Patent ID: 7754282

Claim:
A method of adjusting a spacing between a gas distribution member and a substrate support disposed generally opposite from the gas distribution member, the substrate support being configured to support a substrate on which to form a layer, the method comprising: forming the layer on the substrate disposed on the substrate support; measuring a thickness of the layer on the substrate; calculating differences in thickness between a reference location on the substrate and a plurality of remaining locations on the substrate; computing spacing adjustment amounts for the remaining locations relative to the reference location based on the differences in thickness between the reference location and the remaining locations, the spacing adjustment amount being positive to increase the spacing between the substrate support at the location and the gas distribution member if the thickness is greater at the location than at the reference location, the spacing adjustment amount being negative to decrease the spacing between the substrate support at the location if the thickness is smaller at the location than at the reference location; and adjusting the spacing by the computed spacing adjustment amounts.