Patent ID: 8790490

Claim:
A plasma processing apparatus comprising: a process container that forms a process space to accommodate a target substrate; an exhaust unit connected to an exhaust port of the process container to vacuum-exhaust gas from inside the process container; an exhaust plate interposed between the process space and the exhaust port to rectify a flow of exhaust gas; a first electrode and a second electrode disposed opposite each other within the process container, the first electrode being an upper electrode and the second electrode being a lower electrode and configured to support the target substrate through a mount face; a conductive focus ring disposed on the second electrode to surround the target substrate; an electrode support made of an insulating material and including a first portion interposed between the second electrode and a bottom of the process container and a second portion surrounding the second electrode; a first RF power application unit configured to apply a first RF power to the first electrode; a second RF power application unit configured to apply a second RF power to the second electrode, the second RF power having a frequency lower than that of the first RF power; a DC power supply configured to apply a DC voltage to the first electrode; a process gas supply unit configured to supply a process gas into the process container; a shield part covering an inner wall of the process container and formed of a conductive internal body and an insulator covering the conductive internal body; and a conductive member disposed within the process container and grounded to release through plasma a current caused by the DC voltage applied from the DC power supply to the first electrode, the conductive member being supported by the process container or the shield part and protruding inward therefrom so as for the conductive member to be exposed to the plasma, and the conductive member being grounded through the process container or the conductive internal body of the shield part, wherein the first electrode includes outer and inner upper electrodes, which are electrically insulated from each other, disposed on a peripheral side and a central side, respectively, in a radial direction, and connected to the first RF power application unit, to define outer and inner RF discharge regions, respectively, the inner upper electrode includes outer and inner gas passages formed therein, which are isolated from each other, disposed on a peripheral side and a central side, respectively, in a radial direction, and connected to the process gas supply unit, to define outer and inner gas delivery regions, respectively, and the DC power supply includes first and second DC power supplies respectively connected to the outer and inner upper electrodes and having positive terminals grounded and negative terminals respectively connected to the outer and inner upper electrodes.