Patent ID: 8772171
Filing Date: 2014-07-08
Classification: C23C,F16K,H01J,H01L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of processing a semiconductor substrate in a plasma processing apparatus including a showerhead electrode assembly having center and edge zones which are flow insulated from each other and a gas switching section in fluid communication with the center and edge zones of the showerhead electrode assembly wherein the gas switching section comprises a first gas passage adapted to be in fluid communication with a first gas line and the edge zone of the gas distribution member of the plasma processing chamber; a second gas passage adapted to be in fluid communication with the first gas line and a by-pass line; a third gas passage adapted to be in fluid communication with a second gas line and the center zone of the gas distribution member; a fourth gas passage adapted to be in fluid communication with the second gas line and the by-pass line; a fifth gas passage adapted to be in fluid communication with a third gas line and the center zone; a sixth gas passage adapted to be in fluid communication with the third gas line and the by-pass line; a seventh gas passage adapted to be in fluid communication with a fourth gas line and the edge zone; an eighth gas passage adapted to be in fluid communication with the fourth gas line and the by-pass line; first and second fast switching valves along the first and second gas passages respectively, the first fast switching valve operable to open and close the first gas passage and the second fast switching valve operable to open and close the second gas passage; third and fourth fast switching valves along the third and fourth gas passages, respectively, the third fast switching valve operable to open and close the third gas passage and the fourth fast switching valve operable to open and close the fourth gas passage; fifth and sixth fast switching valves along the fifth and sixth gas passages, respectively, the fifth fast switching valve operable to open and close the fifth gas passage and the sixth fast switching valve operable to open and close the sixth gas passage; and seventh and eighth fast switching valve along the seventh and eighth gas passages respectively, the seventh fast switching valve operable to open and close the seventh gas passage and the eighth fast switching valve operable to open and close the eighth gas passage; wherein when the first, third, sixth and eighth fast switching valves are opened and the second, fourth, fifth and seventh fast switching valves are closed a first process gas is supplied to the center and edge zones and a second process gas is diverted to the by-pass line; and when the second, fourth, fifth and seventh fast switching valves are opened and the first, third, sixth and eighth fast switching valves are closed the second process gas is supplied to the center and edge zones and the first process gas is diverted to the by-pass line, comprising: a) supplying the first process gas to the center and edge zones of the showerhead electrode assembly while diverting the second process gas to the by-pass-line by opening the first, third, sixth, and eighth fast switching valves and closing the second, fourth, fifth, and seventh fast switching valves, the plasma processing chamber containing a semiconductor substrate including at least one layer and a patterned resist mask overlying the layer; b) producing a first plasma from the first process gas and (i) etching at least one feature in the layer or (ii) forming a polymer deposit on the mask; c) switching the flows of the first and second process gases by opening the second, fourth, fifth, and seventh fast switching valves and closing the first, third, sixth, and eighth fast switching valves so that the second process gas is supplied to the center and edge zones of the showerhead electrode assembly while the first process gas is diverted to the by-pass line; d) producing a second plasma from the second process gas and (iii) etching the at least one feature in the layer or (iv) forming a polymer deposit on the layer and the mask; e) switching the flows of the first and second process gases by opening the first, third, sixth, and eighth fast switching valves and closing the second, fourth, fifth, and seventh fast switching valves, so that the first process gas is supplied into the plasma processing chamber while the second process gas is diverted to the by-pass line; and f) repeating a)-e) a plurality of times with the substrate; wherein