Low particulate slit valve system and method for controlling same
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a closure pressure applied to a closure covering an aperture in a barrier having different fluid pressure on opposite sides of the barrier, comprising:
- determining a first fluid pressure on a first side of said barrier;
determining a second fluid pressure on a second side of said barrier; and
applying a closure pressure to said closure which is related to the pressure differential between said first fluid pressure and said second fluid pressure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Low particulate slit valve system and method for controlling the closure pressure applied to a slit valve. An apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes a barrier having a slit valve aperture, a valve seat surrounding the aperture, a closure movable towards and away from the valve seat, a sensing mechanism for determining the pressure differential on the two sides of the barrier, a processing unit responsive to the pressure differential and operative to produce a control signal, and a valve actuator responsive to the control signal and operative to control the force applied to the closure. The method of the invention includes determining a first fluid pressure on a first side of the barrier, determining a second pressure on a second side of the barrier, and applying a closure pressure to the closure which is related to the pressure differential between the first fluid pressure and the second fluid pressure. If the pressure differential is low, zero or very near to zero pressure is applied to the closure to seal the aperture. If the pressure differential is high, a proportionately larger pressure is applied to the closure.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a closure pressure applied to a closure covering an aperture in a barrier having different fluid pressure on opposite sides of the barrier, comprising:
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determining a first fluid pressure on a first side of said barrier; determining a second fluid pressure on a second side of said barrier; and applying a closure pressure to said closure which is related to the pressure differential between said first fluid pressure and said second fluid pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for controlling a closure pressure applied to a closure covering an aperture in a barrier, said closure having a face provided with an O-ring sealing member adapted to surround said aperture, said method comprising:
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measuring a first fluid pressure on a first side of said barrier; measuring a second fluid pressure on a second side of said barrier; and setting a separation between said closure face and a barrier seat portion surrounding said aperture which is related to the pressure differential between said first fluid pressure and said second fluid pressure. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A variable closure pressure slit valve system for use in semiconductor processing chamber comprising:
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barrier means provided with an aperture; seat means surrounding said aperture; closure means movable toward and away from said seat means; means for determining a first fluid pressure on a first side of said barrier means and for determining a second fluid pressure on a second side of said barrier means; actuator means for selectively moving said closure means toward and away from said seat means; and control means responsive to said first fluid pressure and said second fluid pressure and operative to develop discrete actuator control signals for controlling said actuator means and causing it to apply a closure force to said closure means which is related in a predetermined manner to the pressure differential between said first fluid pressure and said second fluid pressure. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification