Embodiments disclosed herein include an optical sensor system for use in plasma processing tools. In an embodiment, the optical sensor system, comprises an optically clear body with a first surface and a second surface facing away from the first surface. In an embodiment, the optically clear body further comprises a third surface that is recessed from the second surface. In an embodiment, the optical sensor system further comprises a target over the third surface and a first reflector to optically couple the first surface to the target.

A substrate processing apparatus (100), comprising a reaction chamber (20) having an upper portion (20a) and a lower portion (20b) sealing an inner volume of the reaction chamber (20) for substrate processing, the lower portion (20b) being movable apart from the upper portion (20a) to form a substrate loading gap therebetween, a substrate support system comprising a support table (31) and at least one support element (70) vertically movable in relation to the support table (31) and extending through the support table (31) to receive a substrate within the reaction chamber (20), and a stopper (90) stopping a downward movement of the at least one support element (70) at a substrate loading level.

Processes for oxidation of a workpiece are provided. In one example, a method includes placing a workpiece on a workpiece support in a processing chamber. The method includes performing a pre-oxidation treatment process on the workpiece in the processing chamber to initiate oxide layer formation on the workpiece. The method includes performing a remote plasma oxidation process on the workpiece in the processing chamber to continue the oxide layer formation on the workpiece. Subsequent to performing the pre-oxidation treatment process and the remote plasma oxidation process, the method can include removing the workpiece from the processing chamber. In some embodiments, the remote plasma oxidation process can include generating a first plasma from a remote plasma oxidation process gas in a plasma chamber; filtering species generated in the plasma to generate a mixture having one or more radicals; and exposing the one or more radicals to the workpiece.

Systems and methods for processing workpieces, such as semiconductor workpieces are provided. One example embodiment is directed to a processing system for processing a plurality of workpieces. The processing system can include a loadlock chamber, a transfer chamber, and at least two processing chamber having two or more processing stations. The processing system further includes a storage chamber for storing replaceable parts. The transfer chamber includes a workpiece handling robot. The workpiece handling robot can be configured to transfer a plurality of replaceable parts from the processing stations to the storage chamber.

Embodiments of process kits for use in a process chamber are provided herein. In some embodiments, a process kit includes a slit door having an arcuate profile and including a first plate coupled to a second plate, wherein the first plate is configured to be coupled to an actuator, and wherein the second plate has a processing volume facing surface that includes silicon.

Methods and apparatuses for depositing thin films using plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) with ramping radio-frequency (RF) power are provided herein. Embodiments involve increasing the RF power setting of PEALD cycles after formation of initial screening layers at low RF power settings.

An apparatus for coating a PET container in a coating chamber includes a lance that introduces material and energy into the container while it is in the coating chamber. This results in a reaction that coats the bottle's interior with a silicon oxide. Before reaching the coating chamber, the bottle will have passed through a cooling system connected to coating chamber. The cooling system passes cooled gas through a feed, thereby cooling said bottle before it reaches the coating chamber.

There is provided a vacuum processing apparatus in which at least one of the processing units includes a lower member and an upper member mounted on the lower member to be attachable and detachable that configure the vacuum container, a turning shaft member which is attached to an outer circumferential part of the base plate between the work space and the vacuum container, and has a turning shaft that moves from above the base plate when the turning shaft is connected to the lower member and the lower member turns around the connected part, and a maintenance member including an arm which is disposed above the turning shaft member and turns in a horizontal direction as the upper member is suspended, and in which the lower member is configured to be fixable at the position at a predetermined angle within a range of an angle at which the lower member is capable of turning around the shaft, and to be vertically movable as the arm of the maintenance member fixes the position above a center portion of the lower member of which the position is fixed within a range of the angle at which the lower member is capable of turning, and the upper member is suspended.

An etching method includes: (a) providing a substrate that contains silicon, on a support; (b) etching the substrate with plasma generated from a first gas that includes a fluorine-containing gas, to form an etching shape having a bottom; (c) generating plasma from a second gas that includes a hydrogen fluoride (HF) gas, to selectively form a condensed or solidified layer of HF at the bottom of the etching shape; and (d) etching the bottom with the plasma generated from the second gas, by supplying a bias power to the support. During (c) and (d), a temperature of the substrate is maintained to be 0° C. or lower.

To provide a highly productive, compact, and inexpensive film deposition apparatus while ensuring the stability of the film deposition quality, the apparatus includes a rotating body configured to be rotatable and provided with a holding unit that holds an object to be transferred in an attachable and detachable manner, the holding unit being provided along an outer peripheral portion of the rotating body; and a transfer mechanism having a gripping mechanism capable of gripping and releasing the object, the transfer mechanism transferring the object held by a predetermined device to the holding unit of the rotating body and transferring another object held by the rotating body to the predetermined device.