IP Library Granted Patent US 12,521,773
Granted Patent B2
US 12,521,773 · App. 17/906,368 · Granted Jan 13, 2026

Method of cleaning electrostatic chuck and method of manufacturing semiconductor device while exposing electrostatic chuck to plasma and introducing electron current

Inventors: Koichi Nakajima (Nirasaki, JP); Satoshi Chida (Oshu, JP); Satoshi Chino (Nirasaki, JP)
Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
B08B7/0035C23C16/06C23C16/4405C23C16/4586C23C16/509H01J37/32082H01J37/32715H01L21/32051H01L21/6831H01J2237/2007H01J2237/3321H01J2237/335
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,521,773
App. No.
17/906,368
Granted
Jan 13, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cleaning method according to one aspect of the present disclosure which cleans an electrostatic chuck includes exposing the electrostatic chuck to plasma and maintaining a relationship between a potential of the electrostatic chuck and a potential of the plasma such that electron current is introduced from the plasma toward the electrostatic chuck.

Claims (23)

1 . A cleaning method of cleaning an electrostatic chuck comprising:

exposing the electrostatic chuck to plasma and maintaining a relationship between a potential of the electrostatic chuck and a potential of the plasma such that an electron current is introduced from the plasma toward the electrostatic chuck,

wherein the plasma is formed between a pair of electrodes arranged to face each other,

wherein the pair of electrodes include a first electrode inside the electrostatic chuck and a second electrode facing the electrostatic chuck,

wherein a distance between the first electrode and the second electrode is 80 mm or less, and

wherein the exposing includes applying an anode voltage of 400 V to 600 V to the first electrode.

2 . The cleaning method of claim 1 , wherein the electrostatic chuck is of a Johnson-Rahbek type.

3 . The cleaning method of claim 2 , wherein radio frequency power is applied to the first electrode.

4 . The cleaning method of claim 3 , wherein the cleaning method is performed without a substrate on the electrostatic chuck.

5 . The cleaning method of claim 4 , wherein the electrostatic chuck is connected to a variable impedance device configured to adjust an impedance.

6 . The cleaning method of claim 5 , wherein the anode voltage is controlled based on the electron current introduced toward the electrostatic chuck.

7 . The cleaning method of claim 1 , wherein radio frequency power is applied to the first electrode.

8 . The cleaning method of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning method is performed without a substrate on the electrostatic chuck.

9 . The cleaning method of claim 1 , wherein the electrostatic chuck is connected to a variable impedance device configured to adjust an impedance.

10 . The cleaning method of claim 1 , wherein the anode voltage is controlled based on the electron current introduced toward the electrostatic chuck.

11 . A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, the method comprising:

performing film formation while attracting and holding a substrate on an electrostatic chuck; and

exposing the electrostatic chuck to plasma without a substrate on the electrostatic chuck to clean the electrostatic chuck,

wherein the exposing includes maintaining a relationship between a potential of the electrostatic chuck and a potential of the plasma such that an electron current is introduced from the plasma toward the electrostatic chuck,

wherein the plasma is formed between a pair of electrodes arranged to face each other,

wherein the pair of electrodes include a first electrode inside the electrostatic chuck and a second electrode facing the electrostatic chuck,

wherein a distance between the first electrode and the second electrode is 80 mm or less, and

wherein the exposing includes applying an anode voltage of 400 V to 600 V to the first electrode.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 15, 2022
From: NAKAJIMA, KOICHI; CHIDA, SATOSHI; CHINO, SATOSHI
To: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
Reel/Frame 061104/0350 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2020-046448 · Mar 17, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230173557A1 · Jun 8, 2023
References Cited (9)
US 20020069971A1 · Kaji · 2002 [cited by examiner]
US 20120006351A1 · Jun · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20190035666A1 · Lim · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20190066982A1 · Sato · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20190385815A1 · Iwashita · 2019 [cited by examiner]
JP 2002280365A · 2002 [cited by applicant]
JP 2002270682A · 2002 [cited by examiner]
JP 2004095909A · 2004 [cited by applicant]
JP 2017188648A · 2017 [cited by applicant]