Patent Publication Number: US-2022238360-A1

Title: Rf immune sensor probe for monitoring a temperature of an electrostatic chuck of a substrate processing system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present disclosure is a PCT International Application of U.S. Patent Application No. 62/854,476 filed on May 30, 2019. The entire disclosure of the application referenced above is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to substrate processing systems and more particularly to a sensor probe for monitoring a temperature of an electrostatic chuck in a substrate processing system. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure. 
     Substrate processing systems perform treatments on substrates such as semiconductor wafers. Examples of substrate treatments include deposition, ashing, etching, cleaning and/or other processes. Process gas mixtures may be supplied to the processing chamber to treat the substrate. Plasma may be used to ignite the gases to enhance chemical reactions. 
     A substrate is arranged on a substrate support in the processing chamber during treatment. Changes in the temperature of the substrate support may affect the treatment. For example, deposition or etch rates may be affected by different temperatures at different locations of the substrate. As a result, deposition or etching may be different in the different locations. Some substrate supports include embedded temperature sensors to sense temperatures in multiple zones. In some examples, each of the zones includes one or more redundant temperature sensors that are used as backups when the temperature sensor for the zone fails. When all of the temperature sensors in one of the zones fail, the substrate support needs to be replaced, which can be expensive. 
     SUMMARY 
     A sensor probe includes an elongated body defining an inner cavity having an inner diameter. A printed circuit board is configured to be fitted within the inner cavity. A first temperature-sensing integrated circuit mounted at a first end of the printed circuit board. A cap is mounted to a first end of the elongated body adjacent to the first temperature-sensing integrated circuit. A housing is configured to receive a second end of the elongated body. The housing is configured to be mounted to a baseplate of a substrate support. 
     In other features, the printed circuit board has a width that is less than the inner diameter and a length that is longer than the elongated body. The inner diameter is less than or equal to 3 mm and at least two of three orthogonal dimensions of the first temperature-sensing integrated circuit are less than 3 mm. 
     In other features, potting material connects the cap and the first temperature-sensing integrated circuit. The printed circuit board is flexible and is bent at an angle adjacent to the first temperature-sensing integrated circuit. The cap includes first and second legs that extend from one side of the cap and that are received in the inner cavity of the elongated body. The elongated body is reciprocally received in the housing. The elongated body includes a projection and further comprising a spring located around the elongated body and biased between an inner cavity of the housing and the projection. 
     In other features, the first temperature-sensing integrated circuit senses a temperature of a surface in contact with the cap. The surface is a layer within an electrostatic chuck. 
     In other features, the elongated body includes a radial projection to center the elongated body in a cavity of the baseplate. The elongated body includes a slot. The slot has an elongated elliptical shape and is aligned in an axial direction of the elongated body. 
     In other features, a shielding layer is arranged on at least one surface of the printed circuit board. The housing defines an inclined surface. An O-ring is arranged against the inclined surface between the housing and a cavity of the baseplate. 
     In other features, the printed circuit board is flexible. A connector is connected to a second end of the printed circuit board. A plurality of wires is connected by the connector to traces on the printed circuit board. A second temperature-sensing integrated circuit is mounted on the printed circuit board between the first temperature-sensing integrated circuit and a second end of the printed circuit board. 
     A sensor probe includes an elongated body defining an inner cavity having an inner diameter. A first printed circuit board is configured to be fitted within the inner cavity. A temperature-sensing integrated circuit mounted on the first printed circuit board. A housing is configured to receive one end of the elongated body and configured to be mounted to a baseplate of a substrate support. Aa second printed circuit board is arranged in the housing. A plurality of first conductors connect the first printed circuit board to the second printed circuit board. A plurality of second conductors configured to connect the second printed circuit board to external devices. 
     In other features, the first printed circuit board has a width that is less than the inner diameter and a length that is less than a length of the elongated body. The second printed circuit board has a length that is less than a length of the housing. The inner diameter is less than or equal to 3 mm and at least two of three orthogonal dimensions of the temperature-sensing integrated circuit are less than 3 mm. 
     In other features, potting material is located inside of the elongated body. The first printed circuit board and the temperature-sensing integrated circuit are mounted parallel to a length of the elongated body. The temperature-sensing integrated circuit senses a temperature of a surface in contact therewith. The surface is a layer within an electrostatic chuck. The elongated body includes a radial projection to center the elongated body in a cavity of the baseplate. 
     In other features, the elongated body includes a slot. The slot has an elongated elliptical shape and is aligned in an axial direction of the elongated body. A capacitor is connected to the first printed circuit board. A resistor is connected to the second printed circuit board. A shielding layer is arranged on a surface of the first printed circuit board. 
     A sensor probe includes an elongated body defining an inner cavity having an inner diameter. A temperature-sensing integrated circuit is configured to be fitted within the inner cavity. A housing is configured to receive one end of the elongated body and configured to be mounted to a baseplate of a substrate support. A plurality of conductors are configured to pass through the housing and the elongated body and to connect the temperature-sensing integrated circuit to external devices. 
     In other features, the inner diameter is less than or equal to 3 mm and wherein at least two of three orthogonal dimensions of the temperature-sensing integrated circuit are less than 3 mm. Potting material is located inside of the elongated body. The temperature-sensing integrated circuit is mounted parallel to a length of the elongated body. The temperature-sensing integrated circuit is mounted perpendicular to a length of the elongated body. 
     In other features, the temperature-sensing integrated circuit senses a temperature of a surface in contact therewith. The surface is a layer within an electrostatic chuck. The elongated body includes a radial projection to center the elongated body in a cavity of the baseplate. 
     In other features, the elongated body includes a slot. The slot has an elongated elliptical shape and is aligned in an axial direction of the elongated body. A plurality of solder balls is attached to the temperature-sensing integrated circuit. The plurality of first conductors are attached to the plurality of solder balls. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description, the claims and the drawings. The detailed description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram of an example of a capacitively coupled plasma (CCP) substrate processing system including a sensor probe according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a functional block diagram of an example of an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) substrate processing system including a sensor probe according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a side cross-sectional view of an example of a substrate support including a sensor probe according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4A  is a side view of an example of a sensor probe according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4B  is a side cross-sectional view of an example of a sensor probe according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of an example of a printed circuit board according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged, partial side view of an example of a body of the sensor probe according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  is an electrical schematic and functional block diagram of an example of a control circuit including a temperature-sensing integrated circuit, resistors and a capacitor according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view illustrating attachment of an example of the temperature-sensing integrated circuit to the printed circuit board according to the present disclosure; 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  are side views illustrating an example of attachment of the temperature-sensing integrated circuit and the printed circuit board to a metal cap according to the present disclosure; 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  are side views illustrating an example of potting of the temperature-sensing integrated circuit to the cap according to the present disclosure; 
         FIGS. 11A and 11B  are side views illustrating an example of insertion of the printed circuit board, the temperature-sensing integrated circuit, and the cap into the body of the sensor probe according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 12  is a side view illustrating another example of the sensor probe according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 13  is a side cross-sectional view illustrating another example of the sensor probe according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 14  is a side cross-sectional view of a PCB with metal layers for EMI shielding according to the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 15  is a side cross-sectional view illustrating another example of the sensor probe according to the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     In the drawings, reference numbers may be reused to identify similar and/or identical elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure relates to sensor probes that sense a temperature of a surface in a processing chamber of a substrate. The sensor probe includes a temperature-sensing integrated circuit. In some examples, the temperature-sensing integrated circuit is located within a body that is made of metal and connected to a reference potential such as ground. For example, the body may be grounded to the baseplate. As a result, the body of the sensor probe acts as a Faraday cage and the sensor probe is immune to RF signals such as RF bias signals, electrode signals, etc. that are present in the temperature sensing environment. Alternately, the body may be made of metallic or non-metallic materials and ground planes or electromagnetic shielding can be used to reduce or further reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI). 
     In some examples, the temperature-sensing integrated circuit has a small form factor that is less than 3 mm in at least two of three orthogonal dimensions. In some examples, the temperature-sensing integrated circuit has a small form factor that is less than 2 mm in all three orthogonal dimensions. In some examples, the body of the sensor probe has an outer diameter that is less than or equal to 4 mm and an inner diameter that is less than or equal to 3 mm. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , examples of plasma processing chambers that may use the sensor probes are shown. As can be appreciated, the sensor probes can be used in a variety of other types of semiconductor processing equipment such as cooled pedestals, spin chucks, processing chambers, etc. In  FIG. 1 , an example of a substrate processing system  110  according to the present disclosure is shown. The substrate processing system  110  includes a processing chamber  122  that encloses other components of the substrate processing system  110  and contains the RF plasma (if used). The substrate processing system  110  includes an upper electrode  124  and a substrate support  126  such as an electrostatic chuck (ESC). During operation, a substrate  128  is arranged on the substrate support  126 . 
     For example only, the upper electrode  124  may include a gas distribution device  129  such as a showerhead that introduces and distributes process gases. The gas distribution device  129  may include a stem portion including one end connected to a top surface of the processing chamber. A base portion is generally cylindrical and extends radially outwardly from an opposite end of the stem portion at a location that is spaced from the top surface of the processing chamber. A substrate-facing surface or faceplate of the base portion of the showerhead includes a plurality of holes through which precursor, reactants, etch gases, inert gases, carrier gases, other process gases or purge gas flows. Alternately, the upper electrode  124  may include a conducting plate and the process gases may be introduced in another manner. 
     The substrate support  126  includes a baseplate  130  that acts as a lower electrode. The baseplate  130  supports a heating plate  132 , which may correspond to a ceramic multi-zone heating plate. A thermal resistance layer  134  may be arranged between the heating plate  132  and the baseplate  130 . The baseplate  130  may include one or more channels  136  for flowing coolant through the baseplate  130 . 
     An RF generating system  140  generates and outputs an RF voltage to one of the upper electrode  124  and the lower electrode (e.g., the baseplate  130  of the substrate support  126 ). The other one of the upper electrode  124  and the baseplate  130  may be DC grounded, AC grounded or floating. For example only, the RF generating system  140  may include an RF generator  142  that generates RF plasma power that is fed by a matching and distribution network  144  to the upper electrode  124  or the baseplate  130 . In other examples, the plasma may be generated inductively or remotely. 
     A gas delivery system  150  includes one or more gas sources  152 - 1 ,  152 - 2 , . . . , and  152 -N (collectively gas sources  152 ), where N is an integer greater than zero. The gas sources  152  are connected by valves  154 - 1 ,  154 - 2 , . . . , and  154 -N (collectively valves  154 ) and MFCs  156 - 1 ,  156 - 2 , . . . , and  156 -N (collectively MFCs  156 ) to a manifold  160 . Secondary valves may be used between the MFCs  156  and the manifold  160 . While a single gas delivery system  150  is shown, two or more gas delivery systems can be used. 
     A temperature controller  163  may be connected to a plurality of thermal control elements (TCEs)  164  arranged in the heating plate  132 . The temperature controller  163  may be used to control the plurality of TCEs  164  to control a temperature of the substrate support  126  and the substrate  128 . The temperature controller  163  may communicate with a coolant assembly  166  to control coolant flow through the channels  136 . For example, the coolant assembly  166  may include a coolant pump, a reservoir and/or one or more temperature sensors. The temperature controller  163  operates the coolant assembly  166  to selectively flow the coolant through the channels  136  to cool the substrate support  126 . 
     A valve  170  and pump  172  may be used to evacuate reactants from the processing chamber  122 . A system controller  180  may be used to control components of the substrate processing system  110 . One or more sensor probes  190  may be inserted into cavities defined in the substrate support to sense a temperature of surface. 
     In  FIG. 2 , another example of a substrate processing system  210  is shown. The substrate processing system  210  includes a coil driving circuit  211 . A pulsing circuit  214  may be used to pulse the RF power on and off or vary an amplitude or level of the RF power. The tuning circuit  213  may be directly connected to one or more inductive coils  216 . The tuning circuit  213  tunes an output of the RF source  212  to a desired frequency and/or a desired phase, matches an impedance of the coils  216  and splits power between the coils  216 . In some examples, the coil driving circuit  211  is replaced by one of the drive circuits described further below in conjunction with controlling the RF bias. 
     In some examples, a plenum  220  may be arranged between the coils  216  and a dielectric window  224  to control the temperature of the dielectric window  224  with hot and/or cold air flow. The dielectric window  224  is arranged along one side of a processing chamber  228 . The processing chamber  228  further comprises a substrate support (or pedestal)  232 . The substrate support  232  may include an electrostatic chuck (ESC), or a mechanical chuck or other type of chuck. Process gas is supplied to the processing chamber  228  and plasma  240  is generated inside of the processing chamber  228 . The plasma  240  etches an exposed surface of the substrate  234 . A drive circuit  252  (such as one of those described below) may be used to provide an RF bias to an electrode in the substrate support  232  during operation. 
     A gas delivery system  256  may be used to supply a process gas mixture to the processing chamber  228 . The gas delivery system  256  may include process and inert gas sources  257 , a gas metering system  258  such as valves and mass flow controllers, and a manifold  259 . A gas delivery system  260  may be used to deliver gas  262  via a valve  261  to the plenum  220 . The gas may include cooling gas (air) that is used to cool the coils  216  and the dielectric window  224 . A heater/cooler  264  may be used to heat/cool the substrate support  232  to a predetermined temperature. An exhaust system  265  includes a valve  266  and pump  267  to remove reactants from the processing chamber  228  by purging or evacuation. 
     A controller  254  may be used to control the etching process. The controller  254  monitors system parameters and controls delivery of the gas mixture, striking, maintaining and extinguishing the plasma, removal of reactants, supply of cooling gas, and so on. Additionally, as described below in detail, the controller  254  may control various aspects of the coil driving circuit  211  and the drive circuit  252 . One or more sensor probes  190  may be inserted into cavities of the substrate support to sense a temperature a surface. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3, 4A and 4B , a substrate support  300  such as an electrostatic chuck (ESC) includes a baseplate  310  arranged adjacent to a heater layer  314 . While a baseplate of a substrate support is shown, the sensor probe can be used to sense the temperature of a surface of other components of substrate processing equipment. The heater layer  314  includes heaters  316 . A ceramic layer  318  including electrodes  320  is arranged adjacent to the heater layer  314 . A sensor probe  190  is inserted into cylindrical cavity  332 . 
     In some examples, the sensor probe  190  includes an elongated body  330  including a first end portion  334 . The first end portion  334  of the sensor probe  190  has a diameter that is greater than a diameter of an elongated body  330 . The elongated body  330  is received by a threaded housing  336  located at one end of the elongated body  330 . 
     The threaded housing  336  includes a first portion  338 , a second portion  340  and a third portion  344 . In some examples, the first portion  338 , the second portion  340  and the third portion  344  are cylindrical and include aligned internal cavities. The second portion  340  has a diameter that is greater than a diameter of the first portion  338 . The second portion  340  includes threads  346  that are received in threaded bores  348  in the baseplate  310  of the substrate support  300 . The third portion  344  projects radially outwardly from the baseplate  310  to allow the sensor probe  190  to be rotated relative to the baseplate  310  to allow insertion and removal. 
     A printed circuit board (PCB)  354  such as a flexible PCB passes through the elongated body  330  and extends from the third portion  344  of the threaded housing  336 . The PCB  354  is connected by a connector  356  (such as a PCB) to one or more wires  360  supplying power, ground and one or more signal lines to and from an integrated circuit located in the sensor probe  190 . 
     In  FIG. 4A , the elongated body  330  of the sensor probe  190  includes an inclined surface  361  which provides a transition from the diameter of the elongated body  330  to the larger diameter of the first end portion  334 . A spacer  362  projects from the elongated body  330  in a radial direction to evenly space the elongated body  330  within the cylindrical cavity  332 . An inclined surface  372  provides a transition from the first portion  338  to the second portion  340  of the threaded housing  336 . In some examples, an O-ring  376  is arranged against the inclined surface  372  and acts as an RF gasket. 
     In  FIG. 4B , the elongated body  330  includes a radially-projecting surface  408  located along the first end portion  334 . The sensor probe  190  includes a spring  410  located around the first end portion  334  adjacent to an inner surface of a cavity formed in the threaded housing  336 . The spring  410  biases an end of the elongated body  330  against a surface to determine a temperature of the surface. 
     A first integrated circuit  420  is mounted on the PCB  354 . The first integrated circuit  420  senses a first temperature of the surface to be monitored. In some examples, a second integrated circuit  422  is mounted on the PCB  354 . The second integrated circuit  422  senses a temperature that is remote from the surface to be monitored and is used to increase the reliability of the temperature measured by the first integrated circuit  420 , for diagnostic monitoring and/or for rationality checks of the first integrated circuit  420 . 
     In  FIG. 5 , the PCB  354  is shown to include a first portion  508  that extends a distance greater than the elongated body  330  of the sensor probe  190 . The first integrated circuit  420  is mounted at one end of the first portion  508 . If used, the second integrated circuit  422  is mounted at a location spaced from the first integrated circuit  420 . A second end  510  of the PCB  354  includes terminals  526  connected to traces  522  (partially shown). The PCB  354  includes two or more layers including conductive traces, vias, ground planes, etc. to provide connections from the terminals  526  to the first integrated circuit  420  and/or the second integrated circuit  422 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , the elongated body  330  may include one or more slots  610  to allow heat transfer. In some examples, the slots  610  have an elongated elliptical shape and are aligned in an axial direction of the elongated body  330 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a circuit  700  including the first integrated circuit  420 , resistors R 1  and R 2  and a capacitor C 1  is shown. A voltage supply line V +  is connected to a V +  terminal of the first integrated circuit  420 . A first reference potential such as ground is connected to a GND input and a second input of the first integrated circuit  420 . Signal lines S 1  and S 2  are connected to SDA and SGL lines of the first integrated circuit  420 . Resistors R 1  and R 2  are connected between the voltage supply line V +  and the signal lines S 1  and S 2 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , attachment of the first integrated circuit  420  to the PCB  354  is shown. Solder bumps  810  connect pads on the first integrated circuit  420  to corresponding pads on the PCB  354 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 9A and 9B , attachment of the first integrated circuit  420  and the PCB  354  to a cap  820  is shown. In some examples, the cap  820  is made of metal and includes legs  822  and  824  extending from one side thereof. In  FIG. 9A , the cap  820  is arranged or attached with the legs  822  and  824  extending transverse to a mounting surface of the PCB  354 . In  FIG. 9B , the cap  820  is arranged or attached with the legs  822  and  824  extending parallel to the mounting surface of the PCB  354 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 10A and 10B , potting of the first integrated circuit  420  to the cap  820  is shown. Potting material  1010  is applied to attach the cap  820  to the integrated circuit. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 11A and 11B , the PCB  354 , the first integrated circuit  420 , and the cap  820  are inserted into a cavity  1100  of the elongated body  330 . In  FIG. 11B , the PCB  354  is bent at a right angle to allow the legs  822  and  824  of the cap  820  to be inserted into an end of the elongated body  330 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , another example of the sensor probe  1200  is shown. In  FIG. 12 , the sensor probe  1200  includes an elongated body  1210  connected to a threaded housing  1214 . In some examples, the threaded housing  1214  includes a threaded surface  1216 . 
     In  FIG. 13 , a first integrated circuit  1320  is mounted by solder balls  1330  to a first PCB  1326 . A capacitor  1334  is mounted on the first PCB  1326 . A second PCB  1350  is arranged in the threaded housing  1214  and includes a resistor  1360  mounted thereto. One or more wires  1362  provide external connections. One or more wires or hard PCB traces  1366  provide connections between the first PCB  1326  and the second PCB  1350 . Potting material  1370  is located inside of the elongated body  1210 . The first integrated circuit  1320  senses a temperature of a surface  1380 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 14 , if additional shielding is desired, shielding layers  1410  can be used to cover upper and/or lower surfaces of a PCB  1400  to provide enhanced shielding. In some examples, the shielding layers  1410  include a metal layer. In some examples, the shielding layers  1410  are connected to a reference potential such as ground. In other examples, the shielding layer  1410  includes a plurality of conductors. In some examples, the plurality of conductors are uniformly spaced and form a grid in one or more transverse directions. The plurality of conductors are connected to a reference potential such as ground. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 15 , the sensor probes can also be implemented without using printed circuit boards. While two sensor probes are shown to show variations in the position of the temperature-sensing integrated circuit, one or more than two sensor probes can be used in a given application. First and second sensor probes  1510 - 1  and  1510 - 2  include integrated circuits  1520 - 1  and  1520 - 2  that are located in the elongated bodies  1210 - 1  and  1210 - 2 , respectively, adjacent to a surface-facing end of the elongated bodies  1210 - 1  and  1210 - 2 , respectively. A plurality of solder balls  1530 - 1  and  1530 - 2  provide connections to the integrated circuits  1520 - 1  and  1520 - 2 , respectively. A plurality of wires  1562 - 1  and  1562 - 2  are soldered to selected ones of the plurality of solder balls  1530 - 1  and  1530 - 2  to provide one or more external connections to the integrated circuits  1520 - 1  and  1520 - 2  through the threaded housings  1214 - 1  and  1214 - 2  and the elongated bodies  1210 - 1  and  1210 - 2 , respectively. In some examples, the wires  1562 - 1  and  1562 - 2  include insulated conductors. 
     Potting material  1570 - 1  and  1570 - 2  is located inside of the elongated bodies  1210 - 1  and  1210 - 2 , respectively. The integrated circuits  1520 - 1  and  1520 - 2  sense a temperature of a surface  1580 . The integrated circuits  1520 - 1  and  1520 - 2  can be arranged parallel to the elongated bodies  1210 - 1  and  1210 - 2 , perpendicular to the elongated bodies  1210 - 1  and  1210 - 2 , or at angles therebetween. 
     In some examples, the number of solder balls S is equal to the number of wires W, where S and W are integers greater than one. In other examples, S&gt;W or W&gt;S. 
     The foregoing description is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure, its application, or uses. The broad teachings of the disclosure can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this disclosure includes particular examples, the true scope of the disclosure should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent upon a study of the drawings, the specification, and the following claims. It should be understood that one or more steps within a method may be executed in different order (or concurrently) without altering the principles of the present disclosure. Further, although each of the embodiments is described above as having certain features, any one or more of those features described with respect to any embodiment of the disclosure can be implemented in and/or combined with features of any of the other embodiments, even if that combination is not explicitly described. In other words, the described embodiments are not mutually exclusive, and permutations of one or more embodiments with one another remain within the scope of this disclosure. 
     Spatial and functional relationships between elements (for example, between modules, circuit elements, semiconductor layers, etc.) are described using various terms, including “connected,” “engaged,” “coupled,” “adjacent,” “next to,” “on top of,” “above,” “below,” and “disposed.” Unless explicitly described as being “direct,” when a relationship between first and second elements is described in the above disclosure, that relationship can be a direct relationship where no other intervening elements are present between the first and second elements, but can also be an indirect relationship where one or more intervening elements are present (either spatially or functionally) between the first and second elements. As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and C should be construed to mean a logical (A OR B OR C), using a non-exclusive logical OR, and should not be construed to mean “at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C.” 
     In some implementations, a controller is part of a system, which may be part of the above-described examples. Such systems can comprise semiconductor processing equipment, including a processing tool or tools, chamber or chambers, a platform or platforms for processing, and/or specific processing components (a wafer pedestal, a gas flow system, etc.). These systems may be integrated with electronics for controlling their operation before, during, and after processing of a semiconductor wafer or substrate. The electronics may be referred to as the “controller,” which may control various components or subparts of the system or systems. The controller, depending on the processing requirements and/or the type of system, may be programmed to control any of the processes disclosed herein, including the delivery of processing gases, temperature settings (e.g., heating and/or cooling), pressure settings, vacuum settings, power settings, radio frequency (RF) generator settings, RF matching circuit settings, frequency settings, flow rate settings, fluid delivery settings, positional and operation settings, wafer transfers into and out of a tool and other transfer tools and/or load locks connected to or interfaced with a specific system. 
     Broadly speaking, the controller may be defined as electronics having various integrated circuits, logic, memory, and/or software that receive instructions, issue instructions, control operation, enable cleaning operations, enable endpoint measurements, and the like. The integrated circuits may include chips in the form of firmware that store program instructions, digital signal processors (DSPs), chips defined as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), and/or one or more microprocessors, or microcontrollers that execute program instructions (e.g., software). Program instructions may be instructions communicated to the controller in the form of various individual settings (or program files), defining operational parameters for carrying out a particular process on or for a semiconductor wafer or to a system. The operational parameters may, in some embodiments, be part of a recipe defined by process engineers to accomplish one or more processing steps during the fabrication of one or more layers, materials, metals, oxides, silicon, silicon dioxide, surfaces, circuits, and/or dies of a wafer. 
     The controller, in some implementations, may be a part of or coupled to a computer that is integrated with the system, coupled to the system, otherwise networked to the system, or a combination thereof. For example, the controller may be in the “cloud” or all or a part of a fab host computer system, which can allow for remote access of the wafer processing. The computer may enable remote access to the system to monitor current progress of fabrication operations, examine a history of past fabrication operations, examine trends or performance metrics from a plurality of fabrication operations, to change parameters of current processing, to set processing steps to follow a current processing, or to start a new process. In some examples, a remote computer (e.g. a server) can provide process recipes to a system over a network, which may include a local network or the Internet. The remote computer may include a user interface that enables entry or programming of parameters and/or settings, which are then communicated to the system from the remote computer. In some examples, the controller receives instructions in the form of data, which specify parameters for each of the processing steps to be performed during one or more operations. It should be understood that the parameters may be specific to the type of process to be performed and the type of tool that the controller is configured to interface with or control. Thus as described above, the controller may be distributed, such as by comprising one or more discrete controllers that are networked together and working towards a common purpose, such as the processes and controls described herein. An example of a distributed controller for such purposes would be one or more integrated circuits on a chamber in communication with one or more integrated circuits located remotely (such as at the platform level or as part of a remote computer) that combine to control a process on the chamber. 
     Without limitation, example systems may include a plasma etch chamber or module, a deposition chamber or module, a spin-rinse chamber or module, a metal plating chamber or module, a clean chamber or module, a bevel edge etch chamber or module, a physical vapor deposition (PVD) chamber or module, a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) chamber or module, an atomic layer deposition (ALD) chamber or module, an atomic layer etch (ALE) chamber or module, an ion implantation chamber or module, a track chamber or module, and any other semiconductor processing systems that may be associated or used in the fabrication and/or manufacturing of semiconductor wafers. 
     As noted above, depending on the process step or steps to be performed by the tool, the controller might communicate with one or more of other tool circuits or modules, other tool components, cluster tools, other tool interfaces, adjacent tools, neighboring tools, tools located throughout a factory, a main computer, another controller, or tools used in material transport that bring containers of wafers to and from tool locations and/or load ports in a semiconductor manufacturing factory.