Patent ID: 8414702

Claim:
A plasma processing apparatus, comprising: a processing chamber having an interior wall partitioning the processing chamber to define at least two internal processing stations, wherein the processing chamber further includes a channel which couples the respective processing stations in fluid flowing relation one relative to the other; and wherein the processing chamber further includes transfer ports which facilitate the movement of a semiconductor work piece into, and out of, the respective processing stations; two lower electrodes, each mounted on a bottom surface of the processing chamber, and within each of the processing stations; a protection assembly comprising a continuous ring positioned within each of the processing stations a motor operable to move the protection assembly from a first position where the respective transfer ports are open and where the protection assembly substantially occludes the channel; to a second position where the protection assembly blocks the respective transfer ports and where the protection assembly does not occlude the channel so that the channel is coupling the respective processing stations in fluid flowing relation one relative to the other.