Patent ID: 6101970
Filing Date: 2000-08-15
Classification: H01J,H01L

Abstract:
An apparatus for subjecting a target object to a plasma processing by using a plasma, comprising:an airtight process chamber;an intermediate electrode having a conductive partition which divides said process chamber into a plasma generating space and a processing space, and has an opening for allowing said plasma generating space and said processing space to communicate with each other;a potential applying mechanism electrically connected to said intermediate electrode, for applying an electric potential to said intermediate electrode;a support member arranged in said processing space, for supporting said target object in said processing space;a gas supply system for supplying a process gas into said plasma generating space;an exhaust system for exhausting and setting said process chamber at a vacuum; andan electric field generator for generating an electric field for exciting said process gas in said plasma generating space to convert said process gas into a plasma, said electric field having an electric field direction which is defined essentially by lines of electric force concentrically surrounding a center of said lines of electric force,wherein said partition consists essentially of a plurality of conductive beams extending in directions substantially perpendicular to said electric field direction.