Patent · US Active

Passive capacitively-coupled electrostatic (CCE) probe arrangement for detecting plasma instabilities in a plasma processing chamber

US8179152B2 · kind B2 · utility

5Cited by
24References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 7, 2009
Grant dateMay 15, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 12, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J37/32935
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An arrangement for detecting plasma instability within a processing chamber of a plasma processing system during substrate processing is provided. The arrangement includes a probe arrangement, wherein the probe arrangement is disposed on a surface of the processing chamber and is configured to measure at least one plasma processing parameter. The probe arrangement includes a plasma-facing sensor and a measuring capacitor, wherein the plasma-facing sensor is coupled to a first plate of the measuring capacitor. The arrangement also includes a detection arrangement, which is coupled to a second plate of the measuring capacitor. The detection arrangement is configured to convert an induced current flowing through the measuring capacitor into a set of digital signals, the set of digital signals being processed to detect the plasma instability.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.