Patent ID: 8080760

Claim:
A method of processing a semiconductor substrate, comprising: supporting a semiconductor substrate on the substrate support in a plasma processing apparatus comprising: a chamber comprising a wall separating the interior of the chamber into first and second regions, the wall having an opening therein providing fluid communication between the first and second regions; a cantilever assembly comprising an arm unit extending horizontally through the opening such that a first end is in the first region and a second end is in the second region, a substrate support being located on an upper portion of the first end and a service conduit being located at the second end; an actuation mechanism coupled to an upper portion of the service conduit and operative to move the cantilever assembly in a vertical direction; wherein: the substrate support comprises a lower electrode assembly having a top surface adapted to support a substrate; the plasma processing chamber further comprises an upper electrode assembly having a bottom surface facing and spaced from the top surface of the substrate support to form a gap therebetween; the lower electrode assembly is coupled to a radio frequency (RF) power supply via an RF transmission member located in the arm unit; and a dual bellows arrangement providing a balanced atmospheric load on the interior of the chamber, the dual bellows including a first bellows providing a vacuum seal between an upper part of the chamber and the upper portion of the service conduit and a second bellows providing a vacuum seal between a lower part of the chamber and a lower portion of the service conduit; generating plasma in the space between the upper and lower electrode assemblies; adjusting the gap by moving the cantilever assembly via the actuation mechanism, the atmospheric load on the cantilever assembly being neutralized during the adjusting; and processing the semiconductor substrate with the plasma.