A method and apparatus for processing a substrate are described herein. The methods and apparatus described enable the raising and lowering of a shadow ring within a process chamber either simultaneously with or separately from a plurality of substrate lift pins. The shadow ring is raised and lowered using a shadow ring lift assembly and may be raised to a pre-determined height above the substrate during a radical treatment operation. The shadow ring lift assembly may also raise and lower the plurality of substrate lift pins to enable both the shadow ring and the substrate lift pins to be raised to a transfer position when the substrate is being transferred into or out of the process chamber.

A method and apparatus for processing a substrate are described herein. The methods and apparatus described enable the raising and lowering of a shadow ring within a process chamber either simultaneously with or separately from a plurality of substrate lift pins. The shadow ring is raised and lowered using a shadow ring lift assembly and may be raised to a pre-determined height above the substrate during a radical treatment operation. The shadow ring lift assembly may also raise and lower the plurality of substrate lift pins to enable both the shadow ring and the substrate lift pins to be raised to a transfer position when the substrate is being transferred into or out of the process chamber.

A power converter is capable to convert an electrical input power into a bipolar output power and to deliver the bipolar output power to at least two independent plasma processing chambers. The power converter includes: a power input port for connection to an electrical power delivering grid, at least two, preferably more than two, power output ports each for connection to one of the plasma process chambers, and a controller configured to control the power converter to deliver the bipolar output power to the power output ports, using one or more control parameters selected from a list comprising: power, voltage, current, excitation frequency, and threshold for protective measures, such that at least one of the control parameters at a first power output port is different from the corresponding control parameter at a different power output port.

A power converter is capable to convert an electrical input power into a bipolar output power and to deliver the bipolar output power to at least two independent plasma processing chambers. The power converter includes: a power input port for connection to an electrical power delivering grid, at least two, preferably more than two, power output ports each for connection to one of the plasma process chambers, and a controller configured to control the power converter to deliver the bipolar output power to the power output ports, using one or more control parameters selected from a list comprising: power, voltage, current, excitation frequency, and threshold for protective measures, such that at least one of the control parameters at a first power output port is different from the corresponding control parameter at a different power output port.

An apparatus to determine occurrence of an anomalous plasma event occurring at or near a process station of a multi-station integrated circuit fabrication chamber is disclosed. In particular embodiments, optical emissions generated responsive to the anomalous plasma event may be detected by at least one photosensor of a plurality of photosensors. A processor may cooperate with the plurality of photosensors to determine that the anomalous plasma event has occurred at or near by a particular process station of the multi-station integrated circuit fabrication chamber.

An apparatus to determine occurrence of an anomalous plasma event occurring at or near a process station of a multi-station integrated circuit fabrication chamber is disclosed. In particular embodiments, optical emissions generated responsive to the anomalous plasma event may be detected by at least one photosensor of a plurality of photosensors. A processor may cooperate with the plurality of photosensors to determine that the anomalous plasma event has occurred at or near by a particular process station of the multi-station integrated circuit fabrication chamber.

Provided is a hard coat laminate having excellent abrasion resistance and heat resistance. The hard coat laminate includes: a substrate; and a base layer disposed on one main surface side of the substrate, in which the base layer contains inorganic nanoparticles, the base layer contains oxygen atoms, carbon atoms, and silicon atoms, the base layer has, on a surface side opposite to the substrate, a first region in which a compositional ratio of carbon atoms to all elements excluding hydrogen decreases as a distance from the substrate increases, in a region other than the first region of the base layer, a compositional ratio of carbon atoms to all elements excluding hydrogen is 5 atom % to 40 atom %, and a compositional ratio of carbon atoms on a surface of the first region is 1 atom % or less.

Provided is a hard coat laminate having excellent abrasion resistance and heat resistance. The hard coat laminate includes: a substrate; and a base layer disposed on one main surface side of the substrate, in which the base layer contains inorganic nanoparticles, the base layer contains oxygen atoms, carbon atoms, and silicon atoms, the base layer has, on a surface side opposite to the substrate, a first region in which a compositional ratio of carbon atoms to all elements excluding hydrogen decreases as a distance from the substrate increases, in a region other than the first region of the base layer, a compositional ratio of carbon atoms to all elements excluding hydrogen is 5 atom % to 40 atom %, and a compositional ratio of carbon atoms on a surface of the first region is 1 atom % or less.

The current disclosure relates to a vapor deposition assembly for depositing material on a substrate. The vapor deposition assembly comprises a treatment chamber for treating susceptors from a deposition chamber that comprises multiple, moveable susceptors. The assembly further comprises a transfer system configured and arranged to move a susceptor between the deposition chamber and the treatment chamber. The disclosure further relates to a method of cleaning as susceptor and to a susceptor treatment apparatus.

The current disclosure relates to a vapor deposition assembly for depositing material on a substrate. The vapor deposition assembly comprises a treatment chamber for treating susceptors from a deposition chamber that comprises multiple, moveable susceptors. The assembly further comprises a transfer system configured and arranged to move a susceptor between the deposition chamber and the treatment chamber. The disclosure further relates to a method of cleaning as susceptor and to a susceptor treatment apparatus.