A plasma processing apparatus including: a chamber; a plasma generation unit configured to generate a plasma in the chamber; a stage 111 for placing a conveying carrier 10, the stage provided in the chamber; a cover 124 for covering at least part of the conveying carrier placed on the stage; a relative position change unit capable of changing a relative distance between the cover 124 and the stage 111 to a first distance and to a second distance smaller than the first distance; a determination unit configured to determine a placed state of the conveying carrier 10; and a control unit. The determination unit determines the placed state of the conveying carrier while the distance between the cover 124 and the stage 111 is the first distance, and the plasma processing is performed while the distance between the cover 124 and the stage 111 is the second distance.

A thin-film deposition system includes a top plate positioned above a wafer and configured to generate a plasma during a thin-film deposition process. The system includes a sensor configured to generate sensor signals indicative of a lifetime of a component of the thin-film deposition system, a characteristic of a thin-film deposited by the thin-film deposition system or a characteristic of a process material that flows into the thin-film deposition system. The system includes a control system configured to adjust a relative location of a top plate of the thin-film deposition system with respect to a location of a wafer in the thin-film deposition system during the thin-film deposition process responsive to the sensor signals.

There is provided a substrate processing system comprising: a plurality of transfer modules having transfer mechanisms configured to transfer substrates; and a plurality of process modules connected to the plurality of transfer modules. The transfer mechanisms of the plurality of transfer modules transfer a plurality of substrates sequentially and serially to the plurality of process modules, and each of the plurality of transfer modules has an aligner configured to align a substrate when transferring the substrate to the process module connected to a relevant transfer module.

According to one embodiment, a film formation apparatus that suppresses effects of pre-processing and enables stable film formation is provided. A film formation apparatus of the present disclosure includes a chamber that can be made vacuum, a transporter that is provided inside the chamber and that circulates and transports a workpiece in a trajectory of a circle, a film formation unit that forms film by sputtering on the workpiece circulated and transported by the transporter, a load-lock room that loads the workpiece into and out of the chamber relative to air space while keeping an interior of the chamber vacuum, and a pre-processing unit that is provided in the chamber at a position adjacent to the load-lock room and that performs pre-processing to the workpiece loaded in from the load-lock room in a state distant from the transporter.

There is provided a method for performing a pre-treatment to form a copper wiring in a recess formed in a substrate, which includes forming a barrier layer on a surface of the substrate that defines the recess, and forming a seed layer on the barrier layer. The method further includes at least one of etching the barrier layer and etching the seed layer. In the at least one of etching the barrier layer and etching the seed layer, the substrate is inclined with respect to an irradiation direction of ions while rotating the substrate.

Embodiments described herein relate to apparatus and methods for processing a substrate. In one embodiment, a cluster tool apparatus is provided having a transfer chamber and a pre-clean chamber, a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) deposition chamber, an atomic layer deposition (ALD) chamber, and a post-processing chamber disposed about the transfer chamber. A substrate may be processed by the cluster tool and transferred between the pre-clean chamber, the SAM deposition chamber, the ALD chamber, and the post-processing chamber. Transfer of the substrate between each of the chambers may be facilitated by the transfer chamber which houses a transfer robot.

In a film-forming apparatus according to an aspect, a substrate placed on a substrate placing region passes through a first region and a second region in this order by rotation of a placing table. A precursor gas is supplied to the first region. Plasma of a reaction gas is generated in the second region by a plasma generation section. The plasma generation section includes an antenna that supplies microwaves as a plasma source. The antenna includes a dielectric window member and a waveguide. The window member is provided above the second region. The waveguide defines a waveguide path that extends in a radial direction. The waveguide is formed with a plurality of slot holes that allow the microwaves to pass therethrough from the waveguide path toward the window member plate. A bottom surface of the window member defines a groove that extends in the radial direction.

A focus ring adjustment assembly of a system for processing workpieces under vacuum, where the focus ring may include a lower side having a first surface portion and a second surface portion, the first surface portion being vertically above the second surface portion. The adjustment assembly may include a pin configured to selectively contact the first surface portion of the focus ring, and an actuator operable to move the pin along the vertical direction between an extended position and a retracted position. The extended position of the pin may be associated with the distal end of the pin contacting the first surface of the focus ring and the focus ring being accessible for removal by a workpiece handling robot from the vacuum process chamber.

The disclosure relates to a substrate processing apparatus, comprising: a first reactor constructed and arranged to process a rack with a plurality of substrates therein; a second reactor constructed and arranged to process a substrate; and, a substrate transfer device constructed and arranged to transfer substrates to and from the first and second reactor. The second reactor may be provided with an illumination system constructed and arranged to irradiate ultraviolet radiation within a range from 100 to 500 nanometers onto a top surface of at least a substrate in the second reactor.

A flow optimizer is disclosed for use in plasma chamber. The flow optimizer includes a ring that is disposed between a wafer support and a dielectric window defined in the plasma chamber. The ring of the flow optimizer is configured to be positioned between the wafer support and the dielectric window so that an outer edge of the ring is adjacent to side walls of the plasma chamber and an opening of the ring is substantially aligned with a diameter of the wafer support.