Patent ID: 6758948
Filing Date: 2004-07-06
Classification: C23C,H01J

Abstract:
An apparatus for performing physical vapor deposition of a layer on a substrate, said apparatus comprising:a deposition chamber enclosing a plasma region for containing an ionizable gas; an electromagnetic field generator surrounding said plasma region for inductively coupling an electromagnetic field into said plasma region to ionize the gas and generate and maintain a high density, low potential plasma; a source of deposition material including a solid target constituting a source of material to be deposited onto the substrate; an electrical bias circuit associated with said target adapted to electrically bias said target in order to cause ions in the plasma to strike said target and sputter material from said target; and a substrate holder for holding the substrate at a location to permit material sputtered from said target to be deposited on the substrate, wherein said electromagnetic field generator comprises: a source of RF electrical power; an electrostatic shield surrounding said plasma region, said electrostatic shield is a conductive member having regions that allow passage of RF electromagnetic energy, which regions have a lower bound that is not lower than the location of a substrate held by said substrate holder; and a coil surrounding said shield and coupled to said source of RF electrical power for converting RF power from said source into the electromagnetic field that is coupled into said plasma region; and a voltage source adapted to apply a DC bias to said shield.