IP Library Granted Patent US 12,215,421
Granted Patent B2
US 12,215,421 · App. 18/526,411 · Granted Feb 4, 2025

Systems and methods for pulse width modulated dose control

Inventor: Mariusch Gregor (Gilroy, CA)
Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
C23C16/45544B05B1/14B05B1/30C23C16/45557C23C16/45565H01L21/67069H01L21/67253
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,215,421
App. No.
18/526,411
Granted
Feb 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A substrate processing system for treating a substrate includes N manifolds, Y groups of injector assemblies, and a dose controller, where Y and N are integers greater than one. Each of the Y groups of injector assemblies includes N injector assemblies located in a processing chamber. Each of the N injector assemblies in each group of injector assemblies is in fluid communication with one of the N manifolds, respectively, and includes a valve including an inlet and an outlet. The dose controller is configured to control pulse widths output to the Y groups of injector assemblies to provide temporal dosing of the substrate.

Claims (13)

1. A substrate processing system for treating a substrate, comprising: N manifolds; Y groups of injector assemblies, wherein Y and N are integers greater than one, wherein each of the Y groups of injector assemblies includes N injector assemblies located in a processing chamber, wherein each of the N injector assemblies in each group of injector assemblies is in fluid communication with one of the N manifolds, respectively, and includes a valve including an inlet and an outlet; and a dose controller configured to control pulse widths output to the Y groups of injector assemblies to provide temporal dosing of the substrate, wherein the dose controller is configured to vary the pulse widths based on at least one of manufacturing differences between the valves in at least one of the N injector assemblies and non-uniformities of the valves in at least one of the N injector assemblies.

2. The substrate processing system of claim 1 , wherein the temporal dosing includes supplying a first gas mixture from a first one of the N manifolds using a first one of the Y groups of injector assemblies while concurrently supplying a second gas mixture from a second one of the N manifolds using a second one of the Y groups of injector assemblies.

3. The substrate processing system of claim 1 , wherein each of the N injector assemblies further includes a pressure sensor sensing pressure at the valve in each of the N injector assemblies.

4. The substrate processing system of claim 3 , wherein the dose controller is configured to adjust the pulse widths based on the corresponding sensed pressures.

5. The substrate processing system of claim 1 , wherein each of the N injector assemblies further includes a temperature sensor sensing gas temperature at the valve in each of the N injector assemblies.

6. The substrate processing system of claim 5 , wherein the dose controller is configured to adjust the pulse widths based on the corresponding gas temperatures.

7. The substrate processing system of claim 1 , wherein the dose controller is configured to vary the pulse widths based on at least one of manufacturing differences between the valves in each of the N injector assemblies and non-uniformities of the valves in each of the N injector assemblies.

8. The substrate processing system of claim 1 , further comprising a pressure regulator to regulate a pressure inside the manifold.

9. The substrate processing system of claim 1 , wherein each of the N injector assemblies further includes a restricted orifice.

10. The substrate processing system of claim 1 , wherein each of the N injector assemblies further includes a bypass valve having an inlet connected to an inlet of the valve.

11. The substrate processing system of claim 10 , wherein each of the N injector assemblies further includes a pressure sensor sensing pressure at the valve in each of the N injector assemblies, and wherein the dose controller is configured to adjust the pulse widths of the valves and the bypass valves based on the corresponding pressures.

12. The substrate processing system of claim 10 , wherein each of the N injector assemblies further includes a temperature sensor sensing gas temperature at the valve in each of the N injector assemblies, and wherein the dose controller is configured to adjust the pulse widths of the valves and the bypass valves based on the corresponding gas temperatures.

13. The substrate processing system of claim 10 , wherein the dose controller is configured to vary the pulse widths based on a desired overlap of the valve and the bypass valve for each of the N injector assemblies.

Continuity (5)
Continuation 18092413 · Jan 2, 2023
Division 16650328
Provisional Application 62590815 · Nov 27, 2017
Provisional Application 62563129 · Sep 26, 2017
Related Publication 20240093365A1 · Mar 21, 2024
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