Measuring and controlling parameters of a plasma generator
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- measuring a current of a primary winding of a transformer that generates a plasma;
measuring a voltage across a secondary winding of the transformer; and
determining a parameter of the plasma comprising a resistance value associated with the plasma, or a power value associated with the plasma, or both, wherein determining the parameter of the plasma comprises;
estimating a current in the secondary winding based on the current of the primary winding; and
estimating the parameter based on the current in the secondary winding and the voltage across the secondary winding.
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Abstract
Methods, systems, and computer program products are described for measuring and controlling parameters of a plasma generator. A current in a primary winding of a transformer or inductive element that generates a plasma is measured. A voltage across a secondary winding of the transformer or inductive element is measured. Based on the current of the primary winding and the voltage across the secondary winding, a parameter of the plasma is determined. The parameter includes a resistance value associated with the plasma, a power value associated with the plasma, or both.
55 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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measuring a current of a primary winding of a transformer that generates a plasma; measuring a voltage across a secondary winding of the transformer; and determining a parameter of the plasma comprising a resistance value associated with the plasma, or a power value associated with the plasma, or both, wherein determining the parameter of the plasma comprises; estimating a current in the secondary winding based on the current of the primary winding; and estimating the parameter based on the current in the secondary winding and the voltage across the secondary winding. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for controlling a toroidal plasma, the method comprising:
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measuring a current of a primary winding of a transformer that generates the toroidal plasma; measuring a voltage across a secondary winding of the transformer; measuring an input voltage supplied to the transformer; estimating a power value of the plasma comprising;
i) determining a current in the secondary winding using the current of the primary winding and ii) estimating the power value based on the current in the secondary winding and the voltage across the secondary winding; andregulating a power delivered to the plasma based on the estimated power value. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A toroidal plasma generator, comprising:
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a plasma chamber; a transformer having a magnetic core surrounding a portion of the plasma chamber and a primary winding; a power supply in electrical communication with the primary winding, the power supply supplying a current to the primary winding, and the supplied current inducing a toroidal plasma in the plasma chamber; and a module for estimating a parameter of the toroidal plasma by i) measuring the current of the primary winding and a voltage across a secondary winding of the transformer, ii) determining a current in the secondary winding based on the current of the primary winding; and
iii) estimating the parameter based on the current in the secondary winding and the voltage across the secondary winding, the parameter comprising a resistance value associated with the toroidal plasma, or a power value associated with the toroidal plasma, or both.
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22. A system comprising:
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a first module configured to measure a current of a primary winding of a transformer that generates a toroidal plasma and a voltage across a secondary winding of the transformer; and a second module in communication with the first module, the second module configured to determine a parameter of the toroidal plasma comprising a resistance value associated with the plasma, or a power value associated with the plasma, or both, wherein the parameter is determined by i) determining a current in the secondary winding based on the current of the primary winding; and
ii) estimating the parameter based on the current in the secondary winding and the voltage across the secondary winding. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A computer program product, tangibly embodied in a non-transitory information carrier, the computer program product including instructions being operable to cause a data processing apparatus to:
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receive a measured value of a current of a primary winding of a transformer used to generate a plasma in a plasma chamber; receive a measured value of a voltage across a secondary winding of the transformer; and determine a parameter of the plasma comprising a resistance value associated with the plasma, or a power value associated with the plasma, or both, wherein the parameter is determined by i) determining a current in the secondary winding based on the current of the primary winding and ii) estimating the parameter based on the current in the secondary winding and the voltage across the secondary winding.
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28. A method comprising:
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measuring a current of a primary winding of a transformer that generates a plasma; measuring a voltage across a secondary winding of the transformer; and determining a parameter of the plasma based on i) an RMS equivalent of the current of the primary winding and ii) an RMS equivalent of the voltage across the secondary winding, the parameter comprising a resistance value associated with the plasma, or a power value associated with the plasma, or both.
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29. A method for controlling a toroidal plasma, the method comprising:
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measuring a current of a primary winding of a transformer that generates the toroidal plasma; measuring a voltage across a secondary winding of the transformer; measuring an input voltage supplied to the transformer; estimating a power value of the plasma based on an RMS equivalent of the current of the primary winding and an RMS equivalent of the voltage across the secondary winding; and regulating a power delivered to the plasma based on the estimated power value.
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30. A system comprising:
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a first module configured to measure a current of a primary winding of a transformer that generates a toroidal plasma and a voltage across a secondary winding of the transformer; and a second module in communication with the first module, the second module configured to determine a parameter of the toroidal plasma based on i) an RMS equivalent of the current of the primary winding and ii) an RMS equivalent of the voltage across the secondary winding, the parameter comprising a resistance value associated with the plasma, or a power value associated with the plasma, or both.
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31. A computer program product, tangibly embodied in a non-transitory information carrier, the computer program product including instructions being operable to cause a data processing apparatus to:
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receive a measured value of a current of a primary winding of a transformer used to generate a plasma in a plasma chamber; receive a measured value of a voltage across a secondary winding of the transformer; and determine a parameter of the plasma according to a model relating the parameter of the plasma to i) an RMS equivalent of the current of the primary winding and ii) an RMS equivalent of the voltage across the secondary winding, the parameter comprising a resistance value associated with the plasma, or a power value associated with the plasma, or both.
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Specification