Etch and plasma uniformity control using magnetism.

Abstract

A method, system, apparatus, and computer program for controlling etch rate and plasma uniformity using a magnetic field are presented. The semiconductor substrate processing apparatus includes a vacuum chamber having a processing region for processing substrates using capacitively coupled plasma (CCP). The apparatus further includes a magnetic field sensor configured to detect a signal representative of a residual magnetic field associated with the vacuum chamber. At least one magnetic field source is configured to generate one or more supplemental magnetic fields through the processing region of the vacuum chamber. A magnetic field controller is coupled to the magnetic field sensor and the at least one magnetic field source. The magnetic field controller is configured to adjust at least one characteristic of the one or more supplemental magnetic fields such that the one or more supplemental magnetic fields reduce the residual magnetic field to a predetermined value.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] [Priority claim] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 62 / 968,044, filed January 30, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] The subject matter disclosed herein generally relates to methods, systems, and machine-readable storage media for controlling etch rate and plasma uniformity using magnetic fields in capacitively coupled plasmas (CCPs) used in semiconductor manufacturing. [Background technology]

[0003] Semiconductor substrate processing equipment is used to process semiconductor substrates with techniques such as etching, physical vapor deposition (PVD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), atomic layer deposition (ALD), plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD), pulsed deposited layer (PDL), plasma enhanced pulsed deposited layer (PEPDL), and resist removal. One type of semiconductor substrate processing equipment is a plasma processing equipment using a CCP, which includes a vacuum chamber containing upper and lower electrodes, and radio frequency (RF) power is applied between the electrodes to excite a process gas into a plasma for processing a semiconductor substrate in a reaction chamber.

[0004] In semiconductor substrate processing equipment such as CCP-based vacuum chambers for manufacturing substrates, etch uniformity and ion tilt at the center of the substrate are affected by plasma density uniformity, which indicates sensitivity to weak magnetic fields. For example, the plasma density uniformity of a CCP-based vacuum chamber can be affected by magnetic fields associated with magnetized chamber components (which may be associated with a field strength of 5-10 Gauss) and other external magnetic fields including the Earth's magnetic field (which may have a field strength of 0.25-0.65 Gauss) or other ambient magnetic fields (which may have a field strength of 0.4-0.5 Gauss).

[0005] Currently, controlling plasma uniformity, especially at the center of the substrate, is a challenge. Changing the dimensions of the ground electrode in the chamber, the gas and chemical flows, or the frequency content of the supplied radio frequency (RF) are the main factors used to control uniformity. However, magnetization of process chamber components and exposure to external magnetic fields affect plasma density uniformity, which can vary significantly between chambers within a single manufacturing site and between chambers at different manufacturing sites. The present disclosure seeks to address shortcomings associated with the prior art, particularly with respect to plasma density uniformity.

[0006] The background discussion provided herein is intended to provide an overall picture of the context of the present disclosure. It should be noted that the information provided in this section is provided to provide those skilled in the art with some context for the subject matter disclosed below, and should not be considered admitted prior art. More specifically, to the extent provided in this background section, aspects of the inventor's work as currently set forth, and the description that may not qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are not admitted, expressly or impliedly, to be prior art against the present disclosure. Summary of the Invention

[0007] Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for controlling etch rate and plasma uniformity using a magnetic field in a CCP used in semiconductor manufacturing. One general aspect includes a semiconductor substrate processing apparatus. The apparatus includes a vacuum chamber having a processing region for processing a substrate using a capacitively coupled plasma (CCP). The apparatus further includes a magnetic field sensor configured to sense a signal representative of a residual magnetic field associated with the vacuum chamber. The magnetic field sensor may be within the vacuum chamber or outside the vacuum chamber (e.g., within a shield surrounding the vacuum chamber or outside such a shield). The residual magnetic field may be a magnetic field sensed inside the vacuum chamber or outside the vacuum chamber (e.g., within a shield structure surrounding the vacuum chamber or outside the shield structure). The apparatus further includes at least one magnetic field source configured to generate one or more supplemental magnetic fields through the processing region of the vacuum chamber. The apparatus further includes a magnetic field controller coupled to the magnetic field sensor and the at least one magnetic field source. The magnetic field controller is configured to adjust at least one characteristic of the one or more supplemental magnetic fields such that the one or more supplemental magnetic fields reduce the residual magnetic field to a predetermined value.

[0008] One general embodiment includes a method of controlling etch rate and plasma uniformity using a magnetic field with a CCP. The method includes sensing a residual magnetic field associated with a processing region of a vacuum chamber, the processing region for processing a semiconductor substrate, using a CCP. The residual magnetic field can be a magnetic field sensed inside the vacuum chamber or outside the vacuum chamber (e.g., in or outside a shield structure surrounding the vacuum chamber). The method further includes measuring a magnitude of the residual magnetic field. The method further includes generating, using at least one magnetic field source, one or more supplemental magnetic fields through the processing region of the vacuum chamber based on the magnitude of the measured residual magnetic field.

[0009] One general aspect includes a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed on the machine, cause the machine to perform operations including sensing a residual magnetic field associated with a processing region of a vacuum chamber. The residual magnetic field may be a magnetic field sensed inside the vacuum chamber or outside the vacuum chamber (e.g., in or outside a shielding structure surrounding the vacuum chamber). The processing region may be used to process semiconductor substrates using a capacitively coupled plasma (CCP). A magnitude of the residual magnetic field may be measured. One or more supplemental magnetic fields may be generated through the processing region of the vacuum chamber based on the measured magnitude of the residual magnetic field. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] The various views of the accompanying drawings illustrate only exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure.

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram of a vacuum chamber, such as an etch chamber, for manufacturing substrates using CCP, in accordance with some illustrative embodiments.

[0012] [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a vacuum chamber enclosed with a magnetic shield structure for improved control of etch rate and plasma uniformity, in accordance with some illustrative embodiments.

[0013] [Figure 3A] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a vacuum chamber with a residual magnetic field in a processing region including a CCP in accordance with some illustrative embodiments.

[0014] [Figure 3B] FIG. 3B is a top view of the vacuum chamber of FIG. 3A in accordance with some illustrative embodiments.

[0015] [Figure 3C] FIG. 3B is a side view of the vacuum chamber of FIG. 3A in accordance with some illustrative embodiments.

[0016] [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram of a magnetic shielding structure that may be used to confine a vacuum chamber to reduce the effects of external magnetic fields, according to some illustrative embodiments.

[0017] [Figure 5A] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a vacuum chamber having a single coil used as a magnetic field source to cancel residual magnetic fields, according to some illustrative embodiments.

[0018] [Figure 5B] 5B is a side view of the vacuum chamber of FIG. 5A illustrating options for mounting a magnetic field source according to some exemplary embodiments.

[0019] [Figure 6] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a vacuum chamber having multiple coils configured as Helmholtz pairs to generate a magnetic field to cancel residual magnetic fields, according to some illustrative embodiments.

[0020] [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum chamber having multiple coils configured as multiple Helmholtz pairs to generate multiple magnetic fields to cancel residual magnetic fields, according to some illustrative embodiments.

[0021] [Figure 8] FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of a vacuum chamber that uses multiple pairs of coils to generate different magnetic fields to cancel out residual magnetic fields, according to some illustrative embodiments.

[0022] [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum chamber using permanent magnets to cancel magnetic fields within the vacuum chamber generated by magnetized vacuum chamber components, according to some illustrative embodiments.

[0023] [Figure 10A]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum chamber using multiple coils and a particular arrangement of ferromagnetic bars to generate magnetic fields in different directions to cancel residual magnetic fields, according to some illustrative embodiments.

[0024] [Figure 10B] 10B is a top view of the vacuum chamber of FIG. 10A and illustrates various configurations of ferromagnetic bars that produce different types of magnetic fields that can be generated to counteract residual magnetic fields, according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 10C] 10B is a top view of the vacuum chamber of FIG. 10A and illustrates various configurations of ferromagnetic bars that produce different types of magnetic fields that can be generated to counteract residual magnetic fields, according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 10D] 10B is a top view of the vacuum chamber of FIG. 10A and illustrates various configurations of ferromagnetic bars that produce different types of magnetic fields that can be generated to counteract residual magnetic fields, according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 10E] 10B is a top view of the vacuum chamber of FIG. 10A and illustrates various configurations of ferromagnetic bars that produce different types of magnetic fields that can be generated to counteract residual magnetic fields, according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 10F] 10B is a top view of the vacuum chamber of FIG. 10A and illustrates various configurations of ferromagnetic bars that produce different types of magnetic fields that can be generated to counteract residual magnetic fields, according to some exemplary embodiments.

[0025] [Figure 11] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a vacuum chamber enclosed in a magnetic shield structure, according to some illustrative embodiments.

[0026] [Figure 12] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a vacuum chamber using a magnetic shield structure to contain magnetized external and internal components, according to some illustrative embodiments.

[0027] [Figure 13] 1 is a diagram of a vacuum chamber having various types of magnetic sensors and a magnetic field controller for configuring one or more supplemental magnetic fields to counteract residual magnetic fields, according to some illustrative embodiments.

[0028] [Figure 14] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a vacuum chamber configuration at a manufacturing facility that can use the disclosed techniques to reduce, eliminate, or uniformize multiple residual magnetic fields in the vacuum chamber, in accordance with some illustrative embodiments.

[0029] [Figure 15] 4 is a flowchart of a method for controlling etch rate and plasma uniformity using a magnetic field in a semiconductor manufacturing tool, in accordance with some illustrative embodiments.

[0030] [Figure 16] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a machine on which one or more exemplary method embodiments may be implemented or as a means for controlling one or more exemplary embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0031] Exemplary methods, systems, and computer programs are directed to controlling etch rate and plasma uniformity using magnetic fields in a CCP-based semiconductor manufacturing device. The examples are merely representative of possible variations. Unless otherwise specified, components and functions may be arbitrarily combined or sub-divided, and operations may be out of sequence, combined, or sub-divided. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of exemplary embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the subject matter may be practiced without these specific details.

[0032] Substrate center uniformity is difficult to control because it depends on the etch process conditions. Different conditions can result in different uniformity. Static solutions to control wafer center uniformity (such as adjusting the dimensions of the ground electrode) may not work effectively over a wide range of process conditions. Solutions that require process parameters to be modified to address uniformity can lead to undesirable side effects.

[0033] The techniques discussed herein use shields and supplemental magnetic fields to control residual magnetic fields in the vacuum chamber, which may affect the etch rate and plasma uniformity at the center of the substrate. In some embodiments, a magnetic shield structure may be used to at least partially confine the vacuum chamber and reduce the presence of magnetic fields (from the earth's magnetic field and other ambient magnetic fields, such as magnetized external components) in the processing region of the chamber (e.g., where the CCP space is located). However, the magnetic shield structure may still allow residual magnetic fields to enter the vacuum chamber and processing region, since the magnetic shield structure may have openings to accommodate various equipment of the vacuum chamber (e.g., openings to accommodate RF components and communication links, gas delivery, heaters, high voltage clamps, substrate delivery mechanisms, etc.).

[0034] In some embodiments, the disclosed techniques may be used to generate one or more supplemental (or trim) magnetic fields to counteract the residual magnetic field in the vacuum chamber. More specifically, one or more magnetic field sensors may be used to sense the residual magnetic field (ΔB) in the processing region of the vacuum chamber. For example, the magnetic sensors may sense the vertical (Bz) and horizontal (Bh) components of the residual magnetic field. In some embodiments, the magnetic sensors may sense one or more parameters of the residual magnetic field, such as the magnitude and direction of the residual magnetic field (which may be determined by determining the magnitude and direction of the vertical and horizontal components of the residual magnetic field, respectively). At least one magnetic field source may be used to generate one or more supplemental magnetic fields to counteract the residual magnetic field based on the detected magnitude and direction of the residual magnetic field. For example, one or more supplemental magnetic fields may be generated in the processing region of the vacuum chamber with the same magnitude but opposite direction to substantially reduce or eliminate the residual magnetic field. In other embodiments, one or more supplemental magnetic fields may be configured such that the residual magnetic field is configured to be equal to the residual magnetic field of another vacuum chamber (e.g., the residual magnetic field is in the same desired direction and magnitude in both vacuum chambers). Various techniques and options for constructing the magnetic shield structure and at least one magnetic field source are illustrated in conjunction with FIGS.

[0035] 1 shows a vacuum chamber 100 (e.g., an etch chamber) for fabricating substrates using CCP, according to one embodiment. Exciting an electric field between two electrodes is one way to achieve a radio frequency (RF) gas discharge in the vacuum chamber. When an oscillating voltage is applied between the electrodes, the resulting discharge is called a CCP discharge.

[0036] A stable feedstock gas may be utilized to generate the plasma 102, resulting in a wide variety of chemically reactive by-products resulting from the dissociation of various molecules caused by electron-neutral collisions. The chemical aspect of etching involves the reaction of neutral gas molecules and their dissociated by-products with molecules on the surface to be etched to produce volatile molecules that can be pumped away. Once the plasma is formed, positive ions are accelerated out of the plasma across the space charge sheath that separates the plasma from the chamber walls and strike the wafer surface with sufficient energy to remove material from the wafer surface. This is known as ion bombardment or ion sputtering. However, some industrial plasmas do not produce ions with enough energy to effectively etch a surface by purely physical means.

[0037] A controller 116 manages the operation of the vacuum chamber 100 by controlling various elements of the chamber, such as an RF generator 118, a gas source 122, and a gas pump 120. In one embodiment, fluorocarbon gases such as CF4 and C4F8 are used in the dielectric etch process for their anisotropic and selective etching capabilities, although the principles described herein are applicable to other plasma generating gases. Fluorocarbon gases easily dissociate into chemically reactive by-products including small molecular and atomic radicals. These chemically reactive by-products etch away the dielectric material.

[0038] The vacuum chamber 100 illustrates a processing chamber having a top electrode 104 and a bottom electrode 108. The top electrode 104 may be grounded or connected to an RF generator (not shown), and the bottom electrode 108 is connected to the RF generator 118 through a matching network 114. The RF generator 118 provides RF power at one or more (e.g., two or three) different RF frequencies. At least one of the three RF frequencies may be turned on or off according to the desired configuration of the vacuum chamber 100 for a particular operation. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the RF generator 118 is configured to provide frequencies of, for example, 2 MHz, 27 MHz, and 60 MHz, although other frequencies are possible.

[0039] The vacuum chamber 100 has a gas showerhead at the upper electrode 104 to allow gas supplied from a gas source 122 to enter the vacuum chamber 100, and a sealing ring 112 that is perforated to allow gas to be exhausted from the vacuum chamber 100 by a gas pump 120. In some exemplary embodiments, the gas pump 120 is a turbomolecular pump, although other types of gas pumps may be used.

[0040] A silicon focus ring 110 is positioned next to the substrate 106 so that when the substrate 106 is in the vacuum chamber 100, there is a uniform RF field at the bottom of the plasma 102 to uniformly etch the surface of the substrate 106. The embodiment of Figure 1 shows a triode reactor configuration in which the upper electrode 104 is surrounded by a symmetrical RF ground electrode 124. Insulator 126 is a dielectric that insulates the ground electrode 124 from the upper electrode 104. Other implementations of the vacuum chamber 100 are possible without changing the scope of the disclosed embodiments.

[0041] The substrate 106 may comprise, for example, a wafer (e.g., 100 mm, 150 mm, 200 mm, 300 mm, 450 mm, or greater in diameter) and may comprise, for example, an elemental semiconductor material (e.g., silicon (Si) or germanium (Ge)) or a compound semiconductor material (e.g., silicon germanium (SiGe) or gallium arsenide (GaAs)). Other substrates may also include dielectric materials, such as quartz or sapphire, upon which a semiconductor material may be applied.

[0042] Each frequency generated by the RF generator 118 may be selected for a specific purpose in the substrate fabrication process. In the example of FIG. 1, if RF power is provided at 2 MHz, 27 MHz, and 60 MHz, the 2 MHz RF power provides control of ion energy, and the 27 MHz and 60 MHz powers provide control of plasma density and chemical dissociation patterns. This configuration in which each RF power may be turned on or off allows for certain processes that use ultra-low ion energy on the substrate or wafer, and certain processes where ion energy must be low (e.g., less than 700 or 200 eV), such as soft etching of low-k materials.

[0043] In another embodiment, 60 MHz RF power is used on the top electrode 104 to obtain very low energy and very high density. This configuration allows for high density plasma cleaning of the chamber while minimizing sputtering on the electrostatic chuck (ESC) surface when the substrate 106 is not in the vacuum chamber 100. The ESC surface is exposed when the substrate 106 is not present, but ion energy on that surface must be avoided. Therefore, the bottom 2 MHz and 27 MHz power supplies may be turned off during cleaning.

[0044] In some embodiments, the vacuum chamber 100 is exposed to an external magnetic field, such as the Earth's magnetic field or other ambient magnetic fields (e.g., magnetic fields from magnetized components of the vacuum chamber, such as the hoist shown in FIG. 2). In this regard, the vacuum chamber 100 may be confined with a magnetic field structure (e.g., as shown in FIG. 2) to reduce a residual magnetic field ΔB 130 that may pass through the processing region 134 of the vacuum chamber 100. The presence of a residual magnetic field 130 in the vacuum chamber 100 is undesirable, as it may adversely affect the etch rate and plasma uniformity, especially around a central region 132 of the substrate 106 in the processing region 134. Various techniques for further reducing or eliminating the residual magnetic field 130 are discussed in connection with FIGS. 2-16.

[0045] 2 shows a vacuum chamber enclosed in a magnetic shield structure for improved control of etch rate and plasma uniformity, according to some exemplary embodiments. Referring to FIG. 2, a vacuum chamber, such as the vacuum chamber 100 of FIG. 1, may be enclosed in a magnetic shield structure 200 to reduce the effect of an external magnetic field (Be) 202, which includes a vertical component (Bz) 204 and a horizontal component (Bh) 206.

[0046] In an exemplary embodiment, the magnetic shield structure 200 can have a top shield portion 210 and a bottom shield portion 218, and each shield portion can have multiple shield sub-portions as shown in FIG. 2. For example, the top shield portion 210 can have shield sub-portions 212, 214, 216, and 217. The bottom shield portion 218 can have shield sub-portions 220, 222, and 224. In some aspects, the magnetic shield structure 200 can have one or more openings 228 to accommodate various equipment used in the vacuum chamber, such as openings to accommodate RF components and communication links, ventilators, gas delivery, heaters, high voltage clamps, substrate delivery mechanisms, and the like.

[0047] In an exemplary embodiment, magnetic shield structure 200 may be fabricated from a high magnetic permeability material having a thickness of at least 40 mils. In an exemplary embodiment, various shield sub-portions of magnetic shield structure 200 may be bolted (or securely attached via other means) to various surfaces of a vacuum chamber.

[0048] In an exemplary embodiment, the shield sub-portion 224 can be formed as a tunnel surrounding a vacuum chamber opening 226, which is used to deliver and remove substrates from a processing region that includes the CCP.

[0049] Due to imperfections in the magnetic shielding structure 200 (e.g., one or more openings 228 for accommodating vacuum chamber equipment), a residual magnetic field (ΔB) 208 may exist beneath the magnetic shielding structure 200 and within the vacuum chamber 100 due to an external magnetic field (Be) 202 and external magnetic fields from magnetized chamber components (e.g., magnetized hoist 230). Because such residual magnetic field 208 is internal to the vacuum chamber 100, the residual magnetic field 208 is labeled ΔBi in FIG. 2. In an exemplary embodiment, one or more supplemental magnetic fields may be generated within the vacuum chamber 100 (e.g., using techniques disclosed in connection with FIGS. 5A-10F) to counteract the effect of the residual magnetic field 208 (e.g., to reduce or eliminate the magnitude of the residual magnetic field 208 and / or change the direction of the residual magnetic field 208 to achieve uniformity among multiple shielded vacuum chambers at the same manufacturing site).

[0050] Additionally, external magnetized chamber components (such as the hoist 230) may be demagnetized and / or shielded to further reduce the residual magnetic field 208. In some embodiments, the hoist 230 may be magnetized to approximately 5-10 Gauss, which may contribute to the residual magnetic field 208. Without the use of the magnetic shield structure 200, the residual magnetic field 208 may have a magnitude of 0.5 Gauss in the vertical component (Bz) and 0.4 Gauss in the horizontal component (Bh). In some embodiments, the use of the magnetic shield structure 200 may reduce the residual magnetic field 208 by approximately 60% (i.e., 0.1-0.2 Gauss). In some embodiments, with the use of one or more supplemental magnetic fields generated using the disclosed techniques, the residual magnetic field 208 in the vacuum chamber 100 may be reduced to less than 0.1 Gauss.

[0051] In an exemplary embodiment, the magnetic shield structure 200 may be configured as a cubicle structure that surrounds the vacuum chamber 100, with each side of the cubicle structure being approximately 584 mm (approximately 23 inches) to 711 mm (approximately 28 inches) in length. In an exemplary embodiment, the vacuum chamber opening 226 may be approximately 50 mm (approximately 2 inches) in height.

[0052] 3A illustrates a perspective view 300 of a vacuum chamber 302 with a residual magnetic field in a processing region including a CCP, according to some illustrative embodiments. With reference to FIG. 3A, the vacuum chamber 302 may be exposed to a first external magnetic field 306 and a second external magnetic field 308. The vacuum chamber 302 may have a magnetic shielding structure (e.g., a magnetic field structure such as the magnetic shielding structure 200 of FIG. 2), although the magnetic shielding structure is not visible in FIG. 3A.

[0053] The vacuum chamber 302 has a processing region 304, which may be the space inside the vacuum chamber 302 filled with CCP. The external magnetic fields 306 and 308 may pass through the vacuum chamber 302, creating a residual magnetic field (ΔBi) 310. The residual magnetic field 310 may include a vertical component (Bz) 316 and a horizontal component (Bh) 318. In some embodiments (e.g., as shown in FIG. 6), the horizontal component 318 may be zero, and a supplemental magnetic field including only a vertical component may be generated within the vacuum chamber 302 to cancel the vertical component 316. In other embodiments (e.g., as shown in FIG. 8), the vertical component 316 may be zero, and a supplemental magnetic field including only a horizontal component may be generated within the vacuum chamber 302 to cancel the horizontal component 318.

[0054] Figure 3B illustrates a top view of the vacuum chamber 302 of Figure 3A according to some exemplary embodiments. Figure 3C illustrates a side view of the vacuum chamber 302 of Figure 3A according to some exemplary embodiments. With reference to Figure 3C, the vacuum chamber 302 can include a top plate 312 and various equipment 314 (e.g., RF components and communication links, gas delivery, heaters, high voltage clamps, substrate delivery mechanisms, etc.) for use in connection with processing substrates in the processing region 304. The top plate 312 can include thermocouples and auxiliary components for handling gas flow, power for temperature control, mechanical components associated with gas vacuum functions.

[0055] In an exemplary embodiment, the top plate 312 or fixture 314 may be used to mount at least one magnetic field source capable of generating one or more supplemental magnetic fields to counteract residual magnetic fields within the vacuum chamber 302 .

[0056] Figure 4 illustrates a magnetic shield structure 404 that may be used to confine a vacuum chamber 402 to reduce the effects of external magnetic fields, according to some exemplary embodiments. With reference to Figure 4, the magnetic shield structure 404 may be similar to the magnetic shield structure 200 of Figure 2, and a shielding portion of the magnetic shield structure 404 may be affixed to a surface of the vacuum chamber 402. In some aspects, the magnetic shield structure 404 may be a single-walled or double-walled magnetic shield structure fabricated from a high magnetic permeability material (e.g., mu-metal).

[0057] The vacuum chamber 402 may be exposed to external magnetic fields 406 and 410, resulting in a combined external magnetic field 414. Because the magnetic shielding structure 404 is imperfect, portions of the magnetic fields 406 and 410 may pass through the magnetic shielding structure 404 and the vacuum chamber 402 as magnetic fields 408 and 412, respectively. As a result, a residual magnetic field 416 may exist within the vacuum chamber 402. In an exemplary embodiment, one or more supplemental (or trim) magnetic fields may be generated by at least one magnetic field source using techniques discussed herein (e.g., as illustrated in FIGS. 5A-10F ) to counteract the residual magnetic field 416 present within the vacuum chamber 402.

[0058] 5A shows a perspective view of a vacuum chamber 502 having a single coil used as a magnetic field source to counteract the residual magnetic field, according to some exemplary embodiments. Referring to FIG. 5A, the vacuum chamber 502 may be subjected to a residual magnetic field 510 (including a primarily vertical component Bz) measured at a location 508 (which may be in a processing region of the vacuum chamber). A single coil 504 may be configured to generate a supplemental (or trim) magnetic field 506 in the vacuum chamber 502. The supplemental (or trim) magnetic field, also denoted as Bt 512, is opposite in direction to and approximately equal in magnitude to the residual magnetic field 510.

[0059] In an exemplary embodiment, the residual magnetic field 510 may be sensed and measured by a magnetic field sensor disposed at or near the location 508. An exemplary magnetic field sensor that may be used to sense the residual magnetic field is illustrated in connection with FIG. 13. A magnetic field controller (e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 13) may also be used to adjust one or more characteristics of the supplemental magnetic field 512. For example, the magnetic field controller may adjust the current (e.g., direct current (DC)) in the single coil 504, thereby changing the magnitude of the supplemental magnetic field 512. In some aspects, the current may be adjusted such that the magnitude of the residual magnetic field 510 is zero at the magnitude of the supplemental magnetic field 512. In other aspects, the magnetic field controller may adjust the current through the single coil 504 such that the resulting residual magnetic field 510 (after application of the supplemental magnetic field 512) achieves a target magnitude (e.g., a predetermined residual magnetic field magnitude, e.g., Bfab, that matches the magnitude of the residual magnetic fields of other vacuum chambers involved in the fabrication process (e.g., Bz~Bfab)) and / or direction.

[0060] 5B is a side view of the vacuum chamber 502 of FIG. 5A illustrating mounting options for the magnetic field source 504 according to some exemplary embodiments. With reference to FIG. 5B, in an exemplary embodiment, the magnetic field source (e.g., a single coil 504) may be mounted near the processing region 514 within the vacuum chamber 502. In an exemplary embodiment, the single coil 504 may be mounted to a pedestal 518 that is secured to a top plate 516 of the vacuum chamber 502. In an exemplary embodiment, the single coil 504 may be attached via a connection 520 to an inner surface of the vacuum chamber 502 (e.g., the top surface shown in FIG. 5B).

[0061] In an exemplary embodiment, the vacuum chamber 502 may be enclosed within a magnetic shield structure, such as magnetic shield structure 200 or 404. In an exemplary embodiment, a single coil 504 may be fixed within the magnetic shield structure but outside of the vacuum chamber 502 (e.g., on an inner surface of the magnetic shield structure). In an exemplary embodiment, a single coil 504 may be disposed outside of the magnetic shield structure and the vacuum chamber 502. In an exemplary embodiment, multiple coils may be used as magnetic field sources to generate one or more supplemental magnetic fields (e.g., as shown in Figures 6-8), where each coil may be separately positioned using the options discussed above in connection with Figures 5A and 5B.

[0062] FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view 600 of a vacuum chamber 602 having multiple coils configured as a Helmholtz pair to generate a magnetic field to cancel the residual magnetic field, according to some exemplary embodiments. Referring to FIG. 6, the vacuum chamber 602 may be subjected to a residual magnetic field 612 (including a primarily vertical component Bz) measured at a location 610 (which may be within a processing region of the vacuum chamber 602). Multiple coils (e.g., two coils) 604-606 may be configured to generate a supplemental (or trim) magnetic field 608 within the vacuum chamber 602. The supplemental (or trim) magnetic field 608, also denoted as Bt 614, is opposite in direction to and approximately equal in magnitude to the residual magnetic field 612.

[0063] In an exemplary embodiment, coils 604 and 606 may be configured as a Helmholtz pair. In an exemplary embodiment, the residual magnetic field 612 may be sensed and measured by a magnetic field sensor located at or near location 610. A magnetic field controller (e.g., as shown in FIG. 13) may also be used to adjust one or more characteristics of the supplemental magnetic field 614. For example, the magnetic field controller may adjust the current in the Helmholtz pair of coils 604-606, thereby changing the magnitude of the supplemental magnetic field 614. In some aspects, the current may be adjusted such that the magnitude of the residual magnetic field 612 is zero at the magnitude of the supplemental magnetic field 614. In other aspects, the magnetic field controller may adjust the current through the Helmholtz pair such that the resulting residual magnetic field 612 (after application of the supplemental magnetic field 614) achieves a target magnitude and / or direction. In FIG. 6, in some aspects, the magnetic coils 604 and 606 may be more concentrated than the flat spiral shown in the figure to function as a typical Helmholtz pair.

[0064] In an exemplary embodiment, the vacuum chamber 602 may be enclosed within a magnetic shielding structure, such as magnetic shielding structure 200 or 404. In an exemplary embodiment, the Helmholtz pair of coils 604 and 606 may be fixed within the magnetic shielding structure but outside of the vacuum chamber 602 (e.g., on an inner surface of the magnetic shielding structure). In an exemplary embodiment, the Helmholtz pair of coils 604 and 606 may be disposed outside of the magnetic shielding structure and the vacuum chamber 602.

[0065] 7 illustrates a perspective view 700 of a vacuum chamber 702 having multiple coils configured as multiple Helmholtz pairs to generate multiple magnetic fields to counteract residual magnetic fields, according to some example embodiments. With reference to FIG. 7, the vacuum chamber 702 may be subject to a residual magnetic field (not shown in FIG. 7). Multiple coils 704-714 may be configured to generate supplemental (or trim) magnetic fields 722-726 within the vacuum chamber 702.

[0066] In an exemplary embodiment, the coils 704-714 may be configured as a Helmholtz pair (e.g., coils 704 and 706 are configured as a first Helmholtz pair along the Z-axis, coils 708 and 710 are configured as a second Helmholtz pair along the X-axis, and coils 712 and 714 are configured as a third Helmholtz pair along the Y-axis). In an exemplary embodiment, the residual magnetic field may be sensed and measured by a magnetic field sensor located at or near the processing region of the vacuum chamber 702. Also, a magnetic field controller (e.g., as shown in FIG. 13 ) may be used to adjust one or more characteristics of the supplemental magnetic fields 722, 724, and 726 (having corresponding magnetic field lines 716, 718, and 720). For example, the magnetic field controller may adjust the current in the Helmholtz pairs of coils 704-714, thereby changing the magnitude of each of the supplemental magnetic fields 722, 724, and 726. In some embodiments, the current may be adjusted such that the magnitude of the residual magnetic field is zero at the magnitude of the supplemental magnetic fields 722-726. In other embodiments, the magnetic field controller may adjust the current through the Helmholtz pair such that the resulting residual magnetic field (after application of one or more supplemental magnetic fields) achieves a target magnitude and / or direction.

[0067] In an exemplary embodiment, the magnetic field controller may sense the residual magnetic field in the vacuum chamber 702 using one or more magnetic field sensors. The magnetic field controller may then determine how many of the configured Helmholtz pairs to activate based on the desired direction and / or magnitude of the supplemental magnetic field. For example, if the residual magnetic field is associated with a direction that is consistent with the direction of only one of the supplemental magnetic fields 722-726, then only the corresponding Helmholtz pair associated with the matching direction is activated. Alternatively, if the direction of the residual magnetic field is the sum of two or more directions of the supplemental magnetic fields 722-726, then the corresponding Helmholtz pair associated with that direction is activated. In an exemplary embodiment, the magnetic field controller may activate one or more available Helmholtz pairs based on the desired magnitude and / or direction of the resulting magnetic field (e.g., to achieve uniformity of the residual magnetic field among multiple vacuum chambers of a manufacturing facility).

[0068] In an exemplary embodiment, the vacuum chamber 702 may be enclosed within a magnetic shielding structure, such as magnetic shielding structure 200 or 404. In an exemplary embodiment, the Helmholtz pair of coils 704-714 may be fixed within the magnetic shielding structure but outside of the vacuum chamber 702 (e.g., on an inner surface of the magnetic shielding structure). In an exemplary embodiment, the Helmholtz pair of coils 704-714 may be disposed outside of the magnetic shielding structure and the vacuum chamber 702.

[0069] In FIG. 7, in some embodiments, the magnetic coils 704-714 can be concentrated in one location rather than the flat spiral shown in the figure to function as a regular Helmholtz pair.

[0070] FIG. 8 illustrates a top view of a vacuum chamber 802 using multiple pairs of coils to generate various magnetic fields to counteract residual magnetic fields, according to some exemplary embodiments. Referring to FIG. 8, the vacuum chamber 802 has a processing region 804 for processing a substrate using a CCP. FIG. 8 further illustrates coils 806, 808, 810, and 812, which may be substantially similar to the coils 712, 714, 708, and 710, respectively, of FIG. 7. In an exemplary embodiment, the coils 810 and 812 may operate (e.g., as a Helmholtz pair) to generate a horizontal supplemental magnetic field Btb. In an exemplary embodiment, the coils 806 and 808 may operate (e.g., as a Helmholtz pair) to generate another horizontal supplemental magnetic field Btz, which may be perpendicular to the horizontal supplemental magnetic field Btb (as shown in FIG. 8). In an exemplary embodiment, such horizontal supplemental magnetic fields may be generated with the same or different magnitudes, separately or together, based on the desired magnitude and direction of the residual magnetic field created within the vacuum chamber 802.

[0071] FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view 900 of a vacuum chamber 902 using permanent magnets to counteract a magnetic field in the vacuum chamber caused by a magnetized vacuum chamber component, according to some exemplary embodiments. Referring to FIG. 9, the vacuum chamber 902 may have a magnetized component 904, causing a residual magnetic field 906 in the vacuum chamber 902. In an exemplary embodiment, a ferromagnetic bar (e.g., a permanent magnet) 908 may be disposed in the vacuum chamber 902 such that a magnetic field 910 of the ferromagnetic bar 908 counteracts the residual magnetic field 906 caused by the magnetized component 904. In an exemplary embodiment, the ferromagnetic bar 908 may be disposed in a magnetic shield structure surrounding the vacuum chamber 902 but outside the vacuum chamber 902. In an exemplary embodiment, the ferromagnetic bar may be attached to the outside of the magnetic shield structure surrounding the vacuum chamber 902. In an exemplary embodiment, multiple ferromagnetic bars may be used rather than a single ferromagnetic bar 908.

[0072] FIG. 10A shows a perspective view 1000 of a vacuum chamber 1002 having multiple coils and a particular arrangement of ferromagnetic bars to generate magnetic fields of various directions to counteract the residual magnetic field, according to some exemplary embodiments. Referring to FIG. 10A, the vacuum chamber 1002 may be subjected to a residual magnetic field 1010 (including a mainly vertical component Bz) or a residual magnetic field 1014 (including a mainly horizontal component Bh). Multiple coils (e.g., two coils) 1006-1008 may be configured to generate a supplemental (or trim) magnetic field 1012 in the vacuum chamber 1002. The supplemental (or trim) magnetic field 1012 may be opposite in direction to and approximately equal in magnitude to the residual magnetic field 1010.

[0073] In an exemplary embodiment, multiple ferromagnetic bars 1004 can be positioned around the periphery of the vacuum chamber 1002 (either inside or outside the chamber) and oriented to generate a supplemental magnetic field 1016 within the vacuum chamber 1002. The supplemental magnetic field 1016 can be opposite in direction to and approximately equal in magnitude to the remanent magnetic field 1014.

[0074] In an exemplary embodiment, the coils 1006 and 1008 may be configured as a Helmholtz pair. In an exemplary embodiment, the residual magnetic fields 1010 and 1014 may be sensed and measured by a magnetic field sensor located at or near the processing region (e.g., 1018) of the vacuum chamber 1002. A magnetic field controller (e.g., as shown in FIG. 13) may also be used to adjust one or more characteristics of the supplemental magnetic fields 1012 or 1016. For example, the magnetic field controller may adjust the current in the Helmholtz pair of coils 1006-1008, thereby changing the magnitude of the supplemental magnetic field 1012. In some aspects, the current may be adjusted such that the magnitude of the residual magnetic field 1010 is zero at the magnitude of the supplemental magnetic field 1012. In other aspects, the magnetic field controller may adjust the current through the Helmholtz pair such that the resulting residual magnetic field 1010 (after application of the supplemental magnetic field 1012) achieves a target magnitude and / or direction.

[0075] In an exemplary embodiment, the vacuum chamber 1002 may be enclosed within a magnetic shielding structure, such as magnetic shielding structure 200 or 404. In an exemplary embodiment, the Helmholtz pair of coils 1006 and 1008 and / or ferromagnetic bar 1004 may be fixed within the magnetic shielding structure but outside of the vacuum chamber 1002 (e.g., on an inner surface of the magnetic shielding structure). In an exemplary embodiment, the Helmholtz pair of coils 1006 and 1008 and / or ferromagnetic bar 1004 may be disposed outside of the magnetic shielding structure and the vacuum chamber 1002.

[0076] In an exemplary embodiment, a magnetic field controller may be used to automatically adjust the orientation of the individual ferromagnetic bars 1004 to achieve a desired horizontal magnetic field. Various configurations of ferromagnetic bars resulting from different magnetic fields are shown in connection with Figures 10B-10F. For example, the entire set of ferromagnetic bars 1004 may be rotated to achieve a desired magnetic field, or one or more individual ferromagnetic bars within the entire set may be rotated to achieve a desired magnetic field.

[0077] 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E, and 10F show top views of the vacuum chamber of FIG. 10A and various configurations of ferromagnetic bars that can generate different types of magnetic fields to counteract the residual magnetic field, according to some exemplary embodiments. With reference to FIG. 10B, the ferromagnetic bar 1004 is configured to generate a horizontal supplemental magnetic field 1016 in the processing region 1018 of the vacuum chamber 1002. With reference to FIG. 10C, the ferromagnetic bar 1004 is configured to generate no magnetic field in the processing region 1018. With reference to FIG. 10D, the ferromagnetic bar 1004 is configured to generate one horizontal supplemental magnetic field 1017 in the processing region 1018. With reference to FIG. 10E, the ferromagnetic bar 1004 is configured to generate horizontal supplemental magnetic fields 1020 and 1022 in the processing region 1018. Referring to FIG. 10F, the ferromagnetic bars 1004 are configured to generate horizontal supplemental magnetic fields 1024, 1026, and 1028 within the processing region 1018.

[0078] 11 illustrates a perspective view 1100 of a vacuum chamber 1102 enclosed by a magnetic shielding structure 1104, according to some illustrative embodiments. With reference to FIG. 11, the magnetic shielding structure 1104 may differ from the magnetic shielding structures 200 and 404 in that the magnetic shielding structure 1104 may be a "big tent" style structure that encloses the vacuum chamber 1102 (rather than including a shielding portion that is directly attached / bolted to the vacuum chamber). In this regard, one or more surfaces of the magnetic shielding structure 1104 are not affixed to a corresponding surface of the vacuum chamber 1102.

[0079] FIG. 12 illustrates a perspective view 1200 of a vacuum chamber 1202 using magnetic shielding structures to contain magnetized external and internal components, according to some exemplary embodiments. Referring to FIG. 12, the vacuum chamber 1202 can have magnetized external components, such as a magnetized hoist 1204, and magnetized internal components, such as a magnetized internal component 1208. In exemplary embodiments, some magnetic shielding structures can be used to shield the magnetized components to mitigate and reduce residual magnetic fields within the vacuum chamber 1202. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 12, a magnetic shielding structure 1206 can be used to cover the magnetized hoist 1204, and a magnetic shielding structure 1210 can be used to cover the magnetized internal component 1208.

[0080] In an exemplary embodiment, any of the ferromagnetic bars (or permanent magnets) discussed herein may be used in conjunction with a moving yoke. In this regard, by moving the yoke, the resulting supplemental magnetic field may be adjusted / changed, rather than the entire ferromagnetic bar.

[0081] 13 illustrates a vacuum chamber 1302 having various types of magnetic sensors and a magnetic field controller for configuring one or more supplemental magnetic fields to counteract the residual magnetic field, according to some example embodiments. Referring to FIG. 13, the vacuum chamber 1302 may be shielded (e.g., using magnetic shielding structure 200 or 404) and exposed to an external magnetic field having a vertical component 1304 and a horizontal component 1306, resulting in a residual magnetic field 1308 within the vacuum chamber 1302.

[0082] In an exemplary embodiment, the vacuum chamber 1302 includes a magnetic field controller 1318. The magnetic field controller 1318 includes appropriate circuitry, logic, interfaces, and / or code configured to receive data from the magnetic field sensor and adjust one or more characteristics of the supplemental magnetic field generated by the at least one magnetic field source. In an exemplary embodiment, a smart wafer 1312 may be loaded into a processing region of the vacuum chamber 1302 through the opening 1310. The smart wafer 1312 may have multiple magnetic field sensors 1314 configured to detect and measure residual magnetic fields (e.g., the residual magnetic field 1308) after the smart wafer 1312 is placed in the processing region of the vacuum chamber 1302. In an exemplary embodiment, the magnetic field controller 1318 may also use one or more stand-alone magnetic field sensors 1316 to detect and measure residual magnetic fields, such as the residual magnetic field 1308.

[0083] In an exemplary embodiment, the magnetic field controller 1318 may sense the magnitude and direction of the residual magnetic field 1308 using the magnetic field sensors 1314 and / or 1316. The magnetic field controller 1318 may adjust at least one characteristic of the generated supplemental magnetic field to counteract the residual magnetic field 1308. For example, the magnetic field controller may adjust the current through at least one magnetic field source that generates the supplemental magnetic field. The magnetic field controller 1318 may also activate or deactivate one or more of the multiple available magnetic field sources to achieve zero residual magnetic field or a residual magnetic field of a desired magnitude and direction to achieve uniformity with other vacuum chambers in the manufacturing facility.

[0084] In an exemplary embodiment, the magnetic field sensors 1314 and / or 1316 may be used for initial measurements so that the magnetic field controller 1318 may make adjustments to generate a supplemental magnetic field of the desired magnitude and direction. Periodic measurements and adjustments may be performed using the magnetic field sensors 1314 and / or 1316. In an exemplary embodiment, a stand-alone magnetic field sensor 1316 may be used to automatically (dynamically) measure and adjust the characteristics of the supplemental magnetic field. In an exemplary embodiment, one magnetic field sensor (or a series of magnetic field sensors) may be used in association with a single magnetic field source, whereby different sensors may be associated with different magnetic field sources. In an exemplary embodiment, the magnetic field controller 1318 may wirelessly communicate with the magnetic field sensors 1314 and 1316 to receive sensor data.

[0085] 14 illustrates a vacuum chamber configuration 1400 in a manufacturing facility that can use the disclosed techniques to reduce, nullify, or equalize multiple residual magnetic fields in the vacuum chambers, according to some exemplary embodiments. With reference to FIG. 14, the configuration 1400 can be located in a semiconductor manufacturing facility and can have multiple vacuum chambers, such as vacuum chambers 1402, 1404, 1406, 1408, 1410, and 1412. Each vacuum chamber can be magnetically shielded and exposed to different external magnetic fields that can result in different residual magnetic fields in each vacuum chamber. More specifically, the vacuum chambers 1402, 1404, 1406, 1408, 1410, and 1412 are associated with corresponding residual magnetic fields 1414, 1416, 1418, 1420, 1422, and 1424. In an exemplary embodiment, one or more of the techniques discussed herein may be used to zero out the residual magnetic field in each vacuum chamber or to achieve a uniform residual magnetic field of the same magnitude and direction in each vacuum chamber.

[0086] FIG. 15 is a flow chart of a method 1500 for controlling etch rate and plasma uniformity using a magnetic field in a semiconductor manufacturing tool, according to some example embodiments. The method 1500 includes operations 1502, 1504, and 1506, which may be performed by a magnetic field controller, such as the magnetic field controller 1318 of FIG. 13, or the processor 1602 of FIG. 16. Referring to FIG. 15, an operation 1502 may sense a residual magnetic field associated with a processing region of a vacuum chamber. The residual magnetic field may be a magnetic field sensed inside the vacuum chamber or outside the vacuum chamber (e.g., in a shield structure surrounding the vacuum chamber or outside the shield structure). The processing region may be used to process semiconductor substrates using a capacitively coupled plasma (CCP). For example, the magnetic field controller 1318 may sense a residual magnetic field in the processing region of the vacuum chamber 1302 using one or more magnetic field sensors 1314 and 1316. An operation 1504 measures a magnitude of the residual magnetic field. For example, the magnetic field controller 1318 may use a magnetic field sensor to measure the magnitude (and direction) of the sensed residual magnetic field. At operation 1506, at least one magnetic field source may be used to generate one or more supplemental magnetic fields through the processing region of the vacuum chamber. For example, the magnetic field controller 1318 may configure one or more magnetic field sources (e.g., one or more of the magnetic field sources shown in Figures 5A-10F) to generate one or more supplemental magnetic fields based on the measured magnitude of the residual magnetic field. In an example embodiment, the supplemental magnetic fields may be generated while the vacuum chamber is shielded using at least one magnetic shield structure discussed herein.

[0087] FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a machine 1600 that may implement or control one or more exemplary process embodiments described herein. In alternative embodiments, the machine 1600 may operate as a standalone device or may be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines. In a network deployment, the machine 1600 may operate in the capacity of a server machine, a client machine, or both in a server-client network environment. In one example, the machine 1600 may function as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (P2P) (or other distributed) network environment. Furthermore, although only a single machine 1600 is shown, the term "machine" should also be construed to include any collection of machines that individually or collectively execute a set (or sets) of instructions to implement any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein, such as cloud computing, software as a service (SaaS), or other computer cluster configurations.

[0088] The embodiments described herein may include or operate with logic, some components, or mechanisms. Circuitry is a collection of circuits implemented in a tangible entity that includes hardware (e.g., simple circuits, gates, logic). The components of the circuitry may be flexible over time and variations in the underlying hardware. The circuitry includes components that may perform specified operations, either alone or in combination, during operation. In one example, the hardware of the circuitry may be invariably designed (e.g., by hardwiring) to perform a particular operation. In one example, the hardware of the circuitry may include indefinitely connected physical components (e.g., execution units, transistors, simple circuits) that include computer-readable media that are physically altered (e.g., magnetically, electrically, by movable arrangement of immutable bulk particles) to encode instructions for a particular operation. When connecting the physical components, the basic electrical properties of the hardware components change (e.g., from insulator to conductor or vice versa). The instructions allow the embedded hardware (e.g., execution units and load mechanisms) to create the components of the circuitry in the hardware through variable connections to perform some of the particular operations during operation. Thus, the computer-readable medium is communicatively coupled to other components of the circuitry when the device is operating. In some aspects, any physical component may be used in more than one member of more than one circuitry. For example, during operation, an execution unit may be used in a first circuit of a first circuitry at one time and reused by a second circuit of the first circuitry or by a third circuit of the second circuitry at another time.

[0089] The machine (e.g., computer system) 1600 may include a hardware processor 1602 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a hardware processor core, or any combination thereof), a graphics processing unit (GPU) 1603, a main memory 1604, and a static memory 1606, some or all of which may communicate with each other via an interlink (e.g., a bus) 1608. The machine 1600 may further include a display device 1610, an alphanumeric input device 1612 (e.g., a keyboard), and a user interface (UI) navigation device 1614 (e.g., a mouse). In an exemplary embodiment, the display device 1610, the alphanumeric input device 1612, and the UI navigation device 1614 may be touch screen displays. The machine 1600 may additionally include a mass storage device (e.g., a drive unit) 1616, a signal generating device 1618 (e.g., a speaker), a network interface device 1620, and one or more sensors 1621, such as a Global Positioning System (GPS) sensor, a compass, an accelerometer, or another sensor. The machine 1600 may include an output controller 1628, such as a serial connection (e.g., Universal Serial Bus (USB)), a parallel connection, or other wired or wireless connection (e.g., infrared (IR), near field communication (NFC)), to communicate with or control one or more peripheral devices (e.g., printer, card reader).

[0090] In an exemplary embodiment, the hardware processor 1602 may perform at least the functions of the magnetic field controller 1318 discussed above in connection with FIG.

[0091] Mass storage device 1616 may include a machine-readable medium 1622 having stored thereon one or more sets of data structures or instructions 1624 (e.g., software) embodying or utilized by any one or more of the techniques or functions described herein. Instructions 1624 may reside, completely or at least partially, in main memory 1604, in static memory 1606, in hardware processor 1602, or in GPU 1603 during execution by machine 1600. In an illustrative embodiment, one or any combination of hardware processor 1602, GPU 1603, main memory 1604, static memory 1606, or mass storage device 1616 may constitute a machine-readable medium.

[0092] Although the machine-readable medium 1622 is depicted as a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” may encompass a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and / or associated caches and servers) configured to store one or more instructions 1624.

[0093] The term "machine-readable medium" may include any medium capable of storing, encoding, or carrying instructions 1624 for execution on the machine 1600 and causing the machine 1600 to perform any one or more of the techniques of this disclosure, or any medium capable of storing, encoding, or carrying data structures used by or related to such instructions 1624. Non-limiting examples of machine-readable media may include solid-state memory, and optical and magnetic media. In one example, a collected machine-readable medium includes a machine-readable medium 1622 in which a plurality of particles have a fixed (e.g., stationary) mass. Thus, a collected machine-readable medium is not a transitory propagating signal. Specific examples of collected machine-readable media may include semiconductor memory devices (e.g., electrically programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM)) and flash memory devices, magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removable disks, magneto-optical disks, and non-volatile memories such as CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks.

[0094] The instructions 1624 may further be transmitted or received over a communications network 1626 using a transmission medium via the network interface device 1620 .

[0095] The implementation of the aforementioned techniques may be accomplished by any number of specifications, configurations, or exemplary deployments of hardware and software. It should be understood that functional units or capabilities described herein may be referred to or labeled as components or modules to further emphasize their implementation independence. Such components may be embodied in any number of software or hardware forms. For example, a component or module may be implemented as a hardware circuit, including custom Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) circuits or gate arrays, including off-the-shelf semiconductors such as logic chips, transistors, or other discrete components. A component or module may be implemented in a programmable hardware device, such as a field programmable gate array, programmable array logic, programmable logic device, or the like. A component or module may be implemented in software for execution on various types of processors. An identified configuration or module of executable code may include, for example, one or more physical or logical blocks of computer instructions, which may be organized, for example, as an object, procedure, or function. Nonetheless, the executable files of the identified components or modules need not be physically located together and may comprise disparate instructions stored in different locations which, when logically combined together, comprise the component or module and accomplish the purpose specified for the component or module.

[0096] Indeed, an executable code component or module may be a single instruction or many instructions, and may be distributed across several different code segments, among different programs, across several memory devices or processing systems. In particular, some aspects of the described process (such as rewriting the code and analyzing the code) may occur in a different processing system (e.g., a computer in a data center) than the system in which the code is deployed (e.g., in a computer embedded in a sensor or robot). In a similar manner, operational data may be identified and illustrated herein in components or modules, may be embodied in any suitable form, and may be organized in any suitable type of data structure. The operational data may be collected as a single data set, may be distributed in various locations across various storage devices, or may exist at least in part as merely electronic signals on a system or network. The components or modules may be passive or active, including agents operable to perform a desired function.

[0097] Additional notes and examples

[0098] Example 1 is a semiconductor substrate processing apparatus including a vacuum chamber having a processing region for processing a substrate using capacitively coupled plasma (CCP), a magnetic field sensor configured to detect a residual magnetic field in the vacuum chamber, at least one magnetic field source configured to generate one or more supplemental magnetic fields through the processing region of the vacuum chamber, and a magnetic field controller connected to the magnetic field sensor and the at least one magnetic field source, the magnetic field controller configured to adjust at least one characteristic of the one or more supplemental magnetic fields so that the one or more supplemental magnetic fields reduce the residual magnetic field to a predetermined value.

[0099] In Example 2, the subject matter of Example 1 includes where the magnetic field sensor is a wafer sensor disposed in a processing region of a vacuum chamber.

[0100] In Example 3, the subject matter of Example 2 includes the wafer sensor including an array of magnetic field sensors configured to measure magnitudes of residual magnetic fields at multiple locations within the processing region, and the magnetic field controller adjusting at least one characteristic of the one or more supplemental magnetic fields based on the measured magnitudes.

[0101] In example 4, the subject matter of example 3 includes the at least one characteristic being one or both of a magnitude and a direction of the one or more supplemental magnetic fields.

[0102] In example 5, the subject matter of example 4 includes the magnetic field controller adjusting a current through the at least one magnetic field source to adjust a magnitude of the one or more supplemental magnetic fields.

[0103] In Example 6, the subject matter of Examples 1-5 includes where the magnetic field sensor is configured to measure a magnitude of a residual magnetic field.

[0104] In example 7, the subject matter of example 6 includes where the at least one characteristic includes a magnitude and a direction of one or more supplemental magnetic fields.

[0105] In example 8, the subject matter of example 7 includes the magnetic field controller being configured to set a current through the at least one magnetic field source such that a magnitude of the one or more supplemental magnetic fields is equal to a magnitude of the residual magnetic field and a direction of the one or more supplemental magnetic fields is opposite to a direction of the residual magnetic field.

[0106] In Example 9, the subject matter of Examples 1-8 includes a magnetic shield structure configured to enclose a vacuum chamber.

[0107] In Example 10, the subject matter of Example 9 includes the magnetic shield structure having a tunnel portion surrounding an opening of the vacuum chamber for receiving the substrate.

[0108] In example 11, the subject matter of examples 9-10 includes the magnetic shield structure having a shield portion at least partially confining magnetized components of the vacuum chamber that are outside the processing region.

[0109] In Example 12, the subject matter of Example 11 includes where the magnetized component is a hoist mounted outside the vacuum chamber.

[0110] In Example 13, the subject matter of Examples 9-12 includes the magnetic shield structure having a plurality of shield portions affixed to corresponding surfaces of the vacuum chamber.

[0111] In Example 14, the subject matter of Examples 9-13 includes, wherein the magnetic shield structure is configured to enclose the vacuum chamber to form a plurality of air gaps between corresponding parallel surfaces of the vacuum chamber and the magnetic shield structure.

[0112] In Example 15, the subject matter of Examples 9-14 includes wherein the at least one magnetic field source is a single coil having multiple turns.

[0113] In Example 16, the subject matter of Example 15 includes the single coil being mounted within the magnetic shield structure and external to the vacuum chamber.

[0114] In Example 17, the subject matter of Examples 15-16 includes a single coil mounted within a magnetic shield structure and inside a vacuum chamber.

[0115] In Example 18, the subject matter of Example 17 includes, wherein the single coil is mounted in one of a top plate of the vacuum chamber, a showerhead of the vacuum chamber, or a gas distribution plate of the vacuum chamber.

[0116] In example 19, the subject matter of examples 15-18 includes the single coil being attached to the exterior of the magnetic shield structure such that at least one of the multiple turns surrounds the magnetic shield structure.

[0117] In Example 20, the subject matter of Examples 15-19 includes the single coil being attached to a support structure that is mounted to a surface of the magnetic shield structure.

[0118] In Example 21, the subject matter of Examples 15-20 includes the single coil being attached to a support structure mounted to a surface of the vacuum chamber.

[0119] In Example 22, the subject matter of Examples 9-21 includes wherein the at least one magnetic field source has a plurality of coils, each coil having a plurality of turns.

[0120] In Example 23, the subject matter of Example 22 includes the multiple coils being mounted within the magnetic shield structure and external to the vacuum chamber.

[0121] In Example 24, the subject matter of Examples 22-23 includes the plurality of coils being mounted within the magnetic shield structure and within the vacuum chamber.

[0122] In Example 25, the subject matter of Example 24 includes the plurality of coils being mounted in one of a top plate of the vacuum chamber, a showerhead of the vacuum chamber, or a gas distribution plate of the vacuum chamber.

[0123] In Example 26, the subject matter of Examples 22-25 includes the plurality of coils being attached externally to the magnetic shield structure such that at least one of the plurality of turns surrounds the magnetic shield structure.

[0124] In Example 27, the subject matter of Examples 22-26 includes the plurality of coils attached to a support structure that is mounted to a surface of the magnetic shield structure.

[0125] In Example 28, the subject matter of Examples 22-27 includes the multiple coils being attached to a support structure mounted to a surface of the vacuum chamber.

[0126] In Example 29, the subject matter of Examples 22-28 includes the plurality of coils having a first coil mounted inside the vacuum chamber, the first coil configured to generate a first supplemental magnetic field of the one or more supplemental magnetic fields, the first coil having a direction opposite to the vertical component (Bz) of the remanent magnetic field.

[0127] In Example 30, the subject matter of Example 29 includes the plurality of coils having at least a second coil mounted within the magnetic shield structure and outside the vacuum chamber, the at least second coil configured to generate at least a second supplemental magnetic field of the one or more supplemental magnetic fields whose direction is opposite to the horizontal component (Bh) of the residual magnetic field.

[0128] In example 31, the subject matter of examples 22-30 includes the plurality of coils including a Helmholtz pair configured to generate at least one of the supplemental magnetic fields along a vertical axis or a horizontal axis of the vacuum chamber.

[0129] In Example 32, the subject matter of Example 31 includes the plurality of coils including at least three Helmholtz pairs, the three Helmholtz pairs being positioned on mutually orthogonal axes of the vacuum chamber.

[0130] In Example 33, the subject matter of Examples 9-32 includes wherein the at least one magnetic field source has a ferromagnetic bar configuration.

[0131] In Example 34, the subject matter of Example 33 includes the ferromagnetic bar being mounted within the magnetic shield structure and external to the vacuum chamber.

[0132] In Example 35, the subject matter of Examples 33-34 includes a ferromagnetic bar mounted within the magnetic shield structure and inside the vacuum chamber.

[0133] In Example 36, the subject matter of Examples 33-35 includes the ferromagnetic bar comprising one or more of the group of materials consisting of nickel-zinc (NiZn) ferrite, magnesium-zinc (MgZn) ferrite, ferrite made of nickel-magnesium (NiMg) alloy, manganese-zinc (MnZn) ferrite, powdered iron, and combinations thereof.

[0134] In Example 37, the subject matter of Examples 1-36 includes, wherein the magnetic field controller is configured to adjust either or both of the magnitude and direction of the one or more supplemental magnetic fields.

[0135] In Example 38, the subject matter of Example 37 includes the magnetic field controller being configured to alter and adjust the direction of current in the at least one magnetic field source, and configuring the at least one magnetic field source to include a plurality of magnetic field sources arranged at least orthogonally to one another.

[0136] Example 39 is a method for processing a semiconductor substrate using a vacuum chamber, the method including detecting a residual magnetic field in a processing region of the vacuum chamber for processing the semiconductor substrate using a capacitively coupled plasma (CCP), measuring a magnitude of the residual magnetic field, and generating one or more supplemental magnetic fields through the processing region of the vacuum chamber based on the magnitude of the measured residual magnetic field using at least one magnetic field source.

[0137] In example 40, the subject matter of example 39 includes where measuring the magnitude further includes measuring a magnitude of a vertical component (Bz) of the residual magnetic field and measuring a magnitude of a horizontal component (Bh) of the residual magnetic field.

[0138] In Example 41, the subject matter of Example 40 includes activating a first magnetic field source of the at least one magnetic field source to generate a first supplemental magnetic field that reduces a magnitude of a vertical component of the residual magnetic field, and activating a second magnetic field source of the at least one magnetic field source to generate a second supplemental magnetic field that reduces a magnitude of a horizontal component of the residual magnetic field.

[0139] In Example 42, the subject matter of Examples 39-41 includes providing a magnetic shield structure enclosing a vacuum chamber.

[0140] In Example 43, the subject matter of Example 42 includes the magnetic shield structure having a tunnel portion surrounding an opening of the vacuum chamber for receiving the substrate.

[0141] In Example 44, the subject matter of Examples 42-43 includes the magnetic shield structure having a shield portion at least partially confining magnetized components of the vacuum chamber that are outside the processing region.

[0142] In Example 45, the subject matter of Example 44 includes where the magnetized component is a hoist mounted outside the vacuum chamber.

[0143] In Example 46, the subject matter of Examples 42-45 includes the magnetic shield structure having a plurality of shield portions affixed to corresponding surfaces of the vacuum chamber.

[0144] In Example 47, the subject matter of Examples 42-46 includes, wherein the magnetic shield structure is configured to enclose the vacuum chamber to form a plurality of air gaps between corresponding parallel surfaces of the vacuum chamber and the magnetic shield structure.

[0145] Example 48 is a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium that includes instructions that, when executed on a machine, cause the machine to perform operations including sensing a residual magnetic field in a processing region of a vacuum chamber for processing a semiconductor substrate using a capacitively coupled plasma (CCP), measuring a magnitude of the residual magnetic field, and generating one or more supplemental magnetic fields through the processing region of the vacuum chamber based on the measured magnitude of the residual magnetic field.

[0146] In example 49, the subject matter of example 48 includes where the operations further include measuring a magnitude of a vertical component (Bz) of the residual magnetic field and measuring a magnitude of a horizontal component (Bh) of the residual magnetic field.

[0147] In example 50, the subject matter of example 49 includes where the operations further include activating a first magnetic field source within a magnetic shield structure enclosing the vacuum chamber to generate a first supplemental magnetic field that reduces a magnitude of a vertical component of the residual magnetic field.

[0148] In example 51, the subject matter of example 50 includes where the operation further includes activating a second magnetic field source within the magnetic shield structure to generate a second supplemental magnetic field that reduces the magnitude of the horizontal component of the residual magnetic field.

[0149] In Example 52, the subject matter of Examples 50-51 includes the magnetic shield structure having a plurality of shield portions affixed to corresponding surfaces of the vacuum chamber.

[0150] Example 53 is at least one machine-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed on a processing circuit, cause the processing circuit to perform operations to implement any of Examples 1-52.

[0151] Example 54 is an apparatus including a means for carrying out any one of Examples 1 to 52.

[0152] Example 55 is a system for implementing any one of Examples 1 to 52.

[0153] Example 56 is a method for carrying out any one of Examples 1-52.

[0154] Throughout this specification, multiple instances may implement components, operations, or structures described as a single instance. Although individual operations of one or more methods are illustrated and described as separate operations, one or more of the individual operations may be performed simultaneously, and the operations need not be performed in the order illustrated. Structures and functions presented as separate components in example configurations may be implemented as combined structures or components. Similarly, structures and functions presented as single components may be implemented as separate components. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements fall within the scope of the subject matter of this specification.

[0155] The embodiments set forth herein have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosed teachings. Other embodiments may be used and derived therefrom, and structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the "detailed description" is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the various embodiments is defined solely by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

[0156] The claims may not recite every single feature disclosed herein, because an embodiment may feature a subset of the features. Moreover, an embodiment may include fewer features than are disclosed in a particular example. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.

[0157] As used herein, the term "or" may be interpreted in either an inclusive or exclusive sense. Moreover, multiple instances may be provided for resources, operations, or structures described herein as a single instance. Also, boundaries between various resources, operations, modules, engines, and data sources are somewhat arbitrary, with particular operations being illustrated in the context of specific example configurations. Other allocations of functionality are envisioned and may fall within the scope of various embodiments of the disclosure. In general, structures and functions presented as separate resources in the example configurations may be implemented as combined structures or resources. Similarly, structures and functions presented as a single resource may be implemented as separate resources. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements are within the scope of the embodiments of the disclosure, as defined by the appended claims. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative and not a restrictive sense. The present disclosure includes the following application examples: [Application example 1] A semiconductor substrate processing apparatus, comprising: a vacuum chamber having a processing region for processing a substrate using a capacitively coupled plasma (CCP); a magnetic field sensor configured to sense a signal indicative of a residual magnetic field associated with the vacuum chamber; at least one magnetic field source configured to generate one or more supplemental magnetic fields through the processing region of the vacuum chamber; a magnetic field controller connected to the magnetic field sensor and to the at least one magnetic field source, the magnetic field controller being configured to adjust at least one characteristic of the one or more supplemental magnetic fields such that the one or more supplemental magnetic fields reduce the residual magnetic field to a predetermined value; A semiconductor substrate processing apparatus comprising: [Application example 2] An apparatus according to application example 1, wherein the magnetic field sensor is a wafer sensor disposed within the processing region of the vacuum chamber. [Application example 3] 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the wafer sensor comprises an array of magnetic field sensors configured to measure one or more parameters of the residual magnetic field at multiple locations within the processing region; the magnetic field controller adjusting the at least one characteristic of the one or more supplemental magnetic fields based on the measured one or more parameters. Device. [Application example 4] The apparatus according to any one of Application Examples 1 to 3, wherein the magnetic field sensor is configured to measure a magnitude of the residual magnetic field. [Application example 5] The apparatus of application example 4, wherein the at least one characteristic includes a magnitude and a direction of the one or more supplemental magnetic fields. [Application Example 6] In the apparatus according to application example 5, the magnetic field controller is Setting a current through the at least one magnetic field source such that a magnitude of the one or more supplemental magnetic fields is equal to a magnitude of the residual magnetic field and a direction of the one or more supplemental magnetic fields is opposite to a direction of the residual magnetic field. The apparatus is configured so as to [Application Example 7] The device according to any one of Application Examples 1 to 3, a magnetic shield structure configured to enclose the vacuum chamber; and The magnetic field sensor includes: mounted within the magnetic shield structure and outside the vacuum chamber; attached to the outside of the magnetic shield structure; or Mounted within the vacuum chamber, A device that is one of the following: [Application Example 8] An apparatus as described in Application Example 7, wherein the at least one magnetic field source is a single coil having multiple turns, and the signal representing the residual magnetic field is detected within the magnetic shielding structure and outside the vacuum chamber or is detected within the vacuum chamber. [Application Example 9] 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the single coil is mounted within the magnetic shield structure and outside the vacuum chamber. [Example 10] 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the single coil is mounted within the magnetic shield structure and inside the vacuum chamber. [Application Example 11] The apparatus of application example 7, wherein the at least one magnetic field source has a plurality of coils, each coil having a plurality of turns. [Example 12] 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the coils are mounted within the magnetic shield structure and outside the vacuum chamber. [Application Example 13] 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the plurality of coils are mounted within the magnetic shield structure and inside the vacuum chamber. [Example 14] The apparatus of application example 11, wherein the plurality of coils includes a Helmholtz pair configured to generate at least one of the supplementary magnetic fields along a vertical or horizontal axis of the vacuum chamber. [Example 15] 1. A method for processing a semiconductor substrate using a vacuum chamber, the method comprising: detecting a residual magnetic field associated with a processing region of the vacuum chamber, the processing region using a capacitively coupled plasma (CCP) for processing a semiconductor substrate; Measuring one or more parameters of the residual magnetic field; and generating, using at least one magnetic field source, one or more supplemental magnetic fields through the processing region of the vacuum chamber based on one or more parameters of the measured residual magnetic field; A method comprising: [Example 16] 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein measuring the one or more parameters further comprises: Measuring the magnitude of the vertical component (Bz) of the residual magnetic field; Measuring the magnitude of the horizontal component (Bh) of the residual magnetic field; The method further comprising: [Application Example 17] The method according to Application Example 16, activating a first magnetic field source of the at least one magnetic field source to generate a first supplemental magnetic field that reduces a magnitude of the vertical component of the residual magnetic field; activating a second one of the at least one magnetic field sources to generate a second supplemental magnetic field that reduces a magnitude of the horizontal component of the residual magnetic field; The method further comprising: [Example 18] The method according to any one of Application Examples 15 to 17, providing a magnetic shield structure enclosing said vacuum chamber; The method further comprising: [Example 19] The method according to application example 18, wherein the magnetic shield structure is configured to enclose the vacuum chamber to form a plurality of air gaps between corresponding parallel surfaces of the vacuum chamber and the magnetic shield structure. [Example 20] A machine-readable storage medium that, when executed by a machine, detecting a residual magnetic field associated with a processing region of a vacuum chamber, the processing region using a capacitively coupled plasma (CCP) for processing a semiconductor substrate; Measuring one or more parameters of the residual magnetic field; and generating one or more supplemental magnetic fields through the processing region of the vacuum chamber based on one or more parameters of the measured residual magnetic field; 2. A machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions that cause the machine to perform operations including: [Example 21] 21. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the operation comprises: Measuring the magnitude of the vertical component (Bz) of the residual magnetic field; Measuring the magnitude of the horizontal component (Bh) of the residual magnetic field; The machine-readable storage medium further comprising: [Example 22] 22. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the operation comprises: activating a first magnetic field source within a magnetic shield structure enclosing the vacuum chamber to generate a first supplemental magnetic field that reduces a magnitude of the vertical component of the remanent magnetic field. [Example 23] 23. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the operation comprises: activating a second magnetic field source within the magnetic shield structure to generate a second supplemental magnetic field that reduces a magnitude of the horizontal component of the residual magnetic field. [Example 24] A machine-readable storage medium according to any one of Application Examples 20 to 22, wherein the magnetic shield structure includes a plurality of shield portions affixed to corresponding surfaces of the vacuum chamber.

Claims

1. A semiconductor substrate processing apparatus, comprising: a vacuum chamber having a processing region for processing a substrate using a capacitively coupled plasma (CCP); a magnetic field sensor configured to sense a signal representative of a residual magnetic field associated with the vacuum chamber, the magnetic field sensor being a wafer sensor disposed in the processing region of the vacuum chamber; at least one magnetic field source configured to generate one or more supplemental magnetic fields through the processing region of the vacuum chamber; a magnetic field controller connected to the magnetic field sensor and to the at least one magnetic field source, the magnetic field controller being configured to adjust at least one characteristic of the one or more supplemental magnetic fields such that the one or more supplemental magnetic fields reduce the residual magnetic field to a predetermined value; A semiconductor substrate processing apparatus comprising:

2. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wafer sensor comprises an array of magnetic field sensors configured to measure one or more parameters of the residual magnetic field at multiple locations within the processing region; the magnetic field controller adjusting the at least one characteristic of the one or more supplemental magnetic fields based on the measured one or more parameters. Device.

3. 3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the magnetic field sensor is configured to measure a magnitude of the residual magnetic field.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the at least one characteristic includes a magnitude and a direction of the one or more supplemental magnetic fields.

5. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the magnetic field controller comprises: Setting a current through the at least one magnetic field source such that a magnitude of the one or more supplemental magnetic fields is equal to a magnitude of the residual magnetic field and a direction of the one or more supplemental magnetic fields is opposite to a direction of the residual magnetic field. The apparatus is configured so as to

6. 3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, at least a second magnetic field sensor; a magnetic shield structure configured to enclose the vacuum chamber; and The at least second magnetic field sensor includes: mounted within the magnetic shield structure and outside the vacuum chamber; or attached to the outside of the magnetic shield structure; 13. The apparatus according to claim 12,

7. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one magnetic field source is a single coil having multiple turns, and the signal representative of the residual magnetic field is sensed within the magnetic shield structure and outside the vacuum chamber or is sensed within the vacuum chamber.

8. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the single coil is mounted within the magnetic shield structure and external to the vacuum chamber.

9. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the single coil is mounted within the magnetic shield structure and inside the vacuum chamber.

10. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one magnetic field source comprises a plurality of coils, each coil having a plurality of turns.

11. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plurality of coils are mounted within the magnetic shield structure and external to the vacuum chamber.

12. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plurality of coils are mounted within the magnetic shield structure and inside the vacuum chamber.

13. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plurality of coils comprises a Helmholtz pair configured to generate at least one of the supplemental magnetic fields along a vertical or horizontal axis of the vacuum chamber.

14. 1. A method for processing a semiconductor substrate using a vacuum chamber, the method comprising: detecting a residual magnetic field associated with a processing region of the vacuum chamber, the processing region using a capacitively coupled plasma (CCP) for processing a semiconductor substrate; measuring one or more parameters of the residual magnetic field; generating, using at least one magnetic field source, one or more supplemental magnetic fields through the processing region of the vacuum chamber based on one or more parameters of the measured residual magnetic field; Including, Measuring the one or more parameters includes: Measuring the magnitude of the vertical component (Bz) of the residual magnetic field; Measuring the magnitude of the horizontal component (Bh) of the residual magnetic field; The method further comprising:

15. 15. The method of claim 14, activating a first magnetic field source of the at least one magnetic field source to generate a first supplemental magnetic field that reduces a magnitude of the vertical component of the residual magnetic field; activating a second one of the at least one magnetic field sources to generate a second supplemental magnetic field that reduces a magnitude of the horizontal component of the residual magnetic field; The method further comprising:

16. 16. The method of claim 14 or 15, providing a magnetic shield structure enclosing said vacuum chamber; The method further comprising:

17. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the magnetic shield structure is configured to confine the vacuum chamber to form a plurality of air gaps between corresponding parallel sides of the vacuum chamber and the magnetic shield structure.

18. A machine-readable storage medium that, when executed by a machine, detecting a residual magnetic field associated with a processing region of a vacuum chamber, the processing region using a capacitively coupled plasma (CCP) for processing a semiconductor substrate; measuring one or more parameters of the residual magnetic field; generating one or more supplemental magnetic fields through the processing region of the vacuum chamber based on one or more parameters of the measured residual magnetic field; Measuring the one or more parameters includes: Measuring the magnitude of the vertical component (Bz) of the residual magnetic field; Measuring the magnitude of the horizontal component (Bh) of the residual magnetic field; Further comprising: A machine-readable storage medium containing instructions that cause the machine to perform operations.

19. 20. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the operation comprises: activating a first magnetic field source within a magnetic shield structure enclosing the vacuum chamber to generate a first supplemental magnetic field that reduces a magnitude of the vertical component of the remanent magnetic field.

20. 20. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the operation comprises: activating a second magnetic field source within the magnetic shield structure to generate a second supplemental magnetic field that reduces a magnitude of the horizontal component of the residual magnetic field.

21. 20. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the magnetic shield structure includes a plurality of shield portions affixed to corresponding surfaces of the vacuum chamber.

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