Patent ID: 11862433
Assignee: VARLAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.
Field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H | IPC H

Claim 0:
1. A method of etching a workpiece, comprising:
creating a plasma within an auxiliary plasma source using a gas comprising an etching species, wherein the auxiliary plasma source is located proximate the workpiece, and wherein ions and radicals from the plasma exit the auxiliary plasma source toward a portion of the workpiece and form a film on the portion of the workpiece; and
using an ion beam created using an ion source, different from the auxiliary plasma source, to provide energy to etch the workpiece, wherein the auxiliary plasma source and the ion source are operated concurrently such that the ion beam is directed toward the workpiece while the auxiliary plasma source is generating the ions and radicals.