Patent ID: 7282454

Claim:
A method for processing a semiconductor substrate, said method comprising: continuously delivering plasma forming components to a process chamber; via time multiplexing, selectively switching the delivery of the plasma forming components back and forth between a first delivery condition where the plasma forming components are only delivered to an inner region of the process chamber, and a second delivery condition where the plasma forming components are only delivered to an outer region of the process chamber so as to effect the concentration of the plasma forming component in an inner and an outer region of the process chamber, the first delivery condition allowing the plasma forming components to be delivered into an inner region of a process chamber while at the same time preventing the same plasma forming components from being delivered into an outer region of the process chamber, the second delivery condition allowing the plasma forming components to be delivered into the outer region of the process chamber while at the same time preventing the same plasma forming components from being delivered into the inner region of the process chamber; continuously delivering second plasma forming components to the process chamber; via a second time multiplexing operation that is separate from the time multiplexing operation associated with the plasma forming components, selectively switching the delivery of the second plasma forming components back and forth between a first delivery condition where the second plasma forming components are only delivered to an inner region of the process chamber, and a second delivery condition where the second plasma forming components are only delivered to an outer region of the process chamber so as to effect the concentration of the second plasma forming component in an inner and an outer region of the process chamber, the first delivery condition allowing the second plasma forming components to be delivered into an inner region of a process chamber while at the same time preventing the same second plasma forming components from being delivered into an outer region of the process chamber, the second delivery condition allowing the second plasma forming components to be delivered into the outer region of the process chamber while at the same time preventing the same second plasma forming components from being delivered into the inner region of the process chamber, wherein the plasma forming components correspond to energy, and the second plasma forming components correspond to gas.