Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for conditioning the atmosphere in a process chamber

US6316045A · kind A · utility

17Cited by
1References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 12, 2000
Grant dateNov 13, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 12, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T137/86139
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

In the invention, the atmosphere in a process chamber is conditioned using a primary pump, a secondary pump, speed control means for controlling the speed of the primary pump, and at least first gas analyzer means adapted for analyzing the extracted gases upstream from the primary pump and for producing first analysis signals. First signal processing means control the pumping speed as a function of the first analysis signals, so as to determine the variation in the pressure inside the process chamber during the transient stages of the treatment. In this way, deposits and turbulence are avoided in the process chamber, as are deposits in the pumping line, so that the secondary pump can be placed in the immediate vicinity of the process chamber.

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