Patent ID: 7462335
Filing Date: 2008-12-09
Classification: C23C,H01J,H05H

Abstract:
1. A plasma processing system for controlling the processing of a substrate with a plasma, the system comprising: a) a plasma reactor chamber capable of containing the plasma; b) a substrate pedestal for supporting the substrate; c) a segmented electrode assembly arranged within said chamber adjacent said substrate, said assembly having a plurality of electrode segments; d) a gas supply system in pneumatic communication with a plurality of bores in said segmented electrode assembly to supply gas to said plasma reactor chamber; e) a plurality of RF power supplies, each said supply electrically connected to a corresponding one of said electrode segments; f) a plurality of fiber optic sensors integrated into said plurality of bores in said electrode assembly, each of said sensors having first and second ends, said second ends arranged to receive light from respective regions of the plasma and transmit said light to said first ends; g) a plurality of support members supporting said plurality of fiber optic sensors in said plurality of bores, said plurality of support members each defining at least one aperture permitting the gas to pass through the plurality of bores in which the plurality of fiber optic sensors are integrated; h) a sensor array system arranged to receive light from said first ends of said fiber optic sensors and to convert said light into an electronic output signal corresponding to the spectral content of said light as a function of position across the plasma; and i) a control system in electrical communication with said sensor array system and said plurality of RF power supplies, for controlling the RF power to said electrode segments based on said electronic output signal from said sensor array system; wherein each of the plurality of support members comprise a cylindrical body with an axial bore passing therethrough to accommodate at least one of said plurality of fiber optic sensors therein and a mounting plate extending radially from said cylindrical body, said mounting plate defining said at least one aperture permitting the gas to pass therethrough.