Patent ID: 6155199
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
An apparatus for generating a transformer coupled plasma, the apparatus comprising:a plasma reaction chamber having a window forming an electro-magnetic field path into the chamber and a process gas supply configured to introduce process gas into the chamber;a radio frequency antenna comprising at least two antenna segments disposed proximate an exterior surface of the window of the chamber;a radio frequency source coupled to the antenna and configured to resonate a radio frequency current in the antenna segments, wherein electromagnetic fields induced by the radio frequency current are effective to excite and ionize the process gas and to thereby generate a plasma within the chamber; anda phase shifter interconnecting first and second of the antenna segments and configured to distribute radio frequency current flow in the antenna such that an instantaneous direction of radio frequency current in the first antenna segment is substantially the same as an instantaneous direction of radio frequency current in the second antenna segment.