Efficient plasma containment structure
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A containment structure having an upper and lower portion for a plasma comprising:
- means for containing a plasma, that is sustained by an electromagnetic energy, within a desired space by attenuating the electromagnetic field outside of said space to levels which do not sustain the plasma while maintaining high conductance across said containment structure having spaced, conductive surfaces; and
means for permitting gas flow through said containment structure which includes openings through said structure and wherein said means for containing a plasma comprises conductive surfaces oriented in a direction less than or substantially equal to 90°
from the direction of the electromagnetic field at said opening, while reducing the deposits from said plasma on parts of said containment structure.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Plasma containment is achieved within a region by a containment plate while gas is allowed to flow through this region by openings in the plate. The openings in the plate are larger in two of the cross-sectional dimensions parallel to the plate surface than the thickness of the dark space or plasma sheath. The openings of the plate are wider nearest the source of the electromagnetic energy in order to attenuate the electromagnetic fields and thereby prevent build up of deposits which would block the flow gas through the plate.
74 Citations
32 Claims
-
1. A containment structure having an upper and lower portion for a plasma comprising:
-
means for containing a plasma, that is sustained by an electromagnetic energy, within a desired space by attenuating the electromagnetic field outside of said space to levels which do not sustain the plasma while maintaining high conductance across said containment structure having spaced, conductive surfaces; and
means for permitting gas flow through said containment structure which includes openings through said structure and wherein said means for containing a plasma comprises conductive surfaces oriented in a direction less than or substantially equal to 90°
from the direction of the electromagnetic field at said opening, while reducing the deposits from said plasma on parts of said containment structure.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A plasma reactor comprising:
-
a reactor chamber adapted to create and sustain a plasma in a space therein;
a containment structure having an upper and lower portion for containing a plasma within a desired portion of space in said chamber by attenuating electromagnetic energy having an electric field in said chamber while maintaining high conductance across said containment structure; and
means for permitting gas flow within said chamber and through said containment structure which includes openings through said structure which reduce the deposits from said plasma on said structure by lowering plasma intensity and wherein said means for containing a plasma comprises conductive surfaces oriented in a direction less than or substantially equal to 90°
from the direction of the electric field at said opening.- View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A plasma reactor comprising:
-
a reactor chamber adapted to create and sustain an active plasma in a space therein; and
a plasma containment structure having an upper and lower portion comprising means for containing an active plasma within a desired volume of space in said chamber on one side of said structure by attenuating electromagnetic field and permitting passage of ionized molecules while maintaining high conductance across said containment structure, thereby permitting formation of a cold plasma on the other side of said structure; and
means for permitting gas flow within said chamber and through said containment structure which includes openings through said structure which reduces the plasma intensity and the deposition rate of contaminants on said structure and wherein said means for containing a plasma comprises conductive surfaces oriented in a direction less than or substantially equal to 90°
from the direction of the electric field.- View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
- 22. A containment structure for containing an electromagnetic field and a plasma having a surrounding plasma sheath, said containment structure comprising a structure made of an electrically conductive material configured to contain a plasma within a desired space by attenuating an electromagnetic field outside of said space while maintaining high conductance across said structure, said upper portion of the structure facing the plasma having wide openings there through for permitting gas flow within said chamber and reducing the plasma intensity, said openings on the lower portion being smaller than the upper portion.
Specification