A combined sensor for the simultaneous measurement of plasma and deposition parameters has been designed and built. It comprises (i) a quartz crystal microbalance, (ii) a planar Langmuir probe and (iii) a calorimetric (Gardon) probe, which allows to measure the deposition rate, typical plasma parameters (plasma density and electron temperature) and the total energy input into a growing film. The combined sensor is electrically insulated against ground, allowing these measurements also for floating or substrate-bias conditions. These parameters are measured (nearly) simultaneously, controlled by a specific measurement and analysis program. The operation of this combined sensor is demonstrated for the deposition of copper and tungsten films with a 2 inch planar magnetron. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.