Patent · US Active

Detecting an arc occuring during supplying power to a plasma process

US10431437B2 · kind B2 · utility

37Cited by
24References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 19, 2017
Grant dateOct 1, 2019
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 21, 2037

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J37/32944
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Methods, apparatus and systems for detecting an arc during supplying a plasma process in a plasma chamber with a power are provided. An example plasma power supply includes: a DC source, an output signal generator, a first signal sequence measurement device for measuring a first signal sequence present between the DC source and the output signal generator, a second signal sequence measurement device for measuring a second signal sequence present at an output of the output signal generator, and a controller configured to generate a reference signal sequence based on one of the first and second signal sequences, to compare the reference signal sequence and the other of the first and second signal sequences that has not been used to determine the reference signal sequence, and to generate a detection signal if the reference signal sequence and the other of the first and second signal sequences cross.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.