IP Library Granted Patent US 10,049,857
Granted Patent B2
US 10,049,857 · App. 14/953,917 · Granted Aug 14, 2018

Adaptive periodic waveform controller

Inventors: Larry J. Fisk, II (Fairport, NY); Aaron T. Radomski (Conesus, NY); Jonathan Smyka (Rochester, NY)
Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
H01J37/32155H01J37/3299H01J37/32146H01J37/32174H01J37/32935H01J2237/332H01J2237/334
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,049,857
App. No.
14/953,917
Filed
Nov 30, 2015
Granted
Aug 14, 2018
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2844
USPC
315/111.21
Abstract

A repeating setpoint generator module selectively varies a setpoint for an output parameter according to a predetermined pattern that repeats during successive time intervals. A closed-loop module, during a first one of the time intervals, generates N closed-loop values based on N differences between (i) N values of the setpoint at N times during the first one of the time intervals and (ii) N measurements of the output parameter at the N times during the first one of the time intervals, respectively. An adjusting module, during the first one of the time intervals, generates N adjustment values based on N differences between (i) N values of the setpoint at the N times during a second one of the time intervals and (ii) N measurements of the output parameter at the N times during the second one of the time intervals, respectively.

Claims (37)

1. A power output generation system, comprising:

a repeating setpoint generator module that selectively varies a setpoint for an output parameter according to a predetermined pattern that repeats during successive time intervals;

a closed-loop module that, during a first one of the time intervals, generates N closed-loop values based on N differences between (i) N values of the setpoint at N times during the first one of the time intervals and (ii) N measurements of the output parameter at the N times during the first one of the time intervals, respectively;

an adjusting module that, during the first one of the time intervals, generates N adjustment values based on N differences between (i) N values of the setpoint at the N times during a second one of the time intervals and (ii) N measurements of the output parameter at the N times during the second one of the time intervals, respectively, wherein the second one of the time intervals is the time interval immediately preceding the first one of the time intervals;

a power amplifier that applies an output to a load; and

a mixer module that generates N output values based on the N closed-loop values and the N adjustment values, respectively, and that controls power input to the power amplifier based on the N output values.

2. The power output generation system of claim 1 wherein the N times are equally spaced.

3. The power output generation system of claim 1 wherein the N times are not equally spaced.

4. The power output generation system of claim 1 wherein the closed-loop module generates the N closed-loop values using proportional-integral (PI) control.

5. The power output generation system of claim 1 wherein the adjusting module generates the N adjustment values using proportional-integral (PI) control.

6. The power output generation system of claim 1 wherein the mixer module generates the N output values further based on a mixing ratio, and

wherein the mixer module selectively varies the mixing ratio.

7. The power output generation system of claim 1 further comprising a frequency control module that selectively adjusts a fundamental frequency of the power amplifier.

8. The power output generation system of claim 7 wherein the frequency control module selectively adjusts the frequency of the power amplifier based on a reflected power.

9. The power output generation system of claim 7 wherein the frequency control module selectively adjusts the frequency of the power amplifier based on a reflection coefficient.

10. The power output generation system of claim 1 wherein the power amplifier applies the output to a plasma electrode.

11. The power output generation system of claim 1 further comprising a driver control module that determines a distortion of the output and selectively adjusts a frequency of the power amplifier based on the distortion.

12. The power output generation system of claim 11 wherein the driver control module determines a first frequency adjustment based on the distortion and at least one previous amount of distortion of the output, determines a second frequency adjustment based on at least one previous amount of distortion of an RF output, and that sets the frequency of the power amplifier based on a previous frequency of the power amplifier, the first frequency adjustment, and the second frequency adjustment.

13. The power output generation system of claim 12 wherein the driver control module determines the second frequency adjustment based on at least one previous value of the second frequency adjustment.

14. A power output generation control system for controlling a power amplifier that applies output power to a load, comprising:

a repeating setpoint generator module that selectively varies a setpoint for an output parameter according to a predetermined pattern that repeats during successive time intervals;

an adjusting module that, during a first one of the time intervals, generates N adjustment values based on N differences between (i) N values of the setpoint at N times during a second one of the time intervals and (ii) N measurements of the output parameter at the N times during the second one of the time intervals, respectively, wherein the second one of the time intervals is the time interval preceding the first one of the time intervals; and

a mixer module that generates N output values based on N closed-loop values and the N adjustment values, respectively, and that controls power input to the power amplifier based on the N output values.

15. The power output generation control system of claim 14 further comprising a closed-loop module that, during a first one of the time intervals, generates N closed-loop values based on N differences between (i) N values of the setpoint at the N times during the first one of the time intervals and (ii) N measurements of the output parameter at the N times during the first one of the time intervals, respectively.

16. The power output generation control system of claim 15 further comprising a power amplifier that applies the output power to the load.

17. The power output generation control system of claim 14 further comprising a power amplifier that applies the output power to the load.

18. The power output generation control system of claim 14 wherein the N times are equally spaced.

19. The power output generation control system of claim 14 wherein the N times are not equally spaced.

20. The power output generation control system of claim 14 wherein the adjusting module generates the N adjustment values using at least one of proportional, integral, or derivative control.

21. The power output generation control system of claim 14 wherein the mixer module generates the N output values further based on a mixing ratio, and wherein the mixer module selectively varies the mixing ratio.

22. The power output generation control system of claim 14 further comprising a frequency control module that selectively adjusts a fundamental frequency of the power amplifier.

23. The power output generation control system of claim 22 wherein the frequency control module selectively adjusts the frequency of the power amplifier based on a reflected power.

24. The power output generation control system of claim 22 wherein the frequency control module selectively adjusts the frequency of the power amplifier based on a reflection coefficient.

25. The power output generation control system of claim 14 wherein the load is a plasma electrode.

26. The power output generation control system of claim 14 further comprising a driver control module that determines a distortion of the output power and selectively adjusts a frequency of the output power based on the distortion.

27. The power output generation control system of claim 26 wherein the driver control module determines a first frequency adjustment based on the distortion and at least one previous amount of distortion of the output power, determines a second frequency adjustment based on at least one previous amount of distortion of an RF output, and that sets the frequency of the output power based on a previous frequency of the output power, the first frequency adjustment, and the second frequency adjustment.

28. The power output generation control system of claim 27 wherein the driver control module determines the second frequency adjustment based on at least one previous value of the second frequency adjustment.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 24, 2022
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
To: MKS INSTRUMENTS, INC.; NEWPORT CORPORATION; ELECTRO SCIENTIFIC INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 063009/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 24, 2022
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
To: MKS INSTRUMENTS, INC.; NEWPORT CORPORATION; ELECTRO SCIENTIFIC INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 062739/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 19, 2022
From: MKS INSTRUMENTS, INC.; NEWPORT CORPORATION; ELECTRO SCIENTIFIC INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 061572/0069 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE U.S. PATENT NO.7,919,646 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 048211 FRAME 0312. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL). Recorded Jan 14, 2021
From: ELECTRO SCIENTIFIC INDUSTRIES, INC.; MKS INSTRUMENTS, INC.; NEWPORT CORPORATION
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055668/0687 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Feb 1, 2019
From: ELECTRO SCIENTIFIC INDUSTRIES, INC.; MKS INSTRUMENTS, INC.; NEWPORT CORPORATION
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 048211/0312 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2019
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH
To: MKS INSTRUMENTS, INC.; NEWPORT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 048226/0095 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 4, 2016
From: MKS INSTRUMENTS, INC.; NEWPORT CORPORATION
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH
Reel/Frame 038663/0265 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 4, 2016
From: MKS INSTRUMENTS, INC.; NEWPORT CORPORATION
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC; BARCLAYS BANK PLC
Reel/Frame 038663/0139 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2015
From: FISK, LARRY J, II; RADOMSKI, AARON T; SMYKA, JONATHAN
To: MKS INSTRUMENTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 037302/0056 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62087290 · Dec 4, 2014
Related Publication 20160163514A1 · Jun 9, 2016
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