Patent ID: 6444087
Filing Date: 2002-09-03
Classification: H01J,H01L

Abstract:
A microwave plasma etching system comprising a substrate electrode mounted in a vacuum process chamber, a ground electrode and a plasma generating source for turning an etching gas into a plasma by an electric field formed by a microwave and a magnetic field, wherein said plasma is used for plasma etching of substrates mounted on said substrate electrode;said plasma etching system being characterized in that said ground electrode is made of carbon or silicon carbide, a dielectric material containing a Si compound covers the surface portion of said substrate electrode facing inside the substrate installation portion of said vacuum process chamber except for the substrate installation portion, and, when a substrate installation surface of the substrate electrode is horizontal, a bottom end face of said ground electrode is substantially at a same level of said substrate installation surface or extends slightly below said substrate installation surface so that said ground electrode constitutes a part of an inner wall of said vacuum process chamber at an inclined upward position outside, in the radial direction, of said substrate installation surface.