Patent ID: 7094315

Claim:
A plasma reactor for processing a substrate, comprising: a process chamber having chamber walls; an electrode arrangement configured for generating an electric field to both ignite and sustain a plasma for the processing within the chamber, the arrangement comprising a first electrode and a second electrode which is spaced apart from the first electrode, the first electrode and the second electrode defining a process region therebetween; and a plasma confining assembly for minimizing unwanted plasma formations in regions outside of the process region in the process chamber, comprising: a first confining element positioned proximate the periphery of the process region, and including a conductive surface that is electrically grounded and exposed to said process region; and a second confining element positioned proximate the periphery of the process region, and including an exposed insulating surface, which is configured to at least partially cover a non-exposed conductive core that is electrically grounded, the second confining element being spaced apart from the first confining element such that one of the confining elements is disposed in an upper portion of the process chamber and the other confining element is disposed in a lower portion of the process chamber, wherein the first confining element and the second confining element substantially reduces the effects of plasma forming components that pass therebetween.