Patent ID: 6055927
Filing Date: 2000-05-02
Classification: C23C

Abstract:
An apparatus for silicon nitride deposition in which the production of white powder from a plurality of hot plasma gases inside a chamber is reduced comprising:a plasma deposition chamber having walls;a susceptor positioned inside said deposition chamber;a heater for heating the susceptor;means for heating said walls, said heating means being thermally coupled to said deposition chamber walls;a liner covering a substantial portion of an inner surface of said deposition chamber walls and in thermal contact therewith, said liner being structured and arranged to be heated by conduction from said hot process gases, by radiation and convection from said susceptor, and by said deposition chamber walls when heated by the wall heating means;a remote chamber disposed outside of and spaced apart from said deposition chamber;a plasma activation source adapted to deliver energy into said remote chamber;a first conduit configured to convey a precursor cleaning gas from a remote cleaning gas supply into the remote chamber where it is activated by said activation source to form a reactive cleaning species; anda second conduit configured to convey the reactive cleaning species from the remote chamber into the deposition chamber, the reactive cleaning species being operable to clean the interior of the deposition chamber to reduce the presence of white powder in the deposition chamber.