Patent ID: 8319436
Filing Date: 2012-11-27
Classification: H01J,H05H

Abstract:
1. A system for controlling the spatial distribution of a plasma in a processing chamber, comprising: a primary inductor disposed to excite the plasma when power is actively applied to the primary inductor; at least one secondary inductor located in proximity to the primary inductor such that substantially all current that passes through the secondary inductor results from mutual inductance through the plasma with the primary inductor; and at least one terminating element coupled to the at least one secondary inductor, the at least one terminating element affecting the current through the at least one secondary inductor so as to affect the spatial distribution of the plasma; N secondary inductors and N terminating elements, wherein N is equal to or greater than one, each of the N secondary inductors is coupled to a corresponding one of the N terminating elements, wherein each of the N terminating elements includes an impedance-adjustable, reactive terminating element; N sensors, each of the N sensors providing a corresponding one of N signals, each of the N signals is indicative of a plasma density in a region of the plasma proximal to a corresponding one of the N secondary inductors; and a controller coupled to the N sensors and the N terminating elements, the controller adapted to regulate the current through each of the N terminating elements responsive to the N signals to regulate the plasma density in each of the regions of the plasma proximal to the N secondary inductors.