Patent ID: 6214160
Filing Date: 2001-04-10
Classification: B08B,C23C,H01J,H01L

Abstract:
An apparatus for dislodging particulates from a surface of a semiconductor wafer in a plasma processing chamber, said apparatus comprising:a pair of independently powered electrodes, including a first electrode to which power is applied to generate a plasma within said processing chamber, and a second electrode which supports a semiconductor wafer and to which power is applied to generate a bias on a surface of said semiconductor wafer;an RF first power supply applied to said first electrode;a second power supply applied to said second electrode;a first switch between said second power supply and said second electrode;a second switch between said second electrode and its grounding source; anda controller working in combination with said first switch and said second switch, whereby electrostatic forces on a surface of said semiconductor wafer are varied, to dislodge particles from said surface.