Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/CN1241316C/en
Timestamp: 2020-07-10 01:07:14
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Matched Legal Cases: ['art 14', 'arts 22', 'art 18', 'art 18', 'art 17', 'art 17', 'art 19', 'art 18', 'art 17', 'art 17', 'art 17', 'art 19', 'art 17', 'application No.60']

CN1241316C - Radio frequency power source for genrating an inducively coupled plasma - Google Patents
Radio frequency power source for genrating an inducively coupled plasma Download PDF
CN1241316C
CN1241316C CN 00810220 CN00810220A CN1241316C CN 1241316 C CN1241316 C CN 1241316C CN 00810220 CN00810220 CN 00810220 CN 00810220 A CN00810220 A CN 00810220A CN 1241316 C CN1241316 C CN 1241316C
CN 00810220
CN1365534A (en
韦恩·L·约翰逊
伦纳德·G·韦斯特
1999-07-13 Priority to US14354899P priority Critical
1999-07-13 Priority to US60/143,548 priority
2000-07-12 Application filed by 东京电子株式会社 filed Critical 东京电子株式会社
2002-08-21 Publication of CN1365534A publication Critical patent/CN1365534A/en
2006-02-08 Publication of CN1241316C publication Critical patent/CN1241316C/en
238000007634 remodeling Methods 0.000 claims description 2
H02M7/445—Conversion of dc power input into ac power output without possibility of reversal by static converters using discharge tubes
A system for converting DC power (22) into an RF electromagnetic field in a processing chamber, the system being composed of: a coil (16) constructed to surround the processing chamber; and an RF power generator (20) including a free-running oscillator (26) having a DC power input and an RF power output, the power output connected to a load impedance which includes the coil for supplying RF current to the coil at a frequency which is dependent on the load impedance.
Produce inductive coupled isoionic radio-frequency power supply
The present invention relates to inductive coupled isoionic generation in the device of carrying out etching and deposition process.
Various semiconductor manufacturing work comprise precipitation and the etching process of carrying out on the semiconductor chip in the process chamber being installed in.Such process typically comprises uses low pressure, high intensity discharge, and wherein the reciprocation by ionogenic gas and radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic field produces plasma.RF power is coupled to plasma and can be categorized as capacitive primely or inductive primely in the semiconductor processes chamber.Can find many examples in the prior art.
Under capacity coupled situation, RF power is coupled to the bottom plate and/or the top plate of parallel plate process chamber.General, top plate is also as the ionogenic gas of presenting, and base plate keeps the remainder ground connection in chuck and this chamber as disk.
Inductance coupling high is used the geometry or the columned geometry on plane, the perhaps combination of two geometries usually.In addition, low RF power is applied to bottom electrode usually, and perhaps chuck is to provide a RF bias voltage.Figure 1A, 1B and 1C propose some examples of inductive discharge geometry.
An example of the geometry of Figure 1A illustrated planar, the coil of the multi-turn of its midplane are positioned at the top of handling pipe or process chamber.Figure 1B represents the example of columned geometry, and wherein the cylindrical coil of multi-turn twines around handling pipe, and Fig. 1 C represents the revision of columned geometry, wherein this cylindrical coil by the shading ring of conduction around.The structure of representing among Fig. 1 C is an example of spiral helicine resonator.In the arrangement of each expression, connect this coil and receive the RF electric current, therefore induction is parallel to electromagnetism (EM) field of the longitudinal axis of columned geometry.This as a result RF EM magnetic field mainly by when by electrostatic screen polarization (moving azimuthal propagation magnetic field) near the EM of the propagation radially wave component of plasma amount, it is the demonstration of the RF electric current in this coil.Propagating wave and a large amount of isoionic little thin surface crosslinked layer mutual effects radially.The thickness of the layer that this is thin usually is called skin depth.This reciprocation causes adding at last can electronics and gas ionization afterwards and isoionic formation.General, handle the effect of manage barrier of protecting and describe interior plasma amount from external structure.At least in the structure of Figure 1B and 1C, handle pipe and make, to being transparent from this coil electromagnetic energy emitted by dielectric substance.Should understand that these figure are sketches.Shi Ji equipment can be taked various forms in practice.
RF power be coupled to plasma in the semiconductor processes be routinely at 13.56MHz driving frequency, use 50 Ω RF power generators.This frequency is positioned at the RF frequency band of specifying the use that is used for industry expediently.But this operating frequency is not restricted to this value in this prior art, in fact typically uses a plurality of frequencies when using a plurality of coupling electrode.
RF power typically offers this coil by an oscillator of at least one active element, and this active element can be solid-state components or semiconductor, parts or vacuum tube.
As known in the art, energy can be coupled inductively to process chamber by spiral helicine resonator, as at Lieberman ﹠amp; Lichtenberg the 12nd chapter (principle of plasma discharge and material processed, John Wiley ﹠amp; Sons, Inc., 1994) the middle description.Utilize spiral helicine resonator, this coil (perhaps spiral) has the length of the integer amount of the quarter-wave that equals the RF input.In the columned container of this plasma chamber of this coil encircling and the ground connection of packing into.Fig. 1 C represents to comprise the basic structure of a so spiral helicine resonator, comprise this coil, by this coil surround in case minimize RF magnetic field and this plasma a capacity coupled electrostatic screen, by this electrostatic screen surround and handle from the dielectric that this plasma separates this spiral coil manage, around an outer conductor or a shielding of this coil be connected to the RF incoming line of this coil tap.Represent as Fig. 1 C, this coil tap that the RF input applies be with an end of the coil of ground connection at interval.This coiler part between coil tap and ground connection is effective as the part of match circuit, so the position of tap can be selected so that obtain match and regulate.Under given condition, the suitable definition of the some position of tap can be provided for the impedance matching of this circuit.
But the load impedance of RF power generator is the intrinsic impedance of coil and the function of the impedance that plasma presents, and the latter's impedance is the function of plasma attribute.Therefore, the fluctuation that process is regulated may cause the fluctuation of impedance, as what seen by the RF power generator.In addition, the impedance of setting up isoionic process chamber therein is before the plasma ignition and different significantly between the service conditions.For the energy of remaining valid sends plasma to from the RF power generator, require the suitable coupling of power supply output impedance and load impedance.
A technology of Shi Yonging is a variable frequency power supply in the prior art.This frequency is determined that by phase place mag detector it determines the matching condition in the input of the fixing matching network that is connected to this coil tap.But the system of this type may be very expensive, and therefore power of fixed frequency uses in conjunction with matching network usually.
An example that is connected to the fixed frequency RF oscillator of spiral helicine resonator coil by impedance matching network is illustrated among Fig. 2.This matching network is a π filter that is made of the inductor L that is connected in series and two variable capacitor C1 that are connected in parallel and C2.Poor between the variable load impedance that matching network compensation is represented by this coil and plasma and the output impedance of RF power generator.For example, represent as Fig. 2, when source impedance Zs equals load impedance Z MNiThe time, this impedance comprises the impedance of matching network, spiral coil and plasma load, then power conversion can be maximized.In this special situation, to the input impedance Z of matching network load circuit MNiBe the complex conjugate of source impedance Zs, as what seen by this load, the output impedance Zmno of matching network is the complex conjugate of load impedance ZL.Under this certain conditions, the coupling between the combination of the coil that RF power supply and matching network and plasma load can be expressed as the circuit that is equivalent to pure resistive.Therefore, design this matching network with the power delivery of maximization from this RF power generator to its load.
The feedback of given power conversion state (use the approximate forward direction of its output and reflected signal between the reflection/transmission power level of specific detector circuit of phase difference and the amplitude of this reflected signal), developed the variation that matching network responds this load impedance.During plasma ignition and service conditions, regulate tuning this load circuit of variable capacitor especially, arrive the condition of the resonance of power of fixed frequency, this load circuit comprises impedance matching network, coil and plasma load.When circuit impedance is mated, depend on the accuracy of coupling, reflex to minimum power, even be zero at the power supply of matching network tie point, therefore reduced infringement to power supply, this power supply must absorb this reflection power at last.But known, used matching network to propose many problems for the manufacturer of semiconductor equipment with power of fixed frequency.
Specifically, existing impedance matching network is insecure inherently, and part is owing to guarantee maintenance that functional reliability requires and be relatively complicated and usually exceed attendant's ability.
In addition, known matching network has the unsuitable response time, at least in a few thing situation.Especially, if change according to pulse type to the power supply of plasma source, then the fastest matching network can not adapt to the coupling that keeps the best between this power supply and the plasma source.This is real, because the time scale of the fastest matching network is the hundreds of millisecond, promptly Xiang Ying rising or fall time approximately are the hundreds of milliseconds.But in order to obtain the RF square-wave pulse in 1 percent accuracy, the burst length scale of the minimum of these matching networks can be tens seconds or 25 to 50 seconds.Therefore, in order accurately to realize the millisecond pulse, people require to have the rise and fall time of microsecond level or the matching network of time scale.Therefore, need to receive inefficient power coupling condition, and even pulse or different operations are variable one by one.
If during substrate is handled, impedance mismatching occurs, may cause the substrate infringement.
The use of variable frequency RF power generator has alleviated many problems of meeting when adopting fixed frequency RF power generator and matching network.U.S. Patent No. 5,688,357 (Hanawa) have disclosed and have used solid-state oscillator to combine the method that constitutes variable frequency RF power generator with control system, comprise the method for detection of reflected and/or transmitted power.This control system is regulated the frequency of RF power source, till reflection power minimum and/or the maximization of this transmitting power.The shortcoming of this solid state technology is the relatively low power level that RF power supply with solid-state element is suitable for handling the 5kW order of magnitude.But for example the power supply that can produce higher power level up to 15kW need be handled the disk with 300 mm dias.Alternative use solid-state oscillator is to use the vacuum tube as the active element in the pierce circuit that comprises loading coil and plasma load.
Tube oscillator used more than 50 year, was used for conversion direct current (DC) power supply for exchanging (AC) power supply.At " tube oscillator " (Chapter XI of Principles of ElectricalEngineering Electrical Engineering Series Applied Electronics, A FirstCourse in Electronics, Electron Tubes and Associated Circuits byMembers of the Staff of the Department of Electrical Engineering, MIT, John Wiley ﹠amp; Sons, Inc., New York, 1943) in can search the complete discussion of tube oscillator design.According to this works, tube oscillator is categorized as two classifications, i.e. negative resistance oscillator and back-coupled generator.For the specific use in the semiconductor processes of using the low-voltage plasma discharge, back-coupled generator can comprise as the vacuum tube of amplifier and coupling circuit, wherein this coupling circuit comprises loading coil, and it can be a spiral coil or Coupled RF power supply and isoionic electric component.The example of typical back-coupled generator is a Hartley oscillator, Colpitts oscillator, tuning grid oscillator and tuning grid tuning plates utmost point oscillator.The basic circuit of known hartley and Colpitts oscillator is illustrated in Fig. 3 A and 3B respectively, and they are searched in above-mentioned radio tube oscillator.
The basic prerequisite of back-coupled generator operation is: this equipment plays amplifier, and wherein the part of power output feeds back to this amplifier as input, makes vibration to keep.Therefore, any equipment that output that can the cycle has greater than the input power that drives this vibration requirement can be called self-energizing.Or rather, if for example the component of power output is given the negative electrode of vacuum tube with suitable amplitude and phase feedback, then vibration can be kept.Sometimes, the tube oscillator that this feedback is connected is useful as a negative-resistance device.
Fig. 4 A and 4B provide respectively corresponding to the rough schematic view of the back-coupled generator of the Hartley oscillator of representing in Fig. 3 A and equivalent circuit diagram.Fig. 4 A and 4B also find in above-mentioned tube oscillator.In Fig. 4 A, this circuit is made of a discharge-tube amplifier and a coupling network.As what represent, vacuum tube amplifier has an output voltage Ep (plate is to negative electrode), an input voltage Eg (grid is to negative electrode) and a voltage gain K=Ep/Eg.This coupling network is seen an input voltage Ep and has the output voltage of Efb that β=Efb/Ep is the voltage ratio of coupling network here.In order to produce self-oscillation, the voltage gain K of amplifier must equal inverse or the K 〉=l/ β of feedback voltage than β at least.
Fig. 4 B provides the equivalent circuit diagram of the circuit identical with Fig. 4 A.But, suppose that this circuit is linear classification A circuit.Replace the K value in Fig. 4 B circuit, may represent the following condition of persistent oscillation, be commonly referred to Barkhausen criterion (Barkhausen criterion),
&beta; ( &omega; ) = [ 1 &mu; + 1 g m Z ( &omega; ) ] - - - ( 1 )
Z is the impedance of load circuit in the formula, and μ and g mBe respectively the gain and the transconductance of this vacuum tube.Clearly, β is a compound voltage ratio, because this impedance more may comprise reactive components, wherein real part and imaginary part must equate independently so that satisfy equation (1).These two standards are provided with restriction to amplitude and phase place, therefore define the necessary condition of work.In fact, the real part of equation (1) sometimes is provided with the condition of the transconductance gm of this vacuum tube, and the plural number part of equation (1) is provided with operating frequency usually.
As what represent among Fig. 3 A, its impedance is that the load circuit of the Hartley oscillator of Z comprises two the inductor Ls in parallel with capacitor C 1And L 2, wherein the common node between two inductors directly is connected to the vacuum tube negative electrode.
Produce relevant for the plasma in the spectrometer, the patent EP 568920A1 (Gagne) in Europe has disclosed and has been used for the Coupled RF power supply to using a pliotron in the isoionic Colpitts oscillator circuit of atmosphere.But this oscillating circuit is disclosed as coupled power and gives the efficient of this plasma poor, about 40 to 60%.In addition, when being designed for Coupled RF power and giving back-coupled generator of low pressure, high-density plasma, Colpitts oscillator can not carry out the transition to service conditions from the plasma ignition condition when having manual circuit tuning.In order to overcome the stability of these problems and improvement pierce circuit, the use Hartley oscillator can transition automatically between beginning and service conditions.In addition, the Hartley oscillator circuit is more effective: about 78%.
An object of the present invention is to provide the plasma with RF power generator and produce system, it has alleviated defective and the shortcoming of pointing out in the above.
Another object of the present invention provides the such system with RF power generator, can produce powerful level in the scope of 15kW and Geng Gao, but than can be less in the existing power supply expense of such power level work.
Other purpose of the present invention provides a powerful generator of RF, can be plasma source with power transfer, promptly regulate simultaneously so that change the RF power level, the matching network time scale that for example has one or several microsecond orders of magnitude, and during the plasma power supply impedance variation, keep the matched impedance coupling circuit continuously.
The other purpose of the present invention provides a radio freqnency generator, is stably working during beginning and the service conditions and can transition automatically between beginning and service conditions, need not the manual tuning circuit.
For above having realized with other purpose, the invention provides a kind of being used for is transformed to the system that keeps isoionic RF electromagnetic field at process chamber with DC power supply, this system comprises: around a coil of process chamber formation, be configured to Coupled RF power and give plasma, described coil has two ends; With a RF power generator, comprise a free-running oscillator with DC power supply and the output of RF power, described power output is connected to a load impedance, described load impedance comprises described coil, this RF power generator be configured to provide the RF electric current to described coil so that produce this RF power, this RF power is coupled into this plasma, and wherein: described free-running oscillator comprises: a vacuum tube with a negative electrode, a plate and a grid; Be connected to a grid-drain circuit of described grid; Be coupled to a feedback circuit of described vacuum tube; With the DC power supply circuit that is configured to heat described negative electrode; With at least a portion that is connected described coil to form the part of described feedback circuit, wherein: at least one end that forms the described coiler part of a part of described feedback circuit and described coil is spaced apart, described RF power generator also comprises and is coupled to described vacuum tube and is configured to change the control circuit that is coupled to isoionic RF power, comprise the control signal source with described control circuit, be configured to a control signal is offered described vacuum tube grid.
The present invention also provides a kind of being used for that DC power supply is transformed to the system that keeps isoionic RF electromagnetic field at process chamber, and this system comprises: around the coil that process chamber constitutes, be configured to Coupled RF power and give plasma, described coil has two ends; With a RF power generator, comprise a free-running oscillator with DC power supply and the output of RF power, described power output is connected to a load impedance, described load impedance comprises described coil, this RF power generator be configured to provide the RF electric current to described coil so that produce this RF power, this RF power is coupled into this plasma, and wherein: described free-running oscillator comprises: a vacuum tube with a negative electrode, a plate and a grid; Be connected to a grid-drain circuit of described grid; Be coupled to a feedback circuit of described vacuum tube; With the DC power supply circuit that is configured to heat described negative electrode; With at least a portion that is connected described coil to form the part of described feedback circuit, wherein: at least one end that forms the described coiler part of a part of described feedback circuit and described coil is spaced apart, described DC power supply produce one be used to change the RF power that is coupled to this plasma the time become direct voltage, with this direct voltage be the form of pulse train, its rise time weak point reaches 30 microseconds, and fall time, weak point reached 50 microseconds.
The present invention also provides a kind of being used for that DC power supply is transformed to the method that keeps isoionic RF electromagnetic field at process chamber, and the method comprising the steps of: place a spiral coil around process chamber, be used for Coupled RF power and give plasma; With the RF that comprises a free-running oscillator is provided power generator, described free-running oscillator has: the vacuum tube that constitutes the active element of RF power generator, be connected to a feedback circuit of described vacuum tube, a DC power supply input and a RF power output; Connect this RF power and output to a load impedance that comprises this spiral coil, be used to provide the RF electric current to this spiral coil, and connect at least a portion of this spiral coil so that form the part of this feedback circuit; With ionogenic gas is introduced this chamber and is transmitted direct current power and import to DC power supply, produce the RF power that is coupled into this plasma so that activate this oscillator, the Hartley oscillator of wherein using remodeling does not return ground transition automatically to have between beginning and running status.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the RF power generator is positioned at contiguous this process chamber, and DC power supply can be arranged on away from the two position of this process chamber and RF power generator.But this DC power supply can be placed on any position, comprises adjacent this chamber.The size of DC power supply is the function of the RF power level of requirement, and therefore, it may become quite big when disk was handled generation 15kWRF power when being used for.
For the RF power output level of realizing expecting, be RF power ramping or pulsed RF power, can utilize the active element of RF power generator according to the present invention, have the pliotron of control grid, wherein use the waveform generator can the modulation grid bias voltage as it.Active element can also be a tetrode with single or a plurality of control grids, pentode etc., solid-state transistor, FET or similar gain equipment.According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, vacuum tube free oscillation oscillator is the Hartley oscillator of a distortion.
Have been found that and use free-running oscillator without any need for matching network and allow this oscillator output directly to be connected to inductance coil, therefore directly be coupled to plasma source.
When the process chamber condition changes, impedance of plasma will have corresponding variation, so the load impedance of pierce circuit changes accordingly.Except being the function of vacuum tube parameter, it is the function of load impedance that the frequency of vibration is kept.Therefore, at stable duration of work, the RF Automatic Frequency of free-running oscillator ground adapts to such variation.
System according to the present invention provides the many advantages above prior art, comprises improved reliability, the consistency of the performance of different units, response speed that power level is changed and the ability that monitors plasma condition by the measuring oscillator output frequency.
Free-running oscillator promptly changes its frequency of oscillation with the variation of load impedance and the ability of adjustable parts mechanically of not relying on causes the more reliable coupling of the impedance of output impedance of RF power generator and plasma source, therefore allows the control more accurately that passes to isoionic power.In addition, removing mechanically adjustable parts improves system reliability significantly and reduces system's manufacturing expense with relevant control circuit.
In other words, the time constant of speed that impedance of plasma can change and different circuit element is only depended in the response of RF back-coupled generator.For example, during service conditions, change relevant time scale and can be tens microseconds, and during starting working, need only 1 millisecond with impedance of plasma.Therefore, use free-running oscillator to allow that effective delivering power is to plasma source, even when RF power provides with impulse form, if this pulse has 3 to 5 milliseconds or do not require 1% accuracy then the littler duration, and has 30 and 50 microseconds short rising and fall time respectively.RF power generator responding power level satisfactorily changes and has the pulse of 3 to 5 milliseconds duration, and can work satisfactorily, between different power level, pulse with complicated, multistage, the cycle or aperiodic function of time even work as RF power.
In addition, because the RF frequency that is produced by the RF power generator changes with the plasma source impedance, can monitor this RF frequency so that the indication that provides plasma condition to change.This may can be useful especially with specific plasma source parameter correlation to the RF frequency.
Though the invention provides a lot of advantages, in order to note, in the present state of this area, powerful vacuum tube RF oscillator requires to carry out regular maintenance by trained personnel.In addition, under a few thing condition, this oscillator output frequency can be modulated at the frequency of the ISM frequency band outside of specifying the RF use that is used for industry.But this problem has alleviated by the suitable RF shielding around power supply and process chamber.The RF shielding for example can be the copper mesh silk of this plasma chamber of sealing and/or the form of copperplate wall.
This shielding is not represented in the accompanying drawings particularly.But according to the principle of having known in this area, all RF parts are that coil, cable, RF oscillator and pierce circuit unit have adequate shielding routinely, promptly are enclosed in can, coaxial cable or the like.May still have some RF to leak, and if its amplitude enough big, then require other shielding, shield whole chamber with copperplate wall and/or twine possibly.For most process chamber, the RF shielding is the way of standard.
Figure 1A, 1B and 1C are the views that three prior art plasmas produce the simplification of system configuration.
Fig. 2 is the circuit diagram of the fixed frequency RF power generator of prior art.
Fig. 3 A and 3B are the circuit diagrams of two prior art tube oscillators.
Fig. 4 A and 4B are respectively the circuit diagram and the equivalent circuit diagrams of the oscillator represented in Fig. 3 A.
Fig. 5 is the block diagram that is coupled to the system of process chamber according to the present invention.
Fig. 6 is the circuit diagram of preferred embodiment of the free-running oscillator of the system that represents of Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 A is that the plasma that is connected to the parts of Fig. 6 circuit produces that the part of system is graphic, the illustrative of partial circuit.
Fig. 7 B is the circuit diagram of the electric component represented of Fig. 7 A.
Fig. 8 A and 8B are the equivalent circuit diagram of explanation according to RF power generator theory of operation of the present invention.
Fig. 9 is the circuit diagram of the parts that can use of the oscillator of Fig. 6.
Figure 10 A and 10B are respectively the end-view and the end views of operable inner vacuum tube member in the free-running oscillator of Fig. 6.
Figure 11 is the programming flow diagram of explanation plasma density control procedure according to the present invention.
Fig. 5 is a system and process chamber 2 block diagram together that is used to produce the RF electromagnetic field according to invention, and its ionic medium utilizes electromagnetic field to produce.2 encapsulation process zones 4, chamber form plasma therein.A substrate holder 6 of mounted substrate 8 is provided in zone 4.Substrate 8 can be a semiconductor wafer, carries out plasma-assisted processes on disk.Zone 4 by handle pipe 10 around, handle pipe 10 again by electrostatic screen 12 around.Border on zone 4 provides the chamber 2 with gas injection part 14, is used for injecting ionogenic processing gas to zone 4.This handle gas by the RF electromagnetic field ionization in zone 4 and the ion that obtains under by the electric field effects of the suitable parts (not shown) generation in the zone 4 to substrate 8 propellings.Such parts are that this area is known.
So far all unit of Miao Shuing and carry out the plasma assisted etch or the deposition need of work and other all systems and the parts that do not belong to contribution of the present invention can be made of parts well known in the art.
The electromagnetic field that requires produces to coil 16 that twines around zone 4 and shielding 12 by the RF electric current is provided, and constitutes the parts that the RF electromagnetic field produces system according to the present invention.In order to produce the RF electromagnetic field, output conductor and operating power that coil 16 is connected to RF power generator 20 pass to generator 20 from DC power supply 22.
In the embodiment of expression, coil 16 is spiral helicine or solenoidal coils.But, should understand that coil 16 can have and is suitable in process chamber producing isoionic any form.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, RF power generator 20 directly is installed to adjacent reactor 2, and DC power supply 22 can be arranged on away from power generator 20 and is connected to a position of power generator 20 by conductor 24.But, need be at such remote location positioning DC power supply 22.In fact it can adjacent reactor 2 local placements.
RF power generator 20 is made of free-running oscillator in essence, and it has a triode power vacuum tube 26 as its active element.The preferred embodiment of the pierce circuit of the present invention of Miao Shuing is illustrated among Fig. 6 herein.It has the configuration that is similar to previously described Hartley oscillator; But its difference is that the electric component that comprises load circuit comprises the plasma coupling element, i.e. spiral coil 16 and plasma.
The circuit of representing among Fig. 6 is the pattern of a distortion of the Hartley oscillator represented among Fig. 3 A.The Hartley oscillator circuit is an example of the big classification of back-coupled generator.A feature of Hartley oscillator is this dividing potential drop inductance (L among Fig. 3 A 1And L 2Among Fig. 6 17 and 18), it is in a node division of the negative electrode that is connected to vacuum triode 26.Substantially the basis of back-coupled generator work has been described in above-mentioned " tube oscillator " XI chapter.
The circuit that Fig. 6 provides comprises several parts of the narration that needs are detailed.These parts are as follows: (i) have the DC power supply (parts 22 in Fig. 5, not expression in Fig. 6) that is connected an output between terminal 28 and the ground connection; A (ii) low pass filter constituting of shunt capacitor 32 and RF choke inductor 30; (iii) vacuum triode 26; The feedback that (iv) comprise blocking condenser 34, circuit tuning capacitor 24, is connected to the spiral coil 16 of plasma treatment reactor 2 and 26 the negative electrode from spiral coil 16 to vacuum triode is connected; (v) grid capacitor 40 and grid leak circuit 42 and (vi) low D.C. resistance, high AC impedance negative electrode heater circuit 36.
In Fig. 6, expression is used for the group of the example of the component values of circuit of 5kWRF power and input voltage and current value.
Free-running oscillator has single active element, and it is the triode power vacuum tube 26 with a plate, a negative electrode and a control grid.As what know in the art, when having suitable operating voltage between negative electrode and plate, the current potential that imposes on the control grid will influence current amplitude between negative electrode and the plate.Typically, the negative electrode of such triode is a thoriated tungsten manufacturing.
Can use a real example as pipe 26 vacuum triode is Siemens RS3010CRF vacuum tube.
Pipe 26 output or load, circuit be by capacitor 34 and 24 and the part 18 of coil 16 constitute.Specifically, capacitor 24 and coiler part 18 are connected in series between the plate and negative electrode of pipe 26, and capacitor 24 is to be connected in series between capacitor 34 and the ground, and coiler part 17 and 18 is connected in series between capacitor 34 and the ground.In addition, the two is connected to ground capacitor 24 and coiler part 17, therefore in fact forms a series arm with the partial parallel of the coil of at first mentioning 16.
The connection of using is the connection corresponding to the Hartley oscillator configuration.Determine from the connection of blocking condenser 34 with to the effective inductance of effective inductance the connection of negative electrode and the connection from the negative electrode to ground to the tie point of spiral coil.The inductance of such separation is intrinsic to Hartley oscillator, and their value influences the oscillator performance.
Use blocking condenser 34 from load circuit decoupling DC power supply.Identification is used to regulate the impedance Z that equation (1) is described as the variable capacitor 24 with electric capacity " CX " in Fig. 6.So do, can regulate working oscillation frequency for the nominal condition (that is, RF power, chamber condition or the like) of given collection.Loading coil or spiral coil 16 are divided into three parts, be open end part 19, be connected to capacitor 24 and 34 one this part 18 between the input connection 46 tap and feedback tap, and part 17 extends to conductive wall externally or is used for the ground of the shielding of plasma source from the connection of feedback tap.Coil 16 is spiral coils, is wrapped in around the plasma chamber.
Fig. 7 A provides the schematic diagram of spiral helicine resonator, and wherein spiral coil 16 twines electrostatic screens and handles pipe, the latter be make by dielectric substance and surround by electrostatic screen.Coil 16 surrounds and be connected to the position of input tap by a chamber wall and the feedback of free-running oscillator is connected 46.The end that this chamber has with the part 17 of outer wall of the made of conduction and coil 16 is connected to this outer wall.The circuit diagram of the parts of Fig. 7 B presentation graphs 7A.Coiler part 17 and 18 is represented the only open end of spiral helicine resonator of the common separate inductive of Hartley oscillator and part 19.Certainly, during service conditions, exist and isoionic mutual inductance.Describe referring to Fig. 1 C as the front, spiral helicine resonator is made of a shielding or outer conductor and coil or inner wire, and this shielding is the chamber wall of conduction in this case, and this coil is a coil 16, surrounded by this shielding.One end of coil 16 directly is connected to ground or arrives this shielding.The end opposite of coil 16 is ends of opening, unless use trimmer capacitor.
This system class is similar to quarter-wave coaxial transmission line resonator (referring to ReferenceData for Radio Engineers, Howard W.Sams ﹠amp generally; Company (1975) Section 24, pages 28-30).The electric capacity relevant with the capacitive coupling of the spiral coil with external conductor and the inductance cooperation of this coil form lc circuit, and wherein resonance frequency becomes &omega; = ( LC ) - 1 2 .
In order to understand that load circuit and it and whole pierce circuit are coupled and determine whether persistent oscillation is possible and can obtains what frequency of oscillation, can draw that the circuit diagram of simplifying is to comprise isoionic effect.For example, under the situation of the inductive coupled plasma source that Fig. 1 C represents, outer conductor is the chamber wall of a conduction, and the circuit diagram of the simplification that the physical system that presents in Fig. 1 C can be represented by Fig. 8 A is represented (referring to Lieberman ﹠amp; Lichtenberg, Principles of plasmadischarges and materials processing, John Wiley ﹠amp; Sons, Inc., 1994, p.393, Figure 12 .2).This is commonly referred to the transformer-coupled circuit model of perception discharge.This inductance coil is represented that by inductor Lc it is coupled to this plasma by plasma inductance Lp.Certainly plasma is represented by circuit element Lp and R.This circuit is further simplified in Fig. 8 B, and wherein the circuit of Fig. 8 A replaces with the effective inductance device and the resistor of series connection.Use the electric circuit model of the equivalence of this plasma, people can estimate this load impedance, as what see by amplifier circuit, and design subsequently whole pierce circuit in given frequency with some specified condition persistent oscillations.
Provide working power to pipe 26 from the high-voltage dc power supply 22 (not expression Fig. 6) of routine, the output of this power supply is connected between power input 28 and the ground.Terminal 28 is connected to pipe 26 plate by RF choke 30, and filtering capacitor 32 is connected between terminal 28 and the ground.Coil 30 and capacitor 32 are as a low pass filter, and it is by this DC power supply of AC portion decoupling of this oscillator.As what represent, the negative electrode of pipe 26 and the DC path between the ground are provided by the part 17 of coil 16.
The suitable operation of vacuum tube pliotron requires its negative electrode to be heated, so that play a kind of effective electron reflector.The negative electrode of pipe 26 is by the direct voltage heating that offers negative electrode from suitable voltage source (not shown) by electric current transfer circuit 36.Circuit 36 is to be made of the one group of inductor and a series of capacitor that is connected in parallel that form the series circuit path with the negative electrode between the positive and negative input of circuit 36.In force, circuit 36 it input and negative electrode between low-down D.C. resistance is provided, this negative electrode also has a low-down D.C. resistance, the heating current that therefore has high-amplitude can be produced by relatively low direct voltage.Circuit 36 is used for providing the interchange decoupling in essence between the HFS of this oscillator and direct voltage source.
The pierce circuit of Fig. 6 also comprises grid and the gate bias capacitor 40 between the ground that is connected pipe 26 and also is connected the grid and the grid-leak circuit between the ground 42 of pipe 26.
The relevant linear class-a amplifier of the simple analysis that provides previously.But grid leak circuit 42 and grid capacitor 40 are used to provide gate bias usually.Therefore, the introducing of this nonlinear circuit makes the characteristic of pierce circuit violate the operation that category-A be don't bother about immediately.Non-linear just since the rectification of this electric current inflow grid leak circuit take place, just as will be discussed in more detail below.Nonlinear characteristic increases the operation that two desirable effect are given pierce circuit.The first, it increases stablizing effect; In other words its limits the amplitude of persistent oscillation.For example, if this circuit is linear, there is not the amplitude of most of instability frequency patterns of this circuit of effects limit to increase.The second, use grid bias to make this pipe make it have C class performance with bigger efficient work.Efficient is because the frequency of persistent oscillation becomes more near the resonance frequency of this tuning circuit to improvement.
At last, the grid of pipe 26 is connected to and is used for the input 44 that grid voltage produces the connection of circuit, can constitute to this grid provides the dc offset voltage of constant amplitude or has the voltage of selecting waveform, such as impulse waveform, compound, many level waveform, sinusoidal waveform or the like will be as will be discussed in detail below.
For given plate-negative electrode operating voltage, increase by the level of managing 26 the electric current corrigendum that will become along with the current potential on the triode grid.When being positive with respect to cathode potential at the current potential of this grid, from the electric current of triode negative electrode with charging capacitor 40 and flow through leak circuit 42.When the current potential of triode grid is when bearing with respect to this cathode potential, there is not electronics to flow into leak circuit 42.Therefore, during the RF cycle, when gate bias when being positive with respect to this cathode potential, capacitor 40 will be charged to respect to ground be negative potential and during the another part in RF cycle electric current will sew at leisure by leak circuit 42 from capacitor 40.
The electric capacity of capacitor 40 should be enough big, so that have insignificant reactance with the grid leak resistance comparison in this operating frequency.This is equivalent to the time constant that shows gate bias circuit must be bigger fully cycle of oscillation than RF.Under these conditions, form some chargings at capacitor 40; That is, during the sub-fraction in RF cycle to the speed of the grid leak circuit loss of charge less than the charging that receives from this grid.Therefore, along with increasing in capacitor 40 chargings, negative-grid bias increases, and has therefore reduced the grid current pulse.At last, reach steady-state condition, wherein the charging that during the RF cycle, grid leak circuit loss of charge balance is received.At this moment, the stable component of electric current works by the grid leak circuit and alternating component works by grid capacitor 40.Typically, ammeter 48 can be used to measure and monitor stable component by the electric current of grid leak circuit.This direct current is the tolerance of the relative amplitude of this vibration in this circuit and the existence that can be used for detecting vibration.
For oscillator expression, that in plasma handling system, use in the set-up dirgram 6, only need the nominal oscillation frequency of 24 to selections of tuning capacitor, for example can be 13.56Mhz.Initial circuit is tuning when finishing when this, does not require other tuning in plasma treatment operating period.As what represented by top equation (1), the variation of load impedance directly influences feedback voltage and compares β.For persistent oscillation, the frequency of vibration must change to these variations among the compensating impedance Z.Certainly, along with frequency change, this impedance also changes.
In the operation beginning, the electronic noise in this circuit produces initial interference and amplifies first-selected wavelength.The vibration retention time that obtains depends on that whether the gain of feedback voltage is greater than one.Along with plasma condition changes, also change owing to feed back the current potential at these electron tube two ends, subsequently this electron tube self-regulation frequency of oscillation.
Therefore, the characteristic impedance that the Automatic Frequency ground that is produced by free-running oscillator adapts to plasma source changes, and makes to keep best between oscillator and the plasma in zone 4 or be coupled near best energy.
An advantage that is provided by the RF power generator according to the present invention is the free-running oscillator variation Billy that can adapt to the continuous current excitation power magnitude with fast many of the oscillator of working impedance matching network mechanically.Especially, free-running oscillator according to the present invention can adapt to the given waveform definition of 1% accuracy during 3 to 5 milliseconds.This means that adjusting will be through the process of 100 steps, each step has the rise time of about 30 to 50 microseconds.
When tuning capacitor was suitably regulated when beginning, free-running oscillator according to the present invention can respond impedance of plasma to be changed, because gas pressure is changing between the 0.1mTorr to 50mTorr in the argon atmosphere of plasma area.Drawn in the physical circuit shown in Figure 6 electric capacity and resistance value, its can respond 1 and 17mTorr between pressure range.Only need to carry out this circuit of little adjusting upwards or offset downward this scope, so that obtain the operating characteristic at least a portion of the pressure limit of initial specification.
As known in the art, isoionic density depends on several running parameters, comprises the level that is coupled to isoionic RF power, the gas pressure in process chamber or the like.Especially, plasma density is influenced by power absorbed quantity Pabs directly.Therefore, if people consider the first law of thermodynamics, by the RF power P in of oscillator section 20 generations with by the energy balance Pin-Pabs between the RF power of plasma absorption, therefore, the temperature that monitors some parts can provide about heating power loss quantity or convert some information of fraction at least of the wasted power of heat to.But, use plasma handling system to require some regional methods of this system of cooling so that keep temperature stability.For example, RF oscillator section 20 can stand significant temperature rise, wherein by the power that dissipates substantial heating takes place in vacuum triode and resistance.At the plasma system duration of work, dissipation power enough produces the appreciable temperature rise of the parts in the RF oscillator section 20.RF oscillator section 20 is made up of all circuit blocks that Fig. 6 represents in essence, except DC power supply, spiral coil and this plasma.In addition, spiral coil and process chamber typically require cooling.General, spiral coil is to be immersed in cryogen liquid (Fluorinert for example TM) recycle tank in.The temperature of cryogen liquid is relevant with the power quantity that dissipates.
Ideally, wish directly to measure plasma density.But, the sensing device that this requires on process chamber or interior installation is additional, Langmuir probe for example, its is installed to make and stretches into the plasma space and require electric presenting to run through this chamber wall, the perhaps microwave system of less insertion.But, the complexity and the expense of the system that the increase of any plasma density measuring equipment obtains.
In system according to the present invention, the frequency of oscillation of free-running pierce circuit is the function of Several Parameters, comprises the gain of vacuum triode and the load impedance of transconductance and this circuit.The load impedance of circuit depends on different circuit elements, i.e. blocking condenser, variable capacitor, spiral coil and plasma.Certainly, plasma changes, and for example therefore plasma density variable effect impedance of plasma influences load impedance.Therefore, may detect the variation of frequency of oscillation and associated with the variation of plasma density.But as previously described, input power dissipates with the form of heat at last, and promptly the fraction of power dissipates in external circuit, and dump power adds heat plasma.Do not cool off this vacuum tube, resistance and spiral coil fully, the temperature of this structure may change.Usually, process chamber is operated in away under the thermally equilibrated condition.Variation of temperature influences the running parameter of vacuum tube certainly and influences the element of system, comprises the load impedance of this circuit.Conversely, these variable effects are from frequency of oscillation and the amplitude of the RF of generator output.Therefore, importantly keep these parts in stationary temperature, perhaps have the temperature of selecting in advance of little variation at least, little variation has insignificant influence to frequency of oscillation.
If plasma density can accurately be controlled, just may modulate this plasma density or stabilized plasma density value a selection.In the previous case, the signal that may expect the form by transmitting potential pulse, slope or more complicated waveform from DC power supply keeps other all parameter constants to regulate RF power simultaneously.Therefore, change and to offer that isoionic power changes plasma density and this has changed oscillator frequency.According to another possibility, can expect to be provided with one of input parameter, such as cavity pressure or offer the direct current power level of RF power generator, so that the steady state value selected of stabilized plasma density simply.
Alternatively, such signal can be imposed on the grid of pipe 26 by the grid voltage control circuit, and Fig. 9 represents an infinite example.This circuit comprises a pulse-pattern generator 60 that is coupled to the terminal 44 of Fig. 6 by a transformer 62, resistor that is connected in parallel 64 and capacitor connected in series 66.Resistor 64 and capacitor 66 constitute a simple high pass filter in essence.Can realize that generator 60 transmits the grid that a variable voltage is given pipe 26, variable voltage comprises that according to any pattern square wave pattern, each section have compound many level waveform or the sinusoidal pattern of any desired duration and change periodically.Such generator is that this area is known.
When the temperature of oscillator and plasma generation system kept constant, input parameter such as cavity pressure or RF power can be controlled more accurately.In the circuit that Fig. 6 represents, during overpressure scope 1 to 17mTorr, oscillator frequency change surpasses the scope of 200kHz.If oscillator frequency may be controlled in the tolerance of 2kHz, then by suitably changing the cavity pressure control generator frequency possibility that in 1% accuracy, becomes.At embodiment duration of work according to the reality of system of the present invention, the frequency of keeping of observing the oscillator that Fig. 6 represents in the temperature range of from 5 to 30 ℃ of cryogen liquid with the rate variation of refrigerant temperature with every degree 6.66kHz.When the bias voltage shielding occurring, measure this temperature range.This shielding normally is similar to the fluting shielding of electrostatic screen, still, does not resemble electrostatic screen, and it is earth-free but be connected to radio freqnency generator by blocking condenser and matching network.In addition, the fluting otch of bias voltage shielding than the otch of electrostatic screen wideer and with the cut alignment of electrostatic screen so that the EM energy that allows this coil to produce passes through.The bias voltage shielding may be (floating) or ground connection biasing, that do not setover.General, utilize it to setover this wall so that attract ion bombardment in order to remove purpose, its existence changes the electric attribute of this structure simply.
Therefore, if expectation control generator frequency keeps plasma density (perhaps pressure, power etc.) in the restriction of unanimity in 1% simultaneously, need to keep in the temperature constant to 0.3 ℃ of cooling system, this is the requirement that is difficult to satisfy.But the cooling technology that is used for spiral helicine resonator can obtain such control, such as on August 3rd, 1998 by application No.60/095 Johnson application, that the unexamined U.S. is temporary transient, 036, name is called in " ESRF chamber cooling system " and discloses.It is the indication that plasma changes that such control allows oscillator frequency, the indication of promptly relevant with pressure, variable power or the like variation.If temperature keeps being stabilized in some restriction, will be without any the frequency change of temperature correlation.
In addition, must provide cooling, so that keep the stable temperature of remainder of pierce circuit for RF oscillator section 20.A method that keeps constant pipe temperature is to twine copper pipe and provide flowing of cryogen liquid by this copper pipe with high flow rate around vacuum triode.A kind of liquid can be the cooling water that for example remains on 25 ℃ of temperature.Identical copper pipe or refrigerant pipeline can continue through copper billet, and as what represent among Fig. 6, resistance 41 and 43 is installed in above it.This will provide sufficient cooling for this vacuum tube and resistance.The two parts can dissipate and import the pith of direct current power.For example, the power that dissipates in this pipe can be that 1kW is big, and the power that is dissipated by resistance can be that 300W is big.Figure 10 A is an end-view, and Figure 10 B is an end view, the suitable configuration of expression vacuum triode 26 and refrigerant pipe 90.Pipe 26 is supported in the oscillator shell by support plate, and manages 90 pipes 26 that unroll.The free end of pipe 90 is supported by a plate 94.The arrangement of expression can be made of the unit with model sign RS-3010-CJ that Siemens Company sells.
Suppose and satisfy the refrigerant temperature and, can use the controlled function of oscillator frequency, and oscillator frequency can be by suitably regulating the control of cavity pressure and/or RF input power as the control plasma density to this restriction of the temperature of RF oscillator 20.Before operation was according to system of the present invention, for database of given device development, this database provided the correlation between different combinations, cavity pressure and the RF input power of plasma density and frequency of oscillation.Suppose that 100 steps by carrying out between two values deliberately change initial plasma density value to terminal plasma density value, this is in order to obtain 1% accuracy, to define each plasma density level with relevant with frequency and pressure step.The value of working pressure step, predetermined valve feature can be used for controlling the open and close of the high vacuum valve that communicates with plasma chamber inside.Then, can operate pressure between the step that high vacuum valve is adjusted in each step fine tuning.If expectation control plasma density is the function of RF variable power, can use similar method.In fact, using RF power adjustments plasma density is best working method, because control system has the response time best.The response time of FRO can be about tens microseconds.
A specific example of such process is illustrated among Figure 11.According to the process of expression, in step 70 plasma density of expectation is set, in step 72 each step and the relevant pressure correlation between changing is set after this.Then, open and close choke valve or valve,, then monitor pressure and oscillator output frequency in the plasma area in step 76 in step 74.Then, can carry out coarse tuning, then in step 78 fine tuning pressure and frequency.The coarse tuning of control circuit can be based on predetermined correlation between frequency of oscillation, plasma density and the RF input power.Fine tuning comprises an iterative process simply, and the plasma density that wherein obtains to set in advance is in certain tolerance selected in advance as the frequency of oscillation function.This iterative process can be any suitable known control procedure, i.e. fallout predictor-adjuster or the like.In step 80 monitor pressures and frequency again, and make and determine in determination block 82, whether to have finished the plasma density level and change.If no, operation is back to step 78.Finish if the plasma density level changes, operation advances to square frame 84, determines whether to carry out next step.If the execution next step, operation turns back to step 74, otherwise finishes this process in step 86, perhaps can repeat with the pressure that RF power is replaced.
Have been found that the oscillator that Fig. 6 represents can be with the low direct current input power levels work of 10-30W.And, even power level and pressure when changing rapidly the work of this oscillator also be stable.Under starting conditions, mainly because gas separations and gas release from surrounding this regional wall, significant variation can appear in the gas density in zone 4.Because plasma advances to quasi-stable state or connection (operation) condition, this oscillator is stablized in typically can be during 1ms (perhaps 1 atomic transition time).
Can be according to oscillator of the present invention by applying direct voltage work, direct voltage is pulsed between different power levels.According to a possibility, the grid of triode 26 can be pulsed to the voltage level that produces strong on-condition from the voltage level of the strong condition of closing that produces triode.This allow this triode between the state of conduction and non-conductive state alternately.The operation that its advantage is an impulse circuit can be finished at low-power level.Have been found that this method can be to have short and short 0.001Hz and the generation of the repetition rate between the 500Hz pulse of microsecond fall times 50 of rise time 30 microsecond.As selection, such pulse can be provided by DC power supply.These pulses have higher power capacity, allow to be used for short pulse and rise and fall time, therefore are used for high pulse repetition frequency.
The bias voltage shielding is introduced and isoionic different electrical couplings with chuck, therefore requires to revise the electric circuit of equivalence.Certainly, the load circuit of representing as Fig. 6 will be revised and several parts are that the value of blocking condenser, variable capacitor or the like will change.
Though top narration with reference to specific embodiments of the invention, should be understood, can carry out many modifications under the situation of the spirit that does not depart from it.Appending claims falls into such modification in the real scope and spirit of the present invention in order to covering.
Therefore at present the embodiment that discloses consider to be explanation in every respect rather than limit, scope of the present invention is represented by claims, rather than represented by the narration of front, and all variations that therefore obtain in the connotation of these claims and equivalent scope are included in wherein.
1. be used for DC power supply is transformed to the system that keeps isoionic RF electromagnetic field at process chamber, this system comprises:
Around the coil that process chamber constitutes, be configured to Coupled RF power and give plasma, described coil has two ends; With
A RF power generator, comprise a free-running oscillator with DC power supply and the output of RF power, described power output is connected to a load impedance, described load impedance comprises described coil, this RF power generator be configured to provide the RF electric current to described coil so that produce this RF power, this RF power is coupled into this plasma, wherein:
Described free-running oscillator comprises: a vacuum tube with a negative electrode, a plate and a grid; Be connected to a grid-drain circuit of described grid; Be coupled to a feedback circuit of described vacuum tube; With the DC power supply circuit that is configured to heat described negative electrode; With
At least a portion that connects described coil to be forming the part of described feedback circuit,
At least one end that forms the described coiler part of a part of described feedback circuit and described coil is spaced apart,
Described RF power generator also comprise be coupled to described vacuum tube and be configured to change the control circuit that is coupled to isoionic RF power and
Described control circuit comprises the control signal source, is configured to a control signal is offered described vacuum tube grid.
2. according to the system of claim 1, wherein said coil comprises a spiral coil.
3. according to the system of claim 1, an end ground connection of wherein said coil, the other end of described coil is opened a way.
4. according to the system of claim 1, wherein said vacuum tube is a triode.
5. according to the system of claim 1, wherein said DC power supply produce one be used to change the RF power that is coupled to this plasma the time become direct voltage.
6. according to the system of claim 5, wherein said direct voltage is the time time variant voltage of the repetition rate frequency that is lower than RF power.
7. according to the system of claim 1, also comprise temperature-controlling module,, be configured to described coil and described vacuum tube are remained on the temperature of selection with described coil and described vacuum tube related work.
8. according to the system of claim 5, wherein this direct voltage has pulse train form or sinusoidal form.
9. according to the system of claim 5, wherein this direct voltage is the form of pulse train, and each pulse has the waveform of many level.
10. be used for DC power supply is transformed to the system that keeps isoionic RF electromagnetic field at process chamber, this system comprises:
Described DC power supply produce one be used to change the RF power that is coupled to this plasma the time become direct voltage and
This direct voltage is the form of pulse train, and its rise time weak point reaches 30 microseconds, and fall time, weak point reached 50 microseconds.
11. system according to claim 10, wherein said RF power generator also comprises and is coupled to described vacuum tube and is configured to change the control circuit that is coupled to isoionic RF power, and described control circuit comprises the control signal source, is configured to a control signal is offered described vacuum tube grid.
12. according to the system of claim 11, wherein this control signal has pulse train form or sinusoidal form.
13. according to the system of claim 10, wherein this direct voltage is the form of pulse train, each pulse has the waveform of many level.
14. be used for DC power supply is transformed to the method that keeps isoionic RF electromagnetic field at process chamber, the method comprising the steps of:
Place a spiral coil around process chamber, be used for Coupled RF power and give plasma; With
The RF that comprises a free-running oscillator is provided power generator, described free-running oscillator has: the vacuum tube that constitutes the active element of RF power generator, be connected to a feedback circuit of described vacuum tube, a DC power supply input and a RF power output;
Connect this RF power and output to a load impedance that comprises this spiral coil, be used to provide the RF electric current to this spiral coil, and connect at least a portion of this spiral coil so that form the part of this feedback circuit; With
Ionogenic gas is introduced this chamber and transmit direct current power and import to DC power supply, produce the RF power that is coupled into this plasma so that activate this oscillator, the Hartley oscillator of wherein using remodeling does not return ground transition automatically to have between beginning and running status.
15., further be included in the step that changes plasma density in this chamber according to the method for claim 14.
16. according to the method for claim 15, the isoionic density that wherein changes in this chamber comprises the amplitude that changes the RF power that is coupled into this plasma.
17. according to the method for claim 16, the amplitude that wherein changes the RF power that is coupled into this plasma comprises the amplitude that changes the direct current power of giving this DC power supply input.
18. according to the method for claim 15, the isoionic density that wherein changes in the chamber comprises the gas pressure that changes in this chamber.
19. method according to claim 15, wherein this vacuum tube has a control grid, comprise that with the plasma density that changes in this chamber the amplitude control signal that applies variation is to this grid, wherein providing the RF power generator to comprise provides the RF with the control circuit that is coupled to described vacuum tube power generator, and this control circuit is configured to change the RF power that is coupled into this plasma.
20. according to the method for claim 19, the amplitude control signal that wherein applies variation comprises applying to have the repetition rate time varying signal lower than the frequency of RF power to grid.
21., wherein apply time varying signal and comprise and apply control signal with pulse train form or sinusoidal form according to the method for claim 20.
22. according to the method for claim 20, wherein apply time varying signal and comprise the control signal that applies the pulse train form, each pulse has the waveform of many level.
CN 00810220 1999-07-13 2000-07-12 Radio frequency power source for genrating an inducively coupled plasma CN1241316C (en)
US14354899P true 1999-07-13 1999-07-13
US60/143,548 1999-07-13
CN1365534A CN1365534A (en) 2002-08-21
CN1241316C true CN1241316C (en) 2006-02-08
ID=22504547
CN 00810220 CN1241316C (en) 1999-07-13 2000-07-12 Radio frequency power source for genrating an inducively coupled plasma
US (1) US6740842B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1203441A1 (en)
JP (1) JP4672941B2 (en)
CN (1) CN1241316C (en)
TW (1) TW494708B (en)
WO (1) WO2001005020A1 (en)
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2000-07-12 EP EP20000947241 patent/EP1203441A1/en not_active Withdrawn
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JP4672941B2 (en) 2011-04-20
WO2001005020A1 (en) 2001-01-18
US7969096B2 (en) 2011-06-28 Inductively-coupled plasma source
CN100447935C (en) 2008-12-31 Apparatus and methods for minimizing arcing in a plasma processing chamber
KR102093534B1 (en) 2020-03-26 Electron-coupled transformer
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Granted publication date: 20060208