Methods and apparatus for monitoring a process in a plasma...

Etching a substrate: processes – Gas phase etching of substrate – With measuring – testing – or inspecting

Reexamination Certificate

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C216S059000, C438S014000, C438S016000

Reexamination Certificate

active

07323116

ABSTRACT:
A method for in-situ monitoring a process in a plasma processing system having a plasma processing chamber is disclosed. The method includes positioning a substrate in the plasma processing chamber. The method also includes striking a plasma within the plasma processing chamber while the substrate is disposed within the plasma processing chamber. The method further includes obtaining a measured self-bias voltage that exists after the plasma is struck, the measured self-bias voltage value having a first value when the plasma is absent and at least a second value different from the first value when the plasma is present. The method also includes correlating the measured self-bias voltage value with an attribute of the process, if the measured self-bias voltage value is outside of a predefined self-bias voltage value envelope.

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