Pressure control for vacuum processing system
First Claim
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1. A pressure control system, comprising:
- a pressure sensor configured to measure pressure within a vacuum chamber in a processing tool;
a pressure controller configured to control the pressure within the vacuum chamber; and
a digital communication network between the pressure sensor and the pressure controller, the digital network configured to communicate signals between the pressure sensor and the pressure controller;
wherein the pressure controller is responsive to pressure measurements made by the pressure sensor and communicated to the pressure controller through the digital communication network, to control the pressure within the vacuum chamber so as to maintain the pressure in the vacuum chamber at a pressure set point received from the processing tool.
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Abstract
A pressure control system includes a digital communication network between a pressure sensor and a pressure controller. The digital communication network is configured to communicate signals between the pressure sensor and the pressure controller. The pressure sensor is configured to measure pressure within a vacuum chamber in a processing tool. The pressure controller is responsive to pressure measurements made by the pressure sensor and communicated to the pressure controller through the digital communication network, to control the pressure within the vacuum chamber so as to maintain the pressure in the vacuum chamber at a pressure set point received from the tool.
113 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A pressure control system, comprising:
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a pressure sensor configured to measure pressure within a vacuum chamber in a processing tool; a pressure controller configured to control the pressure within the vacuum chamber; and a digital communication network between the pressure sensor and the pressure controller, the digital network configured to communicate signals between the pressure sensor and the pressure controller; wherein the pressure controller is responsive to pressure measurements made by the pressure sensor and communicated to the pressure controller through the digital communication network, to control the pressure within the vacuum chamber so as to maintain the pressure in the vacuum chamber at a pressure set point received from the processing tool. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A pressure control system comprising:
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a digital communication network configured to communicate signals between devices coupled to the network; a plurality N of pressure sensors coupled to the digital communication network, each of the plurality of pressure sensors configured to measure pressure within a vacuum chamber in a processing tool; and a pressure controller coupled to the digital communication network, the pressure controller configured to receive a pressure set point from the tool and to control the pressure within the vacuum chamber in response to the received set point and in response to pressure measurements made by each pressure sensor and communicated from each pressure sensor to the pressure controller through the digital communication network, thereby maintaining the pressure in the vacuum chamber at the set point. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A system comprising:
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a tool including a vacuum processing chamber, and a tool controller configured to generate tool control signals including at least one signal that provides a pressure set point for the vacuum processing chamber; a pressure sensor configured to measure pressure within the vacuum processing chamber; and a pressure controller coupled to the pressure sensor through a digital communication network, the pressure controller configured to control the pressure within the vacuum chamber in response to pressure measurements received from the pressure sensor through the digital network and in response to the pressure set point provided by the tool controller, thereby maintaining the pressure in the vacuum chamber at the set point; wherein the digital communication network is configured to communicate pressure signals between the pressure sensor and the pressure controller. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A method of controlling pressure in a vacuum chamber in a tool, the method comprising:
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measuring pressure in the vacuum chamber; receiving from the tool a pressure set point for the vacuum chamber; communicating the pressure measurement and the pressure set point to a pressure controller through a digital communication network; and the pressure controller controlling the pressure in the vacuum chamber in response to the received pressure measurement and pressure set point, so as to maintain pressure in the vacuum chamber at the pressure set point.
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Specification