Power supply device for plasma processing
First Claim
1. A power supply device for plasma processing, wherein electric arcs may occur, comprisinga power supply circuit for generating a voltage across output terminals,said output terminals being for connection to a plasma processing chamber by means of conductors,an interrupting switch connected between said power supply circuit and one of said output terminals for interrupting the power supply to said plasma processing chamber in case of the occurrence of an arc, anda controller for controlling the power supply circuit and the first switch, such that, in an event of an arc, the first switch is opened and kept in the open state for a time interval to quench the arc and the power supply circuit is switched off in the event that the arc is still burning after actuating the first switch a number of times, said controller being configured to determine at least one delay parameter by means of a self-adaptive process, the delay parameter defining the time when, in an event of an arc, at least one of the power supply circuit and the first switch is switched on or switched off.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power supply device for plasma processing, wherein electric arcs may occur, comprises a power supply circuit for generating a voltage across output terminals, and a first switch connected between the power supply circuit and one of the output terminals. According to a first aspect the power supply device comprises a recovery energy circuit connected to the output terminals and to the power supply circuit. According to a second aspect the power supply device comprises an inductance circuit including an inductor and a second switch connected parallel to the inductor. According to a third aspect the power supply device comprises a controller for causing the power supply circuit and the first switch to be switched on and off. The controller is configured to determine a quenching time interval by means of a self-adaptive process. The quenching time interval defines the time interval during which, in an event of an arc, no voltage is generated across the output terminals.
189 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A power supply device for plasma processing, wherein electric arcs may occur, comprising
a power supply circuit for generating a voltage across output terminals, said output terminals being for connection to a plasma processing chamber by means of conductors, an interrupting switch connected between said power supply circuit and one of said output terminals for interrupting the power supply to said plasma processing chamber in case of the occurrence of an arc, and a controller for controlling the power supply circuit and the first switch, such that, in an event of an arc, the first switch is opened and kept in the open state for a time interval to quench the arc and the power supply circuit is switched off in the event that the arc is still burning after actuating the first switch a number of times, said controller being configured to determine at least one delay parameter by means of a self-adaptive process, the delay parameter defining the time when, in an event of an arc, at least one of the power supply circuit and the first switch is switched on or switched off.
Specification