Patent ID: 7875859

Claim:
An ion energy analyzer for use in diagnosing the ion energy distribution (IED) of plasma, comprising: a substrate; a first insulator disposed on said substrate; an ion current collector disposed on said first insulator; a second insulator disposed on said ion current collector, said second insulator having an aperture formed there through to expose a collection area on said ion current collector; a first conductive electrode disposed on said second insulator, said first conductive electrode having said aperture formed there through and aligned with said aperture in said second insulator; an electron rejection grid disposed on said first conductive electrode and extending over said aperture; a third insulator disposed on said first conductive electrode, said third insulator having said aperture formed there through and aligned with said aperture in said first conductive electrode; a second conductive electrode disposed on said third insulator, said second conductive electrode having said aperture formed there through and aligned with said aperture in said third insulator; an ion selection grid disposed on said second conductive electrode and extending over said aperture; a fourth insulator disposed on said second conductive electrode, said fourth insulator having said aperture formed there through and aligned with said aperture in said second conductive electrode; a third conductive electrode disposed on said fourth insulator, said third conductive electrode having said aperture formed there through and aligned with said aperture in said fourth insulator; an entrance grid disposed on said third conductive electrode and extending over said aperture; wherein said third conductive electrode is configured to develop a DC self-bias voltage in said plasma, wherein said second conductive electrode is configured to be biased by a positive DC voltage referenced to said DC self-bias voltage on said third conductive electrode, wherein said first conductive electrode is configured to be biased by a negative DC voltage referenced to said DC self-bias voltage on said third conductive electrode, wherein a selected ion current received at said ion current collector is configured to be measured by an ion current meter, and wherein said aperture permits said selected ion current to flow from said plasma to said ion current collector.