Electronically controlled cryopump and network interface

• US 5,265,431 A
• Filed: 08/27/1992
• Issued: 11/30/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Brooks Automation Incorporated (Azenta, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Helix Technology Corporation (Azenta, Inc.)
• Inventors: Amundsen, Paul E., Gaudet, Peter W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Capossela, Ronald C.
• Application Number:
  US07/936,564
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• Field of Search: 62/55.5, 62/126
• US Class Current: 62/55.5
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 37/08 by condensing or freezing, e.g. cryogenic pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2309/002 with parallel working cold producing expansion devices in one circuit

Abstract

A network of cryopumps, each having an electronic regeneration controller, is coupled to a common rough pump. Each regeneration controller operates independently except that each is inhibited from opening its roughing valve to the common rough pump. Each regeneration controller only proceeds to open the roughing valve after it has received a token from a network interface terminal. The network interface terminal may control multiple groups of cryopumps coupled to respective common rough pumps. The regeneration controllers are removable modules connected to the cryopumps. A PROM is provided for each cryopump to the side of the connector opposite to the module. The PROM stores data specific to the cryopump and retains the data for the cryopump with replacement of the controller module.

Claims

1. A cryopump system comprising:

a cryopump;

a programmable electronic processor for controlling operation of the cryopump, the electronic processor being mounted in a removable module coupled to the cryopump through a connector; and

a nonvolatile memory device coupled to the cryopump, the electronic processor communicating with the memory device through the connector.

2. A cryopump system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the nonvolatile memory device is an electrically erasable and writable PROM.

3. A cryopump as claimed in claim 2 further comprising an electrically erasable and writable PROM on the removable module.

4. A cryopump system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the nonvolatile memory device stores calibration data for the cryopump.

5. A cryopump system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the nonvolatile memory device stores historical data for the cryopump.

6. A cryopump system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the nonvolatile memory device stores regeneration configuration data programmed for the cryopump by a user.