Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7514377?ie=ISO-8859-1
Timestamp: 2015-01-30 22:40:17
Document Index: 168377147

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 10', 'art 10', 'art 10', 'art 10', 'art 10', 'art 10']

Patent US7514377 - Plasma generator, ozone generator, substrate processing apparatus and ... - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsTo provide a generator capable of generating plasma and ozone with high efficiency and easy to handle, with a simple structure. An electrode part 10 is formed of electrodes 11 and 12 without dielectric material interposed therebetween. An arc-extinguishing capacitor 13 as a charge storage part for storing...http://www.google.com/patents/US7514377?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7514377 - Plasma generator, ozone generator, substrate processing apparatus and manufacturing method of semiconductor deviceAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7514377 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 10/539,569PCT numberPCT/JP2003/016887Publication dateApr 7, 2009Filing dateDec 26, 2003Priority dateDec 27, 2002Fee statusPaidAlso published asUS20060189168, WO2004061929A1Publication number10539569, 539569, PCT/2003/16887, PCT/JP/2003/016887, PCT/JP/2003/16887, PCT/JP/3/016887, PCT/JP/3/16887, PCT/JP2003/016887, PCT/JP2003/16887, PCT/JP2003016887, PCT/JP200316887, PCT/JP3/016887, PCT/JP3/16887, PCT/JP3016887, PCT/JP316887, US 7514377 B2, US 7514377B2, US-B2-7514377, US7514377 B2, US7514377B2InventorsNoriyoshi Sato, Takeshi Taniguchi, Hiroshi Mase, Shuitsu Fujii, Tamiya FujiwaraOriginal AssigneeHitachi Kokusai Electric Inc., Adtec Plasma Technology Co., Ltd., Noriyoshi Sato, Hiroshi Mase, Tamiya FujiwaraExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (10), Referenced by (6), Classifications (15), Legal Events (2) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetPlasma generator, ozone generator, substrate processing apparatus and manufacturing method of semiconductor deviceUS 7514377 B2Abstract To provide a generator capable of generating plasma and ozone with high efficiency and easy to handle, with a simple structure. An electrode part 10 is formed of electrodes 11 and 12 without dielectric material interposed therebetween. An arc-extinguishing capacitor 13 as a charge storage part for storing charge is connected in series to the electrode part 10. An AC power source 15 generating plasma by causing self-arc-extinguishing discharge between the electrodes 11 and 12 by applying AC voltage to charge and discharge the arc-extinguishing capacitor 13, is connected to both ends of a circuit in which the electrode part 10 and the arc-extinguishing capacitor 13 are connected in series. The arc-extinguishing capacitor 13 and one electrode 12 of the electrode part 10 connected thereto are unitized, for making the electrode part multi-polarized. A unit is constituted of a floating electrode serving as both of the one electrode 12 of the electrode part 10 and one electrode of the arc-extinguishing capacitor 13, an insulating material provided around the floating electrode and a grounding electrode provided around the insulating material.
wherein by applying the AC voltage by this AC power source to the circuit in which the serial connection part formed of the electrode part and the plural charge storage parts are connected in parallel, discharge is intermittently caused between plural electrodes of the electrode part, and plasma is thereby generated. Description
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a plasma generator, and an ozone generator and a substrate processing apparatus, and particularly to an apparatus appropriate for generating plasma and ozone by producing a non-steady discharge in an atmospheric pressure.
BACKGROUND ART A substrate processing apparatus functions to perform processing such as forming and improving a film on a substrate such as a semiconductor substrate or a glass substrate. Ozone is frequently used for the processing such as forming and improving the film. As a most generally used system of generating the ozone, a system using a silent discharge is given as an example.
Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 8-321397 DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION However, in the aforementioned ozone generator utilizing the silent discharge disclosed in the patent document 1, it is necessary that the entire surface of the conductor is covered with the insulating material, and inter-electrodes of electrode pairs is packed with the dielectric material, resulting in a complicated structure. In addition, in the dielectric barrier discharge, a discharge current (plasma density) is limited by a small electrostatic capacity of the dielectric material. Therefore, although stable discharge can be induced by applying small voltage, a discharge energy density can not be increased. Accordingly, it is impossible to neither generate plasma with high efficiency, nor generate ozone with high efficiency. Moreover, as described above, inter-electrodes are packed with dielectric material covered with conductor, and therefore handling is not easy.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an equivalent circuit diagram of a plasma generator according to an embodiment.
FIG. 24 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the multi-polarized plasma generator of FIG. 4 DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 10 electrode part
A principle of causing an intermittent discharge will be explained by using FIG. 2 showing an applied voltage and a plasma injection power (corresponding to discharge current). An axis of ordinate of FIG. 2A shows the applied voltage by the high voltage AC power source 15 supplied between the electrodes 11 and 12, and meanwhile the axis of ordinate of FIG. 2B shows a plasma injection power P injected between the electrodes 11 and 12, respectively. An axis of abscissa shows a time in each of FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B. When an applied voltage Vs is smaller than a discharge starting voltage �Vd between the electrodes 11 and 12, the plasma injection power P maintains a zero level. When the applied voltage Vs exceeds the discharge starting voltage �Vd, inter-electrodes 11 and 12 is virtually short-circuited, simultaneously with the start of discharge, to allow a large current to flow. Triggered by this current, storing of charge in the arc-extinguishing capacitor 13 is started. When the arc-extinguishing capacitor 13 is fully charged, the current stops flowing and the discharge thereby stops. Specifically, the discharge becomes intermittent, while the discharge is effected as long as the charge is stored in arc-extinguishing capacitor 13.
A specific example of the capacitive coupling electrode is shown as follows. A silicone thermal contraction tube as the dielectric material is wound around a copper rod of Φ 2 mm having a predetermined length, and a copper foil is wound thereon. Capacity of the arc-extinguishing capacitor is 20 Pf at 100 kHz. Note that Teflon thermal contraction tube may be used as the dielectric material other than the silicone thermal contraction tube.
C 0=ΣC i (Formula 1)
The ozone generator 100 is made compact, and therefore, can be disposed near the reacting tube 81. Ozone O3 is self-decomposed even in the gas supply pipe 83, and changed into oxygen O2. However, when the ozone generator can be disposed near the reacting tube 81, consumption of ozone in the stage of supplying ozone O3 can be reduced as much as possible. In addition, the degree of freedom of the structure of the ozone generator 100 is enhanced, and therefore the ozone generator 100 can be directly installed on the reacting tube 81, in the form of an external combustion apparatus (so-called �external combustion BOX�) that generates H2O gas, for example. In this apparatus, the ozone generator of this embodiment is used, and therefore a plurality of substrates can be effectively oxidized with ozone.
Further, the discharge electrode is set as the metal electrode, and the metal electrode is cooled by the refrigerant. Therefore, heat of the electrode is easily removed, and ozone can be generated at a low temperature. Accordingly, decomposition due to the heat of ozone thus generated can be effectively prevented. The ozone can be generated with efficiency of 1.0 gO3/W�hr by the ozone generator using the system described above. This is a high efficiency of about five times the efficiency 0.22 gO3/W�hr of the conventional silent discharge. A condition of this system at this time is that the discharge gap is set to be 1.0 mm; the capacitive coupling electrode is formed by winding a copper foil around a copper bar (φ 2 mm) through a silicone thermal contraction tube; and the arc-extinguishing capacitor is set to be 20 pF (at 100 kHz). Also, the number of electrodes are set to be 20, O2 flow rate is set to be 10 slm, and high AC voltage is set to be 50 Hz and 10 kVpp.
MODIFIED EXAMPLE In the aforementioned embodiment, AC voltage is applied between the counter electrode and the capacitive coupling electrode, however DC voltage may be applied therebetween. FIG. 23 shows the modified example, and FIG. 23A is a schematic block diagram of the entire body of the plasma generator, FIG. 23B is a plasma injection power chart of one pole, and FIG. 23C is an equivalent circuit diagram of one pole.
When the DC power source is used as a power source, potential of the electrode to plasma potential can be fixed, and therefore it is advantageous to be used for a process particularly requiring accelerating/decelerating efficiency of ion species. However, in this case, � of injected power is wastefully consumed. That is, a static energy stored in the arc-extinguishing capacitor 13 is converted to Joule heat by the resistor R for discharge.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention provides a plasma generator having increased discharge energy density compared with a silent discharge and capable of generating plasma with high efficiency, with a simple structure. In addition, larger discharge energy density contributes to generating ozone with high efficiency. Accordingly, the plasma generator and the ozone generator can be restrained from increasing in volume. Moreover, even when the discharge energy density becomes large, self-arc-extinguishing discharge is induced, and this contributes to reducing damage to the electrode part. In addition, when the electrode is unitized, handling becomes easy.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS5522343 *Feb 23, 1994Jun 4, 1996Fujitsu LimitedThin film formation apparatusUS6855902 *Jun 29, 2001Feb 15, 2005Korea Atomic Energy Research InsituteSelf bouncing arc switchUS20030010453 *Jul 22, 2002Jan 16, 2003Jyunichi TanakaPlasma processing apparatus and plasma processing methodUS20030070913 *Aug 7, 2002Apr 17, 2003Sionex CorporationA radio frequency driven plasma ionizer including a pair of spaced-apart and plasma- isolated electrodes, which are connected to a power source, the gas electrically discharges and creates a plasma of both positive and negative ionsUS20030106788 *Nov 4, 2002Jun 12, 2003Sergei Babko-MalyiDielectric with slit; segmented electrodeCA2516499A1 *Aug 19, 2005Feb 19, 2007Atlantic Hydrogen Inc.Decomposition of natural gas or methane using cold arc dischargeJP2003209212A Title not availableJPH07118857A Title not availableJPH08321397A Title not availableJPH09241007A Title not available* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS7771672 *Apr 18, 2006Aug 10, 2010Airinspace B.V.MnO2 catalyst arrangements suitable for use in plasma based air purification devices; enhance the conversion of reactive species that are contained in the fluid stream before the stream emerges from the reactor; catalyst electrode includes a metal frame, serves as conductive electrode containing MnO2US8003058Jul 30, 2007Aug 23, 2011Airinspace B.V.Includes ionizer (or plasma chamber), electrostatic filter, photocatalyst, and a UV light source that is distinct from the ionizer; ultraviolet light impinges on the photocatalyst causing photocatalytic oxidation at the photocatalyst thus reducing volatile organic compounds carried in the fluid streamUS8551414 *Mar 27, 2008Oct 8, 2013Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.High-voltage plasma producing apparatusUS8728402 *May 22, 2006May 20, 2014Degremont SaOzone generatorUS20100193129 *Aug 31, 2007Aug 5, 2010Yoichiro TabataApparatus for generating dielectric barrier discharge gasUS20110000432 *Jun 12, 2008Jan 6, 2011Atomic Energy Council - Institute Of Nuclear Energy ResearchOne atmospheric pressure non-thermal plasma reactor with dual discharging-electrode structure* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification438/798, 438/792, 438/788, 118/723.00E, 118/723.00RInternational ClassificationC01B13/11, H01L21/00, H05H1/24Cooperative ClassificationC01B13/115, H05H1/24, C01B13/11, C01B2201/12European ClassificationC01B13/11B, C01B13/11, H05H1/24Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionSep 5, 2012FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Aug 18, 2005ASAssignmentOwner name: ADTEC PLASMA TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., JAPANOwner name: HIROSHI MASE, JAPANOwner name: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC., JAPANOwner name: NORIYOSHI SATO, JAPANOwner name: TAMIYA FUJIWARA, JAPANFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:SATO, NORIYOSHI;TANIGUCHI, TAKESHI;MASE, HIROSHI;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:016646/0692;SIGNING DATES FROM 20050728 TO 20050812RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services