A radio frequency (RF) generating device for generating RF output signals is provided. The RF generating device includes: a controller configured to generate an RF control signal and a gain control signal; a plurality of RF signal generators, each RF signal generator being configured to generate an RF signal having at least one of a frequency and a phase determined based on the RF control signal; a plurality of RF amplification modules, each RF amplification module being configured to receive the RF signal generated by a corresponding RF signal generator and generate an RF amplification signal by controlling a gain of the RF signal based on the gain control signal; an RF switch module configured to select at least one of the RF amplification signals generated by the RF amplification modules and generate an RF output signal in a form of a multi-level pulse based on the selected at least one of the RF amplification signals; and an impedance converter connected to an electrode of an external load and configured to convert a load impedance into a target impedance having a target range, the load impedance being an impedance of the external load.

An impedance matching network including a mixing module. The mixing module receives a plurality admittances based upon at least one parameter sensed from an output which generated by an RF generator. The output signal is a pulsed RF signal having a plurality of states for each pulse and the plurality of admittances correspond to the plurality states. The mixing module generates a virtual admittance determined in accordance with the plurality of admittances adjusted by a gain. The impedance matching module receives the virtual admittance and generates a command to adjust a capacitance of the impedance matching network or a command to adjust a frequency of the output signal in accordance with the virtual admittance.

A plasma etching apparatus may include a first source electrode, a first bias electrode, and a second bias electrode configured to generate a plasma by supplying energy to a process gas injected into a chamber; and a controller. The controller may be configured to supply a first high-frequency RF power, a first low-frequency RF power, and a second low-frequency RF power to the chamber during a first period from a first time to a second time; ramp down and turn off the first high-frequency RF power to the chamber during a second period from the second time to a third time; and ramp down and turn off the first low-frequency RF power to the chamber during a third period from the second time to a fourth time different from the third time. The third period may be smaller than ½ of the first period and greater than the second period.

Some embodiments include a high voltage, high frequency switching circuit. The switching circuit may include a high voltage switching power supply that produces pulses having a voltage greater than 1 kV and with frequencies greater than 10 kHz and an output. The switching circuit may also include a resistive output stage electrically coupled in parallel with the output and between the output stage and the high voltage switching power supply, the resistive output stage comprising at least one resistor that discharges a load coupled with the output. In some embodiments, the resistive output stage may be configured to discharge over about 1 kilowatt of average power during each pulse cycle. In some embodiments, the output can produce a high voltage pulse having a voltage greater than 1 kV and with frequencies greater than 10 kHz with a pulse fall time less than about 400 ns.

Measuring a plasma state using a probe device in the case of performing plasma processing on a substrate by introducing process gas into a processing container accommodating the substrate and by producing pulsed plasma using an electromagnetic wave pulse obtained by processing an electromagnetic wave generated from an electromagnetic wave oscillator using a pulsing device. An AC voltage to the pulsed plasma is applied via the probe device; transmitting a signal from the pulsed plasma based on the AC voltage via the probe device and measuring data including a current value; and obtaining a state of the pulsed plasma by analyzing the measured data. The frequency of the AC voltage deviates from a frequency of the electromagnetic wave pulse so that the number of data required for the measurement of the pulsed plasma within one cycle of the electromagnetic wave pulse is obtained within allowable time.

In a plasma processing apparatus of an exemplary embodiment, a radio frequency power source generates radio frequency power for plasma generation. A bias power source periodically applies a pulsed negative direct-current voltage to a lower electrode to draw ions into a substrate support. The radio frequency power source supplies the radio frequency power as one or more pulses in a period in which the pulsed negative direct-current voltage is not applied to the lower electrode. The radio frequency power source stops supply of the radio frequency power in a period in which the pulsed negative direct-current voltage is applied to the lower electrode. Each of the one or more pulses has a power level that gradually increases from a point in time of start thereof to a point in time when a peak thereof appears.

A plasma processing apparatus includes: a processing container; an electrode that places a workpiece thereon; a plasma generation source that supplies plasma into the processing container; a bias power supply that supplies a bias power to the electrode; an edge ring disposed at a periphery of the workpiece; a DC power supply that supplies a DC voltage to the edge ring; a controller that executes a first control procedure in which the DC voltage periodically repeats a first state having a first voltage value and a second state having a second voltage value, the first voltage value is supplied in a partial time period within each period of a potential of the electrode, and the second voltage value is supplied such that the first and second states are continuous.

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to methods for enlarging the opening width of substrate features by reducing the overhang of deposited films. Some embodiments of the disclosure utilize a high power bias pulse to etch the deposited film near the opening of the substrate feature. Some embodiments of the disclosure etch the deposited film without damaging the underlying substrate.

A method of controlling a radio frequency processing system, the method including determining an end time of a radio frequency pulse; stopping a load applied to the radio frequency processing system based on the end time of the radio frequency pulse; adjusting an additional load having a predetermined impedance applied to the radio frequency processing system in response to the determined end time; determining a start point of a second radio frequency pulse; and stopping the additional load before the second radio frequency pulse occurs.

Radio frequency (RF) generators are disclosed. A RF generator may include a modulator configured to receive an arbitrary waveform and an RF carrier, and generate a pulsed radio frequency (RF). The arbitrary waveform may be generated via an analog signal generator external to the RF generator. Further, the RF generator may include an amplification stage configured to amplify the pulsed RF signal. RF generation systems and methods of generating a pulsed RF signal also disclosed.