Film forming apparatus and method for treating the film forming apparatus
The film forming apparatus addresses adhesion issues by employing a carbon cylinder with perpendicular rotation axes and a plasma cleaning system to maintain cleanliness and efficiency in film formation processes.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2022019519
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2022-02-10
- Publication Date
- 2025-10-06
- Estimated Expiration
- 2042-02-10
AI Technical Summary
Existing film forming apparatuses face issues with adhesion of products to wall surfaces, which can lead to contamination and inefficiencies in the film formation process.
A film forming apparatus with a carbon cylinder, induction heating coil, holder, and perpendicular rotation axes for the holder and carbon cylinder, along with a magnet and plasma generation system, is designed to suppress adhesion by rotating and cleaning the inner surfaces.
The apparatus effectively prevents product adhesion to inner surfaces, maintaining process efficiency and cleanliness by rotating and cleaning the carbon cylinder, thereby ensuring consistent film formation and removal of adhered materials.
Smart Images

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Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a film forming apparatus and a method for processing the film forming apparatus. [Background technology]
[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a film forming apparatus including a rotary stage for holding a wafer, a susceptor configured to house the rotary stage in its internal space, a gas supply mechanism configured to form a flow of processing gas in the internal space from outside the rotary stage along a direction perpendicular to the central axis, and a container for housing the susceptor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-100462 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0004] One aspect of the present disclosure provides a film formation apparatus and a method for treating the film formation apparatus that suppress adhesion of products to wall surfaces. [Means for solving the problem]
[0005] A film forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a carbon cylinder, an induction heating coil for induction heating the carbon cylinder, a holder disposed in an internal space of the carbon cylinder and for holding a substrate, a holder rotation drive unit for rotating the holder, and a cylinder rotation drive unit for rotating the carbon cylinder. The rotation axis around which the holder rotates and the rotation axis around which the carbon cylinder rotates are perpendicular to each other. . [Effects of the Invention]
[0006] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a film forming apparatus and a method for treating the film forming apparatus that suppress adhesion of products to wall surfaces. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a characteristic configuration of a film forming apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a characteristic configuration of a film forming apparatus according to an embodiment, as viewed in an axial direction. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a film forming apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a film forming apparatus according to an embodiment, in which a part of the film forming apparatus is partially enlarged. [Figure 5] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a film formation apparatus in a film formation process. [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a film forming apparatus in a cleaning process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations may be omitted.
[0009] <Film forming equipment 1> An example of a film formation apparatus 1 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG. 1 is an example of a perspective view showing a characteristic configuration of the film formation apparatus 1 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is an example of a schematic diagram showing a characteristic configuration of the film formation apparatus 1 according to an embodiment when viewed in the axial direction. FIG. 3 is an example of a schematic cross-sectional view of the film formation apparatus 1 according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 is an example of a schematic cross-sectional view of the film formation apparatus 1 according to an embodiment, with a partially enlarged view of a portion indicated by a two-dot chain line A. The film formation apparatus 1 will be described as a thermal CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) apparatus that forms a SiC film on a wafer (substrate) W.
[0010] The container 10 is made of, for example, SUS (stainless steel) and has a cylindrical shape with a horizontal central axis. A loading / unloading port 11 for loading and unloading a wafer W is formed in the side wall at one axial end of the container 10. The loading / unloading port 11 is opened and closed by a gate valve 12. An exhaust path 13 is provided at the other axial end of the container 10. An exhaust device (not shown) is connected to the exhaust path 13. This allows the pressure inside the container 10 to be adjusted to a desired pressure.
[0011] The film forming apparatus 1 includes a processing gas supply unit 14 and a cleaning gas supply unit 15.
[0012] The process gas supply unit 14 supplies a process gas into the container 10 (the upper space 101 in the carbon cylinder 21 shown in FIG. 2) by a side flow method. The process gas is a gas used when forming a SiC film on the wafer W, and may be, for example, a mixed gas of H, SiH, C, H, C, H, N, HCl, Ar, Ne, He, etc.
[0013] The cleaning gas supply unit 15 supplies a cleaning gas by a side flow method into the container 10 (the lower space 102 in the carbon cylinder 21 shown in FIG. 2). The cleaning gas is a gas used to clean off products adhering to the inner wall surface of the carbon cylinder 21, and may be, for example, a mixed gas of NF, ClF, F, HF, Cl, etc.
[0014] The film forming apparatus 1 also includes a carbon cylinder 21, a quartz cylinder 22, an induction heating coil 23, and a cylinder rotation drive unit 24. Similar to the container 10, the carbon cylinder 21 has a cylindrical shape with a horizontal central axis 21C. The quartz cylinder 22 is provided radially outside the carbon cylinder 21. The quartz cylinder 22 has a cylindrical shape with a horizontal central axis 21C. The induction heating coil 23 is provided radially outside the quartz cylinder 22. The induction heating coil 23 is connected to a high-frequency power supply (not shown). When high-frequency power from the high-frequency power supply is supplied to the induction heating coil 23, the carbon cylinder 21 is heated by induction heating.
[0015] The cylinder rotation drive unit 24 rotates the carbon cylinder 21 and the quartz cylinder 22 around the central axis 21C as a rotation axis. The cylinder rotation drive unit 24 includes a support unit 25, a magnetic fluid seal 26, a DD motor 27, a support unit 28, and a magnetic fluid seal 29.
[0016] The support portion 25 supports one end side of the carbon tube 21 and the quartz tube 22. The support portion 25 is made of an insulating material having heat insulating properties, such as Al2O3.
[0017] The magnetic fluid seal 26 has a rotor 26a, a stator 26b, a magnetic fluid 26c, and a bearing 26d. The rotor 26a is fixed to the support portion 25. The rotor 26a is rotatably supported by the stator 26b via the bearing 26d. The stator 26b is fixed to the container 10. The magnetic fluid 26c is provided between the rotor 26a and the stator 26b to seal the gap between the rotor 26a and the stator 26b.
[0018] The DD (direct drive) motor 27 has a rotor 27a, a stator 27b, and a bearing 27c. The rotor 27a is fixed to the support portion 25 via the rotor 26a of the magnetic fluid seal 26. The rotor 27a is rotatably supported by the stator 27b via the bearing 27c. The stator 27b is fixed to the container 10.
[0019] The support part 28 supports the other end of the quartz tube 22. The support part 28 is made of an insulating material having heat insulating properties, such as Al2O3, so that the space between the carbon tube 21 and the quartz tube 22 is open at the other end of the quartz tube 22.
[0020] The magnetic fluid seal 29 seals the gap between the rotor and the stator with a magnetic material, and also supports the support portion 28 so that it can rotate freely.
[0021] With this configuration, the cylinder rotation drive unit 24 can rotate the rotatably supported carbon cylinder 21 and quartz cylinder 22 as a unit by driving the DD motor 27.
[0022] A seal member 61 is provided between the stator 26b and the container 10. A seal member 62 is provided between the rotor 26a and the support part 25. A seal member 63 is provided between the support part 25 and the quartz tube 22. This separates the space inside the quartz tube 22, to which the processing gas or cleaning gas is supplied, from the space outside the quartz tube 22, in which the induction heating coil 23 is disposed. That is, the induction heating coil 23 is protected from the processing gas and cleaning gas.
[0023] The space inside the carbon cylinder 21 is divided into upper and lower sections by a partition plate 41. A holder 31 for holding a wafer W is disposed in the upper space inside the carbon cylinder 21. The holder 31 is supported by a holder support section 33 via a holder rotation drive section 32. The holder rotation drive section 32 has the function of rotating the holder 31 about a rotation axis 31C. The rotation axis 31C about which the holder 31 rotates is disposed so as to be perpendicular to the rotation axis (central axis 21C) about which the carbon cylinder 21 rotates.
[0024] The partition plate 41 is made of a conductive material such as carbon. The partition plate 41 is connected to a high-frequency power supply 42. The high-frequency power supply 42 supplies power to the partition plate 41 when plasma is generated in the lower space 102 (see FIG. 2) inside the carbon cylinder 21.
[0025] The film forming apparatus 1 includes a magnet 51 and a magnet driving unit 52 .
[0026] The magnet 51 forms a magnetic field. When generating plasma 100 (see FIG. 6), which will be described later, electrons are captured in the magnetic field of the magnet 51, making it possible to maintain the plasma with low power. Furthermore, by providing the magnet 51, it is possible to control the region where the plasma 100 is generated.
[0027] The magnet driving unit 52 can insert the magnet 51 into the space between the carbon cylinder 21 and the quartz cylinder 22 (see Figure 6 described later) and retract the magnet 51 from the space between the carbon cylinder 21 and the quartz cylinder 22 (see Figure 5 described later).
[0028] The control unit 60 is, for example, a computer, and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), an auxiliary storage device, etc. The CPU operates based on a program stored in the ROM or the auxiliary storage device, and controls the operation of the film forming apparatus 1. The control unit 60 may be provided inside or outside the film forming apparatus 1. When the control unit 60 is provided outside the film forming apparatus 1, the control unit 60 can control the film forming apparatus 1 via communication means such as wired or wireless.
[0029] <Film formation process> Next, an example of the film formation apparatus 1 in the film formation process will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is an example of a schematic cross-sectional view of the film formation apparatus 1 in the film formation process.
[0030] In the film formation process, the inside of the container 10 is evacuated by an exhaust device (not shown) connected to the exhaust path 13, and is depressurized to a predetermined vacuum atmosphere. The holder 31 holds the wafer W. The magnet 51 is retracted from between the carbon cylinder 21 and the quartz cylinder 22.
[0031] The control unit 60 controls a high-frequency power source (not shown) for heating to supply high-frequency power to the induction heating coil 23. This heats the carbon cylinder 21 by induction heating. Also, the wafer W held by the holder 31 provided inside the carbon cylinder 21 is heated to a desired temperature (e.g., 1500°C).
[0032] The control unit 60 controls the process gas supply unit 14 to supply the process gas into the container 10. As a result, an SiC film is formed on the wafer W. Furthermore, products adhere to the inner circumferential surface of the carbon cylinder 21.
[0033] Here, the interior of the carbon cylinder 21 is divided into upper and lower spaces by a partition plate 41, and the process gas supply unit 14 supplies the process gas to the upper space where the holder 31 is provided. This makes it possible to prevent products from adhering to the inner surface of the carbon cylinder 21 in the lower space inside the carbon cylinder 21.
[0034] Furthermore, in the film forming process, the control unit 60 controls the cylinder rotation drive unit 24 (DD motor 27) to rotate the carbon cylinder 21 and the quartz cylinder 22. This allows the by-products adhering to the inner circumferential surface of the carbon cylinder 21 to be dispersed in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the by-products peeled off from the inner circumferential surface of the carbon cylinder 21 from adhering to the wafer W.
[0035] Although the control unit 60 has been described as rotating the carbon cylinder 21 and the quartz cylinder 22 during the film formation process, this is not limited to this. For example, the carbon cylinder 21 and the quartz cylinder 22 may be configured to rotate intermittently. For example, the carbon cylinder 21 and the quartz cylinder 22 may be configured to rotate a predetermined angle each time the film formation process for the wafer W is completed. Even with this configuration, the products adhering to the inner circumferential surface of the carbon cylinder 21 can be dispersed in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, the products peeled off from the inner circumferential surface of the carbon cylinder 21 can be prevented from adhering to the wafer W.
[0036] Furthermore, during the film formation process, the magnet 51 can be retracted away from the carbon cylinder 21. This prevents the magnet 51 from being heated by the carbon cylinder 21 and being thermally demagnetized.
[0037] <Cleaning process> Next, an example of the film forming apparatus 1 in the cleaning process will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is an example of a schematic cross-sectional view of the film forming apparatus 1 in the cleaning process.
[0038] In the cleaning process, the inside of the container 10 is evacuated by an exhaust device (not shown) connected to the exhaust path 13, and is depressurized to a predetermined vacuum atmosphere. The holder 31 does not hold the wafer W. The magnet 51 is disposed between the carbon cylinder 21 and the quartz cylinder 22.
[0039] The control unit 60 controls the cleaning gas supply unit 15 to supply the cleaning gas into the container 10. The control unit 60 also controls the high-frequency power supply 42 for plasma generation to supply high-frequency power to the partition plate 41. As a result, plasma 100 of the cleaning gas is generated in the lower space inside the carbon cylinder 21. By the plasma 100 of the cleaning gas, products adhering to the inner wall surface of the carbon cylinder 21 are removed.
[0040] Furthermore, the control unit 60 controls the cylinder rotation drive unit 24 (DD motor 27) to rotate the carbon cylinder 21, thereby cleaning the inner wall surface of the carbon cylinder 21 in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, the control unit 60 controls the magnet drive unit 52 to move the magnet 51 in the axial direction of the carbon cylinder 21, thereby moving the generation position of the plasma 100 in the axial direction. This allows the entire inner wall surface of the carbon cylinder 21 to be cleaned appropriately.
[0041] Although the film formation process and cleaning process have been described as an example of the operation of the film formation apparatus 1, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the cleaning process may be performed simultaneously with the film formation process.
[0042] The above describes the film forming apparatus 1, but the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and improvements are possible within the scope of the gist of the present disclosure as described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]
[0043] W wafer 1 Film deposition equipment 10 containers 11 Loading / unloading entrance 12 Gate valve 13 Exhaust duct 14 Processing gas supply unit 15 Cleaning gas supply unit 21 Carbon tube 21C center axis 22 Quartz tube 23 Induction heating coil 24 Cylinder rotation drive unit 25 Support part 26 Magnetic fluid seal 27 DD motor 28 Support part 29 Magnetic fluid seal 31 Holder 31C Rotating shaft 32 Holder rotation drive unit 33 Holder support part 41 Partition 42 High frequency power supply 51 Magnet 52 Magnet drive unit 60 Control Unit 100 Plasma
Claims
1. Carbon tube and an induction heating coil for induction heating the carbon cylinder; a holder disposed in the internal space of the carbon cylinder and holding a substrate; a holder rotation drive unit that rotates the holder; a cylinder rotation drive unit that rotates the carbon cylinder, The rotation axis around which the holder rotates and the rotation axis around which the carbon cylinder rotates are perpendicular to each other. Film deposition equipment.
2. Carbon tube and an induction heating coil for induction heating the carbon cylinder; a holder disposed in the internal space of the carbon cylinder and holding a substrate; a holder rotation drive unit that rotates the holder; a cylinder rotation drive unit that rotates the carbon cylinder; a partition plate that divides the internal space of the carbon cylinder, Film deposition equipment.
3. Carbon tube and an induction heating coil for induction heating the carbon cylinder; a holder disposed in the internal space of the carbon cylinder and holding a substrate; a holder rotation drive unit that rotates the holder; a cylinder rotation drive unit that rotates the carbon cylinder; a magnet disposed on the outer periphery of the carbon cylinder, Film deposition equipment.
4. a magnet driving unit that drives the magnet in the axial direction of the carbon cylinder; The film forming apparatus according to claim 3 .
5. A quartz cylinder is further provided between the carbon cylinder and the induction heating coil. The film forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
6. A processing method for a film forming apparatus comprising: a carbon cylinder; an induction heating coil for induction heating the carbon cylinder; a holder disposed in an internal space of the carbon cylinder and for holding a substrate; a holder rotation drive unit for rotating the holder; and a cylinder rotation drive unit for rotating the carbon cylinder, wherein the rotation axis about which the holder rotates is perpendicular to the rotation axis about which the carbon cylinder rotates, The method for processing a film forming apparatus includes rotating the carbon cylinder when supplying a processing gas into the internal space of the carbon cylinder to perform a film forming process on the substrate.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Vapor growth device
JP1990083918A
Film formation device
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Method for manufacturing silicon carbide epitaxial substrate
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