NON-INTRUSIVE PLASMA MONITORING SYSTEM FOR ARC DETECTION AND PREVENTION FOR BLANKET CVD FILMS

摘要

Methods and systems of diagnosing an arcing problem in a semiconductor wafer processing chamber are described. The methods may include coupling a voltage probe to a process-gas distribution faceplate in the processing chamber, and activating an RF power source to generate a plasma between the faceplate and a substrate wafer. The methods may also include measuring the DC bias voltage of the faceplate as a function of time during the activation of the RF power source, where a spike in the measured voltage at the faceplate indicates an arcing event has occurred in the processing chamber. Methods and systems to reduce arcing in a semiconductor wafer processing chamber are also described.