas in the gap while the edge ring is maintained at the upper position to cause the edge ring and the second electrostatic chuck to be cleaned by the plasma, wherein during the cleaning operation, an RF signal is supplied to the lower electrode, but not to the first electrostatic chuck.

Priority Claims (2)
JP 2020-034907 · Mar 2, 2020 · national
JP 2020-197852 · Nov 30, 2020 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 17178833 · Feb 18, 2021
Related Publication 20230402269A1 · Dec 14, 2023
Cited By (1)
US 12,400,839