Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080308416 | SPUTTERING TARGET HAVING INCREASED LIFE AND SPUTTERING UNIFORMITY - A sputtering target for a sputtering chamber comprises a backing plate with a sputtering plate mounted thereon. In one version, the backing plate comprises a circular plate having a front surface comprising an annular groove. The sputtering plate comprises a disk comprising a sputtering surface and a backside surface having a circular ridge that is shaped and sized to fit into the annular groove of the backing plate. | 12-18-2008 |
20100105204 | METHOD TO MODULATE COVERAGE OF BARRIER AND SEED LAYER USING TITANIUM NITRIDE - Methods for processing substrates are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for processing substrates includes providing to a process chamber a substrate comprising an exposed dielectric layer having a feature formed therein. A mask layer comprising titanium nitride may be selectively deposited atop corners of the feature. A barrier layer may be selectively deposited atop the mask layer and into a bottom portion of the feature. The barrier layer deposited on the bottom portion of the feature may be etched to redistribute at least a portion of the barrier layer onto sidewalls of the feature. | 04-29-2010 |
20100252417 | HIGH PRESSURE RF-DC SPUTTERING AND METHODS TO IMPROVE FILM UNIFORMITY AND STEP-COVERAGE OF THIS PROCESS - Embodiments of the invention generally provide a processing chamber used to perform a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process and methods of depositing multi-compositional films. The processing chamber may include: an improved RF feed configuration to reduce any standing wave effects; an improved magnetron design to enhance RF plasma uniformity, deposited film composition and thickness uniformity; an improved substrate biasing configuration to improve process control; and an improved process kit design to improve RF field uniformity near the critical surfaces of the substrate. The method includes forming a plasma in a processing region of a chamber using an RF supply coupled to a multi-compositional target, translating a magnetron relative to the multi-compositional target, wherein the magnetron is positioned in a first position relative to a center point of the multi-compositional target while the magnetron is translating and the plasma is formed, and depositing a multi-compositional film on a substrate in the chamber. | 10-07-2010 |
20110036709 | PROCESS KIT FOR RF PHYSICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION - Embodiments of the invention generally relate to a process kit for a semiconductor processing chamber, and a semiconductor processing chamber having a kit. More specifically, embodiments described herein relate to a process kit including a cover ring, a shield, and an isolator for use in a physical deposition chamber. The components of the process kit work alone and in combination to significantly reduce particle generation and stray plasmas. In comparison with existing multiple part shields, which provide an extended RF return path contributing to RF harmonics causing stray plasma outside the process cavity, the components of the process kit reduce the RF return path thus providing improved plasma containment in the interior processing region. | 02-17-2011 |
20130075246 | METHODS OF FORMING A METAL CONTAINING LAYER ON A SUBSTRATE WITH HIGH UNIFORMITY AND GOOD PROFILE CONTROL - Methods for forming a metal containing layer onto a substrate with good deposition profile control and film uniformity across the substrate are provided. In one embodiment, a method of sputter depositing a metal containing layer on the substrate includes transferring a substrate in a processing chamber, supplying a gas mixture including at least Ne gas into the processing chamber, applying a RF power to form a plasma from the gas mixture, and depositing a metal containing layer onto the substrate in the presence of the plasma. | 03-28-2013 |
20130087452 | PROCESS KIT FOR RF PHYSICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION - Embodiments of the invention generally relate to a process kit for a semiconductor processing chamber, and a semiconductor processing chamber having a kit. More specifically, embodiments described herein relate to a process kit including a cover ring, a shield, and an isolator for use in a physical deposition chamber. The components of the process kit work alone and in combination to significantly reduce particle generation and stray plasmas. In comparison with existing multiple part shields, which provide an extended RF return path contributing to RF harmonics causing stray plasma outside the process cavity, the components of the process kit reduce the RF return path thus providing improved plasma containment in the interior processing region. | 04-11-2013 |
20130192980 | CRYSTALLINE ORIENTATION AND OVERHANG CONTROL IN COLLISION BASED RF PLASMAS - Methods and apparatus for depositing a metal-containing layer on a substrate are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of processing a substrate in a physical vapor deposition (PVD) chamber includes applying RF power at a VHF frequency to a target comprising a metal disposed in the PVD chamber above the substrate to form a plasma from a plasma-forming gas; optionally applying a DC power to the target to direct the plasma towards the target; sputtering metal atoms from the target using the plasma while maintaining a first pressure in the PVD chamber sufficient to ionize a predominant portion of the sputtered metal atoms; and controlling the plasma sheath voltage between the plasma and the substrate to form a metal-containing layer having a desired crystal structure and or desired morphology on feature structures. | 08-01-2013 |
20130199925 | HIGH DENSITY TiN RF/DC PVD DEPOSITION WITH STRESS TUNING - Methods for depositing a layer on a substrate are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of depositing a metal-containing layer on a substrate in a physical vapor deposition (PVD) chamber may include applying RF power at a VHF frequency to a target comprising a metal disposed in the PVD chamber above the substrate to form a plasma from a plasma-forming gas; optionally applying DC power to the target; sputtering metal atoms from the target using the plasma while maintaining a first pressure in the PVD chamber sufficient to ionize a predominant portion of the sputtered metal atoms; and controlling the potential on the substrate to be the same polarity as the ionized metal atoms to deposit a metal-containing layer on the substrate. | 08-08-2013 |
20130277203 | PROCESS KIT SHIELD AND PHYSICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION CHAMBER HAVING SAME - Embodiments of process kit shields and physical vapor deposition (PVD) chambers incorporating same are provided herein. In some embodiments, a process kit shield for use in depositing a first material in a physical vapor deposition process may include an annular body defining an opening surrounded by the body, wherein the annular body is fabricated from the first material, and an etch stop coating formed on opening-facing surfaces of the annular body, the etch stop coating is fabricated from a second material that is different from the first material, the second material having a high etch selectivity with respect to the first material. | 10-24-2013 |
20140131308 | PATTERN FORTIFICATION FOR HDD BIT PATTERNED MEDIA PATTERN TRANSFER - A method and apparatus for forming a magnetic layer having a pattern of magnetic properties on a substrate is described. The method includes using a metal nitride hardmask layer to pattern the magnetic layer by plasma exposure. The metal nitride layer is patterned using a nanoimprint patterning process with a silicon oxide pattern negative material. The pattern is developed in the metal nitride using a halogen and oxygen containing remote plasma, and is removed after plasma exposure using a caustic wet strip process. All processing is done at low temperatures to avoid thermal damage to magnetic materials. | 05-15-2014 |