IP Library Granted Patent US 12,255,048
Granted Patent B2
US 12,255,048 · App. 18/495,452 · Granted Mar 18, 2025

Apparatus to control ion energy

Inventors: Victor Brouk (Fort Collins, CO); Randy Heckman (Fort Collins, CO)
Assignee: Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.
H01J37/32009C23C14/345H01J37/32091H01J37/32137H01J37/32146H01J37/32174H01J37/32935H01J37/3299
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,255,048
App. No.
18/495,452
Granted
Mar 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus and method to produce a waveform. The apparatus includes a first node to couple to a substrate support and a power supply coupled to a second node wherein the power supply is configured to provide a DC voltage to set an ion-energy at a surface of the substrate. The apparatus also includes a first switch that couples the second node to the first node, and responsive to the first switch being closed, a first voltage is applied at the first node. A second switch of the power supply couples a third node to the first node, and responsive to the second switch being closed, a second voltage is applied at the first node to effectuate a negative voltage at the surface of the substrate.

Claims (23)

1. An apparatus to control ion energy, the apparatus comprising:

a first node to couple to a substrate support for a substrate;

a power supply coupled to a second node, the power supply configured to provide a DC voltage to set an ion-energy at a surface of the substrate;

a first switch that couples the second node to the first node, and responsive to the first switch being closed, a first voltage is applied at the first node;

a second switch that couples a third node to the first node, and responsive to the second switch being closed, a second voltage is applied at the first node to effectuate a negative voltage at the surface of the substrate; and a controller configured to open the second switch before the first switch is closed and open the first switch before the second switch is closed to produce a waveform at the substrate support.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the power supply is coupled to the second node and the third node.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the third node is a ground terminal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first voltage is a peak voltage.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the negative voltage is effectuated at the surface of the substrate while the first switch and the second switch are open.

6. An apparatus to produce a waveform, the apparatus comprising:

a first node configured to couple to a substrate support for a substrate;

a power supply configured to apply a DC voltage at a second node;

a first switch that couples the second node to the first node;

a second switch that couples a third node to the first node; and

a controller coupled to the first switch and the second switch, the controller configured to:

provide a first drive signal to close the first switch while the second switch is open to switch the DC voltage to the first node;

provide a second drive signal to close the second switch while the first switch is open to switch a second voltage at the third node to the first node to effectuate a negative voltage at a surface of the substrate, which attracts ions with an ion energy to the substrate.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the third node is coupled to a ground terminal.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 ,

wherein the controller is further configured to receive a setpoint corresponding to the ion energy at a surface of the substrate and set the power supply to provide the DC voltage with a voltage magnitude corresponding to the ion energy.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the controller controls the power supply, the first switch, and the second switch.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the power supply is controlled by a second controller that is separate from the controller.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the controller has an input to receive a setting indicative of the ion energy and the controller is further configured to adjust the power supply so the power supply applies the DC voltage with a magnitude that achieves an energy of the ions.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE ASSIGNEE NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 065545 FRAME: 0758. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Nov 28, 2023
From: BROUK, VICTOR; HECKMAN, RANDY
To: ADVANCED ENERGY INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 065692/0390 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 13, 2023
From: BROUK, VICTOR; HECKMAN, RANDY
To: ADV
Reel/Frame 065545/0758 →
Continuity (8)
Continuation 17245825 · Apr 30, 2021
Continuation 15667239 · Aug 2, 2017
Continuation 13596976 · Aug 28, 2012
Continuation In Part 13193299 · Jul 28, 2011
Continuation In Part 12870837 · Aug 29, 2010
Continuation In Part 12767775 · Apr 26, 2010
Provisional Application 61174937 · May 1, 2009
Related Publication 20240055225A1 · Feb 15, 2024
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