Patent ID: 8608851

Claim:
A plasma confinement apparatus for use in a plasma processing apparatus, wherein the plasma processing apparatus is defined by a sidewall having an inside facing surface, and wherein the plasma confinement apparatus is positioned between a processing region and an exhaust region and between the inside facing surface and a bottom electrode of the plasma processing apparatus, the plasma confinement apparatus comprising: an electrically grounded member which substantially inhibits RF emissions from reaching the exhaust region; an electrically conductive member which is positioned on the electrically grounded member and electrically insulated relative to the electrically grounded member thereto, and which further defines a plurality of passageways through which a plasma may pass between the processing region and the exhaust region, and wherein the plasma has charged species and neutral species, and wherein the plurality of passageways are sized so as to quench the charged species and allow the neutral species to pass therethrough; and, an electrically insulative layer located between a top surface of the electrically grounded member and a bottom surface of the electrically conductive member; wherein the electrically grounded member, comprises: a discontinuous outside peripheral edge; a substantially continuous inside peripheral edge; and, a plurality of second passageways.