Patent ID: 7972469

Claim:
A plasma control magnet assembly, comprising: a plurality of magnets arranged in a predetermined pattern that generate a magnetic field in a plasma enhanced processing chamber for processing a substrate disposed therein, the magnetic field having a strength greater than 10 Gauss in a region proximate the assembly, corresponding to a processing region within the chamber that is remote from the substrate, and less than 10 Gauss in a region remote from the assembly, corresponding to a processing region within the chamber that is near the substrate; a showerhead for providing one or more process gases to a process chamber, wherein the plurality of magnets are disposed within the showerhead; one or more shields comprising a magnetic material disposed proximate the plurality of magnets to reduce the quantity of magnetic flux lines at regions remote from the shield; and one or more actuators coupled to the shields to control the position of the shields relative to the plurality of magnets.