Phase and frequency control of a radio frequency generator from an external source
First Claim
1. A radio frequency (RF) generator comprising:
- a RF power source;
a sensor coupled to the RF power source;
a sensor signal processing unit coupled to the power source and to the sensor, the sensor signal processing unit receiving a control input from an external RF generator and to generate a control signal to control at least one of phase or frequency of the RF generator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A first radio frequency (RF) generator includes a first RF power source that generates an RF power output. A first sensor generates at least one sensor signal based on the RF power output. A first signal processing unit generates magnitude and phase signals associated with the at least one sensor signal. A second signal processing unit generates a first control signal to control a frequency and a phase of the first RF power source based on the magnitude and phase signals. The first RF power source determines, based on the magnitude signals, whether to generate the RF power output in response to the first control signal or in response to a second control signal received from a second RF generator.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A radio frequency (RF) generator comprising:
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a RF power source; a sensor coupled to the RF power source; a sensor signal processing unit coupled to the power source and to the sensor, the sensor signal processing unit receiving a control input from an external RF generator and to generate a control signal to control at least one of phase or frequency of the RF generator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A radio frequency (RF) generator comprising:
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means for generating RF power; sensor means coupled to the power source; and a sensor signal processing means coupled to the means for generating RF power the sensor means, the sensor signal processing means adapted to receive an input from an external RF generator means and to generate a control signal to control at least one of phase or frequency of the RF generator.
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8. A first radio frequency (RF) generator comprising:
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a first RF power source that generates an RF power output; a first sensor that generates at least one sensor signal based on the RF power output; a first signal processing unit that generates magnitude and phase signals associated with the at least one sensor signal; and a second signal processing unit that generates a first control signal to control a frequency and a phase of the first RF power source based on the magnitude and phase signals, wherein the first RF power source determines, based on the magnitude signals, whether to generate the RF power output in response to the first control signal or in response to a second control signal received from a second RF generator. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for operating a first radio frequency (RF) generator, the method comprising:
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generating an RF power output using a first RF power source; generating at least one sensor signal based on the RF power output; generating magnitude and phase signals associated with the at least one sensor signal; generating a first control signal to control a frequency and a phase of the first RF power source based on the magnitude and phase signals; and determining, based on the magnitude signals, whether to generate the RF power output in response to the first control signal or in response to a second control signal received from a second RF generator. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. The method of 17 comprising:
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configuring the first RF generator as a slave RF generator; and configuring the second RF generator as a master RF generator.
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Specification