Apparatus and method for high utilization of process chambers of a cluster system through staggered plasma cleaning

摘要

A method for processing a plurality of substrates in a processing system having four or more process chambers is provided. Each substrate is processed in at least four of the four or more process chambers. Each of the four or more process chambers is cleaned after processing fifteen or less substrates, wherein cleaning of each chamber is scheduled at distinct, non-overlapping time periods to enhance throughput of the substrates through the processing system.