Inductively-coupled torodial plasma source
First Claim
1. An apparatus for dissociating gases, the apparatus comprising:
- a toroidally-shaped plasma chamber for containing a gas, the plasma chamber comprising at least one dielectric spacer protected from a plasma in the chamber; and
a transformer to induce an electric field within the chamber, the transformer having a primary winding and a magnetic core surrounding a portion of the plasma chamber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for dissociating gases includes a plasma chamber comprising a gas. A first transformer having a first magnetic core surrounds a first portion of the plasma chamber and has a first primary winding. A second transformer having a second magnetic core surrounds a second portion of the plasma chamber and has a second primary winding. A first solid state AC switching power supply including one or more switching semiconductor devices is coupled to a first voltage supply and has a first output that is coupled to the first primary winding. A second solid state AC switching power supply including one or more switching semiconductor devices is coupled to a second voltage supply and has a second output that is coupled to the second primary winding. The first solid state AC switching power supply drives a first AC current in the first primary winding. The second solid state AC switching power supply drives a second AC current in the second primary winding. The first AC current and the second AC current induce a combined AC potential inside the plasma chamber that directly forms a toroidal plasma that completes a secondary circuit of the transformer and that dissociates the gas.
222 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus for dissociating gases, the apparatus comprising:
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a toroidally-shaped plasma chamber for containing a gas, the plasma chamber comprising at least one dielectric spacer protected from a plasma in the chamber; and a transformer to induce an electric field within the chamber, the transformer having a primary winding and a magnetic core surrounding a portion of the plasma chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12)
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8. An apparatus for dissociating gases, the apparatus comprising:
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a toroidally-shaped plasma chamber for containing a gas, the plasma chamber comprising at least one dielectric region that breaks electrical continuity through the plasma chamber and is protected from a plasma in the plasma chamber; and a transformer to induce an electric field within the chamber and dissociate the gas, the transformer having a primary winding and having a magnetic core surrounding a portion of the plasma chamber. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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13. An apparatus for dissociating gases, the apparatus comprising:
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a toroidally-shaped plasma chamber for containing a gas, the plasma chamber comprising at least two electrically isolated regions separated by a dielectric region, said dielectric region protected from a plasma in the plasma chamber; and a transformer to induce an electric field within the chamber and dissociate the gas, the transformer having a primary winding and having a magnetic core surrounding a portion of the plasma chamber. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for dissociating gases, the apparatus comprising:
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a toroidally-shaped plasma chamber for containing a gas, the plasma chamber comprising at least one dielectric spacer; means for protecting the at least one spacer from a plasma in the chamber; and a transformer to induce an electric field within the chamber, the transformer having a primary winding and having a magnetic core surrounding a portion of the plasma chamber. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification