JP2007131896A - Sputtering system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sputtering system having sufficient durability capable of rapidly changing the power input between targets arranged in the same or different vacuum chamber at low cost. <P>SOLUTION: The sputtering system comprises a plurality of pairs of targets 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d arranged in a plurality of vacuum chambers 11a, 11b, and an AC power supply, and the AC power supply is divided into a power supply unit 6 and a plurality of oscillation units 7 each having an oscillation switch circuit 72. The sputtering system further comprises a control means for controlling the operation of each oscillation switch circuit, and a changing means 9 for inputting the change signal for changing the targets with the AC voltage applied between the plurality of pairs of targets into the control means. The voltage is applied to any one of the pairs of targets by the control means with the change signal being input therein while alternately changing the polarity at the predetermined frequency. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sputtering apparatus capable of forming a film on the surface of a processing substrate, and more particularly to a sputtering apparatus using an AC power source.

  In the sputtering method, ions in a plasma atmosphere are accelerated and bombarded toward a target formed in a predetermined shape according to the composition of a film to be formed on the surface of the processing substrate, and target atoms are scattered, thereby processing the substrate surface. A thin film is formed. In this case, a plasma discharge is generated by applying a voltage to the target, which is a cathode electrode, via a sputtering power source such as a DC power source or an AC power source to generate a glow discharge between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode or the earth electrode. Forming.

  In the film formation process using this sputtering method, for example, a plurality of targets of the same type or different types are placed in the same or a plurality of separate vacuum chambers, and the processing substrate is sequentially transported to form a thin film or multilayer having a large thickness. A film may be formed (for example, Patent Document 1).

  In this case, a sputtering power source may be provided for each target. However, when the film forming process is performed only when the processing substrate is transferred to a position facing each target, a plurality of sputtering power sources are not used. In addition, the use efficiency is low, and the initial cost is high.

In order to solve such a problem, in a sputtering apparatus using an AC power source, a commercial power line is used so that a stable discharge can be obtained by canceling out charges accumulated on the cathode surface by applying a phase voltage on the opposite side. The AC power supply is configured by dividing the power supply unit connected to the power supply unit and enabling the supply of power and the oscillation unit having the oscillation switching circuit, and an oscillation unit is provided for each target. It is proposed that a switch having a mechanical contact is provided in the power supply line between the oscillator and a pair of targets to be powered by the switch can be selected.
JP 2002-363745 A (for example, refer to claim 1).

  However, in the above, since the input power itself from the power supply unit is switched by the switch, there is a problem that it takes several seconds or more to supply power to the other pair of targets. In addition, a switch used for switching large input power is large and expensive, and there is a risk that malfunction may occur early due to the life depending on the use conditions.

  Therefore, in view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to provide a sputtering apparatus that can quickly switch the input power between a pair of targets, has sufficient durability, and is low in cost. It is in.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the sputtering apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality of pairs of targets arranged in the same or different vacuum chambers, a power supply unit, and a distributed power line that distributes power lines from the power supply unit. It is composed of a plurality of oscillation units having connected oscillation switch circuits, and the polarity is alternately changed at a predetermined frequency to a pair of targets connected to the oscillation units via the oscillation switch circuit of one of the oscillation units. A control means for controlling the operation of each oscillation switch circuit, and a switching signal for switching between the plurality of pairs of targets to which an AC voltage is applied. And a switching means for inputting to.

  According to the present invention, when the power supply unit connected to the commercial power line is operated, power is supplied to each oscillation unit via the power supply unit. In this case, the control means, to which the switching signal from the switching means is input, changes the polarity alternately at a predetermined frequency to a pair of targets connected to the oscillation switch circuit via the oscillation switch circuit. Application is applied. On the other hand, the other oscillating units whose operation is controlled by the control means to which no switching signal is input are in a state where power from the power supply unit is supplied, that is, the other oscillating units are in a standby state.

  Then, when an AC voltage is applied to the pair of targets 41a and 41b in a state where the processing substrate S is transported to a position facing the pair of targets and a predetermined sputtering gas is introduced, each target becomes an anode electrode and a cathode electrode. The plasma atmosphere is formed by causing a glow discharge between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode, and ions in the plasma atmosphere are accelerated and bombarded toward one of the targets that have become the cathode electrode. Is scattered to form a thin film on the surface of the processing substrate.

  After the film forming process is completed, when another film forming process is performed using another pair of targets of the same type or different types, the processing substrate is transported and the switching means is switched so that the switching signal is transferred from one control means to another. Input to the control means. Then, the control means to which the switching signal is input applies a voltage to the pair of targets connected to the oscillation switch circuit via the oscillation switch circuit with alternating polarity at a predetermined frequency. Similarly, a film forming process is performed. What was used for the previous film formation process returns to a state where power from the power supply unit is supplied to the oscillation unit, that is, a standby state.

  In this case, each oscillation unit that is not used for the film forming process is set to a standby state in which power from the power supply unit is supplied, and power is input simply by inputting a switching signal to the control unit of the standby oscillation unit. Since the thing switches, compared with what switches the input electric power itself from an electric power supply part, the input electric power can be switched rapidly. In addition, since a switch having a mechanical contact is not provided, the cost is low. In addition, the switch has sufficient durability compared to a switch having a mechanical contact, and the maintenance frequency can be significantly reduced. .

  The oscillation switch circuit includes a plurality of switching transistors provided between the distribution power lines, and when a switching signal from the switching unit is not input, an output line to a pair of targets is set to the same potential by the control unit. It is sufficient to control each switching transistor and cut off the output from the oscillation unit.

  In addition, if the switching means and the control means of each oscillating unit can be communicated in both directions by wire or wirelessly, and the switching means can be operated by a control signal from the control means, for example, the processing substrates are sequentially conveyed. In the case of forming a film, the sputtering apparatus may be automated so that the film to be formed is automatically switched.

  In this case, when the vacuum chambers are separate, each vacuum chamber is connected via a transfer chamber provided with a gate valve, and a substrate transfer means is provided that enables transfer of the processing substrate between the vacuum chambers. It is good.

  As described above, the sputtering apparatus of the present invention can quickly switch the input power to the pair of targets, has sufficient durability, and has the effect of reducing the cost.

  Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a magnetron sputtering apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “sputtering apparatus”) of the present invention. The sputtering apparatus 1 uses an alternating current power source so that a stable discharge can be obtained by canceling out charges accumulated on the cathode surface by applying a phase voltage on the opposite side. Each has a second vacuum chamber 11a, 11b.

  Each of the vacuum chambers 11a and 11b can be maintained at a predetermined degree of vacuum via a vacuum exhaust means (not shown) such as a rotary pump or a turbo molecular pump. In this case, the vacuum chambers 11a and 11b are connected to each other by a transfer chamber (not shown) provided with a gate valve, and a known substrate transfer means having a carrier 2 on which a processing substrate S is mounted is provided, and a drive means is provided. By being driven intermittently, the processing substrate S is sequentially transferred to a position facing a pair of targets described later provided in each of the vacuum chambers 11a and 11b, so that a thick thin film or multilayer film can be formed.

A gas introduction means 3 is provided in each of the first and second vacuum chambers 11a and 11b. The gas introduction means 3 communicates with a gas source (not shown) through a gas pipe 32 provided with a mass flow controller 31, and O ₂ and H ₂ O used in sputtering gas such as Ar or reactive sputtering. , H ₂ , N _2, etc. can be introduced into the first and second vacuum chambers 11 at a constant flow rate. A cathode electrode C is disposed below the first and second vacuum chambers 11a and 11b.

  The cathode electrode C has a pair of targets 41a, 41b and 41c, 41d arranged so as to face the processing substrate S. Each target 41a, 41b and 41c, 41d is produced by a known method according to the composition of a thin film to be deposited on the processing substrate S, such as Al, Ti, Mo, or ITO, and is substantially rectangular (rectangular in top view). Is formed. Each target 41a, 41b and 41c, 41d is joined to a backing plate 42 for cooling the target 41a, 41b and 41c, 41d through a bonding material such as indium or tin during sputtering, and through an insulating material (not shown). It is attached to the frame of the cathode electrode C and is arranged in a floating state in each of the vacuum chambers 11a and 11b.

  In this case, the pair of targets 41 a, 41 b and 41 c, 41 d disposed in the first and second vacuum chambers 11 a, 11 b are the same plane in which the unused sputtering surface 411 is parallel to the processing substrate S. No components such as an anode and a shield are provided between the side surfaces of the targets 41a, 41b and 41c, 41d facing each other. The external dimensions of the targets 41a, 41b and 41c, 41d are set to be larger than the external dimensions of the processing substrate S when the targets 41a, 41b and 41c, 41d are arranged in parallel.

  Moreover, the cathode electrode C is equipped with the magnet assembly 5 located behind each target 41a, 41b and 41c, 41d. The magnet assembly 5 includes a support plate 51 provided in parallel with each of the targets 41a, 41b and 41c, 41d. The support plate 51 is composed of a rectangular flat plate that is smaller than the lateral width of each of the targets 41a, 41b and 41c, 41d, and extends to both sides of the targets 41a, 41b and 41c, 41d along the longitudinal direction thereof. It is made of a magnetic material that amplifies the magnet's attractive force.

  On the support plate 51, bar-shaped central magnets 52 along the longitudinal direction of the targets 41a, 41b and 41c, 41d and peripheral magnets 53 provided along the outer periphery of the support plate 51 are alternately provided with different polarities. It has been. In this case, the volume when converted to the same magnetization of the central magnet 52 is, for example, equal to the sum of the volumes when converted to the same magnetization of the peripheral magnet 52 (peripheral magnet: center magnet: peripheral magnet = 1: 2: 1). It is designed to be.

  As a result, balanced closed-loop tunnel-like magnetic fluxes are formed in front of the targets 41a, 41b and 41c, 41d, respectively. By capturing electrons, the electron density in front of each of the targets 41a, 41b and 41c, 41d can be increased to increase the plasma density.

  In this case, the magnet assembly 5 is provided with driving means such as a motor (not shown), and by this driving means, parallel and constant speed between two positions along the horizontal direction of the targets 41a, 41b and 41c, 41d. The erosion area is obtained uniformly over the entire surface of the targets 41a, 41b and 41c, 41d.

  Further, output cables K1 and K2 from an AC power source are connected to the pair of targets 41a, 41b and 41c and 41d, respectively. In each vacuum chamber 11a and 11b, a pair of targets 41a, 41b and 41c and 41d are connected to predetermined targets. A voltage can be applied by alternately changing the polarity at a frequency of 1 to 400 KHz. In this case, the waveform of the output voltage is a sine wave, but is not limited thereto, and may be a square wave, for example.

  Here, an AC power source may be provided for each of the pair of targets 41a, 41b, 41c, and 41d, but only when the processing substrate S is transferred to a position facing the pair of targets 41a, 41b, 41c, and 41d. When membrane treatment is performed, one of the AC power supplies becomes unused and the use efficiency of the AC power supply is poor.

  In the present embodiment, each of the first and second power supply units 6 connected to the commercial power line and capable of supplying power, and the first and second numbers corresponding to the number of the pair of targets 41a, 41b and 41c, 41d. An AC power source is configured by dividing into the oscillation units 7a and 7b, and the power lines 64a and 64b from the power supply unit 6 are divided into two by the distributor 8, and the distribution power lines 81a, 81b, 81c from the distributor 8 are distributed. 81d is connected to the oscillators 7a and 7b, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the power supply unit 6 includes a first CPU circuit 61 that controls its operation, an input unit 62 to which commercial AC power (three-phase AC 200 V) is input, and the input AC power. The six diodes 63 that rectify and convert to DC power are provided, and the DC power is first supplied via the distributed power lines 81a, 81b, 81c, 81d in which the DC power lines 64a, 64b are distributed by the distributor 8. And it plays a role of outputting to each of the second oscillators 7a and 7b.

  The power supply unit 6 is connected to a switching transistor 65 provided between the DC power lines 64a and 64b and a first CPU circuit 61 so as to be communicable, and controls the on / off of the switching transistor 65. A driver circuit 66a and a first PMW control circuit 66b are provided. In this case, a detection circuit 67a and an AD conversion circuit 67b are provided which have a current detection sensor and a voltage detection transformer and detect the current and voltage between the DC power lines 64a and 64b, and are provided via the detection circuit 67a and the AD conversion circuit 67b. Are input to the CPU circuit 61.

  On the other hand, the oscillation unit 7a (7b) having the same structure is provided between the second CPU circuit 71 communicatively connected to the first CPU circuit 61 and the distributed power lines 81a and 81b (81c and 81d). The first to fourth switching transistors 72a, 72b, 72c, 72d constituting the oscillation switch circuit 72 and the second CPU circuit 71 are connected to be communicably connected to each other, and the switching transistors 72a, 72b, 72c are connected. , 72d and a second driver circuit 73a for controlling on / off of the second PMW control circuit 73b.

  Then, by the second driver circuit 73a and the second PMW control circuit 73b, for example, on and off timings of the first and second switching transistors 72a and 72b and the third and fourth switching transistors 72c and 72d. When the operations of the switching transistors 72a, 72b, 72c, 72d are controlled so as to be inverted, sinusoidal AC power can be output via the AC power lines 74a, 74b from the oscillation switch circuit 72. In this case, a detection circuit 75a and an AD conversion circuit 75b for detecting an oscillation voltage and an oscillation current are provided, and are input to the second CPU circuit 71 via the detection circuit 75a and the AD conversion circuit 75b.

  The AC power lines 74a and 74b are connected to an output transformer 76 having a known structure, and an output cable K1 (K2) from the output transformer 76 is connected to a pair of targets 41a, 41b and 41c, 41d, respectively. In this case, a current detection sensor and a voltage detection transformer are provided, and a detection circuit 77a and an AD conversion circuit 77b for detecting the output voltage and output current to the pair of targets 41a, 41b and 41c, 41d are provided. The signal is input to the second CPU circuit 71 via the AD conversion circuit 77b. Thereby, during sputtering, a constant voltage can be applied to the pair of targets 41a, 41b and 41c, 41d by alternately changing the polarity at a constant frequency via an AC power source.

  The output from the detection circuit 77a is connected to a detection circuit 78a that detects the output phase and frequency of the output voltage and output current, and through an output phase frequency control circuit 78b that is communicably connected to the detection circuit 78a. Thus, the phase and frequency of the output voltage and output current are input to the second CPU circuit 71. Thus, the on / off of each switching transistor 72a, 72b, 72c, 73d of the oscillation switch circuit 72 is controlled by the second driver circuit 73a by the control signal from the second CPU circuit 71, and the output voltage and output current are controlled. Can be controlled so that their phases substantially coincide with each other.

  By the way, when the input power is switched between the pair of targets 41a, 41b and 41c, 41d arranged in the first and second vacuum chambers 11a, 11b, it is necessary to switch the input power quickly. . In the present embodiment, switching means 9 connected to the second CPU circuit 71, which is a control means for controlling the operation of the oscillation switch circuit 72 of each oscillation unit 7a, 7b, is provided via the communication cables 9a, 9b. (See FIG. 1). In this case, the switching means 9 is, for example, a remote controller having a known structure, and supplies power from an auxiliary power supply (not shown) provided in each of the first and second oscillators 7a and 7b via the auxiliary power cable K3. The switch circuit 91 for switching the movable contact 91a between the switching contacts 91b and 91c is controlled, and a switching signal is output to the second CPU circuit 71 by controlling the operation of the switch circuit 91.

  In this case, the movable contact 91a is connected to the first CPU circuit 61 of the power supply unit 6 via the communication cable 9c, and the contact is switched by a control signal from the first CPU circuit 61. In addition, for example, when the user operates an operation unit such as an operation button provided in the switching unit 9, the contact may be switched.

  Next, the operation of the sputtering apparatus 1 of the present invention will be described. First, a control signal is input to the switching unit 9 from the first control unit 61 of the power supply unit 6, and the switching unit 9 supplies power to the pair of targets 41 a and 41 b of the first vacuum chamber 11 b. Input a switching signal. Next, when the switching transistor 65 is turned on by a control signal from the first CPU circuit 61, DC power is supplied from the DC power lines 64a and 64b to the first and second oscillators 7a and 7b via the distribution power line. Is done.

  Next, the operation of the first to fourth switching transistors 72a, 72b, 72c, and 72d is controlled by the control signal from the second CPU circuit 71 to which the switching signal is input, and the pair of targets 41a and 41b are exchanged with each other. A voltage is applied. In this case, power is supplied from the power supply unit 6 to the oscillation switch circuit 72 via the distribution electrode lines 81c and 81d to the second oscillation unit 7b to which no switching signal is input, that is, the second oscillation unit 7b. The unit 7b enters a standby state.

  In this case, each switching transistor 72a of the oscillation switch circuit 72 is set so that the potential between the AC power lines 74a and 74b becomes the same by the second driver circuit 73a by the control signal from the second CPU circuit 71. The operation of 72b, 72c, 72d is controlled, and the output to the pair of targets 41a, 41b is cut off.

  When an alternating voltage is applied to the pair of targets 41a and 41b in a state where a predetermined sputtering gas is introduced, the targets 41a and 41b are alternately switched between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode, and between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. A plasma discharge is generated by causing glow discharge in the substrate, and ions in the plasma atmosphere are accelerated and impacted toward one of the targets 41a and 41b that have become cathode electrodes, and target atoms are scattered, thereby processing substrates. A thin film is formed on the S surface.

  After the film forming process is completed, the processing substrate S on which a predetermined thin film is formed is transferred to the second vacuum chamber 11b by the substrate transfer means, and the switching means 9 is operated by a control signal from the first CPU circuit 61. Then, a switching signal is input to the second CPU circuit 71 of the second oscillation unit 7b so that power is supplied to the pair of targets 41c and 41d in the second vacuum chamber 11b. Then, the oscillation switch circuit 72 of the second oscillating unit 7b is operated by the second driver circuit 73a by the control signal from the second CPU circuit 71, and the pair of targets 41c and 41d are alternately polarized at a predetermined frequency. By changing the voltage and applying a voltage, the film forming process is performed as described above. In this case, the first oscillation unit 7a returns to the standby state.

As a result, the oscillation units 7a and 7b are set in a standby state in which power from the power supply unit 6 is supplied.
Compared with the one that switches the input power itself from the power supply unit 6 because the one to which the power is supplied is switched only by inputting the switching signal to the second control means 71 of the oscillation units 7a and 7b in the standby state. The switching can be done quickly. In addition, since a switch having a mechanical contact is not provided, the cost is low. In addition, the switch has sufficient durability compared to a switch having a mechanical contact, and the maintenance frequency can be significantly reduced. .

  In the present embodiment, a description has been given of a case where a pair of targets 41a, 41b and 41c, 41d are provided in the two vacuum chambers 11a, 11b, respectively. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and The present invention can be applied as long as a plurality of targets are arranged in the same or a plurality of separate vacuum chambers.

  Moreover, although what connected each 1st and 2nd control means 61 and 71 of AC power supplies and the switching means 9 via communication cable 9a, 9b, 9c was demonstrated, it is not limited to this, For example, the switching signal may be output to one of the control means by wireless communication using light, and the control means 61 and 71 and the switching means 9 can be communicated from both directions by wire or wireless. The signal after the film formation is completed may be output from the control means 61 and 71 to the switching means 9 so that the switching signal is output to the power supplied by the switching means.

1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a sputtering apparatus of the present invention. The figure explaining the structure of alternating current power supply.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sputtering apparatus 11a, 11b Vacuum chamber 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d Target 6 Electric power supply part 7a, 7b Oscillation part
8 Distributor 9 Switching means

Claims (4)

Divided into a plurality of oscillation units each having a plurality of pairs of targets arranged in the same or different vacuum chambers, and an oscillation switch circuit connected to a power supply unit and a distributed power line that distributes the power line from the power supply unit An alternating current power supply that can alternately apply a voltage at a predetermined frequency to a pair of targets connected to the oscillating unit via an oscillation switch circuit of any oscillating unit, Control means for controlling the operation of the oscillation switch circuit, and switching means for inputting a switching signal for switching the one to which an AC voltage is applied between the plurality of pairs of targets to the control means. Sputtering equipment. The oscillation switch circuit includes a plurality of switching transistors provided between the distribution power lines, and when a switching signal from the switching unit is not input, an output line to a pair of targets is set to the same potential by the control unit. 2. The sputtering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each switching transistor is controlled to cut off the output from the oscillation section. 3. The switching means and the control means of each oscillating unit can be communicated in both directions by wire or wirelessly, and the switching means can be operated by a control signal from the control means. The sputtering apparatus as described. When the vacuum chambers are separate, each vacuum chamber is connected via a transfer chamber provided with a gate valve, and a substrate transfer means that enables transfer of a processing substrate between the vacuum chambers is provided. The sputtering apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sputtering apparatus is characterized.

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