Patent ID: 7935186

Claim:
A plasma processing apparatus, comprising: a processing chamber having a side wall, an interior wall, and top and bottom surfaces which are mounted on the side wall, and wherein the processing chamber and interior wall define at least two internal processing stations, and wherein the side wall defines individual transfer ports which facilitate the movement of a semiconductor work piece into, and out of, the respective processing stations, and wherein an opening is defined between the top surface of the processing chamber, and the interior wall, and which couples the respective processing stations in fluid flowing relation, one relative to the other; two grounding rings wherein each grounding ring is mounted on the top surface of the processing chamber, and within each of the processing stations, and wherein a gap is defined between each of the grounding rings and the interior wall, and the opening is adjacent to each of the grounding rings; two first electrodes wherein each first electrode is mounted on the top surface of the processing chamber, and within each of the processing stations, and wherein the grounding ring surrounds the respective first electrodes; two second electrodes wherein each second electrode is mounted on the bottom surface of the processing chamber, and within each of the processing stations; a protection assembly positioned within each of the processing stations, and moveable relative to the interior and side walls of the processing chamber and within the gap defined between each of the grounding rings and the interior wall from a first position, wherein the protection assembly blocks the respective transfer ports, to a second position where the respective transfer ports are open, and wherein the protection assembly further defines a channel which selectively couples the respective processing stations in fluid flowing relation, one relative to the other.