Patent ID: 9184072
Filing Date: 2015-11-10
Classification: H01L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for processing workpieces in a treatment process, said apparatus comprising: a multi-wafer chamber defining a chamber interior including at least two processing stations within the chamber interior such that the processing stations share the chamber interior, each of which processing stations includes a plasma source and a workpiece pedestal, and each of which processing stations is configured for exposing one of the workpieces to the treatment process using a respective plasma source, and the chamber isolates a treatment pressure in the chamber interior from an ambient pressure outside the chamber, said chamber including an arrangement of one or more electrically conductive surfaces that are asymmetrically disposed about the workpiece at each processing station in a way which produces a given level of uniformity of the treatment process on a major surface of each workpiece; and an electrically conductive shield arrangement, located in said chamber interior, for each of the processing stations with each electrically conductive shield arrangement selectively operable (i) in a first, workpiece transfer mode to provide for transferring each workpiece to and from the workpiece pedestal of one of the processing stations and (ii) in a second, treatment mode to surround each workpiece, located on the workpiece pedestal of one of the processing stations, such that the treatment mode provides an enhanced uniformity of exposure of the workpiece to the respective one of the plasma sources that is greater than the given level of uniformity that would be provided in an absence of the shield arrangement.