Patent ID: 7268083

Claim:
A plasma etching process using a plasma etching apparatus comprising a chamber capable of reducing pressure; a substrate support provided inside the chamber to place a substrate; a first electrode which is arranged outside and in proximity to the chamber and to which high frequency power is applied to generate plasma of an etching gas in the chamber; and a second electrode comprising a plurality of separated electrodes which are arranged between the chamber and the first electrode and to each of which high frequency power is applied independently, the process comprising the steps of: placing a substrate provided with a film to be etched on the substrate support; introducing an etching gas into the chamber and applying high frequency power to the first electrode after the step of placing the substrate to generate plasma of the etching gas in the chamber; and etching the film to be etched with the plasma while applying high frequency power independently to each of the plurality of separated electrodes serving as the second electrode based on the thickness distribution of an etching reaction product adhered to part of an inner wall of the chamber opposing to the second electrode.