Patent · US Expired

Inductively coupled RF Plasma reactor having an overhead solenoidal antenna and modular confinement magnet liners

US6454898B1 · kind B1 · utility

17Cited by
60References
28Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 11, 2000
Grant dateSep 24, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 11, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J2237/3346
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, a plasma reactor having a chamber for containing a plasma and a passageway communicating with the chamber is enhanced with a first removable plasma confinement magnet module placed adjacent the passageway including a first module housing and a first plasma confinement magnet inside the housing. It may further include a second removable plasma confinement magnet module placed adjacent the passageway including a second module housing, and a second plasma confinement magnet. Preferably, the first and second modules are located on opposite sides of the passageway. Moreover, the first and second plasma confinement magnets have magnetic orientations which tend to oppose plasma transport or leakage through the passageway. Preferably, the module housing includes a relatively non-magnetic thermal conductor such as aluminum and is in thermal contact with said chamber body. Cooling apparatus can be thermally coupled to the chamber body, whereby to maintain the first plasma confinement magnet below its Curie temperature. If the reactor includes a pumping annulus adjacent of a periphery of the chamber, then the passageway can be one which comm…

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