Patent ID: 7580119

Claim:
A method of producing semiconductor device structures using an optimizing time for atomic layer deposition (abbreviated “ALD”) processing steps, wherein the ALD involves sequentially introducing a first precursor and a second precursor that reacts with the first precursor into a process chamber, the method covering optimizing separation between introduction of the first and second precursors, and including: monitoring gas in the process chamber with a spectrometer having a plasma generator that is gaseously coupled to the process chamber; introducing a first precursor into the process chamber, wherein the first precursor will react with a second precursor to form a layer on a workpiece; discontinuing the introduction of the first precursor and commencing introduction of the second precursor, while observing with and recording from the spectrometer a pattern over time of one or more spectral peaks corresponding to reaction of the first and second precursors; and selecting a process time parameter that controls separation in time between the discontinuing the introduction of the first precursor and the commencing the introduction of the second precursor based on the recorded pattern of the spectral peaks; forming a layer on a production workpiece by operating an ALD process numerous times to build the layer to a predetermined thickness, using the process time parameter based on the recorded pattern of the spectral peaks; wherein the layer formed on the production workpiece is a layer of one or more semiconductor device structures.