Patent ID: 8608902
Filing Date: 2013-12-17
Classification: C23C,H01J

Abstract:
1. A vertical plasma processing apparatus for performing a plasma process on a plurality of target objects together at a time, the apparatus comprising: a vertically elongated process container having a process field configured to accommodate the target objects and to be set in an airtight state; a holder configured to stack thereon the target objects at intervals in a vertical direction within a holding span having a predetermined vertical length inside the process field; a gas supply system configured to supply a process gas into the process container; an exhaust system configured to exhaust gas from inside the process container; and an activation mechanism configured to turn the process gas into plasma, wherein the activation mechanism includes a vertically elongated plasma generation box attached to outside the process container and extending vertically entirely over the process field and confining a plasma generation area airtightly communicating with the process field, an inductively coupled plasma ICP electrode disposed outside the plasma generation box to generate inductively coupled plasma of the process gas in the plasma generation area, and a radio frequency RF power supply connected to the ICP electrode, and wherein the plasma generation box includes an opening having a vertical length entirely over the holding span and connecting the plasma generation area to the process field, the plasma generation box having a vertically elongated shape formed by first and second sidewalls extending outward from the process container in a radial direction, the first and second sidewalls disposed on either side of the opening and facing each other, and a backside wall connecting outer ends of the first and second sidewalls to each other, the gas supply system includes a gas distribution nozzle disposed inside the plasma generation box and including a plurality of gas spouting holes arrayed in a vertical direction to laterally spout the process gas toward the process field, the gas distribution nozzle being disposed to deliver the process gas directly inside the plasma generation box such that the process gas is supplied to the process field through a position inside the plasma generation box corresponding to the ICP electrode, and the ICP electrode is an electrode band extending in a vertical direction along only one of the first and second sidewalls of the plasma generation box, the electrode band including a meandering part defined by a plurality of bent portions alternately bent in opposite directions along only said one of the first and second sidewalls of the plasma generation box vertically entirely over the holding span, the meandering part having a meandering width set not to reach the position corresponding to the gas distribution nozzle, such that plasma generated inside the plasma generation box is not in contact with the gas nozzle.