Patent Publication Number: US-10323323-B2

Title: Systems and methods enabling low defect processing via controlled separation and delivery of chemicals during atomic layer deposition

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/805,852, filed on Jul. 22, 2015 which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/192,844, filed on Jul. 15, 2015. The entire disclosures of the applications referenced above are incorporated herein by reference. 
     This application is related to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/084,856, filed on Nov. 26, 2014 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/805,807, filed on Jul. 22, 2015, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to substrate processing systems, and more particularly to systems and methods for delivering gases to a processing chamber during substrate processing. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The background description provided here 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 for performing deposition and/or etching typically include a processing chamber with a pedestal. A substrate such as a semiconductor wafer may be arranged on the pedestal during processing. In atomic layer deposition (ALD) or atomic layer etch (ALE) processes, different gas mixtures may be sequentially introduced into the processing chamber and then evacuated. The process is repeated multiple times to deposit film or to etch the substrate. In some ALD and ALE substrate processing systems, radio frequency (RF) plasma may be used during one or both steps to activate chemical reactions. 
     A first reactant gas may be supplied to the processing chamber during a first step of an ALD process. After a predetermined period, reactants are removed from the processing chamber. During a second step of the ALD process, a second reactant gas may be supplied to the processing chamber. Plasma may or may not be used during the second step to initiate a chemical reaction. After the second step, the reactants are removed from the processing chamber. The first and second steps are typically repeated multiple times to deposit film. 
     The process time required to deposit the film or to etch the substrate using ALD or ALE largely depends on how quickly the reactant gases can be supplied and evacuated from the processing chamber. Therefore there is an incentive to quickly supply and evacuate the reactant gases to reduce process times. However, if the reactant gases overlap in the gas supply lines, undesirable reactions may occur between the reactant gases, which may cause substrate defects. A sticky reactant gas or an insufficient amount of time between different reactant gases may cause overlap of the reactant gases in the gas lines. 
     Currently, temporal separation and high flow rates are used. Switching of the gases on and off with high pressures may introduce pressure transients into the gas lines and/or in downstream gas distribution devices, which may cause additional substrate defects. 
     SUMMARY 
     A gas delivery system for a substrate processing system includes a first valve including an inlet and an outlet. The inlet of the first valve is in fluid communication with a first gas source. A second valve includes a first inlet, a second inlet and an outlet. The first inlet of the second valve is in fluid communication with the outlet of the first valve and the second inlet is in fluid communication with a second gas source. A third valve includes an inlet and an outlet. The inlet of the third valve is in fluid communication with a third gas source. A connector includes a first gas channel and a cylinder defining a second gas channel having a first end and a second end. The cylinder is at least partially disposed within the first gas channel such that the cylinder and the first gas channel collectively define a flow channel between an outer surface of the cylinder and an inner surface of the first gas channel. The flow channel is in fluid communication with the outlet of the third valve and the first end of the second gas channel. A third gas channel is in fluid communication with the second end of the second gas channel, with the outlet of the second valve and with a gas distribution device of a processing chamber. 
     In other features, the first gas source includes a purge gas source. The second gas source includes a precursor gas source. A fourth valve includes an inlet and an outlet. The inlet of the fourth valve is in fluid communication with a fourth gas source. The outlet of the fourth valve is in fluid communication with the flow channel. The fourth gas source includes a cleaning gas source. The cleaning gas source includes remote plasma clean (RPC) gas. 
     In other features, the third gas source includes an oxidizing gas source. The substrate processing system performs atomic layer deposition. A controller is configured to control the first valve, the second valve and the third valve. The controller is configured to supply precursor gas from the second gas source during a first predetermined period using the first valve and the second valve; supply purge gas from the first gas source during a second predetermined period using the first valve and the second valve; and supply an oxidizing gas from the third gas source during a third predetermined period using the third valve. 
     In other features, the first predetermined period corresponds to a dose stage of an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process. The second predetermined period corresponds to a burst purge stage of the ALD process. The third predetermined period corresponds to a dose purge stage, an RF stage and an RF purge stage of the ALD process. 
     In other features, a distance between the fourth valve and the connector is between 10″ and 40″. A distance between the fourth valve and the connector is less than 5″. 
     A method for supplying gas to a substrate processing system includes selectively supplying gas from a first gas source using a first valve; selectively supplying gas from the first gas source or a second gas source using a second valve; selectively supplying gas from a third gas source using a third valve; and providing a connector including: a first gas channel; a cylinder defining a second gas channel having a first end and a second end, wherein the cylinder is at least partially disposed within the first gas channel such that the cylinder and the first gas channel collectively define a flow channel between an outer surface of the cylinder and an inner surface of the first gas channel, wherein the flow channel is in fluid communication with an outlet of the third valve and the first end of the second gas channel; and a third gas channel in fluid communication with the second end of the second gas channel, with an outlet of the second valve and with a gas distribution device of a processing chamber. 
     In other features, the first gas source includes a purge gas source. The second gas source includes a precursor gas source. The method includes selectively supplying gas from a fourth gas source using a fourth valve having an outlet in fluid communication with the flow channel. The fourth gas source includes a cleaning gas source. The cleaning gas source includes remote plasma clean (RPC) gas. 
     In other features, the third gas source includes an oxidizing gas source. The substrate processing system performs atomic layer deposition. The method includes controlling the first valve, the second valve and the third valve using a controller. 
     The controller is configured to supply precursor gas from the second gas source during a first predetermined period using the first valve and the second valve. The controller is configured to supply purge gas from the first gas source during a second predetermined period using the first valve and the second valve. The controller is configured to supply an oxidizing gas from the third gas source during a third predetermined period using the third valve. 
     In other features, the first predetermined period corresponds to a dose stage of an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process, the second predetermined period corresponds to a burst purge stage of the ALD process, and the third predetermined period corresponds to a dose purge stage, an RF stage and an RF purge stage of the ALD process. 
     In other features, a distance between the fourth valve and the connector is between 10″ and 40″. A distance between the fourth valve and the connector is less than 5″. 
     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 for a substrate processing system according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of an example of a gas delivery system; 
         FIG. 3  is a timing diagram for an example atomic layer deposition process; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of another example gas delivery system according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial, perspective cross-sectional view of a connector according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of yet another example gas delivery system according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates timing of valves for an idealized gas delivery system; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates timing of valves for the gas delivery system of  FIG. 4  according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates timing of valves for the gas delivery system of  FIG. 6  according to the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 10  is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method for supplying gas according to the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     In the drawings, reference numbers may be reused to identify similar and/or identical elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In some examples, the gas delivery systems and methods according to the present disclosure increase separation of a first reactant gas relative to a second reactant gas in gas lines of a substrate processing system to reduce substrate defects. In some examples, continuous flow of purge gas may be supplied to an inlet of a downstream connector where the second gas is introduced. 
     Spatial separation of the reactant gases in the gas lines of the substrate processing system helps to reduce substrate defects. The spatial separation overcomes problems associated with temporal-only separation. By providing continuous purge gas flow to the inlet of the downstream connector and situating a valve supplying the second reactant gas remotely relative to the first reactant gas, pressure transients can also be managed. A risk of reaction stills exists if there is an insufficient amount of time allocated for spatial separation between the first reactant gas and the second reactant gas. However, the location where the gas reactants are mixed and the pressure at the mixing location can be controlled and the reactions can be managed. 
     Spatial separation increases robustness of the gas delivery system by allowing for margin on process development with respect to purge times. The use of physical separation can be combined with temporal separation that is controlled by valve timing. The combination can help optimize process chamber purging separate from gas line protection. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an example substrate processing system  1  is shown. While the foregoing example will be described in the context of plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD), the present disclosure may be applied to other substrate processing systems such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD), PECVD, ALE, ALD, and PEALE. The substrate processing system  1  includes a processing chamber  2  that encloses other components of the substrate processing system  1  and contains the RF plasma (if used). The substrate processing system  1  includes an upper electrode  4  and an electrostatic chuck (ESC)  6  or other substrate support. During operation, a substrate  8  is arranged on the ESC  6 . 
     For example only, the upper electrode  4  may include a gas distribution device  9  such as a showerhead that introduces and distributes process gases. The gas distribution device  9  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 process gas or purge gas flows. Alternately, the upper electrode  4  may include a conducting plate and the process gases may be introduced in another manner. 
     The ESC  6  includes a conductive baseplate  10  that acts as a lower electrode. The conductive baseplate  10  supports a heating plate  12 , which may correspond to a ceramic multi-zone heating plate. A thermal resistance layer  14  may be arranged between the heating plate  12  and the baseplate  10 . The baseplate  10  may include one or more coolant channels  16  for flowing coolant through the baseplate  10 . 
     An RF generating system  20  generates and outputs an RF voltage to one of the upper electrode  4  and the lower electrode (e.g., the baseplate  10  of the ESC  6 ). The other one of the upper electrode  4  and the baseplate  10  may be DC grounded, AC grounded or floating. For example only, the RF generating system  20  may include an RF generator  22  that generates RF power that is fed by a matching and distribution network  24  to the upper electrode  4  or the baseplate  10 . In other examples, the plasma may be generated inductively or remotely. 
     One or more gas delivery systems  30 - 1 ,  30 - 2 , . . . , and  30 -M (collectively gas delivery systems  30 ) include one or more gas sources  32 - 1 ,  32 - 2 , . . . , and  32 -N (collectively gas sources  32 ), where M and N are integers greater than zero. The gas sources  32  are connected by valves  34 - 1 ,  34 - 2 , . . . , and  34 -N (collectively valves  34 ) and mass flow controllers  36 - 1 ,  36 - 2 , . . . , and  36 -N (collectively mass flow controllers  36 ) to a manifold  40 . An output of the manifold  40  is fed to a gas separation system  41 . While a specific gas delivery system  30 - 1  is shown, gas may be delivered using any suitable gas delivery systems. One or more additional gas delivery systems  30 - 2 , . . . , and  30 -M fluidly communicate with the gas separation system  41 . A cleaning gas source  43  such as remote plasma clean (RPC) gas may also fluidly communicate with the gas separation system  41 . 
     A temperature controller  42  may be connected to a plurality of thermal control elements (TCEs)  44  arranged in the heating plate  12 . The temperature controller  42  may be used to control the plurality of TCEs  44  to control a temperature of the ESC  6  and the substrate  8 . The temperature controller  42  may communicate with a coolant assembly  46  to control coolant flow through the channels  16 . For example, the coolant assembly  46  may include a coolant pump and reservoir. The temperature controller  42  operates the coolant assembly  46  to selectively flow the coolant through the channels  16  to cool the ESC  6 . 
     A valve  50  and pump  52  may be used to evacuate reactants from the processing chamber  2 . A system controller  60  may be used to control components of the substrate processing system  1 . A robot  70  may be used to deliver substrates onto, and remove substrates from, the ESC  6 . For example, the robot  70  may transfer substrates between the ESC  6  and a load lock  72 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an example of the gas separation system  41  is shown to include a valve assembly  74  including a plurality of valves  76 ,  78 ,  80  and  82  connected by gas lines  83 . An inlet of the valve  76  is connected to a purge gas source and an outlet of the valve  76  is connected to an inlet of the valve  78 . Another inlet of the valve  78  is connected to a reactant gas such as an oxidizing gas source. An outlet of the valve  78  is connected to an inlet of the valve  80 . Another inlet of the valve  80  is connected to a reactant gas such as a precursor gas source. 
     An outlet of the valve  80  is connected to an elbow connector  84 , which is connected to an outlet of a valve  86  and to the processing chamber. An inlet of the valve  86  is connected to a cleaning gas such as remote plasma clean (RPC) gas source. The valve  82  has an inlet connected to the precursor gas and an outlet. 
     During operation, the precursor gas may optionally be diverted using the valves  80  (connection from precursor gas inlet to outlet is closed) and  82  (opened) for a predetermined period. After diversion, the precursor gas is supplied to the processing chamber for a predetermined period using valves  80  (connection from precursor gas inlet to outlet is open) and  82  (closed) and then the supply of precursor gas is terminated. Purge gas is supplied to the processing chamber using valves  76 ,  78  and  80  and then terminated. Oxidizing gas is supplied to the processing chamber using valves  78  and  80 . As can be appreciated, the precursor gas is supplied to the processing chamber using some of the same gas lines  83  and valves as the oxidizing gas. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , operation of the valves of  FIG. 2  is shown. Prior to a dose stage, purge gas may initially be supplied and diverted using the valves  80  and  82 . After a predetermined period, the valves  80  and  82  are arranged to supply precursor gas to the processing chamber via the elbow connector  84  (dose stage). At the end of the dose stage, the valve  80  stops supplying precursor gas and is positioned to supply purge gas. During a burst purge stage, the purge gas is supplied via valves  76 ,  78 ,  80  and the elbow connector  84  to the processing chamber. At the end of the burst purge stage, the valve  76  is closed. An oxidizing gas is supplied to the processing chamber during dose purge, RF and RF purge stages using the valves  78 ,  80  and the elbow connector  84 . 
     The precursor gas and oxidizing gas are both supplied using the same group of valves and gas lines but are separated temporally. Temporal separation relies on large flow rates and sufficient time to fully clean out gas lines  83  between precursor gas flow and oxidizing gas flow. Either a sticky precursor or an insufficient amount of time allotted may result in defect formation due to reactions in the gas channels. In addition, high flow rates and switching between oxidizer, purge gas and precursor gas can introduce pressure transients in the gas channels and gas distribution devices. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a gas separation system  87  includes a valve assembly  88  including a plurality of valves  90 ,  92 ,  94 , and  96  and gas lines  83 . An inlet of the valve  90  is connected to a purge gas source and an outlet of the valve  90  is connected to an inlet of the valve  92 . In some examples, the purge gas includes helium, argon or another inert gas. An outlet of the valve  92  is connected to an inlet of the valve  94 . Another inlet of the valve  94  is connected to a reactant gas such as precursor gas. 
     An outlet of the valve  94  is connected to an elbow connector  100 , which is connected to an outlet of a valve  98  and to the processing chamber. An inlet of the valve  98  is connected to a process gas such as a remote plasma clean (RPC) source. The valve  96  has an inlet connected to the precursor gas and an outlet. 
     One or more valves  102 A and  102 B (collectively valve  102 ) are used to supply a reactant gas such as an oxidizing gas to an inlet  104  of the elbow connector  100 . In some examples, the valve  102  is arranged a distance between 10″ and 40″ from the inlet of the elbow connector  100 . 
     Purge gas may also be continuously supplied to the inlet  104  of the elbow connector  100  or selectively supplied to the inlet  104  (during supply of oxidizing gas or at times other than during supply of oxidizing gas). A “T”-shaped fluid connector  105  has a first leg fluidly connected to the elbow connector  100 , a second leg fluidly connected to the outlet of the valve  94  and a third leg fluidly connected to the processing chamber. In some examples, the “T”-shaped fluid connector  105  may be made of ceramic. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , an example of the elbow connector  100  includes a first connector  122  connected to a valve assembly  120  and second connector  124 . Additional details relating to the elbow connector  100  may be found in commonly-assigned U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/084,856, filed on Nov. 26, 2014 and entitled “REMOTE PLASMA CLEAN ELBOW CONNECTOR WITH PURGING TO REDUCE ON-WAFER PARTICLES” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/805,807, filed on Jul. 22, 2015 and entitled “VALVE MANIFOLD DEADLEG ELIMINATION VIA REENTRANT FLOW PATH”, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     The first connector  122  includes a first body  130  defining a first gas channel  132  including an inlet  133  and an outlet  134 . The second connector  124  includes a second body  136  defining a second gas channel  138  including an inlet  139  and an outlet  140 . The outlet  134  of the first gas channel  132  is connected to the inlet  139  of the second gas channel  138 . In some examples, first gas channel  132  is generally “L”-shaped or elbow-shaped. 
     The first connector  122  includes an annular channel  144  that is arranged around a portion of the first gas channel  132  adjacent to the inlet  133  of the first connector  122 . The annular channel  144  supplies gas to an area near the inlet  133 . In some examples, a cylinder  146  may be inserted inside of the first gas channel  132  adjacent to the inlet  133  of the first connector  122  to define the annular channel  144 . One end  147  of the cylinder  146  abuts an inner surface of the first gas channel  132  in a position that is spaced from the inlet  133 . A cavity  150  between the body  130  and a radially outer surface of the cylinder  146  defines the annular channel  144 . 
     The body  130  further defines a third gas channel  154  that is connected to the cavity  150 . A fitting or valve  156  may be used to connect the third gas channel  154  to a gas source. Gas is supplied to the third gas channel  154  and the annular channel  144 . The gas flows through the annular channel  144  into the area near the inlet  133 . The gas flows through the first gas channel  132  to the second gas channel  138 . The gas may be supplied during remote plasma cleaning (while RPC gas is supplied by the RPC valve). In some examples, the gas is supplied during dosing using precursor gas and/or during supply of oxidizing gas as well. 
     In some examples, a heater  160  may be used to maintain the temperature in the area in the vicinity of the annular channel  144  at a predetermined minimum temperature. More particularly, the heater  160  may be connected to the body  130  and may be used to heat the body (at least the portion including the dead-leg volume) to a temperature above a condensation temperature of the gas. In some examples, the temperature is maintained at a predetermined temperature above approximately ˜65° C., although the temperature will vary depending on the type of gas that is used and its condensation temperature. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , another gas separation system  200  includes the valve assembly  88  described above. A valve  204  is arranged closer to the inlet  104  of the elbow connector  100 . In some examples, the valve  204  is arranged a distance less than 10″ from the inlet of the elbow connector  100 . In other examples, the distance is less than or equal to 5″, 2.5″ or 1″. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 7-9 , various timing diagrams for valve sequencing and timing are shown. In  FIG. 7 , idealized valve sequencing and timing is shown. Ideally, the precursor gas flow ends at the same time as the oxidant gas flow begins and there is no overlap. In  FIG. 8 , operation of the valves in  FIG. 4  is shown. There is less overlap than that experienced in  FIG. 2  between precursor and oxidizer due to line charge time. In  FIG. 9 , operation of the valves in  FIG. 6  is shown. There may be some overlap in the “T”-shaped fluid connector  105 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 10 , an example of a method  300  for operating the gas delivery system described above is shown. At  304 , the method determines whether cleaning using remote plasma clean (RPC) gas or another cleaning gas should be performed. If true, the substrates are removed from the processing chamber and cleaning gas or RPC gas is supplied for a predetermined clean period. 
     If  304  is false, control determines whether an ALD process needs to be performed. If  306  is true, substrates are loaded into the processing chamber at  310 . Additionally, a first reactant gas such as precursor gas is optionally supplied and diverted for a first predetermined period at  310 . At  314 , after the first predetermined period, the first reactant gas such as a precursor gas is supplied to the processing chamber for a second predetermined period. 
     After the second predetermined period, purge gas such as an inert gas is supplied for a third predetermined period at  318 . After the third predetermined period, a second reactant gas such as an oxidizing gas is supplied for a fourth predetermined period at  320 . After the fourth predetermined period, control determines whether to repeat the ALD process at  322 . If  322  is true, control returns to  310 . Otherwise, control continues with  328 , optionally removes the substrate from the processing chamber and then returns to  304 . 
     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.