IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,322,579
Granted Patent B2
US 12,322,579 · App. 17/363,870 · Granted Jun 3, 2025

Metal contamination reduction in substrate processing systems with transformer coupled plasma

Inventors: Maolin Long (Santa Clara, CA); Neema Rastgar (San Jose, CA); Alexander Miller Paterson (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
H01J37/32871H01J37/321H01J37/3211H01J37/32119H01J37/32449H01J37/32651H01L21/67069H01J2237/334H01L21/6831
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,322,579
App. No.
17/363,870
Granted
Jun 3, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A substrate processing system includes a processing chamber including a substrate support to support a substrate. A coil includes at least one terminal. An RF source configured to supply RF power to the coil. A dielectric window is arranged on one surface of the processing chamber adjacent to the coil. A contamination reducer includes a first plate that is arranged between the at least one terminal of the coil and the dielectric window.

Claims (24)

1. A substrate processing system, comprising:

a processing chamber including a substrate support to support a substrate;

an inner coil including a first conductor including first terminals and a second conductor including second terminals;

an outer coil including a third conductor including third terminals and a fourth conductor including fourth terminals;

an RF source configured to supply RF power to the inner and outer coils;

a dielectric window arranged on one surface of the processing chamber adjacent to the inner and outer coils; and

a plurality of contamination reducers for reducing contamination of the substrate, including:

a first plate arranged between the dielectric window and a first one of the third terminals of the third conductor, and a first one of the fourth terminals of the fourth conductor,

a second plate arranged between the dielectric window and a first one of the first terminals of the first conductor;

a third plate arranged between the dielectric window and a second one of the third terminals of the third conductor, and a second one of the fourth terminals of the fourth conductor, and

a fourth plate arranged between the dielectric window and the second terminals of the second conductor; wherein each of the first plate, the second plate, the third plate and the fourth plate have a rectangular shape.

2. The substrate processing system of claim 1 , further comprising a gas delivery system configured to supply gas mixtures to the processing chamber.

3. The substrate processing system of claim 1 , further comprising a gas injector configured to deliver the gas mixtures to the processing chamber, wherein the gas injector is arranged in a center portion of the dielectric window.

4. The substrate processing system of claim 1 , wherein the first plate, the second plate, the third plate, and the fourth plate are each made of a material selected from a group consisting of copper or aluminum.

5. The substrate processing system of claim 1 , wherein the first plate, the second plate, the third plate, and the fourth plate are each made of silver-plated copper.

6. The substrate processing system of claim 1 , wherein the inner coil and the outer coil are arranged in a range from 0.1″ to 1.0″ from the dielectric window.

7. The substrate processing system of claim 1 , wherein the inner coil and the outer coil are arranged in a range from 0.1″ to 0.5″ from the dielectric window.

8. The substrate processing system of claim 1 , wherein the inner coil and the outer coil are arranged at the same height above the dielectric window.

9. The substrate processing system of claim 1 , wherein the inner coil and the outer coil are arranged at different heights above the dielectric window.

10. The substrate processing system of claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the first plate and the second plate is greater than or equal to 0.5 mm and less than or equal to 2 mm.

11. The substrate processing system of claim 1 , wherein:

the dielectric window includes a coating material on a plasma-facing surface thereof, and

the contamination reducer reduces contamination of the substrate by species of the coating material.

12. The substrate processing system of claim 11 , wherein the coating material includes metal species and wherein the contamination reducer reduces metal contamination of the substrate.

Continuity (2)
Division 16238926 · Jan 3, 2019
Related Publication 20210327689A1 · Oct 21, 2021
References Cited (4)
US 20110297320A1 · Sakka · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 20120223060A1 · Yamazawa · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20120273130A1 · Drewery · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20150235810A1 · Long · 2015 [cited by examiner]