US3661758A - Rf sputtering system with the anode enclosing the target - Google Patents

Rf sputtering system with the anode enclosing the target Download PDF

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Publication number
US3661758A
US3661758A US50103A US3661758DA US3661758A US 3661758 A US3661758 A US 3661758A US 50103 A US50103 A US 50103A US 3661758D A US3661758D A US 3661758DA US 3661758 A US3661758 A US 3661758A
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anode
target
parts
sputtering system
enclosing
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US50103A
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Weldon H Jackson
Billie J Robison
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HP Inc
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Hewlett Packard Co
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    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01JELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J37/00Discharge tubes with provision for introducing objects or material to be exposed to the discharge, e.g. for the purpose of examination or processing thereof
    • H01J37/32Gas-filled discharge tubes
    • H01J37/34Gas-filled discharge tubes operating with cathodic sputtering

Definitions

  • anode was usually a metal plate parallel to and larger than the target or cathode, and it sometimes included the parts of the vacuum chamber that were made of metal.
  • the anode was connected to the RF power source through a flexible metal cable or through the metal parts of the vacuum system. This type of current path was usually highly resistive and inductive with respect to the RF source impedance, thus reducing system efficiency.
  • plasmas would often form in areas of the vacuum system substantially removed from the anode and cathode, eroding parts of the system and causing impurities to be introduced into the system. Since an RF sputtering system is usually used to deposit thin layers of high purity materials on objects such as thin film circuit substrates, any impurities in the system will degrade or destroy the quality of the articles being processed.
  • FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the preferred embodiment.
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 show a vacuum chamber comprised of a cylindrical wall 12, a top cover 14 and a base 16.
  • a vacuum port 18 is attached to base 16 and a vacuum pump (not shown) is attached to vacuum port 18 for evacuating the air from chamber 10.
  • a gas inlet 20 is attached to base 16 to supply small amounts of inert gas, usually argon, to chamber 10 to maintain a given gas pressure.
  • An anode 22 is fastened to base 16 and a target 24 is mounted in and insulated from top cover 14 by an insulator 26.
  • Target 24 is connected to an 'RF power source 28 through an impedance matching network 30 and the center conductor 32 of a coaxial cable 34.
  • the outer or return conductor 36 of coaxial cable 34 is connected to top cover 14.
  • a perforated enclosure 38 is fastened to top cover 14.
  • Spring contacts 40, fastened to anode 22, make contact with enclosure 38 to electrically connect it to anode 22. Since top cover 14, enclosure 38, spring contacts 40, and anode 22 are all metal and are all in contact as previously described, they form an anode structure 46 which completely encloses cathode 24.
  • Spring contacts 40 are used to connect enclosure 38 to anode 22 because top cover 14 is lifted off base 16 to remove or insert articles 44. Spring contacts 40 slide on the inner surface of enclosure 38 to permit vertical movement of enclosure 38 while maintaining electrical contact with it.
  • cathodic sputtering The principles of cathodic sputtering are well known (see, for example, Thin Film Technology, Berry, Hall, & Harris, D. Van Nostrand Co., Princeton, N.J., 1968) and will therefore not be described in detail here.
  • RF power from RF source 28 When RF power from RF source 28 is applied across target 24 and anode 22 the gas in the space 42 between them ionizes and forms a plasma.
  • the positive ions in the plasma knock bits of the target 24 material off and they are deposited on articles 44 beneath the target (thin film substrates, for example) forming a thin film coating.
  • Anode structure 46 keeps the plasma confined to the immediate vicinity of the space 42 between anode 22 and target 24.
  • Anode structure 46 provides the RF current path through spring contacts 40, enclosure 38 and top cover 14 to outer conductor 36 of coaxial cable 34 which connects to the RF power source 28.
  • Such a current path has a very low and fixed resistance and inductance compared with the impedance of the plasma.
  • the system is entirely suitable for DC sputtering as well as RF sputtering.
  • An RF sputtering system comprising:
  • an anode having first and second parts enclosing the target, the first and second parts being separable for access to the tar-get and the first part being perforated;
  • flexible electrical contact means attached to one of the first and second anode parts for making electrical contact between the first and second anode parts
  • a gastight enclosure having first and second parts enclosing the anode and target, the first and second parts of the anode being attached respectively to the first and second parts of the gastight enclosure and 4 thefirst and second parts of the gastight enclosure

Abstract

The plasma in an RF sputtering system is confined to the region between the anode and target by enclosing the target with the anode. The anode is in two parts which are connected electrically through sliding contacts that allow removal of one of the parts for access to the interior region of the anode.

Description

y 1972 w. H. JACKSON ETAL 3,661,758
RI" SIUTTERINU SYSTEM WITH THE ANODE ENCLOSING THE TARGET Filed June 26, 1970 I J o o 0 0 o o o u J i 44 l A l l I A Q T 22 7 1 l k u H a JW\A Figure 1 INVENTORS WELDON H. JACKSON BILLIE J. ROBISON g Fiure 2 (Sect. A-A) United States Patent O US. Cl. 204298 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The plasma in an RF sputtering system is confined to the region between the anode and target by enclosing the target with the anode. The anode is in two parts which are connected electrically through sliding contacts that allow removal of one of the parts for access to the interior region of the anode.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In RF sputtering systems constructed according to the prior art the anode was usually a metal plate parallel to and larger than the target or cathode, and it sometimes included the parts of the vacuum chamber that were made of metal. The anode was connected to the RF power source through a flexible metal cable or through the metal parts of the vacuum system. This type of current path was usually highly resistive and inductive with respect to the RF source impedance, thus reducing system efficiency. In addition, plasmas would often form in areas of the vacuum system substantially removed from the anode and cathode, eroding parts of the system and causing impurities to be introduced into the system. Since an RF sputtering system is usually used to deposit thin layers of high purity materials on objects such as thin film circuit substrates, any impurities in the system will degrade or destroy the quality of the articles being processed.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a sputtering system which minimizes the amount of impurities deposited on an article to be coated by confining the gas discharge plasma to the space between the anode and target.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a fixed and high conductivity return path for the RF currents originating at the target.
It is a still further object of this invention to provide an anode structure which will allow quick and easy access to the interior region of the anode where the articles to be coated are located.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the preferred embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGS. 1 and 2 show a vacuum chamber comprised of a cylindrical wall 12, a top cover 14 and a base 16. A vacuum port 18 is attached to base 16 and a vacuum pump (not shown) is attached to vacuum port 18 for evacuating the air from chamber 10. A gas inlet 20 is attached to base 16 to supply small amounts of inert gas, usually argon, to chamber 10 to maintain a given gas pressure. An anode 22 is fastened to base 16 and a target 24 is mounted in and insulated from top cover 14 by an insulator 26. Target 24 is connected to an 'RF power source 28 through an impedance matching network 30 and the center conductor 32 of a coaxial cable 34. The outer or return conductor 36 of coaxial cable 34 is connected to top cover 14. A perforated enclosure 38 is fastened to top cover 14. Spring contacts 40, fastened to anode 22, make contact with enclosure 38 to electrically connect it to anode 22. Since top cover 14, enclosure 38, spring contacts 40, and anode 22 are all metal and are all in contact as previously described, they form an anode structure 46 which completely encloses cathode 24. Spring contacts 40 are used to connect enclosure 38 to anode 22 because top cover 14 is lifted off base 16 to remove or insert articles 44. Spring contacts 40 slide on the inner surface of enclosure 38 to permit vertical movement of enclosure 38 while maintaining electrical contact with it.
The principles of cathodic sputtering are well known (see, for example, Thin Film Technology, Berry, Hall, & Harris, D. Van Nostrand Co., Princeton, N.J., 1968) and will therefore not be described in detail here. When RF power from RF source 28 is applied across target 24 and anode 22 the gas in the space 42 between them ionizes and forms a plasma. The positive ions in the plasma knock bits of the target 24 material off and they are deposited on articles 44 beneath the target (thin film substrates, for example) forming a thin film coating. Anode structure 46 keeps the plasma confined to the immediate vicinity of the space 42 between anode 22 and target 24. If a plasma is allowed to form in other areas of vacuum chamber 10, the plasma will often erode parts of the chamber and thus introduce impurities which will be drawn into the space 42 and deposited on article 44. Since RF energy is being dissipated to ionize the gas, an RF curent is Howing between the target 24 and anode 22, and it is therefore necessary to provide a good RF current path between anode 22 and RF power source 28. Anode structure 46 provides the RF current path through spring contacts 40, enclosure 38 and top cover 14 to outer conductor 36 of coaxial cable 34 which connects to the RF power source 28. Such a current path has a very low and fixed resistance and inductance compared with the impedance of the plasma. The system is entirely suitable for DC sputtering as well as RF sputtering.
We claim:
1. An RF sputtering system comprising:
a target;
an anode having first and second parts enclosing the target, the first and second parts being separable for access to the tar-get and the first part being perforated;
flexible electrical contact means attached to one of the first and second anode parts for making electrical contact between the first and second anode parts;
a gastight enclosure having first and second parts enclosing the anode and target, the first and second parts of the anode being attached respectively to the first and second parts of the gastight enclosure and 4 thefirst and second parts of the gastight enclosure References Cited bemggeparablet; hin twork conn cted to the anode UNITED STATES PATENTS gfz f gf zg? c g 6 3,391,071 7/1968 Theuerer 204-298 3,471,396 10/1969 Davidse 204298 a g gg f g g g gfggg cmnected the 5 3,516,919 6/1970 Gaydou et a1. 204298 a vacuum pumping system connected to the gastight enclosure for evacuating air therefrom; and JOHN MACK Primary Exammer a source of gas connected to the gastight enclosure for KANTER, Assistant EXaIIlillel maintaining a given gas pressure therein. 10
US50103A 1970-06-26 1970-06-26 Rf sputtering system with the anode enclosing the target Expired - Lifetime US3661758A (en)

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Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3793179A (en) * 1971-07-19 1974-02-19 L Sablev Apparatus for metal evaporation coating
US4038171A (en) * 1976-03-31 1977-07-26 Battelle Memorial Institute Supported plasma sputtering apparatus for high deposition rate over large area
US5458754A (en) * 1991-04-22 1995-10-17 Multi-Arc Scientific Coatings Plasma enhancement apparatus and method for physical vapor deposition
WO1998053117A1 (en) * 1997-05-22 1998-11-26 Tokyo Electron Limited Apparatus and method for sputter depositing dielectric films on a substrate
US6221221B1 (en) * 1998-11-16 2001-04-24 Applied Materials, Inc. Apparatus for providing RF return current path control in a semiconductor wafer processing system
US6296747B1 (en) * 2000-06-22 2001-10-02 Applied Materials, Inc. Baffled perforated shield in a plasma sputtering reactor
US6652713B2 (en) 2001-08-09 2003-11-25 Applied Materials, Inc. Pedestal with integral shield
US20060065187A1 (en) * 2004-09-10 2006-03-30 Hemley Russell J Ultratough CVD single crystal diamond and three dimensional growth thereof
US20060073283A1 (en) * 2004-10-05 2006-04-06 Applied Materials, Inc. Apparatus for metal plasma vapor deposition and re-sputter with source and bias power frequencies applied through the workpiece
US20060073690A1 (en) * 2004-10-05 2006-04-06 Applied Materials, Inc. Apparatus and method for metal plasma vapor deposition and re-sputter with source and bias power frequencies applied through the workpiece
US20060073700A1 (en) * 2004-10-05 2006-04-06 Applied Materials, Inc. Method for forming a barrier layer in an integrated circuit in a plasma with source and bias power frequencies applied through the workpiece
US20060169582A1 (en) * 2005-02-03 2006-08-03 Applied Materials, Inc. Physical vapor deposition plasma reactor with RF source power applied to the target and having a magnetron
US20120211354A1 (en) * 2011-02-09 2012-08-23 Applied Materials, Inc. Uniformity tuning capable esc grounding kit for rf pvd chamber
US20140261177A1 (en) * 2013-03-15 2014-09-18 Applied Materials, Inc. Apparatus for gas injection in a physical vapor deposition chamber

Cited By (39)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3793179A (en) * 1971-07-19 1974-02-19 L Sablev Apparatus for metal evaporation coating
US4038171A (en) * 1976-03-31 1977-07-26 Battelle Memorial Institute Supported plasma sputtering apparatus for high deposition rate over large area
US5458754A (en) * 1991-04-22 1995-10-17 Multi-Arc Scientific Coatings Plasma enhancement apparatus and method for physical vapor deposition
US6139964A (en) * 1991-04-22 2000-10-31 Multi-Arc Inc. Plasma enhancement apparatus and method for physical vapor deposition
WO1998053117A1 (en) * 1997-05-22 1998-11-26 Tokyo Electron Limited Apparatus and method for sputter depositing dielectric films on a substrate
US6475353B1 (en) * 1997-05-22 2002-11-05 Sony Corporation Apparatus and method for sputter depositing dielectric films on a substrate
US6221221B1 (en) * 1998-11-16 2001-04-24 Applied Materials, Inc. Apparatus for providing RF return current path control in a semiconductor wafer processing system
US6296747B1 (en) * 2000-06-22 2001-10-02 Applied Materials, Inc. Baffled perforated shield in a plasma sputtering reactor
US20040083977A1 (en) * 2001-08-09 2004-05-06 Applied Materials, Inc. Lower pedestal shield
US6726805B2 (en) 2001-08-09 2004-04-27 Applied Materials, Inc. Pedestal with integral shield
US7252737B2 (en) 2001-08-09 2007-08-07 Applied Materials, Inc. Pedestal with integral shield
US6837968B2 (en) 2001-08-09 2005-01-04 Applied Materials, Inc. Lower pedestal shield
US20050056370A1 (en) * 2001-08-09 2005-03-17 Applied Materials, Inc. Pedestal with integral shield
US6652713B2 (en) 2001-08-09 2003-11-25 Applied Materials, Inc. Pedestal with integral shield
US20060065187A1 (en) * 2004-09-10 2006-03-30 Hemley Russell J Ultratough CVD single crystal diamond and three dimensional growth thereof
US20060073283A1 (en) * 2004-10-05 2006-04-06 Applied Materials, Inc. Apparatus for metal plasma vapor deposition and re-sputter with source and bias power frequencies applied through the workpiece
US20060073690A1 (en) * 2004-10-05 2006-04-06 Applied Materials, Inc. Apparatus and method for metal plasma vapor deposition and re-sputter with source and bias power frequencies applied through the workpiece
US20060073700A1 (en) * 2004-10-05 2006-04-06 Applied Materials, Inc. Method for forming a barrier layer in an integrated circuit in a plasma with source and bias power frequencies applied through the workpiece
US7399943B2 (en) 2004-10-05 2008-07-15 Applied Materials, Inc. Apparatus for metal plasma vapor deposition and re-sputter with source and bias power frequencies applied through the workpiece
US7268076B2 (en) 2004-10-05 2007-09-11 Applied Materials, Inc. Apparatus and method for metal plasma vapor deposition and re-sputter with source and bias power frequencies applied through the workpiece
US20060169576A1 (en) * 2005-02-03 2006-08-03 Applied Materials, Inc. Physical vapor deposition plasma reactor with VHF source power applied through the workpiece
US8062484B2 (en) 2005-02-03 2011-11-22 Applied Materials, Inc. Method for plasma-enhanced physical vapor deposition of copper with RF source power applied to the target
US7244344B2 (en) * 2005-02-03 2007-07-17 Applied Materials, Inc. Physical vapor deposition plasma reactor with VHF source power applied through the workpiece
US20060172517A1 (en) * 2005-02-03 2006-08-03 Applied Materials, Inc. Method for plasma-enhanced physical vapor deposition of copper with RF source power applied to the target
US20070193982A1 (en) * 2005-02-03 2007-08-23 Applied Materials, Inc. Physical vapor deposition plasma reactor with arcing suppression
US20060169578A1 (en) * 2005-02-03 2006-08-03 Applied Materials, Inc. Apparatus for plasma-enhanced physical vapor deposition of copper with RF source power applied through the workpiece with a lighter-than-copper carrier gas
US20060169582A1 (en) * 2005-02-03 2006-08-03 Applied Materials, Inc. Physical vapor deposition plasma reactor with RF source power applied to the target and having a magnetron
US7804040B2 (en) 2005-02-03 2010-09-28 Applied Materials, Inc. Physical vapor deposition plasma reactor with arcing suppression
US7820020B2 (en) 2005-02-03 2010-10-26 Applied Materials, Inc. Apparatus for plasma-enhanced physical vapor deposition of copper with RF source power applied through the workpiece with a lighter-than-copper carrier gas
US20060191876A1 (en) * 2005-02-03 2006-08-31 Applied Materials, Inc. Method of performing physical vapor deposition with RF plasma source power applied to the target using a magnetron
US8562798B2 (en) 2005-02-03 2013-10-22 Applied Materials, Inc. Physical vapor deposition plasma reactor with RF source power applied to the target and having a magnetron
US8512526B2 (en) 2005-02-03 2013-08-20 Applied Materials, Inc. Method of performing physical vapor deposition with RF plasma source power applied to the target using a magnetron
CN103348446A (en) * 2011-02-09 2013-10-09 应用材料公司 Uniformity tuning capable ESC grounding kit for RF PVD chamber
US20120211354A1 (en) * 2011-02-09 2012-08-23 Applied Materials, Inc. Uniformity tuning capable esc grounding kit for rf pvd chamber
US9087679B2 (en) * 2011-02-09 2015-07-21 Applied Materials, Inc. Uniformity tuning capable ESC grounding kit for RF PVD chamber
CN103348446B (en) * 2011-02-09 2016-08-24 应用材料公司 For RF PVD chamber and the ESC grounding kit that can uniformly adjust
TWI582824B (en) * 2011-02-09 2017-05-11 應用材料股份有限公司 Processing chamber and method for processing substrate
US20140261177A1 (en) * 2013-03-15 2014-09-18 Applied Materials, Inc. Apparatus for gas injection in a physical vapor deposition chamber
US9957601B2 (en) * 2013-03-15 2018-05-01 Applied Materials, Inc. Apparatus for gas injection in a physical vapor deposition chamber

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