IP Library Patent Application 19262281
Patent Application
App. No. 19/262,281

METHOD OF MONITORING A SURFACE CONDITION OF A COMPONENT

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
19/262,281
Abstract

A system for monitoring a surface condition of a component includes a controller including one or more processors configured to execute instructions stored in a nontransitory computer-readable medium. The instructions include controlling a heater to provide thermal energy to the component, determining a thermal response of the component based on the thermal energy, determining a thermal characteristic of the component based on a reference thermal response and the thermal response, and predicting the surface condition of the component based on the thermal characteristic and a predictive analytic model, where the predictive analytic model correlates the thermal characteristic of the component to an estimated surface condition of the component.

Claims (35)

1 . A system for monitoring a surface condition of a component, the system comprising:

a controller comprising one or more processors configured to execute instructions stored in a nontransitory computer-readable medium, wherein the instructions comprise:

controlling a heater to provide thermal energy to the component;

determining a thermal response of the component based on the thermal energy;

determining a thermal characteristic of the component based on a reference thermal response and the thermal response; and

predicting the surface condition of the component based on the thermal characteristic and a predictive analytic model, wherein the predictive analytic model correlates the thermal characteristic of the component to an estimated surface condition of the component.

2 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the thermal characteristic is based on a difference between the reference thermal response and the thermal response.

3 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the thermal characteristic is an emissivity of the component, a thermal coupling among different zones of the component, a thermal gain of the component, an electric resistance-temperature correlation of the component, a gas convective coupling of the component, or a combination thereof.

4 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein controlling the heater to provide the thermal energy to the component further comprises increasing thermal energy provided to the component.

5 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein controlling the heater to provide the thermal energy to the component further comprises decreasing thermal energy provided to the component.

6 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the surface condition indicates an amount of material buildup on a surface of the component.

7 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the thermal response includes a rate of dissipation of thermal energy by the component.

8 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein controlling the heater to provide the thermal energy to the component further comprises varying at least one of an intensity and a duration of the thermal energy to create a thermal signature of the component, wherein the thermal signature is an image representation of the thermal response.

9 . The system according to claim 8 , wherein the instructions further comprise determining the thermal characteristic of the component based on a reference thermal signature and the thermal signature.

10 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the component is selected from a group consisting of a wall of a semiconductor processing chamber, a liner of the semiconductor processing chamber, a showerhead of the semiconductor processing chamber, a lid of the semiconductor processing chamber, a wall of a fluid heating conduit, a heater surface, and a sheath of the heater.

11 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the instructions further comprise measuring a temperature of the component during a predetermined period to determine the thermal response.

12 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein the instructions further comprise determining a dissipation of energy by the component based on a change in the temperature of the component during the predetermined period.

13 . The system according to claim 12 , wherein the instructions further comprise determining a change in emissivity of the component based on the change in the temperature of the component during the predetermined period.

14 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the thermal response of the component is determined in response to a temperature of the component being equal to a predetermined temperature.

15 . A system for monitoring a surface condition of a component, the system comprising:

a thermal control system comprising a heater, wherein the heater is configured to provide thermal energy to the component, and wherein the component is selected from a group consisting of a wall of a semiconductor processing chamber, a liner of the semiconductor processing chamber, a showerhead of the semiconductor processing chamber, a lid of the semiconductor processing chamber, a wall of a fluid heating conduit, a heater surface, and a sheath of the heater; and

a controller comprising one or more processors configured to execute instructions stored in a nontransitory computer-readable medium, wherein the instructions comprise:

controlling the heater to provide thermal energy to the component;

determining a thermal response of the component based on the thermal energy;

determining a thermal characteristic of the component based on a reference thermal response and the thermal response; and

predicting the surface condition of the component based on the thermal characteristic and a predictive analytic model, wherein the predictive analytic model correlates the thermal characteristic of the component to an estimated surface condition of the component.

16 . The system according to claim 15 , wherein the thermal characteristic is an emissivity of the component, a thermal coupling among different zones of the component, a thermal gain of the component, an electric resistance-temperature correlation of the component, a gas convective coupling of the component, or a combination thereof.

17 . The system according to claim 15 , wherein the surface condition indicates an amount of material buildup on a surface of the component.

18 . The system according to claim 15 , wherein the instructions further comprise measuring a temperature of the component during a predetermined period to determine the thermal response.

19 . The system according to claim 15 , wherein the thermal characteristic is based on a difference between the reference thermal response and the thermal response.

20 . A method for monitoring a surface condition of a component, the method comprising:

controlling, by a controller, a heater to provide thermal energy to the component, wherein the controller comprises one or more processors configured to execute instructions stored in a nontransitory computer-readable medium;

determining, by the controller, a thermal response of the component based on the thermal energy;

determining, by the controller, a thermal characteristic of the component based on a reference thermal response and the thermal response; and

predicting, by the controller, the surface condition of the component based on the thermal characteristic and a predictive analytic model, wherein the predictive analytic model correlates the thermal characteristic of the component to an estimated surface condition of the component.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2025
From: LINDLEY, JACOB; SCHMIDT, PHILIP; PIZZELLA, MIRANDA; EVERLY, MARK D.
To: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 071665/0011 →