Patent ID: 8735767

Claim:
A method of responding to arc discharges occurring in a plasma process, the method comprising: performing operations by a plasma processing device, the operations comprising: monitoring a parameter to determine whether an arc discharge is present; responsive to determining that an arc discharge is present, executing a first arc countermeasure; checking the monitored parameter after a first delay time period associated with the first arc countermeasure to determine whether the arc discharge is still present responsive to determining that the arc discharge is still present, executing a second arc countermeasure; and responsive to detecting an arc condition during or after execution of the first arc countermeasure, inhibiting execution of any further first arc countermeasures during a first blocked time interval associated with the first arc countermeasure or, responsive to detecting an arc condition during or after execution of the second arc countermeasure, inhibiting execution of any further second arc countermeasures during a second blocked time interval associated with the second arc countermeasure.