Patent ID: 6014979
Filing Date: 2000-01-18
Classification: B08B,C23C,H01J,H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of processing a substrate in a process chamber, the method comprising the steps of:(a) in a processing stage, placing the substrate in the process chamber, maintaining a surface of sacrificial material around the substrate, introducing process gas into the process chamber, and energizing the process gas whereby the surface of sacrificial material adds or removes species from the process gas to change a processing rate at the substrate periphery; and(b) in a cleaning stage, removing the substrate, introducing a cleaning gas into the process chamber, and forming a localized cleaning plasma sheath from the cleaning gas that is localized to the surface of the sacrificial material to remove process residue formed on the surface of the sacrificial material substantially without extending to and eroding sidewalls of the process chamber.