Patent ID: 6077788
Filing Date: 2000-06-20
Classification: C23F,H01L

Abstract:
Method for sequentially processing samples, one-by-one, from a supply cassette to a discharge cassette, which supply and discharge cassettes each hold a plurality of said samples, each sample having a metal layer, including a laminate comprising at least two films of at least two different metals of different ionization tendencies, and a resist layer on said metal layer, comprising the steps of:transferring each said sample in said supply cassette to an etching chamber through a buffer chamber, one-by-one;etching by a first plasma so as to effect etching of said sample in said etching chamber, thereby forming an etched sample having a pattern of said metal layer;transferring each said sample from said etching chamber to an ashing chamber through said buffer chamber, one-by-one;treating by a second plasma so as to effect both ashing of said resist layer and removing corrosive compounds, formed during said etching, from sidewalls of said pattern of said metal layer, in said ashing chamber;transferring each said sample from said ashing chamber to a rinsing structure through said buffer chamber, one-by-one;contacting said samples with a liquid one-by-one in said rinsing structure; andtransferring each said sample from said rinsing structure to said discharge cassette one-by-one,wherein said samples pass sequentially from said supply cassette to said discharge cassette through said steps of said etching by a first plasma and said treating by a second plasma.