H01J37/3299

Arcing protection method and processing tool

A fabrication system for fabricating an IC is provided which includes a processing tool, a computation device and a FDC system. The processing tool includes an electrode and an RF sensor to execute a semiconductor manufacturing process to fabricate the IC. The RF sensor wirelessly detects the intensity of the RF signal. The computation device extracts statistical characteristics based on the detection of the intensity of the RF signal. The FDC system determines whether or not the intensity of the RF signal meets a threshold value or a threshold range according to the extracted statistical characteristics. When the detected intensity of the RF signal exceeds the threshold value or the threshold range, the FDC system notifies the processing tool to adjust the RF signal or stop tool to check parts damage.

Electromagnet control device and electromagnet system

A target value of magnetic flux density and magnetic flux density actually obtained are made to coincide precisely with each other. An electromagnet control device comprises a current value determining unit for determining, based on a magnetic flux density instruction value, a value of current that is made to flow through a coil. The current value determining unit is constructed to execute a second process for determining, based on a second function, a value of the current, if the magnetic flux density is to be decreased from that in a first magnetization state, and a fourth process for expanding or reducing the second function by use of a first scaling ratio for transforming it to a fourth function, and determining, based on the fourth function obtained after above transformation, a value of the current, if the magnetic flux density is to be decreased from that in a third magnetization state.

Nitride capping of titanium material to improve barrier properties
11664229 · 2023-05-30 · ·

A method and apparatus for nitride capping of titanium materials via chemical vapor deposition techniques is provided. The method includes forming a titanium nitride layer upon a titanium material layer formed on a substrate. The titanium nitride layer is formed by exposing the titanium material layer to a hydrogen-rich nitrogen-containing plasma followed by exposing the titanium material layer to a nitrogen-rich nitrogen-containing plasma. The titanium nitride layer is then exposed to an argon plasma followed by exposing the titanium nitride layer to a halide soak process.

METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PHOTOMASK PROCESSING
20220326607 · 2022-10-13 ·

Methods and apparatus leverage dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma to treat samples for surface modification prior to photomask application and for photomask cleaning. In some embodiments, a method of treating a surface with AP plasma includes igniting plasma over an ignition plate where the AP plasma is formed by one or more plasma heads of an AP plasma reactor positioned above the ignition plate, monitoring characteristics of the AP plasma with an optical emission spectrometer (OES) sensor to determine if stable AP plasma is obtained and, if so, moving the AP reactor over a central opening of an assistant plate where the central opening contains a sample under treatment and where the assistant plate reduces AP plasma arcing on the sample during treatment. The AP reactor scans back and forth over the central opening of the assistant plate while maintaining stabilized AP plasma to treat the sample.

APPARATUS FOR ARCING DIAGNOSIS, PLASMA PROCESS EQUIPMENT INCLUDING THE SAME, AND ARCING DIAGNOSIS METHOD

An apparatus includes first and second VI sensors, an optical sensor, and an arcing detector. The first VI sensor is disposed in a power filter or on a power supply line connected to a heater disposed in a lower electrode of a process chamber in which a plasma process is performed. The first VI sensor senses a harmonic generated from a first power supply supplying power to the lower electrode and outputs a first signal. The optical sensor senses an intensity of light generated from the process chamber and outputs a second signal. The second VI sensor is disposed on a power supply line connected to an upper electrode and senses a harmonic generated from a second power supply supplying power to the upper electrode and outputs a third signal. The arcing detector determines whether arcing occurs based on one or more of the first, second, and third signals.

ETCHING AND PLASMA UNIFORMITY CONTROL USING MAGNETICS

Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer programs are presented for controlling etch rate and plasma uniformity using magnetic fields. A semiconductor substrate processing apparatus includes a vacuum chamber including a processing zone for processing a substrate using capacitively coupled plasma (CCP). The apparatus further includes a magnetic field sensor configured to detect a signal representing a residual magnetic field associated with the vacuum chamber. At least one magnetic field source is configured to generate one or more supplemental magnetic fields through the processing zone of the vacuum chamber. A magnetic field controller is coupled to the magnetic field sensor and the at least one magnetic field source. The magnetic field controller is configured to adjust at least one characteristic of the one or more supplemental magnetic fields, causing the one or more supplemental magnetic fields to reduce the residual magnetic field to a pre-determined value.

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE, SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM
20230106341 · 2023-04-06 ·

There is provided a technique capable of stably form the film on a substrate regardless of machine difference or processing conditions. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a technique that includes: (a) setting correction coefficients for correcting an output level of microwave; (b) storing correction tables containing the correction coefficients set in (a); (c) acquiring one or more correction coefficients from at least one correction table periodically from a start of outputting of the microwave; (d) calculating a correction value for an output preset level of the microwave from the one or more correction coefficients acquired in (c); (e) correcting the output preset level of the microwave by using the correction value calculated in (d); and (f) processing a substrate by supplying the microwave into a process chamber with the output preset level of the microwave corrected in (e).

FRONTSIDE AND BACKSIDE PRESSURE MONITORING FOR SUBSTRATE MOVEMENT PREVENTION
20230141653 · 2023-05-11 ·

A pressure control system includes a first sensor, a second sensor, an evacuation valve and a controller. The first sensor is configured to detect a frontside pressure within a processing chamber. The frontside pressure is indicative of a downforce on a substrate isposed on a substrate support within the processing chamber. The second sensor is configured to detect a backside pressure on a ackside of the substrate. The controller is configured to: control the evacuation valve to remove gas from and reduce the frontside pressure of the processing chamber; and during the removal of gas from a reduction in the frontside pressure of the processing chamber and based on the frontside pressure and the backside pressure, regulate an opening of the evacuation valve such that the frontside pressure does not drop below the backside pressure.

Plasma Enhanced Film Formation Method
20230143204 · 2023-05-11 ·

A method of plasma processing that includes: flowing a first gas and a second gas into a plasma processing chamber including a substrate, the second gas including a film precursor; at a first time instance, while maintaining the flow of the first gas, shutting off the flow of the second gas into the plasma processing chamber; and at a second time instance after the first time instance, powering an electrode of the plasma processing chamber to generate a plasma within the plasma processing chamber, the surface of the substrate being exposed to the generated plasma to form a film over the substrate.

Inter-period control system for plasma power delivery system and method of operating same
11651939 · 2023-05-16 · ·

A generator produces output such as delivered power, voltage, current, forward power etc. that follows a prescribed pattern of output versus time where the pattern repeats with a repetition period by controlling sections of the pattern based on measurements taken one or more repetition periods in the past. A variable impedance match network may control the impedance presented to a radio frequency generator while the generator produces the output that follows the prescribed pattern of output versus time where the pattern repeats with a repetition period by controlling variable impedance elements in the match during sections of the pattern based on measurements taken one or more repetition periods in the past.