Patent ID: 8580078
Filing Date: 2013-11-12
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A bevel etcher wherein a bevel edge of a semiconductor substrate can be plasma etched, comprising: a chamber having an interior in which the bevel edge of the semiconductor substrate can be plasma etched; a support surface configured to support the semiconductor substrate such that the bevel edge of the substrate extends outwardly of an outer edge of the support surface; a recessed surface with lift pin holes therein, the recessed surface being below the underside of the substrate supported on the support surface, the recessed surface defining a vacuum region beneath the substrate supported on the support surface; a plasma generation unit adapted to energize process gas into a plasma state in the vicinity of the bevel edge, the plasma generation unit comprising a first electrode ring surrounding the support surface; a gas feeding system including a gas distribution plate having a bottom surface opposing a chuck body and including at least one hole through which process gas flows and applies gas pressure to a top surface of the substrate; a second electrode ring surrounding the gas distribution plate and opposing the first electrode ring; a source of vacuum in fluid communication with the interior of the chamber to provide an operational chamber pressure; and a source of vacuum in fluid communication with the vacuum region via the lift pin holes; wherein the chuck body is of electrically conductive metal coupled to a radio frequency (RF) power source to generate the plasma; and the top surface of the substrate and the vacuum region have a pressure difference above a threshold.