| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 438719000 | Silicon | 49 |
| 20080261406 | ETCHING METHOD AND SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE FABRICATION METHOD - An etching method capable of increasing the selectivity of a polysilicon film to a silicon oxide film and suppressing recess formation on a silicon base layer. That part of the polysilicon film of a wafer transferred into a processing vessel which is exposed through an opening is etched so as to slightly remain on a gate oxide film. The pressure in a processing space is set to 66.7 Pa, HBr gas and He gas are supplied to the processing space, and a microwave of 2.45 GHz is supplied to a radial line slot antenna. The polysilicon film is etched by plasma generated from the HBr gas so as to be completely removed, the exposed gate oxide film is etched, and a resist film and an anti-reflection film are etched. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20090017633 | ALTERNATIVE METHOD FOR ADVANCED CMOS LOGIC GATE ETCH APPLICATIONS - Methods for etching, such as for fabricating a CMOS logic gate are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of etching includes (a) providing a substrate having a first stack and a second stack disposed thereupon, the first stack comprising a high-k dielectric layer, a metal layer formed over the high-k dielectric layer, and a first polysilicon layer formed over the metal layer, the second stack comprising a second polysilicon layer, wherein the first and second stacks are substantially equal in thickness; (b) simultaneously etching a first feature in the first polysilicon layer and a second feature in the second polysilicon layer until the metal layer in the first stack is exposed; (c) simultaneously etching the metal layer and second polysilicon layer to extend the respective first and second features into the first and second stacks; and (d) etching the high-k dielectric layer. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090023296 | Plasma Etching Method - This invention relates to a method for conducting an etching process which uses a plasma of a process gas. This etching process is conducted on a wafer W including a substrate | 01-22-2009 |
| 20090156012 | METHOD FOR FABRICATING LOW K DIELECTRIC DUAL DAMASCENE STRUCTURES - Methods for forming dual damascene structures in low-k dielectric materials that facilitate reducing photoresist poison issues are provided herein. In some embodiments, such methods may include plasma etching a via through a first mask layer into a low-k dielectric material disposed on a substrate. The first mask layer may then be removed using a process including exposing the first mask layer to a first plasma comprising an oxygen containing gas and at least one of a dilutant gas or a passivation gas, and subsequently exposing the first mask layer to a second plasma comprising an oxygen containing gas and formed using one of either plasma bias power or plasma source power. An anti-reflective coating may then be deposited into the via and atop the low-k dielectric material. A trench may then be plasma etched through a second mask layer formed atop the anti-reflective coating into the low-k dielectric material. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090176375 | Method of Etching a High Aspect Ratio Contact - Methods and an etch gas composition for etching a contact opening in a dielectric layer are provided. Embodiments of the method use a plasma generated from an etch gas composed of C | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090197423 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING METHOD AND SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS - A substrate processing method that can eliminate unevenness in the distribution of plasma. The method is for a substrate processing apparatus that has a processing chamber in which a substrate is housed, a mounting stage that is disposed in the processing chamber and on which the substrate is mounted, and an electrode plate that is disposed in the processing chamber such as to face the mounting stage, the electrode plate being made of silicon and connected to a radio-frequency power source, and carries out plasma processing on the substrate. In the plasma processing, the temperature of the electrode plate is measured, and based on the measured temperature, the temperature of the electrode plate is maintained lower than a critical temperature at which the specific resistance value of the silicon starts changing. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090203218 | PLASMA ETCHING METHOD AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - A plasma etching method includes etching an etching target layer formed on a substrate to be processed by a plasma of a processing gas by using an ArF photoresist as a mask. The etching target layer is a silicon nitride layer or silicon oxide layer, and the processing gas contains at least a CF | 08-13-2009 |
| 20090203219 | PLASMA ETCHING METHOD, PLASMA ETCHING APPARATUS AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - A plasma etching method includes etching a silicon layer formed on a substrate to be processed through a patterned mask layer by using a plasma of a processing gas. The processing gas contains at least a CF | 08-13-2009 |
| 20090246965 | ETCHING METHOD AND MANUFACTURING METHOD OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - Provided is an etching method capable of increasing a selectivity of a polysilicon film with respect to a silicon oxide film and suppressing the formation of recesses in a silicon base material. A wafer includes a gate oxide film, a polysilicon film and a hard mask film having an opening sequentially formed on a silicon base material, and has a native oxide film in a trench of the polysilicon film corresponding to the opening formed thereon. The native oxide film is etched, so that the polysilicon film is exposed at a bottom portion of the trench. An ambient pressure is set to be 13.3 Pa, and O | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090258502 | SELECTIVE ETCH OF HIGH-K DIELECTRIC MATERIAL - A method for selectively etching a high-k dielectric layer with respect to a polysilicon material is provided. The high-k dielectric layer is partially removed by Ar sputtering, and then the high-k dielectric layer is etched using an etching gas comprising BCl | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090311870 | PLASMA ETCHING METHOD AND PLASMA ETCHING APPARATUS - Provided is a plasma etching method capable of controlling an etching shape readily and properly during a plasma etching process. The plasma etching method includes: holding a semiconductor substrate W on a holding table | 12-17-2009 |
| 20100003827 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ETCHING A SUBSTRATE BY MEANS OF PLASMA - In a method and device for etching a substrate by a plasma, the plasma is generated and accelerated at substantially sub-atmospheric pressure between a cathode and an anode of a plasma source ( | 01-07-2010 |
| 20100022095 | Selective Etching and Formation of Xenon Difluoride - This invention relates to a process for selective removal of materials, such as: silicon, molybdenum, tungsten, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, tantalum, niobium, boron, phosphorus, germanium, arsenic, and mixtures thereof, from silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, nickel, aluminum, TiNi alloy, photoresist, phosphosilicate glass, boron phosphosilicate glass, polyimides, gold, copper, platinum, chromium, aluminum oxide, silicon carbide and mixtures thereof. The process is related to the important applications in the cleaning or etching process for semiconductor deposition chambers and semiconductor tools, devices in a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS), and ion implantation systems. Methods of forming XeF | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100062607 | DRY ETCHING METHOD - In a dry etching method, a silicon substrate is mounted on an electrode arranged in a processing chamber; a plasma is generated by discharging an etching gas in the processing chamber; a radio frequency power for attracting ions from the plasma is supplied to the electrode; and the silicon substrate is etched by the plasma. A pressure inside the processing chamber is set as 1 mTorr to 100 mTorr, and the etching is carried out while satisfying the following equation: yM≧2.84*10 | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100068888 | DRY ETCHING METHOD - A dry etching method includes: mounting a silicon substrate on an electrode arranged in a processing chamber; generating a plasma by discharging an etching gas in the processing chamber; supplying to the electrode a radio frequency power for attracting ions from the plasma; and etching the silicon substrate by the plasma by using an inorganic mask containing silicon as an etching mask. An absolute value of a self-bias voltage generated in the electrode is equal to or smaller than about 280 V, and wherein the etching is carried out while satisfying the following equation: y≦0.0114x+0.171, where x is a pressure inside the processing chamber and y is a power density of the radio frequency power per unit area of the electrode. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100081287 | DRY ETCHING METHOD - A dry etching method includes: mounting a silicon substrate in a processing chamber; generating a plasma by discharging an etching gas in the processing chamber; and etching the silicon substrate by the plasma. The etching gas is a gaseous mixture including a Cl | 04-01-2010 |
| 20100093178 | Si ETCHING METHOD - A Si etching method includes: arranging a silicon substrate or a substrate having a silicon layer in a processing chamber; generating a plasma of an etching gas in the processing chamber; and etching the silicon substrate by the plasma. The etching gas is a gaseous mixture including a Br | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100099266 | ETCH REACTOR SUITABLE FOR ETCHING HIGH ASPECT RATIO FEATURES - Embodiments of the invention provide a method and apparatus that enables plasma etching of high aspect ratio features. In one embodiment, a method for etching is provided that includes providing a substrate having a patterned mask disposed on a silicon layer in an etch reactor, providing a gas mixture of the reactor, maintaining a plasma formed from the gas mixture, wherein bias power and RF power provided the reactor are pulsed, and etching the silicon layer in the presence of the plasma. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100159708 | Method for forming required pattern on semiconductor substrate by thermal reflow technique - The invention is disclosed that pattern on semiconductor substrate is fabricated by thermal reflow technique. Also, the pattern on semiconductor substrate having different sub-micron spacings can be fabricated by using different time for the thermal reflow technique process. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100203737 | ETCHING METHOD AND SYSTEM - An etching method and an etching system are adapted to produce a high etch selectivity for a mask, an excellent anisotropic profile and a large etching depth. An etching system according to the invention comprises a floating electrode arranged vis-à-vis a substrate electrode in a vacuum chamber and held in a floating state in terms of electric potential, a material arranged at the side of the floating electrode facing the substrate electrode to form an anti-etching film and a control unit for intermittently applying high frequency power to the floating electrode. An etching method according to the invention uses a material arranged at the side of the floating electrode opposite to the substrate electrode to form an anti-etching film as target and only rare gas as main gas and is adapted to repeat a step of forming a film on the substrate by sputtering by applying high frequency power to the floating electrode and a step of subsequently etching the substrate by suspending the application of high frequency power to the floating electrode and introducing etching gas into the vacuum chamber in a predetermined sequence. | 08-12-2010 |
| 20110097904 | METHOD FOR REPAIRING LOW-K DIELECTRIC DAMAGE - A method for repairing damage to a silicon based low-k dielectric layer with organic compounds, where damage replaces a methyl attached to silicon with a hydroxyl attached to silicon is provided. A repair gas comprising CH | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110111602 | PLASMA PROCESSING METHOD - Disclosed is a plasma processing method that excels in mass production consistency as it suppresses the flaking of a reaction product deposited on a portion outside the effective range of a Faraday shield in a vacuum vessel. The plasma processing method, which plasma-processes a sample having a layer made of an etch-resistant material by using a plasma processing apparatus having a discharger and a processor, includes a first step of performing an aging process that is to be performed before etching the sample, a second step of performing etching by plasma-processing the layer that is made of an etch-resistant material and formed on the sample, a third step of stabilizing a film deposited on the inner wall of a chamber forming the processor by performing plasma processing after the second step, and an additional step of repeating the second step and the third step. | 05-12-2011 |
| 20110207332 | THIN FILM COATED PROCESS KITS FOR SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING TOOLS - A plasma processing apparatus used in semiconductor device manufacturing includes a process kit formed of insulating materials such as quartz and coated with a Y | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110294300 | SELECTIVE ETCH FOR SILICON FILMS - A method of etching patterned heterogeneous silicon-containing structures is described and includes a remote plasma etch with inverted selectivity compared to existing remote plasma etches. The methods may be used to conformally trim polysilicon while removing little or no silicon oxide. More generally, silicon-containing films containing less oxygen are removed more rapidly than silicon-containing films which contain more oxygen. Other exemplary applications include trimming silicon carbon nitride films while essentially retaining silicon oxycarbide. Applications such as these are enabled by the methods presented herein and enable new process flows. These process flows are expected to become desirable for a variety of finer linewidth structures. Methods contained herein may also be used to etch silicon-containing films faster than nitrogen-and-silicon containing films having a greater concentration of nitrogen. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20120094500 | DRY ETCHING METHOD AND DRY ETCHING APPARATUS - An object of the present invention is suppressing notches in dry etching of a processing object where an etched layer made of a silicon material is formed on an etching stop layer. A substrate has an etched layer made of a silicon material on an etching stop layer. SF | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120108073 | METHOD FOR FABRICATING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a plurality of patterns, forming an etch target layer to gap-fill the plurality of patterns, forming an impurity region in the etch target layer, and performing an etch-back process on the etch target layer using the impurity region as an etch stop barrier. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120214315 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING METHOD AND STORAGE MEDIUM - In a substrate processing method, a polysilicon layer | 08-23-2012 |
| 20120309204 | GAS DISTRIBUTION SHOWERHEAD FOR INDUCTIVELY COUPLED PLASMA ETCH REACTOR - A two piece ceramic showerhead includes upper and lower plates which deliver process gas to an inductively coupled plasma processing chamber. The upper plate overlies the lower plate and includes radially extending gas passages which extend inwardly from an outer periphery of the upper plate, axially extending gas passages in fluid communication with the radially extending gas passages and an annular recess forming a plenum between the upper and lower plates. The lower plate includes axially extending gas holes in fluid communication with the plenum. The upper plate can include eight radially extending gas passages evenly spaced around the periphery of the upper plate and the lower plate can include inner and outer rows of gas holes. The two piece ceramic showerhead forms a dielectric window of the chamber through which radiofrequency energy generated by an antenna is coupled into the chamber. A gas delivery system delivers process gas to a plenum between the upper and lower plates having a gas volume of no greater than 500 cm | 12-06-2012 |
| 20130029492 | PLASMA PROCESSING METHOD AND PLASMA PROCESSING APPARATUS - A plasma processing method and a plasma processing apparatus in which a stable process region can be ensured in a wide range, from low microwave power to high microwave power. The plasma processing method includes making production of plasma easy in a region in which production of plasma by continuous discharge is difficult, and plasma-processing an object to be processed, with the generated plasma, wherein the plasma is produced by pulsed discharge in which ON and OFF are repeated, radio-frequency power for producing the pulsed discharge, during an ON period, is a power to facilitate production of plasma by continuous discharge, and a duty ratio of the pulsed discharge is controlled so that an average power of the radio-frequency power per cycle is power in the region in which production of plasma by continuous discharge is difficult. | 01-31-2013 |
| 20130084708 | ETCH WITH PULSED BIAS - A method for etching features into an etch layer through a patterned mask in a plasma processing chamber is provided. A main etch gas is flowed into the plasma processing chamber. The main etch gas is formed into a main etch plasma. A bias greater than 600 volts is provided. The bias is pulsed at a frequency between 1 Hz and 20 kHz with a duty cycle less than 45%. | 04-04-2013 |
| 20130089988 | SELECTIVE ETCH OF SILICON BY WAY OF METASTABLE HYDROGEN TERMINATION - Methods of etching exposed silicon on patterned heterogeneous structures is described and includes a remote plasma etch formed from a fluorine-containing precursor and a hydrogen-containing precursor. Plasma effluents from the remote plasma are flowed into a substrate processing region where the plasma effluents react with the exposed regions of silicon. The plasmas effluents react with the patterned heterogeneous structures to selectively remove silicon while very slowly removing other exposed materials. The silicon selectivity results, in part, from a preponderance of hydrogen-containing precursor in the remote plasma which hydrogen terminates surfaces on the patterned heterogeneous structures. A much lower flow of the fluorine-containing precursor progressively substitutes fluorine for hydrogen on the hydrogen-terminated silicon thereby selectively removing silicon from exposed regions of silicon. The methods may be used to selectively remove silicon far faster than silicon oxide, silicon nitride and a variety of metal-containing materials. | 04-11-2013 |
| 20130130506 | SELECTIVE SUPPRESSION OF DRY-ETCH RATE OF MATERIALS CONTAINING BOTH SILICON AND NITROGEN - A method of suppressing the etch rate for exposed silicon-and-nitrogen-containing material on patterned heterogeneous structures is described and includes a two stage remote plasma etch. The etch selectivity of silicon relative to silicon nitride and other silicon-and-nitrogen-containing material is increased using the method. The first stage of the remote plasma etch reacts plasma effluents with the patterned heterogeneous structures to form protective solid by-product on the silicon-and-nitrogen-containing material. The plasma effluents of the first stage are formed from a remote plasma of a combination of precursors, including nitrogen trifluoride and hydrogen (H | 05-23-2013 |
| 20130237062 | METHOD FOR ACHIEVING SMOOTH SIDE WALLS AFTER BOSCH ETCH PROCESS - A method is provided for etching silicon in a plasma processing chamber, having an operating pressure and an operating bias. The method includes: performing a first vertical etch in the silicon to create a hole having a first depth and a sidewall; performing a deposition of a protective layer on the sidewall; performing a second vertical etch to deepen the hole to a second depth and to create a second sidewall, the second sidewall including a first trough, a second trough and a peak, the first trough corresponding to the first sidewall, the second trough corresponding to the second sidewall, the peak being disposed between the first trough and the second trough; and performing a third etch to reduce the peak. | 09-12-2013 |
| 20130244440 | CHAMBER FILLER KIT FOR PLASMA ETCH CHAMBER USEFUL FOR FAST GAS SWITCHING - A chamber filler kit for an inductively coupled plasma processing chamber in which semiconductor substrates are processed by inductively coupling RF energy through a window facing a substrate supported on a cantilever chuck. The kit includes at least one chamber filler which reduces the lower chamber volume in the chamber below the chuck. The fillers of the kit can be mounted in a standard chamber having a chamber volume of over 60 liters and by using different sized chamber fillers it is possible to reduce the chamber volume to provide desired gas flow conductance and accommodate changes in vacuum pressure during processing of the substrate. The chamber filler kit can be used to modify a standard chamber to accommodate different processing regimes such as rapid alternating processes wherein wide pressure changes are needed without varying a gap between the substrate and the window. | 09-19-2013 |
| 20140004707 | POLYSILICON ETCH WITH HIGH SELECTIVITY | 01-02-2014 |
| 20140024221 | ETCHING METHOD - A method of etching a substrate by plasma via a mask having a predetermined pattern at back of a silicon layer of the substrate, a semiconductor device being formed at front of which supported by a support substrate, includes a main etching step in which plasma is generated by supplying a process gas including a mixed gas whose flow ratio of fluorine compound gas, oxygen gas and silicon fluoride gas is 2:1:1.5 or a process gas including a mixed gas in which at least the ratio of one of the oxygen gas and the silicon fluoride gas, using the fluorine compound gas as a standard, is larger than the above ratio, and the substrate is etched by the plasma; and an over etching step in which the substrate is further etched by plasma while applying a high frequency for bias whose frequency is less than or equal to 400 kHz. | 01-23-2014 |
| 20140038419 | METHOD FOR PROVIDING VIAS - A method for forming via holes in an etch layer disposed below a patterned organic mask with a plurality of patterned via holes is provided. The patterned organic mask is treated by flowing a treatment gas comprising H | 02-06-2014 |
| 20140045338 | PLASMA ETCHING METHOD - There is provided a plasma etching method including a first process of etching an intermediate layer, which contains silicon and nitrogen and is positioned below a resist mask formed on a surface of a substrate, to cause a silicon layer positioned below the intermediate layer to be exposed through the resist mask and the intermediate layer, a second process of subsequently supplying a chlorine gas to the substrate to cause a reaction product to attach onto sidewalls of opening portions of the resist mask and the intermediate layer, and a third process of etching a portion of the silicon layer corresponding to the opening portion of the intermediate layer using a process gas containing sulfur and fluorine to form a recess in the silicon layer. | 02-13-2014 |
| 20140213062 | SILICON DIOXIDE-POLYSILICON MULTI-LAYERED STACK ETCHING WITH PLASMA ETCH CHAMBER EMPLOYING NON-CORROSIVE ETCHANTS - Multilayered stacks having layers of silicon interleaved with layers of a dielectric, such as silicon dioxide, are plasma etched with non-corrosive process gas chemistries. Etching plasmas of fluorine source gases, such as SF | 07-31-2014 |
| 20140308816 | SELECTIVE ETCH OF SILICON BY WAY OF METASTABLE HYDROGEN TERMINATION - Methods of etching exposed silicon on patterned heterogeneous structures is described and includes a remote plasma etch formed from a fluorine-containing precursor and a hydrogen-containing precursor. Plasma effluents from the remote plasma are flowed into a substrate processing region where the plasma effluents react with the exposed regions of silicon. The plasmas effluents react with the patterned heterogeneous structures to selectively remove silicon while very slowly removing other exposed materials. The silicon selectivity results, in part, from a preponderance of hydrogen-containing precursor in the remote plasma which hydrogen terminates surfaces on the patterned heterogeneous structures. A much lower flow of the fluorine-containing precursor progressively substitutes fluorine for hydrogen on the hydrogen-terminated silicon thereby selectively removing silicon from exposed regions of silicon. The silicon selectivity also results from the presence of an ion suppressor positioned between the remote plasma and the substrate processing region. The ion suppressor reduces or substantially eliminates the number of ionically-charged species that reach the substrate. The methods may be used to selectively remove silicon far faster than silicon oxide, silicon nitride and a variety of metal-containing materials. | 10-16-2014 |
| 20140377959 | METHODS FOR FORMING THREE DIMENSIONAL NAND STRUCTURES ATOP A SUBSTRATE - In some embodiments, methods for forming a three dimensional NAND structure include providing to a process chamber a substrate having alternating nitride layers and oxide layers or alternating polycrystalline silicon consisting layers and oxide layers formed atop the substrate and a photoresist layer formed atop the alternating layers; etching the photoresist layer to expose at least a portion of the alternating layers; providing a process gas comprising sulfur hexafluoride and oxygen to the process chamber; providing RF power of about 4 kW to about 6 kW to a first inductive RF coil and a second inductive RF coil disposed proximate the process chamber to ignite the process gas to form a plasma, wherein a current flowing through the first inductive RF coil is out of phase with RF current flowing through the second inductive RF coil; and etching through a desired number of the alternating layers to form a feature. | 12-25-2014 |
| 20150118858 | ETCHING METHOD FOR SUBSTRATE TO BE PROCESSED AND PLASMA-ETCHING DEVICE - In one embodiment of the present invention, an etching method for a substrate to be processed comprises: (a1) a step in which etchant gas is supplied into a processing container than accommodates a substrate to be processed; (b1) a step in which the inside of the processing container is evacuated; (c1) a step in which a noble gas is supplied into the processing container; and (d1) a step in which microwaves are supplied into the processing container so as to excite the plasma of the noble gas inside the processing container. The sequential process including the step of supplying the etchant of supplying the etchant gas, the evacuating step, the step of supplying the noble gas, and the step of exciting the plasma of the noble gas may be repeated. | 04-30-2015 |
| 20150126041 | METHODS FOR ETCHING SILICON USING HYDROGEN RADICALS IN A HOT WIRE CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION CHAMBER - Methods for etching silicon using hydrogen radicals in a hot wire chemical vapor deposition process are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of processing a substrate having a crystalline silicon layer atop the substrate and a patterned masking layer atop the crystalline silicon layer exposing portions of the crystalline silicon layer; the method may include (a) exposing the substrate to a plasma formed from an inert gas wherein ions from the plasma amorphize a first part of the exposed portions of the crystalline silicon layer; and (b) exposing the substrate to hydrogen radicals generated from a process gas comprising a hydrogen-containing gas in a hot wire chemical vapor deposition (HWCVD) process chamber to etch the amorphized first part of the exposed portion of the crystalline silicon layer. | 05-07-2015 |
| 20150294880 | FLUOROCARBON MOLECULES FOR HIGH ASPECT RATIO OXIDE ETCH - Etching gases are disclosed for plasma etching channel holes, gate trenches, staircase contacts, capacitor holes, contact holes, etc., in Si-containing layers on a substrate and plasma etching methods of using the same. The etching gases are trans-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene; cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene; hexafluoroisobutene; hexafluorocyclobutane (trans-1,1,2,2,3,4); pentafluorocyclobutane (1,1,2,2,3-); tetrafluorocyclobutane (1,1,2,2-); or hexafluorocyclobutane (cis-1,1,2,2,3,4). The etching gases may provide improved selectivity between the Si-containing layers and mask material, less damage to channel region, a straight vertical profile, and reduced bowing in pattern high aspect ratio structures. | 10-15-2015 |
| 20150332930 | PROCESSING SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR HALIDE SCAVENGING - Systems, chambers, and processes are provided for controlling process defects caused by moisture contamination. The systems may provide configurations for chambers to perform multiple operations in a vacuum or controlled environment. The chambers may include configurations to provide additional processing capabilities in combination chamber designs. The methods may provide for the limiting, prevention, and correction of aging defects that may be caused as a result of etching processes performed by system tools. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20160079072 | V TRENCH DRY ETCH - Methods of producing V-shaped trenches in crystalline substrates are described. The methods involve processing a patterned substrate with etch masking materials defining each side of exposed silicon (100). The exposed silicon (100) is exposed to remotely-excited halogen-containing precursor including chlorine or bromine. The plasma effluents formed from the halogen-containing precursor preferentially remove silicon from all exposed facets other than silicon (111). Etching the crystalline substrates with the plasma effluents produce at least two silicon (111) facets between two adjacent masking elements. Forming the silicon (111) facets may be accelerated by pretreating the crystalline substrates using a halogen-containing precursor locally excited in a biased plasma to initiate the generation of the trench. | 03-17-2016 |
| 20160086808 | PROCEDURE FOR ETCH RATE CONSISTENCY - Methods of conditioning interior processing chamber walls of an etch chamber are described. A fluorine-containing precursor may be remotely or locally excited in a plasma to treat the interior chamber walls periodically on a preventative maintenance schedule. The treated walls promote an even etch rate when used to perform gas-phase etching of silicon regions following conditioning. Alternatively, a hydrogen-containing precursor may be remotely or locally excited in a plasma to treat the interior chamber walls in embodiments. Regions of exposed silicon may then be etched with more reproducible etch rates from wafer-to-wafer. The silicon etch may be performed using plasma effluents formed from a remotely excited fluorine-containing precursor. | 03-24-2016 |
| 20160141184 | DRY DEVELOPMENT AND IMAGE TRANSFER OF SI-CONTAINING SELF-ASSEMBLED BLOCK COPOLYMERS - Provided herein are methods of selectively etching silicon-containing block copolymer (BCP) materials. The methods involve exposing a BCP material that includes at least one silicon-containing block and at least one non-silicon-containing block to a plasma that has a reducing chemistry. The reducing plasma selectively removes the non-silicon-containing block, the silicon-containing block to be used in further processing. In some embodiments, the silicon-containing block is used as an etch mask. The reducing plasma reduces or eliminates profile bowing and undercut of the silicon-containing domains, allowing processing of high aspect ratio features. Examples of reducing chemistries include nitrogen (N | 05-19-2016 |
| 20160155643 | LINE WIDTH ROUGHNESS IMPROVEMENT WITH NOBLE GAS PLASMA | 06-02-2016 |
