Plasma cleaning method for removing residues in a plasma treatment chamber

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United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 5356478
SERIAL NO

08176935

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Abstract

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A plasma cleaning method for removing residues previously formed in a plasma treatment chamber by dry etching layers such as photoresist, barriers, etc., on a wafer. The method includes introducing a cleaning gas mixture of an oxidizing gas and a chlorine containing gas into the chamber followed by performing a plasma cleaning step. The plasma cleaning step is performed by activating the cleaning gas mixture and forming a plasma cleaning gas, contacting interior surfaces of the chamber with the plasma cleaning gas and removing residues on the interior surfaces. The cleaning gas mixture can also include a fluorine-based gas. For instance, the cleaning gas can include Cl.sub.2 and O.sub.2 and optionally CF.sub.4. An advantage of the cleaning method is that it is not necessary to open the plasma treatment chamber. Also, it is possible to completely remove all residues and prevent by-products formed during the cleaning step from remaining after the cleaning step.

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
LAM RESEARCH CORPORATIONFREMONT CA

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Arnett, David Fremont, CA 23 4393
Chen, Ching-Hwa Milpitas, CA 31 2482
Liu, David San Jose, CA 263 5445

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