Patent Publication Number: US-11393704-B2

Title: Semiconductor processing device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/016,275, filed on Feb. 5, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,666,461. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent applications is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     In wafer etching processes, the chamber in which the wafer is etched may accrue byproducts that are deposited on the chamber wall after the wafer is etched. A cleaning process to clean the chamber removes the byproducts on the chamber wall, and then the wafer etching process continues. 
     However, the process of cleaning the chamber to remove the byproducts takes a significant amount of time. During the cleaning process, the chamber is unable to etch other wafers. Thus, the cleaning process reduces the efficiency and productivity of the chamber. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Aspects of the present disclosure are best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It is noted that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion. 
         FIG. 1A  to  FIG. 1G  are schematic diagrams of a semiconductor processing device performing a semiconductor process according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a flow chart showing the steps of a semiconductor process according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart showing the steps of a semiconductor process according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the provided subject matter. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be formed between the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed. 
     Further, spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature&#39;s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. The spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. The apparatus may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein may likewise be interpreted accordingly. 
       FIG. 1A  to  FIG. 1G  are schematic diagrams of a semiconductor processing device performing a semiconductor process according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Referring to  FIG. 1A , a semiconductor processing device  100  includes a first etching chamber  110 , a second etching chamber  120 , and an etching module  130 . Each of the first etching chamber  110  and the second etching chamber  120  are adapted to include a wafer for etching. In some embodiments, the etching module  130  includes a slot  132 , adapted to contain the first etching chamber  110  or the second etching chamber  120  for wafer etching. That is to say, in some embodiments, the slot  132  of the etching module  130  only includes one etching chamber, either the first etching chamber  110  or the second etching chamber  120 . However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. One of ordinary skill in the art may design the slot  132  of the etching module  130  to include more than one etching chamber. 
     In some embodiments, the etching module  130  is adapted to interchangeably contain the first etching chamber  110  or the second etching chamber  120  in the slot  132  for wafer etching. That is to say, when the first etching chamber  110  contains a wafer to be etched, the first etching chamber  110  is disposed in the slot  132  of the etching module  130  for wafer etching. In the same way, when the second etching chamber  120  contains a wafer to be etched, the second etching chamber  120  is disposed in the slot  132  of the etching module  130  for wafer etching. In some embodiments, when the first etching chamber  110  is disposed in the slot  132 , the second etching chamber  120  is disposed outside the etching module  130 . Similarly, when the second etching chamber  120  is disposed in the slot  132 , the first etching chamber  110  is disposed outside the etching module  130 . 
     In some embodiments, the semiconductor processing device  100  further includes a transfer module  140 . The transfer module  140  is disposed adjacent to the etching module  130 . The transfer module  140  is adapted to contain the first etching chamber  110  or the second etching chamber  120  for cleaning when the first etching chamber  110  or the second etching chamber  120  in the transfer module  140  is in a waferless state. That is to say, the transfer module  140  contains either the first etching chamber  110  or the second etching chamber  120  for cleaning when the first etching chamber  110  or the second etching chamber  120  in the transfer module  140  does not include a wafer. The cleaning process performed in the transfer module  140  toward either the first etching chamber  110  or the second etching chamber  120  is adapted to remove the byproducts (not shown) deposited on the etching chamber (for example, the first etching chamber  110  or the second etching chamber) that has undergone a wafer etching process or etching process. During the wafer etching process, byproducts may be deposited on the walls of the etching chamber that need to be cleaned in order to continue etching additional wafers. Therefore, the cleaning process must be performed to remove the byproducts. In some embodiments, the cleaning process is a waferless autocleaning process. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto. The cleaning process may be any cleaning process known to one of ordinary skill in the art for cleaning etching chambers that removes byproducts. 
     In some embodiments, when the first etching chamber  110  and the second etching chamber  120  are to be interchanged in the etching module  130 , the transfer module  140  is adapted to contain both the first etching chamber  110  and the second etching chamber  120 . The transfer module  140  aligns one of the first etching chamber  110  and the second etching chamber  120  to the slot  132  of the etching module  130  to then move the aligned one of the first etching chamber  110  and the second etching chamber  120  into the slot  132 . 
     In addition, in some embodiments the etching module  130  has an upper section  130   a , a middle section  130   b , and a lower section  130   c  (only shown in  FIG. 1A ). The slot  132  is located in the middle section  130   b  of the etching module  130  so that the etching chamber (for example the first etching chamber  110  or the second etching chamber  120 ) located in the slot  132  is a middle etching chamber. In some embodiments, during the wafer etching process, byproducts are mostly deposited in the middle etching chamber. Thus, the middle etching chamber needs to be cleaned after the wafer etching process. The first etching chamber  110  and the second etching chamber  120  are identical to each other, and can be interchanged in the slot  132  located in the middle section  130   b  of the etching module  130  so that whichever etching chamber is located in the slot  132  is the middle etching chamber. When the middle etching chamber needs to be cleaned, the other identical etching chamber (the first etching chamber  110  or the second etching chamber  120  not located in the slot  132 ) can be switched so as to continue the wafer etching process while the middle etching chamber that s switched out can be cleaned. This way, the etching module  130  can continue the wafer etching process without a loss in time. That is to say, the middle etching chamber with the byproducts that needs to be cleaned is cleaned outside the etching module  130 , and the identical etching chamber is switched to be the middle etching chamber in the etching module  130  to continue the etching process. Therefore, by being able to switch identical etching chambers (for example, the first etching chamber  110  and the second etching chamber  120 ), the etching module  130  can proceed with the wafer etching process while one of the etching chambers is cleaned at the same time. Having the wafer etching process and the cleaning process performed at the same time allows the wafer etching process to continue without having to stop and wait for the etching chamber (for example, the first etching chamber  110  and the second etching chamber  120 ) to be cleaned. This reduces the non-productivity time of the etching module  130 , and the wafer etching process may be more efficient and productive in the etching module  130 . Of course, the wafer etching process is not limited to being performed at the same time as the cleaning process of cleaning the other etching chamber. The cleaning process and the wafer etching process may also be performed at independent times with respect to each other. 
     In some embodiments, the upper section  130   a  and the lower section  130   c  of the etching module  130  may also include additional slots (not shown). The additional slots may hold additional etching chambers or other suitable components. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto. One of ordinary skill in the art may include or omit additional slots in the upper section  130   a  and the lower section  130   c  of the etching module  130  according to design requirements. In this case, the upper section  130   a  and the lower section  130   c  may be a vacuum. Furthermore, if the additional slots are included in either the upper section  130   a  or the lower section  130   c  or both, one of ordinary skill in the art may selectively include additional etching chambers or other suitable components. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1A  to  FIG. 1G ,  FIG. 1A  to  FIG. 1G  are schematic diagrams of a semiconductor processing device performing a semiconductor process according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In detail, as seen in  FIG. 1A , in the semiconductor process, the first etching chamber  110  is disposed in the slot  132  located in the middle section  130   b  of the etching module  130 . A wafer  112  disposed in the first etching chamber  110  may be undergoing a wafer etching process. The transfer module  140  includes the second etching chamber  120 . In  FIG. 1A , the second etching chamber  120  disposed in the transfer module  140  may be undergoing a cleaning process. That is to say, the second etching chamber  120  may have previously been disposed in the etching module  130  for the wafer etching process. However, the second etching chamber  120  may also be a clean chamber disposed in the transfer module  140  that has not undergone any wafer etching process yet. It should be noted that the second etching chamber  120  is in a waferless state. That is to say, the second etching chamber  120  does not include a wafer so as to undergo the cleaning process. 
     Furthermore, as seen in  FIG. 1A , the transfer module  140  also includes an upper section  140   a , a middle section  140   b , and a lower section  140   c  (only shown in  FIG. 1A ). It can be seen that the second etching chamber  120  is located in the upper section  140   a  of the transfer module  140 . That is to say, the cleaning process performed in the transfer module  140  is performed in the upper section  140   a  of the transfer module  140 . However, the disclosure is not limited thereto. One of ordinary skill in the art may perform the cleaning section in the middle section  140   b  or the lower section  140   c  of the transfer module  140  if desired. 
     In some embodiments, the cleaning process performed in the transfer module  140  is done simultaneously with the wafer etching process performed in the etching module  130 . The cleaning process and the wafer etching process may be performed at the same time in order to increase the wafer etching productivity of the etching module  130 . However, the disclosure is not limited thereto. The cleaning process in the transfer module  140  is performed independently from the wafer etching process performed in the etching module  130 . Therefore, the cleaning process does not have be performed at the same time as the wafer etching process. The timing of each process may be determined according to the user requirements. 
     Furthermore, in some embodiments, the cleaning process of the etching chamber does not have to be performed in the transfer module  140 . That is to say, the transfer module  140  may be omitted and the cleaning process of the second etching chamber  120  may take place in another suitable component for cleaning the second etching chamber  120  (or any etching chamber to be cleaned). The disclosure is not limited thereto. One of ordinary skill in the art may include the transfer module  140  or omit the transfer module  140  as required by the user. 
     Next, referring to  FIG. 1B , a wafer  114  is disposed in the second etching chamber  120 . The wafer  114  is disposed in the second etching chamber  120  when the second etching chamber  120  is clean. That is to say, if the second etching chamber  120  previously had byproducts deposited within the second etching chamber  120 , the wafer  114  is disposed after the second etching chamber  120  has undergone the cleaning process. If the second etching chamber  120  had not previously had byproducts deposited within the second etching chamber  120 , then the second etching chamber  120  is already clean, and the wafer  114  may be disposed in the second etching chamber  120  without the second etching chamber  120  having undergone the cleaning process. Of course, the disclosure is not limited thereto. Even if the second etching chamber  120  is already clean, the second etching chamber  120  may also undergo the cleaning process again if desired by the user. 
     Next, referring to  FIG. 1C , after the first etching chamber  110  has completed the wafer etching process by etching the wafer  112  in the etching module  130 , the first etching chamber  110  is moved to the transfer module  140 . It can be seen in  FIG. 1C  that the transfer module  140  is disposed adjacent to the etching module  130 . Furthermore, in some embodiments, the upper sections, the middle sections, and the lower sections of the etching module  130  and the transfer module  140  are aligned with each other. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the configuration between the etching module  130  and the transfer module  140  may be adjusted according to user requirements. In the step of the semiconductor process shown in  FIG. 1C , the first etching chamber  110  is moved to the middle section  140   b  of the transfer module  140 . That is to say, the first etching chamber  110  now moved to the transfer module  140  is aligned with the slot  132  in the etching module  130 . Specifically, the first etching chamber  110  is located in the middle section  140   b  of the transfer module  140 , and is aligned with the slot  132  located in the middle section  130   b  of the etching module  130 . The first etching chamber  110  is moved to the middle section  140   b  of the transfer module  140  through a transfer mechanism of the semiconductor processing device  100 . The transfer mechanism may be any type of transfer mechanism suitable to one of ordinary skill in the art. The disclosure does not limit the type of transfer mechanism utilized to move the first etching chamber  110  to the middle section  140   b  of the transfer module  140 . The first etching chamber  110  is moved to the transfer module  140  so as to begin the process of switching the first etching chamber  110  and the second etching chamber  120 . That is to say, the first etching chamber  110  has completed the wafer etching process with the wafer  112 , and needs to be cleaned. The second etching chamber  120  is clean and disposed with the wafer  114  and ready to proceed with the wafer etching process in the etching module  130 . The first etching chamber  110  is moved out of the slot  132  of the etching module  130  and moved to the transfer module  140 . This way, the slot  132  in the etching module  130  is vacant so that the second etching chamber  120  may be disposed in the slot  132  of the etching module  130 . 
     Next, referring to  FIG. 1D , the first etching chamber  110  and the second etching chamber  120  are shifted together so that the second etching chamber  120  is in the middle section  140   b  of the transfer module  140 , and the first etching chamber  110  is in the lower section  140   c  of the transfer module  140 . That is to say, in the step of  FIG. 1D , the second etching chamber  120  is shifted so as to be aligned with the slot  132  of the etching module  130 . As described above, the first etching chamber  110  and the second etching chamber  120  are shifted together. Specifically, the first etching chamber  110  and the second etching chamber  120  are shifted together downwards from the upper section  140   a  and the middle section  140   b  to the middle section  140   b  and the lower section  140   c  respectively. The first etching chamber  110  and the second etching chamber are shifted together through a transfer mechanism in the transfer module  140 . The transfer mechanism for shifting both the first etching chamber  110  and the second etching chamber together may be any suitable type of transfer mechanism for one of ordinary skill in the art. The disclosure does not limit the type of transfer mechanism utilized to shift both the first etching chamber  110  and the second etching chamber together. 
     Next, referring to  FIG. 1E , the second etching chamber  120  with the wafer  114  is moved from the transfer module  140  into the slot  132  of the etching module  130 . That is to say, in the step of  FIG. 1E , the semiconductor process has completed the switching process of the second etching chamber  120  and the first etching chamber  110 . Specifically, the second etching chamber  120  has moved into the slot  132  of the etching module  130 , and is ready to perform the wafer etching process towards the wafer  114 . Since the second etching chamber  120  was aligned to the slot  132  in the step of  FIG. 1D , the step of  FIG. 1E  can easily move the second etching chamber  120  into the slot  132 . The second etching chamber  120  may be moved into the slot  132  through the same transfer mechanism in the step of  FIG. 1C . That is, the transfer mechanism that moved the first etching chamber  110  from the slot  132  to the transfer module  140  in  FIG. 1C  may be the same transfer mechanism that moves the second etching chamber  120  into the slot  132  of the etching module  130 . 
     Next, referring to  FIG. 1F , the first etching chamber  110  is shifted from the lower section  140   c  of the transfer module  140  to the upper section  140   a  of the transfer module  140 . The first etching chamber  110  may be shifted through the same transfer mechanism as the step in  FIG. 1D . That is to say, the transfer mechanism that shifted the first etching chamber  110  and the second etching chamber  120  together downwards in  FIG. 1D  may also shift the first etching chamber  110  in  FIG. 1F . As described above, the cleaning process towards the etching chamber in the transfer module  140  may be performed in the upper section  140   a  of the transfer module  140 . Thus, the first etching chamber  110  is shifted up from the lower section  140   c  to the upper section  140   a  of the transfer module  140 . This way, the first etching chamber  110  may be in the suitable location of the transfer module  140  to undergo the cleaning process. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto. The user may select the cleaning process of the etching chamber in the transfer module  140  to be in any section or a combination of any of the sections. If the cleaning process is selected to be in the lower section  140   c  of the transfer module  140 , then the step of shifting the first etching chamber  110  in  FIG. 1F  may be omitted. 
     Next, referring to  FIG. 1G , the wafer  112  which has completed the wafer etching process in the first etching chamber  110  is removed. This way, the first etching chamber  110  is in a waferless state, and can undergo the cleaning process in the transfer module  140 . It should be noted that during the steps of  FIG. 1E ,  FIG. 1F , and  FIG. 1G , the etching module  130  may perform the wafer etching process towards the wafer  114  disposed in the second etching chamber  120 . The disclosure does not limit when the etching process is performed towards the wafer  114 . Since the second etching chamber  120  is disposed in the slot  132  in  FIG. 1E ,  FIG. 1F , and  FIG. 1G , the etching process may take place any time in those steps. In some embodiments, the etching process towards the wafer  114  is performed in the step of  FIG. 1G . This way, after the wafer  112  has been removed from the first etching chamber  110 , the first etching chamber  110  may be cleaned at the same time the wafer  114  is being etched. This reduces the non-productivity time of the etching module  130 , and the wafer etching process may be more efficient and productive in the etching module  130 . 
     In some embodiments, the cleaning process in the transfer module  140  is not located in the upper section  140   a  of the transfer module  140 , but may be located in the middle section  140   b  or the lower section  140   c  of the transfer module  140 . As a result, how the first etching chamber  110  and the second etching chamber  120  are shifted and moved may be different from the way described in  FIG. 1A  to  FIG. 1F . That is to say, the order and the sequence of arranging the first etching chamber  110  and the second etching chamber  120  to switch positions may be adjusted according to where the cleaning process in the transfer module  140  takes place. 
     Furthermore, in some embodiments, the semiconductor process may omit the transfer module  140 . That is, the first etching chamber  110  and the second etching chamber  120  may be switched in the slot  132  of the etching module  130  without the use of the transfer module  140 . The first etching chamber  110  and the second etching chamber  120  may be switched manually or through any other suitable manual or automatic machine. The first etching chamber  110  and the second etching chamber  120  that is switched out and to be cleaned may be moved to a suitable machine for the cleaning process, and is not limited to being cleaned in the transfer module  140 . 
     After the step in  FIG. 1G , the semiconductor process may be repeated to return to the step in  FIG. 1A . The difference between  FIG. 1G  and  FIG. 1A  is the position of the first etching chamber  110  and the second etching chamber  120 . That is, in  FIG. 1A , the first etching chamber  110  is in the etching module  130  and the wafer  112  may be being etched, and the second etching chamber  120  is in the upper section  140   a  of the transfer module  140  may be being cleaned in a waferless state. In  FIG. 1G , the second etching chamber  120  is in the etching module  130  and the wafer  114  may be being etched, and the first etching chamber  110  is in the upper section  140   a  of the transfer module  140  may be being cleaned in a waferless state. The semiconductor process is repeated except the description for the first etching chamber  110  and the second etching chamber  120  is switched in each of the  FIGS. 1A to 1G . The description will not be repeated herein. It should be noted that a next wafer to be etched is disposed in the first etching chamber  110  after the first etching chamber  110  is cleaned, and the process of switching the first etching chamber  110  and the second etching chamber  120  continues. That is, when the wafer  114  has been etched, the second etching chamber  120  and the first etching chamber  110  switch positions again, and after the wafer  114  is removed, the second etching chamber  120  is cleaned again and the another wafer that is to be etched next is disposed in the second etching chamber  120 . This semiconductor process continues etching wafers in one of the etching chambers and cleaning the other etching chamber. By using two identical etching chambers that may switch places in the etching module  130 , the cleaning process and the wafer etching process may take place at the same time, reducing non-productivity time. 
       FIG. 2  is a flow chart showing the steps of a semiconductor process according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In step S 102 , a wafer disposed in the first etching chamber  110  is etched to produce an etched wafer, wherein the first etching chamber  110  is disposed in the etching module  130 . In step S 104 , the second etching chamber  120  disposed outside the etching module  130  is cleaned, and another wafer is disposed in the second etching chamber  120  after the second etching chamber  120  is cleaned. In some embodiments, the second etching chamber  120  is cleaned simultaneously while the wafer in the first etching chamber  110  is etched in the etching module  130 . However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the steps S 102  and S 104  may be performed at different times (i.e. step S 102  may be performed before or after step S 104 ). Next, in step S 106 , the first etching chamber  110  with the etched wafer is removed from the etching module  130 . Next, in step S 108 , the second etching chamber  120  with the another wafer is disposed into the etching module  130  for etching the another wafer. Next, in step S 110 , the another wafer disposed in the second etching chamber  120  is etched to produce another etched wafer, wherein the second etching chamber  120  is disposed in the etching module  130 . In step S 112 , the first etching chamber  110  disposed outside the etching module  130  is cleaned, and further another wafer is disposed in the first etching chamber  110  after the first etching chamber  110  is cleaned. In some embodiments, the first etching chamber  110  is cleaned simultaneously while the another wafer in the second etching chamber  120  is etched in the etching module  130 . However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the steps S 110  and S 112  may be performed at different times (i.e. step S 110  may be performed before or after step S 112 ). Next, in step S 114 , the second etching chamber  120  with the another etched wafer is removed from the etching module  130 . Next, in step S 116 , the first etching chamber  110  with the further another wafer is disposed into the etching module  130  for etching the further another wafer. Next, the semiconductor process may be repeated, and the steps S 102  to S 116  are repeated. 
     In some embodiments, in step S 104 , the second etching chamber  120  is cleaned in the transfer module  140 , and in step S 112 , the first etching chamber  110  is cleaned in the transfer module  140 . In step S 106  and in step S 108 , the first etching chamber  110  with the etched wafer is moved from the etching module  130  to the transfer module  140  and aligned with the slot  132 . The second etching chamber  120  is moved from the transfer module  140  to the etching module  130 . In step S 114  and step S 116 , the second etching chamber  120  with the another etched wafer is moved from the etching module  130  to the transfer module  140  and aligned with the slot  132 . The first etching chamber  110  is moved from the transfer module  140  to the etching module  130 . Before step S 108 , the second etching chamber  120  and the first etching chamber  110  are shifted together so that the second etching chamber  120  is aligned with the slot  132 . Before step S 116 , the second etching chamber  120  and the first etching chamber  110  are shifted together so that the first etching chamber  110  is aligned with the slot  132 . The description of how the transfer module  140  is utilized and how the first etching chamber  110  and the second etching chamber  120  is moved and shifted can be referred to in the above descriptions. The same descriptions will not be repeated herein. 
       FIG. 3  is a flow chart showing the steps of a semiconductor process according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure. In step S 202 , a wafer disposed in one of a plurality of etching chambers is etched to produce an etched wafer, wherein the wafer is etched in the etching module  130 . In step S 204 , a waferless etching chamber of the etching chambers is cleaned to become a cleaned etching chamber, wherein the waferless etching chamber is disposed outside the etching module  130 , and another wafer to be etched is disposed in the cleaned etching chamber. In some embodiments, the step S 202  and the step S 204  are performed simultaneously. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the steps S 202  and S 204  may be performed at different times (i.e. step S 202  may be performed before or after step S 204 ). Next, in step S 206 , the etching chamber with the etched wafer is interchanged with the cleaned etching chamber with the another wafer, so that the cleaned etching chamber is disposed in the etching module  130  for the another wafer to be etched and the etching chamber with the etched wafer is disposed outside the etching module  130  to be cleaned. Next, in step S 208 , the etched wafer in the etching chamber is removed. Next, the semiconductor process may be repeated, and steps S 202  to S 208  are repeated. 
     In some embodiments, in step S 204 , the waferless etching chamber disposed outside the etching module  130  is cleaned in the transfer module  140 . In step S 206 , the etching chamber with the etched wafer is moved from the etching module  130  to the transfer module  140 , and the cleaned etching chamber is moved from the transfer module  140  to the etching module  130 . 
     Furthermore, in step S 206 , the etching chamber with the etched wafer and cleaned etching chamber are shifted together in the transfer module  140 , so that the cleaned etching chamber is aligned with the slot  132  of the etching module  130  and then moved into the slot  132  of the etching module  130 . The description of how the transfer module  140  is utilized and how the etching chambers are moved and shifted can be referred to in the above descriptions. The same descriptions will not be repeated herein. 
     According to some embodiments, a semiconductor processing device is provided. The semiconductor processing device includes a first etching chamber, a second etching chamber, and an etching module. The etching module is adapted to interchangeably contain the first etching chamber or the second etching chamber for wafer etching. 
     According to some embodiments, a semiconductor processing device is provided. The semiconductor processing device includes a first etching chamber, a second etching chamber, an etching module, and a transfer module. The etching module includes an upper section, a lower section, and a middle section located between the upper section and the lower section. The etching module further includes a slot located in the middle section, and the slot is adapted to interchangeably contain the first etching chamber or the second etching chamber for wafer etching. The transfer module is disposed adjacent to the etching module and is adapted to contain and clean the first etching chamber or the second etching chamber in a waferless state. 
     According to some embodiments, a semiconductor processing device is provided. The semiconductor processing device includes a first etching chamber, a second etching chamber, an etching module, and a transfer module. The etching module includes a slot, wherein the slot is adapted to interchangeably contain the first etching chamber or the second etching chamber for wafer etching. The transfer module is disposed adjacent to the etching module and is adapted to contain and clean the first etching chamber or the second etching chamber in a waferless state. The transfer module further includes a transfer mechanism, wherein the first etching chamber and the second etching chamber in the transfer module are moved by the transfer mechanism. 
     The foregoing outlines features of several embodiments so that those skilled in the art may better understand the aspects of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions, and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.