Patent ID: 8932959
Filing Date: 2015-01-13
Classification: H01J,H01L

Abstract:
1. A method of etching a stack of thin film layers on a workpiece including a lower thin film, said method comprising first etching said stack in an inductively coupled plasma reactor without exposing said lower thin film layer, and second etching said stack in a toroidal source plasma reactor to expose the lower thin film layer; wherein stack of thin film layers comprises a covering thin film layer overlying said lower thin film layer, said method further comprising halting said first etching prior to complete removal of said covering thin film layer, so as to leave at least a portion of said covering thin film layer on said lower thin film layer; and wherein said lower thin film layer comprises at least one of: Co, Pt, Pd, Ru, CoPt, CoFe, CoFeB, MgO, PtMn, CoPd, TbFeCo, Fe, FePt, IrMn, NiFe, NiFeCr, CoFeBTa, CoFeBZr, CoFeMnSi, FePd, Cu, IrMnC, Cu