Toroidal low-field reactive gas source
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for dissociating gases comprising:
- a) a plasma chamber;
b) a transformer having a magnetic core surrounding a portion of the plasma chamber and a primary winding;
c) one or more switching semiconductor devices directly coupled to a voltage supply and having an output coupled to the primary winding, the one or more switching semiconductor devices driving current in the primary winding, the current inducing a potential inside the chamber that forms a plasma which completes a secondary circuit of the transformer.
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Abstract
An apparatus for dissociating gases includes a plasma chamber that may be formed from a metallic material and a transformer having a magnetic core surrounding a portion of the plasma chamber and having a primary winding. The apparatus also includes one or more switching semiconductor devices that are directly coupled to a voltage supply and that have an output coupled to the primary winding of the transformer. The one or more switching semiconductor devices drive current in the primary winding that induces a potential inside the chamber that forms a plasma which completes a secondary circuit of the transformer.
132 Citations
43 Claims
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1. An apparatus for dissociating gases comprising:
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a) a plasma chamber;
b) a transformer having a magnetic core surrounding a portion of the plasma chamber and a primary winding;
c) one or more switching semiconductor devices directly coupled to a voltage supply and having an output coupled to the primary winding, the one or more switching semiconductor devices driving current in the primary winding, the current inducing a potential inside the chamber that forms a plasma which completes a secondary circuit of the transformer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for generating ions comprising:
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a) a plasma chamber;
b) a transformer having a magnetic core surrounding a portion of the plasma chamber and a primary winding;
c) one or more switching semiconductor devices directly coupled to a voltage supply and having an output coupled to the primary winding, the one or more switching semiconductor devices driving current in the primary winding, the current inducing a potential inside the chamber that forms a plasma which completes a secondary circuit of the transformer. d) an orifice positioned in the chamber for directing ions generated by the plasma. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for dissociating gases comprising:
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a) a plasma chamber comprising an electrically conductive material and at least one dielectric region that prevents induced current flow in the chamber;
b) a transformer having a magnetic core surrounding a portion of the plasma chamber and a primary winding;
c) a power supply having an output electrically connected to the primary winding, the power supply driving current in the primary winding, the current inducing a potential inside the chamber that forms a plasma which completes a secondary circuit of the transformer. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for dissociating gases comprising:
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a) providing a chamber for containing a gas at a pressure;
b) providing a transformer having a magnetic core surrounding a portion of the chamber and a primary winding;
c) directly coupling one or more switching semiconductor devices to a voltage supply and generating a current driving the primary winding with the one or more switching semiconductor devices; and
d) inducing a potential inside the chamber with the current in the primary winding, the potential forming a plasma which completes a secondary circuit of the transformer. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A method for cleaning a process chamber comprising:
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a) providing a plasma chamber for containing a reactive gas at a pressure, the plasma chamber being coupled to the process chamber;
b) providing a transformer having a magnetic core surrounding a portion of the plasma chamber and a primary winding;
c) directly coupling one or more switching semiconductor devices to a voltage supply and generating a current driving the primary winding with the one or more switching semiconductor devices;
d) inducing a potential inside the chamber with the current in the primary winding, the potential forming a plasma which completes a secondary circuit of the transformer; and
e) directing chemically active species generated in the plasma from the plasma chamber into the process chamber thereby cleaning the process chamber.
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43. A method for generating reactive gases comprising:
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a) providing a plasma chamber for containing a reactive gas at a pressure;
b) providing a transformer having a magnetic core surrounding a portion of the plasma chamber and a primary winding;
c) directly coupling one or more switching semiconductor devices to a voltage supply and generating a current driving the primary winding with the one or more switching semiconductor devices;
d) inducing a potential inside the chamber with the current in the primary winding, the potential forming a plasma which completes a secondary circuit of the transformer; and
e) generating reactive gas in the plasma.
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Specification