Applied Materials, Inc.

Chris Blank

Phillip R Sommer

Dan A Marohl

Phillip A Criminale

Steve E Babayan

Scott Edmonson

A method includes generating, external to a radio frequency (RF) environment and based on a process recipe, a first signal and a second signal. The method further includes converting the first signal into an alternative signal and transmitting, over a non-conductive communication link, the alternative signal to a converter within the RF environment within a processing chamber of a substrate processing system. The method further includes converting the alternative signal into a third signal by the converter inside the RF environment within the processing chamber. The method further includes controlling a first plurality of elements disposed within the RF environment within the processing chamber via one or more first devices disposed within the RF environment within the processing chamber using the third signal and controlling a second plurality of elements of the substrate processing system via one or more second devices of the substrate processing system using the second signal.

Consolidated filter arrangement for devices in an RF environment

A heating system includes a first plurality of heating elements disposed within an electrostatic chuck and an electrically conductive housing. The heating system further includes one or more switching devices to control temperatures output by the first plurality of heating elements. The heating system further includes a converter that is electrically coupled to the one or more switching devices and disposed within the electrically conductive housing. The electrically conductive housing and the first plurality of heating elements are to operate in a radio frequency (RF) environment. A second plurality of elements are to operate outside of the RF environment. The converter is to communicate with a controller outside of the RF environment via a non-conductive communication link. The controller is to receive a process recipe and is to control the first plurality of heating elements and the second plurality of elements substantially simultaneously based on the process recipe.

A method includes generating, based on a process recipe, a first electrical control signal by a processing device external to a particular radio frequency (RF) environment. The method further includes converting the first electrical control signal into an alternative control signal, transmitting the alternative control signal to a converter within the particular RF environment over a non-conductive communication link, and converting the alternative control signal into a second electrical control signal by the converter. The method further includes controlling a first plurality of elements via one or more switching devices using the second electrical control signal. The method further includes generating, based on the process recipe, a third signal by the processing device and controlling a second plurality of elements disposed outside of the RF environment using the third signal. The first plurality of elements and the second plurality of elements are controlled substantially simultaneously based on the process recipe.

A system includes a plurality of elements that are to operate in a radio frequency (RF) environment. The system further includes a plurality of switching devices to operate in the RF environment, each of the plurality of switching devices to control power to at least one of the plurality of elements, wherein the plurality of switching devices are coupled to a power line that is to provide power from outside the RF environment. A filter is coupled to the power line to filter out RF noise introduced into the power line by the RF environment. The system further includes a converter, coupled to the one or more switching devices, to operate in the RF environment and to provide a non-conductive communication link between the one or more switching devices and a controller outside of the RF environment.

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Gilroy, CA, United States of America

Chris Blank