Patent · US Expired

Methods and apparatus for maintaining a pressure within an environmentally controlled chamber

US6916397B2 · kind B2 · utility

35Cited by
10References
31Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 13, 2001
Grant dateJul 12, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 24, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG05D16/2066
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

In a first aspect, a system includes (1) a chamber; (2) a variable speed vacuum pump coupled to the chamber; and (3) a pressure controller coupled to the chamber. The pressure controller compares a set point pressure with a pressure measurement for the chamber and adjusts a flow of gas through the pressure controller based on a difference between the pressure measurement and the set point pressure. The system includes a pressure measurement device coupled to the chamber and to the pressure controller, and a main controller coupled to the variable speed vacuum pump, the pressure controller and the pressure measurement device. The pressure measurement device measures a pressure within the chamber and provides a pressure measurement to the pressure controller and the main controller. The main controller (1) adjusts a speed of the variable speed vacuum pump; and (2) provides the set point pressure to the pressure controller.

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