AJA International사의 ATC Flagship Series 스퍼터링 시스템은 대부분의 요구사항을 충족하도록 다양한 구성으로 구축되는 다목적 PVD 코팅 장비입니다. 본 시스템은 AJA사의 독특한 A300-XP (UHV) 또는 Stiletto Series (HV) 마그네트론 스퍼터링 소스(magnetron sputtering source)를 중심으로 구축되어, 정밀하고 재현있는 공 초점의 직접적인 축외 박막 증착을 가능하게 하는 in-situ source head tilting 기능이 특징입니다. 모든 시스템에는 챔버 상단을 들어 올리는 헤비 듀티 호이스트를 포함하고 있습니다.

Systems are available in the following chambers sizes:

• ATC 1800  (18"  Ø)
• ATC 2200 (22" Ø)
• ATC 2600 (26" Ø)

Substrate holders with heating or cooling from 25mm to 300mm Ø are available on these machines. AJA magnetron sputter sources from 1"-12" Ø, plus rectangular, triangular and turret sputter sources can be incorporated. The maximum number of sputter sources will depend on the substrate size, configuration and magnetron sputter source size. For example, the ATC 1800 can be fitted with (5) 2" magnetrons with in-situ tilt. Consult the factory for optimum configuration.  These versatile sputtering systems can be also fitted with other deposition sources (e-beam evaporation, thermal evaporation and PLD) , ion sources, facing target sputtering sources (FTS), contact masking systems, metal-sealed tops, bake jackets, glove boxes, cassettes, auto-loading and analytical tools (RHEED, XPS, Auger, RGA, Ellipsometers and MOS).

Labview based computer control and either turbomolecular or cryopumping are utilized depending on the application. ATC Flagship Systems can also be easily connected to each other or to ATC Orion Systems for multi-chamber (e.g. metal/oxide) or multi-technique (e.g. sputter/e-beam evaporation/thermal evaporation/PLD/ion milling/analytical) configurations.

TYPICAL FLAGSHIP SPUTTERING SYSTEM CONFIGURATIONS

ATC 1800 UHV - Standard Con-Focal

ATC 2200 UHV - 9 Position Cassette Auto-Loading

ATC 2200 UHV - Combinatorial Chemistry Configuration

ATC 2200 UHV - 10 to 13 Source GMR/MTJ Research System

ATC 2200 HV - Direct Sputter High Rate Turret Coater

ATC 2600 UHV - Direct Sputter 12 Source Coating Tool

TYPICAL RATE / UNIFORMITY DATA

The ATC Series Thin Film Deposition Systems can be configured for con-focal, direct, and off-axis deposition. Con-focal deposition with in-situ tilt sputter sources (AJA pioneered and developed this concept in 1991) can deliver uniformity of better than ± 2% on substrates twice the diameter of the targets. Often ± 1% or better is achievable. A typical deposition profile with SiO₂ on a 6" diameter Si wafer is shown.

Deposition rate is a function of sputter yield of the material, maximum allowable power density into the target (depends on heat transfer capability of target material), and type of power used (e.g. RF, DC, pulsed DC).

Maximum deposition rates are achieved with materials such as Au - high sputter yield, excellent heat transfer material and can be sputtered with DC (most efficient). Slow deposition rates can be expected with materials such as Al₂O₃ - very low sputter yield, poor heat transfer material and must be sputtered with RF (1/2 the efficiency of DC). Typical rates are 0-18 Å/sec with Au, 0-9 Å/sec with Cu and 0-0.16 Å/sec with Al₂O₃ in a confocal configuration with 2" sources on a 100 mm diameter substrate. Off-axis deposition rates are typically 1-5 times lower than con-focal deposition rates depending on substrate size and system configuration.

Direct deposition at short working distances (50-100 mm) can achieve rates as high as 300 Å/sec but con-focal geometry results in much better uniformity, the ability to co-deposit alloy films and the ability to grow better ultra-thin film multilayers since the substrate is always "in the plasma." The cost of the smaller targets employed in con-focal configurations can also significantly reduce operating cost. The ultimate system configuration offered will always depend on the application.

SPUTTERING SOURCES

AJA's exclusive Stiletto (HV) and A300 (UHV) Series Magnetron Sputtering Sources are designed for maximum application flexibility. These unique sources feature a modular magnet array which can be configured by the customer to operate in the balanced, unbalanced (Type II) and magnetic material modes. Gas injection chimneys and shutter systems are incorporated to facilitate in-situ tilting and prevent cross-contamination and target poisoning. 3" and 4" sources can be operated at pressures below 4 x 10^-4Torr in combination with an ion source to perform IBAD at half the price and complexity of an ion beam assisted ion beam sputtering system.

The Unique AJA Modular Magnet Array & In-situ Tilting Features

 For angled sputtering configurations with rotating substrates, AJA International Inc. sputtering sources can be fitted with the “in-situ tilt” option. This option, shown at the left, allows the source angle to be precisely adjusted from outside the vacuum chamber. Fine tuning the incident angle is critical to achieving good deposition uniformity when working distances, operating pressures and materials are changed. When fixed angle arrangements limit and often compromise the capabilities of a system, “in-situ tilt” can deliver better than ± 2% uniformity on substrates which can be up to triple the diameter of the source targets.

SUBSTRATE HOLDERS - HEATING / COOLING

The ATC Series Thin Film Deposition Systems are available with either motorized, rotating, substrate holders (for con-focal configurations) or "T" arm substrate holders (for direct deposition). AJA's experienced design and manufacturing team also offers custom substrate holders to satisfy unique requirements. SHQ and SiC Series substrate heaters can achieve temperatures of up to 1000°C and can be fitted with reactive gas  injection rings, substrate RF/DC bias capability for pre-cleaning and ion assisted deposition, in-situ manual or motorized Z motion for working distance adjustment and load-lock transfer, transverse magnetic field with in-situ orientation adjustment between layers and in-situ mask exchange (available with certain configurations). Indexing for "T" arms and for gradient depositions on rotating holders is accomplished with precise stepper motor systems. Electronic triggers for analytical applications are also available. 

AJA manufactures its own PID based temperature controllers and joystick actuated motor controllers for rotation and Z motion. AJA SHQ Series substrate heaters utilize cost effective, durable, fast cycling, quartz halogen lamp technology while the highest temperatures are achieved with Silicon Carbide elements. 

Custom cooled substrate carriers (water/LN2) are also available depending on the requirement.

PHASE II-J COMPUTER CONTROL

The AJA Labview based Phase II-J Computer Control System is used on all ATC Flagship Series Sputtering Systems. This straightforward, user friendly control system utilizes a large screen laptop in a 19” rack drawer connected to a single 4U rack mount hardware module. The back panel of the hardware module is populated with connectors to interface to all aspects of the sputtering system and to allow for easy future "plug and play" upgrades/expansions.

The Phase II-J control system allows the user to operate in either the “manual mode” or the “automated processing mode”. In the “automated processing mode” the user designs "process layers” which are then compiled and saved as a “process” to be executed with a single command. The system allows up to 104 unique user entry points which are accessible only by password, limiting access to a user’s process layers and thereby preventing unexpected corruption of a user’s saved processes. Data-logging to a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet is standard and is available with an adjustable refresh period. Remote preparation of new processes in a spreadsheet emulator format is available as an option. 

The standard Phase II-J control system will accommodate up to (5) DC power supplies, (4) RF power supplies, (1) 4-way DC switch-box, (1) 4-way RF switch-box, (4) process gases, (16) Valves/shutters, closed loop automatic pressure control, substrate rotation and substrate temperature control. Processes are aborted if plasma is not detected. Special “soak layers” can be easily incorporated into the process.

SYSTEM OPTIONS