Detecting an arc occuring during supplying power to a plasma process
First Claim
1. A method of detecting an arc occurring during supplying power to a plasma process in a plasma chamber, comprising:
- determining a first signal sequence present between a DC source and an output signal generator, wherein the output signal generator comprises an input connected to the DC source and an output connected to the plasma chamber;
determining a second signal sequence present at the output of the output signal generator;
determining a reference signal sequence based on one of the first and second signal sequences;
comparing the reference signal sequence with the other of the first and second signal sequences; and
detecting an arc by determining if the reference signal sequence and the other of the first and second signal sequences cross.
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Accused Products
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.
54 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of detecting an arc occurring during supplying power to a plasma process in a plasma chamber, comprising:
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determining a first signal sequence present between a DC source and an output signal generator, wherein the output signal generator comprises an input connected to the DC source and an output connected to the plasma chamber; determining a second signal sequence present at the output of the output signal generator; determining a reference signal sequence based on one of the first and second signal sequences; comparing the reference signal sequence with the other of the first and second signal sequences; and detecting an arc by determining if the reference signal sequence and the other of the first and second signal sequences cross. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A plasma power supply for supplying a plasma process in a plasma chamber with a power, the plasma power supply comprising:
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a DC source; an output signal generator comprising an input connected to the DC source and an output connected to the plasma chamber; 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 the output of the output signal generator; and a controller connected to the first and second signal sequence measurement devices and configured to receive the first signal sequence and the second signal sequence, the controller comprising; a reference signal sequence generator configured to generate a reference signal sequence based on one of the first and second signal sequences, and a comparator configured 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. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20)
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19. A device for a plasma power supply for supplying a plasma process in a plasma chamber with a power, the device comprising:
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a reference signal sequence generator configured to generate a reference signal sequence based on one of a first signal sequence present between a DC source and an input of an output signal generator that is connected to the DC source and a second signal sequence present at an output of the output signal generator that is connected to the plasma chamber, the plasma power supply including the DC source and the output signal generator; and a comparator configured to; compare the reference signal sequence and the other of the first and second signal sequences which has not been used to determine the reference signal sequence, and generate a detection signal if the reference signal sequence and the other of the first and second signal sequences cross.
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Specification