Patent ID: RE39020

Claim:
An apparatus for processing a process region of a substrate; using a plasma, comprising: a container substantially formed of a conductive material; a partition plate dividing said container into an air-tight process chamber and an air-tight auxiliary chamber, and having a window plate made of dielectric; a main pump exhaust for exhausting and setting said process chamber to a vacuum; a work table arranged in said process chamber and having a support face facing said window plate, said substrate being mounted on said support face, with said process region facing said window plate; a main supply for supplying a process gas between said window plate and said substrate mounted on said support face, at least part of said process gas being transformed into said plasma; an induction electrode, for generating electromagnetic field between (1) said wondow plate and (2) said substrate mounted on said support face, to induce generation of said plasma, and including a coil arranged in said auxiliary chamber and facing said window plate; a power supply section for applying a high frequency voltage to said coil; an auxiliary exhaust pump for exhausting and setting said auxiliary chamber to a vacuum; and a pressure controller connected to said auxiliary exhaust pump for keeping a pressure difference between pressures in said process and auxiliary chambers at a minimum value.