Patent ID: 6692649
Filing Date: 2004-02-17
Classification: H01J,H01L

Abstract:
A method of processing a substrate within a plasma processing module, the method comprising the steps of:a) providing a plasma processing module including i) a plasma containment chamber having a feed gas inlet port capable of allowing a feed gas to enter the plasma containment chamber of the plasma processing module during the processing of the substrate, ii) a secondary chamber, iii) a plasma containment plate separating the plasma containment chamber from the secondary chamber, iv) a chamber interconnecting port that interconnects the plasma containment chamber and the secondary chamber allowing gases from the plasma containment chamber to flow into the secondary chamber during the processing of the substrate; and v) a baffle extending across the secondary chamber; b) placing a substrate within the secondary chamber, the secondary chamber including a chuck and an exhaust port, the chuck being configured to support the substrate during the processing of the substrate and the exhaust port being connected to the secondary chamber such that the exhaust port allows gases to be removed from the secondary chamber during the processing of the substrate, wherein said baffle extends across the secondary chamber between the chamber interconnecting port and the substrate; c) causing a feed gas to be fed into the plasma containment chamber through the feed gas inlet port; d) using an inductively coupled source to energize the feed gas within the plasma containment chamber and strike a plasma within the plasma containment chamber, the specific configuration of the inductively coupled source causing the plasma to be formed such that the plasma includes a primary dissociation zone within the plasma containment chamber; e) grounding said plasma containment plate; f) flowing gases from said plasma containment chamber through said chamber interconnecting port to said secondary chamber; g) flowing gases from said interconnecting port through said baffle extending across said secondary chamber to said substrate; and h) exhausting gases from the secondary chamber through the exhaust port such that the feed gas is drawn from the plasma containment chamber through the chamber interconnecting port into the secondary chamber and out of the plasma processing module through the exhaust port, the chamber interconnecting port being positioned between the plasma containment chamber and the secondary chamber such that, when the substrate is positioned on the chuck in the secondary chamber, there is no substantial direct line-of-sight exposure of the substrate to the primary dissociation zone of the plasma formed within the plasma containment chamber.