Patent · US Active

Plasma pulse tracking system and method

US9171700B2 · kind B2 · utility

30Cited by
13References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 10, 2013
Grant dateOct 27, 2015
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 6, 2033

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J37/32183
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A plasma processing system may include a radio frequency (RF) generator configured to supply a pulsing process signal to a target in a plasma processing chamber via a RF matching network. A phase and magnitude detector circuit is coupled to the RF generator and configured to sense the pulsing process signal and output a magnitude error signal and a phase error signal. A pulse tracking circuit is electrically coupled to the phase and magnitude detector circuit and configured to receive the magnitude error signal and the phase error signal and output a tracked magnitude signal and a tracked phase signal. A match controller is electrically coupled to the pulse tracking circuit and the RF matching network and configured to receive the tracked magnitude signal and the tracked phase signal and vary an impedance of the RF matching network in response to the tracked magnitude and phase signals.

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