The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Mar. 30, 1999

Filed:

Dec. 19, 1996
Applicant:
Inventors:

Norman Williams, Newark, CA (US);

Russell F Jewett, Jr, Newark, CA (US);

Assignee:

LAM Research Corporation, Fremont, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B23K / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
21912154 ; 21912157 ; 21912143 ; 156345 ; 216 67 ; 333 173 ;
Abstract

An arrangement and method for matching a load and a power source, such as an r.f. power source for a vacuum plasma processing chamber, includes a match network coupled between the power source and the load. The match network has at least two controllably variable electrical characteristics. A sensor is provided that senses at least two parameters of the load. A drive controller responds to the sensed parameters of the load to independently control varying a first one of the electrical characteristics of the match network as a function of only one of the parameters of the load, and a second one of the electrical characteristics of the match network as a function of another one of the parameters of the load. This is done until the power source and the load are in a matched condition. The separation of the match variables to establish a nearly one-to-one correspondence with the load parameters allows independent adjustment of the match variables to provide fast and unambiguous reaching of the matched condition.


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