Patent attributes
A method and apparatus are provided for processing a substrate with a radiofrequency inductive plasma in the manufacture of a device. The inductive plasma is maintained with an inductive plasma applicator having one or more inductive coupling elements. There are thin windows between the inductive coupling elements and the interior of the processing chamber. Various embodiments have magnetic flux concentrators in the inductive coupling element and feed gas holes interspersed among the inductive coupling elements. The thin windows, magnetic flux concentrators, and interspersed feed gas holes are useful to effectuate uniform processing, high power transfer efficiency, and a high degree of coupling between the applicator and plasma. In some embodiments, capacitive current is suppressed using balanced voltage to power an inductive coupling element.
