Patent ID: 7892444

Claim:
A method for controlling a plasma processing apparatus that comprises: a vacuum vessel in which plasma is generated; a first RF power supply, a second RF power supply and a third RF power supply provided outside the vacuum vessel; a first electrode disposed either inside or outside the vacuum vessel to which a first RF voltage from the first RF power supply is supplied; a second electrode disposed inside the vacuum vessel, having an upper surface on which a sample is mounted, and to which a second RF voltage from the second RF power supply is supplied; an RF radiation unit other than the second electrode that is capacitively coupled with the plasma generated inside the vacuum vessel to which a third RF voltage from the third RF power supply is supplied; means for detecting a potential of the RF being transmitted through the plasma at an inner wall surface of the vacuum vessel; means for detecting an emission status of the plasma within the vacuum vessel; and a phase control unit for controlling a phase difference between the second RF voltage and the third RF voltage from the third RF power supply; wherein the controlling method comprises the steps of: controlling the phase difference between the RF voltage of the second electrode and the third RF voltage having a same frequency using a signal source other than a phase signal, disposed between the second electrode and the RF radiation unit that is capacitively coupled with the plasma; wherein when removing a deposition film inside the vacuum vessel, controlling the phase difference according to an amount of the deposition film; and wherein the signal source other than the phase signal includes one of an RF voltage, a plasma emission, and a combination of the RF voltage and the plasma emission.